By JIM McDONALD “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:4-5 “With all wisdom and understanding, he made
Read moreNancy Patrick at new home in Illinois, far from home, on Christmas 1974. Nancy and her husband, Mike, had just moved to Illinois for Mike’s first pastorate and they were among strangers for the first time. By NANCY PATRICK Every year by Thanksgiving, our society transforms into a charitable, adoring, nostalgic, and sentimental group of people who seem to
Read moreBy JIM McDONALD God created everything and then us so we could live and prosper and give Him pleasure. We failed by disobeying Him. Ultimately due to our sin, He made Christmas and Good Friday, which provided a new avenue for us to draw near to Him through Jesus. Then Jesus rose from death’s grip so everyone throughout history could know His
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON You wake up one morning with a pain that doesn’t seem to go away. You’re feeling tired all the time and act like all your energy has gone out the window. You make an appointment with the doctor who doesn’t know what is wrong either so he orders some blood work and an x-ray. The x-ray and
Read moreWhen I was a young father, I prayed fervently over and over that God would let my son grow up to be normal. I prayed every night for months and months, but God didn’t seem to listen. Then I prayed to God, “What have I done for this to happen in our lives?” I prayed, “Why?” When I was young,
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton For your Christmas enjoyment, here are some last minute stocking-stuffers from Spirit of Abilene. These little gems are sure to bring a smile and make you grateful for the spirit of Christmas. The top photos are from the Christmas party hosted Dec. 19 by Hillcrest Church of Christ for refugees experiencing
Read moreBy Darryl Tippens One might suppose that a Christmas concert in Abilene, Texas, would be a very different thing from what one experiences in London; but for me, the experiences are similar. Last Christmas my wife Anne and I traveled to London to attend a Christmas concert in Royal Albert Hall. But it was more than a concert; it was
Read moreBy Mike Patrick Bob May, born to a Jewish family in New York in 1905, left for Chicago when the family lost all their wealth during the Great Depression. He found low-paying employment as an in-house advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward. However, life became harder a few years later when a doctor diagnosed his wife, Evelyn, with cancer in 1937.
Read moreBy Danny Minton Pastoral Minister and Elder Southern Hills Church of Christ September 21, 1897 Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-Fifth Street.
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