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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[Kathy in Alaska]

I know, I know, I'm late. So what's new? LOL! I love your "Call to Prayer".

[BringingUpPatriots]

Things are going great, Radu! I was out of town all weekend working on a spiritual retreat! So while I do feel physically tired, I am also charged up too! Fill me in on the latest, Canteeners.

Welcome, Chap Grant!!! It's great to have you here! One of your posts you wrote last week was Romans 8:28 and later on that day I heard a sermon on the radio that addressed 8:28.

Jen, you mentioned the song "His Eye is on the Sparrow" which is a song I play at my church...I love that song. Do you know "The Rebel Rousin' Radical Man"? Love, BUPPY

[Jen]

He makes some sounds that seem to be words, but I haven't been able to figure out what they are! I 'hope' he doesn't pick up any words I wouldn't want him to repeat! :-(

Sometimes when I say "Oh!" and pause, he will say "Wise guy". And then if I say the whole phrase, he'll finish with "nyuck, nyuck, nyuck" - but only when he wants to. Grrrrrrr

I like to have the radio on for him or a CD and sometimes I'll sing along and he'll whistle and chatter away. He really is fun. I'm surprised I like him. I've never had a bird before and Mo really belongs to my daughter who moved back home a couple months ago from going to college out of state.

The little kitty is hers too. She 'forgot' to mention him until the day before we left GA for IN to move her stuff home! hahahahaha So, we now have 4 critters in our house - my dog "Pepper", cat "Killian", and Missy's kitty "Sasso" and cockatiel "Mo" (who I'm going to rename Moesha - if 'he' turns out to be a 'she'. hahahahaha We won't know until his/her tail feathers grow back.)

I'll see if I can take a good picture of the 'playground'. Missy got home tonight from being gone all weekend and just laughed at how I've 'spoiled' her baby! hahahahahaha

[BringingUpPatriots]

I have a dress.....but that doesn't mean we can't stop at Nordstrom's!!!

[Snow Bunny]

NEW THREAD

[radu]

I'm glad you had a good weekend, Buppy. You certainly sound charged!

[Kathy in Alaska]

You are never too late for a carriage ride. You are absolutely stunning this fine evening. We decided to go sorta formal tonight. Redhead was our driver for the first and second shifts, and now radu is the 3rd shift driver.

[Jen]

Hi Buppy! I'm glad I got to see you before I have to crawl into bed. Doctor appointment tomorrow - so I can't stay up all night and sleep till noon. :-(

I have never heard the song "The Rebel Rousin' Radical Man" but it sounds like something I would enjoy!

[BringingUpPatriots]

"Sometimes when I say "Oh!" and pause, he will say "Wise guy". And then if I say the whole phrase, he'll finish with "nyuck, nyuck, nyuck" - but only when he wants to. Grrrrrrr"

I'll tell Quickdraw about this...he'll be happy you are educating this bird properly, even if the bird doesn't get it all right. Has anyone ever see Gilbert Gotfried portray Curly as Johann Strauss in his HBO standup routine? It's hilarious!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday, Mo. Thanks for stopping in and helping honor our troops.

[radu]

I hate to be a party pooper but my headache, which had abated a bit, is coming back strong. I need to head out and leave your fine company. sniff I know you'll all take good care of the troops.

Good night and I'll see y'all tomorrow at Mail Call.

Good night troops and allies. God bless you and watch over you.

[BringingUpPatriots]

I have an appointment too at 9 so I can't stay much longer either! I still have to change a few clocks around the house too. Quickdraw was too busy to reset the times on all the clocks! I keep giving myself a start every time I look up and see it's "later" than it actually is!

I'll post the words for Radical Man on here...check back later when you have time! It's a rebel rousin' song. Glad I got to "see" you for a bit. Take care! Goodnight, Jen! BUPPY

[Mo1]

I'd like to say it was .. but I can't remember ..

Hmmmm .. could this be a sign I've been up to late AGAIN .. LOL

Sweet Dreams Kathy

[Kathy in Alaska]

Buppy, you're home. I'm still back on the first page and the last page and working on the middle pages too. You are dressed just right. We decided to be a little formal this evening. Tonkin provided us with the best transportation. He always makes sure we get to relax on Sundays. Redhead drove for the first two shifts, and radu is driving the late shift. Check it out!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Always good to see you tex. Thanks for joining us this fine Sunday of Prayer for our troops and our President.

[BringingUpPatriots]

Goodnight, Radu! I am sorry you aren't feeling well! Take care and I hope you get some good rest and feel 100% again! I'll see you tomorrow! Love, BUPPY

[Snow Bunny]

OH noooooooooooo we are caught, Starman heard us. hahahahahaa.....WE LOVE YOU Starman!

Can that at least be one of the questions....tee hee

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night, Jen, and sleep well. God bless you for your service to our country and for what you bring to our troops. Prayers continue for you, your Mom, and your family. ((NHH))

[Snow Bunny]

Sweet dreams Tonkin! See you tomorrow my wonderful brother.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good grief, Mo, it's 3am at your house, (I think). Thanks for helping honor our troops. God bless you good and sleep well.