One step at a time

We are learning to trust God daily, one step at a time. It's difficult in our human nature - I want every thing and every detail planned in advance - but God keeps leading us one step at a time. Obviously God has spoken clearly enough to us that there is a vision and direction that we are heading towards. But the only thing that's crystal clear is.....God is asking us to trust Him daily, one step at a time. It feels a bit like what he told Abraham - he said go, and I'll tell you what to do when you get there. I'm actually learning to like it, and I'm beginning to think this is how God wants us to live everyday of our lives. Too many of us are living and trusting our own plans and goals. It's very difficult in our flesh to admit that we don't control our future, and we go insane pretending like we can. But there is so much freedom and life when we give it all up and start putting our 'now' and 'then' in his hands.

Rented!

8 days with a "For Rent" sign in our yard and tomorrow we should be wrapping up details for a family with twins to move in soon! Now we are trusting God to lead us to find the right place to live in LA.

DNA

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds". (Heb 10:23-24)

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved". (Heb 10:35&39)

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". (Heb 11:1)

Why drive to LA?

Why drive to LA?? The Metrolink is awesome. Free parking in Pomona - 15mnts from where I live now. Then just sit back and enjoy. Read a book, do work, listen to your iPod, do push ups, use the bathroom while in motion etc. In fact, I’m writing this blog now. Impossible to do while driving! Also, big thanks to Stewart for the tip on using DASH – a quick, agile little bus that gets you from one end of downtown to the other for a quarter. And it comes every five minutes to just about every corner in the city.
Today I met with a business owner in the South Park district who is interested in learning about our new non-profit start-up. His salon business and realty company are looking to partner with a charity in our new community. I am really looking forward to living down here and getting to know people. I really like the South Park area. I have to admit, there are parts of downtown LA that will be harder to adjust to than others.

Vision Video

Downsize

Tomorrow is garage sale day! 6:30am - put up the garage sale signs. 7am - start the coffee, the pillsbury cinnamon rolls, and start putting stuff outside. Must get rid of the junk....must negotiate well.....must maximize the cash-ola! Please pray we will make 1 million dollars!

Shelley is Brave!

I married the best girl in the world! She is beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, loving, and full of faith. I'm not gonna lie, the conversations about moving to LA, renting out our house, stepping down from being on staff at the best church in OC, transitioning from our Chino Hills (suburban mecca) 4 bedroom home to renting an apartment in the city was not exciting. It took awhile for us to wrap our minds around what that means and what that changes. But it didn't take long to realize that this desire and dream that God has placed in us cannot be ignored and if we chose to stay where we are now it would become our prison.
That's just one of the many reasons why I love Shelley, she loves God way more than she does stuff. She would much rather follow God wherever He leads us than choose an illusion of safety, security, and empty attachments. When something ignites Shelley's passions and drive, you better watch out! Good things will happen.

Journal entry 6-17-09

Just got back from downtown and the LA Live area to get some footage and photos of the area and its surroundings (with John Mediana Photography) plug! This Sunday at our home church (The Cause Community Church - I am proud of my church, and we love our Pastors Bob and Sherry and our entire church family! Everyone's love and support has been so encouraging) I want everyone to be able to see visually what and where we are talking about.

Here is the video script - watch John Mediana work his magic!

60 Second Vision Video
Los Angeles

Opening City Scenes with Demographic Text:

-Map shot of Downtown and south park area
-Day Scenes, people walking, streets etc.
-Night Scenes, buildings, freeway etc.
-Shots of LA Live

Text: Downtown Resident Population is 40,000
Text: Weekday population is 500,000
Text: Annual Visitors to Downtown is 10 million

V/O:
-Since 2001, when the City of Los Angeles passed the adaptive reuse ordinance, the downtown area of Los Angels has tripled in its living resident population.

-Most of us are aware that the city is home to the most extreme economic and physical needs of the poor and homeless. (shots of need)

VERSE:

ACTION: Establishing a non-profit foundation that partners with the City (Los Angeles), business leaders (The Chamber of Commerce), and other agencies (The United Way) to provide affordable medical and drug treatment and educational services to supportive housing units.
(Keywords to flash: Medical Clinic, Drug Treatment/Counseling, Education)

-But there is also a much larger population of people who’s needs are less obvious to the naked eye but none the less real. The spiritual and emotional needs combined with the lack of a caring, accepting, and loving community within their neighborhood are

VERSE:

ACTION: Immediately move into the neighborhood. Begin the organic process of building relationships with people. Establish community book clubs in new condominium/loft high rises in the South Park area.
-Begin the spiritual process of establishing a local Church! Through prayer, planning, and spreading the word
(Keywords to Flash: Move into neighborhood, build relationships, establish a local Church)

The Goal:
-To inspire everyone to live the greatest commandment: To love God with all our heart and the thing that God loves most – others! (Matt. 22:37-39).
-To be a Church that grows, adapts, and partners with the city while continuing to be the love and hope of Christ to the world.

By December 2010:
Loft Groups/ book clubs in every high rise within a 2 block radius
2 gatherings a Sunday at Club Nokia (or other venue)
Monday thru Saturday – missional activities happening EVERY DAY!
At least one successful non-profit missional organization founded and supported by the church and it’s foundation.

Mantra:
REAL LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING!

First Steps

First Steps:
Have a moving sale!
Find renters for our home in Chino Hills
Move into the neighborhood-Become part of the community
Start book clubs in condos/high rise buildings
Establish a foundation/non-profit
Write articles/bylaws etc for church and foundation.
Register as a 501(c)(3) corporation
Attach to city initiatives and organizations making a difference
**see http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/06/01/news/doc4a2018b123ada660484714.txt
Secure contract with venue (Club Nokia - in process)
Create names, branding, websites etc.

The call

-To inspire everyone to live the greatest commandment: To love God with all our heart and the thing that God loves most – others! (Matt. 22:37-39).

-Partnering with the City (Los Angeles), business leaders (The Chamber of Commerce), and other agencies (The United Way) to provide affordable medical and drug treatment and educational services to supportive housing units.

-To establish a non-denominational healthy and vibrant church in the LA Live area that is a reflection of its surroundings socially, economically, and in its diversity.

-To be a Church that grows, adapts, and partners with the city while continuing to be the love and hope of Christ to the world.

The Answer

Yes, what I am hearing clearly is it's time to move/obey swiftly and decisively. No question of calling or need now– God wants something to happen in this area. LA live is coming to life, people are coming to live there, and they want and need community. There is no church in this area.

Journal entry 5-18-09

Scary time of life, keep going along and ignore this passion or risk everything and step out in faith. I spent the day in downtown LA. I’ve always found myself drawn to the city, being around people, the aliveness of everything around me, the variety of people, places, sounds, etc. At the same time the city is vulnerable, congested, lonely. I’m keeping my mind, ear, and heart open. The question I can't shake: is God leading us down here? And what does He want to see happen here? It would be like God to set up the impossible so He could work miracles. Bad economy getting worse - getting ready for international adoption of our children from Ethiopia - the value of our house has declined – not the optimal time for many other reasons. But I still feel God saying now is the time. So I’m here listening, waiting, seeking, asking.....here we are. The best part about it is Shelley is ready too.