Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ DON’T BLAME CHANGING TIMES ~ July 5, 2009

The Canteen Crew ^ | July 4, 2009 | Serving the Best Troops and Vets in the WORLD!

[Brad’s Gramma]

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

[Brad’s Gramma]

Let Freedom Ring!

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.



O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

[SandRat]

Glries from God.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Happy Lord’s Day....and Independence Day, SandRat!

I’ll be back later!

:)

[SandRat]

as will I

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel and Liberty

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.

           


Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless Our Republic

Prayers going up

[fanfan]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

Good Lord's Day to you!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Grammie, for today's Sunday Chapel

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord's Prayer

[KarlInOhio]

..., 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.

I fear that either my priest will say "Is that all? Go out and live a little" or else just fall asleep during confession.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mahalia Jackson ~ The 23rd Psalm

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Josh Groban ~ You Raise Me Up

Thanks, unique, for the logo.

[PERKY2004]

GOOD EVENING! Nestled in the southwest corner of our front yard, in the flower beds between the grass and our grapefruit tree, is a ginormous, 12-foot-tall, multi-headed mutant sunflower. I wish I could take credit for this impressive dsplay of flora, but it grew on its own from a black oil sunflower seed tossed aside by hungry birdies or foraging squirrels. When it was just 6 feet tall, we attached it to a metal stake for support, but with its recent heat-inspired growth spurt, we decided to anchor it more firmly to an adjacent tree using some natural twine. My wonderful DH was gracious enough to pose for some photos and to prop up Mr. Sunflower. Pretty cool, huh?