This post is not for everyone. Some people, for various reasons, can not do this. So, if you fall in this category, just enjoy my ramblings and we will catch you on another post.
Nudists, in general, are secretive. We don't like talking about our families, friends, or what we do for a living. We keep to ourselves so much that it becomes hard to really know someone. In our zeal to keep our textile world separate from our nudist world, we have lost the contact we dearly love.
Most people are shy. I say most people because there are individuals who make no bones about their lifestyle and have fewer problems letting the world know what a great time they have being nude. Others are more reclusive. They spend their energy finding ways to keep anyone from knowing.
Actually, I think both worlds have their merit. It is only a problem when the shy nudists collide with the open nudists in the textile world. Fear of outing someone makes us less likely to approach them and say, "Hi." Fear of being outed causes some others to flee the scene the second another nudist enters the world.
We miss the closeness and companionship when we fear being outed. So I offer this suggestion. If you see me out in the textile world, I won't out you. If you see me in the textile world, you have to promise not to treat me like I have a disease.
Fair enough?
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A Little Quiz
I often wonder who would be a good president. What are the qualities we would want for the person who runs our country. Below I am going to list the characteristics I think a president should have before being allowed to run for office. But I am hoping that whoever should be reading this will contribute their ideas.
First, I think the president should have held a job other than politics for the previous 5 years. A person whose only qualification is holding some other office is not qualified to run the country. They are too tied up in politics to be able to make good decisions. They have a conflict of interest from the start.
Second, I want to see a person who has a vision for our country and backs up his vision with a clear, concise plan laid out for the next four years. If he can't tell us what his platform is in under 300 words, he really doesn't know his plan and he or she should return to run once they have solidified his ideas enough to explain them in short order.
Third, she should have be willing to listen to those people who have traveled the path before them. I understand now that Clinton and Bush are friends. It would have been nice for that to occur while Clinton was in office. Nixon and Johnson spoke on many occasions. Too bad they didn't communicate much before the scandal.
Next, a president should be of a character so that no one will ever wonder about his motives. It should be a normal day when the news says there are no scandals on the horizon which involve out president.
The president should be so honorable that no congressman, senator, or officer of our country would dare sully the integrity of the office by claiming wrong doings by a president. Part of what is wrong with this country is that the respect for the office of the president has eroded to the point that no one even thinks twice about bad mouthing the president. Imagine the scandal if a citizen of England began bad mouthing the Queen. (I know. It happens, but not like Bush has been hammered.)
Whether the president is a woman or a man, and I do think the country is ready for a woman, she should be forthright in the details of the country's problems and successes.
Well, this might not be all of the things, but just getting these requirements straight before the first commercial hits the airwaves would go a long way to politically ethical presidents. For those wondering, yes, I do believe morals matter. Ethics are the measure of a man or woman.
My new best decision making process for voting for a man is whether I would buy a used car from him or her. If I won't trust him to sell me a car, I don't want her running my country.
So, what are your thoughts?
First, I think the president should have held a job other than politics for the previous 5 years. A person whose only qualification is holding some other office is not qualified to run the country. They are too tied up in politics to be able to make good decisions. They have a conflict of interest from the start.
Second, I want to see a person who has a vision for our country and backs up his vision with a clear, concise plan laid out for the next four years. If he can't tell us what his platform is in under 300 words, he really doesn't know his plan and he or she should return to run once they have solidified his ideas enough to explain them in short order.
Third, she should have be willing to listen to those people who have traveled the path before them. I understand now that Clinton and Bush are friends. It would have been nice for that to occur while Clinton was in office. Nixon and Johnson spoke on many occasions. Too bad they didn't communicate much before the scandal.
Next, a president should be of a character so that no one will ever wonder about his motives. It should be a normal day when the news says there are no scandals on the horizon which involve out president.
The president should be so honorable that no congressman, senator, or officer of our country would dare sully the integrity of the office by claiming wrong doings by a president. Part of what is wrong with this country is that the respect for the office of the president has eroded to the point that no one even thinks twice about bad mouthing the president. Imagine the scandal if a citizen of England began bad mouthing the Queen. (I know. It happens, but not like Bush has been hammered.)
Whether the president is a woman or a man, and I do think the country is ready for a woman, she should be forthright in the details of the country's problems and successes.
Well, this might not be all of the things, but just getting these requirements straight before the first commercial hits the airwaves would go a long way to politically ethical presidents. For those wondering, yes, I do believe morals matter. Ethics are the measure of a man or woman.
My new best decision making process for voting for a man is whether I would buy a used car from him or her. If I won't trust him to sell me a car, I don't want her running my country.
So, what are your thoughts?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Short Update.
This weekend, several issues came up at church that need praying for. We are doing well at the church and the chance to be of help to others is a good sign, but I ask that you keep us in your prayers this week. We have several people around us needed medical healing and we have some opportunities to be of help financially to others.
I would also ask that as you can, please remember the people who have made this possible and give a prayer of thanks for supplying the necessary money, cards, letters, and other items to help support people around us.
Thanks. Allen
I would also ask that as you can, please remember the people who have made this possible and give a prayer of thanks for supplying the necessary money, cards, letters, and other items to help support people around us.
Thanks. Allen
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Second Reformation
You heard me talk about the 2nd Reformation, how the remnants of the four winds will be gathered up in the sight of the Lord before the Second Coming. So how does this all work? I don't know, exactly, but here is my take on it.
In the end times, the remnants of the true Christian Church (big C not little c) will be gathered. Those people who the Church has scattered from their midst. These are people for whom the church has cast out as not holding to man's religious beliefs. Christian Nudists are one such group.
These people are the people the Church itself has wounded. Many of these people are lying around in the world just waiting for Christians to come and care for them spiritually. The are wounded. Many were wounded in the line of duty for Christ.
Our remnant Christians are the ones charged with going out into the world and looking for those wounded Christian Soldiers and when finding them, nursing them back to health. We are the hospitals the wounded need.
So, in a sense, we are the ones that need to be the true workers for Christ, the ones that help usher in the New Heaven and the New Earth. because if we do not begin the work of gathering the scattered to the fold, Jesus can not return.
In our churches, we need to begin to build trust with our remnant communities. For those in the nudist world, we need to find those back-slidden Christians and usher them back to our fellowship. For nudists, we need to find those that have been removed from the Church roles as sinners and bring to our fellowship. For bikers, they need to bring those bikers shunned by the Church and hold them fast in their ministry. For the pipe-smokers, the same thing.
I liken this to raking leaves. I never rake all the leaves into one pile. I take the center of the yard and gather the leaves to a central spot. The leaves the wind has scattered to the fence line, I gather into one pile. The ones caught the area between the garage and the house into one pile. When I have this done, I can now gather together all the leaves into bags and toss them into the dump.
The parable continues as you look at the leaves. The central pile, the largest, can't say that the garage pile they are not leaves, because certainly they are leaves. The fence pile can not say that the central pile is not leaves, for they certainly came from the same trees.
As Christians, we can not say our brothers and sisters are not Christians simply because we do not fit into a certain pile. We are all from the same tree. If we claim Jesus as our personal Savior and profess He is Lord, the Son of out Father, then we are all Christians, regardless of how we dress or what we do for a hobby.
Now, isn't this clear as mud?
In the end times, the remnants of the true Christian Church (big C not little c) will be gathered. Those people who the Church has scattered from their midst. These are people for whom the church has cast out as not holding to man's religious beliefs. Christian Nudists are one such group.
These people are the people the Church itself has wounded. Many of these people are lying around in the world just waiting for Christians to come and care for them spiritually. The are wounded. Many were wounded in the line of duty for Christ.
Our remnant Christians are the ones charged with going out into the world and looking for those wounded Christian Soldiers and when finding them, nursing them back to health. We are the hospitals the wounded need.
So, in a sense, we are the ones that need to be the true workers for Christ, the ones that help usher in the New Heaven and the New Earth. because if we do not begin the work of gathering the scattered to the fold, Jesus can not return.
In our churches, we need to begin to build trust with our remnant communities. For those in the nudist world, we need to find those back-slidden Christians and usher them back to our fellowship. For nudists, we need to find those that have been removed from the Church roles as sinners and bring to our fellowship. For bikers, they need to bring those bikers shunned by the Church and hold them fast in their ministry. For the pipe-smokers, the same thing.
I liken this to raking leaves. I never rake all the leaves into one pile. I take the center of the yard and gather the leaves to a central spot. The leaves the wind has scattered to the fence line, I gather into one pile. The ones caught the area between the garage and the house into one pile. When I have this done, I can now gather together all the leaves into bags and toss them into the dump.
The parable continues as you look at the leaves. The central pile, the largest, can't say that the garage pile they are not leaves, because certainly they are leaves. The fence pile can not say that the central pile is not leaves, for they certainly came from the same trees.
As Christians, we can not say our brothers and sisters are not Christians simply because we do not fit into a certain pile. We are all from the same tree. If we claim Jesus as our personal Savior and profess He is Lord, the Son of out Father, then we are all Christians, regardless of how we dress or what we do for a hobby.
Now, isn't this clear as mud?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Christianity on the Fringe
What do these groups have in common with us?
Bikers For Christ
Messianic Christians
Christian Hunters
Christian Pipe Smokers
Well, first they are Christians. Second, you won't see them invited to the the Normal Christians' Executive Ball. Neither will we. All of us are quietly walking along in the ditch on the Christian Road to Heaven. We are not the well known groups polite society associates with Christian behavior. We simply have a different outlook on one subject that distinguishes us from the rest.
I sometimes feel I have more in common with these groups than with mainstream Christian churches. They accept me for who I am.
As we approach the second coming of our Lord, you will see more of these groups appearing where we never thought there were Christians. Before I found Cheef, I thought my wife and I were the only Christian nudists in the world. Luckily, we have found many Christian friends scattered all over the world and I find this to be significant.
First, when we look back at the parable of the feast.
Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The King sent out his servant to find the people who were not invited. The servant found the people in the market, in the fields, and on the road, walking along the ditch. He found us.
As a nudist, I am often asked how I can be a Christian. I tell them God invited me. I was the one in the ditch. Most people don't understand. But you will.
As we continue this next time, I want to talk about the Second Reformation and the gathering of the remnants left in all the small places.
till then...
Bikers For Christ
Messianic Christians
Christian Hunters
Christian Pipe Smokers
Well, first they are Christians. Second, you won't see them invited to the the Normal Christians' Executive Ball. Neither will we. All of us are quietly walking along in the ditch on the Christian Road to Heaven. We are not the well known groups polite society associates with Christian behavior. We simply have a different outlook on one subject that distinguishes us from the rest.
I sometimes feel I have more in common with these groups than with mainstream Christian churches. They accept me for who I am.
As we approach the second coming of our Lord, you will see more of these groups appearing where we never thought there were Christians. Before I found Cheef, I thought my wife and I were the only Christian nudists in the world. Luckily, we have found many Christian friends scattered all over the world and I find this to be significant.
First, when we look back at the parable of the feast.
Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The King sent out his servant to find the people who were not invited. The servant found the people in the market, in the fields, and on the road, walking along the ditch. He found us.
As a nudist, I am often asked how I can be a Christian. I tell them God invited me. I was the one in the ditch. Most people don't understand. But you will.
As we continue this next time, I want to talk about the Second Reformation and the gathering of the remnants left in all the small places.
till then...
Monday, October 6, 2008
I Have a Plan!
I have a plan. I want the world around me to smile in joy, even if just for a short time or season. Now, to do this, I need a little help from my friends. (Yes, I was listening to Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.)
Here's what we do. Yes, I included you in my plan. Anyone who has been around me long will find I am very good at dragging my friends into service. Some people say that makes me a leader. Others say I am a slave driver. I think the best name given to me was encourager. Whatever you want to call me, my plan relies on your assistance.
1) Smile. Just take a minute and place a smile on your face. Don't worry that it is a fake smile you had to conjure while waiting for the coffee to kick the lights on. Just plaster a big old silly grin across your mug and wait for the world to smile back.
2) Close your eyes and listen to your mind play the hymn, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus."
3) Now, while the music is playing, let your mind wander over all the people you have encountered lately that could use a good friend. Think about the people on the internet you send jokes to and the people you receive them from. Think about everyone singing the tune you hear in your mind together.
4) Now, send the cast of people dancing through your head an email and tell them you love them and want to share a smile with them.
What will happen next? I haven't a clue. But I sure would like to know. For those brave of heart people willing to try this, sneak back over here and give us a report.
Here's what we do. Yes, I included you in my plan. Anyone who has been around me long will find I am very good at dragging my friends into service. Some people say that makes me a leader. Others say I am a slave driver. I think the best name given to me was encourager. Whatever you want to call me, my plan relies on your assistance.
1) Smile. Just take a minute and place a smile on your face. Don't worry that it is a fake smile you had to conjure while waiting for the coffee to kick the lights on. Just plaster a big old silly grin across your mug and wait for the world to smile back.
2) Close your eyes and listen to your mind play the hymn, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus."
3) Now, while the music is playing, let your mind wander over all the people you have encountered lately that could use a good friend. Think about the people on the internet you send jokes to and the people you receive them from. Think about everyone singing the tune you hear in your mind together.
4) Now, send the cast of people dancing through your head an email and tell them you love them and want to share a smile with them.
What will happen next? I haven't a clue. But I sure would like to know. For those brave of heart people willing to try this, sneak back over here and give us a report.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Viable Discussions
As is my normal daily routine, I visit the yahoo nudist groups. Lately, I have been discussing the inerrancy of the bible with another fellow. The discussion was specific and pointed. It was fervent, but not ugly or dismissive. In essence, it was two Christians debating doctrine.
A nice lady interjected a small piece about our argument, indicating we should stop. My compliment in the argument suggested we were not arguing and I have to agree with him.
The point of biblical discussions is to discern God's truth. The debate, at times, will be strong, lively, and full of passion. In fact, it should be. The bible tells us that iron sharpens iron and Christians should sharpen Christians. Dealing with the bible and its truths allows us to delve into the mysteries and nuances in a much deeper manner.
I often enjoy sitting in the hot tub while discussing Christian dogma, doctrine, and those ideas not necessarily placed in either categories. The discussions cause me to think and to reason, to consider a different idea and to begin to see a point of view I hadn't considered. This is a good thing.
All of us need to have other Christians to wrangle with, doctrinely. We need someone to hold us accountable for our opinions and our revelations. It is important that we open our minds and our hearts as God brings people into our lives, reveling truths we wouldn't have come to on our own.
more on this later...
A nice lady interjected a small piece about our argument, indicating we should stop. My compliment in the argument suggested we were not arguing and I have to agree with him.
The point of biblical discussions is to discern God's truth. The debate, at times, will be strong, lively, and full of passion. In fact, it should be. The bible tells us that iron sharpens iron and Christians should sharpen Christians. Dealing with the bible and its truths allows us to delve into the mysteries and nuances in a much deeper manner.
I often enjoy sitting in the hot tub while discussing Christian dogma, doctrine, and those ideas not necessarily placed in either categories. The discussions cause me to think and to reason, to consider a different idea and to begin to see a point of view I hadn't considered. This is a good thing.
All of us need to have other Christians to wrangle with, doctrinely. We need someone to hold us accountable for our opinions and our revelations. It is important that we open our minds and our hearts as God brings people into our lives, reveling truths we wouldn't have come to on our own.
more on this later...
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