Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 21, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

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 Been Baptized, Yet?

Joyce Lock

Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Baptism of John

Hell, fire, and brimstone preaching ...

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.  And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Jesus' Baptism

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?  He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?  And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.  Then he suffered him.

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Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

One of Jesus' coats (ministries) goes to John/Jacob ...

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.  The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

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And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Baptism in the Name of Jesus

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Holy Ghost

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there.  And she constrained us.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

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Poetry Section

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Simple Call

Joan Clifton Costner

There are those who sit in chairs, with wheels,
Each hour the long day through.
The battles are so different, now,
from those they used to do.

No longer do they run between the chores,
the goals of youth ...
But struggle just for comfort
And to hold on to the truth.

And we forgot the teachers,
the farmers that grew old.
We forgot our future,
forgot the hand to hold,

The little visit;
brightening a dreary, lonely day ...
Say, can we care a little more?
We too, shall pass this way.

© by Joan Clifton Costner

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com

jody@ptsi.net

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 Turning Lose

Joan Clifton Costner

(have pic, if interested, for design)

Do you dream of the young girl who mounted her horse
And sped, on a bright sunny day,
Over the buffalo grass of the plains;
Down where the fat cattle lay?

Are the mem'ries still there, of a day bright and fair,
When your sweetheart whisked you away ...
And you made a new life, through depression and strife,
Beating the odds of the day?

For it's all gone away, when I look into your eyes,
And you don't know me anymore.
Afraid to ask, yes, and I rue the day
That you won't return to this shore.

I pray for the men who will fight, who will win,
And flay this monster alive.
Memories sweet will bless all our years,
Just as long as we can survive.

Just this day, or the next, in this era of genius;
Someone is bound to find
What is needed so bad - for the best that I had
To remain always in her mind.

You were fine!  You were grand!  And, I understand
That you stayed just as long as you could.
Blue eyes, open wide.  Find Heaven inside,
Where mem'ry's restored for good!

© by Joan Clifton Costner

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com

jody@ptsi.net

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Alzheimer's

Joan Clifton Costner

As the years both dry or wet

Leave their mark within the tree,

So does life leave "rings" within us

Telling tales of you and me;

And I hate the fiendish foe that takes

Us from this present time -

Hurling us in utter chaos

To some distant state of mind.

Lost you are... and I am searching

For that " ring" within your life,

Just in order to be with you

And to share deep sorrow’s knife.

Could I find that "ring" in time

I would answer all your questions -

Keep the teardrops from your eyes -

Oh! Life teaches such dear lessons!

Will we come to some sweet mem’ry

Stronger than the loved ones lost?

Must we come again to sorrow?

Must we pay again the cost?

All I know is God is faithful

And wherever you may be

He is there and offers comfort -

Gentle arms and sweet relief.

...We’re so weary - you and I -

For this game of seek and find

Fills a hundred thousand hallways

In the mirrors of your mind...

And...I try so hard to find you -

Or just make you know it’s me -

While I hold my precious mem’ries

Of the one you used to be....

Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;

Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator