redemption stories is a collection of stories.

There are words, pictures and verse, but all of them tell a story — a redemption story.

We received input from Adele Sakler, Ben & Joy Thomas, Laura Bridge, Jason Duke, Adam Howie, Christine McIntosh, Trent Yaconelli, Emma Boyd, Angus S. Mathie, Paula Spur, Avril Cutler, Emma Boyd and Rob Griggs-Taylor.

This e-book is definitely worth the read.

And the best part – it’s free.

I’m not big on resolutions.  I’m not sure they serve much purpose, especially when they are things we don’t really intend to do or stick to for long.  So, instead I’m going to set some personal goals for the year.  I have a forward plan for my work so these goals are just for me.

In 2010 I will:

complete my Masters in Research

I don’t have a lot of choice in this one but I hope to have my dissertation complete by the end of April. I’ve changed the whole concept of my research and instead of something on social media I’m going to be doing a project evaluation with a church in Linwood.

run / cycle / walk more

In 2000 my brother-in-law and I ran a half marathon.  Since then he has completed the Maggies Monster Bike & Hike, I’ve sat on my couch!  I’ve never felt better in my life than when I was running regularly so I’m going to start getting out more.  Avril got some running gear from Santa so I’ll have company.  I also bought some lights for my bike so I have no excuse for not getting out on it over the dark winter months (apart from the snow and ice!) and we are going to climb more hills this year as once I get my Masters out of the road we should have some more leisure time!

learn to play the guitar

My oldest son is learning guitar at school.  I have one and I can’t play it.  I want to learn. Hopefully this will be something we and I can do together.

read

I like to read but don’t do it often.  I go through little splurges of reading a lot then maybe nothing for a few months.  The TV is going off more and books will be read.  After The Guns of Navarone, obviously.

write

They say that everyone has a book in them.  I want to see if mine is ready to come out yet.  I’m not committing to a huge project but I want to write more in this blog and write a related e-book about one of the topics I’m passionate about.

take more photos

Perhaps that should be ‘take better photos’ but I read somewhere that your photos get better after your first 10,000 so perhaps quantity is important.  I started a 365 project last year, trying to take a photo a day, but it ended up in scrambling about to find some random thing to take a photo of.  Instead, I’m going to try to take my camera with me more, take it out of my bag and take more photos.  You can see the results on my Flickr page.

I know that doesn’t sound a very exciting or even particularly ambitious list but I will be very pleased if by the end 2010 I can run 10 miles without stopping, have climbed a dozen hills, can play 10 songs on the guitar, have read 20 books, have an Masters degree and some decent photos of all that.

So, what are your goals for 2010?

I’d like to hear Gordon Brown speak like this more often.  The biggest criticism of him is that he doesn’t communicate well and that he has no vision.  If this is anything to go by then he has plenty vision and his communication skills aren’t bad either.  But then foreign policy doesn’t seem to win (or lose) elections!

Opening reception is this Friday, 1 May, at 7:30pm in Offshore.

365 January

I’m trying hard to take a photo every day for a year.  I started late… but I’ve managed one each day so far.  What do you think?  Any favourites?

Urban Sprawl

The first is one I’ve been thinking about for a while then forgot about until it was really too late.  Flickr abounds with 365ers.  The challenge is simple.  Take a photo every day of yourself or something that represents that day.  I wanted to start on 1 January, but forgot, so I’m on picture 3 instead of 7.  Never mind.  I still aim to do 365.  You can follow my progress HERE.

The second challenge is to read the Bible in a year.  This one I did start on time but have fallen behind already.  I’ve got big chunck of Genesis, Psalms and Matthew to read!  I’m using YouVersion to help.  It sets out the Bible in small bits and you can read online, on your mobile or get the book out.  You can also sign up and journal your thoughts and share with other users.

So, those are my challenges.  Follow my progress here and on the Something Beautiful Podcast, where I’ve been promoted (at least they told me it was promotion) to co-host.

Thomas gathered us together to seek out and photograph the specialness of the ordinary.  I like the sentiment, even though I hate

Some of the people contributing I know in real life, some I know through Twitter and blogging and some people I’ve never met or spoken to but they are part of a wider network of what has become known as Twurch. Twurch is a growing network of people interested in God and faith who use Twitter.

Should be fun, but I have to confess now… I hate Earl Grey.

Today’s contribution from me… something we see almost every day…