The Shinn Digs

Many of you know this, but for some this may be the first official word … I’ve recently stepped down from my staff position with FCA, effective at the end of August. It’s been an emotional roller coaster to make this decision and move, and in some ways there are lots of unknowns that I just have to leave up to the Lord! Many of you will be receiving some information regarding your FCA financial partnership, but I thought I’d attach the letter here so others could read also! 2008-09-01-final-letter-to-donors.pdfI’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work for our good friend, Paul McLean, at Anchor Point IT Solutions.  It’s a huge learning curve, and quite a change in life schedule! Hopefully the letter will answer some other questions for you, but feel free to ask away! One thing I can promise you … I have always felt called to college ministry, whether it be through coaching basketball or working with FCA … that hasn’t changed! I just am not quite sure how that looks right now. I’m really praying God will give me opportunity to have a Bible study or book group or something of that nature with UCSB athletes here at our house on Tuesday evenings. I would absolutely love that! But, for now, I’m not exactly sure how “ministry” is defined in my life, which leaves me a little bit in limbo! Maybe it just finally gives me time to stay caught up with all the amazing young men and women I’ve gotten to know in the past 7 years!Changes are usually hard … I remind myself of that. I think I’ve had enough change in my life in the last 12 months to last for about a decade … so let it be known … no more changes for a while, please! I’d like this season to last for quite a long time! 

I don’t have time to blog… but this is too good. For those who are wondering - yes, the garden is progressing nicely. Maybe will post some updated pictures soon. We’ve planted something in just about every square foot possible in our front and back yard without using the car port roof and digging up the yard. More on the garden in a later post.

Reading someone’s blog is like reading an autobiography … it’s their own perspective on their own life or world around them. It’s such a fun way to keep up with people. Today JJ, a dear friend and four-year Huddle Leader veteran at FCA Camp, wrote a post about her visit last weekend to our house. What a treat to read someone else’s perspective on our life! Certainly times have changed! Last weekend we had friends over to swim - not an unusual happening at our home. But when Matt and Amber, our current house guests, walked in the door, their jaws dropped and they both said, “Your life is so different.” I looked out in the back yard and saw about 13 kids under the age of twelve swimming in the pool - not the typical college students which have made up the pool participants in the past. Times have changed! Thanks to all, like JJ, who have bravely entered in with me and experienced the changes and adapted to them!

Neither can I … but Bethany Nickless can … and DID! Bethany has run 10,000 miles in her college career. In fact, we had a party on Thursday night at our house to celebrate. Bethany had completed her 9,999th mile that day at practice, so at about 8:45 pm, she ran one mile and finished just in front of our house. Keaton ran alongside her, and our friend, Kyle rode my scooter alongside them to get the accurate distance. Brett took some pictures, so read his account of the story. It was fun evening to celebrate a big accomplishment (and really, just an excuse to get our FCA crew together!)

No … we didn’t change our wedding date … it’s still December 16th, so don’t panic! But November 10th will be very special also. You see, Matt Moran and Amber Squire will be getting married that day! There are many reasons their wedding is special, but I’ll tell you why I’ll be giddy …

In the fall of 2001 when I first moved to Santa Barbara and started FCA, I met this big, tall senior baseball player, Matt. He came to our FCA Huddle every single week, but I was pretty sure he didn’t know Jesus … but he kept coming … he kept asking questions … he kept having fun with all the people he met.

About the same time I met Amber, a freshman on the women’s soccer team. Amber was the same way … kept showing up, hung out with Erin, also a freshman, who loved Jesus and patiently taught Amber about Him.

I believe it was about February that Matt called me and wanted to have dinner. He had decided he wanted to follow Jesus … not just in word, but with his whole life! Six years ago … wow … Matt has grown into a solid, obedient, faithful follower of Christ. He is a teacher now, and as I watch him serve, I get goosebumps! I think Amber told us sometime in May that she had decided to follow Jesus. She never looked back. She loves the Lord and has grown so much into a beautiful woman of God.

They were friends for a long time … then what happened, only God can know, but they started dating 2 1/2 years ago … just before Amber moved to Louisiana for two years!! She’s back now … working on her PhD at UCSB. They’ve bought their first house. And they’re getting married on November 10th!

In some ways I’ll feel like a proud parent that day … in some ways I’ll feel like an excited friend, getting to go through engagement and marriage right along with them … but in all ways I know I will feel giddy and blessed … blessed to be a part of something so special … that God had planned and ordained way longer than the 6 years ago when they each met the Lord and met each other. Wow. It’s going to be awesome! Here are some fun photos!

It’s 3 days since Camp closed, and I said goodbye to my last two out-of-town friends, Val and Sal, today as they returned to their homes. Two housemates, April and Rebecca, are already gone on different trips, and Kirsten leaves tomorrow morning. So, now it’s just myself and Grant Hurst in the house. Grant will be here until Thursday, then I’ll have to say goodbye to him as he gets ready to head to Utah for grad school. I’ll be super sad about that … Grant is one of those guys … I met him before he became a Christian his freshman year, and I’ve watched him meet Jesus and develop into a studly man of God!! I can’t believe how four years goes by so quickly! I’m getting old! It’s such a blessing to have a few days to hang out with him before he takes off. And since everyone else is savoring their time with him, there are lots of UCSB athletes over this week.

But … Thursday night it will just be Zak and I … In the five years that I’ve lived in Santa Barbara, I’ve probably had less than 5 nights in either of my houses by myself. It’s kind of a cool thing, really. I’ve been thriving on all these people in town for FCA Camp … the fellowship has been awesome! But, I’m an introvert to the core … being alone revives me. So, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it will be kind of cool to be here this weekend all alone.

What do I have planned? Well, thanks to Dan & Russ Michealsen, I had some money to spend at Borders, so I bought 4 books tonight. You can see the random selection on the sidebar (sorry - I haven’t updated that in a while!) It’s quite a variety of books, really, but that’s good. I plan to spend most mornings for the rest of July and August reading. This is the time of year I can really devote large chunks of time to study and spiritually preparing for the school year, so being the nerd that I am, I can’t wait!

So, if you want to know what my life looks like after FCA Camp, it’s pretty awesome … I’ll read for half the day, then do a little bit of office work, then take the rest of the day off. I’ve got a million house projects to do, and I intend to enter the school year with a savage tan due to the many hours of hard labor I will spend by my pool! The other thing I’m going to do is get back into Triathlon shape … rumors are going around that I may enter the Carpinteria Tri … might be true!