Today I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine: Jon Butler. He has kindly provided a guest post regarding a few subjects I thought would be interesting. I hope you agree.
My good friend Ed asked me write a blog post for him. Now it is quite a varied article but I have broken it down into sections and headings. I hope reading this article you get to me know a little better.
3 regrets of this year (2010)
To be honest this is a tough one to answer. No one likes to admit they got something wrong or made a mistake. I guess one would be that this year my fitness and running has been left by the wayside. In 2009 I was running 4 or 5 times a week, taking part in runs and completed my first 10K race. I joined a running club too, but then injured my back. Since then I have got better, slowly, but now I guess it is a combination of fear and laziness that has kept me from going back to running. My regret is simply this year I have not done as much exercise or running as I should have or would have liked to.
Failing to communicate the gospel as often as possible. I could beat myself up for the times I have been angry, gossiped or just wimped out of be honest about my faith.
Would not owing a BlackBerry and going for Android instead count?
My 3 Success of this year
Straight away what came to my mind was a mission trip I took to the country of Ukraine in May. Specifically this was to a region in the country called The Crimea. This trip was with my church pastor and another church member as our church, The King's Church in Portsmouth, had partnered with a church in The Crimea though a missional organisation called Next Level International.
The reason I refer to this as a success is for me is it was taking a total step of faith in God. A few years back, 2004/5, I was given the opportunity of taking part in a mission trip to India. This trip, through my church, was something that just the thoughts of terrified me. I made lots of excuses - the best one relied on the fact I didn't have a passport. So when I felt the prompting and call of God, at the end of 2009, to step out of my comfort zone I didn't want to waste a second chance. So I signed up for the trip to The Crimea by contacting the pastor and arranging to go myself - without even being asked by anyone else to go.
I've got to say the trip was amazing, experiencing another culture and seeing how big God really is. It was so encouraging to see people speaking another language worshipping and living for the same Jesus. I found it challenging, inspiring and a blessing. I tell you when you step out in faith God doesn't disappoint. A simple example being a few weeks before we were due to fly out I hadn't yet bought my flight ticket, there were problems with the ash cloud and I didn't have any holiday left to use from work. God provided big time. I received a Gas bill rebate, just enough to cover the entire cost of my trip, I found some extra leave owed from public holidays and the ash cloud dispersed about 5 days before we flew out. I have written about my trip in my blog which leads me on to success 2.
It sounds silly but I consider the fact this year I started and continued a new blog a success.
It started thanks to some advice from Ed and I began using Posterous. I found this a great way to write and record about my experiences in The Crimea.
Once back and settled into normal life and my Crimea posts had finished I began to blog about my experiences, challenges and thoughts from trying to live as Christ. I found this a great way to pen out my desire to be able to preach and speak God's word and how it can be applied to and related to everyday living. It has become a very enjoyable hobby and trust that God uses the words I type to challenge and speak to others as I learn to live for him.
(Please go visit Jon's blog and read his posts about The Crimea - Ed)
Success 3 I would like to generalise as the preaching opportunities I have been given and also stepping into God's gifts He has given me. I have been blessed with opportunities to lead services at my church, preach at my church, preach in The Crimea, preach in Grimsby, preach to a Christian single parent group and then co-lead a Christian Youth Camp. I don't take credit for these successes but entirely give the glory for these to God. I have learnt that when I put my trust in Him and follow His lead then these chances present themselves and I should take hold of them. Also when stepping out in faith we will never be let down.
My 3 hopes for 2011
To continue walking closely with God, listening to his voice and grabbing the opportunities He gives me with both hands.
To see my family and friends who don't yet know Jesus in a relationship with Him.
To get back into running and exercise in a healthy and regular way. To compete in at least three 10k events.
And finally, a subject very close to Ed's heart - technology, so:
The 3 technologies I am most excited about
A recent app I have discovered thanks to having an Android phone is my first, this being the YouVersion Bible App. The ability to access numerous versions of The Bible at the touch of a few buttons, with full searching capabilities and including the use of sharing verses by Twitter and Facebook I think is incredible.
Number 2 is a very recent addition to my knowledge and that is Dropbox. To be honest their website explains it much better than I can so simply:
Dropbox is the easiest way to store, sync, and, share files online. There's no complicated interface to learn.
Also the ease at which there is a mobile app available means I can transfer files between my phone and computer so simply and quickly. NO need for emailing or USB cables - quick, simple and so far 100% reliable.
The third and final technology is my PlayStation 3. Cracking Blu-ray player, love the games available and can easily waste hours of being entertained and immersed in the world of console gaming or High Definition films.
So that's me and a few of the thoughts whirling around my head. Thanks for reading and taking the time to get to know me a bit better.
I'd like to thank Jon so much for his post, and once again point you to Jon's blog and encourage you to follow Jon on Twitter.
For the images in this post, I'd like to thank: downthewaterfall, argenberg, clairity, tudor, and wwworks (and the flickrCC tool for helping me find them)
What are your top three: regrets, successes, and technologies of 2010 and what hopes do you have to 2011? Please share in the comments.
