An Update

I have just finished reading one of the most influential and life changing books I have ever had in my hands.

Falling for God – Saying Yes to His Extravagant Proposal (Gary W. Moon)

Ralph – Thank you so much for the recommendation: It has been used mightily by God in His amazing work of reconciliation and union between us (me and Jesus). I cannot wait to move onto the book on being released from shame. I normally speed read everything, but have really taken my time on this one and the Addictive personality. It is also amazing – who told the author about me

Pastor Charles - thank you for the love you have shown and your leadership over a “church of Grace” who always makes me feel welcome and at home.

Pastor Bill – thank you for the counsel you gave me and the encouragement to re-read the book of Daniel with the focus on the kings – I think Shane spelled backwards comes out as Nebuchadnezzar . It took him a few times to get it too.

Vaughn, thank you my brother for the unfailing love you have demonstrated to me when most still walk away when they see me coming. Thank you for your words of testimony about the change you see in my life through my eyes. You caused me to consider Saul of Tarsus – he knew he had been converted from his religion, but it took Barnabas to confirm it. Thank you Barnabas.

I want to share with you guys who are closest to me a quick run down of the past few weeks of my journey with God. First it is more real and emotional than anything I have ever experienced – I can honestly say that I enjoy God now more than ever. Secondly I have let go of fears and needs that I clung to for my entire life – life is so much the better when you do not have to manipulate or control for protection, love, or acceptance: If you have to control or exercise authority over it just let it go – it isn’t worth it

If it doesn’t want to follow – you aren’t supposed to lead it, if it doesn’t love you, don’t try to make it, if it doesn’t accept you for you then you do not need it. Talking about a simple life.

As of June 14th I will be moving onto Pampa where I have accepted a job with National Oilwell. I have spoken with Pastor Charles about joining Crosspointe Church and am excited about the change. It will be a great blessing to be part of a body again.

Next I would like to share with you a portion of the Falling for God book that really shook me and caused me to enter a new and more powerful worship than I have ever experienced. This comes from page 181

The Reconciling Power of the Risen Christ

Picture the scene. The disciples are gathered in the Upper Room where they have retreated in fear and confusion after Jesus was crucified. They are hiding out as a group, collectively shaking , the same way Adam and Eve did after the Fall.

And just as Adam and Eve chose to grasp and hide instead of to trust and approach, so have the disciples, Jesus’ closest friends. At the crucial moment, they reached out and clutched out after their safety. Now they are hiding. Their shame must have been palpable.

Then, despite the locked doors, Jesus stands in their midst, a light in their darkness. And there are His disciples, who symbolize us all after we have made the wrong choices. Adam with his Apple, Gomer with her lover, (Shane with his battered and abused wife) all of us gripping the scripts of the future we are writing for ourselves. There we all are: frightened, alone, drowning in the shame of self-rule, in the embrace of false love.

But the risen Christ breaks through the walls. He has gone to the darkest places and returned for us. He wastes no time, immediately offering simple and direct comfort.

“Peace be with you.”

Peace. Shalom. The tranquil and fear free state of existence partially actualized in Eden. The deepest longing of every human heart, the very air of the kingdom.

Peace. The serenity that can only come when we abandon all separation from God. Forever connectedness with Christ and full participation in the life and love of God. True reconciliation brings shalom. To be within the intimacy of the Father and the Son is what it means to live in shalom.

Imagine what the disciples must have been thinking. We cursed your name and denied we even knew you, and you still love us. We abandoned you to murderers who beat you and tortured you beyond belief, and you have come back to us with presents. We have tried to distance ourselves from you and have locked you out, yet you walk through the door in order to bring us back home. We admit that we can never live the life you have in mind for us, and you say, “No problem, I will live it through you

As we reflect and meditate on the lengths God will go through to offer us reconciliation and to provide us with the strength to live life in a whole new way, we find the will to let go of self-rule and freedom from shame that pushed us into hiding. In defeating death, Christ proved all His promises can come true. He can make us more like Him

Of course the portion in red was my act of betrayal and not detailed in the book. But you may openly share it if you like. As I have learned – things in the dark grow in power until they consume: maybe that is why I have such a crazy fear of vampires??? What is brought in the light is overcome by the Lamb!!

I am now more like Christ than I was ever before. And it did not come through more study, accountability (though I praise God for Pastor Patrick Estrada and his graceful accountability and lessons on true transparency) and praise God that it did not come though self effort. My brothers, it came from accepting God’s proposal and joining Him – not in Christian service but by embracing the wedlock I have had with Him for years.

I would love to tell you of the way God filled my heart with the story of Hosea and Gomer. I was not a harlot, but THE harlot. The King of Glory came and purchased me from within my latest round of “whoring around” and has set me again at His table and loved me with a truly everlasting love.

Know that I love you guys and miss you daily. If you need to get into contact with you will need to use my personal email: w_s_1@yahoo.com

I hope you will respond and at least let me know that you did get this update and if you would like to continue getting them.

Hoping and asking for your continued prayers,

Shane