Aug 31st, 2010 by Sam
These tweets sum up Story of Yellow well. Thanks to Erwin McManus.
Step one to live your story: Know who you are and who you are not.
Step two to live your story: Know what you’re about and what you are not about.
Step three to live your story: Know what you must get done and what you must leave undone.
Aug 28th, 2010 by Sam
I recently had the opportunity to donate my photography services for a Black Card Circle Foundation event. It was an intimate night to spotlight two great people I love.
Charles Lee from !deation and Andy Bales from Union Rescue Mission. Here are some pics from the night.
Other guests include, Ben Morrison (Punked!), URM Board Chair David Dow, actress Pauley Perette (NCIS), actress Danielle James (True Blood), Lotay Yang of Black Card Circle Foundation and many other amazing people.
Aug 24th, 2010 by Sam
Here is another re-post from my original yellow blog. I would figure that this would feel old, however it was a great reminder to me.
This post was originally published on Dec 18th, 2009
Yellow has been occasionally known to represent timidness, fear and/or passivity. I choose the opposite.
One of my favorite blogs to read as of late has been Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite’s movement called “People of the Second Chance” or POTSC. I have been feeling like I am living in a parallel world along side them. Almost every post has been deeply related to the things I have been privately journaling about and prepping for this blog.
Recently, Mike Foster wrote an entry about “Don’t shoot your future in the foot.” [Go ahead and take the time to read it.]
I was first to comment,
So true. I have recently learned to embrace the “misdeals”, failures, and false starts in my life. I would use them to “set up shop” in the rubble. But more recently, I have discovered a new sense of confidence that actually comes and is fed by the rubble. Great thoughts guys.
This post provided affirmation of the idea that’s been brewing in my head and journal.
I have been in a season of study of my past failures and false starts. And what I discovered was that I had, what Mike poetically called, the tendency to “set up shop in the rubble of [my] life.” I seem to have loved using the rubble from my past failures to sabotage the possibilities of my future. I was great at playing the “Someday” card. [Another recent entry from Jud Wilhite]
However, as I learned how to embrace the misdeals, failures and false starts of my life, I have gained a new set of confidence. The confidence from remembering how God always pulled me out of the rubble more refined, more experienced and more authentic. The confidence from the tough lessons learned and the pain associated with them. This confidence develops a boldness that allows for calculated risks, firm decisions, and unwavering faith.
A great example of this is my wife Tina. We married within 9 months of dating.
Before her, I had a good number of relationships. The many years in many failed relationships really added to the confidence that Tina was the one for me. I knew in 11 days of dating that she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She had everything that I learned, through the failed relationships, I needed and wanted and also knew that I was a better boyfriend, fiance and husband because of the mistakes. And most importantly, I had an unwavering faith that God had placed her in my life to journey together through this long story called LIFE.
In his entry, Mike Foster shared this story.
Winston Churchill was asked if he thought history would be kind to him.
He answered, “Of course history will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”
I like it, but here is my twist. I do intend to write my own history… the history that God is writing through me.
Here is a brief video from my wedding and the famous wedding entrance video that even “The Office” spoofed. Enjoy.
Aug 24th, 2010 by Sam
Aug 23rd, 2010 by Sam
I recently updated the generosity portion of Story of Yellow’s Core Values.
Give GENEROUSLY
Meeting expectations is one thing. But to exceed it is divine.
Give out of Love, not obligation or guilt.
Give because you believe in the possibilities.
Give not only your time or money, but your art.
Aug 18th, 2010 by Sam
Have you in a conversation, said something that surprises you? That phrase with such simplicity, articulates what you been wanting to say for weeks, months or years.
Today, in a lunch conversation with a new friend, Chad Markey, I said something that actually felt supernatural.
“Life is not about becoming significant, but discovering your significance.”
Chew on that a little.
There is a dangerous trap in doing things just to be significant. I think that is where burn out and discontent happens. You try to define your identity with what you do rather than who you are. You find comfort in the clarity of your title or role.
However, as you slow down, and pay attention to the Beauty all around you, you will see that many things that are beautiful is beautiful because they simply are who God design them to be.
Flowers are flowers. Birds are birds. Babies are babies. It’s not necessarily what they do but who they are. We have been losing sight of seeing ourselves as unique, beautiful creations that God loves so much.
In that Love, we are significant.
When we bask in the deluge of His Love, our love for people become supernatural. It’s gets easier to love people when you yourselves are experiencing His Love. The overflow of His Love motivates us to move to action. The same Love that doesn’t waver no matter how much or little you do.
So will you start or continue your journey to discover your significance?
Aug 15th, 2010 by Sam
Today is my last full day of my 5 day vacation in Palm Springs. It has been a wonderful time with friends and family.
One realization from this vacation is that when there isn’t much to do, you end up losing yourself in your thoughts and memories. And one memory I got to recall in my conversations was the beginnings of Story of Yellow. So in light of that, I bring you a series of posts that are simply re-posts of from the original blog with some update/commentary to lead it.
This was the beginning of Story of Yellow.
**This post was published on October 29, 2009**
Lately, at an increasing rhythm, I have been going through my “Identity Crisis”. It began as a yearly ritual, which turned into a monthly and now a weekly pain-filled contemplative ritual of self-destruction and restoration. And before it becomes an even more frequent event, I started to look at WHY I was going through these crises more frequently.
Sophia turns ONE!
“Sophia, how old are you?” as I overly smile and gesture with my index pointing up… “One.”
I would repeat this over and over hoping that one day she will actually imitate me and say “One”.
Just what seems a moment ago, I was tearfully holding her tiny body against my chest and gently singing “I love you baby” to now desperately wanting her to say “One”. The time as the proverbial saying goes flew by fast. And in this thought, I began to think of how little I paid attention to the sacred but fleeting moments of Sophia’s first year.
I realized as many do, that we have lost the discipline of paying attention. We get so caught up in the rituals of motion, the busyness of providing, planning for the future that we forget to actively observe what is going on in the now.
And this is why “Story of Yellow” is so important to me. How often do we actively seek out or observe the yellow in this world? I like yellow and I always have, but I’m looking to completely become a fanatic of Yellow. I want to study it, wear it, write about, paint it, connect with other Yellow fanatics, and truly LOVE yellow.
Now replace Yellow with GOD. That is the parallel journey I am going on. One blog, www.storyofyellow.com, will focus on “Yellow” but this blog, http://sam.storyofyellow.com, will be a spiritual journey in discovering what it means to actively seek and listen for God in the daily world I live in and see the Holy Spirit moving.
You are reading this post because you have been personally invited to journey with me. Share with me your thoughts as well. Love to start a conversation.
Jun 13th, 2010 by Sam
I decided to re-post this entry from my original blog, because I needed to reminded of this truth. I had initially separated the two (sam.storyofyellow.com & blog.storyofyellow.com) because I didn’t want my faith to be a deterrent to potential clients as I started this company. However, I came to quickly realize that this is exactly NOT what Story of Yellow is about. It’s about being Authentic and Personal, and yet I was hiding my Faith.
Have you ever said to God, “Thanks for the vision and inspiration, I’ll take it from here.”? How moronic is it to think that but yet I know I and many others do it constantly.
Here is an excerpt from it. Click “Read Original” to read the full post.
——
SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE: THE UNTOLD STORY
Originally posted: November 9, 2009
I know many others share this sentiment with me,
“I want to be significant! I want to make a difference in this world.”
I talked about it. I tweeted quotes about it. I traveled to conferences in search of it. I preached about it. I had bought and read books about how to do it. I desired to start non-profits, sell t-shirts, throw concerts to make sure I was making a difference. My desire was to create a Legacy of Good Works.
——-
Click “Read Original” to read the full post.
Jun 1st, 2010 by Sam
Tony Kim’s secret to success is this. He asks for the impossible.
Four years ago, in another life, he asked me an impossible question. He asked me to quit my current job and work for him as the Media Arts Director of Newsong Church. He asked me to take a 50% paycut, work for a church (those who knew me back then knows that was crazy talk) and leave a company I so dearly loved.
Then about two years ago, he asked me another impossible question. He asked me to take his old job as the Creative Director of Newsong. WHAT?!
However, those things that were “truly impossible” is my reality of today. And thanks to him, my life will never be the same. I have experienced a life full of wonder and miracles.
I recently saw the new “Alice in Wonderland” movie and Alice said a line that sums up how Tony thinks.
“Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Alice Kingsley
Have you made a habit of believing in the impossible? Making the impossible possible?
I think you have to be a little mad to really live it out. Tony is the Mad Hatter.
At first, as Tony began to experiment and shift our staff into new paradigms of what it looks like to serve the church, I thought he was a little crazy. His infusing of Seth Godin and TED Videos in our staff meetings, The Volunteer Revolution, CATAN tournaments (which I am still the king of) and complete autonomy at first felt chaotic and out of control. However as things begin to settle, something beautiful is emerging from the dust.
Tony, props to you for leading us to embrace the impossible.
“There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter.” – Mad Hatter
======
Tony is the Executive Pastor of Newsong Church, Irvine
Tony has also created and leads Design Stars: A non-profit initiative of Newsong Church whose vision is to provide free home extreme makeovers for deserving families in the OC.
He also blogs daily at Creative Leadership and is one of the contributors for BabbleOn5.
FUN FACTOID: I married his assistant. 
May 28th, 2010 by Sam
I love this video and how two opposite items (low tech/high tech) can come together to bring more versatility to a product. It’s a great symbol of what can be accomplished with collaboration. Plus I have this thing with Apple products.
Oh BTW, This dude Jesse who made this is amazing!
iPad + Velcro from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.
RT @iamsamsong: The software is only as powerful as the hardware's capability of handling it's potential. #rethinkingchurch #fb"Silver Bullet to Leadership" - http://t.co/X45xL4OF #leadership #conversation #novemberblogfest
Good stuff @iamsamsong @storyofyellow http://t.co/hYNM6lIe loved that prayer!
.@decart I didn't post my writing from today, but I did update my @storyofyellow summary. Does that count? #no… (cont) http://t.co/y1Oo2G5uMore Black Wordpress Themes © 2012 All Rights Reserved.
