By Jim Nichols As a university professor, I have written hundreds of letters of reference. Most of them have been for students applying to a professional school or for a scholarship or job. Occasionally, I have composed a letter for a colleague applying for a promotion or exciting growth opportunity. A recent recommendation request, however, was unique; it was from
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Their numbers are dwindling, but folks figuring there’s nothing new under the sun are spending too much time in the shade and/or staring too much at the fiery object that planets circle with precision–at least so far. Assuredly this is not the opinion of a robot, spy or AI (“artificial intelligence” for people asleep
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By Loretta Fulton The long wait was worth it for members of First Baptist Church when a new pastor and his family moved to Abilene, bringing the energy that only a family with four young children can provide. Ray Miller was named pastor on June 15 following a vote by the congregation and preached his first sermon in August. The
Read moreMichelle Ramirez, acquisitions assistant at McMurry University, was awarded the 2025 Ricki Brown Award for Outstanding Library Service in the Abilene Library Consortium and AISD Library. Michelle is the first McMurry recipient of this prestigious award and the first non-librarian ever to receive it. She is also a first-generation college student and TRIO member, set to graduate from McMurry in
Read moreHardin-Simmons University has announced the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients for 2026! They will be honored at a banquet on campus Feb. 27. Honorees are Kayla (Willis) Dillman ’14/’16, Dr. Juvenal Havyarimana ’11, and Pastor Geoffrey Turner ’08. Click here to read more about each recipient.
Read moreThe Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest will have a service on Thanksgiving Eve, and the Christian Science Church will have a Thanksgiving Day service. The public is invited to both. The Thanksgiving Eve service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.. The service will include hymns, prayers, and the Holy Eucharist. On
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By Marianne Wood Last Christmas, we put up a new holiday tree in a corner of the dining room. The soft glow cast a warm blessing upon us as we gathered at our table, often with friends. In the evenings, we enjoyed viewing it from our adjacent living room. Open-concept living spaces are a significant improvement over the walled-off ones
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By Loretta Fulton Hundreds of Messengers, or delegates, and their guests are expected in Abilene Nov. 16-18 when the Baptist General Convention of Texas holds its annual meeting at the Abilene Convention Center. “The theme this year is LIVE OUT GC2: Love God, Love People and Make Disciples. God calls His church to faithfully live out the Great Commandment and
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By Danny Minton Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between the mountains and the sea, lived a carpenter named Graham. Graham was known throughout the village for his wisdom and unique approach to trouble. At the edge of his property stood a majestic tree, which he fondly referred to as his Trouble Tree. Every evening, after a
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