By LORETTA FULTON For years, Randy Harris joked that he was “the Church of Christ’s only monk,” but he may have to come up with a new calling card. Recently retired from teaching at Abilene Christian University, Harris will continue his leadership in a program that he founded at ACU, the Contemplative Ministers’ Initiative. To date, five classes of 12
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Uncle Mort isn’t his usual self. His 108th birthday is at hand, and he’s hung up on whether to have a “real” party, or join the growing list of folks who are “computer Zooming” to celebrate special occasions. (Printers are shaking their heads, turning out fancy invitations with the word “virtual” in big type.) “Maybe I’d
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “Black Lives Matter!” Ok, now that I have your attention, let’s talk about it. Do you feel the pain in that phrase? As a Christian, I know “all lives matter” in the eyes of Jesus. He died for us all. The lives of everyone on the face of this planet now, in the past, in the future,
Read moreEditor’s Note: The following report was published by the Pew Research Center, based on findings from its survey conducted in 2019. Excerpts are posted below. Click here to read entire report, with graphic designs. BY JACOB POUSHTER AND NICHOLAS KENT Despite major changes in laws and norms surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBT people around the world, public opinion on the
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Diffusion is a principle considered in many science classes. It is a simple concept, but quite significant in many physical situations. The concept identifies that a substance moves naturally from an area where it is more concentrated to an area where it is less concentrated. For instance, if one puts a spoonful of sugar into a cup
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. She will be an occasional contributor to Spirit of Abilene. To see more, go to https://lauralaceyjohnson.com
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By THE REV. DR. JANICE SIX “In a world filled with images of Jesus, this one made headlines. He [Jesus] stood in a stained-glass window wearing a simple white robe and a dark tunic. He held a staff in his left hand and with the knuckles of his right rapped gently on a large brown door. Wavy auburn hair fell
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury “We’ve never done it that way before.” The expression was well worn before the pandemic came along. Lately, creative juices have been milked dry for new ways to conduct commencements, weddings and funerals. The late Roy Kornegay, a church leader who died recently in Amarillo, might well have observed, “So what?” When softball nudged against
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