#6 - Yahweh

This inspired me to draw close to our amazing God. 

#5 - VNECKS

I wear Vneck t-shirts. I've moved up in a few short years from the JV team to the varsity team, although I'm not one of the star players yet. I'd say my vneck stats land in the mid to low category. My friend  Jonathan is the captain of the team. He's rockin' them low and well. Today, thank you for vnecks. Check out this link, today Jon Acuff says it best...

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/10/deep-v-neck-syndrome-dvs/

Also, this is when you should go into retirement

#4 Water and Fire EP

I've had this little EP of mine sitting on the home shelf for months (ok it was on my computer, you get it!), waiting for a sunny day. Today I decided to release it! Water and Fire is a collection of acoustic songs that I put together for my lives shows. It's available on iTunes, follow the link:

ITUNES - Casey Parnell (Water and Fire)

I'll take just a second to pull apart the song "Don't Leave Me Behind" for you.  Sometimes I feel like life is passing me by, like everyone else around are moving forward while you stay in the same place. I have also felt like God is moving, and I'm stagnant. This song to me is a plea for God to stick with me, to be patient me my shortcomings, and to move me when I'm stuck. The reality is God likes me. He likes you. He's not content to leave us where we've been, but sometimes I feel that way, so I wrote about it.

#3 Inside and Out

I've been involved with music for a number of years now both inside church and outside church. What I've found that sets many artists apart is who they are both on and off stage. Years ago, we booked Mat Kearney to play at our alternative service. Watch out, this is basically a segment of VH1 "Before they were stars!"  I drove Mat around in my 1990 Subaru Legacy that had a maddening squeak around the back window that I couldn't find or fix. So I just rolled with it, and apparently so did he :) Mat had the superstar quality even back then when he was independent of a label.  When he spoke to people in private and performed on stage, he was smooth. You could tell he had star quality. People like Mat make me understand how incredibly goofy I am. Some people live life like butter, others are a sloppy pb and j.  I appreciate both the smooth and the sloppy versions of life, although sometimes I want a little more butter. That said, what I appreciated about Mat was his genuine personality. He was the same on stage as he was off, treating people with courtesy and respect. Something was obviously different about him.  All this to say, the best musicians in my opinion are the ones who walk humbly, graciously, and compassionately.  It's really not about us is it? There's a bigger picture we need to see, something greater is being built around us.  I hope that I'm fitting into that picture well.

Here's Mat fitting into this picture:

#2 - EPIC FAIL

Last night my buddy Evan told me a fascinating story from the early 1900's about the tumalo reservoir a couple miles away from my hometown of Bend, OR.  A man named A.W. Laidlaw and his company sold plots of what would be irrigated farm land from the near by tumalo creek. They sold 17,000 acres of "irrigated" farmland to people across the nation. People moved their families west from random places like Conneticut, they spent months in their wagons getting here, only to discover that the watered farmland ran to only 1,000 acres of land. Not 17,000! Most people couldn't farm. They were angry and had to take action! Laidlaw couldn't be sued because it was the rugged west, instead they burned him in effigy. What it means is they stuffed a look alike of him with straw, wrote LAIDLAW on the front of it, put a hat on him like frosty the snowman and set it on fire in the city streets.  Man, they really got him. Don't get burned in effigy. It's not good. The city of LAIDLAW lasted for only a few years, and later became what we now know of as Tumalo. Epic fail.

#1 - An Introduction

Today I met with a web genius. He proposed that I start blogging again, so I am.  As often as possible I try to meet with people smarter than I am and do what they say. So here I am. Welcome to "Thank You for This".  I have a few basic goals this time around: 

1) Keep posts simple.
2) Post often.
3) Post with gratitude.

This blog will thank people, places, and things for their gift to mankind. Not all will be humorous, but I assure you, many will.

I'll start with something personal. This little gem was captured at one of my band's shows. See what fun a local high school drama department wardrobe can provide during your last song?

 

VACATION PICS

And for those of you who have been wondering what I've been up to for the final days I've been in Mexico, here are a couple shots...Wish you could all come, maybe next time!

MEXICO 2008

Above the Noise and Oneighty Student Leadership headed to Mexico to participate in a few different outreaches. We met up with the amazing missionaries Ron and Donna Griggs as well as Seth Brown. Here are some pictures of the experience.

The Gathering with Above the Noise

CD Release Party Pictures

Casey's CD Release

MIA

Sorry to everyone who's been trying to get a hold of me lately. An epidemic is upon me and haven't been able to get over it for days. It's truly an impressive bug that not even airborne, dayquil, nyquil, theraflu, or coldbusters from Jamba Juice have been able to conquer. Your prayers are much appreciated! Hope you had an amazing thanksgiving!

Visual Aid

With camera cord in tact, here are a few images of the last month or so.

Crazy Uno Night

Eric Parnell's Bachelor Extravaganza

The Other Parnell's

The Infamous Pone


The Last Days Before Snow

Casey Q & A

Here's whats really stupid about this post - I am pretending to sit across the table from myself and ask questions to myself. This is like someone from a prestigious magazine or newspaper hosting an interview during which they ask someone famous or high in position (like a movie star or politician) to chat about their life. Since I am neither of these things prestigious or into cinema this is what we have to work with. Plus I am acting as both people which makes this experience especially asinine. Let me remind you, this is a blog, not spectacular by any means, barely read, with little content, and no stinkin' pictures to inspire the taste buds of the visual learner! I have to admit, I am in a bit of a crazy mood, it's Sunday afternoon and I'm relaxed and ready to ask myself questions. The mayhem begins...

Q: Hey why don't you blog more?
A: I feel like a blog without pictures is uninspiring and I can never find my blasted camera cord, hence the lack of writing! Although as soon as I find it, there will be memories...oh yes...memories there will be.

Q: What is the most ridiculous thing that's happened lately?
A: I've found that I have some type of mild sleeping disorder. I honestly can fall asleep, anywhere, anytime, no problem. It doesn't take long, keep Casey idle for a second and its over. Room full of people, bus, train, plane, earthquake, movie, public speaking (kidding)...it happens out of the blue. I have been getting less sleep lately but not so little that this should happen. Here's a quote I made up about it "From the moment I wake up in the morning my life is in a continual state of falling back asleep."

Q: Second most ridiculous?
A: Ok, so I'm been thinking a lot about this...you know how everyone you know always has all these conversations in the hallway that are just filler lines. Here's an example:

Person One: "Hey, how's it going?"
Person Two: "Good, how are you?"
Person One: "Good."
Person Two: "Good."
Person One: May switch after this between a "Good" or verbal "So..." which is never completed.
Both People: "Good."

Then both people leave going opposite directions thinking "Man, we know each other so well, oh my gosh we're like best friends now. We have so much in common, we're both so good! What the heck?!" I think these conversations are so lame but eveyday there I am again and again having them.

My friend Kevin and I discussed this in detail and we're going to start doing something different. Instead of these "hallway" filler conversations that everyone is having, we're going to switch up the questions to something deep immediately everytime. For instance, "Hey how's your mother's health?" Or "Are you reading any good books lately and did any specific phrase leap out to you and dig deep into your soul and cause you to change?" Ok, hope that was inspiring to you (even more than a well placed picture right here>>>)

Q: What bands are you into right now?
A: I actually really like the Robbie Seay Band (especially a song called "Love Wins") also Hillsong United's new album

Q: What have you currently been doing?
A: Working at Westside church in Oneighty as always. We just started our Student Leadership program again for the year and we have 22 students getting trained up to change their world. I've also been writing a lot of songs. Some are speaking into the state of the world, some are simply speaking out how much I enjoy and care about God.

Q: Any current thoughts that you are pumped about?
A: Speaking of that song "Love Wins" I've been thinking about the concept of Revolutionary Love. About how outreach and compassion are not something that we can just schedule in, they must be lived. Check out Mark 9:36 for Jesus' take on this. He was "moved" with compassion. I believe the word "moved" there originally talks about being moved to your bowels. Kind of grotesque, but true. Real love for others comes from a deep place. A place only God can cultivate and grow. I'm praying God will help me in this area.

Q: Casey, you're getting older are you dating anyone?
A: False.

Q: How should we end this Q & A time?
A: I think we should see if anyone else has a random question to ask. I mean it is awesome asking yourself questions and answering them yourself but honestly after doing this for a while you really start to feel silly.

The Gathering

Recently we held a gathering of young people at Westside with Above the Noise. Here's a couple images from that event! - KC

OK OK OK - The Saga Continues...

Seriously I know it's been months. I have henceforth and forthhence made the decision to update you with moments from each month that I have not blogged. Watch and be utterly amazed!

ARTISTIC SHOT APRIL
--A Lamp--
















--Sunset on the Oregon coast--
















OK I didn't take any pictures in April. These are from another month just as good as April!

MOOGA BOOGA MAY
--All it takes to be in a boy band is the right hat--
















--Casey and a Stranger giving out Candy...mmm.--
















--Janna the Banana at Oneighty--

















JUMP THE WAKE JUNE

June has been "premium" so far although it feels like we went straight from winter to fall again in beautiful Bend, OR. Where's the sunshine for real??!!! We've still gone wakeboarding a couple times, here are some highlights:
--EP Big Tricks!--


--TJ's Epic First Ride--


Eric gets an honorable mention but Tara takes the cake for originality. I especially like the move right at the start called the "swirly bird" or "water snake" or "Holy Crap I got up, what's next...!!" Tara Jean - props. EParnell - I want your skills! Until Mullet March, much love blogland.

Mustache March!

We are finishing "Forget to shave February" and I decided to embrace "Mustache March" a few days early. Here are some unforgettable pics of my latest endeavor...







Be disgusted and thoroughly amazed! Your thoughts?!

Switchfoot/Copeland Show

I went to Eugene last weekend with a few friends to see Switchfoot and Copeland! Pretty fun times, many memories, including: going to the Asian Celebration and watching old people do Tai Chi, eating at the Mandarin, walking around downtown looking for a restaurant, and some rockin' tunes from Switch and Cope (which are my nicknames for them because we are pretty much tight because they said that the crowd "completed" them from stage which means me and the guys in the bands are best friends and we'll hang out when their not on tour and I'll do Christmas with their families and things like that.) It's great being friends with the band :)



Here's a little video of Copeland for you to enjoy...

GET UP FOR GREATNESS

Scripture
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'"

Observation
This is one of the greatest introduction’s of all time...”Who are you? I am Jesus.” Oh and by the way, you’ve been doing it all wrong! Talk about a BIG LETDOWN! The BIG NEWS is that instead of torturing Saul for murder and persecution God gave Saul one of the greatest second chances in history.

Jesus doesn’t let Saul grovel in his sins, in fact there wasn’t much evidence of a “confessional time” like a person going to a priest. Jesus says immediately to Saul “now get up and stand on your feet” implying that He came to make Saul into something great. Saul didn’t need hours of groveling and mourning for his sins, all he needed was a life change from that moment on. I'm paraphrasing it to actually say "get over this quick, I have something amazing for you to do!"

Application
Confessing sins to God is good but a real true encounter with Christ happens when someones life turns around - when a noticeable change takes place. Instead of groveling in sins, GET UP and see what amazing things God has in store for you!

What kind of noticable "turn around" change is there in me? What can God restore or give me a second chance in?

Prayer
Lord, thank you for being an interactive God! You showed up in Saul’s life and he was never the same. Thank you for that because now the Gentiles have access to salvation! I have access! I pray for this kind of “turn around” life change that Saul experienced. I want the freshness that comes with it too. Not just an old, stale Christian walk, but a new life in Jesus.

Final Thoughts
I can take what Jesus said to Paul for myself today “now get up and stand on your feet, I have something amazing I want you to do!" This is the theme of restoration and forgiveness. When we mess up and mess up BIG, God says to not stay in your mess for long. Get up! Get up because God is about to do someting amazing through you. First He did something amazing in you by revealing to you how kind He is by forgiving you. Second, He has some big plans ahead.

For Paul is was taking the message of the Gospel to the rest of the world. The Jews were only part of it, God wanted to expand his program! God took it from local business to international corporation and the Holy Spirit was the catalyst for growth. Paul was the vessel that God chose for that task and now we see his influence throughout the world and history. What does God have in store for you and for me?

The Way I See It

The first time I blogged I was at the beach. I figured that it was only appropriate while I'm here to rub it in. This is the view from where I'm sitting. Yep...it's 50 degrees at the Oregon Coast and beautiful as ever. Seth and Jesse have joined me on the trip...I'm sure there are more updates to come because we have little to do and we're loving it!





OK - beat me up later!