positive post tuesday

this is from the worship leader at my ole' church in hanford :)

Jesus is extravagant

if nothing else...i like experimenting with posting these links. woot woot

some good lyrics from feist

The Park

Why would he come back through the park
You thought that you saw him, but no you did not
It's not him coming across the sea to surprise you
Not him who would know where in London to find you

Sadness so real that it populates
The city and leaves you homeless again
Steam from a cup and snow on the path
The seasons have changed from the present to past

The past...
There's hope to have
In the past...

Why would he come back through the park
You thought that you saw him, but no you did not
Who can be sure of anything through
The distance that keeps you from knowing truth

Why would he think, the boy could become
The man who could make you sure he was the one
The one...
My one...
My one...

video from the women's retreat

if only cuz i'm ridiculously good-looking in this video

somehow the ants don't seem to mind

There's a comedian named Brian Regan who wonders why ants don't freak out when their nice little hill gets knocked over. Why not even one of them sits down and says "I'm not building THAT again. He's just gonna knock it over."

Their life's work is in shambles and they don't even stop to mourn it's passing.
The cat snoozing on the couch doesn't meditate on the fact that his life is seemingly without meaning?
How did man get this sense of lasting permanence and desire for purpose?
Not from experience. Nothing in this world speaks of these ideals. Everything points to shaky foundations that can't be leaned on. To cars that need constant repairing. To markets that fluctuate. To storms and disease that destroy. To families that break apart.
Then, why do we care if our little world falls to pieces?
We find that God has placed eternity in our hearts. That He has placed in us a desire for what never fades away, for what cannot be corrupted or defiled, and for What is infinitely more Good than what we could ever be.
Come Lord Jesus!

if it sounds like hogwash

sorry cas, i know you're one of the only people who reads this....but i can't hide the news blog-reader within me any longer

2008 was the year man-made global warming was disproved

it's pretty interesting.....watch out for the cooling temperatures worldwide masking the global warming....its sneaky like that

the all important follow-through

when i was a kid i used to get lectures after soccer games. "you made a great kick but then you just watched it. you gotta follow-through. you gotta chase the ball after you kick it." the thing is....after those beautiful moves that left the defense dizzy and magnificent kicks that made everyone duck for cover....i would stop and stare at watch everybody else finish it off. "okay, i've done my part..and now i can relax".

it's a tendency i still have fur sure.
I applied for Bible College in Kauai and I got in, yay! Lord willing, if I go, it'll be an amazing time of drawing close to the Lord, studying the Word, and having a blast!
Pretty much the only thing that makes me stop and wonder is money. At this point, I could only save about a third of the money I'd need for the tuition. And this is the point where follow-through is so important. I feel like there are a lot of things to going. Still waiting for more confirmation...but a lot of things that say, yeah...this is a good idea. And so, there's this assumption that....
1. God wants me to go
2. I'm gonna save a little money
3. God will provide the rest
Hey, I have no problem believing that God will provide if He wants me to go. My problem is that I have this silly idea in my head that God will provide the money at no cost to me. It'll just be there. If that's what He wants to do....that'd be GREAT! But my dad was talking to me about this....just that you can't expect people to just give you money. You need to get out there and work towards it too...not at all in a legalistic sense....not in a way that dishonors God's ability to provide. More in a way that a soccer player keeps running after they kick the ball....they follow-through....in a way that a painter actually paints what he dreamed up in his head.
I have this vision for going to Bible College....and if it doesn't work out...I'll be none the worse for it. But, as far as my heart, I just pray I'll be willing to follow-through on it if this is where God is leading :)

i'm going to teach you to dance

sunsets make me want to paint
to write a poem that softens the heart
to jump in the air and say hooray
to get to heaven double time
the whole idea of finishing the day off
with a fabulous splash of color
makes this whole life thing exhilarating

walks in the rain

it's not so far to walk this way with you
the rain has lost it's chill
it has gained a glimmer
and the drops are all fireflies

today you drew the drapes for me
they look better all crumpled together anyway

surely you were God's gift to me
back behind the redwood trees
and i would tell you all this in person
but you were too busy filling in my missing skins

inspired

The Gospel According to Helena

Damn
She loves to sing
She knows she may not even be that good
What does it mean when somebody
Loves to do something
So much
She
Doesn't care
Whether or not
It makes any sense to the world

What does it mean when somebody
Does something just because
It makes her feel more alive
Opens her eyes

What does it mean when somebody
Does something just because
She's missing God
And wonders if she always will

She must know that all good songs
Are a form of prayer

Linford Detweiler

i love this poem...perhaps because it justifies all the times i sing at the tippy top of my range alone in my house or car...

for some reason it also makes me want to go walk in a pasture with a bunch of cows...Lord knows i'm a fan of cows

it might have something to do with the fact that when i was a little kid...my mom got me a little lamp with a cow...and it said cassie the cow on it...it was so cute...one of my brothers inevitably knocked it over :( oh well! good times

what my blog is saying

i guess you just click on the link....sorry, my friend is way cooler and has the actual picture on his blog...i am not so cool ;)
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what's been going on lately :)

maturity

i was just invited to the "i will not attend school on nov. 5th if john mccain is elected" event on facebook....

• Tennessee's Words:
  After the November 4 election in which the President of the United States is chosen, if John McCain is elected, we will sit at home in resignation and in protest.
  Invite Everyone.
  By the way: "Attending" means that you WON'T attend school, and "Not Attending" means that you WILL attend school.
  Also, to those who would think otherwise: This event is not about sitting on our "blankety blanks" all summer and then whining if we don't get what we want.
  I think that we deserve to have our voices heard even if they can't be counted.
  Remember: This is just ONE day of school. That's less than we would miss if we had a 48-hour cold/flu thing.
  If you cannot miss school, wearing black is the next best thing:http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30636721502&ref=ts
  STOP SENDING ME HATE MAIL.
  Someone just told me that there's going to be an inauguration protest if McCain is elected on January 20th outside the White House

.this is ground-breaking stuff people....i think an event saying "i will vote for obama on nov. 4th" would be more effective from the perspective of the inviter but i'm no political scientist....and how are their voices going to be heard exactly?  so far....over 112, 000 are "attending"....good luck saving the world

how guys with effeminate singing voices get me more awake than coffee

today was an awfully boring and just tired day....nothing to look forward to, not enough sleep the night before...that kinda day....not depressing exactly but definitely not exciting.  i tried some coffee to wake me up....only made me jittery.

then, wonder of wonders, i remembered copeland came out with a new cd today....suddenly the hours flew by and i had new purpose for being....it was glorious....

and then as i walked out of work...i was delighted to find out i would be hanging out with the way groovy pattons tonight.  life is good!

someday i will sit in that pasture

i absolutely love the drive to fortuna....i fall in love every single time.  there is a place that is so beautiful that i almost stop every time.  right around ferndale the trees open up and you can see the whole valley.  the sky melts from gray-blue to a smoky orange against dark blue hills and deep green pasture interspersed with all different shades of green trees.  i would learn to paint if only i could paint that scene.  

and then in other places there are trees that look like they've been planted upside down because of the way the branches lay....other trees look like they're straight from the african sahara.  

there's also those plants that look like feather dusters...can't remember the name...but when the sun is setting behind them, it's amazing.  i'm in love

on a completely different note....i along with my sisters am now a rap video star...please enjoy "the fight at the rave"

http:​/​/​www.​ youtu​be.​ com/​watch​?​v=​WYlqZ​5E1XP​M

and click on the high quality option...it's worth the extra two seconds

the wind and the clouds, they led goldilocks all the way home

this weekend i got to go to chico to visit my way groovy friend cas.  some observations:

• cool people roadtrip with the windows down....but are also conscious of the ever present danger of awkward one-sided arm tanning
• 20 minutes out of here, the sun shines
• i love the prairies of california....long, yellow grass with random fat green trees against a bright blue sky
• redding makes up for it's confusing atmosphere with awesome people who lead you to the I-5
• trader joe's is a magical land flowing with dried mangos and cool water bottles
• californians refuse to make eye-contact with people walking towards them
• chico has more bicyclists than i have ever seen....and has a great park
• watching hot rod with cas is quite possibly the best thing you could possibly do with an afternoon
  

i had a great time!  thanks cas!

a prayer request

so at church for the last two weeks, these two young guys have been coming.  my dad was saying that they came from a teen drug rehab house or something like that.  anyway, both of them are really fired up about the Lord and it's been so cool to see them just in love with God's Word and hear about the questions they ask my dad about their faith; especially when it seems like a lot of the people at our church have been Christians for a while.  one of them apparently used to sniff glue and so his mind is pretty far gone.  i'd just like ya'll to pray for him, that God would just restore his mind.   me and my mom both feel like God wants to do that work in his life.  anyway, and for both of them that they would be built up in Christ....and probably that we as a church would be enabled to reach out to these guys.  i don't know....i could just totally see guys like this five years from now with families...and going to teach at the mission and starting new ministries and stuff like that.  cool beans

a dream of mine

sell my car and get a VW bug....or scooter....the dream is somewhat undecided

on getting comfy

for the first time in a long time, i have my own room....actually, amanda's still in here....but there's only 13 days till the wedding......

anyway, so i am now living in the garage.....with hardwood floors....sharing a bathroom with only 2 sisters....and built in bookshelves.  it's the highlife, lemme tell you what. 

 i think it's truly hilarious.....the light in here  is basically one of those industrial looking lights....long, cylindrical bulb....two out of four are burned out....powered by an extension cord and suspended by bungee cords.  none of the walls are finished....the floor is half done.  we took the garage door apart, nailed it to the outside, and put sheetrock on my side of the wall.   oh but it is my room....i stained my unfinished bookshelves....so beautiful.  and i actually like the ceiling a lot.  i feel like i'm in the bowels of a ship for some reason.  

something more than a snickers

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

my friend cas once told me that when we are feeling discouraged or lonely or just plain disatisfied....and this is VERY paraphrased....that it is God drawing us back to Himself.  i've been realizing lately how truly lonely going to church has been lately.  so far, i've shrugged it off as me not having enough friends....or when i get married, it'll be better...which those are valid i'm sure.  but, i think it's God trying to use dissatisfaction to get His kiddos to their knees.  my friend suz and i were talking about the lack of family in our church....we wanted to know what we could do about it.  i've been thinking about it all day.  the only thing i can say is pray.  pray that God would bring us out of selfish habits and self-focused attitudes and give us a burden for the weak and hurting around us.  that He would fill us up and pour us out for the lost that come in every week.  that He would give us passion to pray everyday for the people in our lives.  He is the source....where can we go and what can we possibly do without Him?  He has the power we need....more importantly, He has the love we so desperately crave.  and He gives it all to us without question.  i think my biggest problem is apathy....i'm willing to just get through church....get home and do something for myself.  if i could challenge anyone reading....it would be that you gotta fight through the apathy....pray until you are passionate about the Lord and those around you.  pray until your church is a family, daily encouraging one another and united in love.  pray until the messed up relationships are healed again.  pray until every need is met.  pray until your friends are saved and then pray until they go to heaven.  pray without ceasing!!!!!  

a startling discovery

in the midst of a really fun time hanging out with my lil' bro.....wrestling, running around the house, taking pics with photo booth, dancing to the gummi bear song....to those who have not heard it....you are missing out....anyway, in the middle of all this....he puts his arm around me in perfect assurance states that i'm a good boy. unfortunately to this i had to point out that he had made a tragic error.  "you're not the same as me?"  "nope, sorry kid".  whaddya say to that?  i don't know....kids are great though aren't they?  i really can't imagine living in a house without them...life just seems so real and new to them all the time....and jeremiah retain his amazingness despite his lack of attention to detail....haha

how walmart ruined my life....and sept. 28th will truly rock my socks off

so.....these last couple days a question has been burning in my mind. why do i hate going to walgreens...long's and stores like that? i really hate it....maybe not hate it out loud....but definitely a sub-conscious distaste for them. first of all.....i don't even know what they sell...hotcakes? turtledoves?
anyway, every time i go.....i feel so lost. like the world is ending and all i want is someone to tell where to get toothpicks. i've never gone into any one of them and not had to ask where what i need is. it's disturbing. 
but i figured it out.......
i have been going to walmart my entire life!!!! there has never been, in the 6 or 7 odd places i've lived that there hasn't been a walmart. am i for walmart taking over the planet? no.......BUT....i realize now that i am humboldtian?....that i must adapt and overcome....and bring jen every time i go somewhere to lead me through the jungle of mid-size stores. 
anyway, on september 28th SWITCHFOOT will be playing in Sacramento....which is yes....over five hours away.....BUT....holy cow....i've never seen them in concert...and couple that with the horrific lack in concert going as of late......i am pretty psyched. already have the next day off...i'm running at night to get in shape for 4 hours of jumping....i need to work on my screaming though.....that's what really gets you. my hair is freshly rocked out though....so i should be good.

a bit to chew on

"that you put off, 

concerning your former conduct,

the old man which grows corrupt 

according to the deceitful lusts,

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and that you put on the new man 

which was created according to God,

in true righteousness and holiness."

Ephesians 4:22-24

some things i love

I am blessed with the world's most awesome family. I love them so much and am daily growing to appreciate every quirk and difference of opinion. I love that I am one of a very few people who know how funny Amanda is. I love that me and Alyssa get along great....most of the time! :) I love how Sarah looks up to me but doesn't want to be as dorky. I love that Josiah is utterly oblivious to 50% of what is going around him. I love that Jeremiah is so completely awesome in so many ways. I love that my parents have always been real about their love and their trials. I love that Dad will force a fun vacation on the family and it works. I love that Mom would adopt every kid on the planet if she could. 


I love Jesus Christ. I love the consistency and solid rock of the Word of God. I love that He is true when every man is a liar. I love that He won't leave me in my petty sins to wallow. I love that He gives each day as a new chance to live in Him. I love that He never lets His children to fight alone if they seek Him. I am loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting arms.


I love trying new things....whether new instruments, new foods from Nate and Jen's table...tee hee....or artsy things. I love playing music and sharing music with people. Switchfoot and Copeland are two bands that I can listen to over and over again without getting sick of them. I love the sound of a really loud open E chord. I love the feeling of kicking a soccer ball square on the foot. Perfection. 


I love the sky in general. I love Humboldt county. It is so beautiful. Even on the foggiest day, Sequoia park brings a smile to my face. I love the sunsets. I love the drive to CR at the end of the day. I love the stars. I love hanging out with people who are cool with just laying on the grass and staring up at the sky. I love that heaven is even better. 

Cassie (a more thankful person than she was a few months ago :)

a lil' something i'm doing again

so, back in the day...when i was but a lowly freshman in high school and i had fallen in love with the Word of God for the first time...i used to read the Bible and every time i came across a verse that hit me i would write it out in my little "super-spiritual" notebook :)  anyways, i've started doing that again and it's such a blessing....here's some reasons it helps me....

• i'm a huge visual learner and when i write it out, i have to read it a couple times over....which helps me get it somewhat memorized
• as i write it, it also helps me think through the meaning of the verse a lot more...and it's relationship to the surrounding verses
• even if i don't memorize the verse, i can memorize the general location of it if i need to find it later

i'm just writing this because i like to learn about other people's ways of studying the Word....i think this has been the best way for me so far.  if only because it makes me take my time!  

happy eight day!

man, i am so psyched....today is the bestest birthday ever!!!!!!!  not really anything in particular happening....amanda got me some undies.....some girly undies at that....sorry, won't be posting a pic.  anyway, it's really cool and i'm totally running at 90mph.  anyway, i do have to clean the mrotzek house now, so i should go, but having a great time otherwise!

loyalties and evolutionary left-overs

so.....since i have so much brain power available while i work, i was able to flesh out a little argument......

first off.....it really really really ticks me off when people, especially Christian people, bash on America.  it's something that i've noticed a lot since i moved to California and a lot more since i moved up here.  i realize that the war and health care and race and a whole number of things are an issue.....BUT this is our home.  this is where we raise our kids, where we are going to grow old, where we buy property.  our forefathers moved here for financial and for some, spiritual freedom.  while i believe this culture is deteriorating at a fast pace, as is the rest of the world, we need to believe in our country....if only because it's ours.  patriotism doesn't slack off because what is being stood for is not doing so hot.  i will still be a die-hard fan of the denver broncos even if they never go to the play-offs again.  to be more practical....if you're gonna whine and complain about the sad state of affairs.....get out of your house and make a difference.  being sarcastic and negative isn't going to do anything for anyone.

deep breath.....

okay, so also....my mom has had some kind of mass in the "upper abdominal cavity" for a couple years now.  basically, it's just uncomfortable and she's been trying to get it investigated for a while.  so, she goes to this doctor in town and he says "ya' know how dogs have nipples running down their bellies.....well, in utero, we have these nipples and this mass is left-over breast tissue....there's nothing we can do"......oh my gosh, i wanna smack this guy.  

first of all.....i wanna see the pictures of a BABY (not fetus) in utero with nipples on his belly.  second of all....take a flip-flapping biopsy and see if it really is breast tissue.....otherwise i would really like to know that my mom doesn't have some crazy disease.  thank you for your time and peace out!  i think it's funny that these open-minded evolutionists are willing to blame anything and everything on some imaginary evolutionary process.  

okay, that's enough passionate opinion for today....

what's the difference?

so, right about now i'm not too psyched on this whole bridal shower thing.  between picking out decorations, buying an endless amount of gifts and supplies, and trying to get a good gift for amanda.....i've had it.  but the main question after an hour at bath and body works is....what's the difference between body cream, body lotion, and body butter????

copycat

since cas is much cooler than the average person...and she has a blog, i've decided to get one too....hahaha.  i think i'll mostly be mostly sharing awesome books, quotes, and music that i've discovered and fallen in love with....along with hopefully a few of my own "original" observations n' shtuff.