July 24, 2010, column:

There's added punch to these two stories

Photo: The Rev. Rupert Brashears admires a robe that followed him from Kansas City to Amarillo and gives him great satisfaction. (Photo by Mike Haynes)

July 3, 2010, column:
Is trip to Sin City sinful?
Most things in Las Vegas also are here

June 12, 2010, column:
Wise coach valued Bible

May 22, 2010, column:

Hats off to grads, a source of pride

In the two photos, John Haynes of McLean, left, shakes hands with Dr. Duane Dunn, president of Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan., after receiving his diploma May 8, and McLean graduate Sheri Haynes poses with her parents, Ginger and David Haynes, May 28.

May 1, 2010, column:

Trip brings me to home of hero of faith

Thea Scott leads a tour of Wesley's Chapel in London on Jan. 3. The chapel opened in 1778, and John Wesley preached there for 13 years. (Photo by Mike Haynes)

April 10, 2010, column:

Author observes Jesus in novelette

March 20, 2010, column:
McLean bonds on Lady Tigers' tournament run
(This column goes in a different direction about McLean basketball than the "just the facts" report below. --Mike H.)

Below is my report of my hometown girls' basketball team at the state tournament last week. It appeared in The McLean News. In the picture, our niece is second from left in the front row! --Mike H.

By Mike Haynes
With a fourth of the town following them to Austin, the McLean Lady Tigers came up one game short of a state championship Saturday but still took home a second-place trophy for only the second time in 59 years.
Two Lady Tigers – seniors Sheri Haynes and Alexis Menefield – were named to the Class 1A Division II all-tournament team. Haynes led the team in scoring in both games at the Frank Erwin Center, and Menefield was McLean’s second-leading scorer.
McLean’s Saber Bohlar hit a three-pointer with 1.3 seconds left on the clock in the state semifinal game against Leggett Friday night to give the Lady Tigers a 66-63, come-from-behind win over the Lady Pirates from East Texas. The McLean fans in one corner of the “Super Drum” arena waved gold “McLean” towels and almost raised the roof of the “Drum” with their cheers.
Leggett had held a 17-point lead in the first half.
McLean never got on track in the state final game Saturday night and lost to Neches, also an East Texas team, 61-32. Haynes led the Lady Tigers in both games with 22 against Leggett and 12 against Neches.
Other McLean players scoring against Leggett were Menefield with 16, Nancy Castillo with 14, Bohlar with 10, and Rudy Rodriguez with 4.
Against the Neches Lady Tigers, Menefield had 11 points, Castillo had 7 and Rodriguez had 4.
In the semifinal game, Leggett led 23-11 after one quarter and 35-27 at the half. McLean had taken a 50-48 lead going into the final quarter but fell behind 60-55 with 4:08 left before making another scoring surge.
As one of the top two Class 1A Division II teams in the state, McLean duplicated the efforts of the 1951 team, which fell in the finals to Comanche, 50-49, in the first UIL girls state tournament. This year’s Lady Tigers finished with a 29-5 record.
About a fourth of McLean’s population, an estimated 230 fans, joined the team at the state tournament. The city’s population is 828. Enrollment at McLean High School this year is 76 students. In addition to players’ family members and McLean residents, many MHS graduates from past years and even former McLean coaches attended from the Dallas and Austin areas and from as far away as Arizona.
After the state championship game Friday night, McLean followers remained in the Erwin Center until halftime of the Class 5A title game, when the McLean and Neches players were honored. On the University of Texas court, head coach Benji Hausen, assistant coach Andy Glass and the Lady Tigers received the state runnerup trophy draped with a net from the game and also were presented with a game ball.
The team and coaches returned to McLean Sunday in the school district’s brand-new “McLean Tigers” bus.

Feb. 27, 2010, column:
Author urges Christians to spread ideas from Scripture

Feb. 6, 2010, column:
Connecting with C.S. Lewis as fellow Christian

Kathy Haynes stands Jan. 5 in front of the Kilns, where writer C.S. Lewis lived in Oxford, England, from 1930 to 1963. (Photo by Mike Haynes)

Jan. 16, 2010, column:
New college will return to Christian world view

Dec. 26, 2009, column:
Keep the spirit in heart all year long

Dec. 5, 2009, column:
Bob was precise, refined friend
Remembering a well-mannered, polite man

Nov. 14, 2009, column:
Reflect: Morley to speak at prayer breakfast

Oct. 24, 2009, column:
U2 concert, 'Secrets' have a lot in common

Oct. 3, 2009, column:
Unshaken in face of adversity
Love led survivor of wreck in Andes

Sept. 12, 2009, column:
Sunday best is in eyes of wearer

Aug. 22, 2009, column:
The Lord comes 1st in life
Appreciate what God has created

Aug. 1, 2009, column:
2 Boyett books out this month
'Pocket Guides' to afterlife, sainthood

July 11, 2009, column:

A small-town high school reunion of '69
Graduating classes are close like family

June 20, 2009, column:

Nun, always a teacher, earns degree

May 30, 2009, column:
Idea of hell stems from imagination
It's not just something to scare people to heaven
(Above is the headline the newspaper used for this column. It's not very accurate. Better would be something like: "Hell isn't just imagined")

May 9, 2009, column:
Anne Rice series tells Christ story

April 18, 2009, column:
Testimonies have me watery-eyed

March 28, 2009, column:
Professions that cross my mind

March 7, 2009, column:
Bible study gaining popularity

Feb. 14, 2009, column:
Spread the love this Valentine's

Jan. 24, 2009, column:
When concern collides with compassion, lean on Jesus

Jan. 3, 2009, column:

Inspiration isn't just for New Year's

Dec. 13, 2008, column:

Appreciate family time this Christmas

Nov. 22, 2008, column:
Religion plays small role in voter decisions
From Kennedy to Obama, faith has had little effect

Nov. 1, 2008, column:
Religion plays role for voter

Oct. 11, 2008, column:
Step back, these Bibles are really old

Sept. 20, 2008, column:
Make no apologies for beliefs

Aug. 30, 2008, column:
Jesus dying, resurrection confirm beliefs

Aug. 9, 2008, column:
Church terms may scare away future believers
Before this column was cut to fit into the newspaper, it included some other terms used to describe salvation. If you'd like me to e-mail you the original column, e-mail me.

July 19, 2008, column:
Book paints stilted picture
(Again, I don't write the headlines. Also, let me know if you'd like me to e-mail you the original column before some interesting parts were cut to make it fit into the newspaper.)

June 28, 2008, column:
Ponder points: Christian roots, Creative Design

June 7, 2008, column:
News career over but walk with God will never end
(I don't write the headlines; actually the news career isn't over, but my printing-press-operating career is! --Mike H.)

May 17, 2008, column:
Atheist spawns debate between design, Darwinism

April 26, 2008, column:
Strength to die for beliefs rooted in faith

Jon Mark Beilue column, April 13, 2008:
Charity sweeps the city; Hillside pastor stirs revolution
(I didn't write this one, but I hope you'll read it.)

April 5, 2008, column:
Megachurches serve masses but lose small-church community feel

March 15, 2008, column:
Basics good for weather, not for faith

February 23, 2008, column:
Author to sign books for hometown folks

Feb. 2, 2008, column:
Cowboy, evangelist get pickup load of affection, respect

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.