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    For the Freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.     Looking forward to tomorrow's Freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!                         GOLDEN MOMENTSOnce upon a time, there was a little boy from "the wrong side of the tracks" who grew up admiring a beautiful house high on the hill overlooking his town. Fortunately, he never lacked for any of the necessities of life. But he hated being "poor." He noticed that people treated him differently. And it pained...

Please keep in prayer Father Timothy Vakoc, Army Chaplain, seriously wounded in an i.e.d. (improvised explosive device) explosion south of Baghdad on Saturday 29 May. Father is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul – Minneapolis. As of this writing he is in stable but very serious condition. Within the next several days, Fr. Tim will be transported to Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, DC. He still remains very much in need of prayer.

<p>Once again, we come to a Memorial Day service. And once again, I am reminded that we stand here today with a purpose.</p> <p>In his Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln said several things that are memorable.</p> <p>There are two things that he said that I want to mention today.</p>

The Congressional Prayer Conference of Washington D.C. www.congressionalprayer.com invites you to attend a................. WEEKLY NATION WIDE "Telephonic Prayer Meeting" EVERY WEDNESDAY- Buena Park California pastor Wiley Drake, connected to Washington D.C. Chaplain Mark Benz U.S. Army, and Heaven according to Matthew 18:20 " For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." To participate, call in during your time zone.... ( 1-603-488-0702, enter access code when prompted, 619110 ) 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time 12:00 Noon Central time 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time Call in and pray or...

<p>I first heard the poem some years ago as a song performed by a former pop musician turned Christian entertainer. Its words had a powerful impact. They were a challenge to self-examination, and a warning about the consequences of life lived without integrity. A reminder that each of us must live with his or her self. And that we KNOW what's behind our image, no matter how carefully crafted, or how convincing it may be to others. I wonder if it might also speak to you. It's entitled "The Man in the Glass."</p>

<p>"There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you. But don't worry. You're in good company: Moses stuttered. David's armor didn't fit. John Mark was rejected by Paul. Timothy had ulcers. Hosea's wife was a prostitute. Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Jacob was a liar. David had an affair. Solomon was too rich. Abraham was too old. David was too young. Peter was afraid of death. Lazarus was dead. John was self-righteous. Naomi was a widow. Paul was a murderer. So was Moses. Jonah ran from God. Miriam was a gossip. Gideon and Thomas both doubted. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. Elijah was burned out. John the Baptist was a loudmouth. Martha was a worry-wart. Mary was lazy. Samson had long hair. Noah got drunk. "Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul -- well, lots of folks did. "But God doesn't require a job interview. He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our Father than our Boss. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. As much as we try, God's gifts are free. We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be wonderful. Satan says, "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "So what? I AM." Satan looks back and sees our mistakes. God looks back and sees the cross. He doesn't calculate what you did in '78. It's not even on the record. Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't have called us. But if we are magically in love with Him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like. I pray that, as believers, we will step out of our limitations into the unlimited nature of who God is. Then our passion for God and our passion to communicate Him will make short work of our limitations."</p>

But Lt. Col Johnson Has High Praise For Vast Majority Of U.S. Troops The observation of the National Day of Prayer had been traditional for many years, and then legislated in 1988 by both houses of Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan. Recently, world events have impacted the annual ceremony. May 6, the 12th Annual ceremony for Delaware County at Rose Tree Park, was evidence many individuals believe prayer is an essential means to address today's ills. Rev. Wylie Johnson, pastor of Springfield Baptist Church, had been asked to speak at the 2003 event by coordinators Evelyn and Robert...

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq(May 9, 2004) -- His first calling was to the Marines, the second was to the Lord. Today, one sailor serves both in Iraq. Stretched across a scarlet ribbon on the Navy Chaplain's Corps' seal are the Latin words "vocati ad servitium," meaning "called to serve." Petty Officer 2nd Class Wayne M. George, a 29-year-old religious program specialist, or "RP" for short, with the 1st Force Service Support Group, could use this motto to sum up his own life. Chaplains, considered non-combatants by the rules of the Geneva Convention, are not issued weapons. They are assigned enlisted sailors,...

<p>We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.</p>

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Fears that her husband, Army Capt. James Yee, could face the death penalty have vanished. FBI agents have stopped their surprise visits to question her. Even the neighbors in their tree-lined apartment complex in this tranquil town have started to greet her again after months of treating her like a traitor to America. Huda Yee's husband no longer faces key charges the Army had lodged against him, and he is scheduled to resume his duties as chaplain at Ft. Lewis, Wash., on Monday. But now she says the couple faces a far greater challenge: How to live...

In response to a beautiful and poignant piece in the Times this past week about the baptism of four Marines during the battle for Fallouja, this is the letters in response to the story from Santa Monica and West Hollywierd: If Islamic militants ever needed proof that the Bush administration's motive for war has more to do with eschatology than democracy, they need look no further than the photograph appearing on the front page of The Times (April 29), in which Christian baptism and the blood of battle are symbolically fused into one powerful image. That soldiers may have reason...

<p>Good morning this rainy Monday! This morning someone asked me, "How do you like the lousy weather, Chaplain?" I thought a moment about the fact that my uniform was wet, my car had trouble starting, and about all those poor people stuck in the wall of traffic that inevitably occurs when 58 gets drenched. Then later I thought, how would we exist without the rain? which makes all life on our planet possible. I remembered the old prayer in my prayer book, a blessing to God for the gift of wind and rain.</p>

The pastor of our church forwarded a message to all of our members that included the referenced LA Times story. The Times writer included an interview with one of our church members serving in Fallouja as a chaplain. Considering our relationship with the Times, I will include only a few quotes. Our pastor, in his email, described how a few other church members serving over there had sustained wounds. Here are the words from my pastor:"Chaplain Scott Radetski is a New Songer, and many of the men attached to his unit attend as well. I'm writing today to ask that...

<p>"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (John 13:14-15) "Surely, what I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not heaven.</p>

At first glance, the formation looked like the usual Marine Corps early-morning troop run. Hard-chargers wearing boots and utility trousers kept in step while double-timing to the call of a military cadence. But a closer look revealed a distinct difference about this particular physical training (PT) session: in place of the usual guidon (flag bearer) up front, a Marine wielded a wooden cross as he led this motivated group. More than 60 Kinser Marines and sailors from various units conducted Cross PT at Camp Kinser in Okinawa, Japan, in February in an effort to meditate on Christ's suffering on...

Hot and sunny on Good Friday...quiet in Fallujah and Ar Ramadi. The Coalition has announced a pause in offensive operations. Humanitarian aid is being searched and then allowed into the city of Fallujah. Defensive operations continue 24/7, it is all war, all the time. The bad guys are regrouping. So are the Marines. The brawl will begin again...probably tonight. All intel points to the bad guys redistributing ammo, enlisting kids in the fight and moving for new cover. Convoys are limited..danger of ambush is high. Life in Fallujah continues, with an edge. Imagine a place the size of ........ with...

The Falluja you see on TV night after night is not the real Falluja, according to an Army chaplain now serving in Iraq. In a letter in the current Weekly Intelligence Notes published by the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, the writer asks why this troubled city is on the news every night. His answer: "Because it is one of the few places in all of Iraq where trouble exists." He goes on to note that while Iraq has 25 million people and is the size of California, Falluja and surrounding towns total just 500,000 people. "Do the math:...

<p>A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.   For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.</p>

I received the following email today from an active duty individual whom I trust and respect. I felt everyone should have an opportunity to see/read the contents. God bless our military people as they go about this critical task. I usually do not share my military e-mail with civilians but a lot of the times the media only gives us one side of the story. The Commander of a Naval Air Station copied us on an e-mail from a military chaplain serving in Iraq. His message is the same whatever your faith is. We must stay the course. From a...

I just recieved the following e-mail from an Army chaplain friend of mine. He is currently serving in Iraq. He is able to share a funny story, but also some concerns that many of our people have over there regarding their families back home. Some of this is really important to know, so we can better support our troops. That is why I am passing this along to the many wonderful FReepers. OIF2 update Hello, Comedy in the shower: Not too long ago, right near my quarters a trailer for showers was put in (as was another trailer with actual...