THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Afterglows are wonderful, but are waning of late. Many folks forfeit times of warm reflection, too busy in endless pursuits of whatever comes next. Oh, afterglows are still around for important life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, promotions, holidays and such, but not like in yesteryear, when few roses went unsmelled. Uncle Mort and
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Pre-launch Party What: Pre-launch of Elayne Palmer’s new children’s book, Jameel’s PlanWhen: 5:30 p.m. July 25Where: Seven and One Books, 1138 N. 2nd StreetWho’s invited: EveryoneBook prices: $12.99 soft cover; $22.99 hardback By Loretta Fulton “I know,” Jameel whispered. “But I have a plan.” Those intriguing words are found on page 15 of Elayne Palmer’s new children’s book, Jameel’s Plan.
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By Loretta Fulton When Felicia Hopkins arrived in Abilene in the summer of 2013, she immediately made history. She was the first woman senior pastor at historic St. Paul United Methodist Church and its first Black pastor. But soon she was just “Felicia,” with no historical references attached. A committee at St. Paul selected her from a blind resume because
Read moreBy Mark Waters In a June 17, 2024 Washington Post opinion piece, Shadi Hamid provided a helpful perspective on changes in evangelicalism resulting from its current entanglement with politics. My further claim is that this phenomenon signals a possible change in the concept of religion itself. Hamid noted a Cooperative Election Study disclosing that 14 percent of Muslims, 12 percent
Read moreBy Danny Minton “The New Colossus”Not like the brazen giant of Greek fameWith conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,“Keep, ancient lands, your
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By Jim Nichols The first two weeks of July were part of my boyhood rhythm. More correctly, they were part of my family’s annual rhythm. Those were the weeks when Procter and Gamble (my father’s employer) shut down the plant. Only maintenance workers remained; everyone else was on vacation. My parents planned family trips for us and, since Kansas City
Read moreBy Marianne Wood Maitland: What will you do now? Miss Madrigal: Continue to explore the astonishment of living. Sometimes, a bit of a line in a movie–especially one for which you had low expectations–grabs you surprisingly. It inspires you to be a better person or moves you because it connects with a sore place in your heart. I’ll bet that’s
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Walt Kelly is most remembered for his comic strip published more than a half-century ago. Its central figure Pogo–campaigning to fight world pollution–made an incisive statement that still rings true. You remember it: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” It’s about money. The golden rule has become twisted, however. Now, “them” who
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By Loretta Fulton If all goes as planned, United Methodists in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference, which includes Abilene, will become part of a new unified conference that will reflect changes in membership following the departure of many conservative congregations for the new Global Methodist Church. The majority of former United Methodist Churches in Northwest Texas have left for the
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Spirit Of Abilene 