CAPT* S. M. SHELTON, USN AHA IS
Commanding Officer ■L?(\
CDR. E. L. CRANCE, USN SUN
Executive Officer
Published each Monday for all personnel
on Adak by Special Services. Provisions
for NavExos P-35 (Rev. July 58) complied
with. Mimeographed at NavSta Adak. Funds
furnished from non-appropriated sources
at 00* cost to the government. Articles
contained herein are not to be construed
as representing the official opinion of
the Commanding Officer or the Navy Dep
artment, inasmuch as the Adak Sun is not
an official publication#
EDITOR % H. T. DAVIS, YN1 055-J or 365
CHAPLAINS CORNER
THE:STANDARD DEDUCTION
by Chaplain Vernon Stenberg
It is wondered how many people ttke ■
^a standard deduction when it comes to
their religious activities. For inst
ance take church attendance. Many
people attend every Sunday. They say
that even if there is not a church of
their choice conveniently located they
find a church to attend. The reason
given is that they just would not feel
it was Sunday if they did not attned
Church.- It has developed into a habit
by which thei3*‘ lives are enriched.
There are others who feel they ought
to attend, they know they benefit from
attendance in ways that cannot be ex
plained, but they take the Standard
Deduction. I imagine that the think
ing goes something like this; "Here it
is Sunday morning, I suppose I ought
to go to .church# . , but then, I did
go last Sunday.” The person has taken
his own standard deduction.
On the following Sunday, the same
person is -very likelyto say to himself r
again, "Here it is Sunday morning and
I suppose I ought to go to church,
since I missed last Sunday# • • but it
isn’t as if I haven’t been there this
month.” He again takes his own stand
ard deduction.
(continued next column)
There are various other standard
deductions, all spoken very piously,
such as;
"I went to church shortly after I
arrived."
"I send my wife and 'stay home with
the kids, so she can enjoy it."
"I went regularly as a child,',and
that was enough.,
"I don’t know the hymns in the new
hymal, so I might as well stay home."
"I listen on the radio and that is
enough."
"I went just last Easter."
There are many more. These are all
self-imposed "standard deductions". So
much depends on setting the standard.
If the Federal Government let everyone
set his own standard deduction for in
come taxes, I can imagine they would
collect very little.
This is not saying, of course, that
God has set a maximum or a minimum for
church attendance and some will even
say, "I can be just as good a Christian
without going to Church." It is another
standard deduction.. They would :::.be an
even better Christian with regular
attendance and would be a good example
as well.
More to be pitied, perhaps, are.■those
who do not even give it a thought. Their
conscience has longs since givenup hope
of competing with the argument -..of a
self-made standard deduction. This
person will always miss the benefits, of
knowing God better andtfte.pleasant sen
sation of being found regularly in His
House.
God has not set a standard-deduction.
He has provided, a' way of salvation.
Church is where this way of salvation
is hearid and where He is worshipped in •
thanksgiving and praise for .'providing
this way of salvation.
Don’t wait until Easter, attend
regularly now, as well as on Easter.
NOTICE ALL CIVIL SERVICE CONTRACT EM
PLOYEES AND FAMILIES s There will be a
pre-spring Pot Luck Social, March 14th
at 6:30 PM. Eats will be furnished by
the ladies, entertainment by the gents.
At the Caribou Club.