By NANCY PATRICK I grew up thinking of dirty words as cuss words or sexually vulgar words or even profane words against God. I did not know that the dirtiest word I would ever learn would come to me in my forties. That word is “divorce.” Of course, I knew what the word meant, but my family had largely escaped
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Early in my adult life, a wise person suggested a word to look for in scripture. You may have received the same instruction—it is almost trite, frankly—but it works for me. I suppose this word would be considered a conjunction, something that connects two thoughts. Used in scripture it relates one thought to a following one that
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Fair of Texas, in some ways, continues to operate on a limited basis. I grew up attending the State Fair just about every year I was in school. I remember the midway, the food, and museums on the Fair Park grounds. One of my favorites was the automobile exposition. My brother
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By LORETTA FULTON A determined, handsome face peers from the canvas, caring eyes gazing into the future. The face is that of Dr. William H. Butler, Abilene’s first black physician, who was born Dec. 9, 1875, in Anderson County. He died Sept. 8, 1947, and is buried in the Abilene City Cemetery alongside his wife, Beatrice, who died Jan. 17,
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Editor’s Note: Everyday Ministry is an occasional feature of Spirit of Abilene, highlighting people who weave ministry into their everyday lives. If you know someone you would like to see featured, email editor@spiritofabilene.com with the name, contact information and a brief description of the person’s ministry. By LORETTA FULTON Life is filled with learning right now for Peyten Castillo. The
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “Money is the root of all evil.” We’ve all heard that statement over the years. Some of us have probably even used it from time to time. Some have heard that it’s wrong to be rich because “Money is the root of all evil.” The problem is that statement is nowhere in the Bible. It’s part of
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON I woke up early one morning and couldn’t go back to sleep; one of those mornings when things run through your mind like a racehorse. My mind was racing with issues with families, preparing for a funeral, and getting my weekly thoughts out. Sometimes I wake up and am concerned about something I said or did. I
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK Sometimes my brain runs in overdrive. I feel as if I have drunk several energy drinks or a couple of espressos, but I haven’t. My head stays full of so many of the stories that saturate our lives that my brain refuses to take a time out. I spend a lot of time thinking about the differences
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS My elementary school was within walking distance of my home. It was even close enough that I walked home from school for lunch. We apparently had a rather long time for lunch because, even though it was several blocks, I do not remember having to hurry home and hurry back to school. It was certainly preferable to
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