Jimmie Ingram

Hey everyone,

This seems like such a shameless plug, but it’s my blog so whatever:) I’m starting to teach guitar lessons again and getting really excited about it. It’s very rewarding to share things I’ve learned over the years with other players. If anyone is interested in taking lessons shoot my an email jimmieingramguitar@yahoo.com and we can work out details.

Thanks

Jimmie

Well for those of you who read my blog, this summer you probably remember me complaining a lot about my guitar amp. I finally got a knew rig and I’m loving it, it’s a samamp 45 watt head through a port city cab. So here’s a pic for all you guitar geeks like me:)

I don’t know if many of you know this, but I went to a school for the blind when I was a kid. That’s where I learned the guitar and playing guitar is how I make my living. What a blessing!! I’ve been wanting to give back for some time now. I’ve been talking about doing a lot of things for sometime now and I’ve always had an excuse as to why I couldn’t do anything. Well I’m tired of making excuses for not helping people. So I went and volunteered at the Austin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. I wanted to teach guitar lessons for free but as it turns out they don’t need that. They need help with tutoring for regular school classes as well as pottery and wrestling. Since I spent most of my time drawing in class, I chose wrestling first then pottery. I can’t wait to hang out with these kids and encourage them.

We’ve been talking about loving Austin and really making a difference in our community. Austin Stone Church is one of the first churches I’ve really felt this way at. It just feels like you can’t be a light weight and go to church there. Austin is to easy to get around and has to many opportunities to just sit on your hands and not do anything. I normally feel super uncomfortable volunteering for things but not really at the School for the Blind or teaching some kid guitar lessons. There’s a lot of things I suck at but there are a few things I can do. I think we can all help someone even if it feels small to us. We just have to be faithful with what we’ve been given. Wish me luck on the pottery:)

After today I’m convinced that the DMV is just a little taste of hell on earth. It took them around 2 and a half hours to help 33 people or so. I over heard a man say they’re averaging about 14 people an hour. Sweet mother of moses that seems like a snails pace to me. Can you believe that?!?

When we had walked in the door I mentioned to Laura that this was the nicest DMV I’d ever been in. The building was new and didn’t smell like urine. I’d take the smell of urine and 20 crying babies for a little speed any day of the week.

So the moral of this story is stay away from the nice looking DMV, it’s a trap:)

These day’s it feels like everyone wants in your wallet and I’m tired of it. Don’t get me wrong, if you offer a good service or have a well made product, I don’t mind paying for it. On the other hand, Honda has programed the maintenance required light to come on at 30 and 60 thousand miles, so then I have to pay them 80 bucks to tell me my car’s fine and turn off the light. Well not this time, I got on google and looked up how to turn off the light and it totally worked. So there you have it Honda!! Maybe I could start a business and under cut Honda, I could charge 5 or 10 bucks instead of 80. I’ll have cars lined up for miles:)

Laura just put my dreads in this morning. I bought the fourth season of House and a half gallon of blue bell mint chocolate ice cream. We snuggled up to the tv and Laura got started. It took her about four hours to complete them. She’s a real trooper, thanks babe:) I still have a ton of work and time to spend with them before they get really cool looking. Here are some pics for ya.

My wife Laura had been gone for twelve days working with her dad and she finally made it back home. I have to say the first few days were fun because I ate unhealthy food and stayed up late and slept in til 10 or 11. It didn’t take long for me to start missing her though. As much as I hate waking up early and running or having to eat some form of veggie for every meal it’s good for me. I’m glad I have my amazing wife and that she stretches me and makes me a better man. Before Laura came into my life I blew all my money and pretty much got by on the skin of my teeth. haha. I’m glad she’s home.

“Dump the pump and ride the bus”, is the slogan for the Austin metro. I have to say that’s one of the things that excited me about moving to Austin, but it’s been a bit of an uphill battle figuring this bus system out. I’m learning how to relax and be patient, I’ve gotten on the wrong bus twice already. Now if I get on the wrong bus I just try and pay attention to see where it goes in case I want to go to any of the places on it’s route. I figured out I’m probably going to mess up a few more times and it’s not even worth getting mad anymore. I’m not gonna lie though, it’s pretty scary when your riding the bus and you don’t know where you are:) So if you come to Austin and need to use the bus just give me a shout and I’ll give you some pointers.

Today I’m reading through Mathew 12 and came across this passage that punched me right in the face. Jesus said, make a tree good and it’s fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and it’s fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by it’s fruit. Then I skipped down a verse and read. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

This got me thinking about how impatient I can be, or about how I’m always looking for the flaw or fault in someone. I usually always have something negative to say. Of course I do have my good moments too:) The point I’m trying to make is, I want to bring life to people. Even when I don’t feel like it, that there would be enough good stored up in me that it would over ride the negative.

The more I read the gospel the more challenged I am by it. I’m the king of finding a loop hole to get out of doing something I don’t like. Jesus doesn’t really offer any loop holes. We’re supposed to love our enemies and it’s hard to love our closet friends sometimes:) That’s what frustrates me and compels me about following Jesus. I can’t wait to meet face to face one day.

I just got back home from South Podre for a little family vacation. It’s good to finally be home and getting plugged into the Austin Stone church. I’ve already met so many amazing people there and I’m looking forward to getting more invested. Laura and I are both excited about being here and seeing what God has in store for us. 

Sorry I haven’t written in awhile, It’s been a crazy summer. It’s good to be home and settling in. I hope everyone who reads here is doing well.