JOHN 3:16 MARKETING NETWORK GUEST POST: Lorilyn Interviews Author Scott M. Shafer About His New Book, “What Every Dream Means”

LORILYN: Today I am running an interview with Scott Shafer about his new book, What Every Dream Means. I am intrigued by What Every Dream Means because it's difficult to find a book on this topic that is rooted in Scripture. Enjoy and learn how his new book might help you to understand your dreams.

Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you have an academic background that led you to search for answers to the meaning of dreams or did you have a personal experience that compelled you to ask questions in search of answers?

Scott: Early in my relationship with Christ, I had an ongoing desire and appetite to hear the voice of God. It was very organic and a natural byproduct of the intimate experiences of God's presence in my life at that time.

To my surprise, I soon discovered (by His grace) that God was already speaking to me, though I didn't realize it initially. I expected God to speak in a totally different way, but He had already been speaking to me in my dreams. Prior to this season in my life, I don't recall having dreams. I don't remember dreams from childhood and I have no memories of any dreams in my life until powerfully encountering the living Christ.

As soon as I realized this was one way God was speaking to me (it was not unusual to have several dreams a night during this time) I began journaling in a process of trying to understand my dreams and their symbolism through prayer and sharing with others. This led me on a journey of study, reflection, meditation, prayer, and working with dreams for some twenty-five years. I have no formal education in psychology or any other tradition, though I am well aware of the many theories, methodologies, and perspectives that are represented in this field.

Question: Is your book What Every Dreams Means based on Scripture?

Scott: What Every Dream Means is based on Scripture. It is my belief there are many wonderful principles and truth in Scripture revealed about the topic of dreams and dream interpretation that has been glossed over or ignored by many.

This would include principles related to working with symbolism and symbolic picture language, which is what we often encounter with dreams. Most people in the Western world do not think in these terms, so Scripture is helpful in changing our perceptions by its use of idioms and various kinds of speech.

As we immerse ourselves in the prophetic and poetic language of Scripture—including parables, hyperbole, simile, and metaphors—our insights increase, and this becomes important for interpreting dreams.

Scripture helps us in other ways, such as validating that God speaks to us in our dreams. We can also expect, as prophesied, that during the end times, dreams will play a significantly more important role globally than ever before in history.

Question: How will What Every Dream Means help me to understand my dreams?

Scott: First and most importantly, it will help you to gain a relational perspective of dream interpretation rooted in an intimate relationship with the living Christ. I prayed about the title of the book and one night as I was drifting off to sleep, I received the title. As it came to me, I knew that I had to write it down before I forgot it.

I've had that experience of forgetting a dream or part of a dream by not writing it down. Those previous lessons helped me in this case with the title of the book and I wrote it immediately before going back to sleep.

In the following days, I searched everywhere and realized that the title What Every Dream Means had never been used. All of that is amazing to me, but in a way, it probably shouldn't surprise me that God knew all this in advance.

The point I want to make about the title is that it implies several things. Probably the most important thing is there is someone who does know what every dream means and it is God. Everything I do to train and help people with their dreams all comes back to this vital dependency upon God and a relational perspective.

That is contrary to the many things that other perspectives of dreams such as psychology teach. Most often what is taught is a method that does not point to a relationship with the pure source of light and understanding. There are also other ways the book will help you with your dreams.

Lastly and certainly of great importance to me is that as you read What Every Dream Means, it will help you receive freely God's presence by absorbing the anointing that is from Him and that is essential for understanding dreams. This is a key to understanding dreams that I want people to have an awareness of so that the full extent of impartation can take place in their lives.

Keep in mind Jesus was identified as “The Anointed One,” which implies a great measure of anointing from the Father and Holy Spirit to accomplish His purpose. So we too, like Jesus, in this case, need the anointing of the Spirit for our purpose with respect to interpreting dreams today.

Question: I can think of several instances in the Bible where God revealed profound truths to someone in a dream. Can you share with us a personal experience dream story, either yours or someone else, which is inspirational?

Scott: The dreams that are recorded in Scripture are very profound dreams in that many of them, though not all of them, are what I would call prophetic dreams. They revealed the future of individuals or nations.

Be that said, there are many kinds of dreams a person can experience and not all are of this magnitude. Each dream performs a particular function and has value, even though its function may not be, as in the case of the dreams in Scripture, prophetic dreams. Many of the dreams that an individual may have today are intended to help him pray specifically about topics that God is revealing to him personally.

For example, I had a dream where I saw myself kneeling in a meadow that felt like the altitude and atmosphere of the mountains in California. I was completely surrounded by trees and brush, and in a place where there were no buildings or structures. It was a remote, natural area.

In the clearing where I knelt, it was the break of day, in the early morning hours. The ground was wet with dew, just beginning or early dawn.

I looked in front of me. A man stood not too far away, maybe twenty or thirty yards, on the edge of the clearing. He said, “The wildlife here will never come near a human being.”

As I heard these words, I looked to my right and there appeared a tiny fawn frolicking very close. Profound energy and happiness exuded from the little fawn as it played in complete freedom. Amazed, I watched, and then from my right and behind me, a doe slowly walked up and rubbed its body against my right shoulder as it passed by. Strangely I felt as though the doe wanted me to pet it. The dream ended.

When I awoke I realized the dream contained a very clear message about the things that defy what “man” says. This man—his reasoning, negative words, and logic—was completely defied by what I experienced with the fawn and the doe, both of whom came near. It was a wonderful picture that has been an inspiration and resource to help me not to listen to all the negative voices that are around me.

LORILYN: Thanks, Scott, for a great interview. You can pick up a copy of his book by clicking on this link.

CREATIVE WRITING INSIGHTS: “Love Better,” by Lorilyn Roberts: Based on Ken Kuhlken’s Book “Writing and the Spirit”

Fear of being judged is a great spoiler of creativity. Unnecessary rules affect me the same way, and I run from negativity like the plague. I have learned it is better for me to be alone when I am “in the spirit” and writing; hence, my frequent trips to Starbucks.

“Perfect love casts out fear” is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. I have come to believe that those who say negative, unloving things-in reviews, in comments, or in other aspects of living-either are insecure or narcissistic. I may not know which, but I avoid those types of people like roaches. I can make my own pity party without their help. Instead, I seek out those who are full of the spirit. Most noticeably in the John 3:16 Marketing Network, we have individuals who are uplifting and caring about others.


I love the song, “We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord...” May we love better as we write because we write what the world needs to hear. As the song goes, “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love...”

LORILYN INTERVIEWS SERAFIM GASCOIGNE About His New Book “Roman Carnival”

Lorilyn: Today I would like to introduce a fascinating author who writes books for young adults. Meet Serafim Gascoigne as he talks about his life and the launch of his new book, Roman Carnival.

I recently listened to an interview by you where you talked about your varied background which helps you to create memorable stories for Young Adults. Can you share some of that with us today?

Serafim: I have been a professional musician, an army medic, an intelligence analyst, teacher, and computer training consultant on three continents, and finally a pastor/priest here in the U.S.

I worked for British Intelligence in Berlin during the Cold War. This gave me exposure to the Russian language and Christians who had taken refuge in the West, but who nonetheless went through very difficult times when the Soviet army took Berlin. Their stories, in many instances miraculous, set the scene for my future writing. When Russia became open once more, I traveled to Siberia and other places in Russia.

Later, I taught in an inner-city school where seventy percent of the students were from the West Indies. I lived in Ladbroke Square, the location of  Roman Carnival, a few doors away from the Home Secretary and the film star, Kenneth Moore, and John Cleese of Monty Python fame. I used to see them shopping from time to time.

Lorilyn: I am always interested in whether fiction authors write by the “seat of their pants” or if they outline and develop the plot and then write. How do you come up with your fascinating storylines?

Serafim: I develop my characters first and then find a story for them. I usually work out a draft outline which I never stick to! The stories seem to write themselves. I enjoy researching the background and looking for unusual details. Did you know that the Romans worshipped the wrong god or that Nero did not play the fiddle (or mandolin) while Rome was burning?

I found some interesting menus such as dormice dipped in honey. Lots of facts that I hope will capture the interest of young readers.

Lorilyn: Which leads to my next question: Tell us a little bit about your new novel Roman Carnival.

Serafim: The discovery of an ancient Temple of Mithras causes great excitement among the residents of Ladbroke Square, London.  At the suggestion of the curator of the British Museum, the residents decide to hold a Roman Carnival, complete with fancy dress, refreshments, tours, and speeches.  However, unknown to the large crowd gathered for the Carnival, there are “ravens,” Roman assassins from 65 AD.

Intent on invading 20th century London, the Romans, members of the cult of Mithras, are thwarted in their attempt by two schoolboys, Anthony Archer and Hector Carter. As the drama unfolds, Hector is mistaken for a runaway boy soldier, while Anthony is thought to be Artemius, a high-ranking member of the cult of Mithras.

Mistaken identity or not, these boys begin to play a vital role in defeating the cosmic forces that have entered their time and reality through the Temple of Mithras.  A mysterious figure, the watcher Nikomedes, confirms that this is their destiny; it is part of their ancestral breath. Only Anthony and Hector are capable of sealing the conduit between past and present. How are they to do this? Nikomedes says that they will know what to do when the time comes.    

Unlikely heroes in a battle with cosmic evil, the boys work as a duo, displaying common sense and courage in the face of many unexpected dangers.  Their only weapons against this invasion are their simplicity, honesty, and their ancestral link to the past.  Hector's good and easy-going nature, loyalty to a friend, and courage play an important role in the drama. Anthony is not particularly courageous but together with Hector, he shines as a natural leader in times of danger.

This is a fast-paced historical/fantasy, combining Cockney humor and suspense.

Lorilyn: With your background, you could write for any genera. Why did you choose to write Young Adult books?

Serafim: I enjoy reading children’s literature and simply enjoy writing for young readers. I believe that it is important to communicate Christian values through fantasy and for teens through the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit. Roman Carnival is written for a secular audience but the underlying theme is Christian.

I am concerned that many authors of fantasy dwell on masochistic, sadistic, and psychotic role models. Roman Carnival is no moralistic tale, but a scary, fast-paced, time-shift adventure. It's not for the timid.

The underlying metaphysic is that we inherit not only the physical characteristics of our parents but a part of their spirit too. This is a surprise element in the story.

Lorilyn: Thank you, Serafim Gascoigne, for sharing with us your passion for writing for Young Adults. I can’t wait to get a copy of ROMAN CARNIVAL for my 12-year-old daughter who loves Christian fantasy.

To purchase Carnival from Amazon, click here.