Shane Sebastian's Blog, page 2

"A Refreshing Summer Read"

Dropping In

Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live

As we hit July some of you may be looking for some summer reading. As you do so please consider my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. Below are comments on what others are saying.

From the opening quote (“Surfing is like the mafia. Once you’re in—you’rein. There’s no getting out”) to the closing words (“I’ll see you in the water”), this may be not only one of the best books ever written on surfing, but one ofthe best books ever written on what it means to surf the Spirit as a disciple of Jesus. The moment I dipped my toes into the book and “dropped in,” I was so captivated by the wisdom of the breaking waves and washing machine I didn’t want to “get out,” even when I was washed ashore when I ran out of pages.

– Leonard Sweet, best-selling author of Bad Habits of Jesus, professor at Portland Seminary, Drew University, Tabor College, and Evangelical Seminary, and founder of preachthestory.com

In his book, I Surf, Therefore I Am, Philosopher Peter Kreeft writes, “I think God surfs all the time.” Another writer has commented, “Life is a wave, and your attitude is your surfboard.” I believe both. If you’ve ever surfed, you know that it is truly a spiritual experience that is almost beyond description. In Dropping In, Shane captures the essence of all of this. With fun stories and insight into God and life from the perspective that only a surfer can bring, this is a must-read for anyone who has a bit of saltwater running through their veins. Shane didn’t just write this book—he lives it. I dare you to read it andnot have some of his spiritual stoke rub off on you.

– Dr. Douglas Witherup, Lead Pastor, CFA Church and Wannabe-Surfer

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” In his latest book, Dropping In, Dr. Sebastian draws upon his experience of ‘spiritual stoke’ in surfing to unpack for us what Jesus intended. This is a book about surfing and following Jesus, living over the ledge, trusting the wave, and placing our energy in what really matters.

– Dr. Loren Kerns, Portland Seminary

Shane Sebastian knows surfing. Even more than surfing, Shane knows Jesus! Dropping In takes you along on his many adventures and misadventures of surfing and following Jesus alike. This is the real-life tale of how God is using surfing to reveal himself to Shane and the world. Everyone who reads it,including wanna-be surfers like me, will want to jump on their surfboard and go after the biggest wave of their life...following Jesus!

– Scott Rubin, Young Life Area Director North County San Diego

As an experienced surfer and minister, Shane invites us into the world of surfing and how to achieve spiritual stoke in our lives. Whether you are a surfer who wants to grow in your spiritual life or just a person surfing through life who wants more clarity on how to experience an abundant spiritual life, Dropping In will help you have the direction you need to see God make more waves in your life, so that you can truly live a life of adventure and purpose.

– Holly Melton, Speaker, Author of Follow My Lead:Responding to God’s Voice in Everyday Encounters

Whether you surf or not, Dropping In is a book for everyone. I really enjoyed reading Shane’s stories and how he uses them to illustrate Biblical truth. This book is also an excellent resource for discipleship and small groups. I am certain anyone who reads this book will be inspired to share the beauty and “stoke” of life with Jesus!

– Abel Mendez, Calvary Chapel, Student Ministries Pastor

If you have ever considered having spiritual influence through doing the things that you love, then Dropping In is the book for you. Shane Sebastian shares refreshing stories and teaches with clarity on three of his favorite things: God, Family, and Surfing. If you are someone that likes to read stories of faith, family, and fun, but yet have powerful action steps for how to love God and love your life, then this is the book for you.

– Gary Schmalz, Athletes in Action, Minneapolis

Shane has the unique gift of communicating life-changing truths in a down- to-earth way. Dropping In is engaging, motivating, and brings a smile to the reader’s soul.

– Megan Donovan, Teaching Leader, Bible Study Fellowship International, Parent

Dropping In is an absolutely refreshing read. Dr. Sebastian hits the nail on the head and holds nothing back in giving us all the tools and resources we need to lead a deeper and fuller walk with Jesus. Surfers and non-surfers can expect to enjoy a well-rounded understanding of what itmeans to live a life lled with faith and spiritual stoke. To make this drop is to experience life fully refreshed and ready to take on any size wave this world may bring your way.

– Aaron Gold, World Record Holder for Largest Wave Ever Paddled, Professional Surfer, Actor in Surfers and Cowboys

Dropping In is a handbook for surfing the waves of the Spirit. I see peoplewho are excited to learn to surf. They usually just run down to the beach and rent a surf board instead of hiring a beach boy to guide them. They struggle and often find themselves in peril. They do not know their way through the channels to get out to the take-off spot, and when they get there they don’t know what wave to catch, when to paddle, when to try to get up, and how to stand. They usually wipe-out or, worse, find themselves in serious danger.

Shane Sebastian’s book is a guidebook for life. Its readability and adventurous stories draw the reader into a deeper contemplation of life, stirs up the desire to ride the waves of the Spirit and the wisdom to do so. Surfs Up!

– Bear Woznick, Best Selling Author, World Champion Tandem Surfer, Host of “Long Ride Home with Bear Woznick” EWTN Reality TV show, Host of “The Bear Woznick Adventure” EWTN Radio show, Founder of Deep Adventure Ministries

Shane does a great job using surf culture to introduce and invite his reader to live the adventure of following Jesus. His book is easy to read, very enjoyable,and relatable. It will de nitely motivate you to know Jesus more and it may even inspire you to get out in the water!

– Jonathan Whitmore, Athletes in Action, Paci c Southwest

Dropping In is a revolutionary book. For years, Christian surfers have tried to express who Jesus is and how he can guide us in our daily lives. Dropping In has finally bridged the gap for surfersto grow closer to Jesus and better understand what life with him is all about.

– John Daniels, Retired Professional Surfer, Contest Judge, Coach, Owner of Learn to Rip Surf School

Shane Sebastian loves surfing and following Jesus, and his story reveals what it’s like to do them both to the ends of the earth. Never having surfed, I learned a whole new vocabulary. But even more, what’s so enjoyable is Shane’sstories of surfing, which reveals that anyone can experience the stoke that comes from following Jesus.

– Keith Bubalo, Global Strategy Coordinator, The Jesus Film

Shane Sebastian loves surfing and loves Jesus, and his passion for both shines through on every page of Dropping In. His contagious excitement will make you want to get in the water and get in the Word. Get ready for a ride... Shane Sebastian is the perfect guide for exploring the exhilarating world of life with Jesus.

– Matt Mikalatos, speaker and author of Good News for a Change: How to Talk to Anyone about Jesus

As an avid surfer and follower of Jesus, I’ve always enjoyed the similarities of our sport compared to our journey in Christ. In this book, Dr. Shane Sebastian has done a fantastic job doing just that. He’s made a sometimes hard-to- relate subject fun, inviting, and easy-to-identifywith. Even if you’re not a surfer, this book will leave you super-stoked and ready to drop in!

– Randy Nolan, Founder of FLOW, Co-Director of Eco Pro Surf Series, Surf Brand Ambassador, Former National Champion & US Team member

Surfing is a great example of the Christian life; you have to be fully committedwhen you’re putting faith in Jesus just like when you take that drop. A greatread; I highly recommend this book to anyone of all ages.

– Gavin Seaman, Competitor Eastern Sur ng Association,Lifeguard at Satellite Beach, FL

A refreshing read…

Aaron Gold, Professional Surfer

Smells Like Teen Spirit

There are only three things that are eternal…

When I lived on the central coast of California, I was asked to perform a funeral for a student who had tragically been killed. As I prepared to speak at the service celebrating the life of this young man, I couldn’t help but think of my own mortality. I asked myself, “What was I living for? What would I want to be placed on my tombstone?” And, “Are my time and talents being invested in things that will outlive me?” 

As I prayed for this person’s family and evaluated my own life, I was reminded that there are only three things in life that are eternal: the Bible, God and our relationship with Him, and the souls of men and women. Living with this truth in mind is living with an eternal perspective. 

What are some of those “things above” that we can live for? What are the things the Bible says are eternal and worthy of our investment? Here are a few: 

God’s word is eternal. (Matthew 5:17-18) The writings of every other teacher or great philosopher will fade, but the wisdom of God in Scripture will always remain. 


2. God is eternal and our relationship with Him is the only relationship that is eternal. (John 10:27-31) 


3. Souls of men and women are eternal – all people will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. (John 3:16-18, 36; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Thess. 1:5-12) 


The Bible is clear on what to focus on that is eternal: living for Him and others. In college, one of my favorite bands was Nirvana. Nirvana has the best song in the history of songs, Smells Like Teen Spirit. I remember, before and after class, after work, especially before going surfing, even on my way home from Bible study, and pretty much everywhere else, I listened to that song. 

I also remember having no idea what Nirvana was singing about– the more I listened, the murkier the song seemed. Nirvana was loud, but they were hardly clear in their message. 

Fortunately, God is much clearer about the message–the story–of the Bible. From the very beginning of Genesis all the way through the book of Revelation, we see the obvious theme of the Bible: God’s love for all people (including you!), and his desire to bless all people. 

Another word for bless is the word heal. One of my professors in seminary, David McDonald, says that God desires to use us to heal others. He once said to me that we, as God’s followers, are all about healing, “The church is an agency of healing. We continue the mission of Jesus, picking up where he left off. We are the body of Christ and each one of us has a role to play in cultivating God’s kingdom on earth.” I like the idea of helping heal people. Helping people is living with an eternal perspective. 

For more on life with an eternal perspective pick up your copy of Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. http://droppingin.surf

Living for What Outlives You

Dropping In

Living for the line means the footprints we make will be cemented into eternity, not washed away by the waves of life.

Though I didn’t start surfing until I was in my late teens, I grew up fascinated by waves and the ocean. This love for the sea was on my mind as I considered college. I went to college at the University of California, Irvine. I chose UC Irvine because of its proximity to the ocean in Southern California. Newport Beach borders UC Irvine, and as any California surfer knows, Newport has some awesome surfing. 

I was strategic when choosing my class schedule each quarter as a college student. I kept my mornings wide open to allow for maximum surf time, I went to class (well, most of the time) in the afternoon, and I had a part-time job several evenings each week. 

One morning after surfing a fun south swell at Newport River Jetties, I met with my friend Alex on campus. After a less-than-fulfilling Taco Bell burrito (I ate thousands of those during college), Alex read me this Bible verse that radically impacted my life: Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven (Colossians 3:1, New Living Translation). 

Alex explained that the Bible speaks of living for things that will outlive us, for things that truly matter, for the non-material. Alex then drew a line in the dust on the table in front of us. He said, “Shane, this line represents eternity; this line represents all of time. Where would you place your life on this line?” 

I thought about it for a minute. If I’m lucky, I’ll live seventy or eighty, maybe even ninety, years. In light of eternity, that was only a small fraction of the line drawn in front of me. I looked at Alex and said, “Well, I would represent my life with this dot.” I placed a tiny dust dot on that table. 

Alex then asked me a question I will never forget: “Okay, Shane, do you want to live for that small dot or do you want to live for the entire line?” 

I looked at Alex and told him, in no uncertain terms, that I wanted to live for the line. I want to live, to invest my life in things that will outlive me. 

How about you? Do you want to live for the dot or do you want to live for the line? A mentor of mine in graduate school, author Leonard Sweet, shared this quote that has stuck with me for years: “Every person decides whether their footprints will last beyond a lifetime or sink in the sands of time.” Living for the line means the footprints we make will be cemented into eternity, not washed away by the waves of life. 

Dropping In is all about living for the line. As you read this book, you will be encouraged and practically guided on what it means to live not just for the dot of your life but for the entire line of eternity. 

Dropping In is a book about surfing and following Jesus. This is a book about so much more than looking for and dropping in the perfect wave. I trust Dropping Inwill not just point you to good waves but to the good God who desires to bless you with even more than the joy of surfing. 

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, I hope you enjoy reading Dropping In and, more importantly, that it helps you grow in your relationship with the creator of the waves. You will read stories of surfing and how God has used this fun sport to encourage me in different aspects of the Christian life. Prayer, friendship, forgiveness, commitment, and understanding God’s purpose for our lives are just a few of the topics we will address together. 

To drop in means to commit without fully understanding what will happen. Dropping In means stepping out in faith and obedience, not knowing exactly where the wave will take you, and allowing God to shape and grow you in a relationship with him. Dropping In means taking the words of Jesus seriously, experiencing spiritual stoke, and walking on water with him throughout life. I trust this book will be a resource that helps shape and grow your relationship with Jesus. 

You ready? Great. Wax up your board, slap on some sunscreen, start to paddle, jump to your feet, and let’s drop in together. 

Go to http://droppingin.surfand grab a copy – special pricing this week!

“Every person decides whether their footprints will last beyond a lifetime or sink in the sands of time”

The Why Behind Dropping In

We are excited for Shane’s new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. Shane wrote this book to help people take their next step in walking with Jesus. There are chapters teaching on prayer, understanding God’s will, how to share your faith, friendship, and more that will help you and others walk with God. Oh, and waves are included!

In this brief video Shane shares the heart, the WHY, behind writing the book. The book is available NOW for special pricing at http://droppingin.surf

Surfing Can Be a Religious Experience

Surfing and Prayer Go Together….

 

“Surfing Can Be A Religious Experience” – Tom Curren 3X World Champion

Prayer is simply talking with God. Every follower of Jesus has a direct line of communication to God that is always available to us. Over the years of growing as a Christian, I’ve learned that prayer is more than words or an activity. Prayer is an experience and ongoing conversation in a loving relationship. 

A significant way I grow in my relationship with my wife is to talk, to listen, to communicate (after twenty- three years of marriage I still have a long way to go here). This is critical to grow as friends and as husband and wife. Likewise, it is critical we talk with God and listen to him, in order to grow in our relationship.

Prayer is simple. As we pray, we are telling our father what we desire and trust that he will do what is best. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 7:7-11: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will nd; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks nds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

To live this life of prayer and be in the presence of God day in and day out, there are several practices I aim to consistently live out. By living these prayer disciplines, I better communicate with God and our relationship grows. As my pastor recently told me, “We learn to pray by praying.” 

1. Set a consistent time each day to converse with God. 

One of the first things I do each day is check the surf. There are numerous websites that will tell us what the waves are like, the forecast for the rest of the day and the week, and when it is best to paddle out. However, even before I look at the waves, I spend time reading my Bible and praying. Jesus prayed early as we see in Mark 1:35: And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (ESV). Each day I pray for wisdom in the various facets of my life. A great model of prayer is given by Jesus himself in Matthew 6:9-13: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (ESV). 

2. Pray throughout the day. The Psalmist prays throughout the day: Seven times a day I praise you(Psalm 119:164). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing. My son and I pray together before each heat in our various surfing competitions. I pray with my kids as we drive to school or go on errands together. We pray before our meals. God wants us to communicate with him throughout our days. 

3. Prayer Paddling - Surfing is an excellent time to talk with God. I will paddle and pray while doing so, especially when I am alone. Of course, when a wave comes to me, I will drop in and surf it, then paddle back while praying. There is something that helps me connect with God by praying, and even singing, out loud while I am in the ocean. When I am not in the ocean, I like to prayer walk. I walk my neighborhood, the campus I work, or wherever in the world I am (with my travel schedule, I mean that quite literally). Prayer walking and prayer paddling is also a great way to get some exercise while connecting with God. 

4. Follow the WAVE Model of Prayer - When I pray, as I paddle or walk, early in the morning with my cup of coffee, or throughout the day, I often follow the WAVE model of prayer. 

Worship - Worshiping God reminds us of who he is and of his love and care for us. Jesus modeled this in his teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:9: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”(ESV). When I am using the WAVE model of prayer, I simply say things like, “God, you are all-knowing, you are gracious, you are loving, and you are kind. God, you are so good, you are beautiful, you are gracious and merciful.” 

Admit your Sin - The A in the WAVE model of prayer stands for admission. It’s important to confess our sins and ask forgiveness. This reconnects us in our fellowship with God. Our relationship with God is unchanged by sin, but our fellowship is damaged. Fellowship is a word that is defined by sharing, being in community with, and partaking together. When I sin toward God, I simply say, “God, you know where I have failed you. Please forgive my selfishness, for the way I spoke to my children or wife, for my impure thoughts...” The Bible clearly says in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (ESV). Admitting our sin brings us back into right fellowship with God. 

Voice Gratitude - The V in WAVE stands for voice your gratitude. Psalm 118:1 says, Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. I thank God for my wife and children, my parents and sisters, for the opportunity I have to breathe each day, the gift of life, the gift of surfing, and so much more! On a way home from surfing in Cocoa Beach recently, my son looked at me and said, “Dad, thanks so much for taking me; I appreciate it.” I loved hearing gratitude from my son. God loves to hear gratitude from his children as well. 

Earnestly Ask - You may find this hard to believe, but God wants to hear what we want from him. Recently, I read a birthday wish list from one of my boys. As I looked at his list, I smiled. I loved what I was reading. No, he would likely not receive all he was asking - and it was quite a long list - but as his father, I want what was appropriate for him. Jesus speaks to this when he says, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-9, ESV) 

During this time of prayer, I ask God for wisdom in parenting and decision making, I pray for my children, for our leaders, and other things going in my life at the time. 

And yes, I often do pray for surf! 

Read more about prayer in my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. Go to www.DroppingIn.surf to order you copy. 

Learn more about prayer in the new book, Dropping In:

Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live

Understanding God's Will for Our Lives

Order Now at www.DroppingIn.surf

My first big decision as a young adult was deciding where I would attend college. Growing up in Southern California, I wanted to stay somewhere close to home but go away at the same time. I applied to several universities and ended up deciding between two schools that were, of course, near the ocean: The University of California Irvine and The University of California Los Angeles. 

Everyone had an opinion about where I should attend school, but even after several months of research, I was unsure. So, one morning I tossed my surfboard into my Hyundai hatchback, jumped on the 405 Freeway, and drove to check out both UC Irvine and UCLA. 

I decided to visit UCLA first. As I passed through Orange County and headed past Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and eventually to Westwood (near UCLA), the traffic continued to slow. Everything you have ever heard about traffic in Southern California and Los Angeles is painfully true—it’s horrible. There are just too many people and cars in one place, so it’s often more of a parking lot than a freeway. 

When I arrived at UCLA, I could not find a place to park. I drove around and around with no success. Thirty minutes later, I gave up. Out of frustration, I decided I would drive to the beach and go surfing, then come back for a campus tour later. 

At the beach, I again couldn’t find parking. Ugh. On top of there being no parking spots, there were no waves. This was not how I thought the day would go for me. I drove back to the UCLA campus and still could not find a place to park. This was getting ridiculous. As I swore under my breath (yes, I was not exactly Christ-like in the moment) , I found the onramp for the 405 South and decided to look at UC Irvine. 

Forty-five minutes later, I pulled into a large parking spot on the campus of UC Irvine—without even looking for one. The campus was quiet and beautiful. I walked around a large park in the middle of campus and ended up crossing a bridge to what could quite possibly be what we will eat for lunch in heaven: In and Out Burger. 

I then drove to Newport Beach, not far from campus, and went surfing. The waves were incredible; I surfed three to five- foot waves with only a few other people in the water. As the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, I thought more of where God wanted me to go to college. I knew where I wanted to go to college, but was it where God wanted me to go to college? 

My friend, Claude Hickman, author and the U.S. Director of The Traveling Team, challenges people with the simple idea that God calls people into a shared life with him. There is not always a specific path God wants us to take. Hickman speaks of the importance of obeying God. God is not so much telling us what to do in every decision, but pointing us to abide. God gives us a compass, not a map, to live our lives. 

God is more interested in our hearts than in the details of our lives. I remember a friend of mine who was struggling about a particular job opportunity. He was offered a role in a company that seemed like a good fit, but he was agonizing over if it was exactly what God wanted. I remember asking him, “If you are seeking God, walking with him, don’t you think he is okay with whether you say yes or no to this job?” My friend was growing in his relationship with God, so my suggestion to him was to simply keep doing what he was doing and take the job. I helped him understand that God wanted to continue to live in a trusting relationship together; that was most important. 

God gives us the general direction. The Bible is a relational book that helps us grow in a friendship with him. God is most concerned with how we are following him; the rest of life should follow this relationship. 

God is not so much telling us what to do in every decision, but pointing us to abide. God gives us a compass, not a map, to live our lives.

Dropping In

For example, a student in my Bible study was dating a woman who he thought he wanted to marry. He asked me how to know if it was God’s will to marry her. I asked him, “Do you think God has just one person out of seven billion on this planet that you will marry? If so, how do you know she is the exact one?” 

I went on to share with him that God wants us to walk with him, follow his commands in the Bible (of which there are many concerning dating and marriage), and go from there. This student had been dating for over a year, he and his girlfriend were both walking with God, and they did marry within the year. 

So, where do you think I decided to go to college? You know I love to surf so I think it’s pretty obvious. I chose UC Irvine over UCLA, and I am so glad I did.

For more on understanding God’s will for our lives, and other aspects of the Christian life, check out my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live.

Dropping In

Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live

New Year's Resolution: Living With an Eternal Perspective

We all make New Year’s resolutions. One of the most common is, “I’m going to begin a savings account. I’ll start after January 1st.” Here is what we imply when we make that statement: I value preparing for the future, but I’m too concerned with today’s problems to really do anything about it. 

If we don’t live intentionally and without an eternal perspective, this can become our life story. Right now (whether it’s January 1st or not) is when we need to save for the future: living for God and his word and investing in those things that are eternal. 

It was barely five on a mid-winter morning. The air temperature was a chilly 42 degrees, the water temperature 53 degrees. The swell was northwest at a solid four to six feet. This is the day of surfing we dreamed about. We stood in waist deep water as we timed the waves, launched the small Zodiac (a small, inflatable, and rigid boat) over the last set, and motored up to paradise. 

Paradise in my terms is defined as “The Ranch.” Hollister Ranch is an undeveloped stretch of pristine coastline northwest of Santa Barbara, sitting just below Point Conception (Central California). Access to this stretch of amazing surfing is very limited and all but impossible, if you don’t own land on the Ranch. 

Retired professional surfer Bryan Jennings.

Unless you have a boat. Fortunately, one of my good buddies had a boat. 

After cruising at twenty knots for twenty minutes, we pulled up to the first series of right-hand point and reef-breaks. After scrambling to wax our boards, fasten our leashes, and drink the last ounces of precious coffee, we jumped off the side of the Zodiac and paddled to the waves. 

Oh, and one more thing before we jumped into the ocean; 

We never, ever would forget to drop the anchor. The most important pre-surf ritual was to drop the anchor. Without the anchor, our small boat would drift away, leaving us with no way home. Without the anchor, our food and water, dry clothing, and transportation home would be lost. Without the anchor, the boat would drift aimlessly at the mercy of the wind and waves. 

We need an anchor for our lives as desperately as we needed an anchor for our Zodiac. Christ provides that anchor. Christ, as our anchor, protects us from the waves and the winds of life, whether those are doubts, fears, or outward circumstances. With Jesus Christ as our anchor, we are able to live with an eternal perspective. 

One of the more influential and talented bands today is Switchfoot, led by Jon Foreman and his brother Tim. Jon and Tim are both good surfers and named themselves after a surfing term. When asked about the name “Switchfoot,” Jon Foreman says that, “We all love to surf and have been surfing all our lives. So to us, the name made sense. To switch your feet means to take a new stance facing the opposite direction. It’s about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music.” 

In one of their more popular songs, Switchfoot writes of where our hope is anchored: 

I can feel it building up inside
. The images that play inside my mind
. The dreams that I’ve been dreaming all my life. The colors that live outside of the lines.

But dreams aren’t all I hide beneath this skin. The cord is cut, the fears and doubts begin. My hope is anchored on the other side 
. With the colors that live outside of the lines.

Our hope is anchored on the other side. The ultimate reality is not what we see immediately around us—and this shapes our perspective. If we know Christ, we have something we can place our hope and anchor in that is far better than the things around us that don’t last. 

Having Christ as our anchor helps us realize how short our decades on earth are compared to all of eternity. Our perspective on the things of this world changes; we will have an eternal perspective. 

As you begin a new year I encourage you to live with an eternal perspective. I write of this perspective in my upcoming book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. Dropping In arrives next week. Order today for a big discount! 

https://www.shanesebastian.com

Dropping In

Order now: Arrives next week!

Dropping In

 A Quick word about Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live

I grew up forty-five minutes from the ocean. Most of my summers were spent going to the beach. I would hitch rides with my family, our church youth group, public transportation, or my friends. One afternoon, after my freshman year of college, my best friend and I drove to our favorite beach in North County, outside San Diego. 

As usual, we stopped at the Solana Beach Donut House and ate a ridiculous amount of sugar, downed it all with a healthy Mountain Dew, and rushed out of the car to retrieve our boards. At this point in surfing, I was still bodysurfing and bodyboarding. Before I had time to change into my wetsuit, my friend Jim locked my bodyboard in the cab of his truck and gave me his extra surfboard. Jim looked and me and said in no uncertain terms, “Too bad, Shane. No bodyboarding for you this time. Today you are going to stand up.” 

I am forever indebted to Jim. 

A short time later, I nervously, yet expectantly, sat outside of the breaking surf waiting for a wave. A smaller set of waves approached. I paddled, felt the wave begin to catch me, and jumped to my feet. Though I probably looked like a kook (more on that word later in the book), I felt like I was the best surfer in the world. I rode the wave for perhaps four or five seconds, kicked out, and immediately looked around to see if anyone had seen my wave (unfortunately, no one did). 

Dropping in that wave was like nothing I had ever experienced. I was hooked. After several hours of surfing (for me, it was mostly paddling), the sun dipped below the horizon. As I rode my last wave to shore, I felt a strong sense of joy, exhilaration, and contentment. You may have heard the quote: “Only a surfer knows the feeling.” 

Photo taken from the book of world record holder Aaron Gold. To read Gold’s thoughts on the book see the endorsements section of this website. Photo by Aaron Lynton.

That feeling is what a surfer refers to as stoke. 

Ask a surfer what stoke means and you will likely receive various answers: happiness, fulfillment, pure joy, excitement, fun. In John 10:10, Jesus Christ speaks of what I like to refer to as spiritual stoke. He says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” In other translations, the word abundant is used to express what Jesus wants to give his children in life. 

I love that. Jesus Christ came to the world to give people a rich, abundant, and satisfying life. To be spiritually stoked is to experience the abundance, the richness, and the satisfaction God desires for you. This stoke, whether you consider yourself a surfer or not, is what God wants for you. 

We are meant to live with purpose. We are meant to live with connection. We are meant to live with impact. This simple and practical book will show you how. What surfing represents, and many surfers have experienced, is a feeling called “stoke.” It’s that happiness, that thrill and pure joy that comes when you catch and ride that perfect wave.

Believe it or not, God intends for you to have this kind of life. And yet so often we settle for much less. Dropping In will help you open your heart, mind, and soul to the possibility of living differently.

Dropping In is a book about surfing and following Jesus. This is a book about so much more than looking for and dropping in the perfect wave. I trust Dropping In will not just point you to good waves but to the good God who desires to bless you with even more than the joy of surfing. 

Dropping In

arrives Jan 7th!

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, I hope you enjoy reading Dropping In and, more importantly, that it helps you grow in your relationship with the creator of the waves. You will read stories of surfing and how God has used this fun sport to encourage me in different aspects of the Christian life. Prayer, friendship, forgiveness, commitment, and understanding God’s purpose for our lives are just a few of the topics we will address together. 

Dropping In means stepping out in faith and obedience, not knowing exactly where the wave will take you, and allowing God to shape and grow you in a relationship with him. Dropping In means taking the words of Jesus seriously, experiencing spiritual stoke, and walking on water with him throughout life. I trust this book will be a resource that helps shape and grow your relationship with Jesus. 

You ready? Great. Wax up your board, slap on some sunscreen, start to paddle, jump to your feet, and let’s drop in together. 

Thanks for considering Dropping In. Let me know what you think!

Shane Sebastian

Author of Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live