Thanksgiving

Why are we thankful?

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:3-5)

Introduction

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

Free Will

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Bible

He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So, we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God made us

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)

Jesus, Savior, Redeemer

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them..” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God made accepting Jesus easy.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sheep of Jesus pasture

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-9)

CONCLUSION

Be thankful

Why are you thankful today?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Why are we thankful?

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan. He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) God made accepting Jesus easy. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Bible, Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection on your behalf, or how to make this happen in your life, call or email me.

What are you thankful for?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.² Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.³ Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100)

God comforts us as we walk through this difficult time.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Romans 8:38-9 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 11:25-6 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

CONCLUSION:

BE THANKFUL

Good morning,

Believers in Christ have a responsibility to serve. But how? Galatians 6:1-10 has some ideas.

GALATIANS 6:1-10

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

1) BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS (1-6)                          

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden.⁶ Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

2) SOW RIGHTEOUSNESS (7-8)                       

⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

3) DO GOOD TO ALL MEN (9-10)                             

⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

CONCLUSION:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3: 23)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The everlasting presence of God. How should we conduct ourselves before others? Hebrews 13 gives us some examples.

HEBREWS 13:1-8

CONDUCT TOWARD OTHERS

1) BROTHERLY LOVE (1)

Let brotherly love continue.

2) ENTERTAIN STRANGERS (2)     

² Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3) REMEMBER THEM WHICH ARE IN BONDS (3)

³ Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4) PURITY IN MARRIAGE (4)                                          

⁴ Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5) BE NOT COVETOUSNESS, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE (5-6)                                     

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

6) REMEMBER THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU (7)

⁷ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

7) JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOREVER V.8

⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

THE EVERLASTING PRESENCE OF GOD

PSALM 139:1-24, Hebrews 13:1-8, Galatians 6:1-10

INTRODUCTION: GOD DWELLS WITH US CONTINUALLY

PSALM 139

GOD CARES FOR US

1) GOD KNOWS US (1-6)

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

2) GOD IS WITH US (7-12)

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

3) GOD MADE US (13-16)

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

4) GOD’S THOUGHTS ARE PRECIOUS TO US (17-18)

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

 5) GOD SLAYS THE WICKED (19-21)

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

6) GOD SEARCHES US AND KNOWS OUR HEARTS (22-24)

 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

HEBREWS 13:1-8

CONDUCT TOWARD OTHERS

1) BROTHERLY LOVE (1)

Let brotherly love continue.

2) ENTERTAIN STRANGERS (2)

² Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3) REMEMBER THEM WHICH ARE IN BONDS (3)

³ Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4) PURITY IN MARRIAGE (4)                                  

⁴ Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5) BE NOT COVETOUSNESS, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE (5-6)                       

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

6) REMEMBER THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU (7)

⁷ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

7) JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOREVER (8)

⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

GALATIANS 6:1-10

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

1) BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS (1-6)                          

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.³ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.⁴ But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.⁵ For every man shall bear his own burden.⁶ Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

2) SOW RIGHTEOUSNESS (7-8)                       

⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

3) DO GOOD TO ALL MEN (9-10)                             

⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

CONCLUSION:

Colossians 3: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The everlasting presence of God. Psalm 139 explains this term. We will be exploring it this week.

GOD CARES FOR US

3) GOD MADE US (13-16)

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The thought that the God of creation knew us before we were born is amazing. Further, is the fact that it was God that formed us. Then He writes each of our members in a book. Each one of us is a unique individual, made by the hand of God.

4) GOD’S THOUGHTS ARE PRECIOUS TO US (17-18)

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

When we think about God, what are we thinking? About His attributes, blessings, care, saving power, mercy, grace, or judgement? We cannot count them. We just keep thinking about how good God is to us.

 5) GOD SLAYS THE WICKED (19-21)

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Are we grieved at the wicked? Are we part of the wicked crowd? Today sin runs rampant in our world. Christians should not be part of this wickedness. When we are, we should repent of our sin, thank God for His forgiveness, and continue serving the Lord. God will surely slay the wicked, whether we see it or not.

6) GOD SEARCHES US AND KNOWS OUR HEARTS (22-24)

 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Pray, seek God, listen, and respond.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The everlasting presence of God. Psalm 139 explains this term. We will be exploring it this week.

GOD CARES FOR US

1) GOD KNOWS US (1-6)

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

It is comforting to know that God knows everything about us. He has known since before we were created. He knows all our quirks, peculiarities, and idiosyncrasies. He knows every thought, word, and decision we make. Knowing this, it should cause us to desire to please God.

2) GOD IS WITH US (7-12)

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

The concept of God being with us is a tremendous blessing. Everywhere we go, God goes with us. (I Corinthians 6:19-20, 3:16) Oops, wait a minute! That means all the places that may be of questionable character, places we never tell others about, places that would bring shame to the name of Christ. God is with us even in those places. That should scare the living daylights out of us. This should challenge us to walk in obedience to the word of God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

This week I will tell you about some of those veterans.

Sgt. Santiago J. Erevia – Medal of Honor Recipient

Sgt. Santiago J. Erevia “distinguished himself May 21, 1969, while serving as a radio-telephone operator during a search-and-clear mission near Tam Ky City, in the Republic of Vietnam.” A longer account of his valor includes this passage: “Under a hail of enemy fire, he continued to advance until he reached a location a few feet short of the first insurgent position. Disregarding the fire directed at him from the remaining bunkers, he pulled the pin on a hand grenade and advanced on the bunker, firing his rifles until he dropped the grenade into the bunker, thus destroying the fortification and killing the enemy soldier within.” He lives in San Antonio.

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“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (Psalm 91:7)”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

This week I will tell you about some of those veterans.

What does it mean to be a veteran? J. Mark Jackson expresses it well. I will let him tell it with no comments by me.

By J. Mark Jackson

November 10, 2016

J. Mark Jackson served in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division in the war in Afghanistan in 2009.

I was a soldier, and I went to war. By and by, I became known as a veteran. My civilian career progressed, my family grew, and the Army drifted into the gray mist of memory. But the experience of military service leaves an indelible imprint on the psyche and soul of each soldier, sailor, airman and Marine.

What does it mean, on a day-to-day basis, to be a veteran? To this Army veteran, it means:

●Advil is the narcotic of choice for a bad back and creaky knees, both earned like an invisible Purple Heart.

●Fourth of July fireworks sound surprisingly like a mortar attack.

●. . . and a nail gun sounds startlingly like the bark of an AK-47 when heard in the distance.

●Watching the evening news and feeling guilty for not being beside the soldiers fighting in the story.

●. . . but being grateful the country doesn’t still require my service, because it was always sweltering hot, and physically I could no longer keep up. This is a poignant realization for any former soldier.

●Waking up desperately searching for my rifle, while my wife softly says, “It’s all right, it’s all right; you are home.”

●Finding a lump in my throat and tears welling in my eyes when I see images of a crying mother or wife holding a flag folded into a triangle.

●Feeling slightly self-conscious at my child’s grade school on Veterans Day, but also feeling important and honored.

●Having a mother say, “Thank you for your service. Because you served, my son did not have to.” Really?

●Finding the term “hero” applied too liberally. Audie Murphy was a hero. We were soldiers.

●Wondering, when I forget how I filed my tax return the previous year, if I am suffering from a case of undiagnosed traumatic brain injury or if I just forgot.

●Wondering, when I miss words in a conversation, whether it is from hearing loss from the close rattle of a .50-caliber machine gun or if I was just not paying attention.

●Experiencing a faint gag reflex when Girl Scouts try to sell me cookies, though I loved them for sending countless boxes of cookies to the theater of war. It’s not their fault I made a pig of myself on their generosity.

●Feeling positive about the next strong and dedicated generation of future veterans to whom we handed the baton of service.

●Having a cracking, faltering voice when speaking of certain wartime events that trigger strong emotions, no matter how many times I speak of them.

●Forever being identified as a “military person” based solely on an upright posture and a shoulders-back walking gait.

●Buying a red paper poppy whenever I see another veteran selling them and calling him “brother” when the exchange is made.

●Being unable to throw those paper poppies away, ever. They seem somehow too sacred to desecrate.

●A surge of engulfing pride, like a warm shiver, when the American flag passes or during the singing of the national anthem.

●Surviving a hostile staff meeting by saying to myself, “It has all been easy since . . . ,” filling in the blank with the battle of my choice.

●Maintaining a slightly obsessed fetish with how a bed is made, with emphasis on the corners.

●Perpetual promptness. No event is too unimportant not to arrive early.

●Having a wave of emotion crash down while my son raises his right hand and swears the same oath I did a generation before.

●Desiring to be treated like everyone else — unless I’m waiting in a long line at an airport or praying for an upgrade to first class on a flight. Then I prefer to be treated as special.

●Sitting slack-jawed in amazement when I realize my family’s dinner was purchased by a table of teenage girls sitting across the restaurant. Thank you!

●Critiquing any marching organization during a parade and resisting the urge to cry out, “left, left, left, right-ta, left” if it is out of step.

●Gladly deferring saber-rattling to those who have never had to do it.

●No longer feeling compelled to prove my mettle — that urge was settled and sated while wearing a uniform.

●Grasping the knowledge that peace is eminently more precious than any state of war, regardless of the justification. Veterans know the cost of peace firsthand, and that cost has a first name, a last name, a middle initial and parents.

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said of his Civil War service, “In our youth our hearts were touched with fire.” I would add devotion, exhilaration, camaraderie and fear. Our service in the armed forces determined who we were and continues to define who we are moving into the future. My father said about events in his life that “I wouldn’t give a penny to do it again, but I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience.” Would most veterans say the same about their service? I believe so; I know I do. Further, and more important, I consider it my honor to have served our country.

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com