Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

August 27, 2007

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Helen Dowd

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Today’s Announcements

Happy anniversary wishes for Jim and Bonnie Geddes

Congratulations to Bill Walker, he has published 300 stories on Storytime Tapestry to date.

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

 ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

Va;uespeak@msn.com

THE SIREN SONG OF SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

            The first time I dipped a tentative toe into the world of high finance I stubbed it.

            The company for which I worked at the time offered stock as part of its benefits package.  I had never purchased stock before, but since the company seemed strong and had bright prospects for the future, I figured this would be a good time to start.  I agreed to have my 401-K secured by company stock – whatever that means – and to buy a little extra with each paycheck.

            “The value of the stock has almost doubled in the past three years,” I told my wife, Anita, repeating the phrase I had heard so often around the Human Resources Department that day.  “If it continues to increase in value at that rate, we'll be multi-millionaires by the time we retire!”

            Ah, yes – the siren song of Something for Nothing.  Or Almost Nothing.

            When I first started working with that company, the stock was valued at around $18 per share.  Three years later, it was valued at less than a third of that (an unfortunate coincidence – I hope).  But I still believed in the company, and I asked an executive if it would be ethical for me to tell everyone I knew that they should buy all of the stock they could get their hands on.

            “They can get a heck of a deal if they buy it now,” I said.  “I mean, it has to go up from here, doesn’t it?  It can’t possibly get any lower than $6, can it?”

            The horrified executive put one hand over my mouth and used the other hand to close his office door.  “I can’t believe you asked me that!” he fumed.  “Do you realize that I could go to jail if I answered that question?”

            “Mmmrph,” I replied.

            Hey, his hand was still over my mouth.

            “I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell my children when they talk about investing in the stock market,” he said.  “Never buy any stock with money that you can't afford to lose."

            During the next couple of years I watched the company’s stock go up and down – mostly down.  We’d announce good news, and the stock would go down.  Then it would jump up a point or two for no apparent reason.  And then it would slide inexplicably down to frightening new depths.  I would ask for explanations from people who are a lot smarter than me – CPAs, stock analysts, investment bankers, forklift operators – and nobody had a clue.

            “Any reasons I could give you would be speculative, at best,” one analyst told me the week before I was laid off, with the stock price plunging below $2.  “What it comes down to is this: the market goes up and the market goes down, and nobody ever knows for sure why.”

            Which is probably why my first experience in the stock market was so frustrating – and why so many people have felt anxiety over recent dramatic shifts in stock market performances.  The stock market is whimsical.  Unpredictable.  Uncertain.  One day it’s up and you’re singing “Happy Days Are Here Again,” and the next day it plummets to the mournful strains of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”  And often for no apparent reason.

            In that way, the stock market provides a good metaphor for life, which can be similarly whimsical, unpredictable and uncertain.  It takes patience and self-discipline to weather the ups and downs of the stock market – just as it does in life.  Those who are most successful – in the market and in life – are those who aren’t looking to make a quick killing but who are courageous enough to tough it out over the long haul.  And even though it is tempting to bail when things get hard, the market – and life – saves its greatest rewards for those who hang in there.

            Oh, and one other metaphor: no matter what you may wish to believe and no matter what you may have heard to the contrary, there’s no such thing as something for nothing – in life or in the market.  The mini-investment that results in a mega-return is an aberration.  It usually doesn’t work like that.  Usually the reward comes after a lot of work and a few setbacks.  In the market – and in life – the price of success is patience, endurance, courage and self-discipline.

            And maybe an occasional stubbed toe.

~**~**~

It Is Written # 1
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

Matthew 24;5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
24;6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of war; see that ye not be troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
24;7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
25;8. All these things are the beginning of sorrows.

Read the above lines a few times, and think on each verse. What is said and how it is said. How many times in history has the verse number 24;5 came to pass? We
have seen countless number of fakers come and go, working the flocks; working the flocks waving a Bible, telling and drumming up a crowd of people to follow after them, working the flock for money, money so they and family can live a great fine life style.

If we look and read what the Bible says of the life style of the one most humble man name of Jesus we see a vast difference. If we read of the men that followed, and wrote the books of the New Testament, we see a vast difference. Jesus and the writers were very humble men. They did not lord over the flock.

How many times have we seen great wars, come and go? Each was a terrible war. We have had wars and rumors of wars since Jesus was here. In the 20th Century we had what was called two world wars. There were very few nations not participating in those two wars. The two wars troubled most every nation or people in some way or other.

Famines and pestilences.

Yes we have had those also, There has been famines every since Jesus was here. Somewhere on this earth there are famines due to many natural causes. Also many people in some lands go without food that is shipped in and given free by other nations. These starving people never see the food, but the warlords live high on the hog.

Pestilence is the same deal. We see everyday and hear every day of sickness, which comes about by for many reasons. People without food soon become sick from just being unable to fight off the common cold. People in lands controlled by warlords, have poor if any housing and no medical care. Sickness remains untreated.

Then there is other things that come about, like Aids. Yes it is in places where there is great medical care, things brought on by stupid acts, will fester, and grow.

Earthquakes.

We will always have them. It seems like there is more of them all the time. Storms we have always have as well. We have had many storms on the order of Katrina.
There are other lines in the Bible we must read.

Matthew 24;36. But of the day and hour knoweth no man, no, not even the
angels of Heaven, but my Father only.

All the signs may be here today and remember this, we have had many signs. The signs have been here many times. The thing is we don't know about a lot of things.

Jesus made it very clear. The signs, we may think, are right for the second coming, but God may be just giving us a second chance.
Remember what it said in Matthew 24; 5. Any one who claims to know is one of the fakers, Jesus spoke of. That person is of Satan.

Also remember this. We have always lived in troubled times. Even in the days of Jesus walking on this earth, those was troubled times also.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

I Am What I Am

 Joyce C. Lock

I am a child of God
Don't worry 'bout my fate.
He lives within my soul;
My ever present mate.

A child of God, I am.
I am His, don't you see?
God doesn't create to your specs.
You don't even have to like me.

When you care to see God,
Look some closer at me.
As that is where He lives,
Whether you believe it be.

Though, you have to be nice,
Says the Good Book to thee.
That is God's desire for us all.
We are created for His glee.

I will be your teacher
Of all God is or ain't.
By failure or sample,
You'll learn to be a Saint.

If we climb great heights or
Fail in 'all we can be',
God forever remains the same
As He still loves both you and me.

Whether you care to love
Or lean more toward sin's hate,
I am here for purpose
As one God did create.

If you feel otherwise,
Talk to God Almighty.
He knows that 'I am what I am'
Because I am ordained to be.

You can choose the bitter
Or begin a clean slate.
We're in this, together.
In that, we can relate.

I could be the sanding
That softens your feet
Or the most lovely of blessings,
Providing your spiritual meat ...

The hard knocks of life,
Surely heading your way,
Or the freshness of Spring;
Brightening dreary days.

But, whatever God's plan,
How He intended be,
I fulfill His holy purpose
In your path to dreams yet to be.

I exist by God's plan
And He lives inside me.
You can't say you love Him
While acting blindedly.

So, maybe, in God's time
(Once, outwardly, less seen),
You'll find something in me to love
And there nothing between us be.

© 2007 by Joyce C. Lock

http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/

All things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28, KJV

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,

who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,

and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and

then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5, KJV

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Dear Carol,

Thanks so much for featuring some of my poetry.  I am anxiously awaiting reading more of my poems.

Your friend,

David Fox

Carol,
    It was so nice being in Storytime today.  It is always such a joy being a part of something so special.  Wishing you every joy, Joe

Peggy has shown me that real evil exists and I am praying for her.  Jesus has also taught me that real goodness is promised from another good world, far beyond this dark one.  Peggy, it's your turn, I should think!

Chris Hansen A fellow contributor-writer.

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