http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/chapel/ en-us Sun, 19 May 2013 01:55:49 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3021198/posts         THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND There is a line separating dedication-to-duty from "work-a-holism". Dedication to duty is good, healthy, positive. Work-a-holism, on the other hand, is negative, harmful and eats away at family relationships. We must know the difference between the two. Let me tell you about a man who was called the Greatest American Soldier of the 20th Century: General George C. Marshall. Born in Uniontown, PA in 1880, he graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1902. As a junior infantry officer in the US Army he served two tours in the Philippines, in several... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3021198/posts#comment Sun, 19 May 2013 01:55:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3015827/posts         "AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS" Matthew 28:20 One morning I stood on the bluffs overlooking the coast at Camp Pendleton. I spied an amphibious naval vessel just off shore. As I stood watching, it came into full view, then disappeared as the early morning fog came and went. The ship was always there, but it was only visible part of the time. It spoke to me of the reality of God's presence. The truth is God is always there, but our changing moods affect our ability to see. It's good days and bad... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3015827/posts#comment Sun, 5 May 2013 00:00:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3013219/posts         PLAY YOUR PART So they came to John and reported to him, Rabbi, the Man Who was with you on the other side of the Jordan. . .notice, here He is baptizing too, and everybody is flocking to Him! — John 3:26 John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord. That was his purpose on earth and he knew it. But John’s disciples tried to incite him to jealousy over Jesus’ ministry! John replied, “A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3013219/posts#comment Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:59:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3010326/posts         THERE ARE NEEDS, AND THEN THERE ARE NEEDS "The bird does not sing because he has an answer; he sings because he has a song." Old Chinese Proverb Peppermint Patty, of Peanuts cartoon fame, can be impatient at times. You Peanuts fans may recall one of those times. School was about to begin, and Peppermint Patty went shopping. She entered the store, and proceeded directly to the counter, and said, "Sir, I need some school supplies some pencils, some paper, a loose-leaf binder, and some answers. I need a lot of answers." Most of you... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3010326/posts#comment Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:59:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3007599/posts         GOD'S PERFECTION In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main-streamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3007599/posts#comment Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:59:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3004946/posts         AN HONEST DOUBTER The often heard quip, "He or she is a doubting Thomas," usually is given in a negative way...someone who can't get with the program or is not a team player. The origin of this statement goes to the passage in John's Gospel. Thomas, who somehow missed the first appearance of the resurrected Jesus to the rest of the disciples, states he will not believe until he sees and touches the Lord. He is a realist, a man who is shattered in his faith after witnessing the arrest and death of Jesus. He... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3004946/posts#comment Sat, 6 Apr 2013 23:59:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3002485/posts For the last 700 years, it has been the main place of Christian worship in the Palace of Westminster, aside from brief periods as a wine cellar and a stable for Oliver Cromwell’s horses.But now, it seems, the Government has a new role in mind for the chapel of St Mary Undercroft, which is nestled in a crypt beneath Parliament. Ministers are considering changing the historic Anglican chapel into a multi-faith prayer room – so that it can be used to conduct same-sex weddings. Under the gay marriage legislation currently passing through Parliament, the chapel will not be able to... The Daily Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3002485/posts#comment Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:23:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3000115/posts         A HUMBLE SPIRIT It's always surprising to me when someone, in an honest and unguarded moment, confides that God could never use THEM. They may keep up appearances most of the time, but, down deep, they just don't feel worthy. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you're in luck; God places a high value on humility! In fact, your sincere recognition of your own need may just be the key that opens the door to a deeper, more genuine and rewarding spirituality. Isaiah wrote, "For thus says the High and Holy One Who... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3000115/posts#comment Sat, 23 Mar 2013 23:59:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2995271/posts         GIVING IT ALL YOU'VE GOT Ever hear the expression "Giving it the whole nine yards"? Do you happen to know where it comes from? I used to think it was a sports term. "Not so", say several experts. But there seem to be at least two schools of thought on the phrase's origin. Both seem plausible. I'll let you decide. One explanation says that it's an expression from the construction trade. A full truck load, according to this rationale, will dump nine cubic yards of sand or gravel at your work site. In such a... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2995271/posts#comment Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:59:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2994036/posts Sistine Chapel Closed to PublicSections of the Vatican Museums were closed today at 1 p.m. Rome time, about 60 minutes ago, to begin to prepare the Sistine Chapel for the upcoming papal conclave.In 2005, it took seven days to prepare the Chapel for the Conclave after it was closed.By this measure, the Sistine Chapel should be ready for the Conclave on March 12.However, the cardinals must vote to move the Conclave up from the March 15-20 time-frame foreseen by the regulations currently in effect. Such a vote would require the presence of all 115 voting cardinals.In meetings this morning, there... Moynihan Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2994036/posts#comment Wed, 6 Mar 2013 15:01:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2992929/posts         THE SECOND TEN COMMANDMENTS Most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai as recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:1-21. But have you heard of the second Ten Commandments? The second Ten Commandments are "10 suggestions" of a cardiologist, Steven R. Yarnall, MD, for giving one the edge on being the best you can be. Taking care of ourselves is most often just good, old-fashioned commonsense. But here are Yarnall's "10 Health Commandments" as I found them in a pamphlet put out by the Hope Heart Institute. Thou shalt... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2992929/posts#comment Sun, 3 Mar 2013 01:00:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2990600/posts         THE POWER OF LOVE What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things. This story will keep you singing! Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. Karen and her spouse found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael would sing to his sister in Mommy's... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2990600/posts#comment Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:59:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2989272/posts         A THANKFUL HEART Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. — Philippians 4:6 Years ago I taught a message saying that when you ask God for something, you should thank Him ahead of time that you are going to get it because that will help release your manifestation. I believe that. I took the scripture above to mean just that, that when I prayed for something, I should start thanking... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2989272/posts#comment Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:05:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2986984/posts         PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT Just a children's song remembered from a Sunday School class long ago: "Red and yellow, black and white; they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world." But it expresses a profound truth...one that might change the world if we took it seriously. Sort of like the lesson in the poem a friend sent me yesterday. It's worth more than a second reading. It may reveal ... or remind you... of more truth than you expect! "We pray for the children who put chocolate fingers everywhere,... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2986984/posts#comment Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:07:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2984745/posts         HUMAN BEING In January 1997 my family and I PCSed from Camp Lejeune to Okinawa. On the trip from the east coast to LA where we would board the Freedom Bird, we decided to take a few days for sightseeing in San Francisco. We stayed at the BOQ in Naval Station, Treasure Island. One night my wife sent me to the convenience store for some milk. On the way I saw one of the old boat hangars lit up. There was a beehive of activity around the huge building, with cars and people coming and... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2984745/posts#comment Sun, 3 Feb 2013 01:07:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2982231/posts         PRAYER Dear Lord.... As we offer You thanks and praise, we realize how important it is to stay prepared for all the surprises in life. Daily, so many things catch us off guard, though they seem to happen over and over again. Would life be easier if we could begin the day with, "This is a drill. This is a drill"? Would we be any more prepared if there were drills for the many personal challenges we respond to daily? Besides a "general quarters" for missile hits, we'd prepare to take hits for all the... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2982231/posts#comment Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:04:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2979940/posts         THE TREE OF LIFE "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." (John 3:16,17) One night I was watching a movie. At the end, the cowboy turned and put the name of his girlfriend in the window of his car for all to see. Then he put his arm around her and pulled her close.... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2979940/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jan 2013 01:04:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2977544/posts         KEEPING THE FAITH The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2977544/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:03:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2975315/posts         ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before; Christ, the royal Master Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See, his banners go. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before. At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On then, Christian soldiers, On to victory. Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise. Like a mighty army Moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2975315/posts#comment Sun, 6 Jan 2013 01:04:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2973285/posts         LIVING PRAYER Brother Lawrence was a monk who lived almost 300 years ago and worked in the galley of his monastery. He wrote a book, The Practice of the Presence of God, which today is considered a classic in the area of Christian devotion. Brother Lawrence spent much of his time in the monastery scullery scrubbing pots and pans. He also had a collateral duty as the monastery cobbler. In these jobs, he said, he learned to glorify God in simple tasks and to pray with his hands. By bringing to each small job the... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2973285/posts#comment Sun, 30 Dec 2012 01:04:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971520/posts         GIVING There is a story of two young men who were working their way through Stanford University. The day came when they were broke, and something had to be done. One of them had an idea. They would engage the great Paderewski for a piano recital and put their profits toward their board and tuition. All they had to do was guarantee two thousand dollars. The recital was held but only sixteen hundred dollars was raised. Following the performance, the two young men went to Paderewski, offered him the $1600 and added a promissory note... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971520/posts#comment Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:03:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2969143/posts         THE GIFT OF THE MAGI Those of you who are more "mature" Marines & Sailors will remember one of the pre-eminent TV series of the '50's, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. Many of these programs were quite scary, but they usually had a good moral and made the point in a rather unforgettable manner. On one episode, an astronaut is readying for his blast off on a fifty-year mission to outer space. He is to be placed in a state of suspended animation and will not age one day by the time he returns to Earth.... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2969143/posts#comment Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:02:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2965105/posts An impressive array of Tiffany stained glass and other religious art elements is showing at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York. To see it, you need to fly to the Big Apple before Jan. 20. Or make it a lot easier on yourself and stay in Northern California, instead driving a short distance to enjoy the astonishing collection of 25 Louis Comfort Tiffany stained- glass windows that illuminate Saint Peter's Chapel on Mare Island. Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2965105/posts#comment Mon, 3 Dec 2012 13:41:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2964794/posts         ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Good morning this rainy Sunday! 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... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2964794/posts#comment Sun, 2 Dec 2012 01:01:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2962703/posts         WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM LIFE “I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit, I’m secretly glad by parents are strict with me.” (Age 14) “I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.” (Age 24) “I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater the need to cast blame on others.” (Age 16) “I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.” (Age 53) “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life.” (Age 58)... Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2962703/posts#comment Sun, 25 Nov 2012 01:02:54 GMT