THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The song has been a staple in Christian hymnals for more than a century, underscoring deeply held beliefs. “The Way of the Cross Leads Home”–written in 1906–might be in the running for Christians’ national anthem if it ever came to a vote. Until here lately, the “way” to Branson, Missouri, has not been quite so
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICAN THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury They are a lovable couple–Dr. Chris Liebrum and his wife, Cindy–known for quickly triggered smiles, positive attitudes, deep faith and commitment to close-knit families. Married for 52 years, they have reached highest peaks and navigated life’s storms–shortening them when possible–confident of a safe arrival on the other side. They’re the kind of
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Errors committed when speaking sometimes, sadly, result in word entanglements that are simply beyond repair. None of us is immune. And, getting out of verbal messes can be as difficult as sticking quills back into the goose. Some folks of national renown are known for their misspoken words, particularly when they open their mouths only
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Here comes another “Mother Hubbard” column.That’s how preachers sometimes describe their sermons–comparable to “Mother Hubbard” dresses.They cover everything but touch nothing. Why are we not surprised? Researchers claim that many companies are taking advantage of the inflationary climate.Their deception is called “shrinkflation.”Some devious practices are “double-whammies,” with prices going up and product size going down. An
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Now that the election is over, my ancient Uncle Mort and his domino-playing buddies down in the thicket can resume their usual mostly-minutia confabs that too often lack authenticity. This reminds me of the annual extravaganza birthed in 1929 when old-timers of Burlington, Wisconsin, held their first-ever “Liars’ Contest.” They called it “harmless fibs
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Carl Sandburg–his poetry collections winning three Pulitzer Prizes–warmed the hearts of Americans with his beautiful description of how tides roll in, “on little cat feet.” He would be hard-pressed to similarly describe crowd’s arrivals at our house each year on October 31. They’re in all shapes, sizes, ages and all manner of dress–but, unlike
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The deeper dive one takes into life’s hourglass of time, the more likely it is to ponder nuggets of health news that might affect longevity. One jumped out at me the other day when a physician’s findings gave me an additional reason to keep as close an eye on my cane as I do
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Bob Hope, beloved humanitarian, comedian and patriot, may have been America’s best ambassador of international goodwill–ever. He was able to “localize” his jokes and stories no matter where he appeared. Always on the road, this British-born icon became a naturalized American at age four. He spent some 80 of his 100 years starring in vaudeville,
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Names of luminaries met at intersections along our pathway keep popping up as corner posts in life’s fence row. They are not remembered as being Republican or Democrat, rural or urban, liberal or conservative. Each, however, has two characteristics in common — notable public service and unquestioned Christian commitment. A friend of some half-century, the
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Spirit Of Abilene 