Seriously have I talked about Old School Nintendo yet? My roomates and I are freaking out about all the games we have just acquired from our friend Andy. Nintendo has had a resurrection of sorts in my life...for years video games were dead to me. I considered them time wasting devices that only the true blue stereotypical "game nerds" spent countless hours on, ignoring their mom and the outside world all together. You know the type...crazy hair...X-men T-shirt. Yeah. And man do they love video-games. Well, I ignored video games for years. I felt like they were the enemy. Hiding in trenches, behind bushes, ready to attack my time with hours of pixlelized digital annimation. Recently, when a Nintendo somehow found it's way into our living room, we became once again...entrigued..
For those of you who received your first Nintendo for Christmas or a Birthday in the 80's, you know what I'm talking about. I mean what's better than two games in one, Super Mario and Duck Hunt. Don't you just hate that dog who laughs at you everytime you miss the ducks? Were you always the one who got up one inch from the T.V. with the gun and still couldn't hit those blasted ducks. Me too.
Now there's also Contra. It's a shooting game where these army guys shoot and do flips at the same time. It's sweet. My roomate Phil is crazy about this game. He told me tonight if he could leave church and play Contra he would. There's something totally wrong about leaving church to play video games. Can't say I didn't think about it...that's why at Oneighty we have video games here. All these new systems we have, the 360 and Playstation...they cannot compare to what is vintage and true.
OK Here's the real deal. I'm totally a huge geek for writing the last 3 paragraphs and should not be allowed to blog anymore. Those of you with grace, please note I have recently found that Nintendo is fun again. I don't play it all the time, but for the brief moments that I do I am brought back to my childhood (those carefree days with bowl-cuts and hammer pants) and until the day I put the Old School Nintendo back in it's box and let it again collect dust for 20 years I will cherish these moments. Random thought ending now.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
I'm Not that Good at Basketball
I've been thinking lately about how much Jesus talks about His Kingdom a lot in the New Testament. How many of us have visions for our lives and our visions seem so BIG and GODLY and all that.
Before you tune out here's a story...When I was ten years old I wanted to play in the NBA with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. I would shoot free-throws for hours in my driveway, dreaming, hoping, wishing...it really was a beautiful thing. Then I got to 7th grade and tried out for the basketball team. Turns out there were about 50 other dudes shooting free-throws in their driveway wishing they could dunk like MJ too. It also turns out that I was better than like 10 of them, so it left me to thinking that if these pubescent youths were mostly better than me at basketball that my hopes of being the NBA superstar were slightly less likely than I thought. I say slightly because I still hold on to this dream today, wearing my headband and Reebok's pumps every Sunday afternoon at 3 on the church basketball court. Dreaming, hoping, wishing...getting stuffed by my small group guys:) You know, things like that.
I say all this for one reason...many of us out there having been dreaming for years that someday we would accomplish the vison that God has put in our hearts. At least we say that God has put them in our hearts. Or there's this entirely different group of people in the world who have no idea what they are supposed to do with their lives. They move from one job to the next, hoping, dreaming, wishing that this one could be the right one. Whoever you are, you've probably wondering if these dreams are from God.
The truth of the matter is this, that God has already given us a vision statement for our lives. It's found tucked away in Matthew 6:33 and it says plainly, "Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Jesus says this in the context of people (like me) trying to heap up wealth and possessions in order to satisfy themselves. He says earlier, "Look at these flowers, God takes care of them and they are stupid flowers! God clothes them, he'll take care of you. (obviously Casey translation). Still the point is that God is saying "Quit worrying about all this!" Here's what the real vision of your life should be: First, Seek My Kingdom and Righteousness. I'm learning to make this the headline of my life, instead of "Save the World" or "Be a Rockstar!"
We go around searching, in meaningless pursuits, or even things that may seem worthwhile. Are we truly hitting God's will for our lives? I'm not saying that everything you ever dreamed is wrong. I am saying if it is not in correct order underneath
God's Vision statement, that you've got mixed up priorities. Here's how it should look:
First, Seek His Kingdom and Righteouness
(place Visions and dreams here)
This way the thoughts in your mind and your actions are advancing God's Kingdom and not your own. This is a good filter system if you're not sure if what you're dreaming is God's dream for You. Now I know this is not as easy as it sounds or you may be thinking "Hello, I already knew that years ago!" Well...this is my blog, get your own:)
Seriously though, wake up tomorrow, with one thing in mind: His Kingdom, His Righteous (don't forget that holiness is huge!) then watch how the ambitions of your heart align with His. You'll find such joy in it, and you may find that you're not good enough for the NBA anyways:) I think you're great for reading this.
Before you tune out here's a story...When I was ten years old I wanted to play in the NBA with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. I would shoot free-throws for hours in my driveway, dreaming, hoping, wishing...it really was a beautiful thing. Then I got to 7th grade and tried out for the basketball team. Turns out there were about 50 other dudes shooting free-throws in their driveway wishing they could dunk like MJ too. It also turns out that I was better than like 10 of them, so it left me to thinking that if these pubescent youths were mostly better than me at basketball that my hopes of being the NBA superstar were slightly less likely than I thought. I say slightly because I still hold on to this dream today, wearing my headband and Reebok's pumps every Sunday afternoon at 3 on the church basketball court. Dreaming, hoping, wishing...getting stuffed by my small group guys:) You know, things like that.
I say all this for one reason...many of us out there having been dreaming for years that someday we would accomplish the vison that God has put in our hearts. At least we say that God has put them in our hearts. Or there's this entirely different group of people in the world who have no idea what they are supposed to do with their lives. They move from one job to the next, hoping, dreaming, wishing that this one could be the right one. Whoever you are, you've probably wondering if these dreams are from God.
The truth of the matter is this, that God has already given us a vision statement for our lives. It's found tucked away in Matthew 6:33 and it says plainly, "Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Jesus says this in the context of people (like me) trying to heap up wealth and possessions in order to satisfy themselves. He says earlier, "Look at these flowers, God takes care of them and they are stupid flowers! God clothes them, he'll take care of you. (obviously Casey translation). Still the point is that God is saying "Quit worrying about all this!" Here's what the real vision of your life should be: First, Seek My Kingdom and Righteousness. I'm learning to make this the headline of my life, instead of "Save the World" or "Be a Rockstar!"
We go around searching, in meaningless pursuits, or even things that may seem worthwhile. Are we truly hitting God's will for our lives? I'm not saying that everything you ever dreamed is wrong. I am saying if it is not in correct order underneath
God's Vision statement, that you've got mixed up priorities. Here's how it should look:
First, Seek His Kingdom and Righteouness
(place Visions and dreams here)
This way the thoughts in your mind and your actions are advancing God's Kingdom and not your own. This is a good filter system if you're not sure if what you're dreaming is God's dream for You. Now I know this is not as easy as it sounds or you may be thinking "Hello, I already knew that years ago!" Well...this is my blog, get your own:)
Seriously though, wake up tomorrow, with one thing in mind: His Kingdom, His Righteous (don't forget that holiness is huge!) then watch how the ambitions of your heart align with His. You'll find such joy in it, and you may find that you're not good enough for the NBA anyways:) I think you're great for reading this.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Thoughts from the Beach
So I'm at the beach and it's beautiful outside and I'm staying at this house that is two story and it's overlooking the whole coastline. I'm sure you're sitting there thinking, wow I'm at my computer at home, sounds great (unless you live in Jamaica)! I wish I was there! Ha Ha I would be thinking that same thing and I probably will in a week or so when I'm back...But for now I will sit here with my sunburn and gloat!
It's nice to clear out my schedule and come here to get away. You just need to get away sometimes and hear God speak. I've been reading books, writing songs, thinking, trying not to watch T.V. Here at the house we're staying there is a T.V. with like 500 channels. Still for some reason I just love reading more. I'm reading a lot of Donald Miller. He's the author of "Blue Like Jazz". I like his style. I like how it's funny, straightforward, and random. He's a thinker. It takes time for someone like me to just sit down and think. I want more than ever to experience the deepness and realness of God. I want the religious actions and attitudes to be stripped away. I want to think about Scripture in a way that is applicable, not some knowegable thing that I surprise people with. Like "hey wow, you sure know your Bible", or "Casey, you know the Bible, where do you find the genealogy of Christ." I want people to know me as someone who knows God. Not knows about Him, but knows Him.
I used to be a religious freak. I used to think everyone was wrong and I was right. Kind of like the verse in the Message translation that says something about thinking everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group. Well, that was me a few years ago. When I came back to Bend, OR a few years ago, I met a lot of people who weren't very spiritual, but they knew God. They didn't pray like I thought they should, or read the Bible like I thought they should, they just knew God. They knew His ways, they knew His power, they knew His love.
I started thinking, "why does my life with God have to be so systematic." Donald Miller calls this a sort of "formula Christianity." Where if you do A (pray) + B (read Bible) = WOW YOUR A GOOD CHRISTIAN! I never could actually sit down in one place at one specific time constistently and read my Bible. I thought I was a bad Christian for years because this wasn't working out for me. After my move back to Bend I realized something, God is more concerned with my meeting with Him than where and how it's done. It's relationship.
Take relationship with a great friend. You do things together. You eat, you laugh, you dance freely, you can be yourself (this is huge for me, I value just being me, I shut down when I feel I have to be something else). So back to being friends...You mix it up, you go snowboarding, camping, you talk over coffee, donuts, Costco hot dogs, burritos, whatever. You just do stuff. That's how my life with God ought to be. Once I let go of this idea that in order to be a good Christian I had to wake up every morning at 5:00 AM sit down and read my bible at my desk in my office and then go on with my day, I felt such FREEDOM! This Freedom was found in Relationship and not some religious formula. Now I just want to go to coffee in the afternoon with Jesus, or walk through Drake Park and pray and hang out. It's such freedom. It's the type of relationship that I think God wants with us as well. I life lived out in joy, together learning awesome things from an awesome God.
It's nice to clear out my schedule and come here to get away. You just need to get away sometimes and hear God speak. I've been reading books, writing songs, thinking, trying not to watch T.V. Here at the house we're staying there is a T.V. with like 500 channels. Still for some reason I just love reading more. I'm reading a lot of Donald Miller. He's the author of "Blue Like Jazz". I like his style. I like how it's funny, straightforward, and random. He's a thinker. It takes time for someone like me to just sit down and think. I want more than ever to experience the deepness and realness of God. I want the religious actions and attitudes to be stripped away. I want to think about Scripture in a way that is applicable, not some knowegable thing that I surprise people with. Like "hey wow, you sure know your Bible", or "Casey, you know the Bible, where do you find the genealogy of Christ." I want people to know me as someone who knows God. Not knows about Him, but knows Him.
I used to be a religious freak. I used to think everyone was wrong and I was right. Kind of like the verse in the Message translation that says something about thinking everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group. Well, that was me a few years ago. When I came back to Bend, OR a few years ago, I met a lot of people who weren't very spiritual, but they knew God. They didn't pray like I thought they should, or read the Bible like I thought they should, they just knew God. They knew His ways, they knew His power, they knew His love.
I started thinking, "why does my life with God have to be so systematic." Donald Miller calls this a sort of "formula Christianity." Where if you do A (pray) + B (read Bible) = WOW YOUR A GOOD CHRISTIAN! I never could actually sit down in one place at one specific time constistently and read my Bible. I thought I was a bad Christian for years because this wasn't working out for me. After my move back to Bend I realized something, God is more concerned with my meeting with Him than where and how it's done. It's relationship.
Take relationship with a great friend. You do things together. You eat, you laugh, you dance freely, you can be yourself (this is huge for me, I value just being me, I shut down when I feel I have to be something else). So back to being friends...You mix it up, you go snowboarding, camping, you talk over coffee, donuts, Costco hot dogs, burritos, whatever. You just do stuff. That's how my life with God ought to be. Once I let go of this idea that in order to be a good Christian I had to wake up every morning at 5:00 AM sit down and read my bible at my desk in my office and then go on with my day, I felt such FREEDOM! This Freedom was found in Relationship and not some religious formula. Now I just want to go to coffee in the afternoon with Jesus, or walk through Drake Park and pray and hang out. It's such freedom. It's the type of relationship that I think God wants with us as well. I life lived out in joy, together learning awesome things from an awesome God.
Friday, April 14, 2006
About Me
So I suppose I should do a more adequate job of explaining who I am...I am a 24 year old from Bend, OR. I graduated from Mountain View High School in 2000 and went to college in Idaho at Northwest Nazarene University for 2 years. After two years I felt God leading me to a church intership at Capital Christian Center in Meridian, Idaho. I took a step of faith, dropped all my financial aid at NNU and started the intership program. It was there that God changed my heart, showed me about the Bible, filled me with passion and set me on fire for His name! A year later after working in a deli at Winco Foods wearing a hairnet and apron:) I got a call from Steve and Bo Stern asking me to join the youth staff at Westside Church.
I've been at Westside as part of the Oneighty staff for almost three years now. I've grown incredibly during the last three years. Mostly from hands on experience, making mistakes and learning from them, and watching the pros!
I lead a lot of music at our Oneighty and Alt (young adult) services and I speak as well. I own a home in Bend and am currently working on my district pastor's license. I see myself helping people, writing songs, getting married, and in general attempting to make in dent for Jesus in planet earth before I die. Hopefully I will get a chance to travel someday as well, we'll see what God does...end blubbering about myself now.
I've been at Westside as part of the Oneighty staff for almost three years now. I've grown incredibly during the last three years. Mostly from hands on experience, making mistakes and learning from them, and watching the pros!
I lead a lot of music at our Oneighty and Alt (young adult) services and I speak as well. I own a home in Bend and am currently working on my district pastor's license. I see myself helping people, writing songs, getting married, and in general attempting to make in dent for Jesus in planet earth before I die. Hopefully I will get a chance to travel someday as well, we'll see what God does...end blubbering about myself now.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
WELCOME
WELCOME to the beginning of BLOGDOM where every once in a while you can sneak inside someone's brain and see what they are really thinking. This is only the beginning of many random comments, thoughts, pictures, games, scriptures, and ideas that I will post. I would like to welcome all you ONEIGHTY folks who have just stumbled onto something truly frightening. Yes, not only Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, but now everyday you can peek into a mysterious world...Casey's Blog - WOW! I made that sound so much cooler than it actually is.
For those of you checking this out...thanks! I'm excited that you came. Hopefully this will work out for both of us. Tell you what, I'll make you deal.
Another profound statement from Casey...Expect more Blog's from Oneighty staff members as well. Even if our lives aren't that interesting we are sure going to make it sound like they are!
Oneighty is the Youth Ministry of Westside Church in Bend, OR. Check us out online at www.180bend.com.
For those of you checking this out...thanks! I'm excited that you came. Hopefully this will work out for both of us. Tell you what, I'll make you deal.
You check in and read this as often as I post stuff.
Another profound statement from Casey...Expect more Blog's from Oneighty staff members as well. Even if our lives aren't that interesting we are sure going to make it sound like they are!
Oneighty is the Youth Ministry of Westside Church in Bend, OR. Check us out online at www.180bend.com.
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