FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ A GREAT MARINE ~ Oct 1 2006

chaplaincare.navy.mil ^ | Chaplain Mitch Schranz

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

 

 

A GREAT MARINE

Several years ago as the H & S Battalion Chaplain at MCB, Camp Lejeune, I visited the people in the different work spaces, including the rather large main post office.
One day a little conversation took place with young Marine Lance Corporal.
This unplanned encounter has remained with me, and it seems worth passing on...

The Lance Corporal was standing by a very large sack of mail. His job, every day, six days a week for many hours was to sort the mail from that large sack and place the letters into smaller sacks, depending upon their destination. He explained his job, and I asked him if he ever gets bored. "Chaplain," he said," this is all I do. Just sort all these endless piles of letters. Sometimes I can't take it anymore." I was drawn into the young Marine's lament and his life's drama started to sound interesting. He continued, "Then, just as it gets to be overwhelming, I'm holding a letter in my hand and I begin to think: Maybe this letter is going from a Marine wife in Jacksonville all the way to her husband on deployment in the Med. He's really misses her and is homesick on that big ship. Then he gets the letter and suddenly he feels much better. The next letter in my hand, I think: Maybe it's from a little boy to his Daddy in Somalia. He drew a picture with crayons to cheer his Dad and put it in the envelope. Each letter makes me wonder because this one may change a life for the better, or at least bring a smile to a lonely Marine or Sailor."

I was shaken by the majesty this young Lance Corporal displayed and said this to him: "Young man, you possess a wisdom rarely found in people who are triple your years. You have more than wisdom, though, you have character and maturity. Indeed you have found the secret to happiness in life. Whatever you wish to achieve, it will undoubtedly one day be yours...it would be a great honor if you would allow me to shake you hand..."

Whenever we face frustrating moments or disappointments in our work day, let's all remember that young Lance Corporal and follow his heroic and inspiring example!

"Give thy servant, therefore, an understanding heart."

King Solomon's prayer in First Kings


Chaplain Mitch Schranz

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E....((HUGS)) How did football go for you?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[E.G.C.]

Morning, Tonk. How's it going?

[Cindy]

PRAYER IS POWERFUL. PLEASE PRAY NOW. AMEN.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." -from THE BIBLE: John 1:17

Read THE BIBLE Online (Click Here.)

BILLYGRAHAM.org: "MY ANSWER" by Billy Graham (Read More...)

WorldNetDaily.com: "COURT-MARTIALED CHAPLAIN DECLARES VICTORY" (September 30, 2006) (Read More...)

[E.G.C.]

Well, it didn't. OU and OSU are off this week.

But next week is the big one. OU-Texas at Dallas.

We took it easy yesterday. No, we didn't take Bo to the lake but we did throw a few frisbees.

Next week the carpet guys arrive to put new carpet in the living room so that's kind of why we're taking it easy.

It's near 70 this morning. We're having Indian Summer. It's forecast to get near 90 today.

[E.G.C.]

Well, it didn't. OU and OSU are off this week.

But next week is the big one. OU-Texas at Dallas.

We took it easy yesterday. No, we didn't take Bo to the lake but we did throw a few frisbees.

Next week the carpet guys arrive to put new carpet in the living room so that's kind of why we're taking it easy.

It's near 70 this morning. We're having Indian Summer. It's forecast to get near 90 today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

New carpet is always a welcome addition. And I'll bet Bo really enjoys the frisbee.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shorty GiggleLips and the GE Bulbs

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who lost their lives in
this past week - May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country remember.

[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

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[MEG33]

~May God Keep Safe All Who Serve Our Country~

[MEG33]

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1224/4509617/9507739/191816966.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1224/4509617/9507739/191816641.jpg

WELCOME HOME to Your Son and 1/7 Baker Company!
I am so grateful for their service to our country.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Iron Knights
NEW MEXICO -- The F-117A Nighthawk Stealth fighter from the 49th Fighter Wing, 9th Fighter Squadron "Iron Knights," from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. flies a training mission over the New Mexico desert. One of only two operational Nighthawk squadrons, the 9th deploys world wide using special low-observable technologies to deliver precision guided weapons against heavily defended targets. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

060926-N-9742R-031 Arabian Sea (Sept. 26, 2006) - An F/A-18C Hornet launches from the bow as another is directed onto the steam-driven catapults aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise and embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are currently on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of the Maritime Security Operations and the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Milosz Reterski (RELEASED)

060928-N-8403A-044 Portsmouth, Va. (Sept. 28, 2006) - USS George Washington (CVN 73) transits from a wet slip into drydock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The Norfolk-based, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is undergoing a Docked Planned Incremental Availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jennifer Apsey (RELEASED)

[StarCMC]

Good morning Mr. Tonkin! Thank you for today's chapel! Got a snotty little one so I didn't go to church today ~ good to get a little chapel in anyway! *HUGS!*

[StarCMC]

Welcome home, 1/7 Baker Co!
THANK YOU!

[StarCMC]

Bump that -- and it goes double for you. *HUGS!*

[SoldierDad]

Thank you StarCMC. ((HUGS)) back to you.

[mylife]

Good morning gang

Jerusalem

[minor49er]

Good Morning troops! Good Morning everyone! I'll be spending most of today writing an essay on morality in Beowulf so I may pop in from time to time if for no better reason than the fact that I really don't want to right this essay. Here's today's humor attempt!

The boss returned from lunch in a good mood and called the whole staff in to listen to a couple of jokes he had picked up. Everybody, but one girl laughed uproariously.

"What's the matter?" grumbled the boss. "Haven't you got a sense of humor?"

"I don't have to laugh," she replied. "I'm leaving Friday."