By Danny Minton I recently watched the movie “An American Christmas Carol,” with the main character named Benedict Slade (aka. Scrooge). In one scene, he observes an old love he had turned away years before. Now, she was spending Christmas morning with her husband and child, a child that resembled the young love Slade had left. His face and eyes
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Christians made up an estimated 47 percent of all people living outside their country of birth as of 2020, the latest year for which global figures are available, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of United Nations data and 270 censuses and surveys. Muslims accounted for 29 percent of all living migrants, followed by Hindus (5 percent), Buddhists
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By Jim Nichols When I was a boy and a movie or television story was obviously frightening me, my mother would consistently say, “Remember, it is just a movie or tv show.” That helped move me from such a deep involvement in the scary situation to a more objective one. We have all learned that what we see on the
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It was the slowest of hot, muggy days in the thicket. Mercury in the thermometer bulged and lodged in three-digit territory. Someone said he saw a dog chasing a rabbit, and both creatures were walking. The general store cash register had broken the silence twice before two geezers wandered in, and they weren’t there to
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Megan SchaulisLearn more about Megan and her writing at meganschaulis.com or email her at meganschaulis@gmail.com By Loretta Fulton Megan Schaulis turned her favorite childhood pastime into a grown up venture with the publication of her first book, Protector, based on the biblical story of Esther. Growing up in Mesa, Arizona, Megan won writing contests in school and aspired to be
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By Nancy Patrick People who know me know that I have fought a battle with despair and depression my entire life. Addicts confess they will always be addicts even if they have maintained sobriety for twenty years. My type of depression resembles that description. I may have periods when my depression lightens, but the shadow it casts in my spirit
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It’s a line lifted from a short poem written by Robert Gray in 1868. “Ignorance is bliss when it is folly to be wise.” Ever fresh, it is an ongoing ponderance, like whether spearmint gum retains its flavor after overnight repose on the bedpost. My Uncle Mort–cocksure of much–seems ever ready to provide answers, sometimes
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Over the last decade and a half, Pew Research Center has conducted religion-focused surveys all around the world. One question we have asked in each of these surveys is “How important is religion in your life?” Another one we’ve asked repeatedly is “How often do you pray?” The places that are most religious by these two measures tend to be
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By Jim Nichols Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw—those words are meaningful to many readers. Even if you are not interested in or a fan of the Harry Potter genre, you probably have encountered those names. They are associated with the beginning of the school year at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and identify the House into which each student is placed for
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