Shane Sebastian's Blog

 A quick description of 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. 

The stoke is real…

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.” 

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. 

Stoke…

Purpose, Connection, Impact

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. 

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

Walking on Water

Jesus was a surfer. Jesus is a surfer. 

The Bible speaks often of the sea and its powerful waves. Throughout the four books of the Bible that give different views of the life of Jesus (the Gospels), we see Jesus spend much of his time in or near the Sea of Galilee. He spent time there by himself in prayer and solitude, he spent time there with his close friends, and he spent time in or near the sea teaching, and sometimes even healing, crowds of people. 

The book of Psalms shares much of God’s creation and the ocean. Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples? (Psalm 65:7, NASB) Psalm 93:4 says, More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty (NASB). In the book of Isaiah, we see the power of God and his might compared to the ocean: For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (Isaiah 51:15, NASB). 

Throughout the Bible, we read that Jesus and the sea often go together. Below is the well-known story of Jesus coming to the aid of his friends by literally walking on water and calming the stormy waves. 

“Jesus and the sea often go together.”

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified.

In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” - Matthew 14:23-32 (NLT) 

I love this story. As the sun is setting, we find Jesus spending time in the hills praying while his friends fish nearby in the Sea of Galilee. A powerful storm slams the sea, creating large waves that threaten the lives of Jesus’ friends. Jesus came to the rescue by walking on water toward the boat.

One of Jesus’ best friends, a very emotional leader named Peter, steps out in faith and obedience (as Jesus tells him to “come”) and also walks on water. When Peter doubts Jesus, he begins to sink, and when he believes in Jesus, he is able to walk on water. 

In this story, we see Jesus calm the waves and display his power. While he does this, he shows us his desire for Peter to trust and obey him. How exactly does Jesus do this? Jesus invites Peter to come to him, to trust him, to walk with him. But there is a catch here. To do so, Peter needs to get out of the boat. Jesus will take care of Peter, even in the middle of a powerful storm that was frightening the most seasoned of fishermen. But first, Peter needs to get out of the boat. 

Dropping In is a book that encourages you to get out of the boat. Dropping In is a book that will point you toward and strengthen you in a trusting relationship with the one who walked on water, calmed the ocean’s waves, and looked out for his friends. 

Experiencing an abundant life, what I like to call “spiritual stoke”, does not come from living an easy, comfortable life. Jesus does not promise a stress-free life. But Jesus does promise abundant life. This spiritual stoke is a life thoroughly enjoyed in the context of a relationship with the God who created you, the God who created the mighty waves of the ocean, the God who desires to walk with you. 

Check out Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live for more info. 

Paddling out can result in injury. Thanks to continuous basic exercises I was able to grow and eventually get back in the water.

“Vamonos Shane! Vamonos! Salta al bote!” 

Let’s go Shane. Let’s go! Get in the boat!” 

It was a very warm morning just past five, one of my buddies and I were carrying our surfboards in waist deep water, and our boat driver was encouraging us to jump into his boat before the next set of waves arrived. After settling into our small Panga (a common boat in Central America), we motored around the point for the brief twenty minute trip up the coast. 

The surface of the ocean was so clear and smooth it looked like glass. I was with one of my boys and a close friend. We saw dolphins in the distance, a very solid four foot swell was hitting the coast, and we were on the second day of an eight day dream trip to El Salvador. This was going to be the trip of a lifetime, right? 

Wrong. 

After surfing perfect waves for several hours, I paddled into a head high swell that peeled for well over one hundred fifty yards. At the end of the wave, I slipped on the wax on my surfboard and wiped out. My right arm felt numb and tingly, and very painful at the same time. 

I’ve fallen thousands of times over decades of surfing. This time, however, I fell in a way that dislocated my right shoulder. As I was literally dragged on the rocks I was able to “pop” my shoulder back into place. I struggled back to our boat and asked the driver to pull me up. We sped back to the hotel, and I jumped in a taxi and went to the nearest hospital an hour or so away. The pain, and then the doctor, was very clear in telling me that I would not be surfing again anytime soon. I booked the next flight home. 

In a matter of seconds I went from the happiest person on the planet to feelings of disappointment, anger, and frustration. 

Several days later I found myself in an office I would frequent often the next four months — physical therapy. My doctor patiently taught me exercises that would help my shoulder heal. With the use of one pound weights, stretching rubber bands, ice and heat treatment, and rest my injury slowly (very slowly) rehabilitated. Throughout the process my physical therapist was very clear: there is no magic pill to healing. Do the exercises and rest. Do the exercises and rest. And again. And again. And again. 

Over time (months and months) the fibers, tendons, and muscles in my shoulder and upper back grew. Through all of the exercises I grew. 

My book, Dropping In, is written to help you grow. Over years of surfing and growing in a relationship with the creator of the waves, I want to provide you with exercises that can help you grow, too. The Bible is full of writings of rock solid wisdom that will help us grow and live out the abundant life we are intended for. 

Over the years I have had the wonderful opportunity to lead many people into a relationship with God. I always share this very simple plan to begin to grow in a new relationship with God. This is taken from my favorite website that I recommend to new and growing followers of Jesus: www.startingwithGod.com 

Go—Go to God in prayer each day. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7 

Read—Read the Bible each day. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. - Acts 17:11 

Obey—Obey God moment by moment. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. - John 14:21 

Witness—Point others toward God through your life and words. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. - John 15:8 

Trust—Trust God for every detail in your life. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7 

Holy Spirit—Allow God to control and live through your daily life. 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. - Galatians 5:16 

For more information about the new book visit http://droppingin.surf and pick up a copy.

As we walk with God through life we increase in our love for Him by following the plan of GROWTH.

One of my favorite Australian surfers is Joel Parkinson. “Parko” is a world champion and known the world over for his smooth style and years of surfing in the World Surf League. I once heard Parko speak of what really matters after surfing his whole life, “It’s funny because you think surfing is your whole life, but then when you have a family, and it seems like it’s not much at all.” Parkinson understands that as fun and enjoyable as surfing can be, and as special as it is to so many of us, it’s not what is most important. The Bible has this to say about what is temporary: 

Dropping In

Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20a, NASB) 

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (I John 2:15-18, NASB) 

Our life is like a vapor; it appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14, NASB)

We all make New Year’s resolutions. One of the most common is, “I’m finally going to begin a savings account next year. 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 (not January 1st) is when we need to save for the future: living for God and his word and investing in those things that are eternal. 

Have the Right Anchor 

It was barely five o’clock on a mid-winter morning. The air temperature was a chilly 42 degrees, the water temperature no more than 53 degrees. The swell was northwest at a solid four to six feet. 

This is the day of surfing we dreamed about all year. 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. 

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. 

Use code “DropIn” to receive free shipping.

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 in influential and talented bands today is Switchfoot, led by Jon Foreman and his brother Tim. This band has been influencing the world since the late 1990s and have sold millions of albums. 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
.

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. As our perspective on the things of this world changes; we will have an eternal perspective. 

For more on living with Christ as our anchor grab a copy of Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. For Thanksgiving week use the code DROPIN to receive free shipping!

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

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 a few 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. I (all of us) want to live for things that matter.

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 the 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 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. 

Check out Dropping In: Experience The Life You Were Meant to Live here: http://droppingin.surf or on Amazon.com.

Please join me in praying for Sunny.

Sunny Garcia is a giant in the surfing world. In the year 2000 Garcia won the ASP WCT World Title. He has won the prestigious Triple Crown a record six times. Throughout the 1990’s Garcia surfed with remarkable consistency, placing in the top 10 each year.

Garcia has a larger than life personality and in the past several years has been quite open with his struggles in the area of depression and mental illness. I have been very encouraged as he openly shares his struggles. Garcia’s vulnerability is endearing and relatable.

Several months ago I woke to read the tragic news that Sunny Garcia attempted to take his own life. Garcia is recovering and more can be read here of his current condition (you can also donate to his recovery): https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-sunny-garcia-and-family

Photo of Sunny Garcia taken from the most recent update from The Inertia website. https://www.theinertia.com

Mental illness is becoming more of a norm in discussion, but I believe we have a ways to go. Depression has been an issue in my own life. I share briefly in my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live, of my struggles with depression and anxiety. Below is my story:

It was past midnight and I was up again. My heart rate was alarmingly high, I was sweating, and I knew sleep would not happen again this night. What was wrong with me? 

I made several trips to my physician over the previous several months, had a ridiculous amount of blood drawn and tests done, and was finally told that my constant fatigue, rapid heart rate, and insomnia were due to depression and an anxiety disorder. 

As my doctor shared this with me, I literally began to argue with him, “What? No, Doc, you’ve got it wrong. I’ve got my stuff together.” I couldn’t accept what my doctor, a medical professional, was saying about the state of my emotional well-being. 

I thought that I could not be anxious or depressed because I’m a leader. I help others with their problems. I can handle my own problems. I cast my anxieties on the Lord (1 Peter 5:6-7), I can just pray for peace (Philippians 4:8) and God will work it out. Isn’t that how it is supposed to work? 

Despite these constant prayers, for the first time in my life, I felt on an emotional and physical level, completely broken. I had not gone surfing for months, which was a testament to how bad I was feeling. 

I struggled during that time because I’ve always bought into the myth that leaders should always look good. They appear put together well because they are put together well. Leaders feel good and they help others feel good. They don’t have problems. And, when they do, they solve them quickly and easily. 

Right?
 

Wrong.
 

Here is a challenge for you: Show me a leader in the Bible that is put together well-a leader that is not broken. 

Keep thinking. 

David? No, King David slayed his giants, but he was also a murderer and adulterer. 

Jesus’ disciple Peter, whom Jesus built the church upon? No again. Peter denied Christ three times, cut off a servant’s ear, and was an emotional roller-coaster , a mess, throughout his time with Jesus. 

How about the great Apostle Paul? The same guy who wrote more than half of the New Testament. Surely, he had has life put together well, right? Wrong again. Paul hunted down and persecuted followers of Jesus before he became a Christian. In his own words, as he wrote to his friend Timothy, Paul said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (I Timothy 1:15) 

The short end of it is that God fills the Bible with broken people and hurting people.

When I finally began to grasp the fact that I was, indeed, a very broken person, I was even more aware of God’s grace and healing power. As I opened up to God, friends, and family I realized that God uses broken people (and brings healing, which is for another post). God used broken people throughout the Bible, and – fortunately for me -- he uses broken people today. 

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, please talk to your doctor, go see a licensed therapist, a pastor, confide in friends, and pray. God will meet you where you are, and perhaps bring healing through these people. God understands our hurt, our brokenness, our pain.

Please join me, and people all over the world, in praying for Sunny.

Sunny recovering with the help of friends and family. Photo used from the Inertia website and their most recent update on Garcia’s condition.

.

My family and I recently lived in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a beautiful island and happens to have some pretty good surfing, too.

The winter season brings strong swells from the North Atlantic Ocean. These swells travel unhindered to the north and west sides of the island. Something unique about “la Isla Encantada” is that the second-deepest underwater trench in the world sits right off its northern coast. This means nothing slows down the marching of big surf. This, as a surfer knows, produces much stoke.

On extra-large wave days, when the surf is too big for most of the island, a reef comes to life in the coastal town of Aguadilla. Waves reel into the bay, usually groomed by offshore winds, and break for several hundred yards to shore.

Towards the end of our first winter there, an especially large eight-to twelve-foot northwest swell was lighting up the coast. My oldest son and I paddled out on one of these days. The conditions were right out of a dream: sunny, light winds, tropical water, and long rides to shore. However, I had one problem that I was not yet aware of: my leash was weak and would not stand the pressure of these larger waves.

So much fun…

Until your leash breaks…

We had an amazing surf session. As the sun went down, I kept saying what every surfer says when they need to go in to the beach, “Just one more good wave. Then I’ll go in. It’s so good out here, just one more...” Well, after saying this five times, I knew I really needed to get going! I spotted a solid set wave, paddled deep, and dropped in one of my biggest waves that day.

As I stood and raced down the line, I bottom-turned into the pocket (the most critical part of the wave). Unfortunately, another surfer was caught out of position and I had to turn to avoid him. Avoiding running this poor guy over meant the wave crashed on the back of my surfboard, throwing me head first into the Caribbean Sea and pushing me a good ten feet down into the reef. After feeling like I was in a washing machine for far too long, I surfaced to notice my leash had broken.

I watched helplessly as my surfboard was pushed into the rocks onshore, breaking the fins, and dinging it beyond repair.

A surfboard leash keeps the surfer connected to the surfboard. If my leash had not broken, my surfboard would have remained connected to me. If my leash had not broken, my surfboard would not have been smashed on the rocks. If my leash had not broken, I would have avoided a 400-yard swim to shore!

Like a leash to a surfboard, the Bible keeps us connected to God and to one another. The Bible is a book of rock-solid wisdom that addresses how we can grow in our relationships. Studying the Bible, especially with others, is key in growing in our relationship with God and our friends.

In Luke 10:25-27, an attorney asked Jesus a question for which we would all like an answer. “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

How can we grow in our understanding of God and have eternal life? How can we love God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and mind? How do we best love our neighbor? Read, study, and memorize the word of God.

In my final year as an undergraduate, I realized I needed one more science course to ful ll the graduation requirements of UC Irvine.I really did not want to mess with my morning surf schedule, so I took a Botany course that met from 11-11:50 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

It seemed that most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays had very good waves, and I missed that Botany course quite a few times the first half of that academic quarter. The uncrowded and consistent waves were too hard to deny. I mean, how much will it really matter if I didn’t study or go to class that often?

It mattered quite a bit, actually.

When I took the mid-term exam halfway into the quarter, I knew little of the material. I failed that test and I failed it in spectacular fashion. I did not know how to respond to the problems in front of me, as I had not studied. How could I know the answers if I had not prepared?

I was a man on a mission the second half of that course. After much personal study and group study with my fellow Botany classmates, I received an A- on the final, barely getting a C for my final grade. Here’s my point: When I was not committed to studying and learning the material, I stumbled when I took the test, and I failed miserably.

The more I studied Botany by myself and with my classmates, the better I did on the test. This principle is true in the Christian life. If I am reading, meditating, memorizing, and studying the word of God, I grow in my understanding of how God wants me to live. I still fail at times, but the miracle of God’s grace and forgiveness covers my many shortcomings.

For more on this and other topics related to the Christian life check out my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live. Also, email me (shane.sebastian@cru.org) if you’d like a free chapter of Dropping In. I’ll send it to your inbox!

Dropping in—going over the ledge—brought adventure and contentment. Dropping in also brought anxiety, stress, and pain.

The scene was like one I had dreamed of since I was a kid in school and looking at old surfing magazines. I was in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, surfing a right-hand reef pass in front of our hotel. The water was beyond clear. So clear it was like there was nothing between the bottom of the ocean and the surfboard I was sitting on. 

A few hundred yards behind me was Viti Levu, the main island in the Fijian Island chain. In front of me was one of the largest waves I had seen since arriving with my wife, Laura, and infant daughter, Kirra. The sun was setting, our flight back to the mainland was leaving in four hours, and our bus to the airport was waiting. 

I hesitated as the overhead wave approached. The water was shallow, perhaps less than three or four feet deep over sharp coral reef. The last thing I needed was reef rash, stitches, or anything that may delay our trip home. 

But I had to go. The wave was perfect. If I backed off and allowed my fear to keep me from going, I knew I would regret it. 

I dug my arms deep into the water, paddling as hard as I could to get into the beautiful swell. As I felt the wave’s momentum, I jumped to my feet and threw myself over the ledge. 

I barely made it to the bottom of the wave, feeling the fins of my board catch the water while I turned and raced for open water. I watched the reef underneath me, dragged my right arm in the side of the wave for balance and control, and focused my eyes on the safety of the channel. I kicked out, looked to the sky, and raised my arms up with stoke. 

I surfed that wave over fifteen years ago and it lasted no longer than seven or eight seconds, but I remember it like it happened yesterday. 

It was an amazing ride, though I paid the price. Several waves behind it had broken and were coming straight for me as I tried to paddle to shore. When the whitewash hit me, I scraped against the reef, resulting in several cuts and bruises on my legs and ankle. On top of that, my board received several dings that were likely beyondrepair. 

Surfers call this scenario “getting worked.” Let’s just say I got thoroughly beat up. I was content and stoked with that final wave, but at the same time, I was tired and struggling to get to the beach. 

By dropping in that wave, I experienced joy and stoke. I also experienced injury and insult. But I am so glad I dropped in; if I would have backed off, I wouldn’t have experienced the speed, the tube, and the exhilaration of surfing a six-foot right-hand reef pass. Dropping in—going over the ledge—brought adventure and contentment. Dropping in also brought anxiety, stress, and pain. 

In a lot of ways this is a metaphor for the Christian life. 

Following Jesus—dropping in—is the beginning of a lifetime adventure of walking through life with the creator of the universe. 

This brings exhilaration and purpose, blessings and joy, contentment and peace. However, dropping in also brings challenges. The Christian life, following Jesus, is not a life free from trials and tribulations. No, the Christian life is one that helps us address them. 

One reason I wrote Dropping In is to help you tangibly walk with God and experience the exhilaration and purpose God desires for you.

Check out Dropping In at the website, or send me a message (shane.sebastian@cru.org) and I will email you a chapter of the book. I’d love your feedback!

http://droppingin.surf

The author experiencing the joys of dropping in…

Surfing Can Be A Religious Experience.

- Tom Curren, 3 X World Champion

February 18, 2002 started like any other day off for me. A friend and I were driving up north to check a fickle right-hand point break outside of Santa Barbara, the air was a perfect seventy degrees, there was a solid four to six foot northwest swell hitting the coast, and the water was an uncharacteristically warm sixty degrees. It was going to be an uneventful and relaxing day of surfing. 

The day was hardly relaxing and it was hardly uneventful. 

As I poked around my garage deciding which surfboard to ride, my wife came in and said she was not feeling well. She had been up even earlier than me with an upset stomach. The catch here is that she was seven months pregnant with our twins. Her pregnancy was considered “high risk” as twins are often delivered early. We realized it would be a good idea to go to the hospital and check to make sure Laura and the babies were okay. 

No less than ten minutes after walking into the hospital, the doctor looked at us and said in no uncertain terms, “Laura, you’re dehydrated and your babies are in distress. You are going to deliver these twins today.” 

We were shocked and not expecting to hear that. 

I looked at our doctor and said, “Wait...today?” 

The doctor turned to me and said emphatically, “Yes, Shane. Today. Actually, in about ten minutes. We will begin an emergency cesarean section now.” 

She wasn’t kidding. Within ten minutes, an army of doctors, nurses, and machines were surrounding my wife to ensure a successful delivery of my son David and daughter Summer. A C-Section happens quickly. The doctor made an incision below my wife’s stomach, opened things up, and pulled both babies out of her. It really was amazing. 

What concerned the medical staff was my son David’s umbilical cord. I watched the doctor straining to unwind the cord that was coiled three times around his neck. David’s skin was a blue color,  he was not breathing well, and a nurse rushed him to the neonatal intensive care unit. 

As the nurse ran my son to another part of the hospital (I’ll never forget his little feet sticking out of a blanket), I said the words, “God, please protect my son.” 

We often pray in times of crisis. We also pray in times of celebration and hope. We pray out loud, in our hearts, before meals, in large groups, and by ourselves. 

What exactly is prayer and how can it help in our lives? Why should we pray and what exactly does it look like in our daily lives? 

This chapter in Dropping In will attempt to answer these questions as we see how prayer is a chief means in helping us grow in our relationship with God and why prayer is so important in the Christian life. 

What is prayer? 

Prayer is simply talking with God, conversing with God, communing 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 have learned that prayer is so much more than words or an activity. Prayer is more of an experience and ongoing conversation in a loving relationship. 

A main way I grow in my relationship with my wife is to converse, to listen, to communicate (and even after twenty three years of marriage, I have a long way to go here). This is a critical way we 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 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. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (ESV) 

But prayer is also difficult. Our minds wander as we may not fully understand prayer. We have many questions about prayer that makes praying challenging for us. Why does God answer some of our prayers and not others? How do we know if God is listening? How many times do we need to pray to make a difference? These are just a few questions that may discourage us from praying. 

For the entire chapter on prayer from my new book, Dropping In, hit the link or find it on Amazon. At the end of the chapter I share how our prayers for my son were answered.

http://droppingin.surf

Also, if you’d like a free chapter of the book simply message me and I’ll send it to you.

The second printing just arrived - grab a copy for your student as a back to school gift!

Prayer is simply connecting with God

Follow the WAVE model of prayer

In my book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live, I write of a life that is marked by prayer. Prayer is a lifestyle, something we can do without even thinking about it. Yes, there are times when we are very intentional in connecting with God, but a life of prayer is a life of living in God’s presence. One of my favorite authors is the late pastor Henri Nouwen. In one of his books on prayer, he speaks to this:

“To walk in the presence of the Lord means to move forward in life in such a way that all our desires, thoughts, and actions, are constantly guided by him. When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of him. This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said, or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence” (Page 28).

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 simply practicing these prayer disciplines, I learn to better communicate with God and our relationship grows. As my pastor recently told me, “We learn to pray by praying.”

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

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 ourfellowship is damaged. Fellowship is a word that is de nedby sharing, being in community with, and partaking together. For example, if I yell at my daughter and use an unkind word toward her, our relationship remains unchanged. I am still her father and she is still my daughter. However, our fellowship is damaged. To be in right fellowship with her, I admit my sin to her and ask forgiveness. When I sin toward God, I simply say, “God, you know where I have failed you. Please forgive me formy sel shness, for the way I spoke to my children or wife, formy 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 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (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. The Bible says that every good and perfect thing comes from God, and I use this time to thank him for the many good things he has given me. 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 giftof sur ng, and so much more! On a way home from sur ng inCocoa 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 nd this hard to believe, but Godwants 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 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. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a sh, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11, ESV)

For more practical suggestions to help you grow in your prayer life pick up a copy of the book at http://droppingin.surf

Prayer connects us to God

There are over 650 prayers in the Bible