FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION ~ 05 July 2020

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION

It was back in 1962, I'm told, when cracks began to appear in the 42nd story of a very expensive high-rise in Hong Kong. It had already withstood numerous typhoons. And there was no ready explanation for the cracks' sudden appearance. Yet there they were. Obviously, there had to be a problem somewhere. So a team of architects and structural engineers was called in to ferret out the cause.

Finally, one determined engineer stumbled upon the reason as he was prowling around the foundations deep in the basement. When he tapped the plaster, he noticed that some parts sounded strangely hollow. So he began systematically chipping away at the covering layer. And soon he had his explanation -- a large number of bricks had been removed from the building's foundation! But, why? Further investigation eventually led to a surprising revelation. It seems that, some years earlier, a night watchman had been building an addition to his house. To save on costs, he had loosened the mortar around a few bricks each night, removed them from the wall, wrapped them in old newspaper, and smuggled them out of the building at the end of his shift. He only took a few at a time. And no one had ever noticed. He didn't think it would make a difference. After all, he had been very careful to fill the breach with plaster. But an engineer could have told him differently. Though it might take years for such cracks to appear, the end result was inevitable once the foundation had been weakened. The building APPEARED sound, but, as is so often the case, an attractive exterior hid a potentially fatal flaw.

As Dr. Harold Sala commented, "...the cracks... don't always appear overnight, but when the foundation is tampered with, inevitably the superstructure will feel the effect." He was talking about family life, but you could just as easily apply those comments to our spiritual development... or to life in the wider community. The Psalmist asked, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3) And who could forget the story Jesus told about the importance of foundations? (Matthew 7:24)

This weekend offers another perspective on the topic of "foundations" as millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day. And for those of us who are committed, from a FAITH perspective, to the pursuit of truth and justice, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the healthy ways that faith has often influenced our citizenship. I remember that Earl Warren, who later became chief justice of the Supreme Court, once admitted, "I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it." Our nation still has many flaws, and has frequently failed to live up to its lofty ideals. But, time and again, it has been our founders' vision of "freedom and justice for all" that has enabled us to overcome divisions and make a "course correction" without anarchy.

This holiday weekend offers the opportunity to celebrate that vision, perhaps even to rediscover its religious roots. It was faith, not greed, that led the founders to "...hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." It's a time for reflection and recommitment. A time to (as Isaiah says) "look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug." (51:1)

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!

[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]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ EXAMINING THE FOUNDATION, 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]

Happy Independence Day!

From Sea To Shining Sea!

God Bless America!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[lightman]

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

As our magnificent POTUS said yesterday “kneel only to God!”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Blue get to celebrate America’s birthday? How’s Penny doing with the noise?

[Kathy in Alaska]

What a beautiful graphic...

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

[left that other site]

Blue and I went on a nice ride...only about 50 miles and stayed local. Lots of flags flying!

Penny seems unperturbed by the fireworks. Most of the sounds are sporadic and distant, and she’s sleeping through it.

[left that other site]

Thank you! It reminded me of a quilt.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

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

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

[The Mayor]

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

July 5

Renewed Strength

Bible in a Year:

• Job 30–31
• Acts 13:26–52

Praise the Lord . . . who satisfies your desires with good things.

Psalm 103:1, 5

Psychiatrist Robert Coles once noticed a pattern in those who burn out while serving others. The first warning sign is weariness. Next comes cynicism about things ever improving, then bitterness, despair, depression, and finally burnout.

After writing a book about recovering from broken dreams, I once entered a busy season of conference speaking. Helping people find hope after disappointment was richly rewarding, but came at a cost. One day, about to step on stage, I thought I was going to faint. I hadn’t slept well, a vacation hadn’t fixed my weariness, and the thought of hearing another person’s problems afterward filled me with dread. I was following Coles’ pattern.

Scripture gives two strategies for beating burnout. In Isaiah 40, the weary soul is renewed when it hopes in the Lord (vv. 29–31). I needed to rest in God, trusting Him to work, rather than pushing on in my own dwindling strength. And Psalm 103 says God renews us by satisfying our desires with good things (v. 5). While this includes forgiveness and redemption (vv. 3–4), provisions of joy and play come from Him too. When I reworked my schedule to include more prayer, rest, and hobbies like photography, I began to feel healthy again.

Burnout begins with weariness. Let’s stop it from going further. We serve others best when our lives include both worship and rest.

By:  Sheridan Voysey Reflect & Pray

What burdens do you need to offload to God right now? How are you renewing your strength through prayer, Scripture, and healthy play?

Loving God, I want to rise in strength like the eagle today. I trust You to work in my exhausting situation, and receive Your soul-filling gifts with gladness.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Are your church services getting back to normal? Glad you finally have help with chanting.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Really happy to hear that flags were flying.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

~ Getting Ready To Head Out Again Sunday Afternoon ~

~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[lightman]

Last Sunday felt just about normal.

[frank ballenger]

Great story posted about the foundation.

We must keep our foundation strong and not let the enemies wear us down.

God bless you and yours, Kathy in Alaska.