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Exploring where TRUE beauty comes from.

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This morning, I – [Shawn] — packed up all of our personal belongings at Destiny.  It was a sad day. Too many memories and strong relational attachments here to not have some emotional response…

As we are making this transition, this blog will also be making a transition.  If you want to continue following the Shoup family and my — Shawn’s — blogging and youth ministry endeavors, we invite you to join us by visiting / subscribing to our personal site found at elevatingageneration.org.  Elevate Student Ministry’s new pastors-to-students, Derick and Pam Brown, will be taking over the content of this site as of this week. As a result, this will be our last post here.

I’m writing content for several student ministry web sites and hope to do more of that as we make this move.  I’ve been slow lately with all of the going’s on, but am committed to the call on my life and the amazing network of youth workers / peers I’ve met over the years.  I also have a deep passion to see this generation follow God with everything that’s in them.  That’s why our ministry tagline has always been “elevating a generation”: we genuinely want to see students go to the next level in their relationships with God.

For all of you that have been a part of Elevate Student Ministries over the past 9+ years — students, leaders, parents and the rest of our Destiny family — we love you.  Words are not enough to convey our gratitude for letting us be a part of your lives.  It has been an honor that has been unsurpassed by anything else to-date.  The memories, laughter, and tears will never leave us.

We truly hope that you can join us for the Destiny-hosted farewell service this coming, Sunday night at 6:30 PM.  Non-Destiny friends, peers, and family are invited, too; we want to hug and thank you all in person.  You can Facebook RSVP to the event here.

We’re expectant about where Derick and Pam are going to take this student ministry.  We’re so excited that God brought them to Destiny to take this thing to the next level.  We wholeheartedly encourage you to support them as they step into their new roles as your pastors.

On a closing note: if you aren’t already, I invite you to connect with me on [Facebook] and [Twitter].  Distance doesn’t mean that we have to be disconnected in this technologically enhanced world.

Much love.

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Well, fortunately, there are others out there who trip up at times, too.  I guess in some strange way that makes me feel better.

I’m a big fan of Carlos Whittaker’s blog, Ragamuffin Soul.  He’s a worshiper (check out his spankin’ new EP here), creativity coach (click here), and an awesome Dad.  Check this following LOL-moment out; this is what Carlos had to say about it.

So my 3 year old. He apparently loves the song, “Single Ladies”, by Beyonce. Little did I know how much he loves that song. I was simply making a point that he, in fact, is not a single lady. I thought he would laugh and keep singing.  Man, was I wrong. Notice Sohaila, my oldest daughter, in the center seat.

Carlos, I can so TOTALLY relate.  Thanks for sharing!  That’s not even a bad-dad moment, bro.  It was a no-win situation, all the way — that was awfully fun to watch.

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Music is from one of our favorite crunk bands: the always fun Family Force 5.  Check ‘em out here.

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Will post more thoughts and quotes on my personal blog over the Thanksgiving holiday.

If you’re interested, here’s all of the footage I got from Crowder Band’s Sunday morning performance at the NYWC. They are always a “fave” for me!

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Some of you LONG-TIME blog readers will remember when this domain was a static site and the student ministry blog was parked over at the elevatingageneration.org domain.  We made the switch, got rid of the static site, and moved the blog over here earlier this year.  It’s been great!

Well, when that happened, I announced that I had plans for the old elevatingageneration.org domain that would be made public later.  That time has come.  I’ve re-launched the site as my personal/family blog, where I’ll also post articles that I write for other blogs/ministry sites around the Net.  The first post has some BIG family news from us, so go check it out now! We’re so excited!

I know this is probably confusing, so I’ll try to make it simple here…

ELEVATIONGENERATION.ORG - Elevate Student Ministries site (you are HERE now; it’s GREEN)

ELEVATINGAGENERATION.ORG - my new personal blog (you need to go THERE now; it’s GREY)

Ha-ha!  Anyhow, I hope a few of you will stop by and subscribe.  Thanks!

I joined my friend, Jason Salamun, in the This Must Change endeavor (detailed here) just over a month ago.  I thought I did well the first two weeks, losing six pounds during that time and raising the support of several friends to help in the effort.

Then, in week #3 and #4 I didn’t lose any weight at all. I was crushed.  UGH!

After that, I started traveling, as I tend to do a lot in the fall for conferences, training events, and district gatherings.  Long and short… I’m using it as my lame excuse to bow out of this early.  I’m going to be traveling every other week up through the time this challenge was supposed to end for me.  I’m regretfully throwing in the towel for now and am going to pass on my support for Jason and his endeavors through the end.

If you haven’t yet, please go visit ThisMustChange.org and sign on to support Jason and the 6 great causes that benefit from this effort.  He’s lost an AMAZING 24 pounds so far!!!

To those of you that were in it and supporting me thus far, THANK YOU!  You have been such an encouragement to me.

Well, it turns out that Brent, Mike, and Ken were up for it!  We hit the road Wednesday morning and drove the 8-hour drive… it was TOTALLY a blast!  Such a great concert and such an awesome time — including tons of laughs with the guys.  Here’s some highlights from our trip…

Delirious? truly did deliver.  I’ve always said that I wanted to see them live and they were absolutely awe-inspiring.  What an incredible concert AND worship experience!  So sad to see them say “goodbye”.

We had the opportunity to visit with our mutual friend, Lion Mendoza, on Thursday morning — another highlight of the trip.  We all love that guy.

Of course, a stop at the Apple Store and watching Ken get a little loopy after taking some sinus medication was fun, too!

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