By NANCY PATRICK Norma Jean Crossed the railroad tracks Lookin’ for her daddy— Found him in the bar; “Come home, Daddy,” she said again. Car in the lane Who’s that lady in the car? Daddy yells at Momma. Momma cries again. Playin’ in the tree. Daddy’d said “don’t.” Fell out and cracked her arm. Daddy said, “damn” again. Daddy’s real
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By NANCY PATRICK This may sound crazy, but I love women. They amaze me, they astound me, they mystify me, they inspire me, and they sometimes confound me. Women exhibit strength, resilience, courage, intelligence, adaptability, and loyalty. The wide array of women’s qualities strikes me with awe. Traditionally, women have served auxiliary roles in society—roles such as homemaker, mother, teacher,
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Martyr /märder/ Noun: a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. “saints, martyrs, and witnesses to the faith.” Nestled amid the Philippine Archipelago is the island of Panay. As you travel through the region of Capiz near Tapaz, you come to the mountains of Barrio Katipunan. It is in those mountains you find
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS A university or school system has good reason to understand that students need to eat sometime around lunchtime. From an operational standpoint, the university or school system has a basic decision to make. The decision is whether the university or school system itself will operate the cafeteria or whether that function should be outsourced. Similarly, a university
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Coaches whotake their teams on the road to face storied football opponents usually tip-toe into town, feeling that the less said, the better. This is particularly true when they’re fortunate enough to win, and doubly so if they’re scheduled to meet the same foes the next year at “their place.” A prime example
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON You walk through the store and come face to face with witches, skeletons, and all sorts of creepy critters. You walk by a display and a cackle shrieks in your ear. It’s that time of year. It’s Halloween. In a few weeks, you’ll open the door and face small living creatures from Disney princesses to zombies with
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By LORETTA FULTON Just three years after Sharon Densman discovered a connection to a half-brother she never knew, that connection is gone and so are her family ties. The impact of that reality hit hard after the July 22 funeral of James Weldon “Snuffy” Smith. “I had no idea I would feel the feeling I had,” Densman said, “the finality
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By LORETTA FULTON Sue Lucas went from being a skeptic about labyrinths to an evangelist and all it took was an open mind and the enthusiasm of those who understand the spiritual benefits. The conversion experience came during a workshop on labyrinths at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Most of the people attending had walked labyrinths in various places all
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By LORETTA FULTON For its 20th anniversary celebration, Abilene Interfaith Council did what it does best–provided a venue for meaningful conversation, enlightened with excellent programming, and fed well. The council’s motto is, “Breaking Bread Together in Peace,” and on Sept. 19, members shared much more than bread. A table in Gerhart Hall at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest
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Spirit Of Abilene 