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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[Nitro]

Snow, if this is a Hero thread, I have at least two(2)...

as I sit here and type, I am looking at two signed photographs...

one is of 'Father Duffy' and the other is of 'Colonel William "Wild Bill" Donovan'...

my Pop-Pop (grandfather) served with them in WWI in the world famous...

Fighting 69th - 42 Rainbow Division

I had to serve with that kind of family history...

my old man was a Marine, but he quit the family when I was 6 months old and so...

between spitting in my old mans eye and chasing John Wayne...

I joined the United States Navy!!!

[backhoe]

Hello, Miss Bunny... by some minor miracle my old, slow PC was able to reach your reply without freezing... no guarantee it can do this again, so I may not be able to see any further replies.

Me & Taffy ( my old dog-girl ) are sitting here watching the Sun start to rise over the trees- the mighty Atlantic's just beyond- and wondering "what else to do" in the coming election, besides vote, and keep linking and correlating data here on Free Republic...

Just FYI, FWIW... I hear more anger, locally, than I have ever heard before. How this will impact local and state elections is just a guess, but if I were an incumbent, I'd be really worried.

Taff & I met FReepers dansangel and .45man last week... they are a gracious and enjoyable couple. Very nice folks. I suspect most members here are like that.

I'll be on duty, standing by, and bearing witness- come what may.
Also FYI, I recently penned this:

-Vote... and be D@mned! (vanity, but dead serious)--

-30-

backhoe

[firewalk]

Good morning

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

mash for some sunday morning worship.

[larryjohnson]

FReepersonaltrainer/weatherman does have some sense of humor. So good morning from Maine.

Cold Winter?
It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the ---- the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
Being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the Meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
One week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" he asked. "Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It looks like it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy".

[blackie]

Pray for the Troops and President Bush...Bump !!

Up With The Right !!

Vote For Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Death To all Muslim Extremist's !!

The RATS Are In Disarray...Eradicate The Rodents !!

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!

[SAMWolf]

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

[2Jedismom]

Hi Snow Bunny!

Either my husband or I kneel with our jedis every night and pray for the President, the country and that our troops will be kept safe.

[grantswank]

Good Sunday Morning, Snow Bunny. . .

Much 'preciation for your kind note today. It is my privilege to be in the chapel this morning with so many close friends. They mean much to me.

Blessings,

Chap Grant



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Romans 8:28

[SAMWolf]

Good morning Cote.

The Special Forces Prayer

Almighty God Who art
the Author of Liberty and
the Champion of the oppressed
hear our prayer.

We the men of Special Forces,
acknowledge our dependence
upon Thee in the preservation of human freedom.
Go with us as we seek to defend the defenseless
and to free the enslaved.

May we ever remember that our nation,
whose oath "in God We Trust,"
expects that we shall requit ourselves with honor,
that we may never bring shame upon our faith,
our families, or our fellow men.

Grant us wisdom from Thy mind,
courage from Thine heart,
and protection by Thine hand.
It is for Thee that we do battle,
and to thee belongs the victor's crown.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power and glory forever,

Amen!

[grantswank]

HELLO!

So pleasant to greet you this morning in the USO Chapel!

Thanks for sharing your greeting with me.

Prayers,

Chap Grant

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Psalm 91

[BeachBelle]

Belle and her faithful little "Chelsea" (thanks Duchess),want to join in the others to offer up prayers for our troops, past and present, and for our great President as he faces many challenges in the coming days.

[RadioAstronomer]

Good morning all. :-)

[grantswank]

THANKS so much for posting that Special Forces Prayer!!

And now I share this special greeting with you today. . .



REFRESHED



Refreshed by season’s healing grace,


Reclined upon His loving face,


My soul renews its inner glow,


A holy day God’s warmth to know.



Sunday, November 3 02

[Aeronaut]

So pleasant to greet you this morning in the USO Chapel!

I consider the honor mine. I really enjoyed this morning's "sermon." I appreciate all you do for the Kingdom.

[grantswank]

More friends are on their knees in prayer with you than you could ever imagine.

God's family is large. . .and growing.

Thank you for noting us today.

Chap Grant <//><

Psalm 37

[grantswank]

Snow Bunny. . .

What an IMPRESSIVE PROFILE IN PRAYER of the United States President George W. Bush!!

Our faith is renewed!!

You have surely provided us with an encouraging opening to today's USO site.

Chap Grant

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[SAMWolf]