Elevate Student Ministries

White As Snow

// March 17th, 2009 // 2023No Comments »http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2009/03/white-as-snow/White+As+Snow2009-03-17+17%3A30%3A27Shawn+Michael // Books / Reading, Elevate Update, Web Sites

This Wednesday evening our senior highers are going to hear an original story written by my friend, Jason Salamun, pastor of Project Church in downtown Rapid City.  If you are not a senior higher and you are “jealous much”, then you should click over to Jason’s new blog and get the FREE e-book for yourself.

As Jason puts it, “White As Snow” is a “simple love story that represents something more profound than my mere words can describe. A tale of pursuit between a Savior and his bride. The beautiful, dangerous, and central message of Jesus.  The gospel.” I can’t wait to share it with you.

Year of Biblical Living

// July 21st, 2008 // 1013No Comments »http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2008/07/year-of-biblical-living/Year+of+Biblical+Living2008-07-21+18%3A24%3A04Shawn+Michael // Books / Reading, Spiritual, Web Sites

Anybody read this book?  I know it’s been out a while but I saw this short video today and my interest was re-sparked in getting my hands on a copy.

Here’s the synopsis from A. J.’s site:

“The Year of Living Biblically answers the question: What if a modern-day American followed every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible. Not just the famous rules – the Ten Commandments and Love Thy Neighbor (though certainly those). But the hundreds of oft-ignored ones: don’t wear clothes of mixed fibers. Grow your beard. Stone adulterers. A.J. Jacobs’experiment is surprising, informative, timely and funny. It is both irreverent and reverent. It seeks to discover what’s good in the Bible and what is maybe not so relevant to 21st century life. And it will make you see the Good Book with new eyes. Thou shalt not put it down.”

Reaching Out Can Be Messy

// April 10th, 2008 // 7271 Comment »http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2008/04/reaching-out-can-be-messy/Reaching+Out+Can+Be+Messy2008-04-10+21%3A02%3A45Shawn+Michael // Books / Reading, Spiritual

That’s the title I’ve given to the message I’m preaching this weekend in “big church”. It’s inspired by a Jay Bakker tribute to Mike Yaconelli that I heard a few year’s back at a Youth Specialties convention… which was, in turn, heavily inspired by one of my favorite books of all time (by Mike Yaconelli) titled, Messy Spirituality. Of course, God has really laid this on my heart, too; I wouldn’t want to leave that inspiration out!

Larry Spousta was talking about it when he was here for Destiny’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, Robert Hagan spoke “supernatural evangelism” into the foundation of our first years at this property, and God spoke through the students hearts prophetically about “reaching out” at the beginning of 2008. So… this is just a “part 2″ to all of that. I’m really pumped to share what God’s been downloading in me…

Adam by Ted Dekker

// April 3rd, 2008 // 6961 Comment »http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2008/04/adam-by-ted-dekker/Adam+by+Ted+Dekker2008-04-04+02%3A15%3A59Shawn+Michael // Books / Reading

Anybody else as big a fan of Ted Dekker as I?  I am so looking forward to getting my hands on his newest book, Adam.  I’ve read lots of raving reviews already.  Check out the Adam mini-site.

Youth Worker Network: Leadership

// April 2nd, 2008 // 6863 Comments »http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2008/04/youth-worker-network-leadership/Youth+Worker+Network%3A+Leadership2008-04-02+23%3A30%3A59Shawn+Michael // Books / Reading, Youth Ministry

Met with the Black Hills Youth Worker Network at our new gathering place — the Alternative Fuel Coffee House — this morning. I left so encouraged… I really got a lot out of today: real stories from real youth workers, inspiring thoughts on leadership, and a lot of laughs!

The book we read for this month was “The Next Generation Leader” by Andy Stanley. A great, if quick, read on the subject. The discussion was so good (mostly on the subject of “competency”) that we never got on to discuss the other four leadership areas that Andy writes about in the book.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE DISCUSSION FROM THIS MORNING:
- a well rounded leader? a false myth…
- everybody should be focussed and functioning in the area that they are most gifted naturally
- find leaders to fill in on areas of your weakness
- when you delegate leadership out, don’t micromanage! (delegating tasks, but not giving them authority)
- casting vision within your culture
- I attribute my ministry success to my senior pastors
- take advantage of leadership freedoms that you have

Next month’s topic is: HOW TO DEVELOP AND SET LEADERS IN PLACE

The book that we’re going to collectively read and discuss at next month’s gathering is “S.H.A.P.E.” by Erik Rees.