STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

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Sept 8, 2005? 

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Today's Queue Stories
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? Missing

? By Sharlett Hunt

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?  The horrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina just a few days ago is still so real to me.?  This storm hit the coastline of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama with a force like none we have ever seen in history.?  It delivered wind speeds of 135 MPH and higher which some of the most well built buildings couldn't withstand.?  It leveled miles of coastline and the city of New Orleans is almost totally submerged in water in the aftermath.?  Mobile, Al., and Biloxi, Ms., are gone with the wind, destroyed mainly from the thirty foot storm surge, a tall wall of water that would be horrifying to experience I am sure.?  Thousands of lives have been lost and many more are missing.

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?  One of those missing from Biloxi is my cousin Verna Donnelly.?  It is not known if she survived.?  The problem being that some of the homeowners, for whatever reason, decided not to evacuate, and she might have been one of those people.?  Or she could possibly be in a shelter or someplace with no electricity and no means of communication.?  Either way, she is missing.

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?  I met Verna accidentally or should I say, coincidently on the Internet.?  I believe it was another one of God's little ways of remaining anonymous.?  My sister in Sebring somehow sent an email to me with her address on it and I responded.?  Through correspondence we learned we were cousins and became best of friends.

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?  I had made plans several times to meet her face to face but they always fell through for one reason or other.?  I really wanted to visit Biloxi and I thought it was so exciting that she lived there.?  Funny thing, she didn't gamble and had only been to dinner on one of the gambling boats a couple times in the years they had been there.?  She was a Christian with a heart of gold.

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?  Many times over the years I needed help with something and she was there for me.?  When we had the hurricanes last year here in Florida, my cousin worried for me and with me.?  She called and made sure that I actually got out of my old trailer before the storm hit.? 

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?  We became quite close over the years though we never met in person.?  She encouraged me to put my poetry together into a book, which I have done and it will be released soon so she needs to be okay.?  I send her everything I write before I send it to be published.?  I jokingly call her my editor.? 

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?  I sit and look at the sunshine and the way things here are eerily normal, yet just a few hundred miles away thousand's of people's lives have been completely torn apart.?  I realize that but for the grace of God, this could have been me and I am eternally thankful.? 

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?  I thank God for all those who have been and are still being rescued.?  I feel for those who were in shelters and safe from the storms ugly wrath only to return home and find everything they? worked for in shambles.?  I cry for the mothers whose child has been wrenched from her arms by this catastrophe.?  I pray for all those with family members missing or dead.?  I can't even begin to know the depth of the heartbreaking anguish.

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?  I pray that God returns my cousin home safe and sound, even if she has lost all she owns materially.?  Though it will be hard to replace a home, a human? being has no replacement.?  The impact she has made on my life will be with me always.? 

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Sharlett Hunt

Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of seven children. At about age four we moved to Central Florida and I have lived here most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran. I have always enjoyed writing and as I get older it seems to come more naturally to me. I believe everyone has many stories inside them and some are blessed to be able to share them.

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~**~**~? 

The Fix Up Shop

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

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The fix up shop, no not a place to get something repaired, although maybe that what takes place here. I was thinking more of a place that sells fancy candy and flowers in vases, and such.?  You know fix up, or patch up, or even try to get a Dollie to have to patch things with later.?  Those places should make a ton of money.

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If you got a Dollie on the string.. more like your on the string. You need to know one of these places. There is any number of days, special days, one has to make a ramps to this place, sometimes it is a hurry up ramps, you forgot today is something.?  Ground hog day even is a?  special day if nothing else.? 

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I once knew a poor married man that had a canned speech.?  He would go in the house, and his secretary of war, was on the war path about something. He forgot today was Peckerwood Day.?  His speech ran like this. "You mean those ding bats hasn't brought the flowers yet?".?  Out the door in a flash he would go.? ?  Get the flowers and a box of candy, and beat it for home.?  He got there in the nick of time, she was going home to mothers.?  Anyways she stayed, for the next six months he check the calender a bit closer.?  Some times he stopped at the fix up shop and got the needs.? ?  Get home and she would say. "whats this for?"? He mumbled off about he though?  it was her mother's birthday or something like that. Mother had moved in, seems like dear old Dad forgot Peckerwood Day.

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Now these places charge for a fix up, has different prices. Small fix up cost 20 bucks, a major over hall runs at least 100.?  Things got bad you know. He standing there digging up the 100 bucks, thinking where he went wrong, then it comes to him.. Ten years ago he met this babe, and he stopped by the fix up shop, and got a 5 dollar box of candy. Ding dang it all. That 5 dollars of candy caused all of this headache.

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Joking aside, I thank a man should stop by the fix up shop a couple or three times a year at least, get his little gal some flowers and a small box of candy.?  The flowers is all right, at least isn't going to mess up her? hour glass figure.?  And take her out to dinner once in a while,? burger joint? is not dinner either.

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

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

About Me:

Well I??™m a story teller, not a writer. Never learned the art of fancy English. I

happen to live in Nebraska, but I??™m still Missouri. Never married, all the Dollies I

ever took a second look at was too smart. Now at 74, just turned that other day, I

figure they all home safe. I love Doggies and Dollies in that order. Lost my two

true friends this year, that be Tinker and Poo. So I found me a new one. This

time a little girlie Peke. She is a normal female. Got a mouth, talks all the time.

She will never be a great writers of stories like Tinker and Poo. They have

about 50 stories on HWS. And now writing back from Rainbow Bridge.

I just try to write about people, places and things best I remember. Have something

over 250 stories on HWS. under three names.? ? ? 

? ~**~**~

Sharing

Norma Liles

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If there is one thing in my life that I love to do is to read.?  I cannot remember when I took my first book into my mind but when I did, I was hooked!?  To me, there is a charisma about reading that takes you away from the hum drum scheme of life into a possible view of other's lives; yesterday, yesteryear and beyond.? 

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I feel that if someone has never taken the advantage of all the reading material that is at our disposal that they have missed out on a tremendous opportunity to grow in travel, imagination and increase their knowledge of this world and all that it offers.

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One of the things which warms my heart is to share the special books that have endeared my heart to their pages.?  For some reason, I want to see the joy on the face or in the voice of the person who has enjoyed the unfolding of the written word.?  Some of my fondest memories are when someone has passed along a book or books to me that have been special to them so it goes without saying that the beat goes on.........keep those books moving into deserving hands.

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This love of books was not passed onto my daughter although she was aware of my interest but in time, that changed.?  As a nurse, she was required this special evening to sit one on one with a patient and was

desirous of some reading material to fill the evening when this person was not in need of her services.

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She came to me as she knew I might have something of interest.?  She selected a book on the lives of the Amish.?  I was so happy to hear later that she was entranced with the book?  This was her beginning of her love of reading as well as myself.

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NormaLee Liles ?©

hoopla214@yahoo.com

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About Me:

Norma Liles is a retired data entryclerk/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, she is a senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

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~**~**~

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~ Seek God ~

? Joyce C. Lock

? ? ? ?  God dwells within us.?  If God reveals something to us, according to scripture, that makes us a god (Jn. 10:35).?  However, we are not God.?  If the Spirit speaks through us, it is truth and it is God.?  It is God living through us.?  Yet, because another believes that makes them God, do we not consider the part of truth that brought them to such a conclusion?? 
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? ? ? ?  In fact, we go such an opposite extreme that when one is speaking (in the Spirit) something we have not yet considered, we may accuse them of heresy.?  We limit the ways God can speak to us, do not recognize Him as God at all, deny Him, and thereby miss greater blessings.

? ? ? ?  When people think emotionalism is spiritualism and it is said one has to pray through to get the Holy Ghost, it sounds as if one has to do something good enough or beg God long enough to get it.?  So, through omission, we teach that the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost is the same thing; missing that when you seek God with your whole heart, once you want Him more than life itself, God will reveal Himself to you in such a supernatural way that you will never be the same again.?  For such a blessing as the Holy Ghost, one does wrestle with God until God gets all.

? ? ?  When religions promote alcoholic beverages, we tend to run the opposite direction ... yet, never consider those so drunken in knowledge that they can not meet people where they are.

? ? ?  There is nothing new under the sun; meaning history repeats itself.?  Some believe in reincarnation.?  While we find no support for that belief; spiritually, we are reincarnated each time God calls us into new spiritual seed.?  We still experience the same things as people of old, only in modern settings.?  Animals, insects, birds, etc. were symbolic names for types of people in scripture.

? ? ?  Some teach worship requires a lifting of hands.?  Spiritually, I lift my hands toward God's holiness whenever I write.

? ? ?  Do we not sacrifice to idols whenever we follow a preacher/religion/teaching instead of God??  Do we not sacrifice to devils whenever we settle for less than truth?

? ? ?  Some walk in the flesh.?  Others walk in the Spirit.?  The law is for God's children (not the lost) and is spiritual, as scripture can only be spiritually discerned.?  It is no wonder some were shocked when Jesus told them, "Ye must be born again."?  The Kingdom of God comes not with observation.?  That includes salvation.?  It begins once you trade your thoughts for His and let Him sit upon the throne of your heart; where God no longer just visits but dwells.

? ? ?  We claim the name 'Christian' as if that somehow makes us better.?  But, before people were given the name 'Christian'; they had first become disciples.?  As it is written, they shall all be taught of God.

? ? ?  Just as there are lost people in churches today and those who have remained in churches for the wrong reasons, if we believe 'God's word will not return void' we must consider there are people who have found God among errors in religion; who may or may not leave that faith.

? ? ?  We teach children that God is everywhere, except in faiths not like ours.?  Instead of looking for God in the part that is truth, we go the opposite extreme; teaching children to believe whatever we tell them, instead of guiding them in the ability to think and reason for themselves (missing God's best).

? ? ?  Once, I read where a lady was considering beliefs of the Indian.?  Though she did not practice their faith, she began to realize that the god of corn, the god of rain, etc. was all the same God; that our God is the God who grows corn, the One who makes rain!?  In her conclusion, how we worship God may be different.?  But, by whatever name we call Him, it is still God.

? ? ?  After thinking about it, I asked God if that were true.?  He answered, "Well, when they worship Jesus, aren't they really worshiping me?" (Ex. 34:14; Jn. 4:22; Ph. 3:3)

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Consider the following verses:

? ? ?  "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?," Ma. 2:10.?  "Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith," Ro. 3:30.


? ? ? ?  "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him," I Co. 8:6.?  "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all," Ep. 4:6.

? ? ?  In all religions, can we not say they were at least once seeking truth??  Jesus is truth, by whatever name we call Him.?  God is God, by whatever name we call Him.?  It is not for us to say who is saved and who is not; who worships correctly or who does not.?  Correct terminology is not a prerequisite for salvation.?  (God desires not yours but You.?  It is a matter of the heart.)?  But, what is up to each of us is to seek God, who will guide us into all truth.

? ? ?  "Judge not, that ye be not judged.?  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.?  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye??  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" Mt. 7:1-4.

? ? ?  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist," Co. 1:16-17.

? ? ?  "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.?  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.?  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.?  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.?  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.?  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.?  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.?  For the body is not one member, but many." I Co. 12:4-14.

? ? ?  "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device," Ac. 17:29.

? ? ? ?  There is only one all knowing God.?  "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all," Ep. 4:6.?  But, before we can know what God believes, we have to ask Him.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

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? SENIOR WRITERS

Chief Writer: Sharon Bryant

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? Agee, Vance;?  Apted, Violet;?  Baker, Kathy;?  Batt, Al;?  Berry, Nell;

Boda, Ginger;? ?  Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;?  Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark;? 

Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Goodier, Steve;?  Halley, Ellie Braun;

Harris, Kathy Anne;?  Hunt, Sharlette;? 

Jacobson, Gary;?  Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Jenkins, Pamela;

Liles, Norma;?  Lock, Joyce; Mazzella, Joe;? Ojeigbe, Georgewaters;

?  Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan;?  Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan

Walker, Bill;?  Walker, Joe;? Warner, Gorden K;

Whirity, Kathy;?  White, Robert;

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STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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