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Chaplain Steve O’Brien talks about how God sees you. Is He mad at you, just waiting to smack you when you mess up?

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“Should Christians Fear Death?” came out of a conversation with several young couples who were interested in the Christian perspective of death. One told me of nightmares that she was having about her own death.

Though morbid for some, this is an important topic to cover so that people know why Christians should not fear the topic of death. Ours is a bright future beyond this life while others cannot claim that future. There is death beyond physical death just as there is life beyond this physical life.

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Chaplain Steve O’Brien brings a “State of the Union” message, and talks about the war we must not lose. It’s not what you might think!

I am embarking on a series discussing why Christians do what they do. I believe some misunderstand why Christians act the way they do. So A Wing and A Prayer will cover Christian behaviors and their motivations. I hope they will be valuable to your faith. The first in the series will talk about some foundational questions that need to be covered for a prober insite to Christian behavior. The second will discuss…”Should A Christian Fear Death?”

Stay tuned. It should get interesting.

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Chaplain Steve recorded a show just before Christmas, but was unable to get it to the Lifespring! “studios” until after Christmas. This is that show.

Of course, one of the great things of podcasting is “time shifting”. So, let’s all travel back in time…to the pre Christmas of 2006!

In this episode, Chaplain Steve tells us about what the personnel in Djibouti are doing to enrich the Christmas season for themselves, and more importantly, for the indigenous people. We also hear a very special musical number, an interview with someone on the base, and Chaplain Steve brings us a great devotional message.

You’ll enjoy hearing this message from Djibouti, Africa!

Dear Listeners,

I am back from Djibouti and am working on another podcast today. The internet here is so much better. It’s like the difference between driving a Porche and a donkey. (A sick donkey…with only three legs!) It is so much faster from home. I will be writing and podcasting regarding some of the events that took place there. To podcast from a third world country proved very challenging. I believe Steve has one more that he will post. The rest will come from home.

I did have some interesting experiences that I will report on. Some of the experiences were scary…some funny.

However, I did want you to know that I am back in the saddle and will have something soon for you to listen to. Stay tuned… we’ll have something up soon.

Chaps… (What the Navy calls their chaplains)

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Chaplain Steve O’Brien hasn’t been able to do another podcast because of connectivity and other problems. However, he sent an email to Pastor Mel Bennett at Steve’s home church, telling a little about what he’s been up to.
We share that with you today. It’s worth a listen, we promise!

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Chaplain O’Brien has finally been able to get some audio to us from Djibouti, Africa. It’s been quite a process, but we have a solution that should work…

For this episode, he sent three separate files, which Steve Webb has brought together to produce a great show, honoring “The Men and Women of Honor Serving Our Country”.

There’s a short devotional from Ephesians 3:20 - 21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Plus, there is a very special interview with “RP1″, one of America’s finest on the ground in Djibouti.

Links mentioned in the show:

The public website for the Horn of Africa military operations: http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/

Chaplain O’Brien’s address:

Chaplain, Major Steve O‘Brien
Chaplain’s Office
CJTF-HOA
APO AE 39363

Other organizations supporting our military heros are:

Operation interdependence: http://www.oidelivers.org/
Operation mom: http://www.operationmom.org/
Hearts across the miles: http://www.heartsacrossthemiles.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Music by Bob Bennett: http://bob-bennett.com
MY HEART ACROSS THE OCEAN
WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY BOB BENNETT
2003 BRIGHT AVENUE SONGS (ASCAP)
WWW.BOB-BENNETT.COM

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
AND THE FAMILIES & FRIENDS
WHO LOVE & SUPPORT THEM

MY HEART ACROSS THE OCEAN
WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY BOB BENNETT
2003 BRIGHT AVENUE SONGS (ASCAP)

I am an American father
And as countless fathers have done before
I hide my tears in the middle of the night
For I’ve sent my American son to war

Far from this fruited plain
To the eye of a desert storm
So proud of the man he’s made of himself
Semper fi and the uniform

Planes and tanks and satellite phones
Flashing across on our TVs
But we still have commercials in between
The Wall Street scores and the casualties

So I pray my prayers as best I can
And hold on tight to the notion
That all of life is in God’s hands
And my heart is across the ocean

I was never in the military
My father served and now my son
Sometimes I wonder if it had to be
Could I ever do what they have done?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s the list of items needed:

You Can Make a Difference in the Horn of Africa

Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is responsible for an area that is two-thirds the size of the United States and contains eight nations. The area has a population of over 167 million people of which fifty percent are unemployed. There are 3.3 million refugees and an additional 10 million displaced persons living in the area. The goal of the Task Force Chaplains Office is to raise awareness of how people of faith and goodwill can make a difference in the lives of the honorable and appreciative people who live throughout the Horn of Africa. You can have a direct and significant impact, by donating the following items (please only donate what you would wear or use yourself: no tattered, torn or soiled items):

Educational Supplies

Please note the “Please Dontate” and “Please Do Not Send” lists…

Please donate:

Pens
Pencils
Erasers
Chalk boards large and portable
Chalk erasers
Chalk
Loose-leaf notebook paper
Colored paper
Colored pencils
Crayons
Safety scissors
Metric rulers
Metric protractors
Notebooks
Pencil sharpeners
Book bags
Books in English and French (Children’s books, English, math, etc.)

Please do not send:

American rulers
American protractors
Torn or ripped book bag
Religious and holiday related. For example: Halloween

Shoes

Please donate:

Flip-flops for all ages

Please do not send:

High heel shoes
Plastic or “Jelly” shoes

Clothing

Please donate:

New or used clothing for men, women and children of all ages
Sweaters

Please do not send:

Stained clothes
Torn clothes
Ripped clothes
Winter clothes such as parkas, snow suits and knit caps

Personal Hygiene

Towels
Feminine hygiene supplies
Face cloths
Shampoo
Soaps
Blankets
Pillows
Pillowcases
Sheets
Toiletries
Cotton balls

Please do not send:

Ripped or stained anything
Open packages or unsealed items

Baby’s Orphanage Specific

Please donate:

Pajamas
New and used clothes…baby and toddler up to two years old
Cloth diapers
Mosquito netting
Baby wipes
Milk bottles
Extra bottle nipples
Crib mobiles
Washcloths
Baby blankets
Bouncers
Soap (with no perfume)

Please do not send:

Ripped or stained items
Opened or unsealed packaging
Cracked, chipped or broken toys

Boy’s Orphanage Specific

Please donate:

New and used summer type shorts and tee shirts from 7-year-old to 18-year-old
Hygiene supplies
Sheets
Pillow cases
Pillows
Sandals or flip flops in all children sizes
Outdoor sports equipment for soccer, football, baseball, and volleyball

Please do not send:

Ripped or stained clothes, or other items
No hockey equipment or street hockey equipment

Girls’ Orphanage Specific

Please donate:

Bolts of fabric for making clothes
Sanitary napkins (Maxi Pads)
Sundresses
Panties size 5-8 but most are 5
Towels
Small sandals
Plates and eating utinsils, and pots and pans
Sports bras
Zippers
Hygiene supplies (deodorant, shampoo, non perfumed)
Small non-perfumed hand lotion
Calamine lotion
Hair styling books
Combs
Rubber bands for hair, barrettes, scrunchies and hair pretties
Hair oil
Cotton balls
Solar powered calculators
Children’s school books (i.e. math, English, French, science)
Sheets
Pillows
Pillow cases
Water flavoring
Baby foods
Plates and eating utensils, and pots and pans
Ziploc bags/Tupperware containers

Please do not send:

Ripped or stained fabric
Battery operated items
Halloween items
Opened or unsealed packaging of syrup
Stained or unusable Tupperware (melted, torn, etc.)
Tampons

Medical Supplies

bandages (all sizes and types)

tape

elastic wraps

tongue depressors

first aid kits

erythromycin ointment

eye drops

eye cream

ear ointment

cold sore cream

mayo scissors

sterile gloves

antiseptic solutions (iodine no alcohol)

stethoscopes

wash basins

gauze

blankets

cravats

splints

bed pans

canes

crutches

walkers

wheel chairs

aspirin

One good idea for a group is called school in a box or repair in a box:

School in a Box:

25 Notebooks

25 Pencil set

25 Crayon set

25 Chalk set

1 Can of liquid chalkboard

25 school bags

If you want to donate, learn more about how to help, or have questions about the appropriateness of specific items for donation, please email the CJTF-HOA Chaplains Office at: cjtfhoachaplain@hoa.centcom.mil or write to us at the following postal address: Chaplain’s Office, CJTF-HOA, APO AE 09363.

Steve and I have been working on a way to upload the podcast from here and I think we have solved the issue. It takes a long time to upload but it should work for us. You should be hearing from me more often now. North Africa is a hot place with about 80% humidity. Whew! I will talk with you soon.

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Chaplain Steve O’Brien, stationed in Djibouti, Africa, talks about how we can pray for deployed military personnel, and hints at conditions in Djibouti.