FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION ~ 04 July 2021

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION

It was back in 1962, I'm told, when cracks began to appear in the 42nd story of a very expensive high-rise in Hong Kong. It had already withstood numerous typhoons. And there was no ready explanation for the cracks' sudden appearance. Yet there they were. Obviously, there had to be a problem somewhere. So a team of architects and structural engineers was called in to ferret out the cause.

Finally, one determined engineer stumbled upon the reason as he was prowling around the foundations deep in the basement. When he tapped the plaster, he noticed that some parts sounded strangely hollow. So he began systematically chipping away at the covering layer. And soon he had his explanation -- a large number of bricks had been removed from the building's foundation! But, why? Further investigation eventually led to a surprising revelation. It seems that, some years earlier, a night watchman had been building an addition to his house. To save on costs, he had loosened the mortar around a few bricks each night, removed them from the wall, wrapped them in old newspaper, and smuggled them out of the building at the end of his shift. He only took a few at a time. And no one had ever noticed. He didn't think it would make a difference. After all, he had been very careful to fill the breach with plaster. But an engineer could have told him differently. Though it might take years for such cracks to appear, the end result was inevitable once the foundation had been weakened. The building APPEARED sound, but, as is so often the case, an attractive exterior hid a potentially fatal flaw.

As Dr. Harold Sala commented, "...the cracks... don't always appear overnight, but when the foundation is tampered with, inevitably the superstructure will feel the effect." He was talking about family life, but you could just as easily apply those comments to our spiritual development... or to life in the wider community. The Psalmist asked, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3) And who could forget the story Jesus told about the importance of foundations? (Matthew 7:24)

This weekend offers another perspective on the topic of "foundations" as millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day. And for those of us who are committed, from a FAITH perspective, to the pursuit of truth and justice, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the healthy ways that faith has often influenced our citizenship. I remember that Earl Warren, who later became chief justice of the Supreme Court, once admitted, "I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it." Our nation still has many flaws, and has frequently failed to live up to its lofty ideals. But, time and again, it has been our founders' vision of "freedom and justice for all" that has enabled us to overcome divisions and make a "course correction" without anarchy.

This holiday weekend offers the opportunity to celebrate that vision, perhaps even to rediscover its religious roots. It was faith, not greed, that led the founders to "...hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." It's a time for reflection and recommitment. A time to (as Isaiah says) "look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug." (51:1)

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

HAPPY 245th BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!

[The Mayor]

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

July 4

In God We Trust

Bible in a Year:

• Job 28–29
• Acts 13:1–25

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.

Isaiah 30:15

In the early days of the American Revolutionary War, an expedition was launched against British forces in Quebec. When the expedition passed through Newburyport, Massachusetts, on the way to Canada, they visited the tomb of the renowned evangelist George Whitefield. Whitefield’s coffin was opened and his clerical collar and cuffs were removed. The clothing was cut in pieces and distributed in the mistaken belief that it could somehow give the soldiers success.

The expedition failed. But what the soldiers did demonstrates our human tendency to trust in something less than a relationship with God—money or human strength or even religious traditions—for our ultimate well-being. God cautioned His people against this when invasion from Assyria threatened, and they sought Pharaoh’s help instead of turning from their sins and turning personally to Him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee!’ ” (Isaiah 30:15–16).

Their “expedition” failed as well (just as God said it would) and Assyria overwhelmed Judah. But God also told His people, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you.” Even when we have trusted in lesser things, God still holds out His hand to help us return to Him. “Blessed are all who wait for him!” (v. 18).

Reflect & Pray

In what other than God are you sometimes tempted to place your trust? How will you rely on Him today?

I trust You, God. Please help me to always rely on You because You’re always faithful!

[lightman]

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way.

A blessed Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Second Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox) to all!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord;
the people He has chosen for His heritage” (Psalm 33:12)

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

And Happy Independence Day!!

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

~ Just Got A Call To Come Back - Full Loads And Few Pilots ~

~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION, and Happy 245th Birthday, America!

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!

[left that other site]

God Bless America!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman, and a Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

And a blessed Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Second Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox).

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...and Shavua Tov and a Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

How soon do you have to get where to get to Denver? And then where?

And a Happy 4th of July!!

Safe flights!!!!!!!

[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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[lightman]

Tonight's Theotokion of the Resurrection is such a beautiful prelude to celebrating our nation's birthday:

Let us praise Mary the Virgin, glory of all the world.
Born of human parents, she gave birth to the Lord, and is the doorway to heaven.
The adornment of the faithful, she is hymned by the angelic hosts.
For she has been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead.
She is the one who, breaking down the wall of enmity, ushered in peace and threw open the Kingdom.
With her as the anchor of our faith, we have a defender in the Lord, to whom she gave birth.
Take courage, therefore, people of God, take courage; for he, the Almighty, will defeat your enemies.

[The Mayor]

Thank you and Happy Independence Day to you and ALL Freedom Loving Patriots!!

[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.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[lightman]

Ping to # 13.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless Her good, ML...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord's Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

Have you started to float yet?

Happy Independence Day!

[left that other site]

I’m hearing firecrackers in between the thunder. LOL.