USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ Counting Blessings in Iraq ~ DEC 14 2003

The Dallas Morning News ^ | 607th Military Police Battalion Chaplain Steve Munson

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to
The USO Canteen FReeper Style

Today's Spiritual Journey takes us to the

607th Military Police Battalion in Iraq

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Click on graphic to link to the original sermon.

 Counting Blessings in Iraq

Chaplain Steve Munson, 50, is a military chaplain stationed in the Persian Gulf with the 607th Military Police Battalion from Grand Prairie.   Chaplain Munson, who is senior pastor at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Fort Worth, is sharing some of his experiences with The Dallas Morning News.

 

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We gathered for worship, a small group of mostly older soldiers from diverse backgrounds. Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Reformed Lutheran, and Christian Church – we all gathered to pray, share concerns, sing and hear a message of hope.

This day is unlike all the others. It is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and we are preparing spiritually, emotionally, and mentally for the beginning of the holiday season. We take turns sharing requests. Each person shares common concerns about family, health issues, and protection for soldiers.

We pray, and I ask, "What are you thankful for as a direct result of being deployed here?"

As I wait for answers, I wonder what they will say. Are they thankful for anything? Or did I just open up a time to complain?

The 133rd Military Police Company (from, as their Capt. Lawrence Moran often told us, "the great state of South Carolina") has finally begun its redeployment home. They have reached the end of their 24-month tour of active duty.

They can be proud of their accomplishments over the past 10 months in Iraq. They depart with a remarkable record of completed missions and only one serious injury. The young sergeant injured a few months ago continues his recovery. Our walking miracle is progressing, and I look forward to seeing him when I return home.

It is my last visit with the company, and I walk through the tents saying farewell to the soldiers who have become my friends. They came here with the faces of children and now leave with the marks of maturity brought out by war. They are no longer innocent and naïve. They have seen too much in too short a time, at too young an age. They are the proven veterans of conflict who stepped up to the challenge.

We depart the camp and head back north. I hear the sound of a siren wailing, and I look in my mirror to see a police truck from the 133rd. He is pulling me over, and I know I am not going to get a ticket! I get out, walk back and Spc. Sweatt says, "Chaplain, I didn't want you to get away without personally thanking you for all you've done for us."

It is an overwhelming exchange. My feelings are mixed as I reflect on the past several months in that brief moment – the accident, the counseling sessions, the worship services, the Ziggurat tours, the road trips, the nights they spent up north in our tent, and days I had spent with them. I thanked him and we exchanged addresses. I will see him again – friendship forged in the midst of conflict is forever.

The worshippers consider the question of thankfulness, and the flood begins.

"Friends I would never have had if I hadn't been deployed."

"My wife and I are closer than we have ever been, even though we are apart!"

"I learned money wasn't all that important, I am thankful for new friends."

"I learned how much my family means to me."

"I have come closer to God, and my wife."

Every answer involves relationships, everyone admitted they were better off for being here. There was not one complaint!

That same day, my home church celebrated my 14th anniversary as pastor. They gathered to pray, share concerns, sing, and hear a message of hope. When worship was complete, they gathered to enjoy one another and eat my piece of pumpkin pie!

That's the way it's supposed to be – life is to be lived and enjoyed by those on the home front. Soldiers go to war so civilians can live freely. I ask those of you at home not to mourn us or feel sorry that we're in Iraq over the holidays. We are here so you can enjoy the holiday season, and we should not be the central focus at this time. We want you to celebrate for us in our absence.

Our desire is for you to laugh and make the best of time. Life is too short to sit around in misery and regret. By celebrating, you are validating our reason to be here, and be assured, we will celebrate as well.

After the service we gather around the table sipping gourmet coffee sent from the States. These aren't the faces of immediate family, but they are faces of friends.

We may be 7,500 miles from home, but we still have each other.
We miss our families, but we will enjoy the season!

Happy Holidays from Iraq!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need by providing homes close to a loved one during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. There are currently 31 houses located on the grounds of every major military medical center and several VA medical centers. These houses will play a critical role in caring for casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Donations will be used to help meet the cost of lodging for a family whose loved one was injured in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is a limit to the number of families who can stay in a Fisher House and program is committed to help provide lodging for families who must find commercial lodging, because the Fisher House is full.

You think you're hot?
Our military forces in Iraq sweat it out in 130 degree heat everyday!

Cool Our Troops is a non-profit effort to 'Cool' our troops in Iraq. They are raising funds to send personal misters to 50,000 military personnel serving in Iraq. The misters are portable, no batteries or electricity required, and rely on evaporation to cool surrounding temperatures by 20-30 degrees.

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[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's
Guest Military Chaplain Service


Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military. Prayers from all denominations are needed.

                                          




Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.
Please guide the people of Free Republic to
The USO Canteen Post Office
So they can e-mail a service man or woman today.
AMEN

CLICK HERE for Troop Prayer Thread 9

Thank You TEXOKIE

Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

If you ever left a message on an answering machine you can do this!
It's really that simple. AND It's a Toll Free Number !

You can leave one or more new messages each day.

Send deployed troops message on SoldiersRadio.com

SoldiersRadio is again this year providing a way to let you tell Service members worldwide that you care and are thinking about them during the Holidays.

You can do an Audio Post Card simply by calling 1-800-330-5090.
Your recorded personalized message will be played back on www.SoldiersRadio.com.

You can record a short message (30 seconds) to friends, family members or just a random message of good will. SoldiersRadio will then take your message and put it on the radio Web cast throughout the Holiday Season. Its very simple to do and works both ways ... from the field or to the Service member.

AnyServiceMember.org is also promoting the call-in holiday service in hopes of reaching a large group of people who would like to send a message to Soldiers serving away from home.

The cut-off date for the call in is tomorrow, Monday Dec.15th
SoldiersRadio.com

[redrock]

Good morning my brother!!!!!!

(I got in early on this one!!!)

redrock

[MJY1288]

Good evening Tonk

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Music Provided by MoJo2001
Thank You MoJo2001

 

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Not all selections can be verified or translated. These are just musical selections that we were made aware of as pertaining to the selected group. Keep in mind that the music may not necessarily be of religious content, but we have tried to find any music possible for a variety of listeners. It's spiritual music in the sense that we hope it boosts your spirits!! We will try and change the music as often as possible. Thank you for joining us today. God Bless our Troops and their families!! May God bring each of you safely home soon!

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Muslim/Arabic Music

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Hindu/Indian

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Celtic/Bagpipes

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Native American Sounds

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Gregorian Chant

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Finnish Music
(For Queenie!)

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Are you ready for some football?
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For those that just want to do Liberty!
Content May Not Be Suitable For Everyone!


Song 1 *Rap Music
Song 2 *80s (Zapp)
Song 3 *Willie Nelson
Song 4 *Johnny Cash
Song 5 *Bootsy Collins

Enjoy your Sunday!
Have fun and stay safe!!
 

[MJY1288]

Here is a link to poem posted last night by Freeper Bama Tom

Untitled Poem

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Happy Holidays Brother!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You for your work at Walter Reed Hospital.
God Bless You

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Bama Tom
Feel Free to post your poem here.

[SevenofNine]

Well here more Brit headlines report off Sunday UK Observer is reporting that real reasn why EU summit fail because of Poland insistence of historical asset of Chrisitnty in Europe but real reason Chaiac throw diva fit on that Blair hang out with Dubya

SHUT UP CHIEF Frog

Also Sunday UK Observer also this is sad but I understand it

Some of Brit soldiers family are suing Brit govt and name Blair as one of its defendant because they think their members died in unjustifle war this might be EU case in near future

SHUT UP it sound harsh BUT Dudes come on you want Saddam lay smackdown on Buckigton Palace


Wait a minute Queen would probably hit Saddam with big purse

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I got to meet blackie and his wife last Monday for lunch in Bandon!

[Trikebuilder]

Approaching The Moment

In a mirror, a darkling image, of what might yet get to be,
in hopes of rising to the light, and in His sight be seen.
Man, the eternal rebel, from his faith and fate can not flee,
and in the end, the One will hold all the pieces, fair or mean.

Like clay upon the wheel, where life shapes the vessel with care,
as God tests the spirit there within, forming the soul inside.
Tempered in the fires of life, the spirit outgrows the shell there,
and on the appointed day, breaks free to be with the Master Sculptor at His side.

Frail ego, soft and aging shell, pains of approaching Death in sight,
yet these are but a moment on the doorstep to becoming something new.
God waits with gentle patience for the moment we get it right,
and brings us home to perfection as His words promise so to do

[MJY1288]

Your Welcome my friend, It's the least I can do, I wish I could do more.

[redrock]

Excellent!!!!

redrock

[SevenofNine]

Whoa report off Sunday UK Observer too reporting that Russians are dig up blast from the past some of villagers taking up Cossack duty

COSSACK wait a minute was that Russia Tsar police

HELLO

Cossack???


WHATTT

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You Brother
Another poem written by you?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You oh international news hostess!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen