| .
Welcome to The Canteen Chapel
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).
. .
|
|
|
.
The Chaplain's Corner
.
J. Grant Swank, Jr.,
Pastor, New Hope Church
.
.
"THIS IS THE WAY SUNDAY WAS MEANT TO BE"
.
Greg and I met about three years ago.
Sunday-keeping in his past surely did not include
"keeping the sabbath day holy." No way.
Greg's lifestyle was of the world.
Then Greg came upon a Bible. No preacher.
No evangelist. No religious tract. Just a
plain Bible.
With that, this young fellow in his early 30s opened
its pages. He was desperate. His life had fallen apart.
Not much hope in the secular wards for Mr. Greg.
"God, please help me. You are my only chance.
If you are out there, help me. And help me now!"
A prayer never goes unnoticed in the Father's abode.
Therefore, heaven answered with the Spirit's tutoring.
Greg was a most willing student of the Word. He spent
hours upon hours combing its pages. Biblical history
started coming alive before his eyes. Biblical
characters came to be his closest friends. Biblical
principles starting to change his way of thinking--
and living.
In time, Greg dropped the drink and the drugs and
the mayhem. In their place he picked up the
Christian walk.
"Much of the time I would find myself talking aloud
to Jesus. No one really taught me how to pray; but
the Spirit did. And the way the Spirit instructed me
was to open up my mouth and talk with Jesus. So I did,"
Greg shared with me one morning.
While Greg was being schooled in eternity's ways, I met
him. We chatted a bit. Then more conversations eventuated
in his coming to know my family. He also started to worship
in our house church.
I offered Greg some pertinent Christian books that I
thought he would grab hold of. But his response was
other than what I had anticipated.
"Grant, if you don't mind, I'd like to stick with
the Bible. I've read it through four times, but I
want to start again. And I find that I have just
enough time to do that. Maybe someday I'll have
some energy left to tackle some of those excellent
options you suggest; but for now I want to stay with
the Bible."
Not bad, I concluded. The fellow is learning deeply.
Go for it, Greg!
He grew. And he grew some more. And some more.
Every time the Spirit revealed a new discipline of
the soul, Greg took hold of it. In other words, he
"walked in the light".
Sundays became especially meaningful to Greg. He
started the holy day in worship. He concluded the
holy day in worship. And in between, he fellowshipped
with believers.
One Sunday afternoon while in our home, I heard Greg
say aloud: "Now this is the way Sunday was meant to be."
It was said to no one in particular; but I picked up on it.
Wonderful!
Sabbath day keeping with joy. No obligation. No
duty-bound religious legalism. Just plain joy in
health of spirit!
It was then that I thought back to what Greg had
shared with me about his pre-Jesus emptiness. That
then was nothing to compare with his present fulfillment.
And a major credit of his present fulfillment was
Greg's setting aside that one day in seven for
spiritual renewal--worship, rest, spirit introspection,
sharing in soul, and preparing in Jesus for another
productive week.
"Now this is the way Sunday was meant to be."
Classic statement from a learner. Classic conclusion
reached by one maturing in the Spirit. Classic
perspective that should be a part of every believer's
warp and woof.
Thank you, Greg. Heaven bless you, brother.
.
Click on banner above to listen to this song.
.
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.
.
|
|
|
|
|
.
. .
|
. A Prayer for the United States
.
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
|
|
|
|
|
.
|
|
.
George W. Bush: A President of Faith
.
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.
.
|
|
|
|
|
. .
|
|
|
.
Music for a Sunday
.
.
.
Eternal Father (organ)....Joyful We Adore Thee (organ)
The Hallelujah Chorus (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) ......Ave Maria (Kiri Te Kawana)
How Great Thou Art Gentlemen (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)
.
.
The Children's Corner
Click on child in prayer, to hear Veggie Tunes
(this is over half an hour of music)
.
Jesus Loves Me
.
.
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"
.
We, at the Canteen, offer these prayers
to those serving their country
today. God Bless you all.
.
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."
.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
.
.
|
