Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Dec 11, 2006

Today’s announcements

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

 ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

DODGING THE DUM-DUMS IN LIFE’S SOUNDTRACK

Joseph Walker

            I’m not complaining.  Honest.  I just have one little suggestion for whoever is in charge.

            A soundtrack.  You know – like in the movies.  And I’m not just thinking aesthetics here, although I admit I like the idea of John Williams scoring my life (a little “Superman,” a dash of “Star Wars” and a hearty dose of “Dumb and Dumber”).  It just seems to me that life would be simpler if we had a few musical cues to help us understand what’s going on.

            The idea came to me a few weeks ago while we were watching a “Jaws” rerun on TV.  There was a scene with a bunch of children playing in the water, and Beth was getting nervous.

            “Get out of the water!” my 17-year-old daughter warned the kids on TV, who for some reason weren’t listening to her.  “There’s a shark out there!”

            “No way,” said 15-year-old Jon.  “No dum-dums.”

            Dum-dums?  You mean the kids on the beach?

            “No – I mean the music,” Jon said.  Then he sang his adolescent imitation of that scary theme music that accompanies every impending “Jaws” attack:  “Duhhh-dum.  Duhhh-dum.  Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum.”

            “No dum-dums, no shark attack,” he concluded, confidently.

            We continued watching the frolicking youngsters on the screen.  Jon was right – there were no dum-dums, and no shark.  But before long a group of teenagers entered the water.  Only this time . . . duhhh-dum.  Duhhh-dum.  Duhhh-dum.  Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum.

            Suddenly there was a shark – and one less dum-dum in the water.

            That’s when it hit me: If those teenagers had been able to hear the soundtrack they would have known there was danger afoot . . . er, afin.  And if they chose to ignore the warning . . well, maybe they deserved to be sharkie biscuits.

            It would make life a lot easier if we each had our own soundtrack.  If you were about to make a major financial investment you’d probably think twice if you suddenly heard the strains of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”  Or you might reconsider that cruise if you boarded a ship and heard your soundtrack playing the theme from “Titanic.”  And wouldn’t it be great to make an important decision to the accompaniment of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”?

            Unfortunately, there is no soundtrack to reality.  And to tell you the truth, I don’t think the technology is forthcoming.  Which sort of leaves us all dangling in the same precarious position – unsure, unstable and uncertain.  Instead of a beautifully orchestrated musical score, we usually find ourselves making up the tune as we go along.

            Or do we?

            Throughout my life I have known people who had an unusual sense of themselves and the direction they are headed in life.  Perhaps you’ve known people like that too.  They’re not any smarter than the rest of us, but they share a secret for success.  Some call it “conscience,” while others call it “intuition.”  Some refer to it as a “muse” they must follow, while others prefer to describe it in religious terms.

            Whatever you wish to call it, I’m convinced there is something inside us that can help us to make good decisions and choices.  It requires a little more effort than simply responding to the music in a movie soundtrack.  We have to take time to ponder our circumstances and carefully weigh our options.  We have to patiently wait for those impressions to come from within, and then have the sensitivity to understand and interpret them when they arrive.  And we have to have the courage to act upon those impressions – and to accept the consequences of our actions.

            Of course, tuning in to the music of our lives won’t necessarily spare us from all heartache.  But if the time comes when we can compose our own personal soundtracks, at least we’ll know where to put the cymbal crashes.

And where to put the dum-dums.

~**~**~

All from Insights from a Blind Man: Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen
E-mail Address(es):
chrishansen54@sbcglobal.net

God Said, "Hello!"

by Chris Hansen

What if God actually said, "Hello!"?  What a life-changing revelation that would be!  The doubters among us express the following reasons for their doubts concerning the existence of God:
We are being asked to believe in a God that nobody can see and nobody can hear!  Worse yet, our eternal destiny hangs on believing in this God who has left us no evidence!  If He did leave us any evidence, then it was so long ago and, over time, this "evidence" has been shrouded in mythology and exaggerations - so that no one can tell just what is myth and just what really happened.

These doubters do seem to have a point, at first.  I can't see God as I sit here writing this article.  Further thought, however, soon shows that 'not seeing something' does not disprove that some things existence.  A man born blind can't see the moon and stars.  They still exist!  Radio waves existed before Marconi discovered how to perceive them.  A detective can't see a suspect by the time that detective arrives.  But, he most certainly can see the fingerprints left behind by that suspect!  I contend that an invisible God has left us fingerprints, and rather clear ones at that!

God's thumb print: Creation.  Science and theology can quibble over details.  Just how did creation come about?  In how many stages?  How long ago?  And so on, and so on.

How does one establish creation then?  Take this article as an example.  How do you know that a chimpanzee didn't just sit down and randomly tap the keys on a computer?  The answer is simple.  This article is a very complex and very organized informational format.  I believe that the universe as a whole, and earth in particular, exhibit this kind of complexity.  Now, evolution holds that 'very simple processes' built themselves up into very complex ones.

This theory also postulates that plant life evolved first, followed by animal life.  After all, plants must provide the food for the animals which would have to come later on.  It is maintained that plants are a rather simple form of life.  Now on the surface this seems plausible.  But, is it really that simple after all?

Consider just how plants make food.  Photosynthesis is a very complex process.  Plants are asked to do something that our most intelligent scientists can't do!  The request is as follows:  Mr. plant, would you please take a mound of dirt, a gust of wind, a splash of water, and a flash of sunlight, and would you please create dinner for us?  Absurd!  This dirt dinner needs to contain complex enzymes, vitamins, fats, sugars, starches, and proteins of all sorts!  Our best minds could feed the world if they could figure out this process!  Well, science hasn't yet done so, but dumb dirt managed it already!  How?  Doesn't it seem that this dumb dirt had somebody really smart guiding it?  And if plants are "simple" forms of life, then animal life must be truly complex!  This brings up another annoying question.

Man is the most complex animal of all.  His brain can question, ponder, wonder, feel emotion, and act volitionally.  And this massive brain full of conscious volition was created by unconscious dirt?  How did stupid unconscious dirt create smart and conscious man?  Could somebody already conscious have already been there to guide?

Let's imagine a book about mathematics for a moment.  It is an arrangement of ink and paper, to be sure.  But, it is so much more!  It requires a linguist, a mechanic, and a mathematician to organize this ink and paper just right.  Somebody has to run the press.  Somebody has to write the grammatical code.  Somebody has to organize the mathematical formula.  Simply knowing how ink and paper interact tells you nothing about a math book.  In the same way, knowing how chemicals react tells you nothing about life.  Life is more than chemical reactions.  Life is a very complex code requiring a code writer!  Could that code writer have left a thumb print?

His index finger: Conscience.  Every human society has a group moral conscience.  Everybody has rules about who deserves to live, how many women you can have, what property belongs to you, and so on.  The ten commandments are actually the ten reminders.  The rules among cultures may vary, but the point is, everybody has rules.  Where did these universal rules come from?  Could these rules have existed in the mind of someone who was here already?

His third finger: History.  Just how did the Israelites escape Egypt?  They were unarmed slaves.  They had been enslaved for centuries.  They were in bondage to the most powerful military force on the earth of their day.  Then, all of a sudden, they gain their freedom?  That would be the equivalent of Los Angeles defeating the entire might of the United States Military.  Could the Jews have gotten supernatural help?

Just how did the Christian church get started?  After all, it was started by a Rabbi with grandiose dreams who got himself killed!  It was started by eleven cowards and one traitor to their cause!  Why would Peter deny Jesus one day, and then risk his life on another day?  Peter claimed that Jesus had risen bodily from the grave!  Could Peter be right?  A resurrection would qualify as a major fingerprint of God!

Perhaps, it will be argued the disciples only thought Jesus rose from death.  The theory suggests that Jesus was only unconscious, and not really dead.  Consider for a moment what the Romans did to Jesus.  They were professional executioners!  They knew how to kill.  Jesus lost copious amounts of blood owing to the crucifixion and to the severe beating he received.  He suffocated slowly during his ordeal because of the way he hung on the cross.  He suffered cardiac stress during the crucifixion.  A Roman soldier pierced his heart with a spear just to make sure he was really dead!  After that, he was wrapped in heavy grave clothes and left in a cool tomb.  Does it seem likely that his friends would have buried him if there were any sign of life?  The crucifixion induced shock.  This medical condition is best treated with warmth and comfort.  Jesus got anything but that!  The last place you put a shock patient is in a cool tomb!  The coolness would have intensified the shock to the point of death, even if he were still alive somehow.

Even if this mangled Jesus did manage to survive, imagine, for a moment, His dramatic encounter with Thomas.  We all know what Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!"  If Thomas had seen a mangled messiah, I am quite sure he would have said, instead, "My Lord, you need a physician!"  That isn't what Thomas said!

Even the day of common worship has changed.  Why?  The Jewish community was fanatical about Sabbath worship, Saturday only.  Folks were killed for breaking this law!  They didn't fool around about this day of worship.  Now, all of a sudden, in mass, they switch the day to Sunday?  A dead body rising on Sunday morning just might explain their sudden change of attitude! 

His fourth finger: Prophecy.  Hundreds of years before Christ came, prophets wrote down very explicit and very specific details about their coming Messiah.  Anybody can prophesy in a vague or general sort of way.  A great leader will come who will inspire the people ... and so on.  Given enough time, that sort of prophecy is bound to come true.  The messianic prophecies aren't anything like that.  Psalm 22, for example, predicts among other things, that He would have his hands pierced, and even that they would cast lots for His clothing.  Isaiah, chapter 53, is His biography in advance.  Daniel, Chapter 9, points to the precise time of His arrival.  Could God have left yet another fingerprint in prophecy?

God's little finger: Changed lives.  Thousands of case studies can be brought forth regarding what is commonly called the "Jesus factor".  Without Jesus, drug rehab has a miserable success rate.  With Jesus, the recovery rate is truly amazing.  Why?  Mere psychology doesn't seem adequate to explain this.  People, who regularly attend church, live longer and have fewer health problems.  Could this be yet another fingerprint?

So what?  What if God is real?  What if Jesus really did do amazing things?  The answer is simple.  Either life has a purpose, or it doesn't.  Either we all die like insects, or we live forever.  Either we are mere protoplasm or we are princes!  If Jesus is telling us the truth, then we can live forever and rule the universe at his side!  If he is telling us the truth, then rejecting him is treason!  If Jesus is telling us the truth, then treason against Him has an eternal penalty!

What do I do about it?  Jesus told us the answer.  "If you confess me before men, then I will confess you before my Father."  (Luke 12:8.)  Tell people what you believe to be true about Jesus, and then He tells His Father what He believes to be true about you!  You  might begin by sending this article to others.  Investigate the Bible for yourself.  Go to church and investigate other Christians.  Tell Jesus how you are feeling.  After all, if He rose from death, then isn't He alive right now?  Could God be leaving fingerprints on your soul, too?

© by Chris Hansen

Author of Grandfather's Journal

Revelation Revisited and Secret of the Psalms

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

~Far Away Friend~

 Mary Dees

Dear far away friend,

Where have you been?

The summer has passed,

The leaves are changing again.

Am I still fresh at heart,

In your warm memories?

Would you ask this yourself,

The same thing from me?

Time passes with such quickness,

That we've lost sight of small pleasures.

Laughing till we would cry,

Made your friendship my treasure.

Even through the absent years,

Your friendship has been worthwhile.

There were times when you could help me,

Just by remembering your smile.

I miss us, the way we were.

Before our adult lives through us a curve.

We are who we are now,

Because of all we went through.

At least my avoidance of change,

Helped me remain close to you.

But I realize things change,

And just like the leaves.

They detach themselves inevitably,

From their earthbound tree.

But with the change of the season,

The tree buds once again.

As will our friendship,

My Dear Far Away Friend.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

~Words~

Mary Dees 

Our words are still worth it,

They are read everywhere.

They are heard and endured,

They are said during prayer.

Compiled or scattered,

Everything in time will be read.

They may comfort the dying,

They may speak to the dead.

Words of injustice,

May cause us to fight.

Even words of prejudice,

For ignorant delight.

Words being compounded,

In strength or in fear.

Words can make us one body,

To share in our tears.

Documented or in scripted,

Or just burning there in our mind.

Words have been beneficial,

Since the beginning of time.

Words that we wash in,

To keep our spirit brand new.

Even hymns, they remind us,

Divine love is true.

Forced out or muttered,

Even whispered they are heard.

Somehow, inevitably,

We always end up with words.

By Mary M. Dees 

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Donations are needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   

Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter.  Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.  Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.  Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.  Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.  These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer

Mark Crider

Rosanne Catalano

Paula Booher

Mary Ellen Grisham

Louise Nomani

Sharon Bryant

Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd

Keith Ready

Mary Ellen Grisham

Ginger Morgenstern

Ellie Braun-Haley

Surinder Jandu

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; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Pringle, Sandra Lewis; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; 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