My 14 Favorite Albums of 2010 / Back In Time Top Songs of 2000

Taylor Swift -Speak Now - Yep I love this album! She absolutely writes amazing and eventhough she has a studio voice and not a concert voice (at least on the scream songs), this album is good from start to finish and very catchy. Listen to: Back to December, Haunted, and Never Grow Up

Michael Jackson - Michael - What can i say?! I mean I've been waiting for some new MJ music since 2003. A lot of new artists that worked with him said that his music shouldnt have been finished and put out, but I say you can't hide a mans talents in the ground as the scriptures say! I love most of this album! I know there are some songs I just can't get into. But Michaels melodies, voice changes, and the music perfection is just too amazing. Listen to: I Like The Way (You Loving Me); Hollywood Tonight; Monster (which 50 Cent kills his rap); Hold My Hand w/ Akon

Kenny Chesney-Hemingways Whiskey - Ok, so at first I just didn't expect this from KC. I even told Filip Matous, that it just didn't seem like KC. But then a few listens in I was loving it. He knows how to really tell his life through songs and us fans can think of sometime in our life where we felt the same. Good duet with Grace Potter! Listen to: Somewhere with You, Where I Grew Up, Boys of Fall, and Reality

Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give - ZBB is amazing! Sophomore album is absolutely just as good as the Foundation if not better! Including someone like Alan Jackson on the first single will always be a good idea! Listen to: As She's Walking Away, Oh My Sweet Carolina (Live), I Play The Road, Settle Me Down

John Mayer - Battle Studies (November 2009 but i didnt listen until 2010) - This album got me through ALOT. It was my summer soundtrack! He continued his legacy from Continuum and whatever those critics say about losing his touch, NOT TO ME! Listen to: Heartbreak Warfare, Perfectly Lonely, Half of My Heart

Kanye West -My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - I really don't like Kanye West! And to have TSwift and him in the same 2010 list of albums is weird to me! but this album is amazing. I got the super clean version, somehow from a torrent, and there are some amazing raps on this! Listen to: All The Lights, Runaway, Monster

Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid - Just listent to the whole album! You're life will change! Tightrope has an amazing track with Big Boi! And the video is so dope! Even though she got some mainstream push, she still is very indie to me! Listen to : Tightrope, Dance or Die, Wondaland

Mark Ronson- Record Collection - I love Mark Ronson! I love anything that includes Motown mixed with 2010 electronic production! Bang Bang Bang has Q-Tip and thats all you need to know. Listen to: Bang Bang Bang, The Bike Song, Somebody To Love Me

Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning - They are not really hip-hop anymore! They went away from that after Bridging the Gap, but they once again are producing at great lengths! This one is way more chill than THE E.N.D. even though Dirty Bit is pretty hardcore. Listen to : Love You Long Time, Fashion Beats, XOXOXO, Do It Like This

Yeasayer- Odd Blood - I love this band! Reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode 2010 and O.N.E. is my favorite track

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now - What can I say?! they are amazing, even if they are country pop- they do well at it! Hello World, American Honey, Need You Now, and I Run to You. Amazing!

N.E.R.D. - Nothing - When I heard the snippets before the album dropped, it just didnt sound great! but Travis May and I saw them live in Phoenix and it was amazing. Listen to: Hypnotize U (W. Daft Punk), I've seen the light / in the clouds, God Bless Us All, Hot N Fun

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot - Shutterbug is soooo dope! And its good to have one of the members of Outkast droppping some lyrical bombs! Great album!

Arcade Fire -The Suburbs - just Listen!!!!!

Top Songs of 2000:
Its Gonna Be Me - Nsync
Nelly - Country grammar
Blaque-Bring It All To Me
Never Let You Go - 3rd Eye Blind
Britney Spears - Oops I Did it Again
Jay-Z - Big Pimpin'
The Next Episode - Dr. Dre
Mary Mary-Shackles

Special Time of Year (Lets make it 365)

At this time of year we come together with our family and loved ones, we feel a sense of love, comfort, and remembrance. Why does it seem to be every year from Thanksgiving onto Christmas we give more to others or seek the well-being of those less fortunate? Does the timing of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago set a mood or a feeling that we should honor Him by serving others? We know of the many signs that the world was to receive when Christ the child was born such as a new star would present in the night sky. It's interesting to think of the knowledge the world had of Christs' birth by looking to the north and seeing a new star to guide the souls and lives of men. Guiding mens souls and lives...those words just in themselves can change the whole scope of the purpose of this earth life.

In our world of noise that every day seems to create so many negative things, we need to find some balance and create a world where can inspire change for the better. We try to do our best to help others at this time of year and bring joy into not only our hearts but those close to us. We make lists of what was good this year, while we also make lists of what we are going to change next year. It seems our intentions to make changes are very fresh and can motivate us to start off the year on a good foot. Yet a few weeks into the new year or sometimes even a few days in, we let the stresses of the world get to us and we're back to where we began. Everyday should bring us a new set of goals to achieve, a new sense of direction, or even an attitude that will not only keep us positive but those that we come into contact with.

I recently read a great book by the name of "The Message", which the author has an experience of going into a coma for a number of weeks and while he is in a coma he visits the Spirit World. He shares many inspiring messages which he is to share with the world about his experience, but his greatest message of all is service. His guardian angel, which is his nephew who passed away as a teenager, shares that service is the action of love. Christ went about his ministry and served the people through so many ways. We can pray for opportunities to serve those around us whether they be family, friends, or strangers. There are thousands and thousands of stories of service which rendered by one person brought an action of love as well as a change to many people.

May we learn from the perfect man, the perfect example, and our perfect Brother, the Lord, Jesus Christ. As we start to think that this world has so much negativity and that this life is so difficult, pray for opportunities to help those that need you. Christ came to save us through his perfect nature. Christ came so that we may have an example to live by everyday. Christ came to atone for our sins, infirmities, weaknesses, tears, and faults so that we may come unto Him and be more like our Father in Heaven. We never know the result of our service until sometimes years later, but in your heart and in your daily life you will see a change for the better as life gets a little easier.

Merry Christmas and may we serve each other everyday pure in heart. And bring about a change for the better through our talents, our words, our actions, and so many other ways which we have been taught.

Clayton Ashcraft

Hard Work and Timing- Are They Related?

We all know the adage, "Practice makes perfect." So what does it mean to you? Lately, as I have had a lot more time to think about things in my life about where I'm going and what I exactly want to do, I've noticed that there are some relations with hard work and timing. I believe though there are times when hard work does not always bear the fruits right away but in a time when life or God see's fit to allow it. Whether you believe in God, a higher power, or not at all, I think we can all agree certain events in our life happen at the right time for the right reason.

One of the things that has crossed my mind of late is my LOVE LIFE. Do you work hard to find that special someone or do you just let things come to pass with that significant other? I've questioned why I haven't had a girlfriend in about 2 years or why things dont go beyond being just a friend (or best friend). A lot of friends just say it usually happens when you aren't looking or just keep doing whats right and doing you-it will come. I see a lot of people dont many different people and quite a few of these people they don't really last. For me I have had really only 2 solid type girlfriends or girls I've dated. Each time there was some type of work I had to put into building something that would last. The other person also has to work at it as well.

So when your out looking for someone to love, do you actively pursue finding that love or do you just allow things to come as they are? The last question deals more with is your energy so powerful that people are naturally attracted to you or maybe you've worked hard with friendships or relationships in the past that its comes back around like a boomerang? I've made several attempts to create opportunities of girls that I am interested in or want to get to know better. I'm not sure if its who I am that creates some type of friend zone attitude or if who I am makes them to intimidated. I like to be honest with others and with myself, so I have definitely learned to have a different attitude towards seeking a relationship.

Hard work and timing are related! One takes a lot of will, motivation, sometimes blood, sweat, and tears. The other is just the timing of your universe coming together from the hard work. What motivates you to work hard? What keeps you going?