Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

March 11, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Please add my daughter, Cheryl Lynn Schneider to your prayers as she has a goiter which is growing and cannot be shrunk by medication.  She is scheduled to have her thyroid removed on Tuesday morning, March 13, 2007.  It is eminent that she have this done as it is interferring with her swallowing and at times, it delays her audible answers to questions.  Cheryl is a registered nurse who has her bachelors and is working toward her masters online.  Thank you,  Norma (Normie)Liles: hoopla214@yahoo.com

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Today’s Stories

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Who Wrote The Bible?

Your Answer Has Already Changed You!

Who wrote the Bible?  Your answer has already changed you! Here are your alternatives:

1.  The Bible was written by a kind but firm dad.  He won't let you get away with anything, but he won't be deliberately cruel either.

2.  It was written by a king to his subjects.  Like it or not, the law is the law!  You have to obey or be punished.

3.  The Bible was written by a mighty general.  A great war is being waged against evil!  We lose many battles, but victory is ours!  This mighty war hero issues tough orders, but he has commanded respect by his heroism.

4.  The Bible was written by a tender shepherd!  He leads us to green pastures.  He makes us lie down by quiet waters.  He even lays down his life for us!  Don't mistake his tenderness for weakness.  he drives the sheep when they need it!  He is more than capable of driving off the wolves!

5.  The Bible was written by a close and dear friend.  Just when you feel alone, abandoned, in pain, sad, or confused, this gentle friend is there to comfort you night or day!

6.  The Bible was written by rather nice neighbors who belong to a very old religious community.  They have very definite ideas about things, but we get along well enough.  We don't know these neighbors very well, but we don't mind having them around, and we say "hello" and wave to them now and then.

7.  The Bible was written by a harsh tyrant!  Father?  King? No!  He's a slave driver who intends to beat us into submission!  If only we could throw off the chains of this tyrant!

8.  The Bible was written by religious terrorists!  We've beaten terrorists before, and we'll beat them again!  They have no right imposing their antiquated ideas on the rest of us!

9.  The Bible was written by suspicious neighbors lurking about in our neighborhood.  We don't know anything about these people!  Since we don't know, its best to be careful and keep away from these strangers.

10.  The Bible was written by people who are just plain out of their minds!  It is full of mythology and has nothing to do with life today.  We've all heard stories of someone who had a crazy aunt Sally who lived upstairs in the attic.  She had to be tolerated, but she most certainly needed looking after!  The Bible and those who follow it are just like that!  They have to be tolerated since they're not likely to go anywhere, but they certainly do need to be watched and controlled!

Just who wrote the Bible?  You probably believe one of these alternatives.  Your answers will also determine to a large degree just who you are!  Why do you think the way you do?  Why do you react toward the Bible the way you do?  The Bible and its followers have had a profound influence on the world.  That is reason enough to study it.  However, it can't be studied objectively.  That's because you already have an opinion about it.  Why not study it again, but this time, be really honest beforehand.  Admit what you are bringing to the discussion.  Then, open its pages.  Then, ask its followers your questions.  Then, listen, really listen, to the answers.

© by Chris Hansen

chrishansen54@sbcglobal.net

Author of Grandfather's Journal

Revelation Revisited and Secret of the Psalms

For Bible answers
www.equip.org www.reasons.org

www.truthsthattransform.org

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Poetry Corner

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Photo Album Memories

Cheryl Williams

She picked up the photo album,
dusty and worn, and settled back
into her comfy blue chair,
the same chair she had rocked
three babies to sleep in so many
years ago.

She turned the pages one by one,
reflecting on the ocean of memories
before her. Her wedding day (was
she really that skinny back then?)
What a wonderful day it had been;
How young and in love they were.
She could still see the look of total
love and awe on his handsome face
when he first saw her walking down
the aisle in her wedding gown.

And then came the kids...and for the
first time she knew what it was to
truly love someone unconditionally.;
So many pictures of their childhood;
First birthdays with cake all over their
faces amidst toothless grins. First steps.
Tearful pouting faces. Family vacations.
The beach, the mountains, Disney world.
Then came the prom pictures, the graduation
pictures. So many moments caught by way of
a camera. So many emotions. So much joy
and laughter.

But the last few pages were blank. And she
felt sad. The last picture was of her
youngest son's graduation years before;
Tears welled up in her eyes. It seemed as
if the joy had stopped once the children
were gone.

Now she and her husband spent quiet
evenings, not out of need
but because they could find
nothing to say;
Small talk because the silence
would become unbearable;
And sometimes they would
both seem to be staring blankly,
as if trying to remember the
way it used to be.

Nobody had told her about this
part of being married. Nobody
had warned her that one day
she would wake up next to her
husband and they would have
nothing to say to each other.

How did one go about making
the transition from a house filled
with laughter and children and
beautiful chaos to silence?
She sat there with tears streaming
down her face, and wondered
if she could do it.

She closed the album, and went
to her closet, and found the camera.
She looked to see if there was still
some film inside, and was pleased
to find that there was.

She went into the kitchen and started
to prepare his favorite meal...unhealthy as
it was. Homemade fried chicken and
creamy mashed potatoes, corn on the cob,
and homemade biscuits. She smiled as
she made it, trying to imagine the look
on his face when he walked through the door.

And she made sure her camera was ready.

Cheryl Williams

politicalgirl04@aol.com

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