THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury We have eyes to see and hearts to serve, yet somehow don’t recognize the importance of both purpose and passion until we see needs up close at life’s intersections. Thankfully, such consciousness–the kind leaving lumps in our throats and guilt in our minds–results when we hear accounts from folks whose lives have changed direction through
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By Jim Nichols Several years ago, I began writing an opinion piece on the Middle East, Israel, and Palestine. This was well before the current military, political, and religious catastrophe there. I worked hard gathering background information and history of the area. I had written most of the article before I realized that I did not know what I was
Read moreBy Danny Minton When did you stop believing? Most of us grew up believing that every Christmas Eve, a jolly man with a white beard, wearing a red velvet suit, would come into our homes while we were asleep and leave us gifts. It was a magical time of innocence and excitement. We wrote him letters and sat on his
Read moreBy Jay Moore Had you opened the pages of the Abilene Reporter-News in December 1966, you would have learned plenty; such as, you could get a 5-foot-tall Douglas fir Christmas tree from Wolfe’s Nursery starting at $5.95. At Westgate Nursery they were selling flocked trees in a variety of pastel colors for $10 and, unless you wanted to be the only cheapo
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By Darryl Tippens I’ve been trying to get into the spirit of the season this year, and to be frank, it’s been difficult. The juxtaposition of the daily news—the tensions in our own country, but even more the pervasive scenes of suffering and death in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza set against the season’s cheerful carols—is jarring. Recently, while attending a
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The Last ManThe Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery, is available at Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St., in Abilene. The fictional account of the bank robbery was written by Thomas Goodman, who served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Eastland from 1993 to 1998. He has been pastor of Hillcrest Church in
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Sanctuaries will be filled with the soft glow of candlelight and the music of Christmas carols as Abilenians join Christians worldwide to celebrate Christmas Eve. Since Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year, many churches will have their regular morning worship, followed by a special evening service. Some also will have services on Christmas morning. Following is a list of
Read moreBy Marianne Wood My friend, Sue Wood (no relation), has lived on three continents in four countries: Eurasia—England and India; Africa—South Africa; North America—the USA. She met her husband, Owen, at a party arranged by a friend while she was living in Cape Town. Before that, she grew up in the UK, where her father was a chemist—what we call
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Two long-time friends–Sue Gressett and Gary Dyer–regularly post items that are informative, encouraging, clarifying and amusing on Facebook. When I see their items, I read them carefully, knowing I will be the better for it. In recent days, Sue provided an account that invited “been there, done that” smiles. In this post, her “high road choice” shone
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Spirit Of Abilene 