By DARRYL TIPPENS “Life has never been normal.”—C. S. Lewis In the midst of the pandemic with its endless disruptions and tragic loss of life, it’s tempting to shout, “This is unprecedented—the worst ever! Nothing like this has ever happened before!” It’s easy to think such thoughts, but they are not true to the facts. It’s been this bad before
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Editor’s Note: The following column by Darryl Tippens first was posted in December 2019. The coming winter seems even bleaker than a year ago, with the COVID pandemic to thank. Dr. Tippens’ reflection on the Christmas carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” is re-posted as an early Christmas gift. By DARRYL TIPPENS I have celebrated many Christmases, but only a few
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By DARRYL TIPPENS There is the legend of the old Scottish True Believer who fervently prayed: “O Lord, I pray that I am right about everything, for Thou knowest I never change my mind.” While I’ve never prayed this prayer, I understand the sentiment of it. I was raised in a family which fostered self-confidence. My five siblings and I
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By NANCY PATRICK Psalm 24: 1-2 (NIV) The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Today’s media bombards us with news about national borders, ethnic groups, immigration (legal and illegal), and refugee crises around the world. I can
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By LORETTA FULTON It’s not just Darryl Tippens or others with ties to Route 66 who have a “Route 66 problem.” That problem falls on the shoulders of people all over the world who suffer from self-centeredness, Tippens said as guest speaker for the August meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. Tippens, retired University Distinguished Scholar at Abilene Christian University, was
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By DARRYL TIPPENS On Monday I watched with dismay as the fires consumed the nave of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. I have had the pleasure and joy of visiting the cathedral twice. Of many beautiful churches I have visited over the years, it’s easy to say no other church in the world is quite like the Cathedral
Read moreBy DARRYL TIPPENS The week before Christmas in 1999 Madeleine L’Engle, the author of the classic novel A Wrinkle in Time, lost her son, Bion. This was not the first, nor would it be the last, of the great sorrows endured by this gifted author. I caught a glimpse of her challenges when I met her a few months before
Read moreTEXAS NORMAL SINGING SCHOOL Dates: July 22-27, Abilene Christian University Early Bird Promotion: Register before June 11 and get a $25 discount on the standard tuition/room/board rates. Scholarship Assistance: Contact Levi Sisemore, treasurer/registrar) at 806-777-8417 for scholarship availability More Information: http://www.singingschool.org WORSHIP LEADERS CONFERENCE Dates: July 20-21, Abilene Christian University Special Guest: Dr. Darryl Tippens, recently retired ACU University Distinguished
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
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Spirit Of Abilene 