By Danny Minton On Saturday, March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt stepped onto the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol and made his first speech as president of the United States. The country was in the midst of a significant depression, resulting in homelessness, poverty, and a loss of jobs, with families trying to exist at a low point for
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Kristen Harris, mission co-worker at NOROC (New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children) will be guest speaker for the May meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. The public is invited to the meeting, which will begin with lunch at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Brook Hollow Christian Church, 4606 S. 14th St.The church is located on the east end
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By Marianne Wood In the summer of 2002, my husband, our two teenage children and I traveled to France. Our daughter, Laurie, had expressed great interest in improving her language skills, so it seemed fitting to spend some time there the summer before her high school graduation. Among the many wonderful experiences we enjoyed were visits to several important sacred
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FaithWorks of AbileneSummer class begins Tuesday, May 28. The program is free to students. To learn more, go to https://faithworksofabilene.org/1229 N. Mockingbird LaneAbilene, TX 79603325-437-2272Joyce Dalzell, executive directorEmail: joyced@faithworksofabilene.org By Loretta Fulton For Joyce Dalzell, it wasn’t so much an idea as an inspiration. She was volunteering at Christian Ministries of Abilene, sponsored by her home church, Highland Church of Christ.
Read moreAll Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo are invited to the 23rd annual Rural Life Mass on Wednesday, May 15. This year’s Mass will begin at 6 p.m. at Fiddlesticks Farm in Midland. To RSVP, go to sanangelodiocese.org Bishop Michael Sis will preside. Host churches are San Miguel and St. Rita in Midland. A meal is included Motto for
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By Danny Minton When Ann Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905, she had no idea that her dream of a day honoring mothers would be the reason our modern-day Mother’s Day exists. The actual forerunner of Mother’s Day was Julia Ward Howe, who in 1870 argued that war was an evil that could be prevented and that mothers had a
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By Jim Nichols There was a light pink stain on the kitchen counter. As I have many times, I reached under the kitchen sink for the Comet cleanser powder. I had done this often in my life—wet the spot, sprinkle on a little Comet, rub it lightly with a sponge, and the stain disappears. As I reached under the counter,
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Jesus’ short stories — well, he called them parables — preach it, brother! Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Jay Moore Looking for a leisurely walk in historic Abilene? Head over to North 10th and Cottonwood Street. Park anywhere. Then enjoy a quiet stroll through the lanes of the city cemetery. No one will bother you. The city cemetery on Cottonwood Street began life in 1881 as just one of three adjacent cemeteries, all roughly the same size.
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United Methodists concluded their General Conference on Friday, May 3, by removing the last barriers to full equality of LGBTQ+ members in the life of the church. After repealing a 52-year-old declaration on Thursday that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching,” delegates on Friday went further, eliminating a passage in their Book of Discipline, or church law,
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The U.S. electorate continues to be sharply divided along religious lines. The latest Pew Research Center survey finds that most registered voters who are White Christians would vote for Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Joe Biden if the 2024 presidential election were held today. More than half of White Christians think Trump was a “great” or “good” president and don’t think he broke the
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Legendary McMurry University men’s basketball coach Hershel Kimbrell died May 2 at age 97. A visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 US Hwy 277 South. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 9, at Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church with Bishop Dan Solomon officiating. Interment will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Click
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Many tourist destinations claim to be “all things to all people,” but compared to Branson, Missouri, the rest of them miss the mark by a country mile. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the laid-back community not only survived the pandemic, but has roared back with numerous new attractions to strengthen its vows to be “number
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By Danny Minton Midway within the state of Vermont lie the towns of Barre and Groton. As you leave Barre traveling east on Highway 302, you’ll discover you are on the William Scott Memorial Highway. As you travel down the highway, you will eventually come to a marker located at 44º 12.279’ N, 72º 15.957’ W, near Groton. The question
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By Jim Nichols There is a strong tendency for us to get side-tracked by issues that may be only relatively important. This happens in our personal lives and in our lives as followers of God. Each of us, for example, has suffered significant frustration concerning the way our chosen local congregation has addressed (and continues to address) issues. Whatever the
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By Nancy Patrick Progressive Insurance Company spends a lot of money on marketing. I have to admit I find some of the advertisements fascinating. The company’s choice of actress Stephanie Courtney to portray the sales representative Flo was a mark of genius. Courtney has played the marketing character since 2008 and shows no sign of disappearing anytime soon. As much
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Jesus, O Jesus, keeps us singing as we go, greatest name we know. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Loretta Fulton The Abilene Interfaith Council will host its 20th annual National Day of Prayer service at noon Thursday, May 2, at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. Everyone is invited to hear prayers for peace, which will be led by participants from Abilene’s many faith traditions. Theme is “World Religions and World Peace.” The service will
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By Dr. Mark Waters In 1931, Belgian cosmologist Georges Lemaître (1894-1966) published two papers, “The Expanding Universe” and “The Beginning of the World from the Point of View of Quantum Theory.” These short papers resulted in Lemaître’s legacy as the “father of big bang cosmology.” Lemaître, however, did not use the term “Big Bang.” This wording was coined by astronomer Fred
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Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz will be a big part of the annual Cinco de Mayo festivities set for Friday, May 3, in downtown Abilene. A parade will kick things off at 6 p.m., followed by a festival at 7. In addition to the Ballet, the festival will feature live bands, food trucks, and a mariachi band. Ballet Folklorico de
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Bumper sticker faith: JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW! (And he loves you, too.) Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Danny Minton Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam in June of 1945, having lost his wife and friends during their imprisonment in Nazi work camps and having no knowledge of the fate of his two daughters, Margot and Anne. He moved in with Jan and Miep Gies, two of the people who had cared for him and his family as
Read moreEaster, or Pascha, will be celebrated May 5 in Orthodox churches, which follow a different calendar from Western churches. St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church, 501 Sunset Drive, will observe the following schedule. Visitors are welcome. Contact Father Philip LeMasters, frphiliplemasters@gmail.com, for more information. Friday, April 26: Little Compline with Canon for St. Lazarus, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27: Hours 9:40
Read moreFor further information: Kristy McDonough325-665-2200ksmcdonough89@gmail.com The local leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered a large check to help local refugees assimilate into the community by providing money to help with settlement and starting small businesses. There will also be a large donation of beds to help refugees settle here in Abilene. Ravimaran Savari, Deputy Director
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By Marianne Wood I can’t get past Easter. Some say you should never, ever. And I agree with them more this year, thanks to a dozen or so visual artists who dared to share what God revealed to them. This year I enjoyed Easter installations at home and away. At home, another Holy Week envisioned by artists at my church
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Editor’s Note: Locally, only two congregations remain United Methodist Churches, St. Paul and St. James. Most Methodist congregations in Abilene and its jurisdictional region, the Northwest Texas Annual Conference, disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church to join the conservative Global Methodist Church or to become independent. The Global Methodist Church launched May 1, 2022. Since the disaffiliation process started, the
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Father in heaven — praise you, thank you, protect us, forgive us. Amen. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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Links to previous stories First Baptist Church Pastor Resignshttps://spiritofabilene.com/2024/04/07/first-baptist-church-pastor-resigns/FBC Welcomes New Pastorhttps://spiritofabilene.com/2023/01/26/fbc-welcomes-new-pastorFirst Baptist Names New Pastorhttps://spiritofabilene.com/2022/12/19/first-baptist-names-new-pastor By Loretta FultonPastors are lined up for Sunday mornings through May 12 at First Baptist Church, but the process for selecting a full-time senior pastor has just begun. Brandon Hudson, who was senior pastor for just over a year, resigned following a DUI arrest
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By Danny Minton “I don’t like being called a hero because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others. Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.” Miep (Meep) Gies Hermine Santrouschitz was born to a struggling Catholic couple in February of 1909
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The Abilene Association of Congregations will have a special guest speaker for the April 24 meeting. Zach Ingle, a visiting assistant professor of communication at Hardin-Simmons University, will talk about Christian faith and film. The meeting, which is open to the public, begins with lunch at 11:45 a.m. in the parish hall of Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap
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By Nancy Patrick Have you ever felt so full of competing emotions that your brain, heart, and gut could not sort them out for labeling purposes? I find myself in that commingled state as I write this article. We like to think that we can bounce back to our former selves after any bad decision we make—that we can receive
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By Jim Nichols The forestry worker was carrying a red container of fuel. As he poured out the fuel, he simultaneously pulled a trigger that sparked a flame that ignited the fuel. Walking through the forest, he was setting it on fire—on purpose. Why would that be a positive act? A clearly distinguishing feature of pine trees is, of course,
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The Lord is my rock, and the Lord is my shepherd — faithful and loving. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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by Mike Patrick Like most people, I am a peace-lover. I have on occasion been fortunate to facilitate peace, a peacemaker. By nature, I avoid confronting others. However, when caring enough for or about someone or something, times come along to bring an issue to the table. In pastoral care, we like to use the term “carefrontation.” I care enough
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By Loretta Fulton Brandon Hudson, senior pastor at First Baptist Church since February 2023, has resigned. An announcement was made Sunday and the Personnel Committee sent the following email: “The Personnel Committee wants to inform the church that Senior Pastor Brandon Hudson has submitted his resignation letter and the letter was read to the church at the end of the
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By Jim Nichols We humans like our rhythms. There seems to be an inbuilt comfort for us that we move through a day, a week, a month, even a year and have certain responsibilities, pleasures, and even requirements that occur with a degree of predictability. When our expected pattern is interrupted, it throws us off a bit, does it not?
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The public is invited to a celebration of world cuisines and a discussion about different cultures, faiths, and shared values in the world. A Taste of the World begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Highland Church of Christ. Admission is free. A promotional flier invites everyone to join in: “We’ll have special dishes from all over, and what
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He was “predestined,” but that doesn’t make Him a Presbyterian! Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Danny Minton For months, excitement has built up for the Total Solar Eclipse to take place on April 8th, which will be seen by a large portion of the contiguous United States. It will be another 20 years before the mainland of the United States will have another Total Eclipse pass over its borders. All along the path of
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By Loretta Fulton It took one woman’s initiative, followed by fundraising, installation, testing, and training, but Abilene is officially the home of the first Safe Haven Baby Box in the state of Texas. The baby box was dedicated Tuesday, April 2, at Fire Station No. 7 on North Pioneer Drive, with a star-studded lineup of dignitaries. Mayor Weldon Hurt welcomed
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By Danny Minton “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” Thus, a detective radio program from the 1930s to the 1950s opened each episode. There is something about shadows that gives people an uneasy feeling. Combining shadows with darkness, the uneasiness will cause one’s heart to race with unknown expectations of both the seen
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By Jim Nichols If you have children, the birthdays of the children are special not only to the child, but also to you. Whether it is their first or second birthday or one much later (even as an adult), the memories of the past and joys of the present flood our parental brains. Our firstborn, Amy, is no longer a
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God so loved the world He sent his son to save it, not to condemn it. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Nancy Patrick The new buzz term we hear every day now is “artificial intelligence” or “AI” for short. I think in some ways these words form an oxymoron, a seemingly contradictory term that, nevertheless, expresses a truth. For example, parents may say, and mean it, “My children are my most precious burdens.” Any parent knows what that means. Life
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Abilene Christian University will host a presentation on Christian art at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2. The talk, which if free and open to the public, will be held in the Packer Forum of ACU’s Brown Library. It will also be livestreamed. CLICK HERE to register for the Zoom webinar. The program is sponsored by ACU’s Center for the Study Ancient
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The community is invited to participate in an ecumenical Stations of the Cross procession that will begin at 5 p.m. on Good Friday, March 29. The procession will begin in the parking lot at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech Street, and will end at the prayer garden at First Central Presbyterian Church. 400 Orange St. An informational handout
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Jesus Christ is Lord! Empty tomb proclaims the Truth – a risen Savior. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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By Marianne Wood Santi Yurrita serves as our Missions Minister at The Well. I ran into him one Sunday morning last year, and like many who knew about our recent loss, he suggested a book to read. But the title is somewhat disturbing. “You’re recommending a book with despair in the title to a grieving mother? Seriously?” That is not
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By Jim Nichols “TIME OUT!” The umpire shouted and took off his mask. The catcher removed his also and walked toward the mound where he and the pitcher had a brief conversation. If it went too long, the umpire would head out there to shorten the break in the action. I am glad that it is almost baseball season. Have
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Hills are greening up, fiddlers are tuning up, and visitors from around the globe are showing up as the entertainment mecca of Branson, Misssouri, gears up for a record-breaking season in the beloved Ozarks. It’s a magical place known for musical excellence where God is honored–and where there are so many fiddlers–it’s difficult to predict
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By Jim Nichols Here is an odd suggestion for you. Sometime soon read a series of published obituaries online or in a newspaper or magazine. Notice the words early in that article that describe what happened to the person of concern. That is, the person who is no longer alive—what occurred to him or her? I have been following an
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury This is a backstory of “Touchdown Jesus” on the 50th anniversary of Notre Dame’s football faithful making the massive Hesburgh Library’s south wall mural better known than the building itself. Ever heard of the Hesburgh Library, or does “Touchdown Jesus” sound more familiar? I thought so. The artist properly centered on the depiction of Jesus,
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“What would Jesus do?” — based on the book, In His Steps – more than a bracelet. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
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Dr. Dan Stiver, former professor at Logsdon Seminary, is the new president of Fletcher Seminary in San Antonio. Fletcher is an online-based seminary and Stiver will continue to live in Fort Worth. He still commutes to Abilene weekly to teach undergraduate courses at Hardin-Simmons University, home to the now-closed Logsdon Seminary. Dr. Dan Stiver Trustees and administrators at Hardin-Simmons announced
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Spirit Of Abilene 