AMBER MUIR gave a very inspirational welcome at the Awards Banquet held recently. The event was co-sponsored by Lions Club and Tiger Nation..

SELFIES WERE IN ABUNDANCE prior to the Stockton High School Graduation held on Saturday. Austin Mitchell gathers with classmates (from left) Briayan Lopez, Anthony Ciarallo, Alex Shetterly, Rylan Scacchi and GarryWayne Moore to snap a quick shot.

USHERS for the 2022 SHS Graduation were juniors, from left: Landon Hemphill, Kaelyn Means, Elizabeth Busonic and Colton Williams..

THESE SENIOR LADIES were anxiously awaiting their chance to become graduates of Stockton High School. From left are: Delany Snyder, Kayleigh Cunningham, Savy Gray, Sierra Kester, and Jolee Sterling..

Do people question you for the hope that you have? Is your life such that someone would question why you are different? These were the questions asked by Pastor Brian this week in the midst of graduations, promotions, and Mother’s Day.

LAUGHING. Studies appear to show laughter really is a great "medicine." Laughing apparently increases blood flow, helps regulate blood sugar, can improve immunity, burn calories, and improve sleep. Laughing appears is also great for marriages. Couples who laugh together are much more likely to stay together. Of course, having the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God as the foundation of a marriage brings supernatural power and grace into that relationship. That's because it prioritizes the spiritual over the physical and emotional. And yes, spiritually based marriages are infused with spiritual joy and laughter. One Bible example is seen in the marriage of Abraham and Sarah. The Bible doesn't reveal how old they were when they got married but we do know she was barren (Gen. 11:30). The Bible also doesn't tell us how old Abraham was when God appeared to him the first time. What we do know is that God promised to greatly bless Abraham including giving him a son despite Sarah being barren. And we know Abraham believed God and became a man of faith (Gen. 15:6). Decades later, God reaffirmed His promise of a son. How did Abraham respond? Genesis 17:17 says, "Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, 'Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" Abraham laughed with joyful faith in his God who was the God of the impossible. After Isaac ("laughter") was born, Genesis 21:6 says, "And Sarah said, 'God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.'" Though Sarah previously laughed in unbelief (Gen. 18:12), God finally brought her along in her old age to be a woman of strong, joyful faith. She finally understood that nothing is too hard for God. Thankfully, Abraham and Sarah had another 37 years to laugh together at God's amazing grace and undeserved goodness. What a sweet 37 years that must have been!

RECEIVING II RATINGS at the KSHSSA State Music Festival held at Friends University in Wichita on Saturday, April 30th were Stockton music students Delany Snyder for her flute solo and Jalia Creighton for her clarinet solo.

SENIOR DELANY SNYDER catches a ride from her classmate, Kayleigh Cunningham, as they exit Tiger Gymnasium following Stockton High School Commencement on Saturday..

MAKING THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24th at St. Thomas Church in Stockton were (from left): Blake Balthazor, Raya Kuhlman, Evelyn Hilbrink, Makinley Riener, Blayke Stithem and Henry Berkley. Pictured with the First Communicants is Father Leo Blasi.

The Stockton Junior High Awards Night and Music Concert was held on Monday, May 2nd in the high school gym. The evening started off with the sixth through eighth-grade students being recognized for their sports and academic achievements.