By LORETTA FULTON When she was just 10 years old, Kristen Harris had a thought during a church service that eventually would lead to a calling and career. She was sitting in a service at First Christian Church in Stephenville with her family and quietly observing everything the minister, “Pastor Paul”, was doing. And he was literally doing everything–preaching the
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “Look,” said Dick. “See it go. See it go up.” Jane said, “Oh, look! See it go. See it go up.” “Up, up,” said Sally. “Go, up, up, up.” With these words, children of the fifties were introduced to a family who had been part of the lives of children decades before and would continue into the
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By JIM NICHOLS The photographer was enthusiastic. “OK,” he said. “This is a lot of people so I will need you to cooperate with me. You all look so good today that I believe this will be a great memory picture for you. Who knows? Perhaps decades from now someone will see this shot and it will trigger wonderful memories
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By LORETTA FULTON Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed in various ways Monday, with meals, a march, and a day of service on tap. The day will kick off with a breakfast at Hardin-Simmons University, followed by a march across the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge in east Abilene, and concluding with a dinner at the Abilene Convention
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.” So, I went
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By JIM NICHOLS He loved automobiles. My father said that if you gave Roy enough parts, he could build a whole car by himself. Of course, that was decades ago when cars were more mechanical than electrical as they are today, but it made sense to me. When I bought my first used car (1955 Ford), Roy, my grandfather, helped
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By NANCY PATRICK I often write about the importance of honesty and transparency. As I look through my titles for Spirit of Abilene, I see some suggest an obsession with the idea. I seem overly invested in the topic of the danger of hypocrisy to relationships. I think this philosophy applies not only to individuals and families but also to
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By LORETTA FULTON Each December, members of Religion News Association, including Spirit of Abilene creator and editor Loretta Fulton, choose the top religion stories of the year. Those include the top national stories, international stories, and newsmaker of the year.Many of the Top 10 stories, as voted on by members, had local implications, including the No. 1 story, the Supreme
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Well, it’s that time of year again. It’s the time people make promises for the New Year. Actually, the only thing that has changed is that the number “2” becomes a “3” at the end of the date. Diet books and magazines will disappear from store shelves. Bikes, treadmills, weights, and many other exercising pieces will make
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