FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE MAN IN THE GLASS ~ 28 May 2023

Serving The Best Troops and Verterans in the World !! | The Canteen Crew

[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

 

[The Mayor]

May 28

What Only the Spirit Can Do

Bible in a Year:

• 2 Chronicles 4–6
• John 10:24–42

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4

During the discussion of a book on the Holy Spirit written by a ninety-four-year-old German theologian named Jürgen Moltmann, an interviewer asked him: “How do you activate the Holy Spirit? Can you take a pill? Do the pharmaceutical companies [deliver the Spirit]?” Moltmann’s bushy eyebrows shot up. Shaking his head, he grinned, answering in accented English. “What can I do? Don’t do anything. Wait on the Spirit, and the Spirit will come.”

Moltmann highlighted our mistaken belief that our energy and expertise make things happen. Acts reveals that God makes things happen. At the start of the church, it had nothing to do with human strategy or impressive leadership. Rather, the Spirit arrived “like the blowing of a violent wind” into a room of frightened, helpless, and bewildered disciples (2:2). Next, the Spirit shattered all ethnic superiorities by gathering people who were at odds into one new community. The disciples were as shocked as anyone to see what God was doing within them. They didn’t make anything happen; “the Spirit enabled them” (v. 4).

The church—and our shared work in the world—isn’t defined by what we can do. We’re entirely dependent on what only the Spirit can do. This allows us to be both bold and restful. On this day—the day we celebrate Pentecost—may we wait for the Spirit and respond.

Reflect & Pray

How are you tempted to rely on your own efforts or tenacity? Where do you need to wait for what the Spirit can do?

God, I’ve exhausted myself by believing that I must make things happen. Holy Spirit, come and help me.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

And a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Enjoy your weekend and working on your car.

[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.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[lightman]

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

A blessed Day of Pentecost (Western)/Sunday of the Holy Fathers (Orthodox) to all!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your service!

[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.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I hope you managed a little “you” time today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

And a blessed Day of Pentecost (Western)/Sunday of the Holy Fathers (Orthodox)

Are you enjoying a nice spring?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

How did it go at the museum today? People gone for the long weekend? Or choosing to check out the museum?

Regardless, did your back survive?

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

It was a pretty good day at the museum today. Busier than we thought it would be since the weather was so nice. Lots of fun folks today and I don’t think any were “repeaters”. Most were from out of state.

My back survived that but we’ll see if it survives wrestling with stuff in the well house when I got home. Had to fill the air bladders in the holding tanks so I’d have water! One of my “guardian angels” messed up when changing my water filter several weeks ago because he partially drained the tanks, and the bladders slowly lost their air.
Hubby’s cousin told me how to do it and I did succeed, but it was a royal pain. At least I have water again and I’ve learned how to deal with one more thing around here should the need arise again.

I WILL keep that one “guardian angel” away from the well though! LOL His heart was in the right place but his knowledge was lacking. And I’m able to change the filter myself now.

Not exactly a pretty day up there for sitting on the deck for a bit but I hope you managed to kick back with a good book or something for a while.

[ExTexasRedhead]

USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Oslo May 24. 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxNWiZigJZs

Check comments below the video:

“I’m an American who lives in Norway. Got a bit emotional seeing this. Really happy to see Oslo welcome 4,5 acres of floating US tarmac into the fjord for a visit 😊”

[luvie]

U S Military Academy~Mansions Of The Lord

Mansions Of The Lord
Ronan Tynan

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord.

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We shall stand and guard though the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord.

Ray Charles~America The Beautiful
FourHymn~In Flanders Fields
Jo Stafford~I'll Be Seeing You
Lee Greenwood~My Country Tis Of Thee
Waylon Jennings~America
Taps

NEVER FORGET THEM!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

I hope you’ve had a good weekend so far? Any rain, by chance?

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It has been a great weekend so far. We’ve had rain showers for several days. Not much at a time, but it adds up. Plus...and this is the best part....it’s been lovely and cool all week! Such a beautiful spring so far.

Hope you had a grand time at the museum this weekend what with the Memorial Day Weekend going on, and I’m sure lots of vets want to remember their days and their comrades.

[radu]

Glad to hear you’ve had some good weather this week. Cool AND rain showers!

It’s been comfy enough here and rain showers have been scattered. We only had one hit here all week but I’ve driven through a few when out and about. Ran through a heavy one yesterday on the way home from the museum.

We had a good day at the museum today. Not slammed but a steady turnout of visitors.