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

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope it lasts a good long time...whatever you need for the beans and the trees.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[radu]

It looks like this will be a decent soaker. Rained hard for a couple of minutes and now it coming down at a nice steady pace.

The poor trees really need a two or three day steady rain. We need the water table to come back up. The past 3 days are going to help any way.

Hubby’s grumbling, though, because the grass will grow again. LOL! He’s enjoyed the break from mowing.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Sunday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Good morning to you all. I don’t usually click on the Freeper Canteen threads but felt “led” to do so today, Sunday.

What do I find but a treasure trove of good food - food to eat (virtually) and food for the soul.

Praying for our military heroes today.

Also, I lost my Dad last week - he was 94 years young. He only had one bad day right before he died and he died in his sleep. He was a Christian so I know he is with Jesus, with my Mom, with his Mom, and with all the saints who have gone before. Still, I miss him. But it’s so good to trust in Jesus.

Thanks for this thread and for all you do, Kathy in Alaska.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I don’t know how to post images or much else....especially not how to post them as you all do....but here is a link to a hymn that means a lot to me at this time:

Abide With Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqylxfYyQM&list=RDcxqylxfYyQM#t=27

[CMS]

Morning everyone.

[luvie]

Hey there! So good to hear from you...as always! Hope all is ok with you and yours! Where are you living now?

[CMS]

Still in Ft. Eustis area, and will be staying in this area permanently.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Meant to say that my Dad served in WWII:

He served in World War II with the 411th Infantry Regiment of the 103rd Infantry Division as a liaison agent between Battalion Headquarters and attacking companies throughout France, Germany, Austria and Italy. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star and the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star for heroism in action against the enemy in the Rhineland Campaign and the Central Europe Campaign.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Morning, Kathy!

***HUGS***



A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours! Thank you very much for today's Sunday Chapel thread.

[luvie]

It’s a nice place to stay in! Is it close to family?

[CMS]

7 hour drive. But more job opportunities here.

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here....nice and cool, the way I like it! Hope it is there and that you and Bo have fun at the lake!

[ConorMacNessa]

"TAKE UP THY CROSS
AND FOLLOW ME"



"I Vow To Thee My Country"
Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
(Click)

"I VOW TO THEE, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace."

[luvie]

Well, jobs are important. That’s how far I must drive to visit my son and his family. Long but not awful. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope you and Bo had a fun day.