USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Sunday Chapel, Prayers for the Military ~ March 30 2003

USO Canteen Chaplin grantswank, coteblanche and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

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FReepers from the USO Canteen, The Foxhole, and The Poetry Branch
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

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Welcome to The Canteen Chapel

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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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The Chaplain's Corner

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

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REST IN GOD'S POWER

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Since God Himself is the source of Truth, then Almighty present tense will work out His future tense resurrection dawn miracle in your life.

Wait. Be patient. Do not chide God. Be kind to yourself. Let God be God. Fold into His mystery. Refrain from ordering deity to do anything.

And the last thing you want to do--in fact, not do--is to pray a prayer of directives. That is, you do not want to phrase your own solution to your problem inside a prayer and then ask God to baptize it as a prayer. It is not a prayer at all; it is you playing deity. That cannot be for you cannot eat the forbidden fruit (that is, playing God) and live.

Therefore, right now rest in the Almighty's scheme of things, determined to become less and less strained about the end result.

But what to do with your energy while waiting upon the Almighty's way and time!

Direct your energy toward thanksgiving, refining your mustard seed faith, looking at the cross as your supreme blessing. In time, it surely will show you that it is more than wood stained; it is but the foreshadowing of resurrection dawn.

That is according to the law of life.

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In Time of War or Time of Peace

In time of war or time of peace 
In Christ I find my soul's release, 
To lean upon His strongest arms 
Would guard against this earth's alarm. 

I keep my faith eyes on God's care 
That's seen me through the trials here. 
I keep my hand within His grasp 
To lead me home to heaven at last. 

I'll thank Him, praise Him, tell the world 
That God can keep through fiercest swirl, 
That He knows how to brighten here 
The darkest corner, calm our fear. 

It is a trust that's proven fast 
Because His promises will last 
From earth to all eternity. 
They're guaranteed at Calvary. 

Chap Grant March 27, 2003

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Click on banner above to listen to this 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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A Charge to Keep

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W.H.D. Koerner

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A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

Charles Wesley

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President Bush speaks about the painting and hymn
that have inspired him.

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"Hanging in my office is a beautiful oil painting by W.H.D. Koerner entitled "A Charge to Keep". The painting, inspired by the hymn, pictures a horseman determinedly charging up what appears to be a steep & rough trail.

The painting and hymn have been an inspiration for me & for members of my staff. "A Charge to Keep" calls us to our highest and best. What adds complete life to the painting for me is the message of Charles Wesley that we serve One greater than ourselves. It speaks of purpose and direction. In many hymnals, it is associated with a Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 4:2: "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

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A Prayer for the United States

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Translation:

He who gives victory to kings and dominion to
princes, whose reign is a reign for all eternity,
who saved David, his Servant, from the evil sword,
who made a road through the sea and a path through
mighty waters, may He bless, guard, protect,
aid, exalt, make great and raise on high
The President of the United States George W. Bush

May the King of all Kings in his mercy, keep him
alive and guard him from every distress, grief and
trouble.May he lead nations beneath his feet and
cause his enemies to fall down before him, and may
he have success in all that he shall undertake. May
the King of all kings in his mercy, place compassion
into his heart and into the hearts of all his
advisers and ministers, to deal kindly with us and
with all of Israel. In his days and in our days may
Judah be redeemed and Israel dwell securely, and may
the redeemer come to Zion, may this be His will, and
let us say, Amen.

Thank you Alouette

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Music from Israel

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A Sabbath Song..........May the Temple Be Built

Shalom Medley .........He That Keeps Israel

On The Sabbath Day ...........They Will Rejoice in Thy Kingdom

(You will need Windows Media Player for these songs)

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Songs of Israel
(over an hour of music)

Listen Here

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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

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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.

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"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

During his presidential campaign, George W. Bush said he'd been 'called'
to seek higher office and talked openly about 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

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Eternal Father (organ)....Joyful We Adore Thee (organ)

The Hallelujah Chorus ...... Ave Maria (Kiri Te Kawana)

How Great Thou Art (Elvis).....Just A Closer Walk (Anne Murray)......

Church in the Wildwood (Charlie Pride).....Faith Like That (Anchormen)

In The Garden (Loretta Lynn).......Our God is an Awesome God (Carman)

Take My Hand (Mahalia Jackson).....We Shall Behold Him (The Ruppes)

Where Were You? (Alan Jackson).....The Old Rugged Cross (The Statler Brothers)

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The Children's Corner

Click on child in prayer, to hear Veggie Tunes
(this is over half an hour of music)

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Jesus Loves Me

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Hymns of the Military

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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Click on graphic below to join in
as Kate Smith sings......

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[Radix]

1993 French government of Balladur forms

 

 

 

They immediately surrendered to whoever was in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yippee, our Tom is back. Good to see ya Tom. And your FEEBLE attempt at humor was great!! Thanks.

[tomkow6]

Yippee, our Tom is back

I was gone????????? Where was I? Did I have a good time?

[snippy_about_it]

1 Samuel 2


Hannahs Prayer of Praise

1Then Hannah prayed:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD!
Oh, how the LORD has blessed me!
Now I have an answer for my enemies,
as I delight in your deliverance.
2
No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

[snippy_about_it]

[GoRepGo]

Happy Sunday Troops!

My my my..what a small world we live in. First call I received from DH, in country, he relates to me a story of walking into the chow tent and upon seeing the back of a grey head pondered, "who do you suppose that is?" Well, it was none other than Chaplain Ellis, the Navy Chaplain from our past command, who had also taught at Kardia (a marriage enrichment retreat) that we had attended over 8-years ago.

U.S. Marine Chaplains Jim Ellis, left, and Sam Contreras lead a group of Marines in song during a praise and worship service Sunday, March 30, 2003, inside the chapel at base camp on an air base in the Gulf region. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

[blackie]

There Is Power In Prayer!

Let's Roll!

[blackie]

Hi Kathy, how're you doing? :)

[armymarinemom]

Just catching this late in the day. God bless our troops and keep the home fires burning.

[knighthawk]

Poland is with us too. They got 200 man special forces in Iraq to help us.

[SAMWolf]

Small world.

[fatima]

Hi Bethbg79,I was away.I received this from Jim on the Connie,Subject: Military Man

The average age of the military man is 19 years.

He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is
considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears,
not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.

He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than
wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,
pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has
a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to
be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm
Howitzers.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at! home because he is
working or fig hting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can
field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the
dark.

He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher
and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a
professional.

He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without
spirit or individual dignity.

He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears
the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.

He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his
food! .

He'll even split his ammu nition with you in the midst of battle when you
run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his
hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still
find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he
should have in his short lifetime.

He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat
and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at
rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those
around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop
talking. In an odd twist, day in! and day out, far from home, he de fends
their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the
price for our freedom.

Beardless or not, he is not a boy.

He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200
years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.

Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his
blood.

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Prayer wheel for our military...please don't break it. Please send this on
after a short prayer.

Prayer Wheel

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect
us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in
our time of need. Amen."

Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a
prayer for our gr! ound troops in Afghanistan and Ira q, sailors on ships,
and airmen in the air. There is nothing attached.... This can be very
powerful.... Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not
stop the wheel, please.... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier,
Sailor, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"Did I have a good time?"

I don't think so. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, TR, for both the words and the music. It's interesting following along.

[Radix]

 

1674 Jethro Tull agricultural writer (Basildon), baptised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will be getting some MP3 files on this as soon as I can.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I loved your rally pictures. I hope your faith in at least some of your countrymen was restored at your rally. I want one of those Uncle Sam hats. LOL! I seem to be running further and further behind. I hate it. I wanna play when everyone is here.

[Kathy in Alaska]

"BUSH CAN'T SWIM". Don't ya just love our media and their hatred of President Bush. This is the type of stuff they write all day, every day. The really sad thing is that they haven't a clue what things would be like if they had their way. A sad America indeed!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I would cry too!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Meekie, for my daily cup of hot chocolate, with marshmallows even.