THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Last week’s piece about misstatements on the radio–as well as other communication boondoggles–resulted in readers’ contributions of foul-ups they’ve either heard of or experienced. Revisiting the topic allows me to give due credit to one Rev. William Archibald Spooner, a 19th century English preacher. He often found himself in “verbal muddles,” typically transposing words, letters
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By JIM NICHOLS Odors or aromas are apparently closely connected to our brain memory centers. Popcorn may connect us quickly to some sports event. Freshly baked cookies may transport us back to another time and place in our family. One whiff of mimeograph ink and I am sitting at a wooden desk in a school classroom again. Mimeograph ink? What
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD A painting that I encountered at The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth when I was teaching AP Art History gave me a new perspective on the power of art. And with it came a renewed sense of God’s care for me as an artist and art appreciator. I’d seen this work in books and online, but
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.” (John F. Kennedy, before Congress, May 25, 1961) “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the
Read moreA book with the intriguing title, “Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? The Bible and Modern Science and the Trouble of Making It All Fit,” begs for explanation, and the author will be in Abilene Monday, Jan. 31, to do shed some light. Author Janet Kellogg Ray will be at Highland Church of Christ for a book signing at 6 p.m.
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON January 30, 1933, is a date very few of us have in our list of dates to remember. However, of all the dates in the 20th century, that day would stand out as a day that changed the world. On that day, an unlikely candidate became chosen as chancellor of Germany. Even though the date may not
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After postponing Summit last fall, Abilene Christian University is hosting a spring version March 31-April 1. Registration opens at the end of January. ACU also will introduce a new Summit director, Jennifer Schroeder, who has served in congregational ministry the past two decades. She also is an accomplished musician, teacher, and scholar. Click here to read more about Schroeder. ACU
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Dr. Jennifer Schroeder is the new director of Summit at Abilene Christian University. Her first Summit will be held on campus March 31-April 1 after being postponed from last fall. Karissa Herchenroeder, assistant director of the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, recently posted a Q&A with Schroeder. Click here to read the Q&A that was included in Mosaic, a blog
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK Do you remember reading George Orwell’s novel 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World? When I first read them in 1968, the predictions of future society seemed farfetched; however, much later as I taught literature students through three and a half decades, I realized that many of the predictions had actually happened or would soon manifest themselves.
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Spirit Of Abilene 