Helping spiritually hungry students experience God and discover purpose and destiny.
// December 16th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Family Life, Music
We are so blessed to know and love so many amazing and beautiful people! Here’s our family Christmas video to you… “Merry Christmas to all!”
Music is from one of our favorite crunk bands: the always fun Family Force 5. Check ‘em out here.
// May 26th, 2009 // No Comments » // Family Life
So…how was your Memorial Day weekend? Here’s some video memories from ours (from our family site: ShoupOnline.com).
// April 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Family Life, Spiritual
My four-year-old daughter, Kella, got a new/used bike from her Grandma Pearl the last time she was here. This week was the first time the weather was warm enough to get out and actually drive around with it.
This was Kella’s first time riding a bicycle and with this being the first time, there were a lot of Daddy-bending-over and balancing the bike moments — bending way over, as this is a small, small bike and I am a somewhat tall man. OUCH!
The end result? Daddy decided pretty quickly that a trip to the bike store down the road was in order. We needed to get training wheels on this bike and let Kella go free with this thing! She was very excited.
We got in the van, packed up the bike, and went down to the Two Wheeler Dealer. When the guy at the counter asked what kind of bike it was, before I had the chance to respond, Kella said quite matter-of-factly, “It’s a princess bike.” The bike technician wrote down “princess bike” and told us he’d give us a call when it was done.
It was the next evening that I got the call from the store telling me that my “er…. princess bike” was done and that we could come and pick it up. The store was closed that evening, so Kella would have to wait another day.
The anticipation was growing more and more for Kella. She kept asking me about when we’d get to go on the first ride (about every ten minutes). I knew if I didn’t grab the video camera to catch this moment I’d be kicking myself later. Bear with me as I tear up and watch my littlest one grow up before my eyes…
video enclosure “The Princess Bike”
As Kella’s father, it brings me so much joy to see her growing up and transforming into the young lady that she will one day become. I can see all of the life, giftings, and great potential in her and it brings me to tears — I love her so much and am so proud of her.
I used this story as an illustration at our student rally service this past Wednesday night. We were on the last night of a message series we titled “The Calling” on the life-story of Abraham. The series was ending with a discussion of how we have been created by a God who has blessed us with different gifts and abilities to be used to make an imprint in our world.
My thoughts went to Kella, who didn’t even know what the experience of riding a bicycle would be like, but she was so excited to try! She wanted so much to “exercise the gift” that she knew was in her four-year-old legs. And, let me tell you, when she started to get the hang of it, it wasn’t long before she was flying!
It’s a prayer for my life that I would be as excited about the purposes and plans that God has placed in my life. That I would be bold and brave enough to just “go do it” when Father God places opportunities in my life. And, maybe, just maybe in the process He even tears up when He begins to see me fly…
I might crash a few times — Kella did on her first run, too. But that’s okay because Daddy-God is there to hug me, wipe off my tears, and cheer me on over and over again.
So, what’s that gift or calling that’s been churning inside of you? It’s time to take it for a test-drive.
// April 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Family Life
The past couple days here in South Dakota have been snow days. We just had our FOURTH snow day in two weeks — kind of hard to believe. I haven’t seen this kind of weather for quite some time. Anyhow, since I wasn’t in the office, I had the opportunity to hang out and play with the kids at home. Here’s some pics (click here) and here’s a couple of quick videos (in which you’ll see lots of the “white stuff”)…
How were your snow days?
// February 12th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Family Life
Deanna and I want to invite you, our friends and family, to a memorial service that we are having this coming Monday, February 16, at Destiny. If you haven’t heard about the circumstances surrounding this event yet, please click here to read this important announcement that went out via Destiny’s Knee-mail earlier this week.
We’re looking forward to an amazing evening with you at Valapalooza (over 140 registered) and a God-filled weekend at Destiny’s three Sunday services. Although it will be a strange mix of emotions for us this weekend, God is still our provider, healer, and giver of life. Our hope and our trust is in Him. The last few months have been pretty hard to walk through at times, but we are so thankful for the loving and caring relationships we have in our friends and family at Destiny. Thank you so much for your love and support.
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