By NANCY PATRICK America, one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world, affords its citizens more freedom, education, success, and affluence than most other countries. You might think that would make Americans the happiest people on the earth; ironically, they are not. Examples of our unhappiness and dissatisfaction surround us—among them: stress, debt, family conflict, addiction, violence,
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The Classical Chorus of Abilene will present a concert of spirituals and gospel hymns at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Shirley Anderson will accompany the chorus on piano for some selections. Others will be a cappella. Guest singers from Hardin-Simmons University’s Chorale and Upbeat groups will join the chorus, which is the adult choir of the Chorus Abilene organization. Some
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Editor’s Note: Loretta Fulton’s biography, “Virginia Connally, M.D.: Trailblazing Physician, Woman of Faith,” is available at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St., Abilene, or by contacting Loretta Fulton, editor@spiritofabilene.com Dr. Virginia Boyd Connally, Abilene’s first female physician, died at 7:34 a.m. Sunday, March 31. A grandson, Sid Roberts, texted that Connally had died in an inpatient hospice center in
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By LORETTA FULTON “Revenge is not justice…it never brings about justice because it never seeks reconciliation.” Those words are from a Lenten reflection written by Travis Frampton, one of 40 members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church who contributed to a booklet titled, “A New Song: Lenten Reflections.” The collection of Lenten reflections was the brainchild of Nathan Adams, ministser of
Read moreMarch 14th By Travis Frampton A couple of years ago I was flipping through TV channels when something on C-Span caught my attention. Two lawyers were debating whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in federal and state court houses. The debate was lively. Both sides exchanged compelling arguments. But, as I sat there enthralled by their discussion, I thought
Read moreMarch 25th By Emily Meador I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. – Romans 1:11, 12 Broken. Shaken. Lost. 1983-84 was a year to be remembered. Not because of the joy, but because of the pain. At
Read moreMarch 15th By Carolyn Newman Memories of the 1998 Lenten season light the corners of my mind. While living a busy life, I received news that my precious mother was not going to live. As stated in the scripture, I needed for the Lord to hear my cry. Being involved with the sixteenth annual “I Love America” production at Dyess
Read moreMarch 30th By John Hunt The words had waited for the hunger in her to become the silence where they could form. – John O’Donohue “The Annunciation” from Connemara Blues Mary, the mother of Jesus, is typically a subject of the season of Advent and yet, in the scene of the Annunciation as it is imagined by Irish poet and theologian
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By LORETTA FULTON A special place in the hearts of volunteers from Aldersgate United Methodist Church got a little more special during a recent mission trip. A group of 10, including the pastor, Gary Boles, left Abilene on March 3 for Providence Place in San Antonio, the fourth trip for church members to the mission that until 2013 was named
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Spirit Of Abilene 