By Nancy Patrick In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks Romeo the title question when she tries to rationalize the relationship between herself, Juliet Capulet, and her lover, Romeo Montague. As a Capulet, Juliet knows that her family and the Montague families hate each other. These young people have lived their short lives within the framework of this longstanding feud.
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By Danny Minton Almost everyone who reads this has probably seen the World War II movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” We can’t resist whistling the song that the prisoners whistled together as they marched into the Japanese prisoner of war camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. We become close to the characters who live their lives amid day-to-day suffering, toiling
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Accounts of folks “pulling themselves up by their boot straps” warm hearts; when such is done without boots, it’s a whole ‘nuther thing. “Wholeness” was achieved in January when Brian Janak received a phone call he didn’t expect from a half-brother he didn’t know he had. It will take the waters of many rivers
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By Glenn Dromgoole A few things I’ve learned after making Abilene my home for 40 years. Maybe you’ll agree. * Someone said “Keep Abilene Boring” and we take that as a compliment. * Quoting the Bible in Abilene is a contact sport. * A yellow traffic light means speed up and look both ways. * A green traffic light means
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By Loretta Fulton The winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2009 will be guest speaker for a lecture hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action in Abilene Christian University’s Chapel on the Hill. The Don Williams and Royce Money Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Dr. Annette Gordon-Reed, will begin at 7 p.m. May 1.
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Ricky Harrison, newly named Dean of Students at McMurry University, will be guest speaker for the monthly meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. The public is invited to the luncheon meeting at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Highland Church of Christ, 425 Highland Ave. A $3 donation is suggested for lunch. The program is free. Ricky Harrison Harrison,
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By Jim Nichols We have two small children in our extended family right now; one is four years old and the other is two. They learn amazing things quickly and are generally delightful, though sometimes challenging. Hearing them learn language is one of the most fascinating aspects of their growth. Particularly right now, the four-year-old shows some surprising early maturity
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By Mark Waters Recent political discourse is characterized by extreme misunderstanding or intentional distortion of the Islamic concept of Sharia. Lawmakers in Texas created a “Sharia-Free America Caucus” in Congress. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked the State Senate to consider legislation ensuring that Texans “are never held under the heel of ‘Sharia law.’” Attorney General Ken Paxton plans to investigate
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury On occasion, I’ve been in the presence of the rich and/or famous. Usually, though, I am lost among hundreds–maybe thousands–turning out for political rallies or tent shows. At one, I blathered excitedly upon winning a box of Cracker Jacks! (Better to remain silent and let others think you an idiot than to speak and
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Spirit Of Abilene 