THE IDLE AMERICAN THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury If a vote were taken, Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers likely would score landslide wins for memorable musical compositions, many of which live on. One hit song–featured in the 1946 Broadway hit, “Annie Get Your Gun”–was unforgettable. Remember Ethel Merman belting out, “There’s No Business Like Show Business?” After 1,147 performances,
Read more
By Jim Nichols She sensed that her elementary-aged child was reluctant to go to school one morning. Speaking to the child, she said, “I believe that God has a surprise for you today. I want you to keep your eye out for it and tell me about it when I pick you up this afternoon.” Some might suspect that this
Read more
By Glenn Dromgoole Living in West Texas, I’m kind of surprised that we don’t sing this hymn more often – “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing.” “Mercy drops round us are falling,” the hymn says, “but for the showers we plead.” Certainly we do. In the part of Texas where I grew up, we sang that hymn, but I’m not
Read more
By Danny Minton As I sat down to write this, I realized that, in a way, I do exactly what I’m saying we should be cautious about, but I do plan to refine my life to match the statement at the end of this article. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing something about yourself that you see in
Read more
By Wendy KilmerACU Director of Strategic Communications Abilene Christian University’s 119th annual Summit, a three-day conference for Christian leaders and church members, will take place Oct. 8-10 with the theme “Encounter: Spirit of the Living God.” The annual three-day conference, part of the university’s Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, offers ministers, church leaders and other believers the opportunity to gather
Read more
By Loretta Fulton All three of Abilene’s universities have homecoming scheduled within the next few weeks, including one starting this weekend. Hardin-Simmons University HSU kicks off local homecomings on Thursday, Oct. 2, with the alumni awards banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the Johnson Building. The 2025 recipients of the Keeter Alumni Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Awards will be
Read more
Jeff Williams, former mayor of Arlington, will be guest speaker for the Fletcher Series at Hardin-Simmons University on Tuesday, Oct. 7. His talk will begin at 11 a.m. in HSU’s Houston-Lantrip Center, 2241 Pine St. The lectures are free, but an RSVP is required by Sept. 23. Click here to register. Jeff Williams Williams is president and CEO of Graham
Read more
By Jim Nichols As an early teenager, it was a short trip either walking or bicycling. Head south on our residential street to Johnson Drive, then west toward the high school. Mrs. Scott, the piano teacher, lived across the street from the school. Through the front door and to the right was her piano room; in retrospect, I think it
Read more
By Danny Minton On January 27, 1945, an American Superfortress B-29 bomber took off from Isely Airfield in Saipan on a bombing run to take out two aircraft factories outside Tokyo, Japan. The eleven-member crew called themselves the “Rover Boys Express,” after the popular “Rover Boy” books of the time. The navigator was Lt. Raymond “Hap” Halloran. As the planes
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 