FReeper Canteen ~ Presidential 2008 Military Message for Hanukkah ~ Dec 21 2008

The Canteen Crew ^ | December 20, 2008 | Serving the Best Troops and Vets in the WORLD!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Presidential Message

The story of Hanukkah recalls the miraculous victory of a small band of patriots against tyranny, and the oil that burned for eight nights. Through centuries of exile and persecution, Jews have lit the menorah. Each year, they behold its glow with faith in the power of God, and love for His greatest gift -- freedom.

This Hanukkah we celebrate another miraculous victory -- the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. When President Harry Truman led the world in recognizing Israel in May of 1948, many wondered whether the small nation could possibly survive. Yet from the first days of independence, the people of Israel defied dire predictions. With determination and hard work, they turned a rocky desert into fertile soil. They built a thriving democracy, a strong economy, and one of the mightiest military forces on earth. Like the Maccabees, Israel has defended itself bravely against enemies seeking its destruction. And today, Israel is a light unto the nations -- and one of America's closest friends.

This evening, we have the great privilege of celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary and Hanukkah in a very special way. Thanks to the generosity of the Truman Library, we are fortunate to light the menorah presented to President Truman in 1951 as a symbol of friendship by Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion.

A decade after President Truman received this gift, he visited Prime Minister Ben-Gurion for one of the last times. As they parted, Ben-Gurion told the President that as a foreigner he could not judge President Truman's place in American history, but the President's courageous decision to recognize the new state of Israel gave him an immortal place in Jewish history. Those words filled the President's eyes with uncharacteristic tears. And later, Ben-Gurion would say he rarely had seen somebody so moved.

And so tonight I'm deeply moved to welcome the grandsons of these two great men -- Clifton Truman Daniel and Yariv Ben-Eliezer -- to light the Truman menorah together.

Laura and I wish all the people of Jewish faith a happy Hanukkah and many joyous Hanukkahs in the years ahead.
Thank you

Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Hanukah.

Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.

Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem ba-zeman ha-zeh.

Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam she-hecheyanu, ve-kiyemanu, ve-higiyanu la-zeman ha-zeh.

Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS!

---

Dear God, who suffered
torment, agony and death upon the Cross
to free our souls from the chains of iniquity;
protect and defend our troops.
Guide them in the performance of
their Duties.
Strengthen them to endure hardship,
danger, and deprivation in
Your service.
Let their efforts free the people
of Iraq from the chains of terror
and slavery, foster a lasting peace
in the region, and bring all to a
greater share in Your mercy.
Amen.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS!

---

Amazing Grace

by John Newton

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, .
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

December 21, 2008

What Child Is This?

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READ: Luke 2:25-35

This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel . . . that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. —Luke 2:34-35

One of our most beloved Christmas carols was written in 1865 by William Dix, an Englishman who managed a maritime insurance company and loved to write hymns. Sung to the English melody “Greensleeves,” some versions use the latter half of the first verse as a chorus for the other verses:

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard
and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud—
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

But in other versions, each stanza is unique. The second verse, rarely sung today, looks beyond the manger to the cross:

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Simeon said to Mary, “This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).

The Child of Christmas came to be our Savior. “Joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary".

The birth of Christ brought God to man; the cross of Christ brings man to God.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 146–148

[AZamericonnie]

LeAnn Rimes~Amazing Grace

[Canedawg]

Amen

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, constitutionalgirl....

Indeed, Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish military members and their families.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day, Nana Hope.....beautiful ornament with today’s Pledge.

[Lady Jag]

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Lord's Prayer

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day, Cindy. Thanks for helping our Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mahalia Jackson ~ The 23rd Psalm

[Tanniker Smith]

Good evening, BG. Good evening, all.

Happy Sunday, and a Happy Channukkah to all who celebrate it (and everyone else, too).

Apologies to all for an oversight on my part this morning. I needed to go shopping this morning, and my only two options (considering what stores I needed) were the mall in Woodbridge NJ and midtown Manhattan. Well, my wife and daughter needed the car today, so Rockerfeller Center it was.

Seriously, I meant to bring my camera along with me to take some pictures for the Canteen folks who can't make it to NYC. I have to say, it was beautiful this morning. There was a thin layer of white coating the ground and everything else, the tree was lit up and the sky was cloudy. And the place was practically deserted (which, in NYC, means fewer than 100 people, but still not a lot). It helped that I accidentally got there 1.5 hours too early. Who knew that they wouldn't open until 10am.

Well, a little time in Barnes & Nobles (got "The Greatest Generation" for my Dad to go along with some WWII-era movies on DVD that I'd already bought) and then spent some time at Nintendo World where, in the absence of my son, I won all four heats of Mario Kart.

A nice walk downtown to Macy's included a peek inside the window displays of Saks 5th avenue and Lord & Taylor's. Then I discovered that everyone in the city was actually inside Macy's trying to use the same escalator.

Really, wish I had taken pictures.

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[SandRat]

Shalom.

[laurenmarlowe]

Bing Crosby ~ Merry Christmas

Mahalia Jackson ~ Silent Night

The Andrews Sisters ~ Christmas

Arthur Fiedler And The Boston Pops ~ A Christmas Festival

Andy Williams ~ Andy Williams Christmas Album

Dianne Reeves ~ Christmas Time Is Here

Ella Fitzgerald ~ Ella Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Frank Sinatra ~ The Christmas Collection

Glenn Miller ~ In The Christmas Mood

Henry Mancini ~ Great Christmas Songs

Jackie Gleason & His Orchestra ~ Snowfall

Lawrence Welk ~ Merry Christmas Favorites

[Kirkwood]

I found a Hanukkah moose for you. LOL!

[Lady Jag]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord’s Day to you, Kirkwood....and such a cute Hanukkah moose. Thanks!

Did ya have a good day...give the broken parts some rest?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Lady J....what a cute Hanukkah pic. Did you get buried in snow today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

O Holy Night

Angels We Have Heard On High

Away In the Manger

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Joy To The World

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Little Town of Bethlehem

We Three Kings

Silent Night