By NANCY PATRICK Living in the Bible Belt of America has many advantages. Christian people who live morally upright lives, support their families, participate in their communities, donate to charities, and exemplify integrity and honor comprise the majority of the community. In spite of the positive aspects of living in a Christian community, some people feel alone and alienated when
Read moreBy LORETTA FULTON Scott Seymour spent quite a few years of his life in the Air Force and as a teacher, but he’ has been a United Methodist Church minister long enough to have picked up on some tradecraft. Methodists are noted for moving its pastors around more frequently than most denominations, although not as much nowadays as in the past. Still,
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Probably no governor in the history of the Lone Star State has faced double-barreled “standing in line” issues like the current Texas boss, Greg Abbott. Throngs coming from the south want in, and flustered Texans are standing in line for hours to obtain or renew driver’s licenses. Life must be more than tedious for
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury As might be expected, my Uncle Mort thought he had heard every birthday-related joke in the book. At his 107th party a few weeks ago, he got a real birthday surprise. They rolled out three large gifts. When he tore away the wrapping on the first one, there was a birthday cake adorned by
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON My day had been going great when I drove into the bank drive-in. There were six lanes open with two cars in each. As I drove up, one car went on through, so I pulled behind the single car. Fifteen minutes later I was still sitting in the same spot. All the other lanes had fulfilled the
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS One of the things humans just seem to do naturally is to compare our behavior to that of animals. We are good at this anthropomorphic trick—saying, “Look how that animal is acting just like a human.” Kevin McGowan, an ornithologist at Cornell University, suggests this is backward reasoning. “Thinking of animals like people is misleading and unhelpful
Read moreBy LORETTA FULTON “That’s my daughter and her three children,” Ann Hawkins said in amazement, pointing to a picture in a massive photo album. “Look at her hair!” “I was the first one married in the sanctuary,” Jane Haley Reed said proudly, as she joined Hawkins and Vi Bearden in scouring the photo album. Those are the kinds of comments
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury A majority of us have drawn lines in the dirt, emphasizing the point beyond which we simply will not be pushed by pesky, ever-encroaching technology. Most of us gradually fold, however. In retreat mode, we still draw lines, but they are evermore faint, each drawn with diminishing enthusiasm. I was a stubborn hold-out when
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