FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE MAN IN THE GLASS ~ 6 July 2014

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans 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]

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

Not A Hitching Post
July 6, 2014

Read: Jeremiah 6:13-20

Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. —Jeremiah 6:16

Bible in a Year:
Job 32-33; Acts 14

You may have heard the saying, “The past is supposed to be a guidepost, not a hitching post.” It’s easy to become tied to memories of “the good old days” instead of using our experiences to find direction for the road ahead. We are all susceptible to the paralyzing effects of nostalgia—a longing for what used to be.

Jeremiah was a priest from a small town near Jerusalem when God called him to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). He was given the very difficult job of pronouncing God’s judgment primarily on the people of Judah, who had turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah made it clear that he was delivering God’s message, not his own (7:1-2).

The Lord said, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (6:16).

God urged His people to look back so they could move ahead. The purpose of considering the ancient paths was to find “the good way” marked by God’s faithfulness, His forgiveness, and His forward call.

God can teach us from our past that the best road is the one we walk with Him.

Though I know not what awaits me—
What the future has in store,
Yet I know that God is faithful,
For I’ve proved Him oft before. —Anon.

God’s guidance in the past gives courage for the future.

Insight

Jeremiah, often called the “weeping prophet,” brought a depressing message to Israel: “Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people” (6:19). God would bring the consequences of Israel’s choices on them. Calamity was coming (v.15) because Israel had forgotten the path given in the past (v.16). Yet Jeremiah also offered words of hope: One day God would bring “the remnant” back to Israel and raise up a “Branch of righteousness” (23:3-8).

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[ErnBatavia]

To this day, I often think about my USMC Boot Camp buddy....we became great pals at MCRD then went our separate ways, due to my MOS and his - he was an 0311...."Grunt". Little did either of us know that as of the end of July, 1966 when we hit the yellow footprints, he had maybe nine months before his curiosity got the better of him; he looked up at the wrong time and got his head blown off.

We were both "two year active" guys who'd enlisted because of the short term, with the promise that we'd be "Women and children first" reservists after that.....it worked out fine for me, but not so well for PFC Frank Joseph Garcia - "small arms fire - April, 1967 - body recovered."

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

Amazing Grace ~ Cherokee

Elvis ~ In The Garden

Jim Ed Brown ~ Chapel Bells Are Ringing

John Berry ~ Old Rugged Cross

Kitty Wells ~ Dust On the Bible

Red Sovine ~ Deck of Cards

The Statler Brothers ~ Church in the Wildwood

Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Faith of Our Fathers

The Gaithers ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Elvis ~ Precious Lord

Ray Cornelius ~ One Set of Footprints

How Great Thou Art ~ Choctaw

[HiJinx]

Good evening, Ma!
Getting any rain?
We are!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ THE MAN IN THE GLASS, 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!

[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

[left that other site]

Good message tonight!

Hi everybody!

(((((((HUGS)))))))

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

PFC Frank Joseph Garcia, USMC

Eternal Father Strong To Save - click

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[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.

[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]

Good evening, HJ....hurrah for you! It’s raining!!

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Your “river bed” still doing its job in the yard?

We had 3 days of wonderful rain last week, and maybe more tomorrow. d:o)

It’s 77 degrees right now!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Did you and Lynn-Dah get to go yard saling today?

Is the Choir Director ready for Sunday service?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[SkyDancer]

~ Hi Kathy! ~

~ Counting Counting Counting ~

[left that other site]

Both Lynn-Dah and i overslept today, as the fireworks kept us both up all night.

It rained all morning, but cleared enough for me to go to rehearsal...just me and my guitar player, and she started singing harmonies today.

I also reached a musical milestone, being able to play a very complex bass figure and sing an entirely different melody AT THE SAME TIME!

Hallelujah!