USO Canteen FReeper Style....Pray for the Troops and President Bush....November 3,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Coteblanche ~ Grantswank~ and 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

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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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A DIVINE INVITATION

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It was my first year at our church college, and I was homesick. Half the student body was laid low with the flu, and I was one of the sick--weak, confused, worried.

God seemed far away. Exams pressed in. My life was out of focus. I would have gone home and quit studies if I had had the physical strength to pull it off.

Then it was that God invited me to commit the entire situation to him. He welcomed me to spend one hour in prayer each day at the dormitory prayer room so that I could come to know him better.

"But I am not well enough," I pleaded. Nevertheless, the divine invitation stood fast.

I struggled out of bed with Bible in hand, making my wobbly way to the quietness of that prayer room. As I sat there, I opened the Word. I timed myself; I was determined to find help.

Day after day I stole away to the prayer place. On some days the entire hour was total boredom. Then it was that a dark whisper would come to my soul, saying, "See, this is not working. You are foolish. Why are you wasting such time with this project that is going nowhere? You could be using this hour more profitably."

I told that sinister voice to "get behind me" (Matthew l6:23). I was going to be closer to God. He was the One who could help me through the maze.

I set forty days for my prayer time frame. At the close of that time it would be Easter morning. As day folded into day, I sense God's presence more and more. Conscientiously I kept my daily prayer watch with the Lord.

The closer that I came to Easter, the more that peace took over my spirit. In fact, God's presence became so real to me that I became overcome with his joy. I wanted to tell the entire campus about the closeness to God that I had discovered.

It was wonder-filled.

I had never envisioned that with such a depressing start my prayer vigils could have brought such intimacy with Christ. In surrendering to him, I had come to experience utter freedom.

Finally, when it came to the day of resurrection, I sat in worship with tears streaming down my face. I thanked God again and again for such freedom in him.

All of this happened many years ago, yet I remember it as if it were just moments ago. And my prayer watches continue to this day.

With each day's challenges I need to relearn submission.Yet yielding to God has become easier as the years have passed.

Now I try, when the Lord directs, to tell friends about the surrender that I learned through my daily prayer watch: Such rich fellowship. Such blind faith in following the Good Shepherd. Such reckless abandonment to God's will!

Servicewoman and serviceman: Remember: God is only a prayer away. Easter time, any time, draw near to God where you are. God will draw near to you where you are. Blessings to you from your chaplain and praying friends all over the world.

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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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[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Is it okay to laugh your head off on Sunday? (Thanks for those - I loved the Courtney Love bit! I agree - DISTURBING. LOL!)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning, twice because I love this song for our USO Canteen, and Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style, including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies. Welcome to all who come to honor our troops, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

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.

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well!

[archy]

Give me, my God, what you still have;
give me what no one asks for....

That one's borrowed from the French Foreign Legion, some former members of which worked with the British Special Air Service in the Western Desert campaign following the founding of the SAS by Major David Sterling in 1942. Later in the war SAS crews in gun jeeps accompanied Frenchmen working to make things unhealthy for Germans still in France, so the activities and long-term friendships balanced out nicely.

Following WWII the Legion Etrangere found itself enmeshed in the fights in the French colonial possessions of Indo-China and later, Algeria, and the old prayer was revived. I first learned it around 1965.

Legio Patria Nostra,

-archy-/-

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning all. It seems FR was down early today, fortunately (only for me) during my sleeping hours. Tonkin couldn't post flowers or transportation before he went to work, but will upon his return. These will have to tide us all over.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"Servicewoman and serviceman: Remember: God is only a prayer away."

And something for each of us to remember also. Chap Grant, thank you so much for today's message. And thank you for being the USO Canteen's Chaplain.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Johnny, this poem is beautiful. Thank you for writing it and sharing it, and Snow Bunny, thanks for posting it again on this Sunday of Prayer for the Troops and our President Bush.

[Radix]

Starry Night!

[Kathy in Alaska]

EARTHQUAKE! A long long roller, the kind that makes you feel dizzy.

EARTHQUAKE DATA: PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE: 7.5 LOCATION: 63.5N 147.5W - 45 MILES SE OF DENALI PARK HDQTS., AK. 90 MILES S OF FAIRBANKS, AK. TIME: 1313 AST 11/03/2002 1413 PST 11/03/2002 2213 UTC 11/03/2002

[MoJo2001]

Yikes!! Ma, be careful over there!!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
MASH THIS, LISTEN TO CHRISTINA AGUILERA,
AND NAME THAT CAR TO WIN A PRIZE!

[Kathy in Alaska]

It was rolling rolling rolling rolling for at least a couple minutes. Everything that is hanging was swaying and swaying and swaying. Close to the last one. No problem here, but I've never been in one that was so long. I'm listening to ham radio reports from all over the state. One near Fairbanks reports some broken dishes and spaghetti sauce all over the floor. One reports being on a 4-wheeler that moved all over the road.

[Radix]

Yes my team won. I was at the new stadium in Foxboro today. It is quite impressive! The waiting list for season Tickets is around 50,000 I am told. By the time I can afford them my number should be called. I must remember to get my name on that list!

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Kathy In Alaska,

Troops and Canteen Guys, thank you for the great flowers,I love them!

Thanks for helping Tonkin out with the flowers.

I was chasing you all over Canada this morning where did you go? LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Another is rolling right now. Gator NAVY, felt in Soldotna.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Disclaimer! I don't speak Spanish, and I have NO IDEA what that tune is about! I posted the wrong link. It was supposed to be THIS ONE. LOL!

P.S. This would not be an issue if I trusted Christina Aguilera to keep it clean. : )

[Soaring Feather]

YIKES!!!!

Glad to read you are okay!