JohnShore.com John Shore: Trying God’s patience since 1958

I’d be happy to come speak to your group, meeting, or church. I have any of the following talks ready to go — or we can work up a new one. Just email me at johnshore @ sbcglobal . net, or send me a message via the box at the bottom of this page. Thanks!

Saved in a Supply Closet: The  Story of How, at 38 years old, Out of Nowhere, I Very Suddenly Became A Christian
The micro-second before it happened, I couldn’t have been less of a Christian if I had cloven feet and horns sticking out of my head. I had never before had much if any respect for Christianity, and certainly had no more interest in being a Christian than I did in having thistles jammed up my nose. And then, suddenly, there I was, on my knees, in (of all places) a supply closet at my job, crying.  Talk about a whole new perspective on life. And death. And everything in between.

What? Christianity Rational?
As a former nonbeliever, I can definitely assert that to a non-Christian, the last thing Christianity makes is sense. Yet the moment I became a Christian, I realized that one of the singular qualities of the faith is that (surprise!) it makes imminent rational sense. Every argument I ever had against Christianity (which were the same perfectly valid ones nonbelievers usually have about it: Why would a benevolent, all-powerful God allow evil and suffering; why doesn’t God just prove he exists; why are so many Christians so obnoxious, etc.) has a perfectly logical answer to it. Who knew? It’s a fact about our faith that tends to stay entirely too obscure. Here — via references to my book Penguins — I share the extraordinarily reasonable answers to the most common, most “challenging” arguments against Christianity.

“I’m OK–You’re Not”: The Message We’re Sending Nonbelievers, and Why We Should Stop
This talk is based on my current book by the same title. It’s a (loving) look at the proposition that perhaps it’s time we Christians started thinking a little less about fulfilling the Great Commission, and a little more about fulfilling the Great Commandment. Its informing idea is that trying to convert someone who hasn’t asked for that input is necessarily disrespecting them — and what that must mean, and how (and why) that must play out as it inevitably does. This is a talk about how Christians might do a better job of relating to (and, for that matter, understanding) non-Christians.

How To Get Published
Besides having published books with both Christian and “secular” publishers, as a freelancer and an editor I’ve worked for literary magazines, regular magazines, huge daily newspapers, weekly community newspapers, tabloids of every sort, small and massive websites, and both professional and beginning book authors. If you’ve got questions about editors, agents, book proposals, article queries, manuscript mechanics … any of that stuff, I can definitely  help you with information that, for some weird reason, never seems to really get out there.

Comma Sense: How to (Quickly) Improve Your Writing, and (Yes!) Have Fun Doing So
Punctuation, grammar, and syntax — well, writing generally — can be kind of intimidating. But (I promise) it doesn’t have to be. I can show you how to cut through all the scary “writing rules” so many of us were tortured with in school, and to vastly (and fairly instantly) improve everything from your e-mails, to your personal letters, to your business correspondences, to works you might want to publish. Don’t let the fear of breaking the “rules” stop you from writing what you need or want to write.

Some speaking endorsements:

“John Shore would be an asset to any writers conference. He’s experienced, he loves writing, and he knows the business better than most, having worked in just about every aspect of writing one can imagine. His faith is contagious—and he’s funny!  At our conference in San Diego, his workshop was one of the best attended, and one that received some of the most positive feedback. Is he a little quirky? Unconventional? Yes! But his blog Suddenly Christian is one of the most read pieces of writing on daily basis in Christendom—because he makes his readers think and challenges us to go back to the basics. I highly recommend him.” — Jennie Gillespie, President, San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild 

“I highly recommend John Shore to you as a speaker. Whether it be to a Christian Education class, a youth group, a study group, or as a guest preacher, I am confident you will be pleased to have invited John to recount his out-of-nowhere conversion experience. His is a story which manages to be at once hilarious and touching enough so that, when he recently spoke at one of our own forums, it brought tears to my eyes. You might choose to ask John to read from his brilliant little book, just out from Seabury Books, called “Penguins, Pain, and the Whole Shebang: Why I Do the Things I Do,” by John Shore (as told to God). Writers and speakers with John’s fresh message and style simply don’t come along very often. I urge you to share with members of your own church the blessing that John has certainly been to ours.” —The Very Reverend Scott E. Richardson, Dean, St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego.

“As an middle-aged ordained person in a mainline denomination, I am always in search of fresh ways to present the Good News of God’s abundant and abiding love, especially to generations younger than I. John Shore’s book gives me a wondrous tool to do just that. I am grateful the Holy Spirit grabbed—and is still grabbing—John, a modern prophet and a gifted author.” —Rhonda McIntire, Rector, St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea, Pacific Beach.

“John Shore offers his faith experience with God in an amusing and engaging manner. Several of our groups have enjoyed his presentations, responding with enthusiastic questions and comments. We are looking forward to John’s return visits as he has new insights to share with us.” — The Rev. Julia W. Christian, Associate Rector, St. James by-the-Sea Church, La Jolla, CA.

“I want to thank you very much, John, for visiting with our parish community at Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church in El Cajon yesterday evening. From comments I have heard already, I know that your lively yet thoughtful presentation will have a lasting impact on our people. Your story of conversion and your journey in Christ demonstrate the power of the Gospel to transform lives in new and unexpected ways. Though few of us are as articulate and, if I may say so, charming as you, your insights into life nevertheless resonate with everyone. As one parishioner commented to me after the presentation, ‘He’s good; I understand him.’ Again, it was wonderful of you to take time out of your busy schedule to spend a few hours with us in prayer, fellowship, and discussion. Know that you are always welcome at Saint Alban’s. We look forward to hearing of your newest books as they become available. You are a gifted writer and speaker.” – The Rev. Dr. Frank Hegedus, Saint Alban’s Church, El Cajon, CA

“John Shore’s musings on Christianity are very funny, thought-provoking and touching.  In his book and in person, he shows that one needn’t be ignorant, clueless, superstitious, or friendless to be a Christian in our modern world.” —The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas, Director of Spiritual Formation, St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego.

“John Shore has a particular ability to speak the language and style of young adults. His genuine openness and thoughtful reflections provide a bridge for seekers in search of a faith community.” —The Rev. Canon Richard Lief, Canon for the Arts, St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego

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