Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ AN ODD WAY TO PRAY! ~ July 13, 2008

The Canteen Crew ^ | July 12, 2008 | Serving the Best Troops and Vets in the WORLD!

[Brad’s Gramma]

 

 

 

 

 

AN ODD WAY TO PRAY

Over the years I have heard a multitude of spoken prayers. Some flowed poetically from the speaker's tongue, some had the overtones of a sermon, and others resembled conversation. I have also heard another type of prayer, though never in a church or chapel. Its usage is universal in the English language, even being used on occasion by atheists. The prayer is most often spoken during times of anger, frustration, or used to display extreme displeasure with a given situation or individual. The vast majority of the English-speaking population would not recognize it as a form of prayer, but rather view it as a form of swearing. Some would regard the invocation as "taking God's name in vain." Both are true and credible; however, at the core of the expression is a request by the petitioner for God to damn something, someone or some place.

Several years ago, while stationed on Okinawa, I joined my battalion for a "best ball" golf tournament. My foursome was composed of individuals I had played with often, so I was somewhat aware of how our day might develop. One individual, who usually played an outstanding round of golf, was having a horrendous day on the course. Nothing was going right. His whole game was off, and he knew it, and continuously reminded the rest of us about it.

On our seventh hole of play, and after overshooting the green, he threw his club as far as he could hurl it and exclaimed for the umpteenth time: "God !#%! It!" I walked over to my friend and said, "You know God is just answering your prayer." He looked at me somewhat puzzled, and as if I were insane. I reminded him that since our first hole of play he asked God to damn his club, damn his ball, damn the green, and even damn his shoes. So why be upset? God was simply answering his prayer. When I concluded, he looked at me and said, "Chaplain, I like that and you're right. It hurts, but you're right." For the rest of the day, neither the others nor I heard another request for God to damn anything. (Though he did bite his lip an awful lot.) As I mentioned earlier, most individuals recognize this prayer more in line with the idea of swearing. However, I think there is a valid case to recognize it as a prayer. That being so, it is bewildering why people would pray it. Could it be that they are not aware of what they are saying or of its significance? Or do they really want God to damn the one they love, their friends, work associates, or acquaintances?

As with my friend, the idea of the invocation being a prayer never occurred to him, nor does it to most. Little do we realize the spiritual dynamic that is set in motion when we invoke God with our request. It is to our advantage that God is all-knowing and understanding, and sorts through our trivialization of prayer, and does not do all that we request of Him. It would be well for each of us to remember the words of Jesus: "You do not know for what you ask."

LCDR Diane M. Wilson, CHC, USN

 

[Brad’s Gramma]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.








Dear God, help me to walk with you all through today.
Give me today
something of the wisdom that was in your words.
something of the love that was in your heart.
something of the help that was in your hands.
Give me today
something of your patience with people,
something of your ability to bear slights and insults and bitterness
without resentment,
something of your ability to forgive.
Help me to live in such a way today that others may know that I began
the day with you, and that I am walking with you, however dimly, others
may see you in me. Amen.

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.








Dear God, help me to walk with you all through today.
Give me today
something of the wisdom that was in your words.
something of the love that was in your heart.
something of the help that was in your hands.
Give me today
something of your patience with people,
something of your ability to bear slights and insults and bitterness
without resentment,
something of your ability to forgive.
Help me to live in such a way today that others may know that I began
the day with you, and that I am walking with you, however dimly, others
may see you in me. Amen.

[rabscuttle385]

bttt

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hey, rabscuttle385 ...... Have a happy Lord’s day!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel and Liberty

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!

[mkjessup]

Wise words.

The power of the spoken word is unfortunately not appreciated by very many people, at least in my experience.

When we speak negatively, when we curse or damn something we are seeking (whether we know it or not) for the Almighty to unleash His Wrath upon the unfortunate target of our words.

I confess that I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone, so when I curse someone, I try to be sure that they’re really deserving of it before I open my mouth. Likewise, if I can find a reason to praise someone or to speak a word of encouragement, I do so.

I believe that God answers prayers, positive AND negative. Fortunately for us, God exercises discretion in HOW he answers any prayer, because as the original article states, “we don’t know what we’re asking for” in many instances.

I remember reading an article back in the 60’s, before microwave ovens had become as common as coffee tables, about the science of microwaving something in order to warm it up. The example stated that if you were to hold a cup of water in front of you mouth, and say the word ‘boil’ a few hundred thousand times (or more), that cup of water would eventually boil. With microwaves, the frequency of the word ‘boil’ (or the equivalent) takes place in seconds, instead of the hours or days it would take for us to orally produce the same results (assuming our vocal chords and patience would last long enough).

That alone should demonstrate that ‘words have power’ and we have to exercise caution when we find ourselves provoked and angered because what we unleash with our words can come back to cause us complications and grief that we otherwise might not have to deal with.

May the Lord be with each one of you, thanks Gramma for posting this! :)

[SandRat]

In.

[Brad’s Gramma]

VERY powerful.....thank YOU!!!! Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

AbnSarge USA
Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
Brett USN (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
Capt Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline)
Capt Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
Chris USA (amom)
Chuck USA (RightOnline)
Clarinet_King USAF (NerdDad/CDBear)
Col Mike (gpapa)
CMS USA
David USAF (LUV W)
Defender2
Deven USA (Shimmer)
Ethan USMC (georgiabelle)
Ev USA (Mozie)
Fred (DocRock)
GulfWar1Vet USA
IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
Jade Falcon USN
JemiansTerror USA (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar USAF
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal)
Josh USN (doug from upland)
Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter)
KB4W USAF (arbee4bush)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin USMC (skimask)
Kevin and David USA (vigilante2)
Laurita USA
LCpl Carter USMC
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Lt David (Coldwater Creek)
M1911A1 USMC (M0sby)
M1Tanker
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak)
Milo828 USA (mystery-ak)
Nate USN (sneakers)
Old Sarge USA
OneLoyalAmerican USCG
PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo)
Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad)
Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke)
Sgt Dusty USA (MountainDad)
Sgt Sean Reed (preed)
Sgt Spencer USA (grame)
Son USCG (GodBlessUSA)
SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge)
SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear)
Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied USN/USA
Tonkin USN/USCG
txradioguy USA
Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline)
William USA (jackv)

 

[Brad’s Gramma]

Heya SandRat....Happy Lord’s Day to you, too...

[fanfan]

10!

[fanfan]

LOL!

11.

Be well, FRiends.

:-D

[Brad’s Gramma]

LOL!!! Hey, fanfan! Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

And now.......I’ve gotta get going...I have a wonderful young man waiting for me.

See youse later!

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

BLESS THIS HOUSE

 Bless this house O Lord we pray; Make it safe by night and day; 
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove ever open to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within, keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we May dwell O Lord with thee. 

(Click on graphics for music)

[fanfan]

Same to you Gramma.

:-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day, fan......close! LOL!

[fanfan]

*HUG*

Good night Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[SandRat]

Happy Day!

[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.