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!

2006 - The Year in Review

Stats

0 Moves
1 New Job
1 Brother married
1 New Sister Added
3 Minor Injuries
8 Years I owned my 1990 Subaru Legacy
1,237,899 times the back of the car squeaked while I drove
201,000 Miles it had on it when I gave it away
3 Times I had my credit card number stolen and used
1 New Vox Amp
1 New Fender Telecaster Guitar
1 Hour Spent Actually Playing Them :)
1 Vacation to the Beach (Grateful bread pancakes!)
1 Trip to Cairo Egypt
150 People that came to Christ in Egypt!
1 Trip to the Fray (Piano rock remember?)
4 Close Friends move away from Bend (Uganda and Nampa represent!)
302 Times I was mistaken for Corey
40 Student Leaders in our first year of the program (rockin' the city)
1 Unfinished Acoustic Project
35 Unfinished Books
1 Finished Backyard
0 Times I was in an epic battle with Ninjas and Warlords

1 Too Many Stats

Blue Ribbon Burgers from Red Robin
Bills from the Emergency Room

Highlights

Egypt (watch this video to understand why!!)



The Fray



I'm just really enjoying bands like this right now. I went to their concert in Portland this year with a couple friends and thought it was great! Check out the band MuteMath - they are cool too.

Favorites

Books I was Into:

Searching for God Knows What - Donald Miller
Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell
Culture Warrior - Bill O'Reilly

Music I was Into:

Jonny Lang**
Coldplay
Mute Math
Hillsong United
Thrice
Copeland
The Fray**
Delirious (revisted the old stuff + new)
Leeland
Keane
**bands I saw live!

Ok, that's a mouthful of what happened to me in 2006. What was your favorite part of 2006?

Hey Oneighty - Tell Your Story Here

The ground rules:
Tell me in "one word descriptions" about a life threatening experience you had. After that include how God brought you through it...for examples look at the comments in the previous post. We'll read some of them next week at 1...8...0! Rock on!

Tree Hunt!

Recently I took the student leaders of 180 on a Tree Hunt. On the way I thought it'd be a good idea to get me and the students in my car into a life threatening experience. Once again let me explain in one word descriptions. Car. Me. Others. Driving. Driving. Ice. Slick. Turning. Mas Turning. Loudscreamingandcraziness. Safety. Relief. So I know that Loudscreamingcraziness isn't one word, but you know what I mean. So we hit ice and slid and that was real silly because I had students in my car and I felt like I put their lives in danger. So, I'd just like to shout out to Jesus for keeping us safe. Now it's your turn.

When have you been in a life threatening experience and how did it change your life? Feel free to try the one word descriptions method :)

Here's some pictures of the tree hunt that followed our life threatening experience. Props to Dalton, Kelsey, Karlee, and Andy who endured with me.

Hot or Not Pockets

OK - New Discussion...How do you feel about Hot Pockets? Ready...Go.


MMMMM.

Hotpockets, Hotheads, and the Homeless

So the other day I'm driving to church and I see this lady on the side of the road with a sign. The sign reads "Sober, Hungry" - thanks for the honesty. Let me preface this story by saying that I was very impacted by Mike Yankowski's speech at Oneighty a while back about the homeless in America (he wrote the book "Under the Overpass"). So, the light is red and I'm waiting while I see this sign. Ever since I heard Mike's speech about the homeless (because he lived it in a few cities in America voluntarily) I've totally changed my response to these situations. Praise God for the two Hotpockets and the sports drink that I had grabbed for lunch. I waved the gal over and she came out into the middle of traffic. As I'm giving her the hotpockets, I'm thinking "hopefully she can find a microwave." Anyways, this punk dude next to me in a really nice truck rolls down his window and yells "hey there's a labor ready a block down the street!"

Now I'm a youth pastor...he doesn't know that though:) So all of a sudden I'm like "Leave her alone!" This is not normal behavior for those of you who know me. I was seriously SO mad. This guy doesn't know her story. He doesn't know what she's been through or the heartache and pain that she has experienced getting to this point in her life.

I know many of you are reading this with your mind made up about the homeless. I used to feel like this. I would say, "I work, why can't they?" Or "they're just drunk all the time?" Or whatever thoughts you may think. I can't say that they don't actually prove these stereotypes to be true - so you may be totally justified in what you are thinking, but lend me your ear for a second.

When I heard Mike Yankowski speak about this issue - something clicked for me and it really came back to the words of Jesus. "What you have done to the least of these you have done unto me." Now put it in whatever situation you want - I'm applying this to the homeless lady that I see with the sign. I don't give the homeless money, God would have to really speak to me for that to happen. But I always try to give them food or whatever. Think about it, you're actually ministering to Jesus Christ when you do something for them. You may have had your decision made about them, but I'd just challenge you...I know we're busy, but it takes 30 seconds to help someone. Stop traffic, and change someone's day. Carry around McDonald's gift certificates in your car and give them out.

Back to the guy who made me mad...I think what made me the most mad was that he had no compassion. He was ignorant of her situation, and yes maybe she was a drug trafficker at one point from Costa Rica, maybe a stripper or a murderer. Now she's here on my street in Bend, and God says she's the least and when I give to the least I'm really giving to God Himself.

I'm working on this too... If you give them help and are afraid that they'll use it to buy drugs or alcohol (in this case they would have to sell the hotpocket for cash - - I say go ahead and try - - would you ever buy a hotpocket from someone on the street?) Just place it all in God's hands. You are really serving Jesus, give them a Hot Pocket (or what you have) and return the love that He so graciously gave to us.

Question: How do you feel about the homeless?

Here's a picture of a bus to inspire you (because you like pictures:)

Above the Noise Oct. 31st

We held an Above the Noise worship concert with a stage in the middle of the room on Oct. 31st. Another attempt to bring all the fame to Jesus! Great things happened in people's hearts, here's a few shots courtesy of Benjamin Edwards (benjaminimages.com). Check 'em out! - Casey