https://www.theazlenews.com/author/8,david-shaffer en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:06:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1850,next-stop-annapolisFormer Azle High School baseball standout Billy Spratt is preparing for his next challenge as he leaves for Annapolis, Maryland, in the coming weeks to begin his journey at the United States Naval Aca...]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:06:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1850,next-stop-annapolis https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1727,reclaiming-battlefieldsFor years my two brothers have given me books for my birthday. Their choices have often matched whatever phase I was going through at the time. There was my ancient literature phase, my classics phase...]]> Sun, 24 May 2026 13:28:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1727,reclaiming-battlefields https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1625,the-difference-they-makeThis past week at the Azle chamber’s Business After Hours event, I heard something that stuck with me.Two people new to the chamber shared that before attending, others had told them, “You need to che...]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:55:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1625,the-difference-they-make https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1481,marriage-in-3-dI have heard many wedding messages over the years, and a familiar line is often stated: “In Christian marriage, one plus one equals one.” It is a meaningful statement, and it reflects a biblical truth...]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:47:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1481,marriage-in-3-d https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1361,the-sun-will-come-out-tomorrowMost “Hope Matters” columns grow out of ordinary moments in life, conversations or observations here at home. This story is different. It is true, like the others I share, but it is also far more extr...]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0600 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1361,the-sun-will-come-out-tomorrow https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1282,when-a-little-becomes-a-lotIn 2019, a widely shared account from Chicago’s South Side told of a janitor who paid off students’ lunch debts for years without fanfare. According to the story, no one knew what he had been doing un...]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:03:00 -0600 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1282,when-a-little-becomes-a-lot https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1194,the-year-of-no-christmas-cardThis was the year the Christmas card did not happen.That was not the plan. Like every other year, we fully intended to send one. December arrived with familiar expectations and the assumption that, so...]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:22:00 -0600 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1194,the-year-of-no-christmas-card https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1114,let-s-get-ready-to-rumbleMy wife, Daniele, and I were recently driving back from Doxology Bible Church in Fort Worth on Interstate 20 when our vehicle suddenly began to vibrate. One moment we were talking about something mean...]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:17:00 -0600 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1114,let-s-get-ready-to-rumble https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1009,wrapped-in-a-gown-surrounded-by-storiesI was alone in the exam room, sitting on a paper-covered medical bed in an ill-fitting hospital gown, awaiting a procedure. It was one of those precautionary tests doctors recommend once you reach a c...]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:26:00 -0500 https://www.theazlenews.com/article/1009,wrapped-in-a-gown-surrounded-by-stories