Your Moment Is Now

I've Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:37:00 +0000

My new online home is:

www.thewritersblockwithshannon.blogspot.com

From now on you can visit me there. Please update your email subscriptions and blog rolls accordingly.

Thank you!

The Sovereignty of God in Life's Trials

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:55:00 +0000

Deanna sent me this photo this week (minus the text which was added via Picnik). It was taken from her backyard after a severe storm. She said it reminded her of glory. It reminds me of God's sovereignty. Now anyone who has spent any length of time in church knows that the word sovereignty can sometimes be thrown around by people who want to sound smart but can't explain what it really means. Thus, the rest of us pick up the habit of using a word we can only vaguely define. Let me simply this for you. Sovereignty, in regards to God, simply means that He has dominion, power and authority over everything. This is His World.

Let's just run through a quick list of some of the things God is sovereign over.

The weather.
"He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." -Psalm 107:29.

Earning potential.
"You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth..."
-Deut. 8:18

Fertility.
"...and the LORD gave [Ruth] conception, and she bore a son." --Ruth 4:13

I really could go on for days. But let's stop at three so this post doesn't get out of control. It's nice to say we believe that God is sovereign, that He's in control. But what happens when a typhoon wipes out a village in the Phillipines or the people in the Mid-West are floating down streets on rafts due to severe flooding that is taking lives and ravaging homes? Where is God in that weather?

It's nice to believe God is in control of your finances when you are signing on the dotted line and purchasing your dream home, and your bank account is nicely padded. But what do you do when a catastrophy strikes and your savings vanishes in a matter of mere months and your checkbook doesn't contain enough money to pay all of your bills even though you have always tithed faithfully? Where is God and His power to give wealth in that circumstance and this rough economy?

Or what happens when a happily married Christian woman longs to hold a child in her arms only to be told she cannot conceive, yet a group of unwed teens in Massachussetts make a pact and all of them get pregnant without any problem? How is God sovereign in those circumstances?

Where is God in those times? He's in the same place He was in when the weather was good, the bank account was full and the womb was fruitful. God, my friends, is on His throne. He always has been, and He always will be. From His throne, He awaits the day Christ will return and all rights will be made wrong.

Timothy describes Him this way:

"...he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen" --1 Timothy 6:15-16

Today, I'm writing from the dark side of a very long and extended trial. I've been tempted to ask where God is in all of this. But I already know the answer. He's on His throne. When I'm tempted to ask why bad things happen to good people I think of what God is doing on His throne. He's awaiting the day Christ can return for His own. From my temporal perspective, my circumstances look pretty bad. But from an eternal perspective, I've already been showered with more grace and mercy than I can even recall. If heaven awaits my arrival, and Christ has prepared a place for me, my life really isn't that bad. Storms and all.

Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:19:00 +0000

For all of you who sent me emails or left me comments telling you missed reading my blog last week, thank you. I honestly didn't expect anyone to care or notice that I was on vacation. Michael and I went to the Resolved conference in Palm Springs for four days, and once we came home I spent a few days doing fun stuff like relaxing at my neighborhood water park with friends and barbecuing with family. I realize I skipped the weekly recap of the James study, but enough of you had told me you were behind that I didn't think you would mind the extra week to catch up. On Wednesday I will resume blogging about that.

In the meantime, let me tell you about what I've been thinking about lately. The theme of the Resolved conference was heaven and hell, and I highly recommend that you visit the website and download the free audio. Over four days, Michael and I took in twelve expository sermons from some of America's finest preachers. There is no way I can expound on everything I heard. So let me hit the highlights:

1) CJ Mahaney preached one night on the doctrine of adoption. I absolutely loved it when he said, "If you have ever wondered if God loves you, the fact that you love God is proof that God loves you. Apart from His enabling you to love Him, you wouldn't be capable of loving Him. So, if you love God you can be certain that God loves you." Wrap your mind around that thought. It will help you survive your darkest days.

2) John Piper preached one night on sin. He had us examine disease, death and all of the horrible things we see on the news. Then he pointed out that all of those things are a direct result of the fall of man. Those things are all a direct result of sin entering the world. "They exist," Piper said, "to remind us of the magnitude of sin and the greatness of the glory of God. God would have you look at the sin in your own life and want to get rid of it as badly as you would want to get rid of cancer." Whoa. Never in a million years would I have made that correlation on my own. But, it's so true. I pray that I (and my loved ones) never get cancer, but I don't pray for God to remove the sin from our lives with the same fervor. Now, it's apparant, that I desperately need to reshape my prayer life.

3) Randy Alcorn opened my eyes to some very biblical truths about heaven that I would have never dreamed of in my wildest imagination. What he said was so shocking to me that I immediately purchased his book Heaven and have been tearing through it ever since. In all honesty, the thought of heaven has always made me a little nervous. So little is ever really said about it. But Randy's thorough study of it can prove to be enlightening to all of us. Have you ever considered that our current bodies will be the bodies we have in heaven--only they will be in a glorified and resurected state? Has the thought ever crossed your mind that the current heaven where saints of old now reside is not the permanent heaven that will exist when Christ comes back from the dead? Randy unpacks these topics and many more (Can those in heaven see what's happening on earth? etc...) in his book, and I've found it to be a gripping and life-changing read. It's sound biblical teaching at it's finest.

This blog post fails miserably as a recap of the conference. So, I highly encourage you to visit the website and check out the free audio for yourself. Prepare to have your mind blown. Yes, it's that good!

James Bible Study Week 2--James 1:9-12

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:46:00 +0000

I'm eager to hear everyone's insights on this week's passage. If you aren't studying James with those of us on the blog this summer, and you would like to, just leave your email address in the comments section (i.e. shannonATbeingagirlbooks.com) and I will be happy to send you the study guide. Let's jump in to this week's text!

In this week's study, I think I uncovered what has now become one of my favorite verses in the Bible. James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

The phrase "the crown of life" means "the crown that is life" otherwise known as eternal life. So what this verse is really saying it that although we cannot earn our salvation in trials (or at all), we can prove our salvation in the midst of trials. Our ability to remain steadfast during trials demonstrates that we truly are Christians and that we trust in a God who is sovereign over all things. This is so amazing to me. Especially since some of us studying James are in the midst of some big trials right now. A few of you emailed me last week and let me in on what's going on with you. Here's a short list of what we (as a group) have been facing:

1) One of us has a husband who is recovering from a major accident and multiple surgeries. If that's not enough, her husband was rushed in for an emergency appendectomy over the weekend.

2) One of us just underwent a root canal and oral surgery.

3) One of us is grappling with the loss of one-third of her family's income in this rough economy.

The list could go on, and those are just some of the "major" trials, not to mention the "minor" ones. (Are there ever really any minor trials that seem minor at the time?)

So, what this verse says to those of us in these hard trials is that remaining steadfast during this time is proof of our salvation and brings with it a blessing. I really saw this concept in action this week. Yesterday I received an email from an old high school classmate of mine. I have only heard from her once in the last eleven years, and that was probably five years ago. This woman is going through a tough time, and she's searching for Christ in the midst of her pain. She emailed me because she couldn't stop thinking about how I was able to "minister" to her in the midst of a major health trial I had when I was 15 years old.

I needed major surgery, and I had to undergo a year-long recovery process that was taxing at times. As I shared the gospel with this girl, and lived out my life before her eyes, I had no idea how closely she was watching me. But she was. And for some reason God caused her to recall that memory eleven years later, so that she would email me and I would once again share the gospel with her. I have no idea what I could have said or done to have such an impact on someone. It had to be the Holy Spirit working through me as I was remaining steadfast in the midst of my trial. My prayer is that this former classmate of mine finds Christ in the midst of her trial, and that she surrenders her life to Him so that she too can receive the crown that is life.

So, be encouraged sisters! Your trials offer proof of your salvation. And those around you notice that proof. Your very reaction to your current trial might be all it takes to open the door to share the gospel. To God be the glory!

I can't wait to read your comments on this passage below!

Count it All Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:59:00 +0000

I love the encouragement and excitement that comes from studying the Word of God with friends. It's been great to read all of the comments from those of you studying James with me this summer. Yesterday, I sat across from Erica (one of my fellow studiers of James) and saw the excitement on her face as she discussed the first portion of James 1 and talked about how she had been committing the passage to memory.

This morning I received an email from Deanna, another friend studying James this summer. She attached the above photo to her email. It was taken on her niece's recent trip to Africa. This little boy's name is Richard and he lives in an AIDS ravaged area. Deanna wrote:

This picture reminded me of what we are studying in James. Even though we do not know if he is going through a great trial right now, or if he sees it around him or maybe his whole life has been a trial and he doesn’t know any different, but when I look at it, I just think about how this might be what God wants us to look like as we go through stuff. It may not be reality when we go through something major but it is something to strive for.

So, I encourage you, count it all joy today...no matter what you are facing.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. --James 1:2-4

James Bible Study Week One: James 1:1-8

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:28:00 +0000

For those of you who are studying James with me this summer, here’s your chance to chime in. If you aren’t studying James with me, and you would like to, leave your email address in the comments section below so I can send you the weekly study guide. Be sure to use the following format (shannonATbeingagirlbooks.com) so as not to get spammed.

Well, let me just say, there’s nothing like kicking off your summer by talking about trials and needing wisdom! When I first decided to tackle a book of the Bible this summer, I initially selected James because of its length. Simply put, it was short enough that I could sufficiently study the entire book over my summer break from Women’s Bible Study and Thrive. It somehow slipped my mind that James deals with some slightly unpleasant subject matter. But, honestly, the topics of trials and wisdom couldn’t have been timelier for me.

I don’t feel comfortable sharing the details of my particular trial on the internet at this particular time (although I may get there…we’ll see). But suffice to say, the words I’ve been studying in James have cut to the core of who I am, and they have been carving out the character of Christ in me. If I am willing and eager to learn as I study James this summer, I am confident that I won’t be the same person by the end of this summer. The Word of God really is living and active just like Hebrews 4:12 says!

Below you will find the things I found most interesting about this week’s text. I look forward to reading the thoughts of those of you studying James with me in the comments section. Don’t leave me hanging!

•In James 1:1-8 James seems to imply that there is a direct correlation between being in a trial and needing wisdom, and specifically wisdom from God (not from our friends, not from our family members, not from the latest business book, etc…). With this need for wisdom comes a guarantee we will receive it as long as we ask for it and we ask for it without doubting. It amazed me that this text clearly spelled out that if we ask and doubt we cannot expect to receive wisdom (v. 7). So, it seems to me that asking and doubting are a crazy combination because doing those two things in tandem is equivalent to telling God “no thanks” to His free gift of wisdom that we so desperately need.

•I appreciate that James was originally writing this letter to believers (Jews) who were scattered to live among non-believers. In context, James was speaking to people who have some similarities to you and me. In case you haven’t noticed, this world is not our home. Life among non-believers is hard. In California, where I live, gay marriage was recently legalized. My husband works in a secular career in which people aren’t always honest or moral in their business transactions. The fact that some of the issues James will address in this letter are a direct result of being believers in an unbelieving world gives me great comfort, because I know there is a lot I can stand to learn from this letter.

•I love that James simply introduces himself in this letter as a servant. He doesn’t acknowledge that he was the half-brother of Christ. There is no rank or status being pulled. James doesn’t try to give authority to his message based on who he is. Instead, his message (which is directly from God) has all the authority it needs and therefore he (the mere messenger) really needs no authority of his own. This concept is so revolutionary. It stands in such sharp contrast to how the Christian world operates today. Even in Christian publishing, editors want to know all about how big your platform is and how many people you reach on a regular basis before they are willing to offer you a contract. There is no longer an emphasis on truth and accuracy. Christians today (and not just Christians in publishing) have made the Christian life all about making Christ marketable. Instead of letting the power and the authority belong to God, they’ve opted instead for sales strategies that diminish Christ and make Him into a product we need to push onto everyone we meet. After studying James’ approach, woe to any of us who think the power should ever lie anywhere but with God.

•I also loved that James’ approach to take joy in trials clearly demonstrates that many trials are not God’s punishment for something we have done wrong, but are instead His way of maturing and growing us as believers. I’ve found this to be especially comforting in light of my current trial. So often, our tendency during a trial is to find what we’ve done to deserve such punishment and fix it, so we can be relieved from the pain and agony we’ve been enduring. But the command to take joy in the midst of trials stands in stark contrast to the approach of taking joy in being relieved from trials. So, every morning I’ve tried to rise and face my day (and my trial) with joy. I’ve tried to be an eager student who is ready to let “patience have its perfect work” in my life. It’s amazing how taking on this biblical perspective can make a seemingly unchanging circumstance just a little more bearable.

Anyway, this is becoming an extremely long blog post and I don’t want to steal the floor from the others who have been studying James with me. So, girls…let’s hear it. How has the Word of God challenged and encouraged you this past week?

Girls' Night Out in Sturbridge, MA: Event Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:25:00 +0000

Over the weekend I was the main speaker at a teen girls' event in Sturbridge, MA. There were roughly 275 people in attendance and it was an awesome weekend! My audience ranged in age from 11-18, which is quite a big spread but they were one of the most receptive crowds I have ever been in front of. And Molly Colton, the coordinator for the event, was absolutely wonderful to work with.

On Friday night I taught from Matthew 13 on the parable of the sower. The girls were a little restless at first as the weekend was just beginning and they were full of nervous energy. But they settled down fairly quickly. At certain points throughout the sermon, you could hear a pin drop. Once I finished speaking, Molly gave the girls about 40 minutes to just sit and ponder where they currently stood before God. I loved how she just stopped her schedule and put everything else on hold so the girls could deal with the most important issue. The leaders all banned together and began to pray for the salvation of the girls during this time, and it was almost as if you could physically watch God claim those who are His. Throughout the rest of the weekend I had girls telling me they became Christians for the very first time. Praise God!

On Saturday, I taught on love and forgiveness from John 13 and the girls all seemed to really respond well. Some of them told me they really appreciated it when I said, "When we choose not to forgive someone else we mock the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. It's as if we're saying, 'His blood was not enough to cover that person's sin.'" The girls all seemed eager to put what they were learning into practice. I closed the weekend out with Paul's admonishment to run to win in Philippians 3. By the time I arrived home on Sunday, my inbox was flooded with emails from girls asking me if I could send them the spiritual growth chart my friend Christa uses that I referenced when I was teaching. I've never met teenage girls so hungry for Christ and so eager to change their lives in response to who He is and what He commands of us.

In every crowd there always seems to be one girl who goes out of her way to let me know how what I do has impacted her life. And every single time this happens I am both grateful for and overwhelmed by the reminder that God has allowed me to be part of the work He is doing in someone else's life. This weekend, the girl who went out of her way the most to encourage me was Taylor. On Friday night she came up to me with a gift. Nervously, she pulled something from a small, drawstring bag and handed it to me.

"This is for you, it's a bookmark," she said handing me a long ribbon with charms tied to both ends. I thanked her and hugged her and made my way to the book table where a line was already forming. Later in the evening Taylor came back up to me to explain what she had forgotten to share with me the first time. She had heard me speak before, and at that event I had taught on trials and how we are to let patience have its perfect work in us (which also happens to be what I am currently studying in James). In that sermon, when I taught on trials, I used the analogy of an oyster using irritants and parasites to form a pearl. When I looked closely at the charm on the end of the bookmark Taylor gave me, I saw that it was an open oyster with a pearl inside. I was touched that she had gone to that much effort to give me a gift with such significance.

What Taylor could have never known was that Michael and I are in the midst of a very great trial right now. Most days are a fight to get through and I know we have both been working hard to meditate on Scripture. Last week I clung to James 1:12 as I worked through my week. And on Friday night, as I looked at the bookmark from Taylor, I was again reminded that God is working something beautiful in my life through this trial and I just need to trust Him and yield to Him in obedience through it all. This morning, I put that bookmark in my Bible to mark my place in James so I could see it and remember Taylor and remember the purpose of trials each morning as I sit down to spend time with the Lord.

I look forward to sharing more about the topic of God working in our lives through trials in my blog post about studying James tomorrow. But, today I want to focus on the work God did in Sturbridge, MA and praise Him for the victory He claimed in the lives of these girls. Thank you for your prayers.

Don't Waste Your Summer #3

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:33:00 +0000

(Note to those doing the James Bible study with me: Next Tuesday I will post our first discussion on James 1:1-8. I look forward to hearing your comments!)

Let’s face it. Summer leaves most of us with at least a little extra time. And in some cases it leaves us with gaps in our social schedules if certain activities (Bible studies, school, networking groups, etc…) that we usually participate in are on a seasonal break. While the first two posts in this series focused on two ways we can personally focus on not wasting our summer, today I want to talk about an interpersonal effort we can make that will help us insure that our summer will be good for more than just great family photos and fun and happy memories. The extra time summer provides in our schedules could be put to good use is we decide to disciple or be discipled by someone in our local church.

In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul encourages young Timothy to entrust the things he’s been taught to faithful men who will be able to teach others. Those of us who have been Christians for any length of time have the great privilege and responsibility of teaching others the things we have learned about Christ so that they can grow, be encouraged and eventually go out and teach those same things to others as well.

My church has a great program called “Partners” for both new and old believers alike. It’s a ten-week curriculum that walks you through some of the foundational principles of the Christian faith and spurs you on in certain spiritual disciplines like prayer. Once you complete the program you are officially qualified to take someone else through it. My friend Kelly has been encouraging me to go through it with her for months now, but I’ve never had the time. Starting in July, I’ve committed to “partnering” with Kelly and completing the course. I’m looking forward to being refreshed in some of the basics of my faith, learning some new and challenging things and also growing in my friendship with Kelly along the way. Going into the fall I will also be equipped to take others through the program in the future.

Summer is a great time to take advantage of programs like this that your own church might offer. Or, if your church doesn’t offer anything like this, it would be a great time to study a book of the Bible with a friend once a week. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Don’t waste your summer, and look for a way to sharpen or be sharpened by someone else.

Stay tuned for posts 4-5 on the “Don’t Waste Your Summer” series...

Don't Waste Your Summer Part #2

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:32:00 +0000

Yesterday, I began a five-part series on not wasting your summer. My main motivation for not wanting to waste my own summer is 2 Corinthians 5:10. Who really wants to stand before God and explain why getting a good suntan was more important than building His kingdom or growing spiritually? Now, I’m not down on getting a good suntan. I have my own fair share of dates penciled in to hit up the beach, the pool and my neighborhood water park this summer. But I plan on taking a tool that will help me not waste my tan (how’s that for stretching this analogy?) with me when I go.

2) Read challenging and engaging books this summer. As an author, I’m sure it goes without saying that I read a lot. But in the past I’ve been guilty of being lazy in my personal reading choices. When you read or write for work for 8-10 hours on an average day, the last thing you want to do sometimes is pick up a challenging and convicting read. There are many days where I would prefer to pick up lighthearted fiction written by one of my novelist friends, or something that is currently selling well so I can research why it happens to be so appealing to such a broad audience. This summer I’ve restructured my reading goals, and my intention wasn’t to impress those lounging near me at the beach with my spiritual and scholarly reading choices. Instead I’m looking for books that will spur me on to growth. I want to expand my mind and be challenged.

This summer I’ve decided that I’m going to conquer two Christian classics that I’ve owned for years but have yet to labor through. Both Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan have been on my theoretical “to read” list for a long time now, and I’ve decided that this year I’m going to actually read them. But those aren’t the only two books on my list. In fact, my goal is to conquer two books a month. So that means I have to read at a pretty regular pace this summer. In addition to those two classics I also have some newer books that will work to challenge and convict me as I work on my tan. The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies and God is the Gospel by John Piper are both on my nightstand ready to go. And I’m currently, looking for suggestions for the month of August so you can leave your suggestions in the comments section. I’m open to both secular and Christian books, but if the book is secular it has to have redeeming qualities that make it useful to me as I seek to grow in my knowledge of Christ. After all, my goal is to not waste my summer.

This summer, I encourage you to forgo the temptation to reach exclusively for lighter faire and to instead grab at least one Christian classic and a few thought provoking reads that will help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of Christ. Even in things as simple as hitting the beach and working on your tan, make sure you don’t waste your summer.

If you want to read an article by John Piper on how he selects his reading material you can click here.

Stay tuned for “Don’t Waste Your Summer” tips 3-5 later this week.

Don't Waste Your Summer # 1

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:13:00 +0000

With summer usually comes the temptation to become spiritually lax or lazy. If your schedule is anything like mine, it eases up some in June, July and August. Currently, I'm on a break from my regular Thrive and Women's Bible Study (WBS) commitments and it would be really easy for me to read the Bible less and stop working on spiritual disciplines like prayer and Scripture memory. The part of me that was a student for eighteen years still seems to associate warm weather with carefree fun. But, alas, if I were to indulge my desire for three months of pure relaxation I would find, come September, that I have wasted my summer. And someday, when I stand before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) I would really hate to have to account for a completely wasted summer. Imagine me standing before Christ and saying, "Yes, I know I didn't grow spiritually or build your kingdom in any way that summer, but I sure did have fun hitting up the water park and the beach with my friends." Yeah, not gonna fly.

So, this summer it's important that all of us keep our end game in mind. We will all stand before Christ someday and have to give an account not only for how we lived our lives, but also for how we spent this summer. I'm not sure about you, but that really jolts me to reality quickly. Over the next five days, let me offer you five ways you can invest your time this summer that will help insure that you don't waste it.

1) Study a book of the Bible this summer. During the fall, winter and spring I studied the entire books of 1 Peter and 1 Thessalonians with my WBS and Thrive groups. Each week I had homework assignments that had me pouring through the pages of Scripture, and that left me completely Bible saturated. The spiritual growth that resulted from time spent in the pure, unadulterated Word of God was incredible. Nothing compares to actually being in the Bible itself and studying it verse by verse, in context.

This summer, I've decided to study the book of James. But instead of taking a carefree (or careless) approach to how I was going to accomplish this goal, I decided to create a study guide for myself that is much like the one I used to study 1 Peter this past year. It's not a curriculum, and it's not a Bible study. It's not something that I will ever get published. Instead it's a a series of questions to guide me in my own verse by verse study of James each week. Michael and I happened to own some great commentaries and we recently invested in the Libronix Bible Software, so my study questions will help me to probe pretty deeply into James, and into supporting passages. My mom and her friend Wendy were so encouraged by my enthusiam for James that they asked if I would be willing to share my study guide with them this summer. I happily obliged, and I would be more than willing to share it with you too.

Even if you've never commented on this blog before, don't let that hold you back from studying the book of James with me this summer. If you would like me to send you a study guide each week for the next sixteen weeks simply type your email address (in the following format) in the comments section: shannonATbeingagirlbooks.com. If enough of you sign up, I might even create a weekly discussion post based on each week's passage.

But whether you choose to join me in the book of James this summer or not (I know some of my CBC friends studied James in 2006 before I was around), I would highly encourage you to take the first step toward not wasting your summer by finding your own book of the Bible and breaking it into small sections and diving in to discover the countless treasures burried in God's Word.

Stay tuned for "Don't Waste Your Summer" tips 2-5 later this week!

Unbalanced Christians

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:52:00 +0000

For the last eight months Michael and I have been involved with Thrive (the young marrieds group at our church). It’s been absolutely life changing for us in terms of the caliber of teaching we are exposed to each week, and the quality of people we have met. We have made some very close friends in this group, and they serve as the sharpest of iron on which we can file and hone ourselves. Sadly, yet understandably, Thrive breaks for the summer so this week will be our last weekly gathering for four long months. We’ll still have monthly accountability meetings, and other fun activities. But nothing compares to the weekly dinners and Bible study we’ve grown accustomed to. In eight months together, we’ve devoured the entire book of 1 Thessalonians.

So, a few weeks ago, several of us were chatting about the possibility of continuing to get together weekly or bi-monthly throughout the summer. One person in the group wanted to continue to meet together, but had strong opinions on how it should be structured. Let’s refer to this person as “Bob.”

“We’re a marriage group, so if we get together we need to study the topic of marriage,” Bob said. I found the comment to be rather odd since we’ve spent the last eight months studying 1 Thessalonians, which isn’t a book on marriage. In fact, one of the things that attracted Michael and I to Thrive (and thereby Compass Bible Church) in the first place was that they actually focused on teaching the Bible rather than strictly dealing with the topic of marriage.

Although Bob may have been well-intentioned in wanting to study the topic of marriage, I think that his comments demonstrate just how easy it can be to get off-track in the Christian life. If we open our Bibles and thumb through the concordances looking exclusively for words and topics that are of interest to us—or pertain to our current life stages—we run the risk of becoming very unbalanced people. Trust me, Michael and I tried to plug-in at several young marrieds groups before we found Thrive, and although we may have picked up a good communication skill or two, the experiences left us nothing but frustrated and almost dwarfed. We did not grow spiritually as we learned to repeat catchy phrases like, “My spouse is not my enemy.”

Listen, I’m all about being relevant. I write books to teenage girls, so almost all of the personal stories I use as illustrations come from my own teen years. All of the application in the book is specific to how the lives of teenage girls are structured. But I don’t open up my Bible to a limited number of passages and think those are the only biblical truths that can apply to the lives of teenage girls. The entire Bible applies to their lives, and it’s my job to show them how. So, right now I’m working on a book based on one of the parables of Jesus. The application is still geared to teenage girls, but nothing about the passage itself screams “teenage girl material.” But after teaching the parable at two teen girls’ conferences already, I’ve seen it begin to change the lives of teenage girls. Why? Because the material I am using is the Bible and the Bible has the power to change people’s lives (Hebrews 4:12). My opinions don’t. Sure, I can temporarily sway someone with my opinions if I am lucky, but my opinions certainly aren’t living and active and sharper that a double-edged sword.

The Church is full of many unbalanced Christians today because we are far too topic driven. We’re life stage crazy. It’s almost as if we confuse Christianity with Burger King and think we can "have it our way." Let’s be honest here. Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry ended when He was thirty-three years old. That’s still relatively young (the older I get, the younger that looks). Does that mean there is no salvation for people older than their mid-thirties? Is Christ’s life suddenly irrelevant to them because He never lived to see their life stage? Since Paul, Peter and John were men does that mean I should throw out the majority of my New Testament because men can’t speak truth into my life as a woman? Or what about this—the classic marriage passage in Ephesians 5 was penned by Paul who (most likely) wasn’t married anymore when he wrote that. So, do I throw that out too?

Picking and choosing which parts of the Bible apply to your life isn’t a good practice to adopt. The very nature of arguing that certain passages are more relevant than others is a slippery slope, because natural reasoning can easily whittle away the relevance of any of the Bible’s teachings. Just look at my last paragraph, I completely wiped out the “relevance” of much of the New Testament.

If we truly believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we need to know and study the entire book. Knowing what the Bible says about being single doesn’t do you any good once you get married. And knowing the ins and outs of all of the marriage passages doesn’t do you any good in the grief of becoming widowed. Life changes. God’s Word doesn’t. So don’t focus exclusively on what may or may not seem relevant to you today. The Word of the Lord stands forever (1 Peter 1:25), and it would do you good to know your stuff.

Book Review: Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Over the years I’ve really come to respect John Piper for his bold passion for demonstrating the supremacy of God in all things. His book Don’t Waste Your Life is definitely at the top of my all-time favorite reads. If I were to comment on everything that challenged, convicted or encouraged me in this book, my review would be as long as the book itself. So, let me comment exclusively on three points Piper raised in this book that left me thinking long after the book was closed:

1) Piper thoroughly explores many avenues which a person can pursue and still come out knowing he or she has wasted her life. Instead of stopping at the surface and stating that a non-Christian life is a wasted life, Piper probes deeper and begins to raise questions about those of us who wrap ourselves in comfortable Christianity. For example, Piper surmises that those of us who work hard all day, come home at night and plop ourselves in front of the TV for “family time” and spend our weekends on fun and church activities waste our lives just as much as the slothful non-Christian because we aren’t risking anything for the cause of the kingdom, we aren’t actively sharing Christ with others and we aren’t prizing and treasuring God above all else.

Somewhere along the line we’ve cloned the American dream and Christianized it and think that when we get to heaven God will be pleased with us although nothing about our lives screams of His renown. For me, this was very convicting. I’ve always thought a good family life, and fellowship with church friends were pretty good things. And Piper doesn’t argue that they aren’t. Instead, he points out that they are merely a starting point for the lives we were meant to live. As he writes, “We were meant for so much more.” Our Christianity must breach the walls of our own homes and churches or when our lives are over, we will find we have done very little for the kingdom of God.

2) Piper also raises a magnificent point about forgiveness. He writes that those of us who seek forgiveness from God specifically to free ourselves from guilt, or in order to see a dead loved one again in eternity, or to simply escape the fiery flames of hell, or to receive glorified bodies, miss out on what forgiveness really is. Forgiveness gives us God. As Piper so beautifully states: “[Christ] is the only window through which a sinner may see the face of God and not be incinerated” (40). If we can come to a place in our own understanding where we realize that forgiveness gives us God, then we will become forgiving people because our desire to give God—the treasure of our lives—to other people will overpower any offense we may have received along the way.

The forgiveness Piper talks about isn’t “wimpy grace,” and he stresses the importance of accountability and correction, but he also says that those of us who understand what forgiveness really is will error on the side of mercy. I’ve never thought about it in those exact terms before, so this was a powerful concept for me. Forgiveness did give me God, and who am I to withhold God from someone else?

3) Piper also writes very frankly about the concept of risk in this book. On page 81 he says, “One of my aims is to explode the myth of safety and to somehow deliver you from the enchantment of security. Because it’s a mirage. It doesn’t exist. Every direction you turn there are unknowns and things beyond your control.” He goes on to state that we take risks every day of our lives—with car accidents and diseases and other things interrupting our lives and ruining our plans we aren’t free from risk or pain just because we don’t take great risks for God. Instead, we take risks for things that are of little or no value while we choose not to take risks for the one thing that matters most. And we waste our lives.

We are, by nature, a people who like security. We like answers. We want to know how things will turn out in the end. But God, in His infinite wisdom, has decided to prevent us from having the ability to know how things will work out on this earth. Will we die young? Maybe. But at least we have the security of knowing that those of us who know Christ will go from this earth to spend eternity with Him. That much He let us know, and that is grace enough. We don’t need to fear death just because we don’t know when it will come. Piper, himself, writes: “It is the will of God that we be uncertain about how life on this earth will turn out for us. And therefore it is the will of the Lord that we take risks for the cause of God” (86). This portion of the book really shattered my image of safety, and opened up new opportunities to me in terms of how I can serve God. If death isn’t meant to be feared, and safety is never to be had this side of heaven, then there is nothing I cannot do for the kingdom of God.

This review is getting long as it is, and I hope I’ve given you enough content to persuade you to buy this book. But I will offer this wholehearted endorsement with a word of caution: If you don’t want to be confronted with the hard sayings of Christ, and you don’t want to be challenged to live a life that stands in contrast to the comfortable Christianity that most of the Western world has embraced, then don’t buy this book. You’ll quickly grow frustrated with it, you’ll yell at Piper and you will want to put it down. This book isn’t easy reading, nor does it encourage easy living. But it does help map out a course for a life well-lived and un-wasted. So, if that’s what you are truly after, this book is for you.

Making a Difference One Cup of Coffee at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:13:00 +0000

Tonight I finished reading Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. It was a challenging and convicting read. Piper really encouraged me to pursue a life that goes beyond the comforts of a normal, typical, Western, Christian life. I plan to write a review of the book once I work through some of what I read and I am better equipped to formulate my own thoughts.

But as I read his closing two chapters tonight, my mind drifted to my friend Krishana Kraft who definitely isn't wasting her life. I first met Krishana several years ago when she was on staff at BRIO magazine. She went to Peru on the same trip Michael and I did in 2006, but she and I had corresponded via email before then. When we were in Peru, Krishana was in the process of leaving BRIO and spending five months serving God by working with YWAM in Austria. While there, Krishana heard the call to return to Austria full time to minister to the 300,000+ unreached youth there.

Currently she is raising support through Greater Europe Mission, so she can return to Austria and answer what she believes to be God's call on her life. Right now Krishana has a unique fundraising opportunity. She has partnered with 963 Coffee (A specialty Arabic coffee that is organic and fair wage). For every bag of coffee purchased through this link, 40% of the proceeds will go to Krishana's account at Greater Europe Mission. So if you like coffee, and you have ten bucks to spare, you can help Krishana answer God's call to take the gospel to every tongue, tribe and nation.

Be sure to check out her blog to learn more about her story, and again you can help her out by buying coffee here.

"God Told Me"

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:03:00 +0000

Sometimes, you can't say something any better yourself. So you link to it. That's definitely the case with this vlog by my pastor. Check it out.

Weekend Recap From Kalahari Resort, OH

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:55:00 +0000

What a great weekend! I'm absolutely exhausted, but I am also extremely grateful for all God did in the lives of these girls this weekend. On the left you can see a photo of two of my Christian Writers' Guild students, Sarah and Hannah, and me. Notice the rhino behind us? I told you this place looked like the Rain Forest Cafe. I really enjoyed my two hours with Sarah and Hannah. Both of them are excellent writers bubbling with potential and I can't wait to see how they continue to develop in the craft and use writing for God's glory. I wish I could have had more time with them.

Saturday night, my throat problem (which turned out to be a severe allergy to something in the Ohio air) grew worse and worse as I was preparing to give my final message of the weekend. Oddly enough, the message was on pressing on and enduring which was exactly what I had to do in order to even get the words out of my mouth. But I knew people were praying for me, and that God was with me, and He worked in those girls' hearts in a powerful way. As I taught I saw many of them furiously taking notes. One girl, with a high ponytail that flopped around furiously, nodded vigorously at almost everything I said. It was evident that some girls were hungry for the Word of God, and I hope my time with them served to whet their appetites for more of His Word.

After I closed on Saturday night, I received an overwhelmingly positive response from the girls. Because of their busy schedule, and the way meals were structured, I didn't have much contact with them outside of the teaching time during the weekend. But on Saturday night many of them lined up to talk to me and quickly tell me what the weekend meant to them. I loved that when they shared what God had spoken to them through the weekend they shared the Scripture references that specifically spoke to them. The Word of God is living and powerful, and I'm so glad they heard from Him this weekend. Both leaders and girls alike were quick to tell me that they appreciated "they way [I] arrange all of my points around Scripture" (also known as expository teaching). It was really encouraging to see so many of them embrace the teaching in such a positive way because I brought a somewhat tough and unpopular message this weekend.

Everyone from Woodside Bible Church was very kind and nice to work with. I enjoyed several late night chat sessions with some of the youth pastors and their wives and the other leaders. The resort grounds were absolutely amazing. There was an indoor water park, an indoor mini golf course, a large arcade, a paint your own pottery studio, several shops, a candy shop to die for, a day spa and all kinds of other fun things. I didn't have much time to explore, but during the moments that I did I found myself thinking that this would be a great place for a family vacation in the future. Michael and I would definitely consider going back someday. We skipped the water park this time, but I think we'd definitely give it a try if we came for vacation and not work.

One of the funniest parts of the entire weekend was that there was a girl at the event whose name is Shannon Kubiak (which also happens to be my maiden name). I was so excited to meet another Shannon Kubiak that I had to have my picture taken with her. You can see it here on the right. She was a very sweet girl, and she happened to buy a copy of my book God Called a Girl which is the only title I have with just my maiden name on the cover. So, she can now pretend like she wrote the book!

Doing two events back to back has been exhausting. I usually like to leave at least one weekend in between to give me time to breathe. But this month things didn't work out that way. But God was faithful to supply me with strength. Although I didn't feel good physically for most of the weekend, it was still great to watch God at work in and through me. Prior to the close of the event on Saturday night, I spent some time wondering why exactly God had brought me to Sandusky, OH this weekend. Later that evening as girls came up to me and looked me in the eye and explained how they were learning to forgive, learning what it really means to be a Christian, and that they were going to go home and make significant changes in their lives, I knew why. In that moment I was reminded that although a life of traveling and speaking isn't always easy, and it can often times be tiring, it is also very, very worth it. Honestly, there is nowhere else I would have rather been this weekend than in Sandusky, OH with these girls and our incredible God. Thank you for your prayers.

My Afternoon at Kalahari

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:03:00 +0000

This morning's session on John 13 and Luke 8 seemed to be really well received by the girls. The girls have been so busy that I've only gotten a chance to speak one on one with a smal handful of them. One of the youth pastors' wives, Lauren, shared her testimony just before I got up to teach and she brought up the concept (in Luke 7) of forgiving much because we've been forgiven much ourselves. It was a perfect set up for the morning. I later drove home this point by explaining that Jesus' words on the cross (Matt. 27) prove He died as the enemy of God so none of us would have to. Since that is the case, none of us have room to hold unforgiveness toward someone else in our hearts.

I also taught on the woman in Luke 8. Jesus didn't by pass anyone. Although he was on His way somewhere important with someone important, He took the time to stop and commend the woman with the issue of blood for her faith. During this time I expressed the importance of imitating Jesus' attitude toward those whom we would otherwise tend to just blow right by.

A few hours later a teenage girl came to me and confessed she was an alcoholic and is currently in rehab. She came this weekend with much fear and apprehension and wasn't sure how welcoming other girls would be to her. After I taught this morning, she was placed in a small group with many of these girls she was worried about.

"They told me they didn't want to judge me anymore," she said. "And they've invited me to join the rest of the senior girls for a slumber party in one room [there are multiple hotel rooms full of girls here] tonight!"

Her joy was evident. The Body of Christ was welcoming her in, and giving her a safe place to work toward conquering the sin in her life without fear of judgement for being open about what her specific sin issue was. It was really encouraging to talk with her. She is so young to be fighting such an addiction. Please pray for her.

This afternoon I also got to meet two of the girls I mentor with the Christian Writers' Guild. Hannah and Sarah live here in Ohio and drove up to the resort with their moms to visit me during my free time this afternoon. It was great to chat with them about their future writing aspirations and to get to know them. Since the CWG program is all email based I haven't met any of my students in person during the 2+ years I've been doing it until today.

All day I have been having serious throat issues. I can't stop coughing, my throat feels like it's closing in and my voice is very strained. I will be teaching one last time tonight on overcoming a sinful past (Acts 9) and how to press on and forget what is behind us (Philippians 3). Please pray I am able to teach without losing my voice, and that the girls' hearts are soft and receptive to what God would have to speak to them.

I wish I could post pictures from here--this place is amazing. I'll make sure I post some when I get home. Having Michael here with me has been wonderful as he is always a big help and encouragement to me at events like this.

Thank you for your prayers. They have been felt, and God is at work here. Even if I can't clearly see how.

I Headed To Detroit and Think I landed in Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:55:00 +0000

The strangest thing happened to me yesterday. I boarded a plane to Detroit, and somehow landed in Africa. Not really, but the girls' event I am speaking at is being hosted at the world's largest indoor water park and it has a distinct African theme. Picture the Rain Forest Cafe times 25 and you have a small picture of where I'm at. Michael is hoping to try out the surf simulator and I hope to get in a round of mini-golf during free time later today.

I didn't get to blog yesterday because travel to the resort took longer than expected, and I didn't even climb on the stage to teach until 10:30 last night. The girls seemed tired, so I cut the message a little shorter than I normally would have. But I gave the gospel message using the illustration of the four soils from Matthew 13 like I did in previous posts.

There wasn't much time to connect personally with the girls, so I'm not sure how they really responded to the message. I did get to enjoy some midnight pizza with Michael and the leaders who planned this event. It was nice to chat with them and get to know them a bit.

I'm heading downstairs to speak on the topics of forgiveness (John 13) and reaching out to others (Luke 8) this morning. Then I have some free time before this evening's session. Hopefully I can blog more then. Thanks for your prayers--I need them! I'm really tired.

On the Road Again...

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:17:00 +0000

This morning I unpacked the remainder of evidence that I had been in Illinois last weekend from my suitcase. Don't panic--I didn't leave dirty laundry sitting in my suitcase for an entire week. Most of what I unpacked was the promotional material I use to decorate my book table. After I finished unpacking, I began immediately repacking for my trip to Sandusky, OH this weekend. I laid out all of my outfits, I replenished my supply of promotional materials, and I made Michael a list of the quantities of each book that I wanted take with us to sell.

As I packed, I had music playing softly in the background. The significance of what I am going to do this weekend isn't lost on me. I know that I am walking straight into a battle for the souls of teenage girls. On Friday night I will be preaching the gospel to these girls, and for the rest of time they will be held accountable to what they hear whether they choose to receive it or not.

This morning, as I packed, I was filled with gratitude--so much gratitude that it poured out from me in the form of tears. I was grateful for the opportunity to go into the battle, but even more than that I was thankful for the people God has given me to support me in the task. For the first time ever, I don't feel alone in what I get to do.

Last weekend, when I was in Illinois, I received constant text messages, emails (that I read when I got home since I couldn't check email) and blog comments from my friends at Compass Bible Church telling me they were praying for me. When I got home in the early hours of Sunday morning, I slept for only a few hours before rising and heading out to church where I was met with the smiling faces of so many friends who wanted to know all about what God did in Illinois. And then I sat under the preaching of a pastor who both challenges and convicts me on such a deep level that it usually takes me weeks just to unwrap my mind from one sermon. I was recharged to go out and teach again this weekend.

I know that it's always the power of the Holy Spirit working through me that does the work, but I also know He enlists His people in the process through prayer. I think of Peter in Acts 12:5. He was in prison, yet constant prayer was being offered up on his behalf by the church. And Peter was freed that very night.

In Exodus 17:11-12 Moses prayed for the people of Israel as they were engaged in battle. As long as his hands were lifted, they were victorious. When Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur stepped in and held up his hands. The battle was won on the ground below because of the team of people praying on the mountain top.

Tomorrow morning, I will board a plane with just Michael. But I know I also have my church family, and others (like those of you who read this blog), praying for me. And I honestly believe that the real vistory for this coming weekend will be won by the prayers of those who may not travel with me to Sandusky in person, but who will certainly be there with me in prayer.

Thank you for praying. If all goes well, I'll be blogging live from Ohio starting tomorrow.

Cooking with Sovereign Grace Music

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:28:00 +0000

In the midst of the American Airlines scare last week, I think I forgot to post my weekly "Cooking with..." post. If you're new to this blog, each Wednesday I recommend a new song and a new recipe. Usually the songs I recommend are what I've been listening to as I've stumbled my way around my own kitchen.

I'm feeling a bit of a fiesta vibe this week, so I'm going to recommend these turkey enchiladas. If you are feeling like some comfort food instead check out my last recipe recommendation--I love this meatloaf.

As far as songs go this week, there are many I could recommend but I don't want to run out of things to blog about (as if that could ever happen) so I'm going to recommend a song you can currently download for free, yes that's right FREE, if you click here. It's called "Healing in Your Wings" and it's on the new Sovereign Grace Music album Come Weary Saints. Maybe it's just because I actually feel like a weary saint this week, but the song it pretty good. And since it's free, you should definitely check it out.

Ok, that's enough for now. I'm officially banished from the Internet until I make some good progress on my current book proposal. Enjoy!

Meet My Friend Issouf!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:11:00 +0000

Michael and I have been sponsors through Compassion International since December 2006. We sponsor Issouf (pictured) a nine-year-old boy in Burkina Faso and Robert (whom I'll blog about another time) a student at Kenyatta University in Kenya.

In the short time we've sponsored Issouf we've exchanged close to 20 letters with him and we've received seven photos of him so we can see how he continues to grow and develop. Last Saturday, our most recent letter and photo from Issouf came. I studied the photo you see to your left for a few minutes wondering why he looked so different than he had in his last photo. Was his hair cut shorter in this photo? Had he grown taller? Suddenly it hit me. Issouf looked different in this photo because this is the very first picture we have received of him smiling!

Along with this photo came a thank you note--the clothing Issouf is wearing here is what Compassion purchased for him with the extra money we sent for his birthday. He was so excited about his jeans and t-shirt referring to them as "beautiful." He also thanked us again for the bicycle Compassion purchased for his mother on our behalf so she can now take and sell her baked goods in the market. Michael and I have never sent an astronomical amount of money to Compassion. We simply send in our monthly payments, and several times throughout the year we add in several small checks to celebrate birthdays and holidays. But Compassion is able to evaluate the needs of Issouf's and Robert's families and meet those needs on our behalf.

Over and over again Robert and Issouf write letters thanking us for doing something that seems so small to us, yet is so life changing for them. This morning, as I was doing my Womens' Bible Study Homework for 1 Peter 4:9 I was asked how I could show hospitality to someone outside of my local church body and my mind instantly drifted back to an article I read recently that was written by Wess Stafford, Compassion's president. In it he explained that Compassion's model for child sponsorship comes from two passages in Scripture (Exodus 2 and Luke 10) in which one person who has much sends money, or leaves money, with someone who has little in order to provide for the needs of someone else.

In both the stories of Pharoah's daughter hiring a Hebrew nurse (who also happened to be Moses' biological mother) to care for the new baby she found floating in the Nile, and in the passage about the Samaritian who leaves money behind to provide for the needs of the Jewish man he found beat up by the side of the road, we see that sometimes the greatest way to show hospitality to someone else is to provide for their needs from afar.

I may never make it to Africa to meet Issouf and/or Robert (although I pray I do). But even if I don't, I can still build into their lives by writing them letters filled with Scripture and encouragement. I can pray for them daily. And I can send money to those who are able to meet their physical needs and (here's what really sets Compassion apart from other relief orginazations) preach the gospel to them and make sure they know what it means to become a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.

Issouf lost his father to HIV/AIDS when he was really young. Now, his mother and grandmother take care of both Issouf and his brother, Iolrissa. Through Compassion's partnership with the local church, four people hear the gospel regularly because Michael and I send a mere $32 a month to the other side of the world. That's $32 well spent. I know that.

But when I get a letter in the mail boasting a photo of a smiling boy, and containing a drawing with the words "I LOVE YOU" written in English across the bottom, I know just how well spent that money is. What about you? Do you have $32 to spare each month? Would you be willing to sponsor a child like Issouf today?

A Spiritual Giant Goes Home

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:36:00 +0000

Dr. Clyde Cook

June 1, 1935-April 11, 2008

Anyone who has attended Biola University in the last 25 years knows of Dr. Clyde Cook even if they never knew him personally. When I attended Biola, Dr. Cook was still president of the university and he had a very profound impact on me. This morning, I heard that he unexpectedly passed away on Friday night and the tears were instant. Not because I doubt that Dr. Cook is now in glory with God Himself, because I certainly know he is. In fact, my tears weren't even really for Dr. Cook--they were for his wife Anna Belle, whom he absolutely adored, and for their children and grandchildren. Last June, Dr. Cook retired to spend more time with his family. People questioned the timing of his retirement since he was only one year away from leading Biola in celebrating its 100th anniversary. Now, it's apparent that Dr. Cook truly sought God's timing for his retirement more than any of us ever realized.

My personal contact with Dr. Cook was very limited. But he had a profound impact on me during my years at Biola. On the night I moved onto campus as a nervous freshman, Dr. Cook led a communion service for new students and their parents beneath the belltower in the center of campus. What he said that night, in his welcome message, has stuck with me ever since.

"Some people come to a Christian university mistaking it for heaven," he said. "They think that life here, on this campus, is perfect and that the people are perfect. But this isn't heaven. People are still sinners. You are still a sinner. And you will be living in close community with other sinners. The sooner you realize that, the better your experience here will be." His words hit me hard. As a student who had attended public school her entire life, Biola was the equivalent of The Promised Land in my eighteen-year-old mind. In the years following, I returned to Dr. Cook's comments many times.

When my first book, The Divine Dance, was published (while I was still a student) Dr. Cook mentioned me as a Biolan who was making a difference during a chapel service. I remember being shocked and honored that he would mention me. Later, I received a personal card from him congratulating me on my success.

Dr. Cook was the one who spoke at the emergency chapel service on 9/11 and calmed the fears of the entire student body by sharing stories of his own experiences in concentration camps during WWII and by reminding us that God is still sovereign even when evil men seem to prevail. He also spoke at my commencement ceremony in December of 2003, encouraging us to go into all the world and make an impact for the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember the firmness of his handshake when I walked across the stage and officially became a graduate.

And I remember the affection with which he would always speak of his wife, Anna Belle. Wherever Dr. Cook was, Mrs. Cook wasn't far behind. The two of them were inseparable, and very much in love. Their love story began on the Biola campus when they were both students. And their life together took them all over the world as missionaries before bringing them back to Biola to serve Him faithfully there for many years.

Because of their missions background, Dr. and Mrs. Cook really believed in the ministry taking place through the Biola University Student Missionary Union. Any student who was going on a missions trip could write the Cooks a letter and would receive a check from their personal account for something like $25. They supported me and others on my team when we went to NYC to volunteer at Ground Zero in early 2002.

During the years Dr. Cook was president, Biola became firmly established as a leading Christian University. His commitment to doctrine and the inerrancy of the Bible are just two ways in which Dr. Cook was a bold leader in the Christian community. A grandfather figure to so many of us, Dr. Cook will certainly be missed. Please keep his wife, Anna Belle, and their children and grandchildren in your prayers as they grieve.

Meant for More Weekend Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Well, I'm home from my weekend in Winthrop Harbor, IL. It was a great weekend and several girls (and their mothers) surrendered their lives to the Lord. Although some may have come to the event claiming to be Christians, they realized throughout the course of the weekend that they really had only been calling Jesus "Lord" in name only. Tears stung my eyes as girls and women who really understood the truth of who Jesus is for the first time came to me and shared their stories.

There were also many girls and moms who came to the event who were already living authentic Christian lives. These girls seemed moved by the messages I taught on love and forgiveness (John 13:1-5, 12-17) and real love being humble (Luke 8:41-48). The girls were pretty worn out from a long weekend by the time I taught on running to win (Philippians 3: 12-16) but hopefully the truth of Paul's words wasn't lost on them.

Many teen girls aren't used to the expository style of teaching. I was really amazed at how many parents and youth leaders came up to me and said, "I'm really enjoying the way you use the Bible but you still make the applications so practical. It's good for the girls to see how the Bible speaks to their lives." One mom sent an email to fellow author Heather Paulson, who helped plan the weekend. In the email this mom explained that the passage I taught from on Friday night (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) had come up several times in recent weeks and that this time God used it to really break her daughter. I love stories like that because they prove that it's the Word of God that changes peoples lives. If I had just decided to stick with a thematic message, peppered with random verses sprinkled here and there, I highly doubt that girl would have been as changed by the message. The Word of God truly is living and powerful--and I love how it changes peoples lives.

Now, I don't intend to give the impression that this was a perfect weekend in which I saw hundredfold fruit from the teaching. I didn't. For every girl who came up to me and told me that she finally "got it" there were probably twenty who still don't understand the importance of understanding who Jesus Christ really is and making Him Lord of your life. Some girls openly admitted that they knew they weren't real deal Christians, but they just didn't feel compelled to do anything about it. There were also a few youth leaders there this weekend who seemed uncomfortable with my frankness concerning the gospel. I heard through the grapevine that they were saying things like, "Don't you think she was a bit too firm?" Sadly, if the topic of the weekend would have been sex, I'm sure these same leaders would have appreciated the frankness with which I am able to communicate. One thing I will never understand is the adult who thinks a girl's virginity is more important than her standing before God.

Overall, this was a very rewarding weekend and the people on the Meant for More committee were all so kind and wonderful to work with. It was an honor to serve alongside of them, and I--along with everyone involved--appreciated your prayers. Thank you.

Friday Night Recap from Winthrop Harbor, IL

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:10:00 +0000

It's been a long and blessed day. As my earlier post stated, Michael and I did make it to Illinois as scheduled for the teen girls' event despite all of the American Airlines craziness. The churches hosting the event have been wonderful to work with, and so organized. Tonight they had to add extra chairs in the main sanctuary before the evening started because more girls showed up than they were expecting.

Tonight I taught a message entitled "How Do I Know If I'm a Christian?" and my main texts were Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 and Matthew 7:15-27. Right before I got up to teach one of the women on the planning committee for the event got up to share her testimony. Without knowing it she used the same passage (Matthew 7:24-27) and used one of the exact same phrases I was planning too: "Jesus Christ doesn't promise to take away your problems here and now. He promises you eternal life." The impact of her testimony preceding me was powerful.

People (moms and teens alike) seemed to be shocked by the statistics and they responded very well to the four types of people who hear the gospel that I described in this post. I understand that some girls didn't receive a word of what was taught. One girl came up to me and said, "You're a really good speaker, but what I really want to talk to you about is your hair. I love your hair." My heart sank.

But one mom came up to me tonight and shared that after I taught, her daughter admitted that she wasn't really a Christian even though she had "prayed the sinner's prayer" and said she wanted to surrender her life to Christ tonight. When I taught I gave the Greek definition for the word Lord (kurios) used in Matthew 7, which means "controller." This girl wanted to make sure that tonight was the night she gave control of her life to Christ. The girl and her mom were both so excited. I was too!

Another mom approached me and told me that she fit into the first category I described. She was an "Actress" when it came to the Christian faith. She had been pretending her way through life professing a faith that didn't really take root in her heart. Tonight, she decided to change all of that. And with tears and repentance she surrendered to Christ too.

When I first began speaking years ago, I used to read an excerpt from one of my books and talk a little bit about certain themes and issues. Since I've switched to an expository style of teaching I've noticed that I'm not always as popular with the girls, but the impact is deeper in those who really come with open hearts. Tonight I didn't have tons of girls flock to my book table, and I know some of them thought I was too serious or too boring.

But I know that tonight was also the spiritual turning point for some of them. This will be the moment they look back on and say, "That's the night I became a Christian." That's a cause I can devote my life to. This isn't about selling books and growing my mailing list. What is happening here this weekend is about changing lives. I am so blessed and honored to be part of it. And I want those of you who are praying to know that you are just as much a part of what is happening here this weekend. Some day, in eternity a reward will be waiting for you because of your role in what's happening here.

I will be teaching two more times tomorrow before catching a plane and heading home. Michael and I are scheduled to arrive back at LAX tomorrow night so we can be at church for our pastor, Mike Fabarez's, next sermon in his How to Get Eternal Life series. I'll try to blog again tomorrow evening from O'Hare airport. In the meantime, thanks for your prayers and please keep praying.

Praise God, We Have a Plane!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Michael and I are sitting here in LAX, Starbucks in hand, watching the sunrise. Although American Airlines cancelled another 570 flights today, ours wasn't among them. We will make it to Chicago this afternoon and I will be able to share the gospel with 120+ teen girls tonight. To all of you who are praying, thank you. You get to be part of what God is going to do in the lives of these girls this weekend. I will keep you posted on how it goes...

Pray Me There. And Pray Me Home.

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:19:00 +0000

If you read my blog earlier this week you know tomorrow night I'm supposed to be in Illinois speaking at a conference for teen girls. Here's the problem: I'm booked on an American Airlines flight and over the past two days they have cancelled nearly 2,000 flights due to not meeting FAA safety regulations. The particular type of jet that flies from California to Illinois is the jet they're having problems with. There is a chance they are going to cancel my flight and every other American Airlines flight from California to Illinois.

Considering the incredible spiritual importance of the topic I will be speaking on tomorrow night, it's not really a shocker that getting there might be, um, a little problematic. So please pray with me that my flight is not cancelled, and that I'm able to get there on time, and get home on time. I have a quick turnaround as it is between this event and another conference I will be speaking at in Ohio next weekend.

In my five years of speaking I've had some crazy adventures (like the time the airline flew me to the wrong state, flew my luggage to the right state and the church I was speaking at had to send two people driving in opposite directions through the middle of the night to make sure both my bag and I made it to the event on time. I got there, had three hours to sleep and then spoke four times in one day. It was nuts).

I've also slept in multiple airports due to cancellations for various reasons--including a plane that was punctured by the baggage cart operator. Yes, you read that right. The guy in the fork-lift cart rammed the plane on accident and punctured it. The airline decided to see if they could duct tape the hole, but alas they could not (praise the Lord--who wants to fly on a duct taped plane?!) so I was stuck overnight in a foreign city for the third time in one year.

What my life lacks in glamour it definitely makes up for in adventure. God is always faithful. I trust Him and believe He is sovereign. He will get me to this event. Please pray with me that it's a smooth process. I'll try to blog tomorrow en route and let you know how it's going...