Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Dec 15, 2006

Today’s announcements

Happy Anniversary to a very sweet couple, the Dewitt’s:  dewittnancy@sbcglobal.net

Happy Birthday Bob Shaw:  caperabbit@semo.net

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

The Animals Knew Him

Bill Walker

Missouri's@yahoo.com

This little story will not take but a couple minutes to read, but it is something to think about. If you will read way back there in the Bible.  There was no such a thing as sickness or death. Mankind caused sickness and death to take place. Ever since Adam and Eve did the first sin, we have been faced with this.  Not only man had to deal with sickness and death, but ever thing else.  The poor animals has really paid a price for man sin against God.  And the real sad thing is animals had nothing to do with man sin.

Now if you read the first chapters of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, most people miss something. I will be willing to say, there is not but a very very few preachers of any class or grade of preacher ever picked up on this.  We read of the Angels coming, singing about the wonderful birth of Jesus.  We all so read of the shepherds in the fields coming.  The Wise Men was on the road. Now there was animals that also came.  And if you stop and think, among those animals would have to be a dog.  A dog that helped keep the sheep together, fight off the enemies of the sheep.

These animals came and laid down near the new born baby in the manger.  These animals knew this baby, had came to take away the sins.  These animals rejoiced, here is not only the savor of mankind, but the animals also.  These animals knew.  How dare anyone to tell me animals has no place in Heaven.  These animals came to see the new born baby.

I am very happy to tell you Mr. Preacher and self righteous person.  You see God sent his only Begotten Son to undo mankind sins.  And to restore the plan of no sickness and death in the forever.  The Animals knew this, that night so long ago. Yes Mr. Preacher, and self righteous know it all.  My gang of puppies is in Heaven. There had to be a dog showed up that night and looked upon the New Born Baby. All these animals came to see one thing. The savor of all living things, and the restorer of things as was Gods plan in the beginning.  No sickness nor death. Yes my friends. The Animals Knew Him. These animals knew there will still be sickness and death on this earth, but one day they too will be in Heaven with the Master.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

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

~**~**~

 All from Insights from a Blind Man: Chris Hansen

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

LITTLE EVIDENCE FOR GOD’S EXISTENCE

By Chris Hansen

There is very little evidence for the existence of God!  Now, if you’re an atheist, this sounds like really good news - and bad news if you’re not.  It’s good news if you don’t want God to mess up your plans.  It’s bad news if you need the comfort of a God who will take care of you.  Before I explain what I mean by the word 'little', let me cover a bit of history first.
 
In 1859, Charles Darwin published his smash hit book, "Origin of Species".  For the next hundred years, atheism was in its heyday.  Darwin and others postulated the very simple cell.  They had good reason to do so.  The tiny cell appeared under their optical microscopes as a sort of ping pong ball with a little pea at the center.  This tiny cell did all sorts of wonderful things, but it was a 'black box', very much like our computers are; a little black box that most people can’t explain while using what it can do.  Then, in 1959, DNA with its complexities was discovered.  The 'simple' cell grew a bit more complex.  Then, the electron microscope came along which made things still more complicated.  Then, along came magnetic nuclear resonance scanning which began to show the cell at the molecular level, and the complex suddenly became the bewildering!
 
The year was 1996.  Professor Michael J. Behee published his controversial book, "Darwin’s Black Box".  He was interviewed March 29, 2006, the morning of the writing of this article.  http://www.truthsthattransform.org  Behee explained that, in Darwin’s day, the cell was a sort of black box that no one could really analyze, simply because the optical equipment they had would not allow it. 
 
Now, under magnetic nuclear resonance scanning, the cell turns out to be dazzlingly complicated!  Now, this is what I mean by 'little' evidence.  Tiny molecular machines construct highways, and vehicles that travel on them, and motors that run the vehicles, and even other machines that build the vehicles, and the motors that run them, and the highways they travel on! 
 
So what?  Well, if Darwin is right, we need not bother with God at all.  Darwin himself said that if evidence were to come forth that couldn’t explain cell parts by simple processes becoming complex through small steps, then his theory ought to be discarded.  Behee explains that these tiny cellular machines are irreducibly complex.  This means that if a part is missing, you have far more than a part or system that works less efficiently.  Instead, you have a whole system that just won’t work at all!  This means that dozens of parts all had to be made all at once, or the whole system would simply stop running altogether!  So, it turns out that Darwin’s 'black box' has been cracked wide open, and his 'simple cell' just isn’t 'simple' anymore! 
 
Science objects as follows: Science simply won’t allow for intelligent design.  That’s because science is concerned with natural processes only.  Science can’t have anything to do with the supernatural or with matters of faith.  So, what’s wrong with this objection?  Well, it just doesn’t allow the mind to follow the trail of evidence!  Suppose, for a moment, that the evidence really does show intelligent design.  Suppose that this is the way things really are.  Suppose that we really have been programmed by a vast intelligence.  Now, suppose that you, as a 'scientist', just won’t let yourself look down that trail of evidence.  This means that truth is screaming at you, but you’re not allowed to move toward it!
 
Let’s do some more supposing.  If God wanted to actually talk to us, just how might He want to do that?  He could have a number of options.  Clearly one of these options would be built in and bewildering and complex intelligent design!  Do we not presuppose an author, when we see letters arranged into words, which become sentences, which become paragraphs, which become chapters, which then become a complex novel?  Can’t we also presuppose a programmer when we clearly see atoms become molecules, which become proteins, which become instructional code, which then becomes DNA, which then become cellular parts exhibiting bewildering complexity?  We have no trouble presupposing computer design when we clearly see simple zeros and ones become complex windows instructions; bugs not withstanding!
 
One final thought.  If this 'programmer' did communicate, then isn’t it wise to try and find out just what this 'programmer' wants?

© 2006 by Chris Hansen

Author of Grandfather's Journal

Revelation Revisited and Secret of the Psalms

~**~**~

ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuspeak@msn.com

FORGIVING “THEM”

            They caught them – whoever “they” and “them” are.

            At least, that’s what it seemed to indicate in the thick, official-looking letter that arrived the other day.  Two men whose names I’ve never heard before are being charged with breaking into my car, stealing my wallet and using my debit card all over town.

            OK, maybe “breaking into my car” is a little strong.  I left the car unlocked, fully knowing that my wallet was in the glove compartment (my security-minded brother-in-law thinks that I should be brought up on charges too – for being so darn dumb).  Still, the law makes it clear that these guys were wrong to do what they did – no matter how easy I made things for them – and they are now going to be held accountable for their actions.

            To be honest, part of me delights in that prospect.  By their bad choices – ridiculously easy though they may have been to make – these guys caused us a lot of anguish during the past few weeks.  The moment I saw that my wallet – and my debit card – was missing, we hurried to the computer to check our online banking resource for “unusual” activity (that’s not quite right – Anita hurried to the computer while I paced in the kitchen, wringing my hands and whimpering about pirates, scalawags and the world going to heck in a hand basket).

Sure enough, whoever had taken my wallet had already used my debit card at four area business to make purchases totaling nearly $700.  I, of course, blame this on Anita.  When I was in charge of our bank account we never had $700 in there.  At least, not all at one time.

So for three weeks we’ve been talking to police, cancelling debit and credit cards, filing payment challenges with merchants and replacing licenses and insurance cards.  It has been a hassle, and it has prompted more than a few feelings of concern and insecurity.  I check the locks on the cars and the house two or three times every night before going to bed (partly because I’m concerned, and partly because I keep forgetting if I’ve checked or not).  And I find myself yearning for quieter, simpler times when . . . well, I was going to say we left our houses and cars unlocked at night, but the truth of the matter is I don’t remember if we even HAD locks.

All of which may help to explain why I was feeling relieved, vindicated and a little bit of blood lust when that official-looking letter arrived.  The letter informed us of the names of the men being charged with the crime and told us when their first hearing would be.  It also explained some of our rights as “victims,” including the right to be there when their case is heard.  Immediately my mind flashed to a “Tale of Two Cities” fantasy, only I was the grizzled old woman on the front row of the court room cackling, “Guillotine!  Guillotine!”

Yeah, I know -- it’s sort of a pre-Alzheimer’s thing, I think.

But then I started thinking: I don’t know anything at all about these two people – only that they have male-sounding names.  I don’t know if they are old or young.  I don’t know if they are married or single. I don’t know if they were trying to raise money to support a drug habit, or trying to buy Christmas presents for underprivileged children.  I mean, I sort of doubt that last one, but I don’t know for sure.

And maybe I don’t need to know.  The way I see it, I only have one job here: to forgive them.  That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t experience the consequences of their bad choices.  Of course they should.  That’s how we learn in life.  But the police are doing a wonderful job of taking care of that.  A law has been broken, and a price will be paid.  I don’t need to extract my own personal “pound of flesh.”  I just need to forgive them, and to move on with my life.

Oh, and I need to remember to keep my wallet with me and to lock my car at night.

So “they” don’t have to catch “them” again.

Readers Feedback

Congratulations, Dawn... your story, A Passion Found, was quite romantic and a good reminder for we, the married couples, to always find time to one another. I have two children 16 and 10 yrs old and at times the tension in the house could be very high.... But, we always manage to find time for us.... Couple time is hard to find, but it is always needed to recharge the batteries of our love...... TANNIA

Carol, The Voice of the Angel in my Ear, was just simple beautiful and well done too! I had some encounters with my guardian angel and I do believe they exist and guide us thru life if we are willing to listen to them and their wise counsel...... TANNIA

 ~**~**~

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