Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

August 26, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

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The Word and Preachers

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

I am on a path here of getting or making people mad.  I will give you English majors a couple of different words to fight over. Making and Getting.  Maybe that will take some of the heat off of my main thought here..

Now maybe I miss understand preachers, but I think most run in the class of nuts. They jump up and down screaming a few things. One is the dumb words, "are you saved."  other run along the path of, " we are in the last days."  While some are in the book of Revelation  I for one go with what a lot of thinkers says about Revelations.  It is a book that can't be explained.  There is parts of it that just don't make sense.

Now lets look at a few things.  Last days..  Yes we are in the last days.   Peter, Paul and Mary, knew we was in the last days.  How long has that been?  Well best I can figure. 1970 odd years ago. People then had it figured any day, could be the last day. The people since then has all taken a turn at these are the last days.   Why don't people look at what Jesus said.  No man knows, only the Father knows.  OK now I just know many is ready to jump on me about this.  But lets look at a few other things.

We all know each and ever one know this, unless they are like a few I know.. No one is perfect, never did any sin, that sort of thing.   Like I said I have been blessed with knowing a few perfects in my time.  One is the out going Sheriff of this county. The other is the one taking his place. Both are prefects, if you don't believe it, ask them .

Now why don't these Bible thumpers read the words in that Bible instead of beating me  over the  head with it? 

In the Holy Bible, Jesus says..."If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven.

That is kind of simple would you not say?  What is hard to understand here? 

I read the parts in the Bible that is said to be the words of Jesus. I read how he came from Heaven, I read about his last days  before the cross. I read what takes place all in between. I read the hours of the last couple days. I read also he walked out of that grave alive. I read the days he talked to the few, about be would be back, when his Father sends him back. I believe all this.  I do in no way that I know of deny him. I think you also are in that class.

Now I have been reading what some preachers say. The last days again.. We are in the last days. You hear me??  We are in the last days.  I know I am in my last days. I may be with you a while longer, I may be gone before I get this done. I got some miles on me.  I am like an old car, falling apart, spend a lot of time in the shop getting a fix up, patch up repair job on some part. Some things I get a repair job on, others I say well sure can't repair that.  Like some dents in fenders. There is some dents in my old worn out body also.. I  don't do much repair on them. I seem to be missing lots of hair.. I hear tell I will have them found and glued back some day.  Super Glue, it holds flip flops on Dollies feet, I hear.  Maybe that will be what is used on my falling hairs. I can hear the scream from Ma Baker in Dallas now.  Some one asked me other day, how I started calling her Ma Baker.. Well it wasn't me that started that.. It was Tinker and Poo.  They wrote a Rainbow Bridge story, about Ma Baker and her gang.

Last days.  I think it is said, when one dies, it is all over here on earth for them.   The soul goes to be with Jesus.  He got your mansion built, he tells that,  why don't you read it?  "In my Fathers House {Heaven} there is many mansions, I go to prepare one for you."  You leave the old sin filled body here to rot in the grave.  The soul travels to Heaven..  That is the ones that says. Yes I believe."  I believe when one dies, Jesus and the angels is right there to carry your soul home.  What happens after that, well get some preacher to muddy up the water, they seem to all have a different answer.  And I want to ask this... what difference does it make?   Jesus said he was going to be with you and me to the end of the world.   He will stand before God, and say yes he/she is one of mine, I paid the price of their sins on the cross. 

Remember what Jesus said.   Remember what he said to the thief on the cross.  A man who was a so called thief, a law breaker, may have done more then steal a crust of bread. "today you will be with me in paradise."  Remember this.  Jesus said that to a law breaker.  I can only guess,, but if the man broke the laws of the land, he also broke the laws of God..   We each have broken some law at one time or other of mankind. Even the little lady I bet has broke a speed law some time or other.  I remember being told about a lead footed gal.  Seems mother got nailed for doing something over the limit one time.  She was nice to the speed cop, and he told her to slow it down a bit. So if we break some law of the land,, don't tell me your so pure, you never broke one of Gods laws.  I did notice a certain preacher eye balling some woman one day.  Well  who didn't?  She was dressed in the see more clothes of the day.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

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Thank you for your consideration of the following submission for Story Time Tapestry. I truly enjoy the ezine and there are so many wonderful writers I can't comment on them all. I can only say that I am honored to have my work appear along with theirs in the publication.

Warmest Regards,

Leeuna Foster

leeuna@earthlink.net

Yesterdaze

Leeuna Foster

She sulked in the shadows twenty yards to the left of the winding two-lane balcktop, about a stone's throw away from the Big Curve. Her gray weathered planks were held in place by Lucky Strike, Orange Crush and Little Miss Sunbeam, hugging a loaf of bread. Old men...probably in their thirties...sat on up-turned crates on the rickety front porch, whittling their philosophies of life from bits of wood.

Inside, amidst the sixty-watt shadows, was the heavenly aroma of bread and cakes, mingled with a faint scent of kerosene from the barrels out back.

I could feel the icy Popsicle melting against my tongue. Did I even dare look inside the freezer? Ice cream cost a dime but I only had seven pennies! Maybe just one quick peek ...

Uncle Earl stood behind the counter, his once dark hair and white shirt both faded to the same tired shade of yellow-gray. "What do you want Little Girl? I don't have all day!" Annoyed brown eyes watched me as I turned from the freezer and scattered my pennies on the counter.

"I...I suppose I'll just have a licorice stick and some two-for-a-penny candy," I stammered. The brown eyes softened a little and a flicker of something foreign to me twinkled in their depths.

"Why not have some ice cream?" he suggested. "The Popsicles are on sale today for five cents each."

I skipped from the store, holding my grape Popsicle. I reached into my pocket and counted the candy...four pieces...two for a penny.

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Leeuna Foster is a Marketing Strategist, Author and Poet. She has been writing for two decades and her short fiction and poetry have won several national and regional awards. You can visit her websites at: http://www.southernfriedwriters.com and

http://www.thebarefootchild.com and

http://www.patchworkweb.com

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Poetry Section

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LOOKING FOR JESUS

Joan Clifton Costner

Wounded people, seeking Jesus,

Do not need a chiding word;

Don’t demand of hurting children

Things of which they’ve never heard!

Don’t think: "justice" (look for " mercy") ~

"Care" ~ in how you meet their eyes,

Their discernment ~ (understanding)

If you knew, would bring surprise.

Put your arm around their shoulder;

Wrap your love around their heart;

Seeds of love, nourish and cherish ~

Help them as they make a start!

Bleeding, bruised or broken hearted;

They are seeking ~ and they’ll find ~

Just remember, we’re not judges;

The love they need’s a different kind.

Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

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 Grandmas Are [not] Forever

Joan Clifton Costner

When I was a little girl my grandmother was

my personal property!

I loved the times with her and easily took it for granted

that grandmas were forever.

We folded the old newspaper pages and

cut out strings of paper dolls,

we made ‘turtle’ pancakes and ginerbread boys.

We cut patterns for doll clothes and she taught

me to sew (carefully) on the treadle sewing machine.

I watched the yeast raise the dough ever so slowly,

but surely....never realizing time works that way too.

Grandma stuck her false teeth out and

chased us around the house!

All of us grandies ran and screamed....

so...how could she grow old?

She still made oatmeal every morning...

or biscuits or bacon....

She still played the piano.

Then one day we moved away.

I didn’t know I would only see her twice after that.

I was nine years old and I really didn’t know

how old she was for she was always doing things.

We came at Christmas.

In March we came again, to say goodbye to

Grandpa.

I saw Grandma then...and patted her cheek...kissed her hand.

I had a new baby sister to divert my attention.

But in May, I didn’t get to go. I don’t know why.

I wanted to, but the folks said no.

So I told them to bring me 'something' of Grandmas.

You see, I thought Grandmas were forever.

I didn’t want a "thing" of hers. But she left me gobs.

Gobs and gobs of memories.

Songs and poems and stories....shapes of cut outs from the

strings of paper forms to the Valentine hearts and the doll

clothes ‘puffed’ sleeve patterns. Memories of piano melodies and

one special Church service where communion was served...even to me.

So

I guess when I really think of it...

Grandmas are forever.

Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com
http://www.heavenlypoetry.com

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Readers Feedback

“When a child has nothing, a little bit means everything.  When a child has everything a little bit means nothing.”

  this note Roger wrote is oh so true. I had a little 3 in. plastic doll whose arms

did not move, eyes and clothes painted on. That was my ONLY toy till I was 8

and even then I had very little. Probably ... maybe as much as Roger had but

like he says, even a little bit means everything to a child. I have some very

precious memories of different Christmas and birthdays from age 8 to 18.

Love

Jene

Re Rainy Evening by Bill Walker    Thank you.  We need to be reminded.  Someone wrote that the refugees pouring out of Afghanistan did not look like terrorists but only starving desperate people.  War is Hell.  A physician said to me once, and hurtfully, that the army was a killing machine.  I responded that they made the peace and kept the peace.  Where is the truth?                Louise

Carol,
     Storytime continues to grow and grow touching more and more lives as it
does my friend.  I still feel so blessed to be a part of it.  Wishing you
every joy, Joe

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; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; 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; Mizrany, Mary Carter; 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

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Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

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Bob Johnston - moderator