By Jim Nichols Sometimes I write to myself rather than to you, readers. I was probably six or seven years old when I received my first, very own Bible. Oak Park Christian Church must have had a Bible giveaway to children of a certain age. I was proud of that Bible; my father had wonderful printing ability, and he inscribed
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury As the hours of 2025 dwindled to single digits, Americans FINALLY heard a new sports expression that is NOT likely to catch on. The guy from ABC-TV–describing the Michigan/Texas football game in Orlando–uttered a couple of ill-fitting words as he attempted to explain that one line shown on TV screens during football games is
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By Danny Minton “That which has been is that which will be,And that which has been done is that which will be done.So there is nothing new under the sun.”Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NASB) It was the most talked-about trial in the city and would be for years to come. The crowds gathered outside the courthouse. Most were unsure of the outcome,
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By Loretta Fulton Each December, members of Religion News Association, including Spirit of Abilene creator and editor Loretta Fulton, vote on the top religion stories of the year. The vote this year ended in a tie for the top news story between the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, and the Trump administration’s
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By Loretta Fulton Stephen Curry, founder and chairman of Endurance Advisory Partners in Dallas, will be the leadoff speaker for the Fletcher Lecture Series at Hardin-Simmons University for the spring semester. Curry will speak at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in HSU’s Houston-Lantrip Center, 2241 Pine St. Admission is free but a reservation is required by Jan. 13. Click here
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Often, I believe, writers spend too much time on the “what was” and “what will be” instead of the “what is.” I admit to such whimpering occasionally, and this time, make no promises to do better, but I’ll try. Keep in mind, though, that my promises–if golf shots–typically veer off to both the left
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By Danny Minton Let’s admit it. When it comes to things in the past that we are ashamed of, we often want to blot them from our minds. Sometimes we “sugarcoat” them, convincing ourselves that it’s the way things were at the time. One of those areas where many find themselves is seeing how discrimination not only plagues our country’s
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By Loretta Fulton Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap Road, will begin a 7-week, “Finding New Life in the Spirit” seminar on Thursday, Jan 8. The public is invited. Cost is $5 per person for the book that will be used. Each of the seven weekly sessions will be held 7-8:45 p.m. on Thursdays. The following is from the
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Praise and worship music, testimonials, prayers, and a time for fellowship will highlight the annual Watch Night service sponsored by the Greater Abilene Minister’s Alliance. Watch Night dates Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved blacks gathered for “Freedom’s Eve” to await news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which would go into effect at midnight that night. Rev. Matthew Lubin Sr., pastor of
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