By JIM NICHOLS It is important that we not miss repeated stories and illustrations in scripture. Good pedagogy emphasizes repetition and Jesus certainly knew that. Collectively, many of his parables or descriptions also indicate that he had a different view of mathematics and, in fact, economy, than we do. We would do well to notice how far our views are
Read moreBy JIM McDONALD As we prepare to close the year 2021 it is actually a time for the celebration of Advent, the time of anticipation of the birth/sacrifice of God’s son, Jesus. This earthly holy birth is a monumental event that demonstrated God’s grace by reiterating His eternal and profound love for everyone. As a result we muster an extravagant
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By DARRYL TIPPENS Christmas is in the air. I mean this quite literally. We know it’s Christmas because of the distinctive scents of the season. Whether it’s the fragrance of the pine boughs brought indoors or the odors of steaming hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, and cinnamon rolls wafting through the house—our noses know. It’s Christmas. This is just as it
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK Holidays are here again. ‘Tis the season for happiness and joy. Beautiful Christmas lights adorn houses as lighted Christmas trees sparkle from living room windows. Christmas music provides atmosphere in all the stores as shoppers look for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. With so much joy and excitement around, why do some of us fail
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON I met her close to seventy years ago. I don’t remember her name, and the only thing I can remember about how she looked was the white dress she wore. The day I met her was Christmas Day, and it was on that day she became the hero for a day of a small pre-school child. The
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By LORETTA FULTON After a year’s absence, the Abilene Opera Association is bringing back Handel’s Messiah, with two televised performances. Messiah will air at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, on KTXS (ABC) and at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, on KXVA (Fox). The performances are a recording of the live production that was presented in 2019 at the Paramount Theatre.
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The late James Naismith, an accomplished educator/physician/minister/philosopher, also was an inventor. An 1891 collegian, he took seriously the assignment to “invent” an indoor game to replace “thumb-twiddling” on dreary, cold, snowy days when youngsters ventured outdoors only to fetch firewood. He came up with “basketball,” a game he proposed to be “gentlemanly competition important to
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By JIM NICHOLS You probably have several of these in your purse or your pants pocket. They are small metal pieces with notches cut out in some pattern along one side. There is a hole in the wider end of the piece, and you probably have them connected by some type of attachment. These pieces can be inserted into the
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By ROSS STRADER 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer
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Spirit Of Abilene 