STORYTIME TAPESTRY

March 27, 2005

EASTER SPECIAL ISSUE 

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Happy Easter everyone!

And a very happy birthday to Mary Ann Doris, how fortunate to share a birthday with resurrection of Christ!

Now on to the good stuff..........

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Today's Queue Stories

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Greetings friends...
From Ashish Gorde
Among the many different terms used to describe
"easter", none appeals me so much as what the Arabs
use when they greet each other to celebrate the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ....

"Eid Al Fisah", as a friend explained to me the other
day, means "festival of forgiveness" and, I think, it
correctly expresses the reason behind His resurrection
and a gentle reminder as to how we ought to live, in a
forgiving gentle spirit that's ever merciful, ever
kind and ever loving.

We are living in an increasingly unforgiving,
ruthless, bigoted world and that makes His message
that much more relevant and necessary. Let us pray
that we will remain true to our calling and remain
faithful witnesses of His love to our broken hearted
world, and shining examples of His mercy to a world
that's crying for redemption.

So to you all, my friends, may this "festival of
forgiveness" be a blessing and may you continually
enjoy the presence of His Immanuelness where ever you
go and where ever you are.

regards
Ashish

more about the greeting:

In the Arab world, the day everyone calls "Easter" has another name and, in my opinion, is closest to what the day is all about.

It is called "Eid Al Fisah" or, roughly translated, "Festival of Forgiveness" and this, in my opinion, gives a fairly good reason behind Christ's resurrection.

This explanation was given to me by a Palestinian Christian and by a Muslim colleague from Egypt when I asked them what the most appropriate "easter' greeting would be, and this was the answer.

Christianity has had a presence in the Arab world for nearly two thousand years and many Arabs and, in particular, the Palestianians, are very proud of the Christian heritage within their culture.

On every "Eid Al Fisah", here in Bahrain, we have a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, interdenominational service at one of the churchs' open carpark at 9:30 am. This car park overlooks a Muslim cemetry and is adjacent to two mosques, and provides a very apt picture of tolerance and religious freedom, at least, in Bahrain.

The media needs to highlight this multi-cultural dimension of the Arab world instead of seeing the region in stereotypes. It would help dispel much of the myths propagated about the middle east and make dialogue easier. I have just stated this point very simplistically because explaining my point in detail would mean writing a long treatise. :)))

Anyway, finally, let me wish all of you greetings on "Eid Al Fisah" or as the Arabs would say, "Eid Al Fisah mubarak" or to shorten it further, "Eid Mubarak"

Ashish

Links to all my favourite sites can now be found
on one single page:
www.ashishgorde.org

and, yes, please give me your comments
so I can make this site work for you!!!

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 THE MAN DIES EVERY YEAR

(March 2005)

From: Georgewaters Ojeigbe ??“ Lagos, Nigeria

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

Many years ago, in 1977 or so when I was just seven years old and still learning the meanings and reasons of life!  I stood outdoors with my head raised high up and eyes peering through the salt like cloud which was running from one end of the sky to the other without anyone controlling it course way.  That tender heart of me was sunk into the film we just finished watching at home during that Easter Sunday.  I pondered on the death and resurrection of that man called Jesus; with a deep sad mind I continued to gaze upward wondering where he would be by now.  I felt that he should appear and tell me the reason why he must be flogged, tortured, hung on the cross each year without him revolting.

Before this, I could remember that at least last year or as far as I can remember we did went to church for this same reason.  Why most he be the one to be beating on television films after those outstanding miracles he had performed.  Why wouldn??™t they leave him for one year to rest instead of continuously punishing him every year.

I remember me hoping to open the television screen when I watching the ???JESUS OF NAZARETH??™ on that Easter Sunday, I felt like opening it, go into the TV and yell at those wicked souls torturing the great master who performed those miracles.  The hard nails that were used to nail him in the film kept coming back to my memory and each time it does I would shake my head in sadness

I could remember that I once asked the question ???where is Jesus from??™ and I was told that he came from Nazareth.  As I stood there thinking, I said to myself that this man would be in his country now dieing on the cross because I assumed that all that happened in the film was the end product of what is still going on in his country in Nazareth.  It was as like if I should go over to Nazareth now I would still meet them performing this wick act on him.  I prayed that he would defend himself from that problem he was facing.

The Easter food was ready and served and I was called in to eat.  I got into the house sat down and I was staring into the bowl of food not willing to take a handful of the food.  I was just too sad of the whole story of ???JESUS OF NAZARETH??™.  It was then that one of my cousins noticed me and beckoned at me and I left to meet her.  ???Are you not hungry or what???, she barked at me??¦ ???No, I cannot just eat the food since if I do I would be eating Jesus??™ meat???, I remarked.  ???You fool go and eat your food otherwise I shall give it to Chichi, our dog???, this was what she said to me.  I just went back and sat on the carpet still staring on the food.  I felt I should eat anyway since my Sunday school teach once said that meat shouldn??™t be eaten at Easter Friday because Jesus??™ body that was broken.

Some how, somebody explained the whole truth to me, I wouldn??™t remember who did but I do remember that a person told me the actual story and meaning of the celebration and that day the belief that Jesus Christ keep dieing every year in Nazareth was erased from my mind and my new belief was replaced with ???WHERE IS HE LIVING IN NOW.  DO THEY EAT, DRINK AND PLAY AS WE DO HERE???™

THE END!

Georgewaters Ojeigbe

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

BIO-DATA

I was born on 21^st April, 1970.  I live in Lagos, Nigeria the most populous city in Africa. I sing in a Church music group where I fellowship.  I love sports.  I love admiring the heavens and other wonderful works borne from Jehovah??™s hands.  I discovered the power of writing stories, encouraged by Carol.  Thanks for her existence!  I am pet lover minus snakes; I so much hate this creature called snake but others I prefer.  I like to do lots of home works like creating my art works, gardening, making some home furniture, fitting electrical appliances etc.

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THE LITTLE GUY NEXT DOOR

Mark Crider

Back when I lived in an apartment near Oak Park there were several families in the fourplex.  We didn't have much of a yard for the kids that lived there to play in, but there was a vacant lot next to the end where I lived.  Of course you know me, I had my garden there. I just can't do without my fresh veggies.  Most of the plants there were milkweeds, with their purple little blooms continuously blooming all spring and summer. The butterflies, of course, used the milkweed as their only food source during their migration to their wintering grounds.  I had a few lingering tomato, eggplant, okra and squash and was out one evening tending them.

The little guy must have been about four.  His mother worked from early

morning ???til dark and the neighborhood ladies kind of watched him during the day.  She caught the bus before daylight every morning and was home after I had had supper every evening. The ladies would see he had lunch, supper and a nap during the day.

Seems as though his real curiosity was my garden.  He would watch me

water, tend the plants, and pull weeds. I would give him warm, fresh-picked tomatoes and a salt shaker sometimes and always shared with the other neighbors  because they would water and pick when I had to work overtime several days in a row.

One day I noticed he had something in his hand. It was a butterfly and he had broken a wing off of it. The butterfly was walking around fluttering on the ground as I walked over.  I told him that the butterfly had no way to get around and eat because he was injured and couldn't fly anymore and would surely die. This made the little guy terribly sad and he started to cry.  He told me that he would do anything to make it up to the butterfly and if I knew anyway to help -- maybe even take him to the doctor.

I told him that we could maybe do something for him, but he would have to promise never to harm them again because they may be little angels that were practicing to go to heaven someday.  This really got him upset so I told him that I knew a few things about butterflies and if he would promise to help me I would see if we could make it up to him.  I made a screen cage and we placed it over a tomato plant and put the butterfly on the leaves. I cut some milkweed and we wove it in with the tomato plant. The butterfly crawled around in there eating from the milkweed flowers. He helped with this chore for several weeks and even enlisted the neighbor ladies to help him put fresh flowers in the cage for him when I had to work late or was gone for a few days.  The little guy really had the ladies into saving the butterfly, telling them the angel story and all.

Then one day I came home and everyone was in tears. I mean it looked like everyone had lost their mothers or something. The butterfly had died. I went to the cage and took it off. Looking around I found the eggs under one of the tomato leaves and showed them what the butterfly had left.  I told them it was his gift for the kindness that they had shown him. They didn't really understand, but I told them to wait and see what happened -- maybe a miracle, but we had to wait and see.

            Well I began to water that plant and built a shade over it so it would keep going through the heat, all the time telling the little guy that we had to keep working to pay the butterfly back for his injuries.  He accepted the work with diligence and kept a close watch on those eggs.  One afternoon he came running up to me telling me that there were worms eating the tomato plant. I went and looked. Sure enough, the eggs had hatched.  We watered that plant and really kept it going and, then one day, I noticed that there were eight little chrysalises hanging on one limb.  I told him that they were the children of the butterfly and we needed to hang them under an eave of the house for the winter so they could grow and be strong for the coming season next year.

That little guy watched that screened container hanging there all winter. He checked it every time he thought about it and would report to me every time he saw me.  Spring came and I came home one afternoon and found him and all the

ladies all looking at the screen cage. There were eight of the most beautiful butterflies you ever saw. They were still drying their wings.  He kept saying, "The angels gave us eight for taking care of him.???  He ran, telling all the neighbors on the block, screaming it to all the houses until the whole neighborhood was there watching the butterflies.  We all visited for awhile, then I took the screen down, opened it up and they singly flew out, circled around a bit and went to the garden area and began dancing about the milkweed flowers. 

I didn't realize it then, but it was Easter weekend and they heard the whole story about the butterfly from the little guy and the neighbor ladies.  One was the pastor at the church around the corner.  Sunday morning as I sat there with the little guy, his mom and the other neighbors nearby in the pews we heard the pastor tell the story about the butterfly and how more angels came to replace the dead one and rejuvenate the life in the garden because there was someone who cared.

Reflections by Mark Crider

Mark @cccoating.com

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What Easter means to me

Norma Liles

When I actually realized to some extent what our Jesus Christ had suffered to deliver us from the sin of Adam's race, I had no recourse but to give my life to God as my heart was broken as I realized what had transpired some 2000 years before.

Easter has always been my most favorite holiday because without our Savior going to the cross for me, there would be no reason for His birth which we call Christmas. 

Holy Week of 1949 found me dealing with the Crucifixion and Easter with a heavy heart.  I shall explain. 

I was a new Christian and looking forward to my baptism which would show my outward testimony of being a born again Christian. My baptism was scheduled to be performed in the church's baptistery on  Easter Sunday.I was on cloud nine looking forward to that day with anticipating. My parents planned to be there as well as my youngest sister.

The plans for this day were not to happen. On Good Friday prior to this Sunday; April 14, 1949, my father died from a railroad accident. Needless to say, I was not in attendance at church on this particular Sunday as we were taking care of plans to say so long to my Dad.

Over the years, Easter Sunday saw me having mixed emotions about this lovely time but with age and understanding, I have found that there is a reason for all things that happen in this life and no matter what comes, I stand firm on my conviction that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and He Lives within my heart; sits at the right hand of our God, His Father, making intercession for us and will take us home to live with Him forevermore and then, I can see my Dad who I miss as well as my Mom who followed him later. Also, I know this accident that took my Dad was a test and with faith, I have passed the test.

I love Jesus and He Lives; having fought the good fight to the finish!  Amen and Amen!

Norma Liles ?©

3-22-2005

hoopla214 @yahoo.com

About Me:

Norma Liles is a retired data entry
clerk/supervisor who lives in Ohio. Her hobbies
are: writing poetry and stories, reading,
her family, living for Jesus and
her use of her computer. Her ambition is
to add pleasure to those who read her
writings as well as sharing her faith.

My writings have been published on Starfish,
Driftwood, Sandollar, Morning Spirit Lift,
www.poetry.com, PrayerofGod, Jan Karon's
newsletter, American Poetry Writer's league,
Lucy's Inspiration, Faithful Hope reading room,
Poetry of Today publishing, Hope in Him,
Bonnie's Place, America will remember and
News Moose. Finally senior writer for
Storytime Tapestry

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Poetry Section

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?©Easter Prayer

Barbara Weymouth

Dear Heavenly Father

I thank you for your son Jesus

I thank you that your words were true

Just as you prophesized!!

Your son, Jesus was born into this world,

Our Lord and our King; In a lowly stable,

When He deserved the very best!

He humbly accepted His assignment with love and obedience to you.

He came to this earth to give His life, that we should believe

And live eternally with you in heaven.

He walked among us teaching and performing

His miracles for us all to see.  Judas betrayed Him

for pieces of silver and dined at His Last Supper Table;

Just as Jesus said he would.

Jesus was scorned, beaten, spat upon, and made to carry his

Own dreaded cross.  Jesus even asked you to forgive us for we

Didn??™t know what we had done.

He was given vinegar to quench his thirst, and shed

His precious blood on Calvary??¦

Even though He was crucified dead and buried;

He arose on the third day, Just as you said He would.

He ascended into heaven to sit at the right side of your throne

To reign through out eternity??¦

Because of Jesus??™ supreme sacrifice; we that believe

And accept Your Son as our Lord and Savior,

Have strength for today, Hope for tomorrow

And our name written in your ???Book of Life???

For your continuous love and mercy on me, and on us all,

I give you thanks with a joyous heart!  For you are the living God,

True and Faithful to the end.  You are my TRUSTED friend.

I love you and worship you My Savior, My Lord and My God!

In Jesus??™ Most Precious Name, Amen!

?©Copyright, April 10, 2004, Barbara J. Ervin-Weymouth, ?®All Rights Reserved

 You can email me at:  weymouth @cwnet.com for more information. 

God Bless, Barbara J. Ervin-Weymouth

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 Writers Feedback

In response to Sharon Bryant's story
about Terri, I say Amen!
I still find it unbelievable that any one
would allow a person who had been
in the same condition for 13 years and
never gotten any worse to just starve
because her husband and some judges
say so!
As far as I know, she has been no problem to anyone, so why now?
I agree with Sharon that we don't know
the whole story.
Why did her husband refuse the offer of
a million bucks from the man in California?  He wants her dead for some
reason and it isn't compassion!

Clara Westerfer

I just read "Still He Walked" by David Langerfeld and must say it was so beautifully written, it brought tears to my eyes!  Such a way with words!  I have not only sent it out to all I know, with his name on it, of course, hope he doesn't mind, I have also printed it to take to some of my neighbors!  Wow!!!  Blessings to all, Sharlett Hunt

That is a wonderful incite to peoples way of thinking. ( Joe Walker story) I of couse go to church to celebrate the victory of Christ. Isn't it nice that 2 people can discuss their beliefs without getting upset .

nathalie Symonds

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