In less than 48 hours from this posting my family and I will be driving at night towards NYC to see my dad and our family. I'm making list, checking twice, making sure we got all the information ranging on transportation in the city (NYC along with Philly and D.C.) while our girls make nice. Meanwhile I have something churning in my spirit crying for a response and a dedication on my part: Sexual Honesty. www.sexhonesty.org You can thank Dan and Jennifer for causing the churning in my spirit; they launched Tuesday the start of a grassroots movement which they hope will gain momentum with so many of us to change the societal tone towards one of honesty and openness regarding sexuality. It is something we've discussed about in this group (and on the sister blog) time and time again.

This is a HUGE move because now we are seeing two people willing to put the debate past the "isn't it a shame" mode to a "why can't we change the discussion with us" mode. My belief on the subject is sexual honesty is a great direction to have whether if we're teens or older members of society who can make a change for future generations. To me, sexual honesty must be a decision of the soul to not only be honest with our friends, family and society but with God Himself. We forget he is the one who created sex to begin with; isn't it time to finally be honest with him about what we are feeling and thinking inside?

This is a very great thing to witness and (soon) be a part of and it is something every person in this group can be a part of. Whether if it is monetarily helping with the movement, giving a video/written response to what is sexual honesty in your mind and heart, or being the change in your community and family this move by AskDanandJennifer.com is something I would like to align our group along with other groups around the country. I'm going to other Christian sex positive sites along with swinger sites too to see if they would like to be a part of this move.

What can you do about it as well?

How about a move to have a chat in your churches and Bible studies to really push the envelope and have a candid talk regarding sexual honesty? You can do that you know. How about your immediate family and the determination to be more transparent about sexuality and the risk and realities of sex? Isn't time you are honest with your children about what sexuality is all about?

You can talk over dinner or sitting on the couch or chair to your lover/mate/friend about what you feel when you are sexual and what turns you on. I'm sure it may cause the desert to lodge somewhere in the windpipe when you freely discuss your "kink", but at least the discussion is started.

You can also support organizations who strive to make sexual health, honesty, and information available to others in your city or state (or province).

These ideas are but an inkling about what can be done on your part to make society open and honest about sexuality. But I think it doesn't end just with these few discussions. It starts when you commit your heart and life to God through Jesus to be more transparent regarding sexuality in your own life . Not an easy thing to do because if there is anything we do better than most in the faith we mask our true feelings/desires from each other for fear of being struck down as "sinful" for having these feelings or healthy turn on's.

Such a commitment may mean to sacrifice the safety of walking in the shadows having secret affairs, accounts, or flirtations that in the light of love can be branded "dis-honest". It may mean lots of time on our knees (myself included) seeking God's forgiveness for playing these dishonest games in our lives. Just because they don't see it at work, church, or with the spouse doesn't mean God doesn't know what we do in the shadows.

They may say "honesty is the best policy", but living an honest, open life (especially sexually) is definitely a practice worth making perfect. It is better than the one we've all learned for years making sex "it which must not be named unless you are married and even then make it a whisper among your friends". This must change!

It must change because the line of broken homes, broken lives, broken dreams, and broken relationships pile higher than most trash heaps.
This must change!

It must change because we can't afford to continue the hidden agendas while promoting a godly lifestyle. The double talk/double standard living must be put to rest replaced with a honest, heart felt commitment to a honest pathway for our decisions and our living.

It must change because no more generations of youth should be subjected with the scare tactics and intimidation of spiritual peer pressure. Change in our lives must come from within; the change both Dan and Jennifer, myself, and even God is asking all of us to do is to rid the constant vicious circle of lies, lies and more lies about our sexual life.

Palm Sunday found me in church praying about this subject amongst the subject of how we ignore the crucifixion in order to bask in the sunshine of Resurrection. I agree. For any resurrection and new life there must be a vicious, brutal, and cunningly cruel death of the policies we've lived in so we can rise up new creatures worthy of an honest day towards others. Sure, this is focused on sexuality; it is focused on dating, relationships, intimacy, marriage and other things. But if we are faithful in these things imaging how this carries over in other aspects of our lives.

So for now until the end of the year (and even beyond that) I encourage each of you (my fellow believers in Jesus) to make a point to be honest about where you are at sexually, on where you are at regarding other people in your life, and how you determine in your life to walk in the light of openness and not live a sexual life which confounds your spiritual life. I don't care if your straight or gay, lesbian or bisexual, into fetish or not just please don't hurt the innocent or try justifying the harming of the innocent.

And all this begins with me...high time for my girl and I to talk about where we are at and how we can be honest about our interest. Even if we just say "I'm not interested in sex at the moment" is more honest than just "taking one for the team" with a hint of a resentment in our souls. Let's not let Satan get that inroad because in the end we loose in this lack honesty in our lives.

Ed
Moderator/Owner, CPE


P.S. Here is my own two cents:

CPE LIVE for 8/20/08

Geek moment! Drummer "mimics" Phil Collins

Hey folks, hope you can bear with me as I share this piece of amazement with you. It's a geek moment because I LOVE Phil Collins, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel so when I found this bloke playing along with songs from these artist along with the Police and others all I can tell you it is...oh just watch it for yourself okay and let me know what you think:





Ed
Moderator, CPE

OOPS! Part two is here!

Sorry...thought I had it all. Here's part 2:

Live Blog: 8/16/08--CPE LIVE!

FINALLY!

After weeks of hoping to make this work we've finally got a video to show you with a little message to boot. Enjoy!




Oh, and if you want to join us for a LIVE discussion we'll be live on LiveVideo.com at 9:30pm (EST) for about a half an hour. Will be looking forward to having you and hope you enjoy this snippet.

Whitney is BACK!!!

I've always like Whitney Houston for a long time and I always pulled for her through good and bad. I was disappointed in her choice for Bobby Brown as a hubby, but like a good friend who will stick with her friend even if she's about to make a catastrophic choice I stood by her. Painful to watch the MAD TV cracks on her and then her one appearance where doesn't look or sound like her was as hard to watch as anything.

That is until she let go of Bobby.

Now Whitney is back in an exclusive first clip of her new song featuring Akon (or acorn in my book because he HAS no talent but a machine box) but hearing her chops again is a very good sign. My hope is she will continue to recover and progress.

Let the come back begin!

More family time means less sex

The best times I remember in my life growing up in the projects of Cleveland was those family card nights, game night, and just sitting around the house just kicking back and enjoying the laughter of the night (this was before the internet and DVDs). When I became sexually active was when the issues my mom dropped on me (mental abuse) and other things kept hitting me to the point that when I discovered sex I couldn't let go.

I don't know if this is true with others, but I can tell you this is truly an eye opening study and something I'm sure parents should be talking about for a while. But I wonder how many of you out there are actually having quality time with your kids? How good is it and are you producing memories for a lifetime?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4629842a7144.html

Braggin about my Browns

Okay, permit me some gush time for the Kardiac Kids, the Dawgs of the Dawg Pound, and the best team on the Lake (and I don't mean the Lions):

Torn between two lovers

As I write this (for the first time in months) I am torn because I'm about an hour away from getting the latest from the first day of training camp with my beloved Cleveland Browns.





Football season begins today and I can hardly wait! After last years incredible 10-6 run and having six players in the Pro Bowl for the first time since...ever, I am looking forward for this team to take the next big step and get into the playoffs in convincing fashion.

This leaves a problem for me.


Because for the past year or so I've been going over stats, articles, hits, misses, and the drama that is the Obama campaign. As a political junkie, this is the greatest time that I've ever faced with any candidate. I'm so psyched up over the way Sen. Obama is running his campaign and how he looks...presidential. Currently I'm watching how he handle himself on the world stage and so far (at this writing) he's coming up aces.




This brings a dilemma.

Who do I follow more closely? Should the Obama campaign take up most of my time or the desire to see a Cleveland team (my favorite Cleveland, Ohio team) take it all the way to the championship? Not to mention I still have God and sexuality to juggle here too. It's not easy being a junkie to the incredible around me.

But if you want to know where I stand in all this I can give it to you in three words: Or maybe Wycliff can for me.

Toppless Women In New York City (Exhibit)

Normally this would garner a lot of gawking and heavy breathing by some people. Instead, this photo collection/exhibit by photographer Jordan Matter is one of the best I've ever seen for two reasons.

1. Finding real women to both pose and, in some cases, tell their stories regarding their breast is simply moving.

2. The reaction from their friends and family when they found out what they've done is also priceless too.

I'm posting one of the photos and hope you will take the time to check out the link www.jordanmatter.com

Then I hope you take time to read and experience the women and their lives as I did. What is amazing about these women is once you get into the stories they tell you forget about the breast and their exposure which is perfectly fine. Too often breast are sexualized to the point we miss the person(s) who own them. I hope exhibits like this one can do the same for people all around.

---Ed

For more about Breast go to www.askdanandjennifer.com

Look for the censorship/repression section to find the story on breast.

You know, this site can add to the thousands of points of view regarding the former Governor of New York. We could talk about his sexual tryst with prostitutes and the unfaithfulness towards his wife. I could throw stones at him and his family (among other politicians and preachers caught in the same web) .

But I wont.

You see I remember this song that was originally performed by Jannis Ian and later by Amy Grant called "What About the Love?"

"I looked into the mirror/proud as I could be/and I saw my pointed finger, pointing back at me/ saying who made you accuser/who gave you the scales/ I hung my head in sorrow/ I can almost feel the nails/ I said 'is this all there is' crucified and judged without love."

I have no reason to do this because I have no room in my own life to do this. All I can do is pray for them, their family, and any family who this type of relational tragedy has happened in their home.

Ed

Moderator, CPE

(Photo courtesy of Associate Press)

BONUS: Sex and hypocracy! Your thoughts welcomed.

Okay, you want the Word, you got it!


We'll try this and see how this goes; grab your Bibles and lets turn to Matthew 23: 27, 28. Also, turn to Matt 15: 17-20.
As you read these passages lets dig a bit and I want to start these little pieces of both Scriptures:
*Where do you see hypocracy on subjects of sexuality and what examples do you see today (i.e. politicians, minister, etc.)?
*What does "fornication" really mean? is it what is taught in most churches or does it mean something else?
*How about Galatians 5:19-21? Can you also have the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and still be sexually free person? ---------------

Okay, there's some Scripture for you and some topics to run with lets go from there. I'm curious to here your takes and I give everyone who wants to contribute to the passages a week to add your take.


Ed
Moderator, CPE

(P.S.--I'm asking all who want tot ake on the challenged we have in our group on Yahoo to leave your comments on the comments section and we'll tie it all together and swee what we got. Thanks!)