Top 10 Guitars

Here's a list of the top 10 guitars I am most likely to want in the next month or so.

10. Dean EVO XM (click here) - nice and cheap makes this an easy reality, if I ever have money.

9. Dean Performer E Acoustic-Electric (here) - a low cost acoustic with built in tuner and xlr output capability.

8. Ibanex ART100 (here) - never played one, but i like the looks

7. Ibanez AEF-30 (not gonna link it, just search for it) - For a lower budget ($400-$500) guitar, I've played one or two and fell in love with their action and look.

6. Peavey Generation Custom EX with ACM - An electric guitar with a built piezo for an acoustic sound.

5. Fender Fat Strat in (a) tobacco sunburst with rosewood fretboard or (b) chrome red with rosewood fretboard or (c) any combination that takes my breath away in person.

4. Rogue Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric - best $100 guitar i've found. Gets the job done, and sounds decent.

3. Squier Strat - the guitar I learned to play on, and plan on having the rest of my life--still my best electric.

2. Takamine EF-341CE - My black beauty; I love the action and feel. Great guitar and should last plenty long.

1. Ovation CC-045 12 String - Even though the model number in the bowl is wrong, I wouldn't trade the built in tuner, cherry sunburst, and 12 string sound for anything.

***for the record, the final 4 are guitars I own. Not included in the list are my tele (C+ guitar), and my Jazz Bass (A+ but different list). I actually have enough guitars that I'm planning on keeping that I should be good for a while, but I always keep an eye open.***

10 Things I Love About Youth Ministry

10. The relationships that will last a lifetime.
9. The awkward silences...and realizing I have now trademarked the awkward silence
8. The trips
7. Encouraging people to draw closer to God.
6. Dodgeball, Volleyball, and Basketball
5. Small Groups
4. Preaching/Teaching (even though preaching is probably out of date for youth ministry)
3. The adults I get to work with who blow me away.
2. Kids who blow me away when I realize they're deeper than they let on.
1. When someone "gets it"

A Random Top Ten

I haven't posted in a while, so I thought I would avoid writing a paper and write a few posts. For now, they're all top ten lists--less commitment that way. Hope you enjoy.

Top Ten Reasons I Should be Doing Something Else:

10. Efficiency is not my strongsuit.

9. Ambiguity is my friend.

8. Inconsistent

7. I rarely finish my...

6. It's late.

5. Staying on task

4. I'm probably better at whatever it is I should be doing.

3. I need sleep.

2. I'm going to get graded on what I should be doing.

1. Just 'cause.

Football Season

The older I get (I'm now 24), the more I enjoy football. I remember last year I spent almost every Thursday evening watching middle school football games. I caught several Varsity games on Fridays, when I was not in class. I was shocked, however, when I went to a Division 2 college game and realized I had been great football. At the college game, everyone was faster, passes were abundant and accurate, and everyone looked bigger (because they weren't 8th graders). I treasured the three hour escape from reality.

Now, as football seasons cranks up once more, I feel a fresh rejuvenation deep within. ESPN radio has shifted away from the drone of baseball and into the excitement of the pigskin. Life is good. I'm looking forward to many more football games, and I hope the badgers survive district enough to make the playoffs. Here's hoping for a great season of High School, but also a chance to watch some good college ball.

Wordle

Here's a representation of my previous post from Wordle. It is basically a way to post something without any significance.

"He's Really Organized"

It is said that you can fool some of the people all of the time or all of the people some of the time. Either way, I'm not sure what I did to make someone think I am organized, but regardless of what I did, I received a compliment on Friday that I am extremely organized.

I don't know if you know me or how well you might know me. You can easily look at the dates of posts on this blog and determine that organized is not a word that fits me very well.

However, it is always good to know that we have a fresh start with people. For the most part, the lady who gave me such a compliment only interacts with me for a total of about 10-20 days each year. It is nice to know that for some people, I am a better person than I truly am. I am inspired to strive for more organization and to become better because certain people expect such out of me.

Christian Message Boards...ugh

I bought a cheap guitar earlier in the year, and have yet to enjoy it. Last week i brought it home and got to thinking about lowering the action. I typed into google "how to adjust action on a guitar" and came across a link to a Christian guitar player site. "This should be interesting," I thought to myself, so I checked it out. Let me just say that people are ridiculous. Everyone has an opinion, and it is the best. For some reason, it seems as though Christians take this to the extreme. Where is the love and compassion prescribed by Paul in Colossians?

Against the strong advice of several posters, I chose to adjust my action, and if it ruins my guitar, I'll know not to do it next time. Better to learn on a cheap guitar.