USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Guest Military Chaplain Service and Sunday Liberty ~ November 2 2003

Guest Military Chaplain and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to
The USO Canteen FReeper Style

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the

Navy Chaplain Corps

---

Click on graphic to link to the original sermon.

 

MAKING ASSUMPTIONS

A story making the rounds this past week told of a policeman who was heading home after a long, hard day on patrol. He had dealt with a whole succession of difficult people, and a mountain of frustrating paperwork. All he wanted at this point was to kick back, unwind, enjoy some peace and quiet, and maybe watch a few innings of baseball on TV. But, as he neared home, he was startled by a vehicle that came careening around a sharp curve and narrowly missed his squad car. As the car passed within a few inches of him, the other driver shouted "Pig!" The police officer was suddenly energized. He slammed on brakes, all set to turn his squad car around and head off in hot pursuit. But as he rounded the curve, ... he ran head-on into a large pig that was standing in the middle of the road!

It's a lesson we learn early in life if we're lucky: DON'T ASSUME! No matter how confident we are in our understanding of the issue. No matter how certain of another's reasoning or motives. No matter how obvious the point may be to US. Effective communication is far more complicated and difficult than we think. With barriers like cultural differences, personal "filters," different definitions, etc., its amazing that any of us EVER understand one another. But these aren't the most difficult obstacles. The biggest reason we aren't able to hear what another is saying to us is simply... "fear!"

Oh, we may camouflage it behind anger, self-importance or any number of other false fronts, but at the root is fear. Fear of being "found out," or of being disappointed, or of not getting what we want. It's a powerful if crippling motivator. And most of us can summon up plenty of reasons why we shouldn't take another at face value. Honest communication requires trust, and taking a risk. And we've been burned too many times. So we settle for safety, make the natural assumption, and run head-on into our own version of that pig as we journey down life's highway!

There is a better way. A way that recognizes our similarities. That sees others as a source of community and healing. That looks past our own frustration and previous disappointments to explore the possibility that even a "stranger" may have something positive to say. The Apostle Paul described it inI Corinthians, chapter 13. It's the "higher way" of love. I almost hesitate touse that term these days because of the way our culture misuses it. But when you read Paul's description, try substituting "maturity." It's a perfect fit. The risks are higher for this way of living, but so are the rewards.

Another (anonymous) writer cautions:

"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free."

That doesn't mean we should be naive. It does mean we should be careful what we assume. Check it out. Give others the benefit of the doubt. And if someone shouts something unexpected at us, at least entertain the possibility that perhaps it may be more than a personal insult. Who knows, that approach could change our life.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

YOUR POST 100

[Fawnn]

Without further ado,

for #100!!!
I present the special "talking to herself"

to ME!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

USO Canteen FReeper Style Star Date 2317

[Fawnn]

Scheduled Downtime

Free Republic will be unavailable tonight between 1:00 AM PST and 3:00 AM PST.

I'm in withdrawal already! (I may have to replan my nap "schedule.") ;)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

To Go where no Goat has ever gone!

[Soaring Feather]

Quote Answer

MOJO did asnwer this correctly, but in case you missed it here ya go........


"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us
to forgo their use."

ANSWER: Galileo Galilei, astronomer and mathematician

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

To bodly go where no kitty katz has ever gone before.

[Fawnn]

Toys are fun, aren't they?

LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Sunday morning, Tom! Good Sunday morning, Patriotic Pattie!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are,God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Bless This House

 

Bless this house O Lord we pray; 
Make it safe by night and day; 
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out: 
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, 
Let thy peace lie over all;
 Bless this door, that it may prove 
ever open to joy and love. 

 

Bless these windows shining bright, 
Letting in God's heav'nly light; 
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, 
with smoke ascending like a prayer; 
Bless the folk who dwell within, 
keep them pure and free from sin; 
Bless us all that we may be 
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee; 
Bless us all that one day we 
May dwell O Lord with thee. 

(Click on praying hands above, or on banner at the top to hear the music)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Meekie, for my cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. It went well with Windows Updates.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning/afternoon as I did computer updates,
twice because I love this song for our troops USO Canteen,
and A Prayer of Protection
said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style, including
our troops, our veterans,
their families and our allies.

Welcome to all who come to honor our troops and
veterans, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well!

Wherever you are, Godand all is well!

[MoJo2001]

Good evening Ma! It's nice of you to show up finally. Good grief! Didn't you realize that it's almost bedtime for some of us. Hehehe!!

*HUGS*

No word yet! Just talked to my mom!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, aomagrat, for today's history of the USS Kansas. She was another battleship in the Great White Fleet around the world cruise. That cruise was sure impressive with all the ships in one place.

[Fawnn]

Now that you're around, check your FReepmail. ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

CONTINUOUS PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY.

Hear, hear, Cindy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Sunday to you, Aeronaut. Hope the Aeronaut family is having a good Sunday.