Stephen's Story, Financial Planning

*The following is a fictional account. But the details are based on a blend of true stories I've heard over the years.

Debt Free and Rich with Low Income: How did he do it? 

Hello! I'm 53 years old this year (2015). I've never won the lottery, or had a big investment payoff, and I've never earned more than $17 an hour. I'm debt free, I own three homes (paid in full). I've never paid a dime of interest on a car. And if you count my investments and retirement accounts, I'm currently worth $2.5 million.

My name is Stephen Wage, and this is my story.

The Car Fund

I started working part time when I was 15 years old, as a stocker in a Ralph's Grocery Store. I took the bus everywhere until I could afford a $500.00 car. At 15.5 I had my permit, and by 16 I had my license. I drove that cash car while I made monthly payments to myself into a savings account. That went on until 17.5 years old, at which time I had saved up and bought a $2,000.00 car.

In 1979, that was a big deal, and a nice car. A brand new car was going for less than $5,000.00.

The Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

In 1981, at the age of 19 I had heard of a new account that had become available to me, called an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). My local bank was offering a special called a Golden IRA. They said anyone who would put in an opening deposit of $2,000.00 would receive a guaranteed 10.00% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on that money until they turned 65 years old.

That may sound enticing right now, but at the time, Certificates of Deposit were going for 23.00%. But I figured that couldn't last forever, so I decided to head to the bank.

My friends and I were on our way to the beach for a full day of beer and surfing. I told them I had to stop by the bank to open an IRA and they thought I was nuts. They went on without me. Eventually I caught up with them.

Over the years time went on, I moved up to Cashier and got many raises. Eventually I was making $17/Hr at Ralph's.

Debt Free Home Buying

When I bought my first home I knew I couldn't pay cash. I knew I could afford $1,000.00 a month. So I shopped for a condo at $800.00 month, but made the $1,000.00 payment anyway. I paid that one off in 15 years.

I got a second condo (newer one with more toys), but still $800.00 month. I made the $1,000.00 a month payment, but rented the first one out and added the rental income to the payment on the new condo. I had that one paid off in five years.

By then I was getting older, and wanted more space. So I bought a 4 bedroom house, at $1,500 a month, rented the first two condos out for $1,000.00 a month each. Then paid $3,000.00 a month on the house. Paid it off in 10 years.

More of the same: Results

So now? I continue to rent the first two condos out, and that money goes into a housing fund. I've nearly got enough to buy a third condo for cash, then I'll have three condos paying into the housing fund.

I've never paid anything other than cash for cars. By making the monthly payment on my $500 car, I saved up for a car that lasted longer. Each car was nicer and lasted longer. Eventually I was buying my brand new BMW 745 iL for cash too.

That IRA? Well I never put one more dollar of my own money into it. Just the first $2,000. It then started earning interest at 10% and it's now worth $65,000, so far (I'm not 65 yet). Why? Compound interest. Every month since 1981, my money earned interest. That interest became part of the balance. So that interest earned interest. Etc. Etc. I made other investments, 401(k), just like the first one.

My beach friends still drink, but gave up surfing because they are out of shape. They are all broke, every last one of them. Very sad to watch. Most of them have no idea how much I really own. I didn't lie to them. I told them I moved (I just left out the fact I kept both places, and now all three).

Me? I still work 45 hours a week at Ralph's Grocery Store. Why work with my financial status? I don't have to. But what would I do with my time? Watch TV? Golf?

So I go to work. It's still interesting. The bad days are never that bad, because you always know you really could leave whenever you want. But I'm irreplaceable at the store, I know where everything is. Same store since 1977.

Every so often, I take 2-3 months and go on a tour around the world. But not every year, just every few years. I don't drive the BMW that often anymore, I've decided I enjoyed my new Ford Flex much better anyway. I saw it at a Car Convention and bought it on the spot. It was special ordered with my preferences, and delivered to my home, no loan paperwork to sign, paid by Credit Card at the event. I got a lot of rewards points with that purchase, and of course I pay my Amex Card off in full every month (I NEVER pay interest on a credit card).

So... that's my story... Your Turn: What's your story?

How have you handled money? Good, bad, neutral... what lesson's have you learned?

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

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By Darrell Wolfe

Storyteller, Creative, INFJ, Intellection, Ideation, Input, Learner, Achiever

---

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Worldviews affect the Writer, which effect the writing.

They're here!

Chester snapped awake...

His heart pumped against his chest like a battering ram, with the police just outside the door. Chester's skin was cold, clammy. Bed clothes were soaked.

Fog slowly cleared from his mind, under the light of a new dawn...

*** 

"They felt so real." Chester said to Ms. Wu, as he helped her run his own personal brand of Anti Virus software on the Orphanage Computers. He could have done it from home, but he enjoyed their weekly talks. "Black leather and mist were swirling about me, chasing me through the streets. I bolted into this old church on my right and locked the bolt. They were banging into the door, clambering to get through, the door was creaking... then I woke up."

"Interesting..." Ms. Wu said, as she picked up a "Coding Basics for Dummies" book, and placed it on the shelf.

"It was so real... even though I've been awake for a few hours now, it still feels real."

"Let me ask.." turning to him, "Why were you afraid of them?"

The question had not occurred to him. "I...Why wouldn't I be? They were scary monsters."

"Sure, but they were locked outside, you were safe inside. You escaped them."

"But there were getting in."

"Were they? Or were they trying to get in an failing?"

Mr. Wu had a knack for turning things upside down.

***

Worldview:  any ideology, philosophy, theology, movement, or religion that provides an overarching approach to understanding God, the world, and man's relation to God and the world.

Your Worldview affects everything you do. Another way to think of Worldview is "Core Beliefs".

What you believe about God, the world, man's relationship to God and one another, love, fear, health, relationships, your personal value, the value of other human lives, etc, etc... affects everything you do.

The fact is that most people on earth have given little to no thought about their own Worldview. Even those of us who have given much thought can fall into patterns based on heart beliefs that we have yet to identify.

As a writer, it’s an interesting paradox…

1. When one tries to “make a point” it usually comes across as straight allegory (Pilgrims Progress), it's great for teaching a lesson, but really a great "story". 

2. When one just writes to tell a great story, but, has a strong yet generic world view it comes across as a great story (but has no clear "specific" lesson) (Lord of the Rings).

3. When one writes to tell a great story, but, has a VERY distinct world view they write from it comes across as a great story (but has a clear lesson) (Chronicles of Narnia).

I think I want to land somewhere between two and three.

If you are not familiar with Worldviews, this Worldview Chart shows a breakdown of the most common Worldviews you will encounter in this modern world.

Your Turn: What's your story?

Tell the LIFE community about a story you encountered this week, and what you learned from it. 

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

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By Darrell Wolfe

Storyteller, Creative, INFJ, Intellection, Ideation, Input, Learner, Achiever

---

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For more book suggestions, see my Amazon Store:

Other Hobby Sties by Darrell:

• http://discerningthetime.blogspot.com
• End Times Prophecy Study
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• Fiction and Flash Fiction Practice
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• Discover, Navigate, and Enjoy Fort Worth Texas. Reviews

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Low Slow & The Tree of LIFE | Making tough decisions, as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I'd like to take this post to tell you about my journey this week. I hope that I can help you learn more about hearing God's voice in the midst of a trial and tough situation. If you are going through a hardship right now, let this encourage you.

My wife and I had two weeks of car happenings. Only weeks after we bought the 2002 Volvo S60 for $1,000.... the check engine light comes on. Which, if you buy a lot of used "Cash Cars", usually means it's dead and time to get another. Not always, it can be fixable. It just usually isn't. Meanwhile, there's an oil leak that has been getting worse and worse.

2005 Mazda3 - Special Thanks to AutonNation So FW

The Unexpected Surprise | Check Engine Light

The old car was dying:

To Fix or Not To Fix... that is the question?!

May is coming, inspection/registration is due. That puts pressure on getting this done. My wife mentions that there is a free Auto Check event going on at a local church (EMIC), of which I'm an e-member. I dropped by and had the mechanics look at it.

The oil leak actually gets worse WHILE we're at the auto-check. I hear the words Cam Seals... and all I could think after that was money, money, money... $ $ $ $ $... my mind went numb after that. I'm a wordsmith, not a mechanic. Sure I can check tires, brakes, oil, serpentine belt... but let's not ask me to do anything else (or I might not get it back together).

The following week, I'm dumping 5 quarts of oil in the morning, and it's gone by the time I'm out of work. I have to start putting in just a bit, and pulling over every ten miles to put more in.

Oh Dear...

Now what?!

STOP | DROP | LISTEN | LOW SLOW

The first lesson I learned this week "Low Slow". I first wrote about Low Slow in my bible journal (here) on 12/2011. I guess it takes me a long time to learn a lesson. When a situation comes up, don't get frantic and start racking your brain for the answer.

You need to get into Low Slow, shift down. Stop what you are doing and thinking. Let the Spirit of God talk to your heart. Make no move until you feel a particular leading. Then obey that.

God said to take it to a particular Mechanic, so I did. I spent the day doing writing and research. I had breakfast with a friend. I got to know my neighbor better that afternoon. The mechanic took all day, and didn't have an answer. Had to leave it over the weekend, and didn't get a final answer until Monday afternoon. It was worse than previously thought.

Andrew (Alliance Dyno) is a straight shooter. "I hate to take a car off the road, and I'd love to take your business, but this one needs too much work. You'll spend twice what it's worth getting it on the road, and it still won't be right." 

Worse News: The Valley of the shadow of Death

So here's where I fell apart. I had gone into Low Slow. I heard God, right? Did I? How could I have heard God if the end result was worse news? Did I miss it? What's wrong with me?

I'm going to be honest, this is where depression hit. Big time. I've had bouts of it before, but this was hard. Now what? I'm REALLY trapped.

Looking back on this phase, I can tell my earlier self something I didn't know then. Psalms 23 promises, that you can walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with no Fear because God is walking through there with you. And you'll come out on the other side, not only un-dead, but better off. He'll overflow your cup.

God didn't promise that he'd help me avoid that valley, or go around it. He said he'd walk me THROUGH it. That's a huge theological shift for my brain. I figured I must of has missed Him when the worse news came. I didn't. God told me to go to that shop, pay them a reasonable $85.00 ( they spent more time than that working on my answer), to let me know the honest condition of this old car.

So this was just the first leg of the journey, but I was still walking through the valley.

Phase Two: Keep Listening and Following (Low Slow Continued)

In this next phase, I needed to learn a valuable lesson (that I HOPE I never forget). When you obey the first thing He says, that is like taking the first leg of the journey through the Valley. You need to keep listening and following to get through.

So, my wife and I prayed ( she more than me), and we both felt we should trade it in for a new car. Impossible, I'd never qualify for credit, and we have no cash left. Wrong, Wrong.

• Parents came through with cash assistance (thanks Mom and Dad). 

• I felt led to apply at USAA Bank, and got approved us for a car loan at less than 9%, what?! Crazy! 

• Found deductions that were un-needed and made room in the budget. 

Then it was time to find the right car... which is where things went great and not...

Manna | Blessing For The Journey | This Daily Bread

My neighbor (thanks neighbor B!) picked me up from the mechanic that Friday, so I could leave it with them. He gave me a ride to work on Monday. And Tuesday let me borrow his extra car for the week, helping me see that taking our time is better than rushing into a decision.

I have to say, I'm used to working hard and making it happen. If I can't buy the car, or rent one, I'll take the bus. Letting him help me, was probably among the hardest things I've ever done (or so says my ego). I guess I'm not a good receiver, yet.

As hard as that was, I didn't go without all week. I had reliable transportation for the week and didn't have to miss more work.

Phase Three: The Decision

My wife and I saw the ad for a 2005 Mazda 3 (pictured at the top of this post) on day one of the search, I even printed the CarFax and Posting data.

But I kept searching, kept using my Tree of Knowledge to add more and more conditions to my search. Eventually, the whole search ground to a halt of indecision.

I had gotten out of the Tree of LIFE, and swung back over to the Tree of Knowledge.

"My knowledge can make this happen."

Usually not.

Irritation and Confusion are the twin sons of the Tree of Knowledge. 

As many times as I searched, this was the car that kept coming up. Then I saw one that seamed right to my reasoning, "The One", only to have it sold before I was ready to go see it.

We visited Shall Remain Nameless, and experienced the hustle of a Car Dealership. Uhg! No prices listed on the cars. I ask about the price and I hear, "I'm not sure, I'll have to check" (but makes no move to go check). I told him were we wanted to end up, they showed us two that might work for us. We sit, we spend hours, they bring us paperwork DOUBLE what I told them.

They wanted to talk payments, and get us to forget about total price. How can this type of business practice still be legal? In the connection economy, it's thankfully dying away (just wish it was gone completely).

Thankfully, we had the presence of mind to leave.

New Dealers like CarMax and AutoNation are built on the understanding that the Connection Economy will not allow for the old type of treatment any longer.

I digress...

We left that dealership, and I was sinking into deep depression. I was so far into the Tree of Knowledge, that I had built a Tree House and moved in. I back to frantically trying to "make it work" and scheming in my own abilities.

Low Slow... keep it Low Slow

Thank God for my wife, who is patient and kind with me. She got me to stop just long enough, be still just long enough, shut my mind up just long enough... to hear.

This time, when the leading came, it was subtle now. There were no bells, whistles, flashing lights. No strong presence or joy. But there was a subtle quiet peace that settled over me as I turned back to the first car, the one both of us kept coming back to. The one I'd found on day one.

Someone was supposed to test drive it that day, but they never showed. We came in last part of the day, and it was even better than I'd hoped. It was the perfect fit to this time in our lives.

The process was painless too. No hustle. No haggle. Doug B and Doug W with AutoNation SFW were great to work with, patient with my questions, gave me time to digest figures and run my excel sheets.

In the end, we left with the car that had shown up over, and over, and over, in our search. The one I kept getting drawn to, but couldn't quite explain why. The one I kept ignoring, looking for other things to satisfy my reasoning and mind. No, it wasn't in line with my 120 point list of "must haves", but it was the right fit. Then again, there exactly ZERO cars that fit that list.

Temptation To Follow The System (religion)

I'm tempted to say that I'll buy all my cars from AutoNation, and if God develops that relationship, so be it. But I've also learned not to fall into that rut too.

Don't jump to the answer that worked last time. God seldom works the same way twice. His principles are timeless, his methods will vary. God will ALWAYS provide for you, but He will usually change the method of His provision. Otherwise, you stop listening to him, and just do it the same way every time. That's not relationship, that's religion.

In 2 Samuel 5:23, David had previously asked the Lord "Shall we go up?" and the Lord answered "Go Up". This time David inquires again (most likely thinking: Same Plan). However, God doesn't say to go up this time, God says: "Go around, attack from behind". 

In this simple story, is a PROFOUND truth. We must not rely on our systems.

One time, many, many years ago, my Dad took me and my brothers to a Casino for food. I think it was Christmas, and they were the only ones open. As I was leaving, I left my family, and turned aside to the machines. I felt the presence of God there. At a Casino? YES! The Spirit of God dwells in you, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. God told me to put a dollar (maybe less? long time ago) into the machine. I did. I pulled the handle. It started making loud noises, lights went off. Coins were dumping out like an ocean.

I was so startled, that I backed off. I thought I'd broken it! LOL.

The two little old folks near me told me to wait for the attendant. She came by, and checked the machine, pushed some buttons, and told me to wait. I left that day with approximately $750 in cash, and $55 in nickels.

I tried several times since then, never happened again. In fact, God told me it wouldn't.

Conclusion: Be Still, Be Led, Listen, Act

I hope this has helped you. If you are trying to "figure it out", "make it happen"... etc. If you are experiencing stress increase as you walk through the valley, you are doing it wrong.  Be Still, Be Led... when in doubt "Low Slow".


*

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By Darrell Wolfe

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Stronghold Cycles: Why do I keep making the same mistakes over and over again?

Have you ever been frustrated because you kept repeating the same failures over and over again? I have. In fact, I have been living there more often than not for most of my life. 

One of the first major steps I've taken toward getting free was joining Gateway Church, Southlake TX; and going to their Kairos event. It's open to all people, all churches, from all over the country. If you are looking for Freedom, I suggest you come.

The following are my notes from: "Kairos - When Eternity Steps Into Time" by +GatewayPeople 

Disclosures

*Originally Posted as notes on my personal Bible Study Blog, adapted for this post. 

*My Notes - This is the type of event you really need to experience, it cannot be explained. These notes below are what I got out of it. You might get totally different things. I strongly suggest you make plans to attend. It's open for all churches. You can register (HERE).

Appetite for the Eternal

The Soul (mind, will, emotions) is the place of temptation.  Our spirit was saved, our soul is being saved, our body is slowly dying now, but will be saved.

 Ecclesiastes 3 - There is an appointed season for every purpose under heaven.

• Physical Pain is a gift of God to tell us something is wrong with our body and it needs to heal. Ex: If you were to begin slowly cutting your hand off, your body would tell you to STOP IT! Physical Pain awakens us to a physical problem.

• Soul Pain (mind, will, emotions) is the same thing. It tells you that there is something wrong. Emotional pain awakens us to our soulish problems.

• Spiritual Pain awakens us to our eternal needs. In the light of eternity, good things on earth should not satisfy us into complacency, nor should bad things pain us into hopelessness.

“Eternity Minded: Good things should not satisfy unto complacency; nor should pain lead to hopelessness.” Tweet That

Question: Do you want God... or just what God can do for you? 

Am I receiving the benefits of God with Gratitude, or treating them as entitlements? 

If I treat God as my servant, saying "Do what I want... now!"

• Any answered prayer will strengthen my sense of entitlement
• Any non-answered prayer will cause a deeper sense of pain. 

God cannot win, when you are playing the role of boss. Without gratitude there is no relationship.

What is the nature of sin? What is sin? What is not sin?

SIN = Seeking 2nd things/attachment to the wrong things. 

• When we seek 2nd things, we loose the 1st things, and the second things are lost as well. 
• When we seek 1st things, the 2nd things are thrown in for free.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV 

• Sin is not: Breaking the Rules
• Sin is: Heart Condition, Inherited from Adam

• Sin is not: Bad Behavior
• Sin is: Falling Short of Glory

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NKJV

• The Sin Solution is not: Better Behavior
• The Sin Solution is: New Heart/Spirit

Sin came when we chose knowledge of the right vs wrong over the force of LIFE.

The sin solution is not a better knowledge and practice of good, it is connecting to the Source/Force of LIFE itself.

What is a Stronghold?

Strongholds are soulish, and can be recognized when we know that God's word says "A", but we believe "X" based on our experiences. Bob Hamp

• I know God says "Healing is yours", but I believe I won't be healed... 

• I know God says that I will prosper by following His way, but I'll just be poor my whole life...

These are the types of statements someone makes when caught in a stronghold.

I know God's Word says... But my experience says... I believe my experience.

 We need to understand "HERE" from the perspective of "THERE"

God gave me a funny comparison. The difference between earth and heaven, is similar to the difference between the 1950's Superman Comic Book, and the 2013 Man of Steel Movie.

Compare the graphics of a 1950's Comic

To the CGI effects of a 2013 Movie.



******************

Establishing Identity/Hearing God

Story One: Deaf Guy -

There was a deaf man, and a new Sign Language (ASL) instructor came in. This man was ignored by everyone, so she took him on. She came to him and signed "My name is Karen", and he signed back in perfect ASL, "My name is Karen". She was surprised. She she signed "No, my name is Karen, what is your name?" He signed back "No, my name is Karen, what is your name?" Puzzled, she began to realize that this deaf man had words... but he did not have language. He did grasp the meaning of words. Words contain images, ideas, concepts. They are containers for thoughts. They communicate thoughts. If you have the words but no language, you cannot communicate, you can only Parrot. She worked with this man until one day he jumped from his chair and signed "I GET IT! This is a chair, things have names!" And he started the slow process of learning language.

Story Two: Pastors Kid -

There was a pastors kid who grew up to be a pastor on staff at the same church his Dad pastored. Do to some things mean church goes had said, there was a lie in his head that he had no real talent or ability, and that the only reason he was on staff was because of who his Dad was. One day God breaks through and tells him: "Listen, you have not gotten where you are because of your talent and ability, you HAVE gotten where you are because of who your Father is... and I AM YOUR FATHER! Because of that, no man can put you in, and no man can take you out."

You cannot think without language. Words connected to ideas are how language takes place, and it takes language to think. Babies and Dogs probably both dream images, but they do not "think" as we do. Thinking requires language.

When we struggle with our walk with God, it is often because we are "hearing" another voice, not the voice of our Shepherd.

Questions to ask God, and listen for Him to answer them.

1. What are you saying to me today, about me?
2. What names have I believed about me today that are not from you?
3. What are the names You, God, would have me believe?
4. What lie/name have I believed about you?
5. What name do you want me to know about you?

 Now STOP... listen after each question. Take several minutes if you need to. Listen for His answers.

Anatomy of a Stronghold

Anatomy of a Stronghold

• Event - Caused by external factors, creates a pain point in your life. 

• Lie - The enemy took this event as an opportunity to tell you a lie about it, that you believed. 

• Defense/Comfort - Some action that brings comfort and feels right, based on the lie. 

• Reaction - Either other people's reaction to my defense, or a natural by-product of the comfort/defense creates a similar event to that which caused the lie, and reinforces the lie, so I go deeper into my comfort, and the reaction happens again. 

Thus the cycle is strong with each turn.

Example One: Financial Stronghold

1. Event - Financial Set Back
2. Lie - I perceive that God Doesn't Come Through/Provide for Me the way I thought He would.
3. Comfort/Defense - Seek to spend money on food/fun. "Oh well"
4. Reaction - Money Spend unwisely creates another financial setback...

Example Two: Relationship Stronghold (affected friendships, relationships, sex life, etc...)

1. Event - Rejected/Beat Up/Bullied by a stereo-type Male Jock
2. Lie - I am Intellectually Superior to most men, and all Jocks.
3. Comfort/Defense - Seek affection, comfort, and validation from Women. Keep no male friends. Reject sports unless women are there (like gymnastics). Get addicted to relationships with women like a drug, moving from one to the next rapidly seeking validation. Push most forms of male friendship away, in some cases feel greatest satisfaction when I take a woman from a male (especially a jock-type). 
1. Only friends are women, gay men, or men who show a tendency for favoring intellectual or artistic pursuits over physical ones.
4. Reaction -  Men keep their distance, or worse bully. Thus, rejected by men, thus reinforcing the lie...

The Painful Event was not the problem, the lie we believed about it is the problem. If you can begin to identify each of the four components of the cycle, you can interrupt the cycle, and start a positive strong hold instead.

1. Event - Any Event
2. TRUTH -
3. True Comfort - 
4. Positive Reaction -

The problem with negative strongholds, is that they create a wall that doesn't just keep bad stuff from getting in, it keeps good stuff from getting in too.

It also ties you to the very thing you wanted to be free from. Saying " I'll never by like my Dad..." is the best way to guarantee that you will be!

These vows FEEL right, but are WRONG. Nobody can take down your stronghold for you. But neither can you do it yourself. You need the Holy Spirit to show you which bricks to remove, in which order, and let Him empower you to remove them one by one.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  

Solution:

Repent does not mean to change your behavior. It is a changing of the heart and mind, and behavior is a byproduct of that change. But it's not just a changing of the mind to say "Oh... that' bad, I should stop.". That is a religious change of mind. That is rooted in the Knowledge of Good, not the Tree of LIFE.

Repentance involves a change in how I perceive reality. As I connect to The LIFE, my perspective changes, and I see my current reality differently. 

One of the most fundamental changes in how I perceive reality involves changing the source of truth. I need a new source of truth, and a new source of comfort and protection. You may see in the natural that you are one guy in a house on open land surrounded by armies. Elijah.

Which would you rather be, that guy with a wall built around the house, hoping the enemy doesn't get in? Or that guy with a house on open land, with your own ARMY 10 times the size surrounding the army that surrounds you? Meanwhile, you keep the view unobstructed by walls, and good things can still come freely to visit?

2 Kings 6
New American Standard Bible
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

1. Ask God: "Father, reveal a significant event that happened in my life."
2. Ask God: "Father, reveal the lie I believed about that event."
3. Ask God: "Father, reveal the comfort/defense I seek after believing that lie."
4. Ask God: "Father, reveal the natural/people reaction from that comfort/defense."
5. Father, I confess "insert lie here" as a lie. Forgive me for believing that lie. What truth would you have me believe instead?
6. Father, what comfort/defense should I believe/seek instead? 

Walk that out... day by day, event by event... building a new positive stronghold.

Grace and Receiving Forgiveness

Nothing we every DO can result in forgiveness. Everything HE HAS DONE resulted in forgiveness. Our part is to receive.

The same thing is true for all of God's benefits. God heals, we receive. God delivers, we receive. God prospers, we receive.

When we pray for people to get healed, our part is to pray in faith, and lay hands. God's part is to heal.

1. I take responsibility to pray in faith, and lay hands. My job is done. 
2. They take responsibility to receive healing. 
3. God's part is to heal. 

I take NO responsibility for God's part. If healing comes I take no credit. If healing doesn't appear to come right away, I take no blame. THAT takes all the pressure off of ME, and puts it where it belongs, on God. "Sir/Madam, I can teach you about God, help you build faith and understand His will. I can pray in faith, and I can lay hands on you... and that is where I stop. I've never healed anybody. Not ever. Only God heals. You receive it. I can't do your part, and I certainly can't do God's. Are you ready to believe?" 

**************

The Worst Sinner EVER...

God showed me something during class today that floored me.

Matthew 27:45-54
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" 48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

Jesus had prayed earlier for the Father to forgive them (the men who were killing him), they knew not what they do. Here, at the end, when Jesus dies, there is an earthquake, and major stuff goes down... the centurion, one of the men responsible for actually doing the crucifixion feared saying

"Truly, this was God's kid"... 

I got a picture in my mind of this man being one of the several driving the nails into his hands and feet, and enjoying it, because he took pride in his work.

After all, these men deserve to die, and he was good at his job ensuring it happened.

But when he has the realization that he's just killed God's Son... he has a sinking fear that he's done something wrong... that this one didn't deserve it. He's instantly changed from executioner to murderer.

The Centurion feared not just for his life... but for his soul. And for the first time he comes face to face with his need for eternal things.

I doubt he got saved there, at the cross... maybe he did.

I do think that he recalled "Father... forgive them, they know not what they do..." and I think that phrase echoed throughout his mind and heart. I don't know if it happened right then, or if it was after Pentecost and he was among the crowd that heard the first sermon from Peter.

Maybe he was one of the first 3,000 to get saved? Maybe not, because he was a centurion and not a Jew. Non Jews didn't get saved until Paul came on the scene, or Peter at Cornelius house. But weather it was right there, as Jesus hung on that tree, or days, weeks, or months later...

Did he go back, to the spot where HE killed Jesus...? Did he receive that forgiveness Jesus offered?

And if the man who actually drove the nails into Jesus' hands could be forgiven... couldn't you?

It's hard to say how much of the story is true, but Church History does record the name of Longinus as the head centurion at the Cross, who spoke those words "surely this is God's Son" and he because a Church leader, and fiery preacher.


*

Tweet These:
#TellYourStory#BeStillBeLed

More about BeStillBeLed <here>

And now I leave you with a question:

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? 

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

Tweet These:
#TellYourStory#BeStillBeLed

By Darrell Wolfe

Storyteller, Creative, INFJ, Intellection, Ideation, Input, Learner, Achiever

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Superheros with Divine Calling

Hungering, Thirsting, Yearning.... for the supernatural! 

There is a rising tide… a growing dissatisfaction with status quo. People (all people not just born again ones) are becoming thirsty for more of the spiritual realities that we are surrounded by, if only vaguely aware of. The growth and rapid demand for movies about super heroes, supernatural, witchcraft, mysticism, etc… these are signs of this corporate cultural thirst.

There are multiple sci-fi series in which mankind is experiencing a leap in evolution and this results in super powers (think Alphas or X-Men). The increase in Zombie films derives from this same thirst, but for the unbelievers this thirst often turns to fear. This is also where End of the World movies come from as well. Aliens are becoming common place in our entertainment, as Satan is starting to build his case to explain the soon coming mass disappearance of earth citizens.

Recently, I was listening to the John Batchelor Show in which he was interviewing Walter Hunt, author of “Elements of the Mind”. This secular novel follows the concept of Mesmerism; the idea of people who could control others with their mind power, often through spirits helping them.

I was pondering a recent conversation I had with my friend Allen about the rise of the prophetic ministry among average Christians, while I heard John Batchelor talk on the radio… it occurred to me, rather soberingly, that people are being sucked into this stuff, in part, because we (the Body of Christ) have not been out there showing them another way.

We’re so busy having church meetings that we’re not creating entertainment based books, sitcoms, and movies that feed this thirst with truth. In the absence of truth, we are left with the lies. When we do bother to create entertainment it's so chalk full of "preachyness" that it's unpalatable to the non-believer (think most of the work done by Kirk Cameron). 

I'd imagine that a few non-believers got tricked into watching these sermons in disguise we've created in the last 30 years, and a few of those might even have been changed by them, and don't get me wrong. I'm grateful that someone is out there creating something, so I'm not again Kirk Cameron's work. What I am saying is we need to start being "wise as serpents, harmless as doves". 

It's time we find a balance in our creative works between Lord of the Rings, which is great entertainment but doesn't often lead to non-believers knowing God, and Pilgrims Progress which is amazingly deep for the unbeliever but won't be read by many non-believers.

There must be a way to feed the mass thirst with the entertainment they desire, while feeding their sole with truth... then quietly leading those who have found that need met to the side for an open and honest conversation (and not a preachy sermon), leading them to The King himself.

It's not my job to get people saved, but it is my job to lead people to the Savior and let them talk with Him. I can't do that if they are turned off before I had a chance to open the conversation.

So how do we strike this balance? I'm not really sure. I have some ideas, I'm playing with it now on the side. But I have not found that road map.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

In the meantime I will #BeStillBeLed!


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? Do you have a portion of that road map? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

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Measure Your Sucess

The metrics you use create the environment you experience.

I "grew up" in my career in a highly charged sales call center. Metrics. Metrics. Metrics. Everything was measured.

As I examine other areas of my life I find an interesting pattern. If I am not measuring things, I'm not paying attention to them. It's one thing to put something on the calendar or tasks list, it's another thing to sit down and get it done.

If you want an environment charged with excellence and expectation, you have to measure where you are and where you are trying to be. You will not know if you are getting closer without it.

Matthew 7:2 NKJV
For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

• Got Jesus?
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Emotions. Community. Connection. Irrelevant. Tedious.

 

 

Emotions. Community. Connection.  

 

These are words I do not fully understand, or appreciate. I've always felt the odd man out... as though, even sitting in the middle of a group of "friends", I was looking in from the outside. All these people belong here, but I don't.

I've attempted to find and access these words over time... nearly always falling short. I can count the males (whom I'm not related to) that I would willingly (and easily) pick up the telephone and call just to say hello... on one hand. And I rarely even do that. 

So then, during a recent research session for my project, I came across the topic of Emotional Intelligence.

Then I came across this post "Signs that you lack emotional intelligence".

Here are some of the telltale signs that you need to work on your emotional intelligence:

• You often feel like others don’t get the point and it makes you impatient and frustrated.
• You’re surprised when others are sensitive to your comments or jokes and you think they’re overreacting.
• You think being liked at work is overrated.
• You weigh in early with your assertions and defend them with rigor.
• You hold others to the same high expectations you hold for yourself.
• You find others are to blame for most of the issues on your team.
• You find it annoying when others expect you to know how they feel.

So what do you do if you recognized yourself in this list? Well I did. In fact, I STRONGLY AGREED with every item on this list. Then, when I completed the article an idea struck me...

Wait... were they saying that agreeing with these statements was a potentially bad thing?!!!

Here are four strategies.... You'll have to click on the link and read the article.

Irrelevant. Tedious.

 

I find many human interactions (most especially those that involve emotions, either mine or the other persons) incredibly tedious... and mostly irrelevant. I would gladly discuss the merits of Star Trek vs Stargate, Marvel vs D.C., world history, current events, financial news, hard sciences, eschatology, or even the merits of an Extreme Ironing hobby (yes that's a real thing)... Anything but discussing my own emotional state...or yours.

Emotions are the source of most of the wrong decisions people make in life. I personally view emotions much the same way the Vulcan's do (like Spock). I experience them more intensely than most, so I'd prefer not to have them at all. If you ask me to discuss my feelings, it actually causes a physical headache.

The Lie: Emotions are dangerous, tedious, irrelevant.

During Kairos I learned something that radically changed my mindset about life.  Every recurring repetitive negative behavior or pattern can be tied to a lie you are believing. This lie causes you to seek comfort or defense (which is usually the behaviour or pattern you are trying to get rid of). That comfort and/or defense you seek causes an event that reinforces the lie. And so a stronghold is built. (I wrote about that here).

Many times you do not recognize the lie as a lie, because it's been reinforced through experience after experience. Many times you are tempted to see the lie as having come from the experience, rather than being the root of the experience. The one thing you can more easily identify; is, the comfort or defense you run to when the lie comes to you.

If you will take the time to Be Still and Be Led, God will show you what lie you are believing. Many times, He does this though showing you an event in your life that is tied to that lie. It may be the first event that the enemy used to speak that lie to you for the first time, or it may just be an event that crystallizes that lie in a way that it makes it easier to see it for what it is.

When I ask, where did these ideas come from:

(Emotions. Community. Connection.)  -- are -- (Irrelevant. Tedious.)

One event comes to mind. A surprise party. It's been a source of humorous contention for years in my family. As I recall it from my perspective, I was turning 13. I had already been a loner personality for the years leading up to that event. So my desire to keep a distance from Community and Connection were WELL developed already and didn't start here.

I asked for one thing. One thing. To Be Alone. No friends. No Party. No Big Event. And most especially No Surprise Party! 

I wanted to spend the morning shopping with birthday money, and then go to my room for the rest of the day. My mom and I went shopping. I came home. She asked me to go to the garage to get something, and when I opened the door there were...

... lots of people.

In my memory there were 50 people. It might have only been 15 I don't know. I recall being in shock as they yelled surprise... and I experienced ANGER.

I recall turning around, walking down the hall, and to my room, and stayed there for a long time... as I planned. Eventually I came out of that room. I pretended to be a part of the party. But I made a decision.

Emotions are irrelevant.

It's your job to be the big man, put on your smile, and preform for the crowd. Just like the Deaconess at the church told me a few years before, as the Pastors Son I needed to be a better example for the kids, even the ones older than me. Here again, I must perform for the crowds in my fish bowl.

And from that day forward I did. I performed on the platform at Churches on worship bands, I performed for the crowds that surrounded me in two high schools and college. I performed for friends doing things I shouldn't have done. I tried to perform in a quasi-pastoral role as President of the Christian Club on Campus. Over and over I found one constant... I was inadequate. I was irrelevant.

Then one day... I stopped performing for the crowds. I turned off the machine. I went home. And I never looked for the crowds again. Oh, I made a few halfhearted attempts to join a small group here or there. But for the most part I avoided: Community. Connection. And that way I could avoid those awful Emotions.

From that day to this, I avoid emotions, community, connections... Other events reinforced this believe. Other events preceded this belief (which is why I'd already decided to be alone that day in the first place). But something about that event shows all the components in one place for open analysis.

The Truth: ???

God has emotions. Everything we are, came from Him. He feels more deeply than any human could ever conceive of feeling.

The feelings that wash over you when a sunset or sunrise catch you by surprise in awe. The feelings of humor in the cloud shapes you see. The moving nature of music. The rush of young love. The power of a new mother holding her child.

These are all from the heart of God.

It's unfortunate that sin ever came. In order for man to freely and truly experience the deep pleasures that God himself experiences, he must have free will. He cannot be a robot, or automaton.

As a result, the deep pleasure God experiences is as boundless as the deepness of the pain He is also capable of experiencing.

No man will ever experience the deepness of the pain God experiences when Adam rejected his Word, or when men thought they were killing his Son.

And no man will ever experience the complete deepness of His JOY when one of those sons of Adam return to him as adopted sons through the Last Adam!

The truth is that emotions can hurt. Community and Connection can leave you open to those hurts. But they are not irrelevant... although... they may be tedious... they may.... maybe.... might be...

Worth It? 

Is it possible that emotions, community, and connection are worth the tediousness... and just maybe... are relevant to real life??

Hey... this is new for me. I'm willing to be willing... to be willing... to... see what God would do in me from here.

Maybe I'll read this one year from now, and be SHOCKED at just how far I've come.


In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

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Topic: No More Facebook... for 28 days or more?

I Deactivated Facebook... for 28 days.

I'm not sure why yet.

I wasn't using it much, and when I did I found it distracting, in a non-productive way. I left Twitter up for now, and Google+ is so pervasive that I'd have to delete ALL my Google activity/accounts in order to walk away from it.

Deactivating is not the same as Deleting, that would be permanent. I set Facebook to auto-reactivate in 28 days. I want to run this as an experiment. Can I make it 28 days without Facebook? I think so. I may come back. I'm not sure yet.

What could I accomplish in the next 28 days? Write a new book? Publish some new posts? Work overtime at my job? I don't know. I'd like this to be more purposeful.

28 days from Dec 27, 2014

Want to figure out the date that is exactly twenty-eight days from Dec 27, 2014 without counting?
Your starting date is December 27, 2014 so that means that 28 days later would be January 24, 2015.
You can check this by using the date difference calculator to measure the number of days from Dec 27, 2014 to Jan 24, 2015.

January 24, 2015

What would I like to accomplish by January 24, 2015? I'd like to write one page/post or more on my AuthorFun Fiction blog, every day, all 28 days. That starts today... so I guess I'd better cross today off my list? I'm going to focus on my White Noise tag, but I may do others.


You can see if I keep up with that HERE.



In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?


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And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think about this idea, would you take 28 days off of Facebook to do something productive with your time?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Circle Series 4-in-1 (The Circle Series)

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Being Still | The Missing Element In Most Prayers

Attribution: Stillness by Christian.Rudman

How often are we ever, really, still?

Psalms 46:10

New Living Translation
"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."


Holman Christian Standard Bible
Stop your fighting--and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."


NET Bible
He says, "Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!"


GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let go [of your concerns]! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.

I've written before about Being Still, which in itself was sparked my Michael Hyatt's great article "The Practice of Stillness". I've been trying to practice this, off and on, since I first wrote about this in April of this year, 2014.

I find stillness difficult. My mind racing with so many ideas and thoughts. The first few that come to me I want to stop being still and start writing and blogging about them. I've had to learn to keep a note pad with me, and just jot the basic essence of thought down and go back to "being still".

I got more practice with this at Gateway - Freedom Ministries - Kairos event. It's hard to describe how great that two days was. It was a total reset. Of course, in the following weeks, I've had normal life ensure, and I have to make the choice if I'm going to use some of the new tools I learned at Kairos to continue honing my practice of Being Still. I journaled some of those keys HERE.

I read 2 Kings, chapters 1-5 this morning, and it dawned on me.... David practiced this stillness. Even though he was known for being a man of war and action, he did this. He stopped, and asked God for direction, and then WAITED for an answer before taking action.

Then it dawned on me, "How often do we EVER be still and know that He is God?" When is the last time you literally stopped ALL physical AND mental activity for five straight minutes and just got real still inside?


That' my encouragement for you today, go back and read my article and Michael Hyatt's article linked above if you want more instructions on how. But go get still before God. Set a timer for 5 minutes, 10, 15 maybe? And just get still inside long enough for His still small voice to start being heard.

Here is a song to meditate on regarding this: Link HERE









In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think about Stillness, when was the last time YOU were still, really still?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Grace: The Power To Change, Dr Jim Richards

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Unplanned Event Leads to Mindset Change: Seed Lifestyle

Attribution: JD Hancock  - Lonely Traveler

An Unplanned Passenger

When I passed the car, and then a block down the freeway I see a man in a grey suit pants and brown suit jacket with a brief case walking on the freeway. I heard inside of me, “pick him up”. I obeyed immediately. I moved stuff aside and opened my door and leaned out and motioned my thumb to him “international hitch hiking symbol”.

Picked up Achoo (name changed for privacy) on the side of the road. He’s from NJ, and he just moved to Texas. He stated that his gas ran out, he thinks, and that was his car I had just passed. He was afraid to attempt to hold out his thumb to hitch hike because he wasn’t sure if it was illegal to do so in Texas. 

He’s working for a tech company nearby, and he's working lots of OT because he’s running low on money. That’s why he’s out of gas. He’s running late to work, and my picking him up is really helping him get there faster, maybe an hour or more faster than walking. He’s very grateful, it was cold out there (30-40*F) and his jacket is light.

I asked if he had people at work that could help him back to deal with the car after work. He said he did. That part would be covered.  I drove him to work nearby and only ended up at work just a few moments later than I would have been. 

I felt/heard God say “Thank you, he’s one of mine”. 

I said “You’re welcome”. I felt bad that I didn’t just get gas for his car. 

God said “I have people for that. You are one cog in that wheel. You did good son.”  God went on to say “If you keep opening your heart to me, and spending time practicing to hear my voice, and open your heart to worship, you’ll notice more and more of these unique moments in life. It’s important to know about Favor, believe in Favor, be ready and willing to declare Favor over your life. BUT… Favor is not a magic spell. It’s not something you can declare every morning, without being in relationship with Me, and expect it to work the Favor Magic in your life. Favor is a byproduct of relationship with me. If you are deepening your relationship with me, Favor will come. Listen to Me. Hear Me. Obey what you hear. Favor is just as likely to use you to bless someone as it is to use someone to bless you.”

Inside of me I saw/heard an inner me jump up and down and say “Whooooo Hoooo!”

A little oil goes a long way!

So... this helped me shift my mindset a bit. Unintentionally, I fell into a rut of thinking that said I won't be able to really make a difference in people's lives until I reach higher levels of prosperity... so I've focused on what I could do to live out my calling and get prosperous. I mean... it's hard to make a difference when you are struggling to pay the house note, right?

Well, the fact is that this is a noble aspiration, and a complete LIE! You have to sow seed before you get fruit. When you don't have much, you still do the same thing you do when you do have much. You seek God as your source, and you keep your heart and mind open to be used by God at a moments notice. You keep your attitude humble and open, and be aware of your surroundings.

If you are a widow with one son, in a three year drought, and you only have a little oil and flour... then a man comes along and asks you to bake a cake for him... you can decide to help the guy, and risk giving from what little you have, or keep what little you have for yourself. In God's economy the first option produces results, if it's Spirit Led.

So, this week I sowed some oil, (which was turned into refined gasoline which I used to take a man to work, just a little out of my way)...

I'm not concerned with my "reward" or "return on investment". I'm going to believe that God has my back, and there will be something coming. But I'm going to keep my focus on what I can do next. It was exciting. I'm ready for the next opportunity to do something for someone... what opportunity will be next?

Keep your eyes and ears open this week for opportunities to get our of your shell and help someone God brings across your path.

In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?

---

And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think... when has God used YOU to help someone?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Grace: The Power To Change, Dr Jim Richards

Affiliate Disclosure:
I earn commissions off of some of my suggestions. Full Disclaimers (Click Here)
See my Store for more suggestions (Click Here)

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