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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE MAN IN THE GLASS ~ 6 July 2014
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 07/05/2014 5:01:42 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska


 


 

 

THE MAN IN THE GLASS


I first heard the poem some years ago as a song performed by a former pop musician turned Christian entertainer. Its words had a powerful impact. They were a challenge to self-examination, and a warning about the consequences of life lived without integrity. They were a reminder that each of us must live with his or her self. And that we KNOW what's behind our image, no matter how carefully crafted, or how convincing it may be to others. I wonder if it might also speak to you. It's entitled "The Man in the Glass".

"When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, Just go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what THAT man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife whose judgment upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. Some people might think you're a straight-shootin' chum and call you a wonderful guy, but the man in the glass says you're only a bum if you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he's with you clear up to the end. And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test if the guy in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years, and get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you've cheated on the man in the glass."

Was this poem written by a pastor to caution his congregation, or by an educator seeking to energize our conscience and encourage some set of core values? No. But I didn't know that, didn't know the REST of the story until this week. It seems that newspaper columnist Ann Landers received it some years ago from a young woman in Louisiana. In her letter, the young woman requested that the author's name be kept anonymous. He had died a few weeks earlier, you see, after years of struggling with a drug habit. He was only twenty-four years old. Hopefully, we can learn the lessons he discovered without repeating his mistakes. As a quote from a Farmer's Almanac of the late 1700s phrased it, "Eny dern fool kin learn from experience...; it takes a smart feller to learn from someone else's experience"!

In the end, our ability to learn from that man or woman in the glass depends on the power of our conscience. But sometimes a conscience can be an untrustworthy guide. We may feel guilty about the wrong kinds of things. Or we may not feel guilty about ANYTHING. The Bible speaks of people whose consciences have been "seared" as with a hot iron. (I Timothy 4:2) The modern term for such a person is "sociopathic". Such a person, it is said, may even be able to pass a lie detector test while lying because they feel no guilt, shame or remorse. Their conscience is clear only because it is nonexistent. Better we should DEVELOP our conscience, and inform it through a study of the timeless truth in God's word. James warned, "If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was". (1:23-24)

Here's to hoping that all of us will take a good look, and learn from that man or woman in the glass.


CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN


 

 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chapel; military; troopsupport
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To: MEG33

And thank YOU for your always wonderful pictorial contributions for our troops, veterans, and their families. ((HUGS))


61 posted on 07/06/2014 2:07:52 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: All

Welcome Troops, Veterans, Families, and Allies!
God Bless You and Keep You Safe.

Thanks, unique, for our troop blessing.

Swing Down Chariot

Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel


62 posted on 07/06/2014 2:08:14 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: All

Welcome Troops, Veterans, Families, and Allies!
God Bless You and Keep You Safe.

Thanks, unique, for our troop blessing.

On My Way To You

King Is Coming


63 posted on 07/06/2014 2:14:07 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: MEG33

Good morning and rest well, Meg...((HUGS))


64 posted on 07/06/2014 2:15:41 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: E.G.C.

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

You and Bo enjoy your Sunday.


65 posted on 07/06/2014 2:28:56 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: E.G.C.; beachn4fun; Arrowhead1952; ConorMacNessa; MEG33; LUV W; PROCON; SandRat; Allegra; ...



66 posted on 07/06/2014 2:29:44 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: All
Good 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 cupcake?

Cookies?

Pancakes?

Treats?


67 posted on 07/06/2014 2:32:53 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Jet Jaguar; txradioguy; JemiansTerror; MEG33; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; Defender2; ...


God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.


Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art


68 posted on 07/06/2014 2:38:12 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Still a few fireworks left in the bag...Last night was sporadic.

I am sure there will be more tonight, and then, hopefully, it will be “All Quiet On The Western Front”.


69 posted on 07/06/2014 4:14:56 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; txradioguy; beachn4fun; StarCMC; Lady Jag; laurenmarlowe; tomkow6; GodBlessUSA; ...











Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. 73º with bright sunlight. Have a Blessed Lord's Day.





70 posted on 07/06/2014 5:38:57 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: MEG33

Good morning Meg and Sunday (((HUGS))). I have to usher at church this month, so will be leaving here shortly.


71 posted on 07/06/2014 5:40:34 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Howdy, John! (((hugs)))

It’s nice and cool here this morning...69...but will be mid-90s by this afternoon. It could be worse, so I won’t complain! :)


72 posted on 07/06/2014 5:54:50 AM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l go)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Sunday Morning Coffee Bump.


73 posted on 07/06/2014 5:58:48 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: left that other site

More like the “eastern front”, no? LOL!


74 posted on 07/06/2014 6:07:32 AM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l go)
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To: LUV W

Good morning LUV and Sunday (((HUGS))). We had the local fireworks last night. We just walk across the street to the 1st green and wait. My wife and I used to be the only ones there and last night there must have been 50 or 60 people watching from the green.


75 posted on 07/06/2014 6:08:04 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

How fun that must have been! Was it raining on the 4th there in the Austin area?

I watched some fireworks on-line. LOL! I need to get a life. Actually, they were great and I didn’t have to get in the car, find a parking place, listen to Tejano music and be in the heat to watch them. :)

Have a blessed Sunday!


76 posted on 07/06/2014 6:10:59 AM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l go)
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To: LUV W

Yes, some areas here got a nice and much needed rain the past few days. Unfortunately, it all missed us. A blessed Sunday to you too.


77 posted on 07/06/2014 6:22:20 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: MEG33

Good morning Meg, I love the Psalm lines you choose, they are so comforting as the Psalms are meant to be.


78 posted on 07/06/2014 6:38:03 AM PDT by Soaring Feather
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To: LUV W; Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; ...


GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!



Amazing Grace
(Click)

By John Newton

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.








"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

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)

79 posted on 07/06/2014 11:41:27 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND
OUR BELOVED NATION!



"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
(Joshua 1:9 KJV)

The Lord’s Prayer
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The U.S. Air Force Band
And Singing Sergeants
(Click)


DEAR LORD, who suffered torment, agony, and death upon the Cross to free our souls from the chains of iniquity, protect and defend our troops. Guide them in the performance of their duties. Strengthen them to endure hardship, danger and deprivation in Your service. Let their efforts free the people of Iraq and Afghanistan from the chains of terror and slavery, foster a lasting peace in the region, and bring all to a greater share in Your Mercy. Amen.









"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

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)

80 posted on 07/06/2014 11:42:51 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
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