FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ Don't Blame Changing Times ~ 21 August 2016

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

DON'T BLAME CHANGING TIMES

Most of us have learned to cope with, if not exactly embrace, the technological revolution that has completely restructured our world over the past two decades. Words like "Internet", "e-mail" and even "distance learning" may not be in your dictionary yet, but they soon will be. And that dictionary probably won't be paper like the ones most of us learned to use; instead, it will be part of the "spellchecker" on a computer hard drive, or perhaps on a single "CD-ROM" that contains thousands of pages of information.

Despite my RELATIVE comfort with all these newfangled innovations, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised last week by the latest innovation -- "confessional software". Apparently, this package has already made its debut in Poland, and Catholics can now plot graphs of their sins with a new program that helps them confess! The program "poses 104 searching questions to help users track their fight against sin and archive the result". At the end, you can even check a box which says "I sincerely repent".

As Dr. Harold Sala commented last week, however, this software probably won't be wildly popular. And his prediction has nothing to do with the fact that our society is less "religious" today. "The real reason", he says, "is not that we fear someone might bypass the file protection..., but that they might get beneath our exterior and see some of the darkness within". Even that fear is probably not so much motivated by a sense of shame as by a fear of what the revelation might do to our public image.

There are those, of course, who say that times and people are getting worse. That no one cares about character any more, and that our society is no longer even interested in the pursuit of truth. Well, they may be right, and I suspect that each of us has plenty to confess. But that's nothing new. Human nature has always been so. The prophet Jeremiah said centuries ago, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Maybe we're just less willing to exercise the discipline that keeps our worse impulses in check.

Despite what some might think, technology isn't the culprit, just the medium. It offers promise as well as danger. It can make truth more accessible, or our relationships more superficial. The real danger, you see, is that we memorize the story line, but miss the meaning. That we know all about the "what", but never seek to know "why". That we become like the old definition of a cynic -- one who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. It's all in the choices we make.

If we're wise, we'll recognize our all too human tendencies...and take steps to deal with them. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling". (I Corinthians 2:3) His wasn't a fear of rejection or of prosecution, but a fear of falling short...of failing those who had counted on him. And THAT kind of fear can be helpful...if it leads us to repentance, discipline, and a closer walk with God. "Thanks be to God", he later proclaimed, "who GIVES me the victory...."

But that victory begins with an honest self-assessment. As the ancient Psalmist discovered, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. I acknowledged my sin to you... and you forgave the iniquity of my sin". (Psalm 32:3,5) A basic need. An ancient remedy. Even in the "Information Age" some things don't change.

May we each rediscover the "old" truths that lead to meaning and peace.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[radu]

Well good for you! It does help having fun folks to work with.

Do you work tomorrow or is the store closed?

Highs in the 80s are what’s in store for us too. And less humidity, which will make it feel even nicer. Lows in the low 60s for a few nights starting tomorrow and that’ll be reeeeeeally nice.

But there’s a chance for rain through tomorrow morning and we hope to get some of it. The beans and everything else around here could really use it.

[luvie]

The store is open but I don’t work. I don’t work Sundays very often. Everyone knows I really, REALLY hate doing it! I think they would rather I didn’t so I don’t gripe about it. LOL!

I guess there are some advantages of being a grumpypuss. LOL!

[radu]

I thought you’d worked an occasional Sunday but wasn’t sure. My memory stinks.

Yeah, I guess being a grumpypuss does have its advantages. LOL!

[luvie]

I do occasionally...and probably will again in the fall when we need more help. Then...poof...I’ll be gone. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord's Prayer

[radu]

Then...poof...I’ll be gone.

We'll believe it when we see it happen. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

My day went pretty well. Finally got to read some of last week’s news. Decluttering continues tomorrow.

Fudged the 24 hour dry time of the FlexSeal by two hours and got a second coat on the leaking bolt. So I refill the tank about 3p tomorrow and we will see.

Pretty nice that you don’t have to guard your door constantly for escaping kitties.

Hope you are getting rain now, AND it came with a light show. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and your family.

The 23rd Psalm

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shorty GiggleLips & the Canteen Kids - click

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Troops and Vets, for your service to our country.

Josh Groban ~ You Raise Me Up

Thanks, unique, for the logo.

[radu]

It sounds like you had a relaxing day and that’s just what the doctor ordered.

Hope the Stop Leak does the trick so you won’t have to fool with your toilet any more. One less thing to deal with. You have plenty on your plate as it is.

We used to have a couple of escape artists but sadly, they aren’t with us any more. There are a few who like to bolt through the laundry room door when Hubby opens it but they’re going to Aunt Clara’s side of the house, not outside. There’s another door in that room that goes to her side. They don’t bother to try when I open that door because they know I’m paying attention, but Hubby doesn’t and they know it too. If someone’s missing, I know where to look. LOL

The rain’s not here yet but it’s close. Stepped outside a couple of minutes ago and saw a few lightning flashes. Looks like that’ll pass just south of us.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope the rain gets to you.

Funny, and smart, cats.

I’m fading fast, so a few tunes and then a shower and bed.

Rest well when you get there.

[luvie]

I know, huh. I am feeling good about it right now, so maybe I will actually do it. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for Arrowhead's recovery, and in his absence....

[radu]

Thanks. We hope so too. We’re way behind where we were this time last year.

Obnoxious cats! LOL! But we love ‘em any way.

Good night and hope you get a great night’s sleep. And that all goes well with the toilet repairs tomorrow.

Ah, the rain is here!

[radu]

Good! That means you might follow through with it. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Woohoo!! The rain has arrived!

[radu]

LOL! That’s about how excited we are. If I wasn’t so sore from yanking weeds this afternoon, I’d probably dance a jig. We’ve been ripped off on rain so many times this year.
Got a couple of windows open since it’s cool and the sound of the rain is soooooo nice. Kitties are sitting on the windowsills enjoying it too.