Abilene Christian University’s Student Government Association is bringing Sarah StewartHolland and Beth Silvers, hosts of the Pantsuit Politics podcast, to ACU on Wednesday, March 22. The podcast hosts will speak in Chapel at Moody Coliseum at 11 a.m. and in Boone Family Theatre at5 p.m. Both appearances are free and open to the public. Silvers and Holland will also sign
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By DANNY MINTON The picture below appeared in post-war 1948 newspapers across the country. Although life resumed and the economy began its upswing, there were still places where despair and poverty thrived. Seated on the steps are Lana (6), Rae (5), Milton (4), and Sue Ellen (2). Their mother was expecting another child, David. The right circumstances have faded with
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By JIM NICHOLS The lab was humming with activity. Lights were flashing, pumps were pumping, and people in white coats were moving from bench to bench adjusting dials. Two different experiments were occurring simultaneously in the room and the workers were careful to make sure the mechanics of the room were correct. Getting accurate data from the experiments was the
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Far more Americans express favorable than unfavorable views of Jews, mainline Protestants and Catholics, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey that measures U.S. adults’ broad sentiments toward several religious groups. At the other end of the spectrum, more Americans express negative than positive attitudes toward atheists, Muslims and Mormons (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
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“Excelling at Interfaith Conversations” will be the theme of the March 23 meeting of the Abilene Interfaith Council. The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Abilene Community Foundation building, 850 North First Street. Presenter will be Anthony Magnabosco, director of Street Epistemology International, based in San Antonio.
Read moreApril 1 is the deadline to order baked goods from St. Luke Orthodox Church’s to benefit International Orthodox Christian Charities (iocc.org). All funds raised will support the humanitarian work of that organization in assisting victims of natural disasters in Syria and Turkey. Orders can be picked up on Saturday, April 8, at the church, 501 Sunset Drive. Note that supplies are
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Throughout March, contributors to Spirit of Abilene will pay tribute to Women of Influence. By DANNY MINTON The pages of history are filled with the achievements of women whose lives influenced millions of people. Their names and works are cast in stone in the works of history. Ask anyone to name a few,
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Throughout March, contributors to Spirit of Abilene will pay tribute to Women of Influence. By JIM NICHOLS Henrietta Lacks was known to her family and friends, but her story and contribution lay buried for over 30 years before bursting into the world of medicine and ethics. Even then, it was still more decades
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Sheryl Swoopes, a national champion in basketball at Texas Tech University, WNBA champion, and an Olympic gold medalists, will be guest speaker for McMurry University’s annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon March 23. The luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. in Kimbrell Arena. Click here to order tickets. All proceeds from will benefit the Dr. Sandra S. Harper Women’s Leadership Scholarship at McMurry.
Read moreJen Rogers, program manager with the International Rescue Committee’s Abilene office, will be guest speaker for the March 22 meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. The meeting, to be held at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St., is open to the public. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. for a $3 donation. The program
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Editor’s Note: Zachary Ingle joined the faculty of Hardin-Simmons University in fall 2022 as an adjunct professor of strategic communication and teaches a Survey of American Film course. He previews the Oscars, with an eye toward the spiritual element, in the following piece. The 2023 Oscars will air at 7 p.m. Central Time Sunday, March 12, on ABC. By ZACHARY
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It will be time to “spring forward” again next weekend as Daylight Saving Time officially sets in. DST begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12. Set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time will end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5.
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Registration for ACU’s annual Summit will end March 15. The two-day event is scheduled for March 30-31. Most classes will be held on campus, with the exception of a dinner on Thursday night, March 30. Theme is Living Word. Keynote speaker for the Thursday night dinner, to be held at the 201 Mesquite Event Center in downtown Abilene, is Kristin
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Tony Dungy, who coached the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2007, will be guest speaker for the 50th anniversary dinner honoring Day Nursery of Abilene. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. Monday, March 27, at the Abilene Convention Center. Reservation deadline is March 17. Click here to order tickets or to sponsor a table. “The Day Nursery
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By NANCY PATRICK How much empathy can one heart muster? I find myself aching as I see images and hear stories of the crises around the world. I tend to over-invest myself in others’ lives, but I cannot ignore the pain occurring to fellow human beings. Earthquake in Turkey and Syria I cry as I watch the rescues of those
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By JIM NICHOLS Following is a short Facebook item I posted a few years ago. It just went out there into Facebook Land somewhere and may or may not have garnered any attention or “likes”; I do not know. I had forgotten about it until someone recently resurrected it and reminded me about it. I have no recollection of the
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Throughout March, contributors to Spirit of Abilene will pay tribute to Women of Influence. By DANNY MINTON The armed services still existed in segregation as the United States entered World War II. When I browse my dad’s battleship book, there is picture after picture of the different groups of sailors on the ship.
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By LORETTA FULTON Bill Minter had never even heard of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes before he was asked to create a program for it. He did that well enough that in January he was named Abilene Coordinator for OLLI. The previous coordinator left, creating an opening. “I realized that this is the kind of thing I really like to
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By DANNY MINTON On the morning of April 11, 1970, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert sat in their command module, Odyssey, atop a Saturn V rocket. The Apollo 13 crew would be the third group of astronauts to step onto the face of the moon. At approximately 1:13 p.m. CST, the powerful rocket began its liftoff to send
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Abilene is filled with houses of worship but most Abilenians are familiar with the inside of only a handful. A periodic feature in Spirit of Abilene will give you an “Insider’s View” of some of those places you may have driven by many times but never entered. By LORETTA FULTON Name: Perpetual Adoration ChapelLocation: 1541 S. Eighth St. Website: abilene.sacredheart@sanangelodiocese.orgLead pastor:
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By JIM NICHOLS Do you want one? Do you really want a consolation prize? That sounds like something awarded to a person who does not win, who does not finish in first place. This is one of many traps our competitive world has set for us. It has turned “consolation” into a nearly negative word when it is, in fact,
Read moreMonica O’Desky, Cantor for Abilene’s Temple Mizpah, will live stream the Temple’s next in-person Shabbat Service at 7 p.m. Friday, March 3. Click the Zoom Link below to join. LIVE STREAM ZOOM LINK Members of the Abilene Interfaith Council attended Temple Mizpah’s Shabbat Service in person on Jan. 13. O’Desky is making the live stream available on March 3.
Read moreAbilene Christian University added two new members to its board of trustees, effective Jan. 28. Luke James is president of VitalCaring Group, a home health organization based in Dallas. He graduated from ACU in 2004 with a degree in financial management and filled various roles at Encompass Health from 2004-2021. In addition, James has been a board member for Medalogix
Read moreBishop Michael Sis announced the following clergy assignments for the Diocese of San Angelo, effective July 1, 2023. Deacon Mike Elsner as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Midland Father Francis Onyekozuru as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Odessa Father Bala Anthony Govindu as pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Midland Father Mamachan Joseph
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By LORETTA FULTON It’s a question Shaun Casey is often asked, and it happened again when he spoke for a gathering Feb. 16 at Abilene Christian University, his alma mater. Exactly who is this devil, the questioner wanted to know. Casey had just spoken about his new book, “Chasing the Devil at Foggy Bottom: The Future of Religion in American
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By DANNY MINTON Some people in life go unappreciated. Sometimes it’s because of perceptions we make without knowing the person or all the facts. Have you ever sat in a meeting when someone was more assertive than you felt comfortable? Have you ever been around someone and couldn’t stand the attitude they presented? Have you ever been around people that
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By JIM NICHOLS It is a startling poster/photograph. Taken during the January 6, 2021, riot, it shows a white-skinned, bearded Jesus (like I grew up with) wearing a red MAGA hat. Before we dismiss it and the woman carrying the photo as extremist nuts, let us be honest about what is seemingly common in our country today. There is a
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By LORETTA FULTON Jeff Reid remembers that when he first started leading the Primetimers ministry for people over age 60, he was the age of their children. “Today, I am a Primetimer,” he joked. Reid joined the staff of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in 1993 and began leading the Primetimers in 2001. On Sunday, Feb. 5, Jeff’s 30 years of
Read moreThe Hindu Holi Festival of Colours will be the focus of the February meeting of the Abilene Interfaith Council. The meeting, which is open to the public, begins at noon Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. Lunch, including a vegetarian option, is by donation. Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, director of the Texas Tech
Read moreBishop Michael J. Sis will be in Abilene the week of Feb. 20 for Ash Wednesday services and for a Teaching Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church. The Teaching Mass will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Holy Family, 5410 Buffalo Gap Road. The bishop will explore “the beautiful meaning of the sign, symbols, and actions of the
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Dr. Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, longtime vice president at Abilene Christian University and former state legislator, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, at age 94. A memorial service is pending. The following was provided by ACU. “Bob Hunter stands alone as the greatest friend-maker and ambassador in the history of Abilene Christian,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, president. “His spirit of hospitality and love
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By LORETTA FULTON Tonja Gray’s parents raised her to be servant-minded and then she passed that characteristic on to her children. Saturday morning, Feb. 11, Gray joined other representatives of McMurry University in demonstrating their servant-minded spirit by helping paint a new Habitat for Humanity house on Plum Street. “I’m trying to continue to set that example,” Gray said. The
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By JIM NICHOLS In the Old Covenant writings in the Bible (I Samuel 16) is the important story of the choosing of David as the next king of Israel. As Samuel is considering the candidates, God cautions him not to pay attention to physical height and strength (outward appearance), but to remember that “. . . the Lord looks on
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By DANNY MINTON I grew up in a segregated world. The images that divided my world existed all around. Everyone got along well, but segregation remained in many ways. The shop across the parking lot from A&P grocery, where I worked, showed a big sign in the window, “No Coloreds.” The first ten years of school were with all white
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By NANCY PATRICK As our interim pastor, Dr. Matt Cook, concluded his time at First Baptist Church, he preached his last of four sermons about Abraham. Interestingly enough, the sermon topic dealt with uncertainty in life. Obviously, Matt’s profession as a minister with the Center for Healthy Churches in Dallas provides him with many opportunities to face uncertainty. When you
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By DANNY MINTON “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Do you remember someone asking you that question? Maybe it was your parents, a teacher, or even someone you met for the first time. Asked during our elementary school years, we usually respond with something that has impressed us. I wanted to be a cowboy in the second grade. That developed later into the desire to
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A public forum on “AntiBlack Police Brutality and the Dyamics of Race & Racism in America” will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in Room 114 of the Biblical Studies Building at ACU. The forum is hosted by ACU’s History & Global Studies Department and the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action. Moderator will be
Read more“One Life, Two Arenas: Christian Struggle in the Monastery and Family” is the theme of a retreat to be held Feb. 17-19 at St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church, 501 Sunset Drive. The retreat is open to the public. Evening presentations on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18, will begin at 7 p.m. following prayers at 5:30 p.m. and a meal. The
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Russell Moore, editor of Christianity Today magazine, will be featured in a webinar titled “The Future of Denominations: Where Do We Go From Here?” on Monday, Feb. 13. The webinar, set for 1 p.m. Feb. 13, is hosted by ACU’s Baptist Studies Center and the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry. The webinar is free and open to the public. Click
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Restrictions on religion don’t just affect those who are religious. People who are religiously unaffiliated also are harassed because of what they believe. In 2020, the number of countries where religiously unaffiliated people experienced harassment rose notably, according to Pew Research Center’s recent report about restrictions on religion around the world. Click here to read the survey
Read moreEditor’s Note: The following was written by Dr. Jerry Taylor, associate professor in ACU’s Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry and founder of the university’s Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action Friends, Today is February 1, 2023, the first day of Black History Month. Tyre Nichols’ funeral was held today at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in
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By DANNY MINTON The question sounds innocent and straightforward enough, right? Or maybe not! I went to Starbucks one morning around 8:00 and ordered: “a cup of coffee, please.” “Would you like Frappuccino, Expresso, iced, or brewed? “Just a hot cup of regular ole’ coffee, please… “What flavor?” “Flavor?” “We have Cinnamon, cherry, dark cherry, peppermint, caramel, or chocolate?” “Do
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By JIM NICHOLS It is unclear what might qualify as a “cute” robot, but R2D2 from Star Wars fame would come close for most people. This genderless (although the other characters spoke of “him”), short robot seemed reasonable, brave, and even compassionate. It seemed to be, well, almost human. I suspect that I am not alone in feeling nearly overwhelmed
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First Baptist Church will welcome its new senior pastor, Brandon Hudson, on Sunday, Feb. 5. The congregation called Hudson on Dec. 18. He and his family–Jill and children Sophia and Quinn–are moving from Pelham, Alabama, where Hudson has been pastor of Crosscreek Baptist Church since 2013. He is replacing Phil Christopher, who retired in September 2021, after 26 years as
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Two historic Black churches are among seven locations on a tour hosted by the Taylor County Historical Commission in observance of Black History Month, which is celebrated each year in February. The self-paced tour will be held 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 4. A host will be present at each location to answer questions. A reception will be held 1-2:30 p.m.
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By JIM NICHOLS Is the word “Christian” a noun or an adjective? For better or worse, we owe television and movies for introducing words or phrases that have become part of our popular vocabulary. Nearly thirty years ago an episode of Seinfeld focused on a soup stand dealer who demanded a strict manner of behavior to receive some of his
Read morePhilip LeMasters, pastor St. Luke Orthodox Church, will present the program at the monthly meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. The program begins with lunch at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech St. A $3 donation is requested for lunch. LeMasters’presentation will begin at noon. The public is invited to the meeting.
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By DANNY MINTON We all hate to make mistakes, especially if they affect those around us. It’s not only embarrassing but often opens us up to criticism. Most of our mistakes are seen by only us, but there are times when we would like to hide and dread what people will say. It’s bad enough to mess up, but much
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By NANCY PATRICK I try to incorporate new terminology into my vocabulary whenever I hear someone use a term unfamiliar to me. It happens frequently in today’s world as technology moves so quickly one has to make the effort to keep up. I first noticed the use of the word “trending” on my Netflix account. In addition to labels such
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By LORETTA FULTON Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech blasted through the parking lot of the Woodson Center for Excellence Monday afternoon, setting the tone for the ceremony and march that lay ahead in honor of the slain Civil Rights leader. Monday, Jan. 16, was the official holiday honoring King, who was born Jan. 15, 1929,
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The Texas High School Coaches Association–organized by 28 coaches in 1930–now has a membership of some 24,000. It also has an education foundation that introduced the “Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game Award” a decade ago. If it’s not the most coveted, it should be, this award made annually to a coach who
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