FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET ~ 06 August 2023

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

The poet wrote, "Two men looked out through prison bars: one saw mud; the other saw stars." Commenting on this, Father John Powell once wrote:

"In the pursuit of the fullness of human life, everything depends on this frame of reference, this habitual outlook, this basic vision which I have of myself, others, life, the world, and God. What we see is what we get."

Don't you find that to be true? There's a lot about our world that isn't the way we would want it to be: cruelty, hatred, injustice, jealousy, deceit, evil.... it's what theologians call "the problem of evil". "How can a loving, merciful, and just God," they ask, "allow such things to exist?" I don't know anyone who has ever arrived at a satisfactory answer to that question. And if we focus only on what's wrong, disillusionment and despair are almost inevitable. But those same theologians point out that "the problem of good" is equally puzzling. If human nature is flawed, and our tendency is toward evil, how is there so much that is good? But how many people ever ask such a question? Maybe it's because, despite our seeming skepticism and suspicion, most of us really do expect more out of life.

Remember the old question of whether the glass is half empty or half full? Both answers are correct. The choice of perspective is ours. We can either "complain that rose bushes have thorns or rejoice that some thorn bushes produce roses".

Noted pastor and author Charles Swindoll comments:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way...we cannot change the inevitable. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes."

Perhaps that's why the Apostle Paul once advised, "...Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Paul knew what it meant to be rejected, ridiculed, even reviled and persecuted. But he chose not to "live" there. It was a matter of focus. As another author (unknown to me) phrased it: "Life can't give me joy and peace; it's up to me to will it. Life just gives me time and space; it's up to me to fill it". If you accept the Bible's message, it’s not even a matter of creating those conditions, just a willingness to accept what God is already waiting to provide -- even in the middle of an imperfect world.

Be careful where you focus your attention today. "What you see is what you get."

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Ezekiel, and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

Throw in that those who are up to no good are big into creating facades that look good on the surface, but what you see isn't what you get.

Truer words...

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique, for our troop blessing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good for you..

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks for today’s sustenance for body and soul/

Hope you are enjoying nice summer weather.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Helicopter hunter-killer teams of the Vietnam War: OH-6

Black Rifle Coffee Co.

Meet the “Outcasts,” the men behind the infamous hunter-killer helicopter teams of the Vietnam War.

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

Comments below the video:

“This needs to be turned into a movie! Thank you for putting these guys stories out there, they really are the heroes of Army Aviation.”

[lightman]

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

A blessed Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Great Feast of the Transfiguration† (Orthodox) to all!

†Not so simple this time because a few Western traditions still keep August 6 as the Transfiguration and Old Calendar Orthodox (Russian, Serbian, Georgian and some others) will celebrate on August 19.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

How are things down your way? Any relief in sight yet?

[Kathy in Alaska]

That 15 minutes was really nice...it wouldn’t have taken much to fall asleep. LOL!

Good thing I went out...the clouds are rolling in fast. Not much blue sky to be seen now. If the sun won’t stick around for a while, I hope it rains enough to water my lawns.

It WAS beautiful earlier today.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Things are H O T...It was 104 today! And no, they won’t be getting better. For the next days, starting tomorrow: 106, 108, 106, 108, 108. It’s so depressing. I just thought last year was bad. This has been the true hell-year.

How were things at the museum? Hope you had some fun groups to tour with.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Well....better your grass AND the crops get rain.

Once you recover you will have to mow in smaller plots.

[radu]

Glad to hear the clouds waited until you got your 15 minutes on the deck. You have two systems getting ready to converge over you - one coming up over the mountains from the Gulf of Alaska and the BIG one coming in from the Bering Sea. I see the wind’s kicking up now. Not much rain with the small one but the big one might water your lawn nicely.

[radu]

Man, that sux! Y’all need a break on that end of the country!

It was a good weekend at the museum, though I won’t be doing much tomorrow. LOL Steady flow of folks and we were short-handed as far as people working. I never got to sit down both days and my back’s achin’ and my dawgs are barkin’. LOL But it was a lot of fun.

There were two guys there with Freddy when I arrived. Both veterans who had come down from Ft. Campbell and stopped by the museum on their way to a collectors show in Chattanooga. While I was in the back room turning everything on, one came back and asked where our black Jeep was. A friend had told him we had one and he really wanted to see it. I knew exactly what he was talking about because it’s my favorite Jeep there. It’s badass. Turns out it was built specifically for the Rangers and he’s a former Ranger. He took part in Operation Just Cause and though he primarily rode a motorcycle, he’d ridden in the Jeeps several times. We let him sit in ours.

After Panama, he decided he wanted to be a helicopter pilot and trained to fly MH6 Little Birds.

He had a lot of cool pics on his phone that he showed me and I was all ears as he talked. As of now, he’s my highlight of the year. LOL

My last tour of the day was with a guy from FL who’d been here last year. He comes up periodically to do some sort of contract work at Arnold AFB and is back this year. He had a different buddy with him today and wanted me to take them through because he’d enjoyed the tour with me so much last year. That was nice of him to say. I had a great time with them and it was nice to see him again. Nice fella.

Busy, but it was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while. So many nice, fun folks both days.

[radu]

I don’t know if we’re going to get any rain tonight. It looks like we’re going to get ripped off AGAIN! A wide swath of rain has been moving across the state tonight and now that it’s getting close, it’s fizzling out. This is really hacking me off. IF we get anything at all, it’ll be a sprinkle. SO frustrating.

[luvie]

We do need a break, and I would just love to know when it will happen. We’re all depressed, cranky and just exhausted. Can’t do anything outdoors. Hubby hasn’t mowed in 2 weeks because it is just way too hot, even early. He waters, but it evaporates so fast. And there’s no rain. For months.

Gosh, those two guys sound wonderful! I’m sure you showed all your guests the best of everything. I’d love to come and have you be my tour guide. :)

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Sunday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

The healing process continues. I've been able to poop some also. Watching my pulse and blood pressure closely due to the pain meds. I still have today and tomorrow's worth of Ibuprofin left.

And yes, I did have ribs for supper today.

How's everyone doing this morning?>

[radu]

We’re cranky over here and it hasn’t been quite as hot as it’s been there. LOL But it’s still been hot enough to make everyone stay indoors as much as possible and it’s boring.
I feel so sorry for your poor outside kitties. They don’t even get a break with AC like Peaches and Ginger.

I do try to help all of our visitors to enjoy what we have on display, try to bring things to life with tidbits of history about them. And it’s fun being able to teach little bits of history that aren’t taught in schools. Our Diamond T tow truck is a great opportunity to tell about the Redball Express. Everyone seems to have the same reaction - - why weren’t we taught about it in school? It was a significant piece of WWII history.

And now I know a little more about that badass black Jeep. LOL I wish it ran because I would LOVE to ride in it. I’ve wanted to since I first laid eyes on it.

You and your hubby need to take a road trip over this way and I’ll be happy to take you through. :-)

[luvie]

I’m even dreading getting on a dress for church tomorrow morning. I’d rather just go in my capris and a t-shirt, but that would shock everyone. But I can get away with in for evening worship. I don’t think God minds, but you know how people are. LOL!

I’d love to take a trip over there, but I really couldn’t leave the cats for that long, and getting hubby to even go see the kids is like pulling teeth. I have to practically threaten him. Yes, he loves them to pieces. He just hates to travel. And I love to. That’s why I loved the shoots. I had a reason to go meet up with others and take a fun road trip.

I’m going to have to finish up this show and make myself go to sleep. I’m not sleepy, but my phone alarm would be in great danger in the morning if I don’t get some sleep. See ya tomorrow!

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Keep takin’ it easy so you can get that silly Gizmo back home and get back to your outings with him at the lakes. There are smelly spots to be rolled in! LOL

[radu]

Dresses or skirts and blouses are comfortable when it’s hot. Nice and “airy”. LOL

I can sympathize with your hubby. I’m not hot on travelling either. Kinda stinks because I like seeing new places. It’s the getting there that’s the problem.
It IS a long drive from there to here. It’s too bad you live so far away because I think you’d really enjoy the museum.

Get some good sleep tonight, for your alarm’s sake. LOL Catch ya tomorrow.