We hope you had a wonderful Spring Break. It is very exciting to share this week’s message. Currently, there are no active reported cases of COVID-19 in the county and zero individuals in the hospital due to COVID-19. Stay safe!

THE STOCKTON WORLD HISTORY CLASS visited the Museum of World Treasures and the Keeper of the Plains statue in Wichita on Friday, March 25th. The students were given a tour of the museum, which included Prehistoric, Ancient Civilizations, and the World Wars. The students also participated in a hands-on activity looking at Ancient Civilization artifacts. While they visited the Keeper of the Plains statue they learned about the Native Americans. In no specific order, the students who enjoyed the trip were: Brayden Taylor, Keely Gardner, Katy Post, Brook Kolar, Jozie Ludy, Rachel Dryden, Kourtney Bigge, Jack Gasper, Cheyene Carlson, Holden Burton, Raegan Shepard, Jaxon Dunlap, Ashlyn Hahn, Zach Young, Emma Yakish, Aubrey Kesler, Ruthie Voss, Ava Dix, Bodye Stithem, Breckyn Williams, Claire Plumer, Max Moffet, Noah Griffin, Trent Becker, Hayden Hilbrink, Cason Iwanski, and Emerson Lowry. Mrs. Michelle Towery is their teacher.

Stockton High School Cheer Tryouts were recently held. Ready to cheer for the Tigers during the next school year are Delanee Bedore, Ava Dix, Taigen Kerr, Temprance Northup, Claire Plumer, Saj Snyder, Addie Struckhoff and Ruthie Voss. Congratulations to the 2022-2023 SHS Cheer Squad!

What would you consider successful faith? For some, if they just go to church service each week they might consider that “successful.” But attendance by itself isn’t success. What does the Bible tell us to do?

CHARACTER. Even many who don't attend church regularly have nonetheless heard about Daniel in the lion's den. Many have also heard of Daniel's three friends who survived a fire furnace. The first half of the book of Daniel is considered mostly historical and includes these two accounts, and others, that tend to grip the imagination of children. The book of Daniel also has a lot of prophecy, some of which concerns the still future kingdom that King Jesus will one day establish. Despite the importance and intrigue of the prophecies, I believe that one of the most important takeaways from the book is what God reveals about the man Daniel and his character. People have argued for millennia over the prophecy revealed through Daniel, but it's a steep climb to argue against his character. Consider these 8 characteristics. (1) Daniel was consistent. His testimony was rock-solid for 70+ years as he lived in an ungodly world and served ungodly kings. People knew Daniel and they knew where he stood and what he believed. (2) Daniel was compliant. He served his kings faithfully and those kings took notice of Daniel's loyalty. (3) Daniel was clean - humanly speaking. In fact he was squeaky clean. Before his peers, his life was blameless and above reproach. Even Daniel's enemies said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God" (Dan. 6:5). (4) Daniel was committed. He trusted God even facing the threat of death in that den of lions. (5) Daniel was conformed - spiritually speaking. He lived a righteous life to the glory of God and refused to be like the sinful world around him. (6) Daniel was communing. He was a man of prayer, praying 3 times a day. (7) Daniel was compellable - in the sense of being a useful tool in God's hand. (8) Daniel was a completer - he finished his race well to the very end. Who will "dare to be a Daniel" in our generation?

Wichita State University has announced the names of 3,246 students who were on the WSU dean's honor roll for fall 2021. Included in the number are two people from Rooks County.

Most Christians are familiar with the biblical story of the loaves and the fishes. In the recorded verses, we read that Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of over five thousand. It is notable enough that it is found in all four gospels of the Bible.

THE LAST DAYS. From a Bible perspective, these are interesting times. At least I find them so. The Lord reminded me recently of what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his "son in the faith." What we call "2 Timothy" was, as far as we know, the last letter Paul ever wrote. Being quite elderly, Paul was in his last days and looking forward to soon seeing his Lord and Savior face to face. However, what I find interesting is that in his last days, Paul wrote about the Last Days. Considering our current world, the question that comes to mind is, "Are we in the Last Days?" Compare our world with what Paul wrote. He told Timothy, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come" (2 Tim. 3:1). The word "perilous" could also be translated as hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, or savage. IOW, God led Paul to tell Timothy (and us) that the Last Days, right before Jesus returns, are going to get downright wicked. How wicked? Paul went on to say, "For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Tim. 3:2-5). BINGO! In Matthew 24:3, Jesus' disciples asked Him, "what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus responded, saying, "you will hear of wars and rumors of wars." The Lord also said, "nation will rise against nation," that "there will be famines and earthquakes in various places," and that true Christians "will be hated by all nations" (Matt. 24:7,9). BINGO...again! Do we know for sure that we're in the Last Days? No. But one day, the Lord Jesus Christ will call both dead and living Christians to Himself (1 Thes. 4:13-18). So if these are the Last Days, are you rapture ready?

The Kansas Governor’s One Shot Turkey Hunt is pleased to announce Madison Moffet of Stockton, has been chosen to be one of six Kansas youth to participate in the final Kansas Governor’s One Shot Turkey Hunt. The event will be held April 13, 14 & 15, 2022 in El Dorado, Kansas. Seventy hunters from 18 states have committed to participate in this invitationonly event. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is expected at the event. Founder and former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden will also attend.

MSgt. Jenny D.