Two months on
I can’t believe that two months have now passed since we first arrived in Los Angeles. How time flies. We have such fond memories from our two weeks in sunny California. We met so many amazing people and made lots of new friends. It was awesome to be part of the International Mentoring Network and get to hang out with some like-minded world changers. Connecting with Mosaic LA too was such a significant moment for us. The Origins experience truly inspired us and confirmed that we are connected to the right group of people.
Since coming back we have really felt launched into the future with our birthing Mosaic here in Sheffield. Things have started to move forward, even it is slowly and step by step. We don’t know what the future is going to look like, but we know that we are in exactly the right place. It is exciting. Doors are beginning to open, more and more people are expressing interest in what we are doing, and genuine relationships are being established and deepened. I am filled with such hope.
My own passion for what we’re doing is also growing stronger and stronger. Seeing people connecting with God and beginning to fulfil their potential and live from their hearts is what motivates me more and more. It is so refreshing to feel freed from the shackles of “church” as it’s always been and imagine and live out an expression of church that is truly all about people. We don’t have a building, we don’t meet on Sunday’s, and we don’t have any services. Our lives are no longer swallowed by meetings with Christians. We are free to spend time with normal people and to build relationships with those who often feel excluded by the church.
We still feel like Abram, going to a place that God will show us. Part of me would like to know the details, but the truth is that following the Wind is much more exciting. It’s a journey, an adventure…and I’m loving it.
technorati tags: the future now, mosaic sheffield, life, faith
July 11th, 2006 at 11:05 pm
I feel the excitement in your words Sam…excited for you!
July 12th, 2006 at 2:44 am
I love the friends photos to the side! That looks great!
July 12th, 2006 at 3:31 am
Sam as you journey let me encourage you to really savor these early moments. Journal daily. Pray often. Take pictures. Share your vision with everyone you can (have a 3 minute presentation, a 10 minute presentation and a 30 minute presentation). Never go “back.” Love your wife more than your future and both will be great. Read ALOT. Get a coach who can cry, laugh, encourge and challenge you. Finally, remember that this (your ministry) too will past. Don’t take yourself too seriously but honor Christ and love others at all costs!
I am excited for you!
July 12th, 2006 at 5:27 am
I am so thankful for your willingness to take a risk and to follow where you feel called to go. I pray that God will sustain you, encourage you and transform you as you continue to follow Jesus.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:16 am
Thanks Deana. And the friends links on the right is just linked pics which anyone could do with a little bit of basic HTML…let me know if you want to know how to do it on your own VOX.
Stephen - thanks for taking the time to stop by and thanks for the encouragement. Much appreciated.
Jon - good to hear from you. How are things going in your part of the world? Has the IMN and Origins experience triggered any changes since you’ve been back?
July 12th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
I like your newly designed voxscape. You do really good stuff, keep the great designs coming.
July 12th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
As always Sam, I think what you’re doing is tremendously exciting!
and love the friends avatars on the side… how complex is this html stuff? and how’d you get the counter on there as well?
July 12th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Jason.
Lon - here is the code I used to include your picture:
Basically, I just uploaded your profile pic onto Flickr and then set the link to point to that images location (where it says img src). I then repeated it for all the others.
Oh, this code just gets entered into a text box widget using the Sidebar Widgets under “Look and Feel”. I simply put “Friends” in the title box, and then copied all the code for everyone in the main box.
Does that make sense?!
July 12th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Odd. The code disappeared! I’ll email it to you, Lon.
July 12th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
oh i see… I didn’t know the ‘text’ widget took html. Great tip thanks!
July 13th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
hey sam, i want to know how to do the friend’s pics on the right. thanx.
btw, i like your post and like deana said, i feel your excitment too
July 13th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Thanks Niza. I’m going to put some detailed instructions together as to how to create the friends picture link. It’s quite a manual process and a bit techie, but not too difficult either. You will need something like an online Flickr (www.flickr.com) account to be able to do it though.
July 13th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
thanks sam.
July 14th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Thanks for the exciting update! I’m praying for you, Rachel, and Mosaic; I can’t wait to see where this goes.
-Mel
July 14th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Thanks Mel! Praying for you also as you move into the future and try to figure what’s the right next step. (I say come to Sheffield…much better than London!)
August 16th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
Hi Sam!
Thanks for your comment on my blog! I hope all is going well in Sheffield…
Dana Elliott
August 17th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Hey Dana! Thanks for stopping by. Things are good in Sheffield (bar summer coming to an abrupt halt!) How’s life over in sunny LA? (I’m not jealous. Honest!)