By Nancy Patrick As I sat on my canopied swing in the backyard one Saturday morning in May, the soft breeze gently ruffled the leaves on the three-year-old burr oak tree near me. Another three-year-old tree, a Chinese Pistache, grows across the yard from the burr oak. Both trees are doing amazingly well for our Texas climate. We had to
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury For the next three weeks, there’ll be too much about me, even if I apologize in advance for citing personal experiences, but they’re the only kinds I’ve had. At their core will be remembrances of commencement ceremonies, mostly where I’ve been privileged to speak. For brief and shining moments, I’ve joined graduates, families and fellow
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WOODLAWN CHURCH OF CHRISTFounded December 1956First minister: John StevensFirst Deacons: James Bradford, V.K. Blair, Jack Conaway, Foster Cox, Paul Dillard, Paul Farris, H.L. Farris, Aubrey McCright, Bill McClure, J.C. McDearman, C.L. McInturff, Tim Mason, Fred Stirman, John Swayne Jr. , Carlos Toney, Britt Willeford CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTERDec. 13, 1965–Organized under the direction of 16th and Vine Street Church of ChristJanuary
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By Loretta Fulton Two faith-based childcare centers recently closed, both citing rising costs and staffing issues as the primary causes. On Monday, May 19, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church sent an email saying that its Pathways Learning Center would close effective Aug. 15. Earlier, His Little Angels on Buffalo Gap Road announced it would close as of noon on Wednesday, May
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By Loretta Fulton Ah, Vacation Bible School, the unofficial beginning of summer is back. The summertime mainstay of children for generations, VBS offers spiritual growth, arts and crafts, music, refreshments, and lots of fun each summer. This year, First Baptist Church is getting a head start on everyone else, with its VBS running from Tuesday, May 27, through Friday, May
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By Danny Minton Franz Kafka was an author who lived and wrote as the twentieth century began. His primary works centered around social injustice and alienation. His most popular are “Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle.” Toward the end of his life, an event happened that changed a little girl’s life. In 1923, Franz and his companion, Dora Diamant, were
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It is that time again when hundreds of thousands of us can’t get the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” out of our heads, often whistling or humming the melody, not even wondering why. For the curious–and others in the majority who couldn’t care less–Englishman Edward Elgar’s 1901 march has long been the musical gold standard
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By Jim Nichols The transition from elementary school to junior high was not a smooth one for me. It was significantly complicated by having to ride the school bus every morning. Hickory Grove Elementary was within walking distance of my home, but the junior high required Bus #38 to pick me up at the corner. My grade was the youngest
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By Loretta Fulton Local Catholics, like many Catholics worldwide, expressed their approval of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. And, like many, they were surprised at how quickly he was elected by the College of Cardinals. Most surprising of all, both to local Catholics and Catholics around the globe, was that he is an American. “We hoped for an American
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Spirit Of Abilene 