FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ DON'T BLAME CHANGING TIMES ~ 11 November 2018

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

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

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[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.

[left that other site]

We had TORRENTIAL rain last night, and I had driven my sis and her hubby to a gig nearly on Cape Cod.

The ride home at 1 AM was really an “adventure”.

[MEG33]

America...Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave
*Thank You Veterans For Keeping Us Free*
Good Evening To The Canteen

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

A Tribute to our Veterans

[The Mayor]

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

Confident Hope

November 11, 2018

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Dr. William Wallace was serving as a missionary surgeon in Wuzhou, China, in the 1940s when Japan attacked China. Wallace, who was in charge of Stout Memorial Hospital at the time, ordered the hospital to load his equipment on barges and continue to function as a hospital while floating up and down rivers to avoid infantry attacks. 

During dangerous times, Philippians 1:21—one of Wallace’s favorite verses—reminded him that if he lived, he had work to do for the Savior; but if he died, he had the promise of eternity with Christ. The verse took on special meaning when he died while falsely imprisoned in 1951.

Paul’s writing reflects a deep devotion we can aspire to as followers of Jesus, enabling us to face trials and even danger for His sake. It is devotion enabled by the Holy Spirit and the prayers of those closest to us (v. 19). It’s also a promise. Even when we surrender ourselves to continued service under difficult circumstances, it is with this reminder: when our life and work end here, we still have the joy of eternity with Jesus ahead of us.

In our hardest moments, with hearts committed to walking with Christ now, and with our eyes firmly fixed on the promise of eternity with Him, may our days and our acts bless others with the love of God. 

Make of me, Father, a willing servant in times of weakness and times of strength.

Sacrifices offered to God are opportunities to showcase His love.

INSIGHT

When a believer dies, we often comfort the grieving with these words: “He/she is now home with the Lord.” Paul affirmed this same certainty when he boldly declared that when he dies he will “depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). Paul’s assurance is built upon the very words of our Lord Jesus. As Christ was dying on the cross for our sins, He promised the believing thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

What do we know about heaven? Paul saw it, but wasn’t permitted to say anything about it (2 Corinthians 12:3–4), and John saw it but only cryptically described it in Revelation 21–22. But when Jesus described it as “my Father’s home” (John 14:2 nlt), He spoke of the welcome, warmth, and intimacy we’ll find there with Him.

For further reading on heaven, see Our Eternal Home at discoveryseries.org/rd911.

[Kathy in Alaska]

So true about what the hit to a gene pool can do for a long time.

[luvie]

Howdy, radu! What a beautiful tribute. Couldn’t watch it all...it was going to make me cry.

How did things go at the museum today?

[radu]

Yes, it’s a touching tribute. You need to go back and watch it all the way through. I think you’ll be glad you did.

It was a bit chilly and windy on the mountain today but it was sunny, and people were in the mood to get out. We were pretty busy at the museum. Busy enough I didn’t get a chance to work on items in the great big crate they took in last weekend and stuck in my little work corner. Drove me crazy knowing it was there and I couldn’t work on it. LOL

Have things warmed up at all down there? Poor lil kittehs would probably appreciate it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Has choir practice started for the Christmas program? Are you and Mrs MacNessa singing this year?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day, Luv, to you and yours.

Thanks for the hymns.

[Kathy in Alaska]

GySgt. Lawrence A. Lang, USMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[luvie]

I will go back and watch the whole thing...but not tonight. I have to be in just the right frame of mind to watch something like that.

Glad y’all had people up there even though it kept you away from your crate! It’s pretty cool here, but next week we get our first hard freeze. The kitties will really have to huddle then.

Oh...I counted 5 black cats this morning. groan... I have no idea where the extra came from. That’s what I get for feeding cats in the back yard. I’m trying to scare it off without scaring the kittens. He’s mean, though. I don’t like him.

[Kathy in Alaska]

YIKES!!! Glad you made it safely home.

It is snowing VERY gently right now, but they say we are headed to 41 degrees and rain tomorrow. I HATE THIS KIND OF WEATHER!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours, Meg. Beautiful tribute for this Veterans Day.

[radu]

We were glad it was busy too. It does make the time go by faster and it’s just fun meeting different people.
They had a group of 40 elementary school students there yesterday for a tour. Bet that was fun. Kids eat it up.

Turns out this might have been the last weekend open. :-( Four of us plan to be there Monday since that’s Veterans Day observed, then the museum’s closed for the winter.

I feel for ya having a hard freeze looming. We knew all week this weekend was going to be cold and we dreaded it. We might get a wintry mix through here next week and we REALLY dread that!

Uh oh on the extra kitteh today! Hope it has a home and just popped by out of curiosity!

[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.

[luvie]

Aww....they’re closing sooner than expected? I know you’ll miss it. Maybe they’ll call you in to do some work on that crate. At least you’ll be doing something concerning it.

Man! I hope that cat has another home too. It looks well fed. It and one of mine...lord knows which one but it was black...sort of got into it. Maybe these cats will get tired of a stranger taking their food.

Sugar came in again. Got some food and then prowled all through the house. Ginger was not impressed. Cornered her in the bathroom and then under the bed. Finally got her back outside. Guess I need to put an end to those visits. LOL!