Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

February 22, 2008

Today’s Announcement

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

  ~**~**~

 
 When Psychology and Religion Collide

Joyce C. Lock

This is a true story, happened to a relative of mine ... and the second time I have seen one, in Christianity and psychology, who mixes legalism into it ... and gets out of line, as a result.  This story is not to classify all psychologist the same, but offers a good example of the unreasonableness in errors anyone makes when they mix knowledge with spiritual things and use it as a tool in judging others ... and also serves as a reminder to the rest of us, less educated in the field, that (however we reason) we are just as out of line when passing judgment. -- Joyce C. Lock

And so it was, amidst a large Christian gathering, a psychologist looked into the crowd and noticed a man with a mustache.  And, when he saw him, suddenly, his self-righteous indignation kicked in.  And so, taking along arrogance, an air of superiority, and a 'downright rude' boldness, the psychologist marched right up to 'the man with a mustache' and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that any man 'who wears hair on his face' is hiding something ... as if 'the man with a mustache' were 'some kind of imposter' wearing a mask to cover his true evil.  Furthermore, as if serving in some 'God ordained' interrogation, the psychologist demanded, of the man, to know what he was hiding.  (Perhaps he forgot about James 1:5.)

But, amazingly, 'the man with a mustache' was not shocked, defensive, offended, or even defamed; as any of us might be.  Instead, without so much as a blink, the man immediately responded, to the psychologist, confirming the accuracy of his observation!  And as the man continued, he explained, "You see, it's like this.  I have a mole under this mustache that, no matter how careful I am, I seem to nick 'more often than not' when shaving.  And so, I found the easiest way to deal with it is to just 'hide the mole' altogether; and that is why I wear a mustache."

And with that, the psychologist, in all his credentials of honour and educated glory, realizing his error, suddenly, fell from 'a stand of superiority' to begin 'picking himself up' off the floor as, when our heart condemns us, there goes our confidence, too; 1 John 3:20.  And so it is, with all men, that pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall; Proverbs 16:18.  Therefore, it is to our advantage, when 'judgment of things pertaining to this life' becomes necessary, if we set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church, 1 Corinthians 6:4, as 'many falls' land a lot harder still.

And even if we happen to think we 'are' more qualified to judge, be reminded ... there is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Job 28:7-8 

Before we can understand the need of another's heart, we have to have first experienced it; John 15:12.  And still, to know 'which' of our testimonies applies in ministering to others, we have to listen for God, John 5:30.

But for those who only think they understand, our judgment is not to be based upon the deceits discovered within our heart (Jeremiah 23:26) or anyone else's, but based upon the need of what is in their heart.  The glory of God is within His children.  Seek to see God, within them, as if you are searching for hidden treasures.  Reveal the true passions of their heart, trump darkness with light, offer God's unconditional love, cite ways that God praises them in spite of outward appearance, 1 Corinthians 4:5.  Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6  For, it can only be a true judgment when we can judge ourselves to have shown mercy and compassion; Zechariah 7:9.

And when we think of Jesus (who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he 'by the grace of God' should taste death for every man; Hebrews 2:9), we might consider it a clue as to how one receives lasting glory and honour.  And as a result of the life of Jesus, we have one who is qualified to judge!

The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. John 5:22  It is Christ that died, who rose to be at the right hand of God; making intercession for us, Romans 8:34.  Therefore, there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5  And, thankfully, when the LORD decides a matter, He looks upon the need of our heart; 1 Samuel 16:7.  For, as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  Neither can the natural man know them, because they are spiritually discerned; 1 Corinthians 2:9, 14.

And so, when tempted to judge, let us also consider ... all things are of God (the good, bad, and ugly, Psalm 100:3); as all things have purpose, Ecclesiastics 3:1.  Again, all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and, as a result, we also have the ministry of reconciliation (being we are joint heirs); meaning that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

As for Jesus, in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17  And as the commandment goes, "As I have loved you, ye also love one another"; John 13:34.  Therefore, to the extent in which we have yet experienced, we reconcile others to God by helping them (amidst their darkness) find their rightful place with Him.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more:

but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock

or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Romans 14:13

© 2008 by Joyce C. Lock

KJV and Paraphrased

http://iam.homewithgod.com/glimpsesofgod/

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

FRUITS OF SINCERITY

Dr. Harmander Singh

Sincere people usually sow the seeds of sincerity. Moreover, what do they harvest after ripening of sincerity remained puzzle to many of friends. One of my friends asked to a wise and sincere fellow. He said:

Sincerity of heart

Seems as the essence of love

Such that it is

The excellence of friendship

Because it is

Pearl of unknown land

Which is in the

Heart and

There is peace

Where sincerity

Shines with

The freshness of

Your humanly heart.

Sincerity is

Divine Virtue

Just look for it, O My Dear!

It is

Inside you,

That attracts all

Feels Bhagouauty a child does it.

Dr. Harmander Singh

bhagouauty@gmail.com

  ~**~**~

Soul

Dr. Harmander Singh

She was very confused about her not being able to realize that she has a touch of conscious awareness in her because for very long time she could not accept the word "soul" for consciousness. When she felt it, she expressed her experiences of universal breathing of consciousness, saying:

Smiling is blessing

From Beloved God

That we can share

With all knowing that

Each soul is

Blessed smile

When all the experiences

Are seen by soul

They are

Most beautiful

And beyond

The moments of pleasure

Yet, in the blinks of bliss in

Eyes that smile,

The soul goes

Very slow

As if she

Is lying in the

The universe Bhagouauty

In the hands that care

Share and love to see

Others smile.

Dr. Harmander Singh

bhagouauty@gmail.com
 

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