Jan. 12, 2008, column:
Taking a trip back to early days of the Bible

Photo: An employee of the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla., portrays a biblical priest. He stands in front of a replica of the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. (Photo by Mike Haynes)

Dec. 22, 2007, column:
Dying wife makes cowboy promise to publish book

Dec. 1, 2007, column:
Exploring Islam in literature

Nov. 10, 2007, column:
Sunday a day to remember their sacrifice

Oct. 20, 2007, column:
Bible a landmark in the expansion of knowledge

Sept. 29, 2007, column:
Museum exhibit awakens respect for those we meet

Note: The Globe-News "Faith" schedule and available space has changed, so my column will be in the paper every third Saturday for awhile instead of every second Saturday. --Mike H.

Sept. 1, 2007, column:
What you read could define you

Aug. 18, 2007 column:
Harry Potter books can be used to teach Christian principles
(Postponed from Aug. 11 newspaper because of a lack of space.)

July 28, 2007, column:
Candidate in town to preach, not to campaign

July 14, 2007, column:
Focusing seems to be a problem
(Reminder: I don't write the headlines! This column is about old biblical manuscripts.)

June 30, 2007, column:
'Waitress' director leaves legacy through foundation

June 16, 2007, column:
Words from yesteryear could be trouble today

June 2, 2007, column:
Be careful putting church on hold while college 'partying'

May 19, 2007, column:

Some things that make me wonder

May 5, 2007, column:
Speaker believes in value of human life

April 21, 2007, column:
The acronym ACTS covers the pattern for praying

April 7, 2007, column:
Sometimes student can teach the teacher

March 24, 2007, column:
Relief can come in the form of wet grass

March 10, 2007, column:
Release of spiritually based films an inspiring trend

Feb. 24, 2007, column:
Marriage should include a third party - Jesus

Feb. 10, 2007, column:
Beth Moore leads women toward spiritual guidance

Jan. 27, 2007, column:
Churches spin their own sites on Web

Jan. 13, 2007, column:
Understanding Iraq and its religions
(Note: The column has a typo: Where it says, "Ali was caliph from 556 to 561," the years should be "656 to 661.")

Dec. 30, 2006, column:
God is a constant during a bad year

Dec. 16, 2006, column:
Stratford native opens dental clinic in Guatemala as a 'faith-based mission'

(In the photo at right, Stratford native Dr. Phil Plunk treats a patient in western Guatemala.)

Dec. 2, 2006, column:
Leaving family home, church home create new memories

Nov. 18, 2006, column:
UMC 'renewers' nearer their goal

Nov. 11, 2006, column:
Man fashions Ten Commandments for in-laws

Oct. 21, 2006, column:
Here are a few points to ponder

(Briefs on McLean's Ten Commandments, the new movie about Esther, "The Gospel According to the Beatles," Larry Payne's new book, a cross from the March wildfires and the "He bible.")

Oct. 7, 2006, column:
Former Amarilloan turns fear into Christian mystery novels

Sept. 9, 2006, column:
Being a pack rat not always such a bad thing

Aug. 26, 2006, column:
When it comes to veggies, columnist comes up short

Aug. 12, 2006, column:
As the body of Christ, the hand need not be jealous of the foot

No column July 29, 2006.

July 15, 2006, column:
People still want good to win out over evil

July 1, 2006, column:
Three books offer summer diversion for mind, spirit

June 17, 2006, column:
Backyard Mission members serve as Lord's handymen

June 3, 2006, column:
'The Da Vinci Code' is just a mystery movie, not fact

May 20, 2006, column:
Still wondering

May 6, 2006, column:
Men's retreat changes things up

April 22, 2006, column:
Funeral in real life makes writer focus on Easter

(Reminder: I don't write the headlines -- somebody at the newspaper does -- and I sure wouldn't have written this one. --Mike H.)

Following is a "Just wondering" that was cut from this column in the newspaper:

Just wondering how many Amarillo College employees were inspired by Christmas e-mails from the late Lisa Cherry, who was an AC regent. Here’s an excerpt from her message of Dec. 14, 2005:
“Greetings, Merry Christmas, and may the miracle of Christmas fill your hearts with peace and happiness. It is my prayer that God will bless you and your families with a wonderful, healthy and successful New Year. As I look back over 2005, I see the faces and families of many miracles among the staff. …
“Be safe and do not forget to breathe in and breathe out.”
She added a reference to Psalm 91:11, which says, “The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you.”

April 8, 2006, column:
Former pastor withdraws from Presbyterians

March 25, 2006, column:
Horse in corner was the worst

Thanks to all who have commented on this column about the fire. I've received the most feedback ever, either online or in person, on this column. (Part of the reason was that it was the first "Faith" column to appear on the front page of the newspaper!) --Mike H.

March 11, 2006, column:
Just wondering...

(Briefs on Winter Jam 2006, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, youth mission trips, Cotton Bowl prayer and seeking a Bible in Manhattan -- plus quotes from C.S. Lewis and Dwight L. Moody.)

Feb. 25, 2006, column:
Anne Rice does good job depicting Jesus as a boy

The original column had the following paragraph at the end. It was cut in the newspaper:
Alluding to her vampire novels, Rice calls Jesus “the ultimate supernatural hero, the ultimate outsider, the ultimate immortal of them all.” But in this first book, he is just a puzzled little Jewish boy seeking his destiny.

Feb. 11, 2006, column:
'End of the Spear' brings criticism from many evangelical Christians

Jan. 28, 2005, column:
Message is clear in 'End of the Spear'

Jan. 14, 2006, column:
Tigers show up for funeral of former junior high coach

Dec. 31, 2005, column:
God lets us know he is here

Dec. 17, 2005, column:
Religious books make good gifts

Dec. 3, 2005, column:
Television tip: Brush up on your Bible

Nov. 19, 2005, column:
Taking a closer look at intelligent design

Nov. 5, 2005, column:
Rosa Parks reminds us to 'look to God, work together'

Oct. 27, 2005, column:
'Renaissance' woman leads marriage therapy group
Note: This headline that was in the newspaper doesn't reflect what the column is about. It should be something like "Creepy novel writer got spiritual start in Amarillo." --Mike H.

Another note: The following was cut from the column. Some of you might want this information:
Just wondering
* * *
Just wondering whether Dwight Huber, chairman of the Amarillo College English department, recalls his nickname, “Fightin’ Dwight, the White Knight of Right,” from Melanie Wells’s formative years at Amarillo High School. His department is sponsoring a free appearance by author Wells and her friend and fellow former Sandie, Austin musician Trish Murphy, at 9 a.m. Nov. 3 in the AC Concert Hall Theater. Wells also will be at Amarillo’s Barnes and Noble from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 3. Information on the two is online at www.melaniewells.com and www.trishmurphy.com.

Oct. 8, 2005, column:
Guide helps discover evangelical Christians

Sept. 24, 2005, column:
Christ in action in Ellwood Park
(This was supposed to run in the paper Sept. 10, but the Globe-News people said it got dumped in order to include more Katrina news. A few sentences were cut from this version for space purposes. Here's what the last paragraph was supposed to be:

The look back at Elwood Park and the look forward at Hillside and Soncy are just two of the many faces of the Christian church. If you don’t like what’s going on in one congregation, I’d suggest trying another.

(Also, the headline above was in the paper, but it's not very descriptive of what the column's about.)

Aug. 27, 2005, column:
Judge's spiritual resume shows he's 'serious' Catholic

Aug. 13, 2005, column:
Good news and bad news for Presbyterian minister

July 30, 2005, column:
'Bad News Bears' deserves R rating

July 16, 2005, column:
'Harry Potter' fears unwarranted

July 2, 2005, column:
Articles misguided on Christian beliefs

[This column was cut to make it fit into the newspaper. Near the end, where it mentions Jesus, the following two Bible verses were in the original. The first one quotes Jesus:

“I am the way and the truth and the life,” he said. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV) Peter added, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NIV)]

June 18, 2005, column:
Signs of religion show in buildings

June 4, 2005, column:
Free speech takes a blow from the Air Force Academy

May 21, 2005, column:
'Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse' a laugh, a worry

May 7, 2005, column:
Author has wide range of interests, someone to watch in political world

April 23, 2005, column:
Variety of topics cause columnist to just wonder

Note: The April 9 column didn't make it into the April 9 Amarillo Globe-News. Because of the pope's death, the entire front page of the Faith section was about his funeral, and coupled with a lot of ads, there wasn't room for my column. I'm not happy about that, but I understand. Stay tuned; the same column probably will run (and be linked here) April 23. --Mike H.

March 26, 2005, column:
In God we trust still works today

March 12, 2005, column:
Maybe we should take a lesson from Ireland

Feb. 26, 2005, column:
I.D. now could mean Intelligent Design

Feb. 12, 2005, column:
God talk key part of inaugural address

FYI: My column that was supposed to run in the Jan. 29 Amarillo Globe-News was delayed because of a last-minute ad on the page that took away the space. The column now is scheduled to run Feb. 12. --Mike H.

Jan. 15, 2005, column:
Women walking a few steps in new shoes

Jan, 1, 2005, column:
Boycott might end after writer's faux 'paw'

Merry Christmas!

A technical note: The Amarillo Globe-News Web site now requires people to register for access. It's still FREE; you just have to fill out some information one time. Lots of newspapers are operating that way now; it really isn't a big deal.
I hope you'll register so you can keep the capability of surfing to my columns.

--Mike H.

Dec. 18, 2004, column:
Letter, card conflict about holiday

Dec. 4, 2004, column:
Here's hoping new minister is just as wonderful

Nov. 20, 2004, column:
Morals a big factor in presidential election

Nov. 6, 2004, column:
We can all learn lesson from 'Friday Night Lights'

Oct. 23, 2004, column:
Separating church and state

(The headline doesn't reflect the column, but I use the headlines that appeared in the newspaper, which I didn't write!)

Oct. 9, 2004, column:
Peace is still musician's No. 1 goal

Sept. 25, 2004, column:
Religion is a factor in my November vote

Sept. 11, 2004, column:
Americans should promote Islam to defeat terrorism

Aug. 28, 2004, column:
Gene Shelburne's book anything but routine

Aug. 14, 2004, column:
Some things make one wonder

July 31, 2004, column:
Survivor not self-made but faith-made

July 17, 2004, column:
UFO Festival in Roswell was fun, except for a few nut cases

July 3, 2004, column:
Remember to put other people first, sing their praises

June 19, 2004, column:
Thing that make me wonder

June 5, 2004, column:
Pastor Dan brings to light Christians can be cool

May 22, 2004, column:
Oliver North neither extremist nor terrorist

May 8, 2004, column:
Methodist membership drifting downward

April 24, 2004, column:
Walls must be taken down

April 10, 2004, column:
Movies stir passions from Alamo to Jesus

March 28, 2004, extra column:
Rufe Jordan - lawman with foresight, dignity

March 27, 2004, column:
Christians work to build a bridge

March 13, 2004, column:
Some don't understand 'evangelical'

Feb. 28, 2004, column:
What if one of the other religious groups is right?

Feb. 14, 2004, column:
Valentine's Day is a joy, romantic - if you share

Jan. 31, 2004, column:
Nation founded by folks with strong belief in God