THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The next thing we know is that three out of five New York doctors agree that watching television may be hazardous to our health. This isn’t exactly “breaking news” until one stares reality in the face, convinced that it isn’t easy these days to find 60 percent of persons in any group–professional or otherwise–who
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By JIM NICHOLS His given name was Leroy, although everyone called him Roy (except for his children and grandchildren). Roy was a bus driver eventually, although he worked his way through other jobs. One of his early positions was as a door-to-door salesperson for the Fuller Brush Company. That sentence sets the period for his life and this story. Roy
Read moreBy STEVEN T. MOORE American teens sticky beachbeneath their toesgossip laughdrink beerseagulls scream jump and singit’s springtimesun sparklingthis afternoon faraway a young girl wearing yellow lies frozennext to a halfeaten buildingthe grass is graytrees have losttheir leaves a lone arm dangles down the streeta leg leans against wooden fence, a hand rests nearby charred boy still on bike no screaming train in sight vacant homes hollow schools blinking streetlights no birds at allmoon and starshave gone silent Dr.
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK In February 2020 Spirit of Abilene ran an article I wrote entitled “Like a Box of Chocolates.” The title alludes to the movie “Forest Gump,” but the piece focuses on the randomness and serendipity of life. In the article I referred to a television series entitled “This Is Us” on CBS. That series is now in its
Read morePew Research CenterNews release The United States celebrates National Day of Prayer May 5, a day Congress set aside in 1952 for Americans “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Pew Research Center surveys indicate that the frequency of prayer among Americans has declined in recent years. Fewer than half of U.S. adults (45%) say they pray on a daily basis, according
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By LORETTA FULTON At least two organizations will host live National Day of Prayer services on Thursday. 1-Kingdom, an organization of local civic leaders and ministers, and the Abilene Interfaith Council, which has members from various faith traditions, will host services that are open to the public. 1-Kingdom is sponsoring several prayer opportunities throughout the day, all at Festival Gardens
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By LORETTA FULTON For the second time in a little over a month, a new senior pastor has been named at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Effective July 1, Benji Van Fleet will become the senior pastor. On Sunday, March 13, Bobby Wilson was announced as the new pastor, also effective July 1. But Wilson, current pastor of St. Paul’s
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Tim Kennedy, former Univerisity Chaplain and director of Religious Life at McMurry University, was one of seven graduates honored by the university on April 22. Kennedy received the Outstanding Alumni Award in Religious & Spiritual Life. The awards were announced at the Annual Night of Distinction dinner. The Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Alumni Achievement Award were among the honors
Read morePalmer McCown, Class of 1961, former director of the HSU Baptist Student Ministry, is the recipient of the Altom Christian Service Award for 2022. The award is given in recognition of McCown’s devoted service to Christian higher eduation and for his exemplary influence in the lives of university students and senior adults. The award was given April 11 at HSU.
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