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 If Gene McPeak ever gets stuck trying to come up with a sermon topic, all he has to do is look in the mirror. By his own admission, he made a few mistakes along the way. And if he’s in that kind of mood, one or two of those mistakes might make a good sermon. But more than
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Ever come across a situation–however minor–that activates curiosity? Responding to minutia I often uncovered in youthful years, my old mother often said, “It don’t amount to a hill of beans.” Such moments, insignificant as they may have been, are like puppy love. They matter to puppies, and to us as well, particularly when they
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IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Ray Hildebrand, who wrote and sang “Hey, Paula” with college classmate Jill Jackson in 1963, admits to being “older than dirt,” but quickly adds that he’s still “kicking up dust,” despite entering his 80th year a few weeks hence. In fact, he’s “on track” to exceed the longevity of another “Ray”– this one named
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By JIM NICHOLS As a professional biologist, I have lived most of my life in a world of data. One does an experiment and collects numbers that may or may not show trends. One designs experiments in such a way as to minimize the number of variables so that observations made might lead to a reasonable conclusion. The conclusions are
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By LORETTA FULTON Mohammed AL Samawi, a peace activist and author of “The Fox Hunt,” will bring a story of inspiration to Abilene Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14-15. The public is invited to his Monday evening presentation, “Building Bridges: Interfaith Dialogue Across the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian Communities.” The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Mabee Room of
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By LORETTA FULTON Back in the day, Mack Eplen’s Driveateria on North First Street was the place to be and be seen on Friday nights. Many an Abilene teen spent hours–and gas–circling Mack’s. Today that location is the home of the United Methodist Service Center & Food Pantry. On Saturday, Oct. 12, Terri Eplen-Kleen, a great-niece of Mack Eplen, will
Read moreJim Ned High School student Dakota Chaloupka earned his Eagle Scout ranking and did a good deed all at the same time by building a prayer garden at Houses for Healing on North Hickory Street. Chaloupka got some help from friends and his dad, Daniel, in completing the impressive garden. Houses for Healing, started by Brian Massey, provides a free
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