News ReleaseEvangelical Environmental Network As evangelical Christians called to defend life at every stage, we applaud the executive orders by the Biden administration that fully mobilize the resources and unique capabilities of our government to address the climate and pollution crises at the scope and scale required. These co-related crises touch every aspect of American life, every sector of our
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By LORETTA FULTON In normal times, Thursday, Jan. 28, would be the date for the annual Point in Time survey conducted locally by the West Texas Homeless Network. But 2021, at least in the early months, isn’t “normal times.” The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, curtailing in-person and face-to-face activities. Due to a change in the way the scaled-down PIT
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By LORETTA FULTON Even seeing it coming didn’t soften the impact of the closing of Connecting Caring Communities for people deeply committed to it. Dec. 31, 2020, marked the end of the neighborhood improvement initiative that got its start in 2001 at Hardin-Simmons University and gained nonprofit status in 2005. CCC was the brainchild of Linda Carleton, who was dean
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Leaning on the bookcase next to my desk stands a Ted Williams #1725 Little League Approved Sears, Roebuck, and Co. 29-inch wooden ash baseball bat. I picked it up at an antique store a few years ago for $20. It’s worth more than what I paid, but that’s not the reason that I purchased it. The bat
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury A Texas automobile driver was “tooling” down a rural highway on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Most motorists had already reached destinations, or maybe decided not to go. He felt alone, not another vehicle in sight on a long stretch of pavement. Suddenly, flashing lights in his rearview mirror were strong indicators that he wasn’t alone.
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK As an English teacher, I sometimes taught literature written by authors who used a writing technique called stream-of-consciousness. That term refers to the basic idea of allowing a narrator to tell the story without any chronology, structure, or other narrative form. Stream-of-consciousness resembles live-streaming events online. It captures whatever happens without any editing. I use the term
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS The editor sent me a message that she wanted a new photo of me. It was apparently an artistic request of some kind. I complied but realized that I am in the group of people who may not relish seeing a photographic image of oneself. I do not have a large complaint, just a preference. In our
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By LORETTA FULTON Opening a speech with the “N” word normally wouldn’t be advisable for the featured speaker at a Martin Luther King. Jr. Day gathering. But the Rev. Matthew Lubin, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, did just that and followed the slur with racial epithets that covered just about all of humanity. As a preacher, Lubin knows the importance
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By LORETTA FULTON On Father Albert Ezeanya’s first day as the new priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, July 1, 2019, an 80-year-old member asked him a question. “Can you please get a new hall for us?” she asked, referring to a parish hall to replace the current one that is located in the church basement. A year and a
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Spirit Of Abilene 