USO Canteen FReeper Style Pray for the Troops and President Bush .... October 27,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style ~Coteblanche ~Grantswank~Snow Bunny~

[Snow Bunny]

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Although we are always aware
that the Canteen is operating
in Cyberspace, we want the troops
and anyone who is on the receiving end
of prayers at the Canteen,
to know that these prayers are very real.

I hope the troops and Canteeners
alike, will view this Canteen Chapel,
as a place where you might go in times of
trouble or times of joy to be with your God.

"Come unto me all ye who are weary and
burdened,and I shall give you rest." (Matt: 11:28).

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George W. Bush: A President of Faith

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A Man of Prayer

A reporter on CNN was asked

"What did George W. Bush do
on his first morning as president-elect?"

This was Tony Clark's answer:

"He attended a prayer service with family,
friends and staff members."

George W Bush's priorities were established
on the first day of his Presidency.

The President Takes His Faith to Work

President George W. Bush looks over to Thomas Martello, 6,
during the signing ceremony of the Victims of Terrorism
Tax Relief Act in the East Room Jan. 23.
"We're joined today by families who have lost loved ones
in the great acts of evil," said the President.
"As you draw on faith and personal strength to cope with your grief,
I hope you'll also find comfort in the knowledge that
your nation stands with you and prays for you.
We mourn those whom we've lost, and we face the future together."

The President Lives his Faith

President Bush says he prays every day
in all kinds of situations,
and has been seen to quietly bow his head and pray
before news conferences and important meetings.
"I pray for guidance. I do not pray for earthly things
but for heavenly things, for wisdom
and patience and understanding."

"For strength and support, Bush turns to
the same things that have sustained
him for two decades: his faith and his family . . .
Bush prays and reads the Bible every day.
These days, aides say, they often spot
a Bible on his desk in the Oval Office.
In conversation or meetings, he often refers to
passages of Scripture that he has just read."

"There are prayers that help us last
through the day, or endure the night.
There are prayers of friends and strangers
that give us strength for the journey.
And there are prayers that yield
our will to a will greater than our own."

George W. Bush September 14, 2001
National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.

Listen to President George W Bush
in an Inspiring Song by Russ Lee

Don't miss this.

I'm Going To Live What I Believe

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Music for a Sunday

How Great Thou Art (Elvis Presley) ......A Mighty Fortress

Amazing Grace (Statler Brothers).....Praise Adonai (Steve Israel)

The Lord's Prayer.....Ave Maria

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Hymns of the Military

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Army Hymn: "God of Our Fathers"

Navy Hymn: "Eternal Father Strong to Save"

Air Force Hymn: "Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly"

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We, at the Canteen, offer these prayers 
to those serving their country 
today. God Bless you all.

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Psalm 59:1,16&17
(Patti Vaillant)

"Deliver me from mine enemies,O my God:
Defend me from them that rise up against me.
But I will sing of thy power;yes I will sing
aloud of thy mercy in the morning; for thou
hast been my defence and refuge in the day
of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength will
I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of 
my mercy."

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Our Prayer
(Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli)

I pray you'll be our eyes, 
And watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise 
In times when we don't know.

Let this be our prayer, 
When we lose our way.
Lead us to a place, 
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe. 

I pray we'll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are.. 

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace 
Give us faith so we'll be safe.

We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.

Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child,
Needs to find a place, 
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.

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The Chaplain's Corner

J. Grant Swank, Jr.,
Pastor, New Hope Church

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KEEP YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH

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Frog and I peered eye to eye. Riveted. Don’t tell me those instinct-driven creatures don’t know what’s going on. They’re just like my three kids when they were little. They’d stare me right in the eye as if I were invisible—and they too were nowhere to be seen. Oh well, since I don’t grab hold of evolution, I leave other brains to figure out the connection on that one.

Anyhow, Frog spied me out and vice versa. Then as I leaned over to throw a small stick into the water, Frog hopped into oblivion. Splash. I yelled to the others, "I just saw a frog!" Dumb. As if we had never come upon a frog before. Why do we adults do that?

Autumn had come upon us. So it was time to praise the good Lord for His turn in season. With that, some of us Lakes Region believers took to the trail—Cascade Falls Trail to be specific.

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon for browsing the bushes and taking in those exceptionally spiked trees. Their heads reached far, far, faaarrr up there. A well-worn path spoke of fellow travelers who had enjoyed those same enticing environs.

Anna looked back at us, then put her hands into the air as if to conduct the choir. We got the message. It was time to sing a chorus or two. So we enthusiastically began: "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing. I will sing. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, of the mercies of the Lord."

Now some may call that a ditty. We called it "singing for fun in thanks to God for a day off from work—and hearts in tune with heaven."

Before long we came upon the falls and picnic area. Then there was the Cascade Brook with its mossy rocks and impressive descending waterway.

"Look at all this slate," someone pointed as we took in the gray bits and pieces strewn about our feet. "Reminds me of Monson," another responded, recalling the slate slabs characteristic of those north-of-us parts.

"Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid For the Lord my God is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation."

The singing continued—gladly so.

"There used to be a lion’s cage here," a seasoned pathfinder pointed out. "Many years ago walkers came upon a lion in that iron frame."

"I remember when they used to put bears in cages alongside the road," another reminisced. "As children we used to linger about them, mesmerized especially by the pandas."

"That could never happen today. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would shut down those tiny confines."

Of course, all that was true. Yet on our trail the remains of a metal housing broken into pieces due to the ravages of time stared back at us from beneath the trees.

"God is so good to us," I thought. "Here we are with true friends, outdoors’ splendor and a few bare logs for relaxing alongside the falls. We are truly wealthy folk."

It doesn’t take much to make a soul happy when you’re head is looking up and your heart is in the right place.

Servicewoman and serviceman: remember: keep your head held high and your heart in the heart of God. Also, know that all of us love you and are praying for you.

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Click on the banner above to listen to this beautiful song.

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Our Canteen Chaplain,Grant Swank,is pastor 
of the New Hope Church. He has pastored for 
40+ years, ministering in Calgary, Alberta;
Indianapolis; Kansas City; Manchester CT; 
Akron OH; Fishkill NY; Walpole MA and presently 
in Maine. 

Grant also finds ministry in writing for various 
Protestant and Catholic publications, including 
CHRISTIANITY TODAY, DECISION and THE PRIEST. 

Presently, Grant is providing columns for 
websites such as CHALCEDON, INTELLECTUAL.
CONSERVATIVE, 
MENSNEWSDAILY, MICHNEWS and WOUNDEDSHEPHERDS. 

He also writes a weekly column, "Lakes 
Religion," for the PORTLAND PRESS HERALD 
newspaper, Portland ME. 

He and his wife, Priscilla, have traveled 
extensively, including the Middle East, Europe 
and South America. The Swanks have three adult 
children: Crystal, Jay and 
Heidi Jo.

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[Snow Bunny]

Hi Mr.M these are good and yes I do feel like that. hahaha

I am always so glad when I get to see you.

[SAMWolf]

A man was walking home alone late one night when he hears a.......
BUMP...
BUMP...
BUMP... behind him.

Walking faster he looks back, and makes out the image of an upright coffin banging its way down the middle of the street towards him,
BUMP...
BUMP...
BUMP...

Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the coffin bouncing quickly behind him ...
faster...
faster...
faster...
BUMP...
BUMP....
BUMP....

He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in,
slams and locks the door behind him. .

However, the coffin crashes through his door, with the lid of the coffin
clapping ...
clappity-BUMP...
clappity-BUMP...
clappity-BUMP...
clappity-BUMP...
on the heels of the terrified man.... .

Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, the man locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps..

With a loud CRASH the coffin starts breaking down the door. Bumping and clapping towards him.

The man screams and reaches for something heavy, anything ... his hand
comes to rest on a large bottle of Robitussin.

Desperate, he throws the Robitussin as hard as he can at theapparition.......

and ...........

Finally ...........

the coffin stops

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Duchess good to see you. Thank you for being here.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Maestro, good to see you. Thank you for coming to the Canteen. I love your post my friend.
God bless you.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Chaplain Swank, thank you so much for your message today.I am so glad you are the Canteen Chaplain.

[Snow Bunny]

LMHO.....you got me on that one. hahahahahaha
Hi Sam I am so glad to see you.

[SAMWolf]

[Snow Bunny]

Beautiful post Cote and I agree. God Bless all the Chaplains and the troops.Thank you for all your help with the Canteen.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi good to see you again. Thank you for the words to A Mighty Fortress is our God, that is such a wonderful hymn.

[Snow Bunny]

This is so good Sam, the information and picturs on Vimy Ridge. Thank you so much.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you Phil, Ted sure did serve honorably. Prayers for him to get out of there NOW. Thank you sooo much Phil.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Bunny.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Kathy, Radu is going to love this stained glass window it is sooooo beautiful. Thank you so much Kathy.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi
Love that graphic! It has so much in it. I love things like that.Thank you.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for the Hero post and music Jen. Thank you for doing this each day.

[Snow Bunny]

OH wow I did not even know this, thank you Cote. You did this so beautifuly for Rev. Mychal Judge, FDNY chaplain and WTC victim #1.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi NavyGal, it is so nice to see you.

Thank you for serving our country and for coming to the Canteen.

[Snow Bunny]

I agree, that is a perfect verse to claim Jen, thank you so much lil sister.

[Snow Bunny]

Tonkin, thank you for being so great about posting the USO Canteen P.O.Box each day for everyone.
I always think about how they love to get mail.