HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

The last several days have been refreshing. I had the chance to return home for a brief...very brief visit to be in the wedding of a close friend. My time home served me in three ways...great sleep on my wonderful bed, a place to decompress and be refreshed through great company and converstation and finally confirmation that NWA is not where I am to be at this season in my life.

I am blessed. Blessed in so many ways. I was driving down 540 the other night returning to my house after a night out with the guys and I can't tell you how much joy came over me during that drive home. It was like a waterfall of happiness was released. God has been so faithful to place incredible friendships in my life. These guys and girls are my rocks. How fruitless and unabundant life would be without friends who stick closer than a brother.

I am also blessed to have a safe place to hide when it is time to retreat and decompress from the hustle. My home is a safe place. I have two rocks in that home whom I can fall on and know everything will be ok when the storm rages on.

Home I have realized is not simply a geogrpahic location but it is a community made up of your friends and family. So no matter how many times that geogrpahic location may change my home, as the old saying goes, is where the heart is.

BLESSED

Hope this update finds all of you blessed! It is hard to believe that I have now been here in Southern California for three months. How quickly the time has passed. I guess this means I am having way to much fun or just staying way to busy! No, I would say it is a good balance of both. I am staying very busy serving in the mission’s ministry of Saddleback yet having a blast living life out here and being apart of something bigger than myself.

I was talking with Brad, our college pastor at Saddleback the other day. In the course of our conversation he asked me how I am adjusting to the culture of Saddleback Church. I told him I feel like things are moving at a hundred miles an hour with barely enough time to slow down to maneuver the corners, there are a lot of corners to maneuver here. I asked him how long it took him to adjust to the way things happen out here, he came from a church in Norman, Oklahoma yes he is a Sooner, half way jokingly he admitted that he just got adjusted yesterday, he has been out here for two years. However, I feel I am beginning to adjust quickly to the fluid and fast paced environment of Saddleback Church. Though I do have my days, it is an exciting place to be!

Yesterday I headed up to Los Angeles with all of the other interns at Saddleback (There are nine other interns serving in several other ministries at Saddleback). We ended up going to sit in the studio audience of a new game show on FOX called “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. It was a blast! Yes, I will be making a two second TV appearance in six to eight weeks on FOX, Thursday at 7:00 pm central. If you are that bored and remember, it should be fun watching. I know you will be having “Shawn appeared on FOX for two seconds” parties, stay safe, haha!

Do you ever have nights were right as you slip into bed you just smile and say, “Father, thanks for everything!” I tell you what I have experienced a lot of that lately. There are moments that I am overwhelmed with gratefulness. It is true that every good and perfect thing comes from above! God continues to astound me through all that He is doing in me and allowing me to experience during this season of life. I am humbled. I am humbled also by your prayers and your incredible support of me. Your prayers are constantly felt! I praise God for each of you!

I have been blessed to live with my new host family, Jeff and Valerie and their three children Ethan, Lindsay, and Sarah. I have been living there for about a month now and love it. I feel like the big brother! I will usually come home from work and have Lindsay and Ethan, five and seven, waiting upstairs with their Star Wars Light Sabers ready to have an epic light saber battle. I love it!

BUSY

Well I have been in my new home for about a week now. It has ended up being a good fit for me. The family, Jeff and Valerie and their children Ethan, Lindsey, and Sarah have been a blessing to me thus far. I will be spending 6 months with them so I'm sure they need all the prayers they can get.

I am currently so busy with the new projects I have been assigned. Some days I feel overwhelmed some days I feel like I have a handle on it. The biggest lesson I am learning right now (and a very important lesson) is how to say no though. Many people can quickly be burned out in any job setting simply because they have not learned how to say no to others requests. It is easy to take on tasks coming from all different directions but soon your commitments have caused you more grief and anguish than excitement and confidence. I am learning more and more about what I am capable of daily.

SETTLED IN

Hope this update finds all of you blessed! My last update mentioned how easy the transition to Orange County life has been. Of course the 70 degree weather has played a significant part in that! It’s funny, I was in Utah last weekend for a retreat up in the mountains and of course it was snowing and cold the whole time. I mentioned to one of the guys, “Man, I can’t wait to get back to Southern California where it’s warm!” Yes I am already completely spoiled by this place, and I have only been here a month! But God has been so active in answering the prayers that have been lifted up for me during this time. I know I am prayed for, that’s why I am so thankful for you who have chosen to remember in your times with the Lord. I am so blessed by you all!

Where to begin? I have become active in CRAVE, the college ministry here at Saddleback. It has been through CRAVE that God has brought an amazing group of people in my life. I have become apart of such a tight community of incredible individuals where there is a tremendous amount of love, support, and faith. I truly cannot ask for more in a group of friends. It is a group in which I am able to do life with, where I can grow spiritually, and at the same time have a blast just living life along side of them. These guys and girls are studs and so sold out to God, this has been such a blessing to me in the craziness of Orange County culture.

It has taken a month to settle into the internship with PEACE. However, God has used this last month to stretch me and fine tune some areas in my life. I am here to serve, regardless of the task! I have been reminded that in all I do to do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord and not to man. However, as of yesterday I have been assigned my first long term project! I will be helping to develop and create materials along side one of team members that will explain to other churches what a PEACE coach is. PEACE coaches are lay members who essentially coach the trip leaders and team leaders as they prepare for overseas PEACE trips. In that process I will be managing our coaches and working closely along side of them. I cannot wait to jump into this project and am so grateful God has opened up the door for me!

I am learning everyday! God is doing some radical things in my life and so far this has truly been a journey of refinement and renewal. Thank you again for praying! Friends and family, prayer is a mighty weapon in the hands of the saints! Do not shy away from using this weapon boldly and expectantly! I love each of you and I am so blessed to know I have such an incredible group supporting me through this season of my life!

Please do not hesitate to write me or send an email. I would love to hear from you! If you have also considered joining in supporting me financially and just have not had a chance to think on it, of course, do not hesitate, it would be a blessing! There still exists a need on a monthly basis for my living expenses. I ask that you seek God as you consider investing in my journey during these next two years! If you are considering investing in me, please send an email to me. God is the supplier of all our needs! Praise God!