THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Our sense of hearing is to be treasured. The sound of ships nearing shores, buzzers sounding at the end of victories and fireworks signaling a new year are but three examples. There are, however, pitfalls to be endured. Sometimes we “over hear” too much, and–sadly–take off like a world-champion jockey on the fastest of
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Ricky Harrison, a 2014 graduate of McMurry University, is the new Dean of Students at his alma mater. Harrison was named University Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at McMurry in 2023. He will continue to serve as University Chaplin, while Russell Miller will be Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Assistant University Chaplain. Ricky Harrision “Rev.
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By Loretta Fulton Beth Garvey, Chief Executive Officer and President of BGSF, Inc., will be featured speaker for the March 3 Fletcher Lecture Series at Hardin-Simmons University. Admission is free, but reservations are required by Feb. 17. Click here to reserve a seat. The lecture will begin at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, at HSU’s Houston-Landrip Center, 2241 Pine St.
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By Mark Waters “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” This statement of wisdom, worded in different ways over the years, has been attributed and misattributed to a number of historic figures. The earliest verifiable source that I can find is the Rev. Charles F. Aked (1864-1941), an English clergyperson who
Read moreClick here to read an accompanying piece by Nancy Patrick. By Mike Patrick About 10 years ago, I became fascinated with a little-known minister of a previous era, partly because we both served as chaplains, but especially because of his role in history. Rev. Henry Gerecke (rhymes with Cherokee), was ordained at Christ’s Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, in
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Click here to read an accompanying piece by Mike Patrick about a chaplain at the Nuremberg trials. By Nancy Patrick If history had interested me more in my student days, perhaps I wouldn’t feel so deficient in understanding many of today’s global issues. Because of this lack of knowledge, I find myself researching topics that I should have known more
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By Jim Nichols There are multiple folk versions of the parable of the blindmen trying to describe an elephant. You will remember that one man felt the side of the animal and described it as a wall. Another felt the trunk and said it was a snake. Various other descriptions were a spear (tusk), tree (leg), fan (ear), rope (tail,)
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By Glenn Dromgoole Here’s hoping this is an Aha! year for you. Most of our days, most of our years,most of our lives are punctuated with periods, commas, colons, semi-colons,and question marks. But when we look back, we cherish those special moments when the only appropriate response was, without question,an exclamation point! Glenn Dromgoole’s books include Just Happy to Be Here and A Few Encouraging Words. He and his
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By Danny Minton You won’t find her name listed as a hero of World War II. Chances are, you will have to search hard to find out anything about her on the internet. You’ll discover people with the same name, but they are people noted in history or modern society as important. Her name was Helen Morrison. The year was
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Spirit Of Abilene 