THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The story goes that a long-ago West Texas man–beloved in his community–talked incessantly about Fort Worth, his favorite city, even though he’d never been there. He usually referred to it as “Cowtown” or “Where the West Begins.” (The former nickname was introduced by cattle barons in the 1860s; the latter description started in 1923.
Read moreHospice of the Big Country, a part of West Texas Rehabilitation Center at 4601 Hartford St., will host a free five-week series called “Life After Loss.” The sessions, which are open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one, will be held 10 -11:30 a.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. every Monday through Aug. 31. Sessions will be facilitated by Phillip Blair.
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Everyday Ministry shines the spotlight on those who try to stay out of it. They’re the ones who stay in the background, quietly doing the small things that make life better for others. They’re all around you. To nominate someone for an Everyday Ministry feature, please send information to editor@spiritofabilene.com. Include the name of the person being nominated, contact info,
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By Glenn Dromgoole The number one book on the New York Times bestseller list is a novel, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, his first novel. Maybe you’ve read it. If you haven’t, I recommend it to you. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was self-published in 2023 and quietly started selling because it touched
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By Jim Nichols All of us who read the Bible have at least one thing in common: we skip over parts that are uninteresting to us. One example is lists of names, often appearing at the beginning or ending of a letter. The book of Romans concludes with greetings to at least twenty-five individuals, only a few of whom we
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By Nancy Patrick Some words are overused; others are not used enough. One of those words is the subject of this essay. We hear the word “forever” quite often but seldom think of its real significance. We use it when we pray (keep us forever near you, Oh, God), when we marry (I will love you forever), and when we
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By Danny Minton On the shelves of my home office, I have at my disposal Bibles of every shape, size, and translation. They include: the King James Version, the American Standard and the New American Standard, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Archeological New International Study Bible, New International Bible, New International Study Bible, New International Women’s Study Bible, Phillips
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury About two months ago–after more than 23 years of writing weekly columns–I took my leave. (OK, maybe it’s my “weakly” assembly of words masquerading as columns might be more accurate.) Whatever, I’m back. Perhaps a few of my pieces have been tolerable, some meriting smiles that gave way to laughter, and –on rarest occasions–a
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Click here to read original story posted Jan. 23, 2026. By Loretta Fulton In a couple of years, nobody will recognize Wylie Methodist Church following Sunday’s groundbreaking for a major expansion that will result in an entirely different look. When completed, the construction project will include an 8,200-square-foot sanctuary, a new gym, covered play area, and small group meeting rooms
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