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• City to target massage parlors that offer 'extra' services

• Free towing may keep drunk drivers off road on New Year's Eve

• Gary Friedli packing it in after 46 years in barbershop

• 2006: Year in review

• Notable logbook entries from 2006

• Quotable in 2006

• The Lodi and Galt community lost several leaders in 2006

• Regional Roundup

• New Year's closures

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 7th, 2009

• Lodi High graduate was at Fort Hood

• Lining up for flu shots in Lodi

• Tour packs buses as birdwatchers admire Sandhill cranes

• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks

• Daytime thieves targeting Lodi homes

• Lodi High School rally featured on 'Good Day Sacramento'

• Out of control

• Homicide suspect Anthony Hubbard arraigned

• Regional Roundup

• New Lodi Memorial rule to combat spread of H1N1: Visitors must be older than 16

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

November 4th, 2009

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

November 3rd, 2009

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• Clarification

November 2nd, 2009

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• Regional Roundup

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Group investigates reports of haunting

October 31st, 2009

• Area schools have no plans of closing due to H1N1 virus

• Tokay High evacuation

• Gated communities in Lodi

• Finishing touches on Hill House replica

• Regional Roundup

• In remembrance of Kyle Coumas

• Lodi-area Halloween events

• City of Lodi settles case of mistaken identity

• Lodi a reflection of Halloween's retail emergence

• Izzy Laviola and Seth Siddle-Mitchell crowned Tokay homecoming queen and king

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (71)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (58)
• Universal health care solves big problems (55)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Words from our forefathers (27)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (22)
• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (20)
• Majority cannot deprive the minority (20)

ADVERTISEMENT

Local pastors pray for world peace, greater relationship with Christ

With the new year around the corner, Lodi-area pastors are praying for world peace, whether it be in Iraq, Africa or the United States. Religious leaders are also praying for more people to gain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Our world is so polarized," said Alan Kimber of Lodi First United Methodist Church. "We need some peacemakers to step forward, people who don't just come up with fine rhetoric, but can mobilize plans of action where we can get people to sit down, talk to each other and listen to each other."

Not only doing Kimber advocate peace in the Middle East, he's seeking peace in the United States.

"We have come to a time of such political polarization," Kimber said. "It's time for our country to pull together. If peace is going to come, people are going to have to give and take."

Bill Cummins of Bear Creek Community Church is focused more on the 20,000 to 30,000 people in Lodi who don't have a personal connection with Jesus Christ, even if those who attend church every week.

"I am starting the year with a 21-day fast for people who are missing from the church," Cummins said. "Starting this Sunday, I am challenging the congregation to fast."

Cummins explained that he didn't mean going three weeks without eating. There are different kinds of fasting, such as giving up meat and sweets, or giving up one's addiction to the Internet, he said.

Here are some other comments from local pastors:

Harry Bridge, Buddhist Church of Lodi: "I don't really pray for stuff to happen or ask for things. We treat each day as if it's New Year's Day. Each day is special, and each day is an opportunity."

Ricky Himm, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lodi: "I'm praying that the Lord will help our efforts to build a new church."

The church, now on South Central Avenue, has purchased 10 acres on Lower Sacramento Road near Harney Lane, but the church needs to work on financing and gaining approval from San Joaquin County. There's no room to expand or provide a children's playground at the current location.

Scott Hubbard, Crossroads Community Church, Lodi: "I will pray for an end to the conflict in Iraq and for President Bush to come up with a resolution to bring the troops home."

Wayne Young, English Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church, Lodi: "We appreciate tremendously the peace we enjoy here, but we're praying for peace throughout the world, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ethiopia, Somalia."

Dale Edwards, Century Assembly, Lodi: "I'm praying that people will find peace that comes from relationships with Christ, that our families are healthy and strong and that our community finds community and strength together."

Bill Crabtree, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lodi: "I am praying that myself and my congregation can come to love Jesus more than they have before and express that love in real service to others."

Rick Matters, St. John's Episcopal Church, Lodi: "I am praying for peace on earth, good will toward men and women everywhere, longing for God's intervention for our leaders to work toward the common good. I am looking at epidemics in Africa, where people are dying of starvation, and for God to inspire those who have plenty to share with those in need."

Steve Newman, First Baptist Church, Lodi: "Praying for peace and a just government in Iraq, justice for all. I am praying for people to in Lodi to find the reality of Jesus Christ in their lives."

Jim McClelland, New Hope Freewill Baptist Church, Lodi: "More opportunities and finances for the food resource center, Samaritan Ministries. We're trying to acquire the property or that building sometime."

Rob Patterson, First Baptist Church, Galt: "For First Baptist Galt to continue to serve as the epicenter rippling God-waves throughout this generation."

Frank Palmer, Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church: "I'm praying that we can be salt and light for 2007. 'Salt' enhances the taste of things, it preserves and it creates thirst. We want to be believers that create thirst. We can be an attraction that can make people interested in Christ. 'Light' means clearly explaining how to receive Christ without any mumbo jumbo.

"That's for the church. For me, keep my eyes on the Lord and not do anything stupid."

Michael Kelly, St. Joachim Catholic Church, Lockeford: "Peace and justice in our world. We need it very badly, giving to human beings what they're due in God's creation. If you want peace, you have to live in a just society."

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

First published: Saturday, December 30, 2006