By JIM NICHOLS I have frequently asked my students, “Who has been an important person in your life?” There are predictable responses such as parents and grandparents, but often many students will identify a specific teacher in their past. Asked to expand, they will usually describe a classroom teacher who was just the right person at the right time in
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By DANNY MINTON When I was 15, I would look in the mirror, and staring back was a baby-faced kid with a flat top and acne. Puberty was certainly not kind to me during those years. By the time I was 18, I could look in the mirror and see a clear face, but sporting the same hairstyle I had
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By WALT PFEIFER Stealing a phrase from Mercy Me’s hit song I Can Only Imagine, I can only imagine what heaven will be like–but I do wonder about the denizens we might meet. For me, I see myself running around asking, “Who were you back on the physical earth? Were you in the Bible?” Hoping that I might stumble onto
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By SARA CORE What in the World is an Anamcara? Spiritual direction is a spiritual practice or discipline as old as the church itself. For centuries, Christians from many parts of the church have used the ministry of a spiritual director, who is someone wise and experienced in the study and practice of faith. A spiritual director meets with a
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By LORETTA FULTON Mohammed Al Samawi, a native of Yemen, didn’t see his dream come true when he arrived in America, but his consolation prize isn’t bad. “My dream was to work at Starbucks,” Al Samawi said during a presentation Monday night, Oct. 14, at McMurry University. Instead, he will have to settle for getting his book, based on his
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By LORETTA FULTON The new assistant chaplain at McMurry University brings youth, diversity, energy and a message to her new job. The message that Julia Puac-Romero brings to the table is not to forget about students at United Methodist-affiliated universities in the midst of a debate on sexuality issues. Read story by Loretta Fulton in the Reporter-News.
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By DANNY MINTON “You need to read this book…”. “Have you heard, …’s tape?” “This is a great blog click on this link.” “Have you seen this article?” How often has someone told us something along these lines? How often have we done it ourselves? I know I have on several occasions. Books, sermons, lessons, blogs, articles, webpages, and the
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By LORETTA FULTON Nick Kasemeotes isn’t on the frontline in Syria fighting off a Turkish invasion, but he is playing a huge role in that effort by traveling the Midwest raising funds to help refugees who already were suffering. Kasemeotes, the gift officer for International Orthodox Christian Charities, was in Abilene Oct. 9, the day of the invasion following President
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IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Ray Hildebrand, who wrote and sang “Hey, Paula” with college classmate Jill Jackson in 1963, admits to being “older than dirt,” but quickly adds that he’s still “kicking up dust,” despite entering his 80th year a few weeks hence. In fact, he’s “on track” to exceed the longevity of another “Ray”– this one named
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Spirit Of Abilene 