Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

June 10, 2006

Today’s announcements

Prayer Requests and Updates

My husband and I have been training for his
PERITONEAL KIDNEY DIALYSIS.....we are officially "five" days today on dialysis.  After we train and do it manually for three weeks, then he gets the electrical machine that filters while he sleeps at night. Carol Meeks: c_pmeeks@hotmail.com

From David a few minutes ago...

Nikki has been getting sick and they believe its GVHD of the GI. They
did tests today and might do more soon. She is not feeling well and
she
is unable to keep anything down. We need prayers.

Okay.. this is the dangerous part that we've been waiting for.. GVHD  is Graft vs. Host disease and it means her body is rejecting the transplant.  It is what the doctor's have said is a good/bad thing because it's very dangerous and has to be overcome which isn't an easy thing to cause to happen, but it does mean the transplant cells are active in her system and that's a good thing.  Please remember Nikki in your prayers... God bless, A l

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

Why God Stops Answering Prayers

Joyce C. Lock

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and shew my people their transgression,
and the house of Jacob their sins.

Isaiah 58:1

    During one particular Christmas season, I learned of a church member who had considerable financial/material need.  When I inquired as to if even the Sunday School class might do anything to help, the response was that it was too late ~ that her name should have been submitted sooner.  Only, the remainder of the year, none of the church helps anyone in material need.  Each month, they give a few dollars to a local missions project, say they already gave, and send the needy on their way.

    So, in this case, I began to look after and minister to this family on my own.  Even so, neither did their heart change toward her, as she had lived in sin sometime in her past.  (Never mind that she wasn't very bright and had fallen prey to one who promised to help.)  She wasn't allowed to serve, even as a helper, with little ones; where she was capable.

____________

    On another occasion, while visiting with a church member that was in the process of recovering from a knee surgery, I inquired as to how we, as a church, might be able to better love her in her time of need.

    Being that this was her 16th knee surgery, she had endured several previous painful mishaps as a result.  In her sharing, our spirits connected, having experienced similar things; of even the same people.  We were in agreement that we sometimes have to pray, "Father, forgive them," even when they don't care what they do and also to look over those more ignorant of their offences.

    Though now, in humble spirit, her only request was to be able to return to church; without risking further injury while her knee was healing.

    As it was, there was only one end pew where she could sit with her leg elevated, that would also be out of harm's way for when membership exchanged handshakes within the service.  But, that seat belonged to someone else.

    And, as it was, in this church, no one was allowed to take anything upon themselves without having received permission from specified "authority".  Only, I thought God was The Authority.  But, since it wasn't viewed that way, request would need be made to ask the other person to give up their seat ~ only until her knee had recovered.

    Leadership said, "No."  They were concerned about offending the other party, were not aware of the details of the unkindness that had taken place when they had tried to reserve a seat for her in the past, and didn't seem to believe that anyone else could possibly hear from God.

    But, what was even more odd was this.  Ladies brought her three meals a day, every day, for the first time ever.  Only her mother had come to visit, especially for that purpose.  Church members were scurrying all over the place to finally show they cared.  Yet, no one had inquired as to her true need.

    With a few more closed doors, I lost heart for going out on church visitation as, to tell people we loved them, only to find out we didn't, well ... that caused more harm than good.

    Though, if you are a church that intends to follow through, just try it.  Tell your members that you have come to visit them to know what it is they truly need (whether that need be prayer, to assist in some spiritual understanding, or even to correct problems within the nursery), that you want to know how to love them.  People are so stunned that everything but their true heart vanishes and you will begin to discover what it is like when God looks upon the heart.

____________

    On yet another occasion, a poverty stricken young gentleman had had all his teeth pulled out, at once; to save additional financial expense.  Without insurance or the finances for further medical help (the bleeding having already lasted a few days) and, being to such an extent that he was very weak and literally afraid he was going to die, he requested I phone a specific preacher (that he respected for such a time as this) to come out to his home and pray over him.  That preacher refused.

    Sometime later, the same preacher responded that he never goes on a call like that unless the individual, themselves, request he come as, otherwise, his time is wasted ~ when it had only been a family member that had hoped such a situation would bring them to the Lord.

    I said that he asked.  But, I guess no one was listening.  And, that young man has not been inside a church since, with the exception of maybe a wedding.

____________

    On still another occasion, a different gentleman, from a nearby community, asked me to ask a preacher to visit him at work; being that it was long distance for him to make the call.  His place of employment was open to the public and his hours were not as such to visit in the preacher's office.  Neither did he have transportation to make the trip.  He was very much under Satanic attack and felt desperate for someone to help.

    Being that leadership refused, I went to a second church where I also knew that pastor.  He refused, too.  To my knowledge, this gentleman has not been back to church since.  The excuse given was the same: until the person in need makes the request, such a visit is futile.

    Are they dull of hearing?

____________

    Having once run across an old friend from my childhood church, he shared how he spent the last of his money to purchase a new pair of jeans (the closest thing he had to decent, to wear; which was his Sunday best), so he could attend church.  They refused him at the door.  He wasn't wearing a suite.

    All I know to say, sometimes, is that people fail us, we fail God, but God never fails ... that such is not God's doing.  But, it wasn't enough to convince him to try another church.

____________

    Once, I went to the supposed top authority with a message that I had heard from God.  Yet, that message was not received.  So, I requested that they make inquiry of God, that if God says to wait I will wait, but that they know I did in fact hear from God.

    He agreed on all points but one and that exception is in the Bible.  But, he refused to ask God if this might be that exception.  Loss of membership and much adversity followed.

____________

    I once knew of a church leader that would destroy all letters received, without reading, unless they were signed.  That was his policy for which he shared was as per God's instruction to him, many years ago.  Only, in believing that would be God's answer for every letter, within every church, forever; he missed receiving important information that could not be signed for safety reasons.

    There is an exception for every rule.  So, when we put God in a box and leave off the need to further discern ~ we risk missing God's best.

____________

    As of late, I have not found anyone, anywhere, that is willing to help persecuted Christians with even the paperwork to help them get to safety ... even when sharing the exception to such rules of thought.  And, in time, I have discovered the reasons given for refusal not to be true ~ not that they lie, but that people speak as though they have knowledge in areas where they are ignorant.  Many freedoms we take for granted are not viable options for others.

    But, due to a few trying to scam via the computer, we don't trust anyone.  Right?

____________

    It is not my intent to express that any of these people, above, have always been of the saintly sort, nor is this list all conclusive of the ways we turn people away.

    I am sharing such things to say, what I have seen, repeatedly, is people who have had a bad experience (or fear having a bad experience) tend to place everyone else in the same basket.  They are no longer judging each situation individually to determine merit.  And, God's will for them may not be identical to the path He has chosen for you.

    There comes a time when one's heart is ready to receive.  But if our mind is closed ~ we both lose.  Neither are people taking the time to ask God before making these decisions.  We cannot truthfully claim to be representing God when we don't bother to ask His will.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Matthew 24:12

    In true sincerity, I do not recall one time ever wherein I have approached an adult (represented to be in Christian leadership) at the direct leading of God, and received the desired results.

    These are God's children, too.  Do you honestly believe God will not visit for this?

    And they ask, "But, didn't you notice, God, that we served you to the point of affliction?" Isaiah 58:3a (par).

    And God responds, "You've got to be kidding.  You weren't serving me."  Isaiah 58:4 (par).  Then, He tells them, "You did it to yourself and I'm not listening any more," Isaiah 59:2 (par).

    And, they wonder, "But, what did we do?"

    And, God responds, "A little bit of everything except what I told you to do." Isaiah 59:3-15 (par).

____________

     Once you finally begin to realize that your prayers are no longer reaching heaven, perhaps then, you will know that God meant what He said.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen?


to loose the bands of wickedness,

(no exceptions)

to undo the heavy burdens,

(no exceptions)

and to let the oppressed go free,

(no exceptions)

and that ye break every yoke?

(no exceptions)

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,

(no exceptions)

and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?

(no exceptions)

when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;

(no exceptions)

and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

(no exceptions)

Isaiah 58:6-7


When you stop pointing fingers long enough
to listen for the true needs of the heart
and thereby learn to love unconditionally,
God will start answering your prayers, again.

Isaiah 58:9 (par).


© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

~**~**~

ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

PUTTING SELECTIVE INTEGRITY ON HOLD

True story: a woman calls her husband at work.

            “Honey,” she says, “we’ve got a problem.”

            Uh-oh, he thinks to himself.  Whenever she says “we have a problem,” he’s usually the one in trouble.  So he quickly scans the ol’ memory banks to see if he can figure out what he needs to apologize for.  Let’s see . . . her birthday is still a few months away.  Their wedding anniversary was six months ago.  He remembers putting yesterday’s dirty socks in the hamper.  And he’s pretty sure he put the lid back on the toothpaste.

            “OK,” he responds hesitantly, “what did I do?”

            “Nothing,” she replies, chuckling, “unless you ordered this cable TV movie service.”

            He reminds her of their mutual decision to pass on the premium channel, since basic cable is about all the televiewing luxury their budget can handle right now.

            “That’s what I thought,” she says.  “So why are we getting the channel?”

            He explains that they have these free preview weekends all the time.  By giving you a taste of their service, they hope to entice you into signing up full-time.

            “But the preview was two weeks ago,” she says.  “Why are we still getting it?”

            It’s a good question.  The only thing they can conclude is someone somewhere forgot to disconnect their household when the preview was over.  Through no fault of their own they were receiving a valuable service without having to pay for it.

            “So,” the man finally asks, “what’s the problem?”

            “The problem,” the woman replies patiently, “is that we shouldn’t be receiving it.”

            “But that’s not our fault,” he responds.  “I mean, it’s not like we tapped into the cable box to steal the signal or anything.  It’s their mistake, so it’s their problem.”

            “Maybe,” she says.  “But is it right for us to allow that mistake to continue?  If they charged us too much by mistake we’d make sure they knew about it, wouldn’t we?”

            “Well . . . yes.  But that’s different.”

            “Is it really?” she asks.  “She pauses before hauling out the heavy artillery.  “The thing is, the kids know what’s going on, and for whatever it’s worth, they agree with you (translation: Sweetheart, you’re thinking like an adolescent again).  But I worry about the message we’re sending if we allow this to go on.  Are we saying that honesty is relative, and that it’s OK to take advantage of someone else’s mistake if it works out in your favor?”

            Don’t you hate it when that happens?  You just get settled into a comfortable position of moral apathy, and along comes someone who, in a few simple words, can reduce the question to a simple case of right vs. wrong.  It’s like you’re painting a situational landscape with assorted shades of gray, which you find perfectly satisfying until someone introduces you to the functional clarity of black and white.

            So guess what?  That family’s TV isn’t connected to a cable movie service any more.  But I think they have something infinitely more fulfilling: self-respect.  And integrity.  And a little more appreciation for what it really means to be honest.

            Their experience even got our family talking about honest.  And we’ve come to a couple of interesting conclusions.  First, we decided that honesty simplifies life in a world that is growing frighteningly complex.  On a superficial level, that means it’s a lot easier to keep your facts straight if you always tell the truth, and there’s less stress around the office if you don’t have to worry about justifying your expense account.  But more than that, living honestly allows us to feel good in the presence of the only person who knows for sure if we are honest: ourselves.  And it gives us a chance to build relationships on a solid foundation of confidence, security and trust.

            And second, it’s been our experience that it’s harder to do “just one” dishonest act than it is to eat “just one” potato chip.  Dishonesty tends to breed dishonesty.  The child who steals a quarter from Dad’s dresser may very well lie to cover up the deed.  The teenager who cheats on a test at school may not have been telling the truth about his homework, either.  And the spouse who fudges on marriage vows often leaves behind a sordid trail of dishonesty and deception.  Selective integrity doesn’t build moral muscles; it weakens them.

            With or without cable TV movies.

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Living Life

 Dianna Doles Petry

For a long time in my life,

I was trying to discover who I am,

Never really feeling as though I belonged,

Or if I was worth anything to anyone else.

For a long time in my life,

I waited for someone to guide me,

My parents, friends, eventually a lover,

They were unable to point me in a direction.

So for a long time in my life,

I freely explored the world around me,

Eventually venturing out of my safety zone,

And I saw that life is really just one big challenge.

A new time in my life had begun,

I learned to like myself for what I am,

It didn't matter whether anyone else did or not,

I embraced my abilities and I soared on my faith.

I hope that I still have some time,

To discover more of the things that make me unique,

To develop them and share them with others,

Proud and content to be taking the journey.

Dianna Doles Petry

Dianna59@charter.net

3/2006

~**~**~

Girl Talk

Dianna Doles Petry

Come gather 'round me, children,

Just be careful of my aching knee,

It's time to tell you a story,

About the girl I used to be.

My father always seemed to be away,

Workin' deep down in the mines,

Leavin' my mother to tend to us,

As we grew like ramblin' vines.

I grew up independent and strong,

Was pretty healthy or so they say,

The time came when I thought I was grown,

 I couldn't wait to move away.

My father would always kiss me,

Then look at me and sigh,

"Life's not a bowl of roses, you know,

It's going to make you cry."

Sometimes he looked at me sadly,

I could see the beginning of a tear,

"You look so much like my mother,

I wish she'd lived a few more years."

My mother was the one to caress me,

Always brushing my hair away,

Warning me not to yearn to be an adult,

She made me go outside to play.

I didn't want to be a child then,

Just like you don't like it much now,

But I would give anything in the world,

If I could get back to those days somehow.

I didn't think I needed schoolin'

Or learnin' to sew or cook on a sunny day,

I had no concept of responsibility,

My days were filled with dreams and play.

Then one day, my father was gone forever,

I cried for him but it was all in vain,

My mother pulled out his old love letters,

To read them over and over again.

Slowly, I became the one to dry tears,

To tell young ones to put on a jacket or hat,

It happened that easily I tell you,

I went from being a girl to a woman just like that.

Now you run along and play,

Enjoy this part of your life while you can,

Someday you will grow up and have to work,

Or maybe you'll fall in love with a handsome man.

But for today, you are little girls,

Your job is to giggle and learn all about life,

There's plenty of time for you to grow up,

You leave the worryin' to me, I'll handle the strife.

©Dianna Doles Petry

4/2006

dianna59@charter.net

http://diannapetry.tripod.com
http://members.tripod.com/~poemsbydianna/PoetryofLife.html
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Thanks so much for running my article "Change the World" today. 
Storytime was just a tiny twig when you so lovingly planted it, but it has
already become a mighty Oak that gives shade to many a tired heart.  Keep up
the wonderful work.  Wishing you every joy, Joe

June 5 – Newsletter – Sara Yount and Stella Thompson - I just love the poetry! I can fee it when I read,and that says something to
me! Shelly

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

                                     Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;

Dowd, Hartson; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator