Shelli Presley has been named Director of Spiritual Formation at Hardin-Simmons University, replacing Travis Craver, who resigned to become vice president of operations at Fat Matt Roofing. Presley has been Associate Pastor Family Freedom Ministry at Beltway Church. The following announcement was sent in email by Hardin-Simmons President Eric Bruntmyer. Shelli Presley “With her passion for spiritual formation and her
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McMurry University has posted a tribute to Bill Libby, a longtime religion professor who died in January, on its website. Libby, a former Army chaplain, was buried alongside his wife, Amy, at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Libby served in the United States Army for 30 years, advancing to the rank of Colonel, and serving soldiers and their families
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The Abilene Community Band will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. The Fourth of July concert, with traditional patriotic music, will be held on the east side of the church. In case of bad weather, it will move into the nave. Admission is free. Guests
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By JIM NICHOLS During the construction of biology classes for college students, instructors have developed certain patterns. There are areas that need to be addressed in readings, lectures, and discussions because they are agreed upon central concepts of the discipline; somewhere during the semester the topics need consideration. The students’ interest in certain topics may be high or low. Despite
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Before football coaches have gone any distance in the minefield-laden careers they’ve chosen, they learn that the welcome mat–so warmly extended before their first game–often is jerked away before there’s time to leave a footprint. Finally deciding to accompany his wife to Europe after breaking promises to do so for decades, one old coach
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By LORETTA FULTON “Ok, you’re going to get two beans out,” Ella Mansur instructed the group of eager learners circled around the table. They were learning the game of Mancala, with roots in Africa, which made it perfect for demonstrating African culture on World Refugee Day. A local celebration to highlight the culture and traditions of local refugees was held
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By NANCY PATRICK Today’s social climate presents many challenges. I’m not sure if the cause for the rise in depression, violence, climate change, suicide, and lethargy has one diagnosis. Some blame much of the dismal atmosphere on COVID. I agree that the two-year pandemic changed our world in some irreversible ways, but I’m not so sure we can blame COVID
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON One Sunday morning, I saw a bird trapped in the church building, flying back and forth, trying to find its way to freedom. It was a common ordinary sparrow, but it reminded me of my first sermon. I was nineteen years old and still remember sitting across the desk from our minister, Alan Sowders, reviewing some thoughts
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury When I began writing weekly more than two decades ago, I informed readers that they could expect occasional recipes worthy of clipping, putting under magnets on refrigerator doors or placing toward the front of recipe boxes. I have failed. Maybe it was because the recipe–offered more than 20 years ago–failed to generate any
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Spirit Of Abilene 