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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!

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.

I started this blog back in May of 2007 and, since then, I’ve somehow managed to average about 100 unique visitors a day this year (up from an average 20-a-day last year).  I’m so thankful for all of the friends and new connections I’ve made as a result.  I’m completely hooked!  I’ve had so much fun sharing links, memories, and life with students, parents, and youth workers.  Thanks for reading!  I hope you stick around for more “thoughts, links, and updates on youth ministry, life, and culture” in 2009.

I think it’s funny seeing what the top posts were for the year; check ‘em out:

1. “Jesus is My Friend” by Sonseed (with 6,399 views) – this post features a fun, Jesus-loving song from the 70′s and continues to be the blog’s most viewed post to this day
2. David Cook Singing “Billie Jean” – the show-winning performance (IMHO) from last year’s American Idol winner; I published this right after the show that evening
3. Ralph ’08 – the only candidate that had my FULL support! 
4. How to Be a Rebel - I’m guessing this post — about a student message series of the same title — got all the hits from the “Rebel Alliance” reference.
5. Hills Alive 2008 – a simple post featuring pics and links to the great line-up of artists at this year’s Hills Alive music festival — at least, the ones I was most excited to see

These probably wouldn’t have been my top pics for the year, but since most of my readers seem to come from a variety of backgrounds and geographic regions, I guess I can see how these rose to the top.

I’m so excited to be sitting in the Rapid City airport this morning about to take off for the National Youth Workers Convention in Nashville, TN.  This year, I am privileged to be one of the handful of live-bloggers that will be updating everyone on the event in real time at http://nywc.com/live.  Stop by and check out the action this week.  We’ll go live Friday afternoon and will be updating through Monday.  So fun!

This evening, I’m hoping to catch a worship time with the Robbie Seay Band band and Johnny Parks.  Tomorrow starts full days of amazing worship, inspiring general sessions, lots of laughs, intense training, and so much more.

Follow my updates on Twitter, too: http://twitter.com/shawnmichael.  If you’re at the convention, I hope to see you there!

ht rk

Date: Saturday September 13, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Bowman Hall, Herman Park, Belle Fourche (click for map and directions)
Cost: Throw a couple of bucks in the jar if you can!

My student pastor friend, Clay Conry (check his blog at F.o.e.c.u.s. Student Ministries), is hosting Luke Dowler live in concert this weekend in Belle Fourche.  Luke is an artist that loves to share his story and the stories of others through songs. His stories help to untangle what matters with what doesn’t. In that process he is able to share the reaity of God’s love through Jesus. It all culminates in one word: Life.  Jesus came to give life, and life more abundantly. Within Luke’s music, you will always find a direction; a pointing of the listener towards real life. That real life is Jesus.

It was suppose to end… but it really only truly started…
Current mood:   blessed

K so why of all things for a blog why Im bout to tell everyone this I have no clue… I have dont many of you pieces of this story from last summer but only two people kno the full story and even those people dont kno it in this detail… The date was July 7th, 2007… triple 7′s… I dont kno wat lead to it but I took one of my friends dad 9mm… who it was Im not going to say… I had had enough my life was at rock bottom nothing was going rite and I got to the point where the achohal(sp?) couldnt numb the pain anymore… that nite it was jus like any other nite me and my gram was fightin it was bout 10:30 when i finally jus got sick of gettin yelled at so i went to my room and this is going to sound really weird thinkin bout wat I was about to do but… I prayed… which was extremely weird cuz at the time I always said I didnt need God… then I loaded the gun… and stuck it to my head… and I did it I pulled the trigger… wat happened next I will never forget I heard the gun pop… and I felt this warmth not like a heat warmth but a warmth from inside almost Im not sure how to explain it exactly I think I passed out but honestly I dont kno part of me wants to think it was jus a dream but at the same time I dont kno… all I remember is… and this is going to sound really hard to believe but I remember a man wit blonde hair and and muscular build walkin into my room and hugging me and the warmth jus got warmer… almost overwelming… he took the gun out of hand and stuck it in his robe but i remember the shell fallin out and rolling under my dressor… and then he jus hugged me again tellin me everythin is going to be ok nothin will mess up wat is in store for you… I remember him walking me over to my bed and sittin there next to me wit his arm around me jus sayin everythin will be ok almost comfurting me like a father would his child that has just skined a knee or elbow.. then i remember him tellin me that I need to get some rest as he gently laid me back on my pillow and this is wat he said I remember it word for word… “Get some rest because you will have to lead them into battle, you will lead the fight, you will show them their strengths and show them how to use each other to defeat the enemy, you will be leading them into battle so get some rest”… the next thing I remember was waking up two days later I sat up and jus started to cry… then when I was able to gather myself I remembered the shell… and when I got down and looked under my dressor the shell was there and when I picked it up it was warm not hot but warm to the touch… I have taken the shell to a few gun shops since that and they all say the same things there is no “physical reason” that it shouldnt have gone off… I still have this shell as a reminder that no matter wat are past are we ALL have a future that everyone of us can live up to all you have to do is accept him… 7-7-07 triple sevens I guess for me they are lucky cuz this was the day that I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior now that my testimony is out in the open for everyone and now that you all kno the details… yea honestly IDK why I felt like I needed to put this up but I kno it will be used for something and thats all that matters  7-7-07 it was suppose to end… but it really only started…

Ray, I’m so excited for you.  I can’t wait to see how your life, placed in God’s hands, plays out.  I know that His plans for you are bigger and better than you could ever imagine.  Can’t wait!