FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE PARABLE OF THE FENCE ~ 12 August 2012

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE PARABLE OF THE FENCE

Once upon a time there was a little boy who was talented, creative, handsome, and extremely bright...a natural leader. The kind of person everyone would normally have wanted on their team or project. But he was also self-centered and had a very bad temper. When he got angry, he usually said, and often did, some very hurtful things. In fact, he seemed to have little regard for those around him...even friends. So, naturally, he had few. "But," he told himself, "That just shows how stupid most people are!"

As he grew, his parents became concerned about this personality flaw, and pondered long and hard about what they should do. Finally the father had an idea and he struck a bargain with his son. He gave him a bag of nails, and a BIG hammer. "Whenever you lose your temper," he told the boy, "I want you to really let it out. Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!"

Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn't nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. (That was one angry young man!) Gradually, over a period of weeks, the number dwindled down. Holding his temper proved to be easier than driving nails into the fence! Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He felt mighty proud as he told his parents about that accomplishment.

"As a sign of your success," his father responded, "you get to PULL OUT one nail. In fact, you can do that each day that you don't lose your temper even once."

Well, many weeks passed. Finally one day the young boy was able to report proudly that all the nails were gone.

At that point, the father asked his son to walk out back with him and take one more good look at the fence. "You have done well, my son," he said. "But I want you to notice the holes that are left. No matter what happens from now on, this fence will never be the same. Saying or doing hurtful things in anger produces the same kind of result. There will always be a scar. It won't matter how many times you say you're sorry, or how many years pass, the scar will still be there. And a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. People are much more valuable than an old fence. They make us smile. They help us succeed. Some will even become friends who share our joys, and support us through bad times. And, if they trust us, they will also open their hearts to us. That means we need to treat everyone with love and respect. We need to prevent as many of those scars as we can."

A most valuable lesson, don't you think? And a reminder most of us need from time to time. Everyone gets angry occasionally. The real test is what we DO with it. Scripture recognizes this when it cautions us, "Be angry and do not sin." (Ephesians 4:26) And an old Hebrew proverb (18:19) reminds us, "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle."

If we are wise, we will spend our time building bridges rather than barriers in our relationships.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[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

[Kathy in Alaska]

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 loving kindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours, Nana Hope, and thanks for today's Pledge...((HUGS)) Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[left that other site]

Wonderful Parable!

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov, ML...did you and Linda have a nice day? ((HUGS))

Lessons? Maybe even a ride?

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

Thank you very much for this evening's Sunday Chapel!

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours!



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[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.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

Thank you very much for this evening's Sunday Chapel!

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours!



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Doubts And Faith
August 12, 2012

Can a believer in Jesus who has occasional doubts about matters of faith ever be effective in serving the Lord? Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs. But just as we have experiences that can build our faith, we can also have experiences that cause us to temporarily doubt.

The disciple Thomas had initial doubts about reports of Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Christ did not rebuke Thomas but showed him the evidence he asked for. Amazed at seeing the risen Savior, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (20:28). After this incident, the New Testament is silent about what happened to Thomas.

A number of early church traditions, however, claim that Thomas went to India as a missionary. It is said that while there he preached the gospel, worked miracles, and planted churches. Some of these churches in India still have active congregations that trace their founding back to Thomas.

A time of doubt doesn’t have to become a life pattern. Allow God to lead you into a deeper understanding of His reality. Renew your faith. You can still accomplish great things for Him.

When faith grows weak and doubts arise,
Recall God’s love and tender care;
Remind yourself of all He’s done
And of those times He answered prayer. —D. De Haan

Learn to doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.

Read: John 20:24-31

My Lord and my God! —John 20:28

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 49-51

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...still sane after more Katzenjammer Kids?

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

How’s the basement coming along? Mary all settled back into The States after her mission?

[ConorMacNessa]

WE THE PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA



"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "





Our Founding Fathers secured this essential freedom against overwhelming odds through great adversity, securing it first with the blood of our Patriots shed in the War of the Revolution, then through the course of intense and extended debate, leading finally to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

It is under attack now, not only by the media, not only by academia, but by the Executive Branch of the United States Government itself. The President and Department of Justice have abdicated their sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They have instead, with full knowledge of the enormity of their acts, systematically betrayed the American People in repeated transgressions and usurpations, thereby assuming the role of principal domestic enemy in what will be the defining Constitutional struggle of our times.

We are called at this crucial moment to bear Witness to the Truth of God, to uphold and to defend this vital, First Freedom and the Freedoms that derive from it. Without Freedom of Conscience, what substantive Freedom could we continue to enjoy?

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope you had a nice relaxing Saturday. ((HUGS))

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[ConorMacNessa]

Still Sane? I don't know, Kathy, I haven't been described as "sane" since the late 60's! :)

The Katzenjammer Kids were not in today - got in, got a few hours in, got out nice and easy. Had a nice dinner - broiled kebobs - mellowing out with a nice Aussie Cabernet.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[SandRat]

Blessings, Kathy...((HUGS))

[ConorMacNessa]

Kathy, thanks so much for posting this 82nd Airborne Memorial Window! Every time I see it it reminds me of my Uncle Jack Dowd, American Soldier and Patriot!



Capt. John T. Dowd, USA - Korea, 1952



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks....post was a tad late as my Dad stubbed his toe. My phone rang and it was him calling from the kitchen...it was starting to bleed and ANY bleeding must be watched. I was the bandaid brigade. LOL! I think we are fine.