FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ HIGH FLIGHT ~ 08 March 2015

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

HIGH FLIGHT

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Shortly before his plane was shot down during World War II, he wrote a poem called "High Flight." The last stanza reads:

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Magee was only nineteen years old when he wrote these words. Today this poem is held sacred by pilots throughout the world.

The first time I heard this verse was in April on an early morning, meditation TV program, one of those which starts the day. As the words were read, the film showed a solitary jet plane soaring straight up as if to the heavens, straining to reach its limits, then twirling and moving in the air with a sense of graceful dignity. Somehow a true sense of awe was communicated, and I have ever since felt that when reading this stanza.

It speaks to me of a sense of freedom and grace, of reaching beyond one's limits, as if beyond oneself, conveying a sense of unity with God and nature. There are several phrases in the poem which I like to reflect upon. One of these is "silent, lifting mind," which is a goal I have in prayer - to have a silent, lifting mind unto God.

John Magee ends this verse with words which express a heightened spiritual awareness: "... and while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high, untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God." That, my friends, is called a "holy moment," a moment when you experience a deep, personal encounter with God, when you and your God are one. Rabbi Abraham Heschel, a leading Jewish theologian, says there are three things needed for a holy moment to occur: "God, a soul and a moment, and the three things are always here," he assures us. Three things: God, a soul and a moment. What you and I must do is be open to that God and live as if we were a soul, a sacred whole being ... and then cherish moments, one at a time. For John Gillespie Magee, Jr. the feelings he had when flying were cherished, sacred moments. This is a "felt" experience, which is hard to describe in words.

Based on what could have been seen as routine ops for a pilot, this 19 year old wrote a poem which long outlived his brief life, a poem which has since become inspiration to millions for its depth and poetic beauty. I suggest such is not only possible for you but exists each day in your daily routine, that is, if you open your heart and mind to seeing and experiencing sacred moments as did John Magee.

For me, John Magee is a champion, not only because he died a hero's death in WW II, but because he saw beyond the "here and the now" and the superficial frustrations of everyday life, to that which is greater and beyond us all.

CAPT Jane F. Vieira, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

SPRING AHEAD TONIGHT!!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Evening, Kathy!

***HUGS***



A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours! Thank you very much for tonight’s Sunday Chapel thread.

[The Mayor]

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

Pursuing Holiness

March 8, 2015

Read: Romans 6:14-23 | Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 5-7; Mark 11:1-18

We often see surveys that ask people if they are happy, satisfied with their work, or enjoying life. But I’ve never seen an opinion poll that asked, “Are you holy?” How would you answer that question?

One Bible dictionary defines holiness as “separation to God and conduct fitting for those separated.” Author Frederick Buechner said that when writing about a person’s character, “nothing is harder to make real than holiness.” He adds that “holiness is not a human quality at all, like virtue. Holiness is . . . not something that people do, but something that God does in them.”

Romans 6 presents the stunning gift that God gives us through faith in Christ: “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (v.4). The pursuit of holiness occurs daily as we yield ourselves in obedience to the Lord instead of following our old ways of self-gratification. “Now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life” (v.22 nlt).

Are you becoming more holy? By God’s grace and power, the answer can be a resounding “Yes! More and more each day.”

Father, I want to cooperate with You in Your work of changing me to become more like Jesus. Help me to walk in Your ways. Without Your work in me, nothing of lasting value will occur in my growth in holiness.

The choice to pursue holiness is a matter of life or death.

INSIGHT: In Romans 6:23 we are shown the great contrast between earned wages and the gift of grace. All that we are capable of earning (wages) is death, but in Christ (the gift of God) we are offered payment for our sins and life forever.

[EXCH54FE]

Good Evening Kathy

(((HUGS))) Spring Ahead? I thought it was Fall Back....to Bed!!! :-)

[PROCON]

Happy Lord’s Day Kathy and thanks for tonight’s Canteen!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...a Blessed Lord’s Day to the MacNessa family.

Any weather improvement? Cities still shut down?

Today it is blowing like a banshee, and the temps are headed down to single digits at night. But...no snow and no sign of it. Puddles everywhere!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine
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

[ConorMacNessa]

GOSPEL FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY
IN LENT

"Jesus Chasing The Moneychangers
From The Temple"
Raymond Balze

_

ND The Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

But he spake of the temple of his body.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

___________________________________________ (John 2:13-25 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Thank you very much, Kathy. The weather has improved greatly here - mid 40's today - a fair melt-off. The cities have recovered - from a stand-down that should be an embarrassment to all responsible.

The reports for the coming week look benign.


"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sending out prayers for Arrowhead1952 as he recovers from his horrible fall.

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ HIGH FLIGHT, and Liberty

Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"

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]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to The Mayor family.

We are headed to night time single digits with NO snow. Today is really windy and puddles everywhere! YUCKY!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, EX...((HUGS))...you have to wait 7 months now to fall back. LOL! Is your snow melting?

It’s finally getting light here and DST screws it up for a while longer.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening! ~

[Wiz-Nerd]

May God bless you, Kathy! The words that founded our faith and gave independence to the Jewish peoples from paganism: Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. In Hebrew/English transliteration: Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad. In the beautiful words of Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד - Shema Yisra'el YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad May God bless those that watch over our Nation and protect us by night and day at all cost! God bless the men that fight for our liberty! God, a special prayer for the 82nd ABN and the 1st Special Forces Group. May you keep them all in the palm of Your mighty hand.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

A Blessed Lord's Day and Shavua Tov to you.

[T-Bird45]

I’m reading FR and watching a PBS pledge special on Tennessee Ernie Ford’s gospel music from his 50s TV show. One of the songs featured was “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” with a dedication to all who go down to the sea so it was kind of poignant to see this thread, too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...are you home? Seeing great?

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours wherever you are.

I am having terrible connectivity tonight. Everything is Previewing and posting, but only after a LONG time of the little thingy going around and around.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[dadfly]

i remember that morning or signoff meditation that the capt mentions very well (at least the version i saw back in the 60's): (looks like the same video here). i was just a little, little kid staying up way to late when i first saw it. i'd forgotten how thrilling--how inspiring--it was to me. thanks for the memory.