FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP ~ 28 July 2024

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP

For "Sparky", school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero. He also flunked Latin, algebra and English. And his record in sports wasn't any better. Though he did manage to make the school's golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. Oh, there was a consolation match; he lost that too.

Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward socially. It wasn't that the other students disliked him; it's just that no one really cared all that much. In fact, Sparky was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours. There's no way to tell how he might have done at dating. He never once asked a girl out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down... or perhaps laughed at. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates... everyone knew it. So he learned to live with it. He made up his mind early that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

One thing WAS important to Sparky, however -- drawing. He was proud of his artwork. No one else appreciated it. But that didn't seem to matter to him. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the the yearbook. The editors rejected the concept. Despite this brush-off, Sparky was convinced of his ability. He even decided to become an artist.

So, after completing high school, Sparky wrote Walt Disney Studios. They asked for samples of his artwork. Despite careful preparation, it too was rejected....one more confirmation that he was a loser.

But Sparky still didn't give up. Instead, he decided to tell his own life's story in cartoons. The main character would be a little boy who symbolized the perpetual loser and chronic underachiever. You know him well...because Sparky's cartoon character went on to become a cultural phenomenon of sorts. People readily identified with this "lovable loser." He reminded people of the painful and embarrassing moments from their own past, of their pain and their shared humanity. The character soon became famous worldwide: "Charlie Brown." And Sparky, the boy whose many failures never kept him from trying, whose work was rejected again and again...is the highly successful cartoonist Charles Schultz. His cartoon strip, "Peanuts," continues to inspire books, T-shirts and Christmas specials, reminding us, as someone once commented, that life somehow finds a way for all of us, even the losers.

If you follow the comic strip for a while, you will begin to notice one other thing as well. It isn't anger, resentment or in-your-face sarcasm which fuels Schultz's creativity and resilience. It's his faith. In fact, one study of the comic strip, published several years ago, made precisely that point. It eventually became a popular book entitled, "The Gospel According To Peanuts."

Sparky's story reminds us of a very important principle in life. We all face difficulty and discouragement from time to time. We also have a choice in how we handle it. If we're persistent, if we hold fast to our faith, if we continue to develop the unique talents God has given us, who knows what can happen? We may end up with an insight and an ability to inspire that comes only through hardship. (Read Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28.) In the end, there are no "losers" with God. Some winners just take longer to develop!

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP, 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!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[The Mayor]

July 28

Transforming Worship

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 46-48
• Acts 28

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people.

Psalm 30:4

Susy wept as she sat outside the hospital’s intensive care unit—waves of paralyzing fear sweeping over her. The tiny lungs of her two-month-old baby were filled with fluid, and doctors said they were doing their best to save him but gave no guarantees. At that moment she says she “felt the sweet, gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit reminding [her] to worship God.” With no strength to sing, she played praise songs on her phone over the next three days in the hospital. As she worshiped, she found hope and peace. Today, she says the experience taught her that “worship doesn’t change God, but it definitely changes you.”

Facing desperate circumstances, David called out to God in prayer and praise (Psalm 30:8). One commentator notes that the psalmist prayed “for grace issued in praise and transformation.” God turned David’s “wailing into dancing” and he declared that he would “praise [God] forever”—in all circumstances (vv. 11-12). While it can be hard to praise God during painful times, it can lead to transformation. From despair to hope, from fear to faith. And He can use our example to encourage and transform others (vv. 4-5).

Susy’s baby boy was restored to health by God’s grace. While not all challenges in life will end as we hope they will, He can transform us and fill us with renewed joy (v. 11) as we worship Him even in our pain.  

Reflect & Pray

How might worshiping God as you endure pain affect you? How might your example affect others?

Dear God, please transform me even as I worship You in my pain and difficulties.

[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]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS)) Did you and Blue get out today?

We had some really nice sun earlier today, but now that I’m home from work, it has clouded all over.

Looks like President is getting ready to speak at the rally.

[left that other site]

Yes, I am watching the speech right now.

Blue and i had a LOVELY ride this morning...south eastern MA, Plymouth County...all through the back roads.

Gassed up, Rode some more.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Looks like you’ve had a pretty nice day up there. I hope you’ve managed to squeeze in a little deck time to enjoy the sunshine.

Cloudy here all day and now rain is moving in again. *sigh*

[lightman]

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

A blessed Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Orthodox) to all!

[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.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Extra prayers for Israel...

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]

My goodness...you had a wonderful day!

A Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours

[left that other site]

Thank you! You too.

(((HUGS)))

[luvie]

Nathaniel Ladies Ensemble~Thanks To God

Statler Brothers~Sweet Beulah Land

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Providence~O Come Angel Band

Bill Gaither/Velstal Goodman~The Lighthouse

The Trevecca Madrigalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Jeff Beck~Amazing Grace

Have a blessed Sunday

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Hope your last day of early voting went well and was less dramatic than it was yesterday! :)

It was nice here. High of 94, but a nice breeze to keep it from seeming that hot. And, of course, low humidity.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Any chance of a dry day?

It was sunny here all the time I was at work, then clouded over completely, and now the sun is trying to reappear.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

As I told you last night, I didn’t go to the tent today. The polls closed at noon and I wasn’t getting up at the crack of dawn to go. I’ve been going in at 11 and staying until closing at 4:30. No point going for a half hour.
No drama today. Just cloudy and steamy-hot. Light showers are moving in tonight and storms are expected tomorrow. I got the grocery shopping done this afternoon so tomorrow I can just chill.

LOL I never think of 94 as “nice”. It isn’t here. And that’s what looms ahead next week. :-(