By DANNY MINTON “You need to read this book…”. “Have you heard, …’s tape?” “This is a great blog click on this link.” “Have you seen this article?” How often has someone told us something along these lines? How often have we done it ourselves? I know I have on several occasions. Books, sermons, lessons, blogs, articles, webpages, and the
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By LORETTA FULTON Nick Kasemeotes isn’t on the frontline in Syria fighting off a Turkish invasion, but he is playing a huge role in that effort by traveling the Midwest raising funds to help refugees who already were suffering. Kasemeotes, the gift officer for International Orthodox Christian Charities, was in Abilene Oct. 9, the day of the invasion following President
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IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Ray Hildebrand, who wrote and sang “Hey, Paula” with college classmate Jill Jackson in 1963, admits to being “older than dirt,” but quickly adds that he’s still “kicking up dust,” despite entering his 80th year a few weeks hence. In fact, he’s “on track” to exceed the longevity of another “Ray”– this one named
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS As a professional biologist, I have lived most of my life in a world of data. One does an experiment and collects numbers that may or may not show trends. One designs experiments in such a way as to minimize the number of variables so that observations made might lead to a reasonable conclusion. The conclusions are
Read moreBy LORETTA FULTON Mohammed AL Samawi, a peace activist and author of “The Fox Hunt,” will bring a story of inspiration to Abilene Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14-15. The public is invited to his Monday evening presentation, “Building Bridges: Interfaith Dialogue Across the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian Communities.” The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Mabee Room of
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By LORETTA FULTON Back in the day, Mack Eplen’s Driveateria on North First Street was the place to be and be seen on Friday nights. Many an Abilene teen spent hours–and gas–circling Mack’s. Today that location is the home of the United Methodist Service Center & Food Pantry. On Saturday, Oct. 12, Terri Eplen-Kleen, a great-niece of Mack Eplen, will
Read moreJim Ned High School student Dakota Chaloupka earned his Eagle Scout ranking and did a good deed all at the same time by building a prayer garden at Houses for Healing on North Hickory Street. Chaloupka got some help from friends and his dad, Daniel, in completing the impressive garden. Houses for Healing, started by Brian Massey, provides a free
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS A good part of my life I do not really feel like I know what I am doing. It is not that I am particularly brave, but I have had enough unexpected growth experiences from stepping out that I have found it rewarding; or, at least frequently rewarding enough to take some chances. However, taking chances means
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury We’ve longbeen led to believe that we “can’t know the players without a program.” However, it’s generally agreed that they are needed for sports purists who want to identify all of the players, from the “stars to the scrubs.” At the State Fair of Texas in Dallas–where they feature three football games annually
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Spirit Of Abilene 