IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It quickly became the perfect storm, powerful enough to make strong men cry. The same goes for strong women, too, but Kim Peacock, president of GNS Foods in Arlington, is doing her best to keep her family-owned specialty premium nut company afloat despite “blows to the bow” that might cause others to jump ship. Consider this:
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK I grew up thinking of dirty words as cuss words or sexually vulgar words or even profane words against God. I did not know that the dirtiest word I would ever learn would come to me in my forties. That word is “divorce.” Of course, I knew what the word meant, but my family had largely escaped
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Early in my adult life, a wise person suggested a word to look for in scripture. You may have received the same instruction—it is almost trite, frankly—but it works for me. I suppose this word would be considered a conjunction, something that connects two thoughts. Used in scripture it relates one thought to a following one that
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Fair of Texas, in some ways, continues to operate on a limited basis. I grew up attending the State Fair just about every year I was in school. I remember the midway, the food, and museums on the Fair Park grounds. One of my favorites was the automobile exposition. My brother
Read moreEditor’s Note: Laura Lacey Johnson is a former employee of KTXS-TV, the Community Foundation of Abilene, and Howard Payne University in Brownwood. She now lives in Missouri and is an author and creator of Christian videos. Her latest contribution follows. To see more, go to https://lauralaceyjohnson.com “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither
Read moreJohn Whitten preached his first sermon Sept. 6 as senior pastor of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He replaces Stan Allcorn, who served as senior pastor since 1998. Allcorn’s last Sunday as senior pastor was Aug. 29. Photos show Whitten preaching, his father, Mark Whitten, presenting him with two Bibles, and the PDBC orchestra, led by Danny Barefield. Whitten, 35, may
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON A determined, handsome face peers from the canvas, caring eyes gazing into the future. The face is that of Dr. William H. Butler, Abilene’s first black physician, who was born Dec. 9, 1875, in Anderson County. He died Sept. 8, 1947, and is buried in the Abilene City Cemetery alongside his wife, Beatrice, who died Jan. 17,
Read more
Editor’s Note: Everyday Ministry is an occasional feature of Spirit of Abilene, highlighting people who weave ministry into their everyday lives. If you know someone you would like to see featured, email editor@spiritofabilene.com with the name, contact information and a brief description of the person’s ministry. By LORETTA FULTON Life is filled with learning right now for Peyten Castillo. The
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “Money is the root of all evil.” We’ve all heard that statement over the years. Some of us have probably even used it from time to time. Some have heard that it’s wrong to be rich because “Money is the root of all evil.” The problem is that statement is nowhere in the Bible. It’s part of
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 