THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Whether we bow in reverence to statistics or grow nauseous dealing with the barrage of numbers dealt with daily, most of us value “peace and goodwill” wherever we can find it. Foundational to both is Christian commitment for guidance on life’s highway. The beginning of baseball brings conversations about statistics to the fore. Later
Read more
By Danny Minton There’s a little-known song, sung by Vicki Carr over 60 years ago, entitled “The Rose and the Butterfly.” Some of the lyrics are A Rose once asked a butterfly,Oh, why must I wear a thorn?The butterfly flew toward the sky,And the rose was alone and forlorn.Then a bluebird came along,And chirped its happy song.And morning brought,It’s golden dream.The butterfly returned and said,“I hope you’ve learned,”“Nothing’s really
Read more
By Darryl Tippens It was the women’s hats—those petite pillboxes and glorious half-hats crowned with floral clusters in pastels and whites and the softest creams—that gave it away every Easter. The men wore shiny new Oxfords and freshly pressed trousers, their bright ties catching the light. In every direction, our attire proclaimed: This is Easter! Outside, nature was saying the
Read more
By Jim Nichols It is a maneuver used often by younger students in a religious situation. The teacher requires each child to memorize a verse from the Bible and recite it for everyone. As you might guess, each child gravitates toward a short and simple verse. They already learned from older children that “Jesus wept” will be acceptable, though not
Read more
Click here to read a Q&A with Alisha By Loretta Fulton Alisha Taylor, a local actress, director, and producer of documentary films, is this year’s honoree at the annual Heroes’ Luncheon sponsored by ICAN (Interested Citizens of Abilene North). The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at the Abilene Convention Center. Individual tickets are $40. Rosten Callarman,
Read more
Click here to read article about ICAN’s Heroes’ Luncheon, including ticket information. By Loretta Fulton Alisha Janette Taylor is making quite a name for herself in her hometown as an actress, producer and director of documentary films. And now she can add “Hero” to her resume. On Thursday, April 9, she will be honored at the annual Heroes’ Luncheon, sponsored
Read more
By Glenn Dromgoole Johnnie Lou Avery Boyd, beloved longtime Abilenian who now lives in Midland, recently sent me a copy of her latest book, Wisdom of the Aged. And, indeed, the 185 pages (8 ½ by 11 in an easy-to-read typeface) are packed with practical and insightful wisdom. Johnnie Lou writes: “I wish a wise elder had sat me down
Read more
By Danny Minton “I think if you look back (and what better time to look back on a man’s life than on the 100th anniversary of his birth) at the totality of his record and the influence he had on the country and the world, it was really extraordinary and on balance for the good.” biographer Bob Bostock. So what
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Media–both print and electronic–have slathered us with minute details of Arlington’s Grand Prix. Surely their “slatherers” are either bent or broken for putting undue strain on us who are feigning interest when we’d sooner watch paint dry. After all, if we want to see cars zoom past–by day or by night–all we need do
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 