I am currently sitting on the far west end of an old soccer arena that got converted into a church, is now a Bible school, but is currently operating as a 24/7 prayer room. There are only four chairs out of 1400 that have tables in front of them, and if you get here early enough you win.
I dare to say that August 1, 2007 is about as big of a day for me as January 1, 2007 was. Well, it’s not so much this exact day that bares the weight so much as this week. Things have shifted for me in a dynamic way.
It was January 1st that I officially became Merchant Band’s ex-drummer. A few weeks later I joined the natorious Justin Rizzo team and got to rock for 6 months. All the while, knowing things were still changing.
Well, they have changed. Here’s the story.
Some good advice from a very wise, old man
Don’t tell Mike I called him old. It sounded so good in the heading didn’t it?
When I knew I was quitting Merchant Band I had to decide if I would join another worship team or not. I’ve never listed drumming in my long-term goals and visions so I thought perhaps this was the time to stop drumming.
I sat down with Mike and asked his advice. He said, “Don’t quit when you’re down. If you can, keep going until the time is clear. Something will come along and make total sense. When it does then think about quitting drumming.”
In leu of that great advice I joined Justin’s team and it has been a great time. But now those “things” are coming along, and it’s time to move on to something different for a while.
The Daniel Academy
A new private Christian school is starting on August 20th. The Daniel Academy. And Anna and I were asked to be deans of the Leadership and Excellence Track being taught to the 9-12th graders.
Basically what that means is we are writing an entire high school curriculum from scratch, and then teaching it. (I am actually taking a break from working on the first class to write this post.) The track will focus on Godly leadership while training high-schoolers to become men and women of integrity and excellence.
I have been shocked at how much work is needed to take on this task and how easy it has been. The Lord is clearly helping us.
Marketing
I have also jumped on with the IHOP marketing department. I’ll be working with an awesome group who stands out different than any other marketing team you may see. This group is committed to prayer. A. Maze. Ing.
The IHOP Internal Support Raising Department
This job is going to be a blast. I was asked to develop, spear-head and direct the new Support Raising Department. It is still in major infancy, (I just submitted the department proposal 72 hours ago) but it has already been a joy working with some of the others involved.
I know for sure that if I wasn’t on full-time staff with IHOP I would own and run my own company. Well….I sorta already do, but not on the same scale as what I would be doing. So having the opportunity to head up a department is a delightful challenge. And yes I know I’ll be eating those words in a few months.
Friendship
I cannot get past the issue of friendship with God. It is on my mind every morning and every evening. (My mind goes on break in the afternoons.) It has become clear to me in a new way that the determining factors to my relationship with God are not “what I do.”
I use to think that my function was directly related to my relationship with God. That’s just not true, and I continually feel the invitation to enter into deeper friendship with God; through prayer, fasting, singing, Bible reading, anything. Anything that will help me get closer to Him.
Now I’m facing the new obstacle of learning how to do ‘business’ and ‘various tasks’ without disconnecting from God. But I know if I can navigate this transition right, I will be able to enjoy and grow in the coming season.
The Two Final Sentences
For all you who skimmed to the bottom, or for all those who read this whole article hoping for a glimmer of hope in your own life here’s what I have to say: Keep on going. You’re not big enough to screw up your calling as long as you are giving your heart to God.
Evan Olsen said:
With an ending line as good as that..you’ll be an awesome teacher.
Are you doing graphics design with the marketing team?
Good luck! it sounds like your plate is hearty-man full.
Posted on August 1, 2007 at 10:31 am
Anna said:
Well said, honey. I’m so proud of you. You are excellent at so many things, and you do them all for the Lord.
Posted on August 1, 2007 at 10:33 am
Michelle Van Loon said:
We’ve never met, but through the amazing world of blog-dom, I’ve been following your story. I’m a sucker for an adventure story, and yours has had the makings of one.
May God bless you as you begin a new chapter of the story.
Posted on August 1, 2007 at 12:04 pm
couch said:
Great Shawn!
I had no idea you had all those other things going on in your life. Man, Free-lancing, Teaching, Marketing, Blogging, Mac-cing (computers), Mac-king (wife), Dep. Heading, Singing, Fasting, Praying, Studying…Friendship!
So, are you going to quit drumming then?
Posted on August 1, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Theresa said:
Is it time to lament that your anointed drumming may not be on the webstream anymore? I have noticed you haven’t been on Justin’s team lately. How wonderful that the Lord is using you in so many other areas, Go, Shawn, go!
Posted on August 1, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Armen said:
“Now I’m facing the new obstacle of learning how to do ‘business’ and ‘various tasks’ without disconnecting from God.”
Well, from experience brother, rule number one in the above area, is to never think like this,
“I know for sure that if I wasn’t on full-time staff with IHOP I would own and run my own company. Well….I sorta already do, but not on the same scale as what I would be doing.”
Always refrain from doing what you want to do until God gives specific council through His word, that it’s His will. That way, when the business (relationship, ministry, etc) seems to be going belly up, you can bring the promise to God and say, “Lord, you guided me into this, so you can guide me out of this trouble I’m in right now”
Doors appear to be opening for you in various fields of service, and surely that is praiseworthy. Just be careful that all these extra labours don’t keep you away from labouring in your relationship with Him.
Rejoice alway…:)
Posted on August 2, 2007 at 1:19 am
{Shawn} said:
@ Armen: What I mean by those obstacles is that for the past 6 years up to now the vast majority of my time has been spent in the prayer room or in a worship setting with my band.
Now I still have four to six hours a day in the prayer room, but have other responsibilities too that are more like a real job. I have meetings, deadlines, emails, work requests, etc… It is a different type of role than I have had before and so my challenge is to learn this role while maintaining a vibrant heart and fire-y spirit.
I know what you mean here, but I think you said it a bit extreme. For major life choices we do need to listen to the voice of God. But I haven’t made any major life choices. Just a few role shifts.
What I would not do without specific council through His word is move back to Colorado.
I believe that as long as we are sincerely pursuing the heart of God we can pursue hobbies and various roles, and enjoy the Lord while we do it.
It’s true that having a clear word from the Lord on the front end will help keep us steady if and when things start to get difficult, but in the end it’s not that initial word that will keep us steady. It’s if we are connected with God in the midst of things going belly up. What I mean is that as long as our first priority is intimacy with God, then our ‘function’ isn’t as important. We’re not thrown into ungodly distress when things get difficult. And I know you agree with me.
So anyway - thank you for the encouragement and advice.
Posted on August 2, 2007 at 8:12 am
Armen said:
I don’t know brother, I think, not that one is as important as the other, but that they go hand in hand.
In Acts 16, you have the apostle Paul desiring to go into Asia, but the Spirit forbids him, so he was sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings, (maybe even through a form of chastisement, who knows). So, eventually he ends up seeking God’s face about where they were to go, and God reveals to him that they were to go to Macedonia.
If you’re blessed with children, will you only want your children to seek your advice about big matters, or would you like them to trust your council even in the small matters? I think you see my point. Our heavenly Father is deeply interested in guiding us in everything we do, and I don’t think He takes too kindly when we leave Him out. I know I’ve suffered personal chastisement, even due to my decisions in fairly small matters.
Remember, “in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths”.
May God help us all to pursue Him more and more.
Posted on August 2, 2007 at 10:56 am
ChriS said:
Shawn,
The Daniel Academy…teaching and developing gig is perfect for you both, or your perfect for it.
Posted on August 2, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Ronni said:
okay this should tell you something… you got the first “quote spot” in my new moleskin with that one….
I needed that. Thanks.
Posted on August 2, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Yuri said:
Shawn have you read any Brother Lawrence? His focus was to cultivate communion with God while working, while doing anything … might want to check it out. There are some great insights there.
Keep it up!
Posted on August 4, 2007 at 4:55 pm