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

[Radix]

1795 James Knox Polk NC, 11th President (D) (1845-1849)

 

 

It's the concept of manifest destiny, though, which is taught in school (if at all), rather than which President championed it as a principle of freedom. As a result, President James K. Polk remains one of those six Presidents crowded into the period between 1840 and 1860 which tend to become a hazy blur, rather than attaining the place of greater prominence he actually deserves. In fact, a leading historian called Polk "the one bright spot in the dull void between Jackson and Lincoln." Despite this, Polk, who "came out of nowhere" to become President in 1844 and accomplished all he set out to do during his administration, managed to return to obscurity and remain there.

 

[The Mayor]

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
—John 3:16

The death of Christ is the measure of God's love for you.

[tomkow6]

SALUTE!

 

 

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Tonk! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

GOODMORNINGTROOPS!!

 

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

Driving down the highway one day, I saw this slogan on the
back of a well-known trucking company's vehicle: "We Always
Go the Extra Mile."

Then I noticed another phrase scrawled in the dirt just below it:
"That's Because We Missed the Last Exit."

[tomkow6]

 

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[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning Tom!
Did you spend all your money yesterday?

[Bethbg79]

Good morning Troops!!

Good morning Canteen crew!!

[E.G.C.]

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

[Bethbg79]

Good morning! ((HUGS))

We're just enjoying a quiet Sunday morning.

Congrats to OU for their win this weekend. :-)

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Tonkin.


Lovely flowers for the Canteen Ladies today.

Thank you Military men and Canteen men.

[blackie]

Guest Military Chaplain Service and Sunday Liberty ~ Bump!

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Sweet Beth!

How be you today??

I am well.

[blackie]

Coffee Time ~ Bump!

[Bethbg79]

Good morning Ms Feather! ((HUGS))

[Bethbg79]

I'm great! It's been a nice quiet morning. Glad to hear you are doing ok. :-)

[MeekOneGOP]

A claim of human cloning? It's been done before - Raelians '78 announcement was ruled a fraud
			Posted by MeeknMing On 01/01/2003 5:47 AM CST The Washington Post ^ | January 1, 2003 | The Washington Post Staff A claim of human cloning? It's been done before '78 announcement was ruled a fraud; new case awaiting validation 01/01/2003 The Washington Post For all the speed with which science was progressing, virtually no one thought it would happen so soon. Yet there it was in huge block letters on the front page of the New York Post: The world's first human clone had been born. The next day, The Washington Post and other newspapers across the country ran with the story about the rogue scientists who had cloned a human on an undisclosed island. A spokesman connected to...

[tomkow6]

No; I just wanted to find out what hardware I would need & how much it would cost. I went to the place where I bought my computer, with the configuration sheet, & they told me what I needed. I probably won't buy it from them, because I'm relatively sure I can get it elsewhere for a much lower price.

Now I can start shopping!

[tomkow6]

Now, THERE'S a thought!   Perhaps I should getmy self CLONED!

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !! ...