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Sunday, September 27, 2015

How to adjust your TRUST-Rod | Guitar adjustment leads to revelation about building trust in God.



Guitar adjustment leads to revelation


I picked up my KONA K1 Acoustic guitar last night, for the first time in many months. This has been the best guitar I've ever known. I may never buy a Fender again. (check them out here).

I got this one used and I finally decided the action was too high. So I starting looking up how to lower the action on a guitar. I have to admit my ignorance (even after 25 years of playing) I always believed the myth that the Truss Rod should be adjusted for better action.

Found two great videos:





Wiki: Truss - Guitar

The truss rod is part of a guitar or other fretted, stringed-instruments used to stabilize and adjust the lengthwise forward curvature (also called relief), of the neck. Usually it is a steel rod that runs inside the neck and has a bolt that can be used to adjust its tension.
The point of the truss rod is not (primarily) to push the whole neck backward and forward for better action. The point is to put a slight bend in the middle of the neck. You actually DO NOT want a straight neck in a guitar.

The string vibrate more in the middle, and need more room to play than at the ends. Therefore you need a slight bow in the neck where the middle dips away from the strings to avoid buzz when you play.

If you want better action, you need to adjust the bridge (not commonly needed - at the head of guitar) or the saddle (most common adjustments - at the bottom near the sound hole). See videos above for more explanation.

Truss - support structure


This got me thinking about the truss in the roof of a home. These are most commonly the triangle structures built of wood in our attic holding your roof up.

Wiki: Truss - Engineering

In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object".[1]


  • Two-force members acting as a single object. 



Etymonline:

truss (n.) c. 1200, "collection of things bound together," from Old French trousse, torse "parcel, package, bundle," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *torciare "to twist," from Late Latin torquere (see torque (n.)). Meaning "surgical appliance to support a rupture, etc." first attested 1540s. Sense of "framework for supporting a roof or bridge" is first recorded 1650s.  
truss (v.) c. 1200, "to load, load up," from Anglo-French trusser, Old French trusser, torser "to load, fill, pack, fasten" (11c.), from Old French trousse, torse (see truss (n.)). Related: Trussed; trussing.


Trust: A Two-force members acting as a single object. 

I couldn't find any connection historically in these words, I have no idea if they have the same root, and it could very well be that the similar sounds are an accidental evolution of the English language.. but I started thinking about Trust in light of Truss.

When I trust God, I am acting with him in unison. When I do not trust God, I am acting in dis-unison. The same would go for any relationship (Husband/Wife, Boss/Employee, Government/Citizen). When one party doesn't trust the other, they cease to work as a single entity toward a single goal.

Without this trust, the supporting structure of my life is missing. I cannot function. Over time the elements of this world (stress, pressure, heat, temptation, etc) will warp my life. Then when my strings are played there will be no room for them to move freely and vibrate, so there will be a buzzing in my life.


How to adjust your TRUST-Rod

As I spend time in the Secret Place I am building strength and support structures into my heart, mind, and will. These are where my greatest battles will take place on earth.

It's not a matter of duty, it's a matter of safety. It doesn't matter if I go to my Secret Place once a day, once a week, once a month, 70 times a day.... It's not a matter of being a "good Christian". It's a matter of strengthening my Trust Rod. The more time I spend, the stronger it is, and the better adjusted it will be.


You Turn:


How do you know if you are trusting God?


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Written September 27, 2015 by Darrell G Wolfe

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Grow by reading: "Secrets of the Secret Place" - by Bob Sorge




Hi! It's been a little longer than usual.


I haven't been writing much lately. I've been busy with transitions at work and home. But the truth is, I didn't feel like writing, because I didn't feel I had anything valuable to say. I was in a mood, complaining, whining, pissy... You can't influence people for good or God in that mood.

My wife was kind enough to reorganize the house and put a comfy chair in my office. OK, it might be that she just wanted me to go away in that mood... but it was still great! This has become my prayer chair.

I've been reading:





This may be one of the most profound books I've ever read. I want to give a special thanks to my friend Allen for giving me this book. I don't know if I would have picked it up off the shelf naturally, and it's been a profound help.

As with many books, if I'd read it some time ago I may not have thought so. You have to be open and ready to grow. The book is divided into 52 mini-chapters of about three pages each. You could read straight through, or you could read one each morning or evening. I've been dong a bit of both.

Bob Sorge's insights into prayer have unlocked a new dimension to my prayer life. I've only touched the outside of the the tip of the iceberg, but I can sense a new season has already arrived. I'm not even half way through the book.

I'm not going to outline the book, or re-write it for you here. Every chapter was important so far. Go pick it up and read it!

But I do want to draw out some things that really stood out to me in this season of transition I'm going through.

I wanted to share some lesson's with you that I've picked up along the way so far:

Chapter 3: The secret of listening

Hearing God's voice has become the singular quest of my heart, the sole pursuit that alone satisfies the great longings of my heart. Things don't change when I talk to God: Thins change when God talks to me. So the power of prayer is found not in convincing God of my agenda, but in waiting upon Him to hear His agenda. 
'nough said

Chapter 4: The secret of radical obedience


The New Testament word for obedience, huakoe, is a compound word from two Greek words. Hupo "under", and Akouo "hear". To obey God is to "hear under".
Devotion to the secret place is the saint's first great act of obedience. 

If you haven't heard God, you have nothing to obey. You cannot obey God until you have heard God, and put yourself under that thing you heard.


Chapter 8: The secret of decision making


Intimacy precedes insight. Passion precedes purpose. First comes the secret place, then comes divine guidance. God doesn't simply want to get you on the right path, He wants to enjoy you throughout the journey. 
God's primary desire for your life is not that you discover His will and walk in it; His primary desire is that you draw near to HIM and come to know Him. 
God wants to be known!
And then He desires that from that knowing relationship there come a tender walking together in His purpose. 

My God. My Father (Daddy-Relationship), My Lover (the lover of my soul)... God is not a king that demands his servants serve Him. He is a Daddy who wants to be with his kids. Jesus is a husband that wants to be with his bride. This is the heart God has for you... and me. One of passion and pursuit.

God wants your heart, he wants you, not just your obedience.


Chapter 10: The secret of burning


OK... I was about to just write this WHOLE chapter out, because so far this one has had the greatest impact. Every word is awesome! God read it. Here is the biggest part:
The secret to staying ablaze for Jesus is not in responding to alter calls (as good as those are); it's not in having someone lay hands on you and pray for you (as valid as that is); it's not in listening to a good teaching tape or the latest worship CD; the only sure source for staying white-hot is in devoting yourself consistently to the place-of-the-shut-door. It's the place where the "spirit of burning" (Isaiah 4:4) ignites your soul as you gaze upon His glory with an unveiled face (2 Cor 3:18).

I've been to so many alter calls I feel like my knees wear out, but with no LASTING change. I dull down before the week is out. Sometimes before the service is out. I've grown numb to them. I don't feel anything anymore much of the time.

I thought this was a bad thing, a sign of my growing cold to God. At some level it might be that. I've been mad at God for a long time about certain things. But now I realize a deeper truth. The coldness, and the mad at God are symptoms, not root causes. Those will simply burn away in his presence through CONSISTENT time spent in his presence.

Chapter 12: The secret of humility

Prayerlessness is the first sign of prideful independence.

Chapter 13: The secret of intercession


As a body feels pain, and that is a signal to repair and replace... so THE BODY of CHRIST should feel pain in it's members. The disease of leprosy causes a deadening of the nerves so that the body doesn't feel pain. If the hand is burning the body doesn't react to stop it. For many churches, we have spiritual leprosy, the churches nerves are dead. If we do not feel the pain of our members (people hurting in our midst) than we cannot react to repair damage, and replace lost things.
Intersession is a response to pain.

If I know someone is hurting, I should go before God and intercede for them. I should also go before those demonic spirits and DEMAND they loose my brother or sister. I have the authority in Christ Jesus, I should be using it for others not just myself.


Chapter 15: The secret of radiation therapy


You don't know you're being exposed to radiation when it first happens. People who get sun-burned don't realize they've been exposed to excessive radiation until after the damage is done. The effects of radiation are always delayed. The same is true of God's glory. When you spend time in His presence, you first thought is, "This isn't accomplishing anything." However, if you will believe the truth and just devote yourself to mega-amounts of time in His presence, the effects of spending time with Him will eventually manifest... You start to think differently, and you don't even know why. 

That's all the things I wanted to share today. If you have a desire for, or even an inkling that you could benefit from, a deeper relationship with God through prayer... you need this book!

Shalom!





Your Turn:


What's the most profound, or impactful, thing you've learned about prayer. It could be about prayer, or how to do prayer. Share your thoughts with me. 

Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...



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Written September 24, 2015 by Darrell G Wolfe

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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Growing Restless


Restless of being Weary



Jacob and Esau are the fraternal twin sons of Isaac. Esau is a whole 30 seconds older than Jacob, being exposed to air first. Jacob comes holding onto his heal.

  • Esau is born reddish and hairy. Esau ends up becoming a hunter and warrior personality (Modern Translation: Jock and/or Soldier personality). 
  • Jacob ends up being "a peaceful man living in tents" (Modern Translation: Geek and/or Artist personality) and also becomes quite a good chef.

Isaac is Abraham's son of promise. Through prophecy, and a whole lot of ignorance and deception, Jacob ends up with the blessing that belonged to his older brother by birth right. After he gets the Blessing, he walks into the annals of history to change his name to Israel. He then fathers a nation of the same name, The Israelites.

Esau, saddened at his loss, comes to his father. Can I get a blessing too Dad? Just a little one?

Genesis 27:40 KJV

And by thy sword shalt thou live , and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion , that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
New International Version 

"You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck."
NASB 
"By your sword you shall live, And your brother you shall serve ; But it shall come about when you become restless, That you will break his yoke from your neck." 

This word Restless Defined:
The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon: "Ruwd" 
Strong's Number:   07300  
Original WordWord Origin
dwra primitive root
Transliterated WordTDNT Entry
RuwdTWOT - 2129
Phonetic SpellingParts of Speech
rood    Verb
Definition
    1. to wander restlessly, roam
      1. (Qal) to roam
      2. (Hiphil) to be restless, show restlessness


So what lessons can we learn from Esau?


Have you ever been the blessed one, but you forfeited your rights because of short sighted wants and desires? You ended up becoming a servant of sin, sickness, demons, fear, addiction, etc? Maybe it wasn't that bad, maybe you just forfeited the best, for good enough.

When you get restless, you can throw off those chains. Through Jesus, all people can be blessed now, not just the few and the chosen.

But it's not going to just fall on you. Jesus paid the price, but he's already done everything. It's now up to you. When you grow restless, tired of not having enough, tired of not being enough, tired of living in defeat... than you can throw off the chains of servitude and find freedom.

It will not be easy, or comfortable. Imagine, for a moment. That you are bound in chains, and yoked to pull a a wagon behind you. Like a human mule. Imagine the force it would take to not just remove... but BREAK the chains and yoke off of you like an explosion.

Dave Ramsey calls this Gazelle Intensity.

Restless is a Verb, and action. It's not a feeling, it's a demonstrated motion of activity. You aren't restless when you feel tired or irritated. You are restless when you become motivated, and that motivation is apparent in your actions.

No one around you will doubt or wonder if you have become restless. It will be like an explosion of new and different activity. You have to live like no-one else, so that you can live like no-one else.

When you are restless... we'll all know. Until then, we'll just watch to see when it hits.

Your Turn:


Is there anything that has been holding you back for so long, it's about time you grew restless about it? 

Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...


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Written September 06, 2015 by Darrell G Wolfe

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