By LORETTA FULTON Opening a speech with the “N” word normally wouldn’t be advisable for the featured speaker at a Martin Luther King. Jr. Day gathering. But the Rev. Matthew Lubin, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, did just that and followed the slur with racial epithets that covered just about all of humanity. As a preacher, Lubin knows the importance
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By LORETTA FULTON On Father Albert Ezeanya’s first day as the new priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, July 1, 2019, an 80-year-old member asked him a question. “Can you please get a new hall for us?” she asked, referring to a parish hall to replace the current one that is located in the church basement. A year and a
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Kristy McDonoughChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Local and area members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made sure the “First Christmas in Abilene” was one to remember for refugees who are resettled in Abilene through the International Rescue Committee. LDS members, primarily youths, collected brand new and much needed household supplies for refugees during December.
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By JIM NICHOLS The preacher was clearly saying it on purpose. At first, those of us in the congregation did not notice it. Perhaps we attributed it to the fact that he was young (as was I) and new. Soon, like something blurry becoming clearer, it came into focus. Some churches, including this one, take the Bible quite seriously. In
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The Geico insurance people had the chance to keep camels in front of folks, but lost 15 percent of their credibility when they chose a gecko instead of a camel for their mascot several years ago. I thought their ad showing Caleb the Camel clopping through the office to ask workers if they could guess
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By DANNY MINTON The names Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, Chester Nimitz, Jimmy Doolittle, and Douglas MacArthur retain their place in military history years after these men served and passed away. The awards and honors exist in abundant numbers. Even those not students of military history will recognize some of these names. Over and over through the years following WWII, America
Read moreEditor’s Note: The following column was written by Dr. Lanny Hall when he was president of Howard Payne University. It was published in “College Faith,” a publication of Andrews Press in 2004. Its message is relevant today. Hall also is past president of Hardin-Simmons and Wayland Baptist universities. By DR. LANNY HALL My university years represented a time of searching
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. (NIV) The NKJ versions translates “make the most of every opportunity” as “redeeming the time.” Colossians 4:5 says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of
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A vehicle parade will substitute for the traditional foot parade Monday, Jan. 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Divided We Fall, United We Stand” is the theme of the annual parade, sponsored by Let Us Breathe. The parade normally involves people walking across the MLK Jr. bridge in east Abilene. This year, due to the ongoing COVID-19
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