socks

Guitars rock, dude

Yeah, Jonny, when you're a teenager, you're bullet proof as they say. It's an amazing thing, the human body. And the mind - ever try to imagine "not being here", as in being dead? I can't, perhaps some can. Being here is the only thing I know, so even picturing not being here is, well, being here trying to not be. Here, thinking. Or something. Insurance - yah, the Way was as HCW sed - insured. As the VPster said himself, "to the teeth"...If you slipped on an icy brick in the dead of winter and decided to sue the Way, they were covered. HCW - do you know if the Way was self-insured, for the property and stuff? Or was it broken into some combination of policies? Healing - mother of two, as far as I remember from '68 to '89, the Way always taught "healing" as a part of Christian life, a part of what's "available" from the "promises of God" in the bible. The bible says "by His stripes" and the Way taught "by His stripes you have already been healed (past tense). IN Way terms it was a done deal as far as being able to have healing in any instance where sickness or harm was present, and a matter of "believing the promises of God" to receive it "into manifestation". Normal state should be "whole", "complete in Him. If you get sick, whatever, prayer, steady consideration of verses or segments of the bible that would support you, as well as others praying for you and "ministering" healing were all aspects of what a person would, could, should do. Within the simple fact of being "sick" is an odd hmmm, reality, call it, in the Way's teaching, during that period of years. Depending on how you resolved it for yourself would determine the outcome, or at least how you got through the experience. Face it - most of us get sick or injured at one time or another. It might be a cold, or a broken leg, but stuff happens. The Way also taught a great deal on the topic of there being "no condemnation" in Christ. That is, that all people are sinners, in a sinful state as human beings without Christ, and after accepting Christ as the "savior" from sin there's an awareness of both our own natural sinful state, and the redemption from that. But a Christian shouldn't dwell on their own sinful state and learn to understand their own sinful actions that may follow after accepting Christ - that is, that we will all fall short of being 'worthy" of our redemption because we didn't earn it, it's a "gift" from God in realization that we need a lift up as they say. So we can learn, grow, make adjustments and if we follow Christ we can at best, do our best to live the way we understand God wants us to. And in there is that odd reality - if there's truly "no condemnation" in Christ for sin and it's consequences....since we are fully aware the we NEED a redeemer and once accepting that redemption we live and act like "children of God", redeemed, made acceptable and generally swell in God's own eyes by Christ...then the only honest and realistic response to the inevitable realities of the human condition we're still living in would be pure, clean honest support and help. It's built into the new social order to behave that way. It's like a marriage - "in sickness and in health". A person seeks God, trusts God, regardless of the circumstances knowing He loves in all of that. Or, it's like the marriage from Hel l. "You never pick up your underwear off the floor! You never do anything right, if you did you would't have these problems! You're so stupid!!! You don't even try, no wonder you're a mess!!! !!" Nice marriage. :unsure: If some were sick (or more correctly, "when" some are sick), we'd understand or at least try to, we'd pray, love them, help them, do whatever we could to help. Medical, doctor, surgery, anything that helps - helps. And we want to help, because we don't condemn or throw things back in each other's face. We don't say "you suck! You're sick!" because we know - we do suck and we do get sick. So let's be good to each other and get movin' on the positive. Believe it or not, it was that way, in the Way, at one time because the basic teaching on redemption leads a person to a thankful, gracious response to what God's done. It's the only natural response, really. Pride comes before a fall. When people demote the basics of redemption in Christ and focus on their own self-worthiness more, ("believing action") it unleashes the dogs - pride, condemnation, fear, contention. Pretty much garden-variety stuff.

So, 3 First Corps: A) First group of Corps. vpw cut the program since they actually thought for themselves. They were later nicknamed "the Zero Corps" since vpw took their name. B) Second group of Corps. vpw allowed this more submissive group to finish, and gave this second group the name "First Corps." C) A bunch of old-timers still in. Despite never being in the Corps program, they were bunched together and declared "the First Corps" by lcm, who made this their honorary title to disguise the fact that all the members of the first 2 groups had all left. Hmmm, I'm not sure about your assessment Wordwolf. I'm sure the 0/First group of corps thought for themselves. Those I met were nice people, but not that interested in me or my wife or others I met. I'm sure they had perfectly reasonable personal goals and were stand-up people, I don't know exactly what they decided or why. It may have been they disagreed with VPW about any number of things, or not. What distinguishes the second group/First Corps to me is what I stated above, they were very open and involved with others. There was a desire to actively help others and do that through friendship and support. That takes time, involvment, being with one another. Any church congregation, same thing. Again, I'm sure they had their own personal goals that were good ones. I knew Naomi, we graduated from the same high school. Del, slightly before the Way, and both Del and Nancy after they got involved. Glenda was from Alameda/Ookland area. These people weren't saints, nor were they robots. But they were caring individuals who wanted to get in and get busy living their lives. The reshuffling of the deck of this corps to that corps was VPW's thing. I think the individuality of the people that got involved at that time sticks out to me.

Good point about Wikipedia, modishwasher. Gotta be careful what ya read. Donnie was never in the 0 or 1st corps, he went in later, forget which. The people in the corps that were referred to earliest as "Zero" corps weren't names most would recognize. I'm still looking for that box, I think the names are in that Way Mag. Wordwolf's quote is about that gang The official/now-we-got-a-corps First Corps, the gang pictured in dmiller's photo, were (apparently) erased from the roster by dear Craig and "zeroed' out, so reported here. Figures, though and doesn't surprise me at all. I know a man who is one of the people who "started" with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, when they were working out of a garage and making and delivering their own boards-in-a-box, "PC's". He sold them electronic parts and was involved different ways. He's one of a hand full of people that were there when they started. Then he left, kept at what he was doing and did quite well. But he doesn't say, nor is he referred to as a founding member of Microsoft or Apple as he decided to not keep at it with them, for his own reasons. But he and his wife "were there" and getting it off the ground at the start. I met another guy who "invented" the USB port, did the initial work that Intel introduced. He now makes custom guitars, very nice ones too. Joe Dragony doesn't own the USB port technology though, as he did it while employed at Intel, from what he told me. His name probably isn't known outside of a small group of people that were there with him. I mention those examples only to point out something we all know I'm sure, that the roots and beginnings of so many things can often be attributed to many different people sometimes, that aren't in the official bio's. Like Johnny T, Donnie, and others. When VP finally got PFAL in a decent film format, there were many people around in those first few years who formed the "corps" of people that worked with him and the Way. Some of the ideas that got off the ground came from those people. Later when the programs and format got solidified some of them got "ex-officio" statuses, which is kind of funny in way. Like Donnie and his personal "witnessing program". Donnie took PFAL and started teaching it himself in Wichita, and only later found out he couldn't do that. :) I'm sure Evan remembers that era. Donnie was just a guy - "although just" doesn't serve his memory as well as it deserves - who loved to witness to people and tell them about Jesus Christ and the bible. That's pretty much all he did for most of his life. His lifestyle was really the foundation of the "WOW" program, and if the program had kept to that it would have been nice in it's day and likely gone through much more natural change over time. I think this kind of "early" involvment accounts for why people of that era didn't idolize VPW, or give the Way undue credit, in some cases anyway. Really, it could apply to people at any time - where you are doing what you're doing and you own it, live it, do it. Nobody's telling you what to do or how to do it, you're just living your life. "Getting in the Way" or "The Word", is a continuation of that, but it doesn't "own you", you "own" it. :) If you're a Christian, and called by God, that calling is from Him. You really only answer to one voice, regardless of what you do or where you do it. If that calling is clear it's not hard, difficult to navigate life at times, but not hard to remember the sound of the One who "called" you.

Well it sure was! dmiller, thank you. Clapton is secure on his throne though, we can be assured. I've been reading and listening but not posting a lot here lately, but that's sure to change soon. I am ever so glad the participants in our thread post as you do and when, etc. as it makes for a very comfy ongoing discussion. :) There's some pow'rful contributions made here. And there's always room for more! Evan's "guitars? did someone say guitar's?" is an apt sub title to the thread, as it's always time to talk guitar. I really enjoy reading and hearing what's come down the pike here. (insert Stimpy's Dance of Joy)

Speaking of reinventions, Johnny T was later included in the First Corps, since he was around the whole time. Sort of an honorary designation. Of that picture I have to reminisce for a mo', if allowed. Of them all, Gary, Mike, Randy, Naomi and Nancy all stick out in my mind. But they were all unique and wonderful in their own ways, at various times then. Humility, meekness - those are qualities that come to mind when I think of those 5 people. Not so much a meekness to "the Word" or the Way's plans, VP, or any of that. Rather a state of mind that was enthusiastic, interested, attentive, aware. Not entirely involved in themselves but looking to engage with other people and willing to allow others to be elevated by their efforts. That doesn't sound all that wild and crazy now, but when I think of the many people I've met over the years, none have been more interested and engaged with others as they were, then. Far from the "walking in power with 9 all the time" mentality that permeated the Way later they were in the process of becoming aware of themselves, they were very young remember, as everyone was for the most part. They were kind, involved, interested people. In this graceless world that unfolds in front of me day after day, those qualities seem more and more needed everyday.

That is a nice picture dmiller. :) It amazes me how young Nancy looks in the picture. Was anyone ever that young? Guess so. :) notinkansasanymore, I have some Way Mags from the late 60's - one includes a short write up the Way did about that "First Corps", and their graduation, etc. If I can find it later this week I'll post what it said about them. It was nothing like the hoo hah that was to come, course not much was then. It seems like there were 4, maybe 5 of them, including a married couple. I can picture meeting the couple, so that would have made it 1969 I'm guessing. It's pretty fuzzy, we went back to the Way Nash 2-3 times in '69/70. Summer school, then a Youth Advance in the winter, that hosted the first "Rock of Ages", a concert basically and than again for summer school the next year. They were later scrubbed, for want of a better word, from the chronology of the Way Corps and the term "0" corps was more of a term I remember everyone else used more than anything, a way to refer to that group of people at the time. After enough time passed, nobody even knew they'd existed. From what I remember their "program" wasn't anything like the live-in 2 year program that people signed up for to go into the First corps, etc. If I find that mag I'll see what it says. (I do know there was no overlap, so that might help clarify - the corps pictured above were all new members of what is usually called the First Corps. By everybody except Craig I guess).

A sure sign that "The End is Near!" Thank God!

Indeed Jim. "Innocent"? I think there's a Yakub Watch group funded by the government in California. In San Yose. I did a guick read on it, Belle. Pretty weird, never heard of that guy before.

If I renew my mind on the same thing twice...do I get a credit?

Lizzy, my sentiments eggsackly. The adult Morrison was a drunk who made his fortune in music. He could have read the bible and handed out tracts onstage and he still would have probably yanked his wanker out for an encore. He fancied himself a poet and his band a creative force. Taken at it's parts there are good qualities but as a band - phhffft. "Riders on the Storm" captures his state of mind pretty well I think. To me it's not the beliefs that are scarey, it's the people that believe them and what they do with them. Beliefs and ideas don't do anything in and of themselves, regardless of what they are. When we step in - look at Morrison. A bull in a china shop of ideas with no idea whatsoever what to do or how to get out, although that took care of itself in the end. Such is life, and he proves there are limits to what it will endure. No secret there. The workman selects his tools for the work he finds to do. Your brother's state of mind reflects itself in what he does, johniam. Whether you can interact in a meaningful way with him might take time. Today, nothing. Tomorrow, nothing. Next month - something. It may be you help direct him to people or places that will help. In the end though I think family is one of the central themes of our lives, good or bad. Your concern shows that. :) When he might feel that no one else is there, you are. That's a lot, although we don't appreciate it sometimes until it's the only thing left standing.

Hard to say. The tunematic in the eBay guitar looks decent. I'd definitely remove the little saddles and clean each channel they're seated in if it looks like dust has collected. That metal to metal contact is essential to a solid tone. Then adjust them with new strings and then determine how stable they are. In general more mass in the bridge piece = better tone. One reason is there's less harmonic tone generated by a heavier set up. But that's a fine point - some of that 'mojo' you're getting from it might be in the bridge piece. And of course, there's bridges like wooden ones on hollow bodies that give off a completely different sound, so it's going to be a matter of what you like. Most important is the the whole thing including the saddle pieces stay where you put them and don't wander. One of my favorite bridge and saddle setups is on my Gretsch Anniversary which has a "patent applied for" Melita. The intonation is a snap, as the adjusting screws are set-screws in the top, and can be done by hand, no screwdriver. It's a movable bridge, stays in place as long as I don't push it. If you're looking for a low-tech solution to filling small screw holes, take the tip of a toothpick and dip it into wood glue and then slip it in the hole and snap it off. Trim it down with a razor. It makes a very good filler that's cheap. You probably know that but it's one of those things everybody discovers and goes "whoa! lookee what I did!' Works well though.

I wonder if his birthday is the same day every year? My fav - "I've got this one light switch in my apartment, doesn't do anything. Every once in awhile I try it to see if it works - nothing. Last week I got a letter/phone call from a woman in France/Germany. She said "Cut it out".

Uncle Winkie???? Tink and Tank Get Winked "Say Tink, are these your shorts?" "Sure are Tank, why?" "I figured - when'd you start buying brown shorts, man?" (laughter) "Uh, well, they're not supposed to be brown Tink. Did you wash them with your T-Shirts again!?" (loud chuckles) "Man, our wash is a mess. What can we do, Tank?" "Let's ask Uncle Winkie, his cotton underwear always looks spiffy clean! He'll know...." (fade to commercial...)

:) We'll both need notes! I was going to ask on your Mando - the pickup guard, what kind of material is that? Looks sweet. I had a very interesting guitar loaned to me, I'm changing the strings out and making some adjustments on it so I'm kind of in a Rickenbaker mood. It's a Ric 560, like this one - Oh Yeah. I've never played Rickenbackers much, never owned one. This guitar has a through the neck design, with oiled wood "wings", solid unfinished. The strings are old, but from the second I played it, I was enthralled and quickly impressed. It's small, both in body and neck and it plays really well. The intonation is true, top to bottom. It has a very well made Fender style vibrato, but more mass to it and it's smoother. I've plugged it in and the sound is Rickenbacker, and with the 3-way pickup selector it's possible to get some nice sounds. This guitar has a little more 'beef' to the sound than I expected. On the neck pickup, no treble rolled off, it sounds really sweet. I didn't expect much sustain to be honest but this bad boy sustains for days. It was hard to get anything done tonight I had planned, I kept going back to it for "a few more minutes". It's become one of life's little surprises. I'm almost of the mind that a Rickenbaker something like this would be a great guitar to wrap myself around for a few years. Dunno, it's a weird change, mentally. And my financial adviser tells me Christmas is planned. But 2007 is just around the corner....

Wow. This could turn into a side business for you ChattyKathy. Nut extensions. :unsure: Interesting guitar Invisible One. You might want to check the screws on the bolt-on neck. Give 'em a turn to make sure they're seated in. Every once in awhile I run across a guitar where the screws get a tad loose over time. Yah, you might consider a pickup modification - Rickenbacker pickups in one of the positions might be interesting - HERE, Toaster pickups - no crumbs! Ric's laid out for all to see HERE. Rici's Schematics and stuff HERE Piickup to string height adjustments: String Height Adjustment with cool photos I use Jim Dunlop Formula 65 Polish/Cleaner for simple, non-invasive maintenance of guitar finishes. I've also tried the GHS Guitar Gloss and it worked well. For fretboards I'm on Yamaha's Lemon Oil, although I don't think the brand matters much. This was cheap, works fine. What fun, looks like a worthy investment of time and love.

Yeah likeaneagle, if I'd been closer I might have dropped in a time or two myself. I felt there was certainly a place for what he did, his work, etc. I don't follow him, or view him in any specific "role" other than he had a lot to offer. For years they'd broadcast his shows, he'd puff on that cigar and have that rascally attitude of knowing he might be ruffling some feathers. And y'know, a little bit of that goes a long way. I like to catch parts of his "lectures", the one's they broacast anyway. bliss, last time I was on his website it looked like somebody ran over a Lego set. I never liked it, but it never bothered me too much, it's just hard to find stuff or was for a long time. I've never given his gang a dime, and can't see an occasion where I would, I'm not a member and not up to joining. I like the fact though that a lot of material is available for the use of anyone who wants it, and many of his broadcasts contain a lot of interesting work. Again though - it's like jumping on a highway at 20 mph catching them sometimes. And the music - don't get me started. But I don't tune in when I do for that. It's like watching a train wreck usually.

:) Good idea, likeaneagle. Gene Scott has a series on Basic Christianity, something like that, that has a piece on the New Birth that's the best I've ever heard. I love his "gestalt", the way he pulls in a variety of different elements from different backgrounds and sources, looks at the commonalities and differences and develops common themes. I ran across him in the 80's, on TV and when we moved back home to California was getting his newsletters and magazine. Wrote him a couple times, he wasn't much on answering and I doubt he saw snail mail or at least I got the impression he had others sorting it. But I got back a whole wad of free stuff, which I thought was cool. The thing that I liked about him was that he had the credentials, the time invested in a religious denomination and had really done the work he said he did, with others who he respected and who respected him. He embraced academics, philosophy and theology and came to the conclusions that he did. Agree or disagree, his methods were sound. I'm glad to see you checking him out likeaneagle, it's worth it. I don't really spend a lot of time in his stuff, but I'm always rewarded when I do. (somehow I'm not at all surprised at your post Invisible Dan, I sort of thought you would know about him or would enjoy him if you did). :)

Rite-Aid, the big yellow bottle of cheap stuff. I think it's got some blue on it, and a name like Swish or Swash or Ripping or something.

Evan, my systems getting some rehab, I'll look forward to listening to it tomorrow! dmiller asks the important question. Did your young man show you how the Nut Extender works? :blink: If so he should get the "Customer Service" pin of the week. (ChattyKathy frowns and nibbles at a nail thoughtfully....) "Show me again, I'm not getting it...." I wish I had something I could give you. If you need a spare thumbpick, lemme know. I can give you a hard time.

I felt like the mouse should have operated a gun or trigger kind of interface George. That way if I got mixed up, I'd shoot someone and a bullet hole would show on the screen, dripping "blood". One x = you're slightly inclined to be a klutz. but a lovable klutz Two X = you would moderately agree that you shouldn't use cutlery unsupervised. Three x = we all agree you shouldn't drive a car Four x = you have a high propensity for humor and should consider doing stand-up. Strangest of all, after a few minutes of going left right right left left left left, I got curious to see what would happen if I suddenly had a seizure and chose one or other of the good/bad E/Non-E sides as the "wrong" one and saw you got the "X". So I guess you can get a little dyslexic or there's an allowance for being mildly uncoordinated, which would seem to skew the results for a highly coordinated and well-traind Klu Klux Klan Knight who can pick off a gnats nads at 200 yards with a rifle. But I have no masters or PHD's or such so I'm sure it's factored in, as smart people figure that kind of stuff out for the rest of us. <edited to delete words and phrases that appeared as if they might cast aspersions on certain species of lab rat>

You guys are funny! skyrider, forgive me for using this thread for what must surely appear like shameless self-promotion. It wasn't my intent. My heart was right but I may have misjudged the overwhelming outpouring of interest. I will do my best, humbly, to bring the light of knowledge and insight to these many hungry souls, be assured! Help is on the way! And as always, it will be absolutely and unequivocally free! and of no cost at all to anyone, ever! I am in fact even now in negotiations with a courier service that will help me bring the blessings of discounted shipping to those with the vision to read and mailboxes to receive! This incredible opportunity will allow me to lower the already low shipping and handling fees to even lower cost! If all goes to plan I will be able to set a one-cost-ships-any price for publications. For the Unheard of yet true! price of just 45.95 USD any book or pamphlet of same size or smaller will be packaged, addressed and shipped directly to you, the recipient! Yes! No charge of any kind for the material itself will be attached, ever! This is my promise and guarantee! Knowing the abundance of blessings that will surely result from this influx of light into our culture I've set up in advance a "Free Will Love Consideration" account for the many who will want to show their love. All such responses can be sent to me, socks, at soques-you-really-did-it-this-time_love-beef@retirement_island.com ... cash only please, as I prefer currency that says "in God we trust"! and I know you feel the same. Thanking you in advance that we can move this thing pre-posthumously!

Hi motherof2. My wife and I are the fatherandmotherof2, too. If those are two children, we may be on the same page. An equal ratio of adult-to-child always seemed to make sense to us. :) I don't believe the statement "Jesus is God" is true as a simple statement of fact. I do believe Jesus is of God, and from God and a part of God. The son of God, and that He is the way that I can as a human understand and come to a knowledge of God that's meaningful. If God is everything He seems to be He is difficult if not impossible to completely understand or articulate from this perspective I had. Jesus Christ appears to be presented in the gospels as the person who literally brought God "to earth" as His son and allows me to see God, in His life, as the son of God. That is a really incredible thing. I know that God forgives and something of how He forgives because I can see that forgiveness personnifed in Jesus. I know He loves and I can understand what that love is like because I can see that love expressed and lived in the life of Jesus. As the son of God I can make him "lord" and have God's will be the dominant force in our relationship, which includes Jesus Christ, right now in current experience. Belief and faith are to me, two different things. There are things I "believe", some I'm sure of, others not so sure of but I would claim to believe them and act accordingly. The basic core of my "Christian faith" is based on what amounts to the relationship I have with both God and Jesus Christ and their relationship with me. To me, there's no question about what's real in that and I place my faith - my actions today and hopes for the future - on that. Both belief and faith are always growing and changing as I grow and change. Many things I thought I understood 30 years ago have changed, and I'm sure will continue to change. I don't have a problem with that because I know I don't have it all figured out and may never. I don't - believe - others do either and so I don't hold anyone responsible to know all-see all and have all the answers for me or anyone. The New Testament in the bible frequently mentions grace and mercy, for good reason. The average person isn't all that bad, given a fair shake, but if life had it's way so many of us would end up taking long walks off short piers. We need a break if we're going to make anything of this life and I believe and have faith that God has done exactly that through His son Jesus Christ. :)

"Hi, I need to get a Nut Extender. Also, can you show my how to install them, it's my first time. I don't want to break anything."

Aw thanks ChattyK, you may not be talking to the right people though! I am really proud of this thread. We really have a great range of interested caring knowledgable people (re: all of you) who are ably pursuing your personal loves at your own pace and timing, AKA "at my own damm speed thank you". :) I'm proud to be staring at the same screen with you. Talk amongst yourselves, I've got something in my eye. Okay, seriously, it's true, except for the mushy parts. dmiller's hit the baby on the head with the string picker upper thing. I've never used one but that would be the route you'd want to go. Finger picks, ditto. I play mostly with a heavy straight pick and use my other 3 fingers/right hand as needed, so I seldom go to the fingerpicks which would show, but occasionally I get them out and work on it a little. You could also raise the action if possible, at the body bridge saddle. If it's one piece you can lossen the strings, pop it out and cut a little sliver of plastic and slip it down under it and put it all back together. I did that once on an old guitar I had and it raised it a tad. If you have adjusting poles on a tune-a-matic style bridge it's much easier. That only works well for a small amount though, maybe an 1/8th of an inch and it won't really raise the height much at the first fret, so the string raiser upper thing is much better. And for lap, dmiller's got the one, or a spark plug socket - big one. When I was first playing I was little, a little guy and not much dough, little dough. I discovered you could put a pencil under the strings at the first fret and raise it up pretty high. I had a loaned Silvertone acoustic flat top guitar, and I popped that under there and used a spark plug socket, which looked like the one I'd seen on TV being used. I was in hog heaven. Strange, but it worked. Tunings - open C, and E and G. You'lre going to have all kinds of ways to experiment with it, so have at it! There's a C6 and C9 tuning also that's pretty sweet. I've really only messed much with the C, E and G though. Most of my sliding is done in regular tuning though, it's been years since I worked much with the open tunings. Weeeeehhhheeeeee!!!