Elevate Student Ministries » Web Sites http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog elevating a generation Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:47:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Bob Smiley – Terrorist Toothpaste http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/bob-smiley-terrorist-toothpaste/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/bob-smiley-terrorist-toothpaste/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:58:06 +0000 Pastor Derick http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=4032

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/bob-smiley-terrorist-toothpaste/feed/ 0 Elevating a Generation: Follow Shawn and the Family http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/elevating-a-generation/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/elevating-a-generation/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:52:21 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3985 So, this is the Shoup family’s last week in Rapid City, SD, for a while.  We’re gathering boxes and preparing for our big move to Duluth, MN, next week.  We’ve been non-stop packing — or so it seems — since Monday morning.  The mix of emotions is hard to describe.  We’re so excited for the new adventure before us, and especially for Deanna’s medical training and education at UMD, but we’re also saddened to leave so many absolutely wonderful friends and family behind.

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.

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/07/elevating-a-generation/feed/ 0 Father’s Day Fun http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/fathers-day-fun/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/fathers-day-fun/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:36:17 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3881 Here’s some JibJab videos we showcased during the intermission at last night’s Elevation Talent Show…

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/fathers-day-fun/feed/ 1 Paper Tongues and OK Go http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/paper-tongues-end-love/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/paper-tongues-end-love/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:47:22 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3874 Ran across a few cool music videos I wanted to share.  First up, “End Love” by the always creative and fun-to-watch guys from OK Go…

Paper Tongues is a fairly new band that just released their debut album this March.  Check ‘em out more at their [official site] and listen to “Trinity”…

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/06/paper-tongues-end-love/feed/ 0 Worship with Sean Feucht http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/05/worship-with-sean-feucht/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/05/worship-with-sean-feucht/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 23:01:20 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3745 Next week, the student and leaders of Elevate are going to be joining Sean Feucht and the rest of Destiny at a special worship service that is kicking off at 7:00 PM over in the sanctuary.  Sean is the founder of Burn 24-7, a renaissance movement of vertical worship and intercession.  It’s gonna be awesome…

The services are open to the public: Wednesday, May 12th @ 7:00 PM and Thursday, May 13th @ 7:00 PM.  Be there!

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/05/worship-with-sean-feucht/feed/ 0 Dakota Camp is Coming! http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/dakota-camp-is-coming/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/dakota-camp-is-coming/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:21:21 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3724

If you haven’t yet, click on over to http://dakotacamp.org for all the information and downloadable forms.  The early bird $50 deposit and registration deadline to lock in the best price is Sunday, May 9th!  Don’t be late!

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/dakota-camp-is-coming/feed/ 0 The Music Box: Hidden Treasure http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/the-music-box/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/the-music-box/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:29:19 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3701 I’ve shared on the parable of the Hidden Treasure, found in Matthew 13:44, twice this week.  Once at Sunday night’s Catalyst Discipleship with our students and then again this morning at Rapid City Christian’s chapel service.  This video from 36 Parables was the inspiration for my talks…

What is the greatest treasure in your life and what are you willing to lay down to achieve it?  What a question.

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/the-music-box/feed/ 0 Kind of a BIG Deal… http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/kind-of-a-big-deal/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/kind-of-a-big-deal/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:37:50 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3674 This might be the most EPIC video I’ve ever seen…

Who knew?!

ht tyler – [video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/04/kind-of-a-big-deal/feed/ 2 I Have Bad-Daddy Moments http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/i-have-bad-dad-days/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/i-have-bad-dad-days/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:52:29 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3638 Ever just have one of those days?  It seems like you can’t do anything right?  And those bad choices are compounded by the fact that you have younger versions of you that you are trying to rear up to be Godly and good?  Fatherhood can be tough… i.e. this tweet I sent out about three hours ago (sigh).

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.

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/i-have-bad-dad-days/feed/ 0 Worship Like You Mean It http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/worship-like-you-mean-it/ http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/worship-like-you-mean-it/#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:17:31 +0000 Shawn Michael http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/?p=3623 The images of Haitians worshiping in the streets on the nationally sanctioned days of prayer and fasting in mid-February won’t leave me.  I wanted to share the video that Youth Specialties’ media guy, Ian W. Robertson, posted on his blog today.  In Ian’s own words…

It seems fitting that I post this video on Palm Sunday, the day that celebrates and remembers Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey while people praised him and sang in the streets.  While in Haiti, we experienced a day of people dancing, singing, parading, and praising Jesus in the streets of Port-au-Prince.  Here’s a short video to give you a small glimpse into what that was like…

If there’s one thing I don’t ever want to do halfheartedly, it is to worship God.

[video enclosure]

]]> http://www.elevationgeneration.org/blog/2010/03/worship-like-you-mean-it/feed/ 0