IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Fifth-grade violinists from Grandview Elementary School are accustomed to taking Branson, Missouri, by storm, but this year they wowed audiences despite the “double whammy” of rainstorms and a pandemic. Founder-director Vicki Nichols, who has taken the Zebra Strings to Branson for 15 consecutive years on a chartered bus, opted out last spring when COVID-19 dangers

THE IDLE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Ever-deepening Christian faith is called upon by believers who sometimes are challenged by their “trust and obey” commitment. We need only point to COVID-19, which has laid claim to as many as seven million lives worldwide, and many times that number who have been affected greatly by the pandemic’s countless joy-sucking tentacles. We

IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Expertly written and acted, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been ransacked as an eye-catcher for many projects, presentations, and programs over the years. Based on the book and Broadway play, the 1960’s movie awakened in humankind that funny things do happen along the way, sometimes even en route to church. Much has been

   IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury As a four-year-old when World War II began in 1941, my understanding of the enormity of it all escaped me. I was busy perusing comic books at the time, intrigued by Superman jumping tall buildings in a single bound. It was his “bounding,” I’m thinking, that caused my lingering gazes at real skyscrapers a

IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Proverbial truisms typically go unchallenged, but an expression dating back to the sixteenth century has gone by the boards when its application is directed toward men’s footwear. Historically, what men have worn on their feet has been basic, often dictated by comfort, durability and practicality. Long before Baskin-Robbins came along with 31 flavors that threatened

IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Folks who may have spent too much time in the environs of hog farms perhaps came by the odor honestly, simply a result of growing up years. Others of us may “smell of swine” by virtue of being frequent beneficiaries of “blind hog luck.” I admit having a foot in each camp, having spent time

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It has been said of me throughout my adult life–perhaps also true of years unfolding soon after infancy–that my antenna has been on “24/7” alert for good deals. Many deals, though, have soured due to timing issues. I mean, how was I supposed to know as a lad that the once-raging demand for Davy

    IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury There are a handful of college coaches in this land whose names are interchangeable with the colleges they served during their entire careers. They were paid salaries that would be laughable compared to contracts held by many big-name coaches today. The coaches were J. Horace (Cap) Shelton (1893-1967) at Howard Payne College (now University)