Scott Schulz is a new addition to the Astra Insurance Services team. Scott has previous experience working at Astra Bank on both the retail and lending sides with his position as a Lending Assistant.

This issue of the Stockton Sentinel features the 28th edition of our special holiday section, “Santa’s ‘Deer Ones.” Since its beginning in 1996 with 70 pictures, this is the largest issue as far as the number of pages— containing 32 this year. Last year’s issue contained 24 pages of the ‘Deer Ones.

In Acts 3, the apostles Peter and John were going to the Temple for the afternoon prayer service, one of the three times during a day that Jews and devout Gentiles who believed in God would go to pray. Verse 2 states, “As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day, he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.”

FEAR & HOPE. It was about 730 years before Joseph and Mary made their way to Bethlehem to enroll in the census that Augustus Caesar commanded to be taken. Ahaz had just recently ascended to the throne and become king of Judah. The Assyrian empire, under Tiglath-Pileser,hasbeenexpanding by conquering neighboring kingdoms, including Babylon. In the meantime, to the south of Assyria, Israel, and Syria, though historically enemies, have joined forces. And though historically enemies, they've now set their sights on defeating Judah. However, Isaiah 7:1 tells us that they 'went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it.' However, this attack caused King Ahaz and the people of Judah to be considerably afraid. Isaiah 7:2 says, 'So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.' Knowing that they would continue to attack Judah, God sent the prophet Isaiah to Ahaz with a message - 'Take heed and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted...It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.' Rather than trust God, we read in 2 Kings 16:7, 'So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, 'I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.'

The Kansas Depart‑ment of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway con‑struction and mainte‑nance projects. The letting took place Nov. 20, 2024. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled.

The Stockton High School Class of 1974 gathered in Stockton on August 9-10 for their 50th class reunion. On Friday evening several classmates enjoyed a meet and greet. Festivities continued Saturday with a school tour, a Tiger Trivia scavenger hunt, dinner, and taking in the fair.

.

The Kindergarten through fifth-grade music students were all decked out in their holiday outfits for the Stockton Grade School Christmas Classic program on Tuesday, December 3rd. The stage was beautifully decorated with trees, lights, and a fireplace, setting the mood for the festive Christmas evening.

WHY? As the holiday season unfolds, communities are awash with Christmas decorations, trees, and lights. For most, Christmas Day will involve presents, indulgent feasts, sweet treats, family memories, etc. At least, that's our American experience. Yet the first Christmas and birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago couldn't have been further different. The infinite, eternal God the Son left the glories of heaven to enter into time and into human flesh. The stark contrast between the infinite and the finite, the divine and the human, is a paradox that continues to baffle and inspire. The simplicity of the nativity scene—a stable, a manger, a newborn baby, the announcement of angels, and a few humble shepherds stands in stark contrast to the opulent displays of our modern Christmas celebrations. But our question is, 'Why?' Or, more specifically, why Christmas and the coming of Jesus to earth? Mark 10:45 tells us, 'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.' In short, Jesus came to die so that we might live. In Luke 5:32, Jesus says, 'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.' Repentance refers to a change of mind. Thus, Jesus came to change our minds about our sinfulness and hopelessness.

In our study of Acts so far, Pastor Matt spoke of the new believers meeting together, praying, being filled with the Holy Spirit, repenting, and preparing to share the news of Jesus as the Messiah. Acts 2:41 tells us, “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all.” They were united.