Rev. Charles Knappenberger
1041 Peach Tree Lane, Warrington, PA 18976
215-918-2992
The Passion of Jesus begins with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem six days before the Passover and ends with the Lord's crucifixion on a cross atop a trash hill outside the Holy City. A portion of the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday from Matthew, Chapter 6 records the words of Jesus, "...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
The whole theme of Lent is one of experiencing the closeness of Jesus as He ministered to His disciples and the common people of His day during those six days before Good Friday; and patiently waiting for the glory and excitement of the fulfillment of God's promise that followed our Lord's Passion...."In three days I will rise again" ... and, we know, HE DID.
Edward Gloeggler wrote "Over the hill lies a beautiful valley, but you have to climb the hill to see it."
During Lent we travel with Jesus in His Passion as He climbed that hill, preparing for us that 'beautiful valley' of eternal life.
Travel with Jesus and enjoy the fruits of His labor. May the eternal Lord Creator God be with you and yours as together we share the gift of God's love.
"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusts in Thee." Amen and Amen.
Rev. Charles "Preacher" Knappenberger, Chaplain, ASA Korea
Rev. Charles Knappenberger, 1041 Peach Tree Lane, Warrington, PA 18976-1533
Eternal God, our Father, through whose mighty power our forefathers built this "land of the free and home of the brave", Grant, we beseech Thee, that all peoples of this land may have grace to maintain the liberties we enjoy in righteousness and peace. We pray, dear Lord of heaven and earth, that You will assist and protect all those who at home or abroad are serving this nation. Arm them with Thy defence when they face the terrible perils of war and loneliness. Fill them with the wisdom of Thy mercy and gird them with the strength of Thy mighty hand, so they may do their duty to Thy honor and glory.
Be with the ones who become wounded in body and soul; receive into Your eternal kingdom the souls of the fallen and comfort their families. In all we and they do, O God, grant us Your gift of loyalty to home and country (our "one nation under God"), and reverence and devotion for our Churches and Synagogues, ......... in everything, dear Lord, make us true to Thee, in the name of Jesus Christ.....Amen and Amen.
"Eternal Father of love and power, Our brethren shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them where-so-e'er they go, Thus ever let there rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea."
God Bless ASA Veterans!
God Bless America!
Time is quickly passing us by and the hours we spent together, 35 ASA Korea members, with wives and guests, totaling 64 of us in attendance, were moments to remember.
Associating with several new members became a dear part of a joyous reunion. "The regular, loyal bunch" were there also; so great to share a few days with them as we do year after year... and we look forward to 2010 in Pittsburgh, PA next October. Those who were unable to attend were on our minds and in our hearts.
Please take the time to look at the wonderful photos and videos of the 2009 Reunion which are here on the website at http://www.asakorea.org/BuffaloGuys09.html. Thanks to technology, they were submitted by members who attended and are shared with all.
VETERANS - that is what we are - and what we are proud to be, brought together by one magnet - The Army Security Agency of the United States of America. So as Veterans we join a long line of fellow men and women who served our country well. Last night I viewed on television the movie "Macarthur" with Gregory Peck portraying that grand General who served the USA for over fifty years. His stirring words to the cadets at West Point on his final visit there encouraging "Duty, Honor, Country" is reminiscent of the ASA Korea constitution where we pledge ourselves for duty to God, Country and Community. Long may these words live in our hearts and mind.
There are thousands more veterans to be honored this year since we served. Let us join in pledging our duty to them also........."Our fathers God, to thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing; Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King. Amen." God bless all our veterans now and evermore. God bless America.....always!!!
Some of us may have had a Father or close relative who served in World War One. I remember a couple of 'old' men in my home town who were veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish American. One of these gave me when I was about five an old squirrel rifle he used fighting for the Union in the 1860's.
Each year on Decoration Day (now Memorial Day), May 30, we would parade and gather at local cemeteries 'decorating' the graves of long gone veterans with flowers and markers.
Now, we are the Veterans of other wars. A few of our members served for a time in World War Two while most of us served in Korea, Vietnam and some 'peace-keeping' areas around the world. We were the United States Army Security Agency, a proud bunch of GI's chosen to be involved with Top Secret Cryptographic Intelligence, which included several 'military occupation specialties' (MOS). For the most part, we were the sons of the Great Depression, whether we were 'RA' or 'US", we were all the same.
We no longer as a nation observe Memorial Day on May 30, unless it falls on the last Monday of the month. Modern convenience has invaded our traditions.
No matter when we remember our fellow veterans, we can look to the Holy Scriptures, regardless of faith. For the Bible is non-denominational in many ways.
As we remember our fellow Army comrades, we can find solace in Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
For our friends who served in the Navy or the Coast Guard, read Psalm 95:5, "THe sea id HIS, and HE made it."
For those from the Air Force, Psalm 104:3, "Who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind."
And, for our present day children in the military whether at home or in distant lands, let us pray for a 'Suffering World':
Our heavenly Father, we would associate ourselves with Thy children across the world in prayer on behalf of all men and women now under arms and in training, also for the wounded, for the dying, for the mourning, for those prisoners and missing, and for the refugees driven from their homes. Keep all these under Your protection, dear Lord, and bring to an end all racial and political strife wherever it exists in this, Thy world. Give Thy wisdom and power to all peace-lovers and apostles of reconciliation so they work toward the realiztion of a just, righteous and enduring peace.
Thy kingdom come, O God, in earth as it is in heaven.
"Our father's God , to thee,
Author of liberty, To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light:
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King. Amen."
God be with you all, and yours.
AMERICA
"God has been good to men. He gave
His Only Son their souls to save,
And then He made a second gift,
Which from their dreary lives should lift
The tyrant's yoke and set them free
From all who'd throttle liberty.
He gave America to men --
Fashioned this land we love, and then
Deep in her forest sowed the seed
Which was to serve man's earthly need....
America! the land we love!
God's second gift from Heaven above,
Builded and fashioned out of truth,
Sinwed by Him with splendid youth
For that great day when shall be furled
All tyrant flags throughout the world.
For this our banner holds the sky:
That liberty shall never die.
For this, America began:
To make a brotherhood of man."
And from our Soldier's Prayer Book, page 91...
"Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe psrtake,
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our fathers' God , to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King. Amen."
Enjoy your Veterans' status! Love God, and love your family! Pray for PEACE!
God bless you all! Amen and Amen
God and soldier, all men adore,
In times of war, and nevermore.
In time of peace, when all is righted,
God is forgotten, and the soldier slighted.
For many years our battles in Korea were called "the forgotten war." During the past couple of decades that word 'forgotten' has taken on less sting, as Korean War Veterans Memorials have sprung up all over our "land of the free and home of the brave" not only in Washington, DC, but in states and counties and cities and towns throughout America.
But, all the memorials in the world will not ease the pain of Gold-Star Mothers and Wives, or return broken bodies to pre-war condition, nor relieve the unknown of those MIA.
To paraphrase the Duke of Wellington," If you have but seen one day of war, you would pray Almighty God never to see any such thing again."
We are at war again, and we have been involved in several wars since the "police action" of our youth. Let us pray Almighty God to intercede in the craziness of those peoples who wish to wage war and destruction on their neighbors and nations in other parts of their world. Let us be reminded of the word from the prophet Micah "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
May those thoughts from God's Holy Word abide with us and with all members of God's Creation, through Christ Our Lord. Amen and Amen.
PASSOVER, EASTER, MOTHER'S DAY
FATHER'S DAY