THE ANSWER. Discouragement, disappointment, despondency, despair, depression. We all face seasons of life that are less than sunny. At times those seasons seem like they'll never end. Perhaps some are just wired this way, but I know of no one who has volunteered to be a 'gloomy Gus.' That goes for the man in Mark 5. The main issue causing him despair was the fact that he was demon possessed. Today, we might be inclined to discount such things. However, if people were plagued by demons in Bible times, why would that not happen still today? So, how did this impact the man's life? First, he found himself living in the tombs of decaying, dead bodies (5:3). He clearly was not in his right mind. He also shrieked out with blood-curdling sounds at all hours of the day and night (5:5). His soul might have genuinely been seeking help. So disturbed was this man that he regularly cut his flesh with stones, leaving his body visibly scarred (5:5). People tried to help by chaining him up so that he couldn't hurt himself, but that was to no avail (5:34). However, the day came when he saw Jesus. He must have known that the Lord was his only help for, 'When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him' (5:6). Whether it's demon possession or just inner kerfuffles of the soul, the only true victory comes when people run to the Lord Jesus and bow down before Him. With all of the despair in our world today, people are looking for deliverance. However, deliverance ultimately only comes from being rightly related to Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who told the demons that it was 'moving day' when He commanded them to leave the man and inhabit a herd of pigs. Being then 'clothed and in his right mind' (5:15), this man repeatedly begged Jesus that he might stay with Him (5:18). Are you struggling with life or know of someone who is? The answer to the woes of life is Jesus for He is the Prince of Peace!

We have had the good opportunity through the years to have Fred Miller visit First Christian Church to deliver the Sunday message. In recent visits, Fred has talked about each of us, as members of the church, as being “on staff.” Each of us has both a duty and an obligation to be the voice of the church and spread the good news of Jesus.

Darrell Rubottom: “Unlike most people, I went to the Nova not to view ‘Paper Moon’ but to see my old friend, Carolyn Thompson of McCracken (who gave the pre-movie presentation) and her daughter, Susan, who was a student of mine at Ransom High School.”

CARD OF THANKS We are so very grateful to all of you who have called, sent cards or prayers, shared food, donated to the memorial fund, or sent flowers. Your kind gestures of sympathy and support have meant the world to us and will always be remembered. A special thank you to the ladies at the First Christian Church for providing us lunch the day of the service.—The Family of Eugene D. Ross 71c

This first week of May went very quickly. Graduations, celebrating Mother's Day, final track meets, and closing schools for summer vacation have arrived.

Last year, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) hosted the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), bringing students from far and wide to the Midwest. This year, the NCTA team ventured to Modesto Junior College in California to compete and learn at the NACTA Judging Conference.

Come in and check us out!!! New titles in the library for adults are: • “Simply Lies” by David Baldacci • “Death by Beach Read” by Eva Gates (Lighthouse Library Mystery #9) New titles in the library for DVS’s are: • “Hachi, A Dog’s Tale” has been given in memory of Ladonna Schnuerle by the SHS Class of 1951. • “A River Runs Through It” has been given in memory of Ernestine Augustine by the SHS Class of 1951 Your library staff, Chris Sander, Beth Hazen, Crystal Dunlap, & Jaxon Dunlap.

Bart Hamilton and his daughter, Tatum Hamilton, drove to Lawrence Wednesday last week, where they spent the first two nights of their trip. On Thursday morning they ventured to Kansas City for the 2023 NFL Draft, held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial. They enjoyed all the activities, which started at noon on the grounds, and then the draft began at 7:00 p.m.

Elvis, girls in poodle skirts, Lucille Ball, space aliens, and astronauts were in the building for the Stockton Grade School Spring Concert, held on Tuesday, April 25th. The Kindergarten, first, and second-grade aliens and astronauts “Journeyed Into Outer Space” during their portion of the evening’s entertainment, starting with the song “Blast Off!” Soon they “We’re Zooming Into Space” and checking out the planets by singing “The Planets Song” and “The Planet Rap.” And what would outer space be without “The Pluto Song?” and “I Am An Alien?” Ending their space adventure was a reprise of “Blast Off” before the curtains closed so the fifth-grade band could set up to take us back to the musical past that their two selections, “Surfin’ USA,” and “Old Town Road.” “Eye Of The Tiger” was the first vocal song of the night from the thirdthrough fifth-grade students, followed by “I Believe I Can Fly.” Then it was a high-energy performance of “Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay,” followed by the classic “Stand By Me.” Then everyone was rocking in their seats to the tunes “At The Hop, and “Locomotion,” complete with dance moves by the kids.

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