• Children for Sale

    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

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  • Third-Floor Window

    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

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  • Pew Survey Tracks American Religious Likes and Dislikes

    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

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  • How to Have an Interfaith Conversation

    “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

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  • The Silent Majority

    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

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  • HeLa

    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

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  • Sheryl Swoopes Featured at McMurry Luncheon

    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

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  • Oscar Night 2023

    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

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  • Time to ‘Spring Forward’

    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

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  • Summit Registration Deadline March 15.

    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

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Pantsuit Politics Hosts at ACU

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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Children for Sale

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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Third-Floor Window

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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Pew Survey Tracks American Religious Likes and Dislikes

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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How to Have an Interfaith Conversation

“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.

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St. Luke Hosting Bake Sale to Support Humanitarian Efforts

April 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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The Silent Majority

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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HeLa

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 Featured at McMurry Luncheon

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.

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Oscar Night 2023

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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For the Love of God

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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Stealing From Facebook

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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Two Women of Courage

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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Meet Bill Minter

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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Common Ground

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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Take a Look Inside Adoration Chapel

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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Consolation Prize

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,

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ACU Adds Two Trustees

Abilene 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

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Catholic Clergy Assignments Effective July 1

Bishop 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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ACU Alum Describes State Department Work in New Book, ‘Chasing the Devil at Foggy Bottom’

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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Seeking Understanding

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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Jesus in a MAGA Hat

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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Meet Jeff Reid

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

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Longtime ACU Administrator Bob Hunter Dies

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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‘McMurry Serves’ Habitat Build

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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Uncertainty

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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Interrupted by God

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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Pew Survey: Unaffiliated Affected by Restrictions on Religion

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

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Black History Month Starts With Mourning

Editor’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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Choices and Decisions

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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R2D2 and Friends

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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FBC Welcomes New Pastor

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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See Spot Run

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

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LeMasters Presents Program on Orthodoxy

Philip 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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Trending

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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Abilene Honors MLK JR.

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,

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Beyond the Game

 THE 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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