For those Kindle and Mobipocket people, my latest release, Nudist Among Us, will be released in ebook form on the 29th of July.
At $3.99 a copy, it is a pretty good savings over the 13 dollar book price. Amazon and Mobipocket both have advanced downloads available now. If you decided this to try it and enjoy it, I would appreciate a return to the store for a review.
Thanks and thanks for sitting through the commercial.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Getting to the Meet and Potatoes
So, now you are the social person of the park. Everywhere you go, you find others calling you by name and the spring cookout grill is always under your control. Now what?
Well, you are getting to the meat of the situation. You are meeting the people where they eat. What you have to do is meet people where they live.
The basic needs for all of us are simple; food, a place to sleep, and the comfort of someone who cares for us. The greatest need we have is for God to cover us in His glory. Once we have that, our needs will be met.
If you are wondering how this relates to our discussion, the result of meeting a person's need gives you a voice to that person. Not some clattering sound of God's love and promise of some future peace, but a special voice that those people will hear and take to heart.
Every park, resort, or club has some special need that must be met by someone. Whether there are people having financial troubles, hurt feelings, or a need for someone to organize the local carnival, the key to getting a say in the community is to start meeting the needs of the people around you.So, now you are the social person of the park. Everywhere you go, you find others calling you by name and the spring cookout grill is always under your control. Now what?
Well, you are getting to the meat of the situation. You are meeting the people where they eat. What you have to do is meet people where they live.
The basic needs for all of us are simple; food, a place to sleep, and the comfort of someone who cares for us. The greatest need we have is for God to cover us in His glory. Once we have that, our needs will be met.
If you are wondering how this relates to our discussion, the result of meeting a person's need gives you a voice to that person. Not some clattering sound of God's love and promise of some future peace, but a special voice that those people will hear and take to heart.
Every park, resort, or club has some special need that must be met by someone. Whether there are people having financial troubles, hurt feelings, or a need for someone to organize the local carnival, the key to getting a say in the community is to start meeting the needs of the people around you.
Sound like last post? No, it is a more intense and direct approach. What I am talking about here is a formal way of meeting the needs of others through a group involvement. Yup! Other people working with you to meet the needs of the community.
Remember wayyyyy back when, when I started talking about building a church in a community, I said that you should find a partner, a co-worker to work with? Now is the time to cement this relationship. You probably have met many people who could do the job, but what you want to find is who God has in mind. Prayer and advice from a trusted friend or spouse would be a great place to start.
The fun thing about two people looking for volunteerss is that you have someone to talk to when you are not getting anywhere. Keep this in mind when you are hitting hard spots.
Now, we are to the point of feet and pavement meeting.
Once you have identified a person or group in need, start to meet the need. If you need to raise money, do it discreetly. If someone needs help fixing a house or other task, put together a team and do it.
What you have now done is found your prospective church members. the people who you can help will be open to what you have to say. The people who are part of the solution will also be willing to follow along with you on this adventure.
Well, till we blog again...
Well, you are getting to the meat of the situation. You are meeting the people where they eat. What you have to do is meet people where they live.
The basic needs for all of us are simple; food, a place to sleep, and the comfort of someone who cares for us. The greatest need we have is for God to cover us in His glory. Once we have that, our needs will be met.
If you are wondering how this relates to our discussion, the result of meeting a person's need gives you a voice to that person. Not some clattering sound of God's love and promise of some future peace, but a special voice that those people will hear and take to heart.
Every park, resort, or club has some special need that must be met by someone. Whether there are people having financial troubles, hurt feelings, or a need for someone to organize the local carnival, the key to getting a say in the community is to start meeting the needs of the people around you.So, now you are the social person of the park. Everywhere you go, you find others calling you by name and the spring cookout grill is always under your control. Now what?
Well, you are getting to the meat of the situation. You are meeting the people where they eat. What you have to do is meet people where they live.
The basic needs for all of us are simple; food, a place to sleep, and the comfort of someone who cares for us. The greatest need we have is for God to cover us in His glory. Once we have that, our needs will be met.
If you are wondering how this relates to our discussion, the result of meeting a person's need gives you a voice to that person. Not some clattering sound of God's love and promise of some future peace, but a special voice that those people will hear and take to heart.
Every park, resort, or club has some special need that must be met by someone. Whether there are people having financial troubles, hurt feelings, or a need for someone to organize the local carnival, the key to getting a say in the community is to start meeting the needs of the people around you.
Sound like last post? No, it is a more intense and direct approach. What I am talking about here is a formal way of meeting the needs of others through a group involvement. Yup! Other people working with you to meet the needs of the community.
Remember wayyyyy back when, when I started talking about building a church in a community, I said that you should find a partner, a co-worker to work with? Now is the time to cement this relationship. You probably have met many people who could do the job, but what you want to find is who God has in mind. Prayer and advice from a trusted friend or spouse would be a great place to start.
The fun thing about two people looking for volunteerss is that you have someone to talk to when you are not getting anywhere. Keep this in mind when you are hitting hard spots.
Now, we are to the point of feet and pavement meeting.
Once you have identified a person or group in need, start to meet the need. If you need to raise money, do it discreetly. If someone needs help fixing a house or other task, put together a team and do it.
What you have now done is found your prospective church members. the people who you can help will be open to what you have to say. The people who are part of the solution will also be willing to follow along with you on this adventure.
Well, till we blog again...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Location: A Beginning
Last post, we talked about finding the right place to start, a place where God wanted you and how to know where to begin. this post is about making the path to opening a church.
Nothing in the beginning will be easy. You will be under a microscope for much of the beginning. Everyone will watch to see if you are truly something different, or just some fly-by-night shyster who has come to grab a few dollars and run.
To be honest, the beginning starts long before anyone knows you are looking to plant a church at their location. Paul always found a way to be part of the community and we must do the same thing. We must be part of the community before we can start to make changes as drastic as adding a church.
The best advice ever given to me is to be so important to a community that they ask you to start the church. To do this you must first:
1. Join the club. Be a member and be active at all the functions.
2. Be productive. Make being part of the community a priority in your life, so much so that you become part of the infrastructure. Join committees. Show up for work days. Volunteer for open house days. Take small, under appreciated jobs and do them well.
3. Make a place for yourself at the club so that when members think of the club, your name is near the top.
4. Make a point to help people in need. This sounds like something that needn't be said, but we miss this too often. Feed the hungry. Visit the sick. Begin praying for the health and welfare of the club and community.
5. Become so known and respected that when you say you want to start a church meeting at the park, they can't find a reason not to let you.
One special note. If you look at what I am suggesting, you will see a definite pattern to the work. For those who wish to have a better understanding about this, re-read Acts. Spend some time reading about Barnabus and Paul. This is what they did. I think it worked well.
Till another time...
Nothing in the beginning will be easy. You will be under a microscope for much of the beginning. Everyone will watch to see if you are truly something different, or just some fly-by-night shyster who has come to grab a few dollars and run.
To be honest, the beginning starts long before anyone knows you are looking to plant a church at their location. Paul always found a way to be part of the community and we must do the same thing. We must be part of the community before we can start to make changes as drastic as adding a church.
The best advice ever given to me is to be so important to a community that they ask you to start the church. To do this you must first:
1. Join the club. Be a member and be active at all the functions.
2. Be productive. Make being part of the community a priority in your life, so much so that you become part of the infrastructure. Join committees. Show up for work days. Volunteer for open house days. Take small, under appreciated jobs and do them well.
3. Make a place for yourself at the club so that when members think of the club, your name is near the top.
4. Make a point to help people in need. This sounds like something that needn't be said, but we miss this too often. Feed the hungry. Visit the sick. Begin praying for the health and welfare of the club and community.
5. Become so known and respected that when you say you want to start a church meeting at the park, they can't find a reason not to let you.
One special note. If you look at what I am suggesting, you will see a definite pattern to the work. For those who wish to have a better understanding about this, re-read Acts. Spend some time reading about Barnabus and Paul. This is what they did. I think it worked well.
Till another time...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Male Stupidity Syndrome
In what I consider to be part of the natural universe, I often come across men doing stupid things. This weekend was one of those not so rare times when I get to see the male population as if I am not part of it and explore some of the more unintelligent life here on earth.
At an open house for a nudist resort, I was able to see a group of visitors who came to visit the nudist resort without their wives. I am not sure how most of the rest of the male population is wired, but I would no more go to a nudist venue without my wife than I would go without my towel. As I see it, the mere fact the guys left their wives at home is a break in their marriage vowels.
Of the many married males coming to the open house, most did not want to give us contact information in case of emergencies. Being that most of them would have their wives as their In Case Of Emergency contact, I can only assume that most married men were there without their spouses knowing what they were doing. This is a shame.
Although these men are not necessarily under the rules and laws of God, it does bode poorly for our nudist world when a husband would be willing to head off to a nudist resort without his wife.
First off, he can never take her to that resort or park. He has already been there. When he arrives and they ask him if he has been there before, he has to say, Yes. Once he does, his wife is going to know that he broke his faith with her and she is going to associate the park with that breach.
Second, if the husband wanted to investigate the resort before taking his wife there, and I think this is a good policy, he would have no problem giving us his emergency contact information. he is starting out a relationship with the park under the basis of a lie. He has broken trust with the park and by association, caused his wife to break trust with the park.
The one male syndrome I see that irritates me the most is the partner swap specifically to enter the nudist parks. A male finds a willing female, not his wife, to enter the resort with. Not only does he deceive the park, his wife, and any people he meets, he causes another woman to come between him and his wife.
I am not the keeper of all men. I am not responsible for their decisions, but I certainly am responsible to my community. These men should be ashamed for depriving their spouses of the beauty and life in our communities.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get down from the soap box and place it back in my closet.
How do the rest of you feel?
At an open house for a nudist resort, I was able to see a group of visitors who came to visit the nudist resort without their wives. I am not sure how most of the rest of the male population is wired, but I would no more go to a nudist venue without my wife than I would go without my towel. As I see it, the mere fact the guys left their wives at home is a break in their marriage vowels.
Of the many married males coming to the open house, most did not want to give us contact information in case of emergencies. Being that most of them would have their wives as their In Case Of Emergency contact, I can only assume that most married men were there without their spouses knowing what they were doing. This is a shame.
Although these men are not necessarily under the rules and laws of God, it does bode poorly for our nudist world when a husband would be willing to head off to a nudist resort without his wife.
First off, he can never take her to that resort or park. He has already been there. When he arrives and they ask him if he has been there before, he has to say, Yes. Once he does, his wife is going to know that he broke his faith with her and she is going to associate the park with that breach.
Second, if the husband wanted to investigate the resort before taking his wife there, and I think this is a good policy, he would have no problem giving us his emergency contact information. he is starting out a relationship with the park under the basis of a lie. He has broken trust with the park and by association, caused his wife to break trust with the park.
The one male syndrome I see that irritates me the most is the partner swap specifically to enter the nudist parks. A male finds a willing female, not his wife, to enter the resort with. Not only does he deceive the park, his wife, and any people he meets, he causes another woman to come between him and his wife.
I am not the keeper of all men. I am not responsible for their decisions, but I certainly am responsible to my community. These men should be ashamed for depriving their spouses of the beauty and life in our communities.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get down from the soap box and place it back in my closet.
How do the rest of you feel?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Standing on the Truth
Not everyone is supposed to start a nudist church. Some people are supposed to serve the textile world. Some are supposed to support the nudist pastors. And some are supposed to find their way in this world with a stiff upper lips and a frying pan sized dent in their forehead.
So, for the sake of argument, suppose all of us are ready to start a church. The first question you should be asking is where?
Where should I start this mission? The locations are numerous and the prospects of success are the same. If God wants you there, He will bless your ministry and the hard work you are about to begin will pay off. There are several points that make finding a good spot easier.
1. Is it close to home?
If you have to drive more than a few minutes to get to the mission field, you sill tire easily. There will be time when people are sick, dying, getting married, and needing to talk. Each time, you will have to travel in the area to meet these needs.
2. Is the management supportive?
If you can get the management to work with you, the battle is much easier. You will need a place to meet and most resorts have a club house. If you can use this space, you won't have to rent space. There will be not be any utilities, and the start up costs will be much lower.
3. Is there a need for your ministry?
Some places will not be open to the ministry. They won't want you to take part. This is the place God told us to shake the dust from our feet.
4. Can I make a difference in this location?
Finding a place in a community is important to your ministry. You have to be able to melt into the community and share their happiness, joy, and sorrow.
There are many other things that affect the decision as to where to locate, but these will help guide you into this process. For those wanting to take this task under their wings, let me suggest you spend a little time in Acts and Timothy and read about elders, bishops, and deacons. Know what you need to do and what your helpers need to do.
Ok, everyone have a location?
Claim them now.
I ask those of you who have people looking for a way to serve in one of these churches, but is not the person to lead, to pray and search out that leader.
From tracking this in google hits, I know we have about 75 people who read this blog. Of those, I suppose most have some resort or park they attend. If they do not, there may be one near them.
I figure every one of those 75 people have friends; let's say three, who are nudists at some other location. That means we have about 225 people who can suggest a location that coupld use a chapel and the fellowship that goes with it.
Let's see if we can come up with at least 5 valid locations where we can start to plan a church in their midst.
Now, for this to work, each person MUST respond with a comment to this blog. So, invite your friends. Research and find those locations. Make a joyful noise while you are doing it.
Or should I just sit down and shut up?
Till then.
So, for the sake of argument, suppose all of us are ready to start a church. The first question you should be asking is where?
Where should I start this mission? The locations are numerous and the prospects of success are the same. If God wants you there, He will bless your ministry and the hard work you are about to begin will pay off. There are several points that make finding a good spot easier.
1. Is it close to home?
If you have to drive more than a few minutes to get to the mission field, you sill tire easily. There will be time when people are sick, dying, getting married, and needing to talk. Each time, you will have to travel in the area to meet these needs.
2. Is the management supportive?
If you can get the management to work with you, the battle is much easier. You will need a place to meet and most resorts have a club house. If you can use this space, you won't have to rent space. There will be not be any utilities, and the start up costs will be much lower.
3. Is there a need for your ministry?
Some places will not be open to the ministry. They won't want you to take part. This is the place God told us to shake the dust from our feet.
4. Can I make a difference in this location?
Finding a place in a community is important to your ministry. You have to be able to melt into the community and share their happiness, joy, and sorrow.
There are many other things that affect the decision as to where to locate, but these will help guide you into this process. For those wanting to take this task under their wings, let me suggest you spend a little time in Acts and Timothy and read about elders, bishops, and deacons. Know what you need to do and what your helpers need to do.
Ok, everyone have a location?
Claim them now.
I ask those of you who have people looking for a way to serve in one of these churches, but is not the person to lead, to pray and search out that leader.
From tracking this in google hits, I know we have about 75 people who read this blog. Of those, I suppose most have some resort or park they attend. If they do not, there may be one near them.
I figure every one of those 75 people have friends; let's say three, who are nudists at some other location. That means we have about 225 people who can suggest a location that coupld use a chapel and the fellowship that goes with it.
Let's see if we can come up with at least 5 valid locations where we can start to plan a church in their midst.
Now, for this to work, each person MUST respond with a comment to this blog. So, invite your friends. Research and find those locations. Make a joyful noise while you are doing it.
Or should I just sit down and shut up?
Till then.
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