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

 

[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.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope the weather improved and you had visitors at the museum.

Gentle snow here now, but they say 41 and rain sometime tomorrow. *sigh*

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

Hope you got some "me" time on Saturday.

[radu]

Unless someone decides to be there next weekend to open it, this was the last weekend. It’s a shame because next weekend is supposed to be pretty nice. Sunny and 50s is what they predict. Just have to wait and see.

I’ll be able to get in to work on that crate and more throughout the winter though. Getting as much unpacked and set out will be easier to do without people coming in since we won’t be interrupted all the time. They’re also going to add more potties and probably a new heat/AC system, and maybe other things. Not sure what all they’ll manage to do that they want to do. But while they’re getting those things done, I can tuck into that corner out of the way and work on items in the crates. *rubbing hands in anticipation*

I hope your guys gang up on the newbie to let him know he isn’t welcome!

I’m giggling at Sugar wanting to check out the house. She obviously likes it and not sharing food with so many others is a bonus in her lil mind. LOL
But after Ginger got after her tonight, she might not want to venture in again for a while. Poor baby.

[radu]

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

Pulling out your winter gear for trips to the lake these days? LOL
It’s bound to be colder there than it is here, and it’s COLD here.

[Kathy in Alaska]

What a wonderful tribute by Phil....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...are you having good weather for lake visiting with Gizmo? Hope so...he seems to love his hunting trips.

You boys have a terrific Sunday.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Whew, you’re really riding the weather roller coaster up there, aren’t you?

It was pretty here if you looked out the window but step outside and BRRRRRRRR!! In the 30s with a very brisk wind. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the low 50s, which will be nice for the Veterans Day parade.
Rain Monday and we might get a wintry mix Tues.
We’re riding the roller coaster too.

We did have a good turnout at the museum. There were three of us working and we were hopping the whole time. It felt good after not being able to go up there last weekend.

Did you have a list of things to do today or did you just say “phooey” and kick back? :-)

[radu]

Glad you enjoyed it.
He mentioned it on his radio show Friday and said he’d posted the link on his web page. I looked it up right away and saved the link for this thread.

Many of us who didn’t serve share his sentiments. I think he spoke for us quite nicely.

[E.G.C.]

It is getting colder. I decided to keep Giz in the house until it's light out there.

What a game it was for OU and OSU. OU won it by one point 48-47.

[radu]

Glad you’re keeping him inside overnight. Critters feel the cold too. Bet he’s a happy lil guy being warm and comfy tonight.

That was a CLOSE game between OU and OSU wasn’t it?!

[E.G.C.]

Yep, apparently it was.((LOL))

[MEG33]

Thank you, dear Kathy.
Lord’s Day Blessings To You!

[luvie]

Sorry I “ran” off...I had to get to bed at a decent time.

She was so cute as she poked around under and around everything. I was kind of afraid she’d do “her job” somewhere under a bed or something, but she didn’t. Ginger didn’t touch her...just let her know she wasn’t one of them. LOL!

See ya tonight!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I had a mental list, but opted instead to flit from small thing to small thing and I got lots of little things done. Not really visible to others, but on the “done” list for me. It was good.

Got just short of 2” of snow overnight, but it’s been RAINING for several hours this afternoon. May continue til late Monday, but stay ABOVE freezing til Tuesday night. IF THIS IS TRUE...we might avoid a citywide ice skating rink. Please let them be right. Ice means accidents, accidents, and more accidents.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

We have indeed started rehearsals for Christmas and Mrs. MacNessa and I are singing this year. We are also having a Christmas Concert this year as part of our parish's 175th Anniversary.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

[radu]

Don’t feel bad. I crashed and burned last night too. LOL

They’re so funny the first time or two going inside and seeing all those strange things around the house and checking out all the strange smells.
Nice of Ginger not smacking her for invading the territory.

Was the new cat around today?

[radu]

Checking off little things as “done” is a good thing. The little things can bug ya more than the big things sometimes.

Whew, I hope the streets have time to dry off before the temp drops. Absolutely no fun driving on ice!

[luvie]

He...or she...was around this evening, but I watched and didn’t let him eat anything. Or barely anything. He’s pretty healthy looking so I hope he belongs to someone.

No one came in today. Good thing...I didn’t have time to deal with it. LOL!

[radu]

It probably does belong to someone since it didn’t dive into the food dish. It sounds more curious than hungry.
Sure hope that’s the case!

Maybe that kitteh had the others’ attention to the point they weren’t thinking about slipping into the house.