I expected to wake up Thursday morning, January 12, to rain or snow. Again no such luck. Maybe the best New Year’s resolution needs to be praying for moisture. Most popular resolutions deal with dieting and getting in better shape. A middle-aged woman decided to sign up for an exercise class. The receptionist told her to wear loose clothes to class. “Listen,” the woman said, “If I had any loose clothes, I wouldn’t be here”.

We walk this world together. As children of God, we are told to do a lot of things, but nothing is more important than to love others. Jesus brought us the light of the world, and he brought us new life. It is a life we are to share with others.

January 11, 2023 Mayzi Kay Ghumm January 11, 2023 Waylon and Wyatt Ghumm are excited to announce the arrival of their brother and sister, Walker Eugene and Mayzi Kay, on January 11th at Hays Medical Center. Walker weighed seven pounds, two ounces, and was 18 inches long.

Lincoln’s Life There are some events so tragic people think they will never forget. Then days pass.

The City of Stockton approved the following building permits during 2022 as follows: • Steve Hilbrink (418 South Second) for a shop building; • DarwinDix (710North Second) for a garage; • Leo Inglsbee (617 South Fourth) for a carport garage; • Lyle and Shelly Williams (3 Hillcrest Drive) for a chain link fence; Melissa Hemphill (506 South Elm) for a decorative open fence; Mark Billinger (120 South Foster) for a backyard fence; • Mott Steak & Chop (323 Main) for a building sign; • Ed Zimmerman (416 North Second) for a carport garage front; • Jeff Woodard (210 South Walnut) for a carport garage front and back; • Susanna Huntley (309 North Second) for a backyard fence extension; • Kester Auto Parts (406 South First) for a metal shed; • Robert Yost (203 North First) for a backyard fence and back porch; • Steve and Pat Cook (523 North Cypress) for a privacy fence; • Ed Foster (615 North Second) for a decorative fence; • Brendon Carlin (122 North Third) back fence extension; • Lyle and Shelly Williams (3 Hillcrest Drive) for a back garage; Dennis McNeal (315 North Cedar) for a sidewalk repair; • Steve Hilbrink (415 Main) for a sidewalk extension and repair; Shane Bridwell (415 Main) for a concrete slab; and Jed States (303 North Cypress) for a privacy fence..

The Stockton Fire Department responded to two calls on Friday, January 6th with the first one answered at 12:45 p.m. north of Highway 183 for what was thought to be a vehicle fire. It turned out to be just steam from a broken radiator hose with the volunteers fixing the hose at the scene. They were there for approximately one half hour.

Linda Krysl, Bella Vista, Ark. (renewing her subscription): “When the paper arrives, I feel like I’m home again in Stockton.” Willardene and Harry Purdum: “We survived eleven birthdays and one wedding anniversary during the month of December, and that includes a week in bed with the flu!”.

I took a break from Woodston News last spring during calving. I have had readers mention they missed it and we are having a name change. I have respect for the work and dedication newspaper staff are involved in compiling a weekly newspaper.

THE GOOD NEWS. Just how good does a person need to be to get into heaven? Well, a person would have to be utterly, sinlessly good. That means none of us qualify! In writing to new believers in Rome, Paul clearly informs them that, 'all have sinned' (Rom. 3:23). In other words, we're all sinners because we all have chosen to sin. Even Solomon, about 3,000 years ago, understood this truth when he wrote, 'For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin' (Eccl. 7:20). The obvious truth is that we all choose to sin, though the sin varies. However, we've all broken most of the 10 Commandments in that we've all lied, stolen, taken God's name in vain, coveted the things of others, thought lustful thoughts, etc. The reason we sin, though, is because of the sin nature we're born with. Paul pegged the sin nature on Adam, saying, 'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners' (Rom. 5:19). The verb 'made' is passive indicating that it was Adam's sin that made or constituted his offspring to be sinners. So, the bottom line is this - sinners cannot get into heaven. That's the bad news. But the good news is that God had a grand plan to deal with the sin nature that renders us all helpless and hopeless. It was Paul who told Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15)! The whole 'Christmas Story' is that God the Son came to deliver people from the power of Satan and their sin nature. That's also why the sinless Son of God willingly died on Calvary. So we're all sinners by birth and we're also all sinners by choice. But through trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, He radically transforms our very nature so that we hate sin and desire obedience to God and His Word. In other words, we are then born-again. That truly is Good News! And that's why Paul could say, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes' (Rom. 1:16).