Wednesday, March 31, 2010

A Gallery Curated by Baha'i Views: Our response to plans


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What is your response to plans? -gw

The Spiritual Conquest of the Planet

Our Response to Plans

Part of the Word of God series. Designed to draw the student into a study of the profound concepts found in the Bahá’í Revelation.


Melanie Smith and Paul Lample

7.25" x 10"


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On a Baha'i-buzzing in My Ears: Live for the excitement

 
I live to have this kind of Baha'i-buzzing in my house. Any house would be blessed to have such radiant souls come through, on their way out teaching.  -gw
 

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On An Evening in NYC inCommemoration of the 2nd Year Anniversary of the Imprisonment of the 7 Baha’i Leaders: Featuring a special presentation by Oscar-nominated Shohreh Aghdashloo

 
Tomorrow night in NYC. What a line up of presenters!
 

Please join us for an evening co-sponsored by Columbia University’s Center for the Study of Human Rights and the Bahá’ís of NYC in commemoration of the second year anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven Baha’i leaders.

Featuring a special presentation by Oscar-nominated Shohreh Aghdashloo and actor, playwright Houshang Touzie, Anthony Azizi (Actor, Lost, 24, Flash Forward), Manoochehr Vahman (Classical Persian Violinist) and an ensemble cast directed by Shidan Majidi (Director, Miss Saigon).

Featured Guest Speakers:

Rudi Bakhtiar: Former CNN & Fox News Anchor, Current Communications Director for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Bani Dugal: Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations.

Roxana Saberi: Iranian-American Journalist who was recently released from Evin prison where she was prison mates with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, two of the seven Baha’i leaders.

Sarah Leah Whitson: Director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

On Adding Fragrance to a Baha'i's Life: I picked up my old job as a gardener

 
I also noticed that weeds had grown tall. Besides Kit himself, sitting on the wheelchair, who could only reach out to the wild plants right in front of him, nobody else had helped him in weeding. So I picked up again my old job as an assistant gardener.

My appointment at CCH had been postponed to 7pm. So I took my time to pull out unwanted grass with its roots. People of the Baha'i faith dressed in their new clothes began to come into the centre for the preparations of the event. I suddenly felt compassion for Kit who was staying alone in his messy room which was just next to the beautifully decorated hall where the Baha'is gathered for functions.

Some people were curious to see me squatting among the plants. Kit told them my identity as Saratha's former colleague and as a Christian. When they complimented me on my act, I simply smiled in return. And I prayed in my heart that one day they would know the truth of the salvation through Jesus.

 
 
Beautiful story (read it in its entirety) and pictures. -gw

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On Ready, Set, Go: Collecting hearts, no flickr-ing resolve

I've been putting sets into collections on Flickr. Here are some expansion campaign-related ones:
 
18th Baha'i Intensive Program of Growth:
 
Baha'i Reflection Meetings:
 
Baha'i Intensive Programs of Growth:
 
17th Baha'i Intensive Program of Growth:
 
Baha'i Institute Process:

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On Our Lucky 19th: Intensive cycle of growth soon to begin

209,073
uploads
 
Our next Reflection Meeting is Saturday, followed by the start of 9 days of intensive teaching the following Saturday, our 19th Intensive Program of Growth. Here are the qualities of a Baha'i teacher (although you may have to be good at reading sideways), thanks to Hectore, whose upload count is UP TO A LOT. -gw
 
Uploaded on March 28, 2010 by hectore on flickr
 
 

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On Abrahamic Faiths: Three, four, how many?

I just discovered that if I search for "Abraham" on flickr, there is more than one. -gw 
Isis:
squarecircle 2.0:
And there are four Abrahamic faiths, not three.

sorry to be stupid but what is the fourth?

Eh, I was being somewhat facetious, referring to Baha'i. Of course, I think I remember reading that, depending on your perspective, there are as many as seven Abrahamic religions
 
 

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On Spring Rain: OMG

Bahji: After a Spring Rain

Uploaded by paul.vreeland on 30 Mar 10, 9.18AM PDT on flickr

OMG, is this beautiful. -gw
 
O My friend, listen with heart and soul to the songs of the spirit, and treasure them as thine own eyes. For the heavenly wisdoms, like the clouds of spring, will not rain down on the earth of men’s hearts forever; and though the grace of the All-Bounteous One is never stilled and never ceasing, yet to each time and era a 38 portion is allotted and a bounty set apart, this in a given measure. “And no one thing is there, but with Us are its storehouses; and We send it not down but in settled measure.” 5 The cloud of the Loved One’s mercy raineth only on the garden of the spirit, and bestoweth this bounty only in the season of spring. The other seasons have no share in this greatest grace, and barren lands no portion of this favor.
 
Bahá'u'lláh The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys

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On a View from the Slope: The restaurant row is all aglow

I have never seen the Shrine of the Bab from this angle before. The restaurant row is all aglow along Ben Gurion. -gw

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Monday, March 29, 2010

On Bronze Plaques Found on the Street: Honoring an African-American Baha'i

 
Hey Friends – 

There is a new life-sized portrait bust and bronze plaque honoring Tacoma Baha’i Nettie Asberry at South 5th Street and ML King Way.  Check it out.
 
- T

 
 
Most 79 year-olds are fairly well set in their ways. Their mental and physical powers are diminished. They no longer have the curiosity or ambition or vitality that they once enjoyed. Whatever course they have taken in life is the course that they are on and will remain on, content or not, as they glide toward life’s nearing horizon. One’s values and practices have long since been solidified, especially for fundamentals such as religion and worship. At 79 years of age, Nettie Asberry did a remarkable thing: she changed her religion and resigned from her church. She found Bahá’u’lláh and became one of His followers. This happened in 1944 or ’45 through the friendship of two new Bahá’ís in town, Harry and Marjorie Taylor, who were members of the first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tacoma, which was founded in November 1943.'
 
 
So begins Gary's description of "Nettie Asberry as a Bahá’í." Who was Nettie? A woman who was honored in a proclamation by the mayor of Tacoma upon her death at 103.
 
In 1909, residing in Tacoma, she was described as a music teacher of rare ability who always had a large number of pupils, and was regarded as one of Tacoma’s expert pianists and a woman of great accomplishment, speaking French and German fluently. She taught piano to students of all races for more than 50 years. Very socially active and progressive, she helped found the Tacoma Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said to be the first chapter west of Kansas City.
 
The bust and plaque above were recently discovered by
 
Tim
 
doing his rounds (walking around the world before he dies --  true story, but for another day). Before Tim's discovery, another die-hard and in his case, very early morning walker,
 
Tacoma Joe
 
discovered an earlier plaque to this same Tacoma pioneer mounted in the sidewalk at North 30th and McCarver, pictured below. -gw
 

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On the Kitsap Olympic Peninsulas' Early Childhood Mental Health Conference: Content and feeling tone

The education and training of children is a subject for which there are extensive Baha'i references. Here is just one of them:
 
Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart.
 
 
I attended a professional conference on Friday on Early Childhood Mental Health, an area of professional specialization for me. The presentations were meaty, the conference setting remarkably beautiful, with embellishments like flowers and fabrics so pleasing to the eye. (I went crazy with the camera.) There was a remarkable turnout for our area, a confirmation of the growing importance given the social and emotional development of young children.
 
The first presenter was Naomi Perry who provided my first training in Parent Child Interaction Therapy back in the summer of 2008. -gw
 
 
 
 

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

On the Tattoo of Freedom: For Samoans & for Baha'is

Submissions have begun for the controversial Commission of Inquiry review into Freedom of Religion in Samoa. The government says the freedom of religion has somehow posed a direct challenge to the autonomy of the village council. Karen Te’o with the Baha’i of Samoa says in their submission they are encouraging the government to continue to uphold freedom of religion. She says over the years some Christian groups as well as those in the Baha’i faith have been discriminated against by village councils.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=52708

Today after the watching the Invaders football practice, I was asked by one Samoan brother to take a picture of him with his tattoos, which I was glad to do.


I heard him tell one of the coaches that his own father tattooed his shoulder when he was just 15.


He said his father had an "L.A." tattoo on his head, but he hastened to add that for his father the tattoo stood for "Lord Annointed."



Samoan tattooing tradiitons aren't necessarily Christian. I remember seeing pictures of Samoan tattoos that were included in an exhibit at the Anthropology Museum at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver last September.
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TATAU: Samoan Tattooing and Global CultureThe contemporary significance of Samoan tattoo traditions is the focus of an insightful and provocative exhibit entitled TATAU: Samoan Tattooing and Global Culture, opening in Gallery 3 (adjacent to the Great Hall) in March. Curated by Peter Brunt, Senior Lecturer in Art History at Victoria University of Wellington, the show features over 40 photographs by distinguished New Zealand artist Mark Adams. Thanks to the Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, and Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, for organizing this touring exhibition.

http://www.moa.ubc.ca/exhibits/exhibits_archive.php

This would be the tattoo I would have on my body. -gw

"This tattoo–to me–symbolizes the unity of all religions and people," uploaded on August 9, 2005 by nonameplayer on flickr

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On People Who Don't Come in Out of the Rain: Those who play spring football

 
INVADERS PRACTICE SAT. March 27th, 2010 11:30am and SUN. March 28th, 2010 2:30pm @ The Old Truman Middle School 6400 North. 23rd St. Tacoma, WA. Please bring your equipment we are full contact.(helmet, pads, cleats) Work outs and 7 on 7 will be held every Tuesday & Thursday @ Mason Middle School @ 3901 North 28th St Tacoma, WA 98407 @ 5:45pm
 
 
 
 
It was raining but I set out anyway for the Tacoma Invaders practice to say hello to Coach Charles. I actually didn't think they would be practicing in a full downpour, but they were. I took pictures, from underneath the eves of the old Truman Junior High School, where the team now practices. (Two of my children went to Truman.) After practice I visited with Charles as the rain diminished. With football practice moving to four times a week, it becomes a little harder to schedule Baha'i study, but we agreed on Friday late afternoon. And next Sunday after practice, he's going to come by for dinner after practice. I think I'm gonna make it a party, and invite over all the football-loving Baha'i friends. -gw
 
 
See all the Invader's football sets here:
 

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On Becoming Persian Friendly: "Noorooz" recognized by U.S. Congress


"Brian K. Diggs/AMERICAN-STATESMAN - Farzad Kasiri is a Austin shoe salesman and an Iranian refugee. As a member of the Baha'i faith, which is not recognized in Iran, he was arrested and tortured 22 years ago by Islamic government officials, he says. Several Baha'i refugees from Iran live in Austin and many are afraid to tell their stories publicly for fear that their relatives in Iran will be targeted. Behind him is the Baha'i Star. 7.3.05" Uploaded on January 30, 2008 by BetsyBahai on flickr.

A remarkable senate resolution, cited below, received bi-partisan support, with two Republicans (Senators Hatch and McLain) joining 13 Democrats and one Independent in sponsoring it. American Baha'is can certainly testify to the contributions made by Iranian-Americans to society. -gw

From: Northwest BahaiLibrary

Source: http://www.krsi.net/

"The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Norooz Resolution (S.Res.463), granting official recognition for Norooz for the first time in Senate history.

In approving the resolution, the Senate joins the House, which passed a similar measure last Monday, in commemorating the Iranian New Year, celebrating Iran's rich cultural traditions, expressing appreciation to Iranian Americans for their contributions to society, and wishing Iranian Americans and the Iranian people a prosperous new year. The Senate Resolution also encourages the peaceful observance of Norooz in Iran and expresses support for the rights of all Iranians to exercise freedom of assembly, expression, and speech.

Congressional recognition of Norooz signifies not only the growing political strength of the Iranian-American community, but also demonstrates the increasingly critical role of Iranian Americans as the unofficial ambassadors of Iranian culture and heritage in the U.S. In honoring Norooz, Congress recognizes that Iran cannot be viewed merely through the prism of conflict with Iran's government, but that we can foster mutual respect and cooperation directly with the Iranian people.

The Norooz Resolution's lead sponsors, Senators Robert Menendez and John Cornyn to ensure the Norooz Resolution had broad, bipartisan support to move through the Senate. The Norooz Resolution was cosponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jim Webb (D-VA), John McCain (R-AZ), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roland Burris (D-IL), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Carl Levin (D-MI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD).

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On Rocky Stories: No 45, "My mother didn't go to church but she was one prayin' woman"

As part of a continuing series on Baha'i Views of stories told by master storyteller and Baha'i Rocky Crockrell, here is another installment, this from the most recent Baha'i devotional in our home. Here Rocky tells about living in his mother's care as a boy back in Ohioan Appalachia, about the time when rent was due and what birthdays and Christmases were like. "We were totally happy."
 
 
After spending part of our evening reflecting on the moral code of people living in rural communities in America, we end our devotions listing to a recording of the Canton Spiritituals singing "Mississippi Poor Boy." Here is a 90 second clip. -gw
 

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On Health Care Reform, Divisive or Not: In my town health care to minorities & the poor will improve

 
Justice is important to Baha'is. This was the top story in today's newspaper in the town where I live. Where do you live? -gw

Federal health care reform will mean huge changes across the country, but demographics in Pierce County indicate that changes here might be even more dramatic than in many other places.

Pierce County tends to be poorer and more racially diverse than most Washington counties, and for decades public health officials have struggled, with limited success, to expand health care access to minorities and the poor.

Once insurance reform kicks in, local health officials say, Pierce County could begin to see significant changes in disease and mortality statistics.

“If they can get insurance and work with medical providers, we should see overall health improvement and a decrease in the death rate,” said Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “More people will know their health status and be able to take appropriate action to improve their health.”

According to the Health Department, about 15 percent of Pierce County adults – about 89,000 people – currently are without health insurance. Statewide, estimates of the uninsured range from 10 percent to 12 percent.

Pierce County numbers are much higher for certain racial groups. According to the Health Department, 25 percent of blacks in the county and 37 percent of Hispanics were uninsured in 2008. For whites, the rate of uninsured is just under 11 percent.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/28/1126330/county-health-will-shift.html#ixzz0jUEznvFb

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On Waywardness or Willingness: Will leaders, regardless of ideology, step forth & consult together

I love Robert's musical sensibiilities. -gw
 
From: Northwest BahaiLibrary

"....That materialistic ideals have, in the light of experience,  failed to satisfy the needs of mankind calls for an honest acknowledgment that a fresh effort must now be made to find the solutions to the agonizing problems of the planet. The intolerable conditions pervading society bespeak a common failure of all, a circumstance which tends to incite rather than relieve the entrenchment on every side. Clearly, a common remedial effort is urgently required.

It is primarily a matter of attitude.

Will humanity continue in its waywardness, holding to outworn concepts and unworkable assumptions? Or will its leaders, regardless of ideology, step forth and, with a resolute will, consult together in a united search for appropriate solutions?"

The Universal House of Justice
The Promise of World Peace, 1985
____

Carrie Underwood's hit song, "Temporary Home", hits the mark.


Lyrics

Little boy, 6 years old
A little too used to being alone
Another new mom and dad
Another school
Another house that'll never be home

And when people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face

This is my temporary home
Its not where i belong
Windows and rooms that i'm passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where i'm going
I'm not afraid because i know
This is my temporary home

Young mom on her own
She needs a little help got no where to go
Shes looking for a job looking for a way out
Cause a halfway house will never be a home

At night she whispers to her baby girl
Someday we'l find our place in this world

This is our temporary home
Its not where we belong
Windows and rooms that we're passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where we're going
I'm not afraid because i know
This is our temporary home

Old man, hospital bed
The room is filled with people he loves
And he whispers don't cry for me
I'll see you all someday

He looks up and says
I can see gods face

This is my temporary home
Its not where i belong
Windows and rooms the i'm passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where i'm going
I'm not afraid because i know
This was my temporary home

This is our temporary home

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On a Baha'i Views Feeding Problem: Change feed to http://bahaiviews.posterous.com/rss.xml & http://bahaimusic.posterous.com/rss.xml

Alex is probably not the only person who has discovered a problem in accessing Baha'i Views content using feeds. -gw
 
From: george wesley dannells
Date: Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: Your site...
To: Alexander

Hi Alex,
 
I should probably have let my http://bahaiviews.net readers know long ago that they need to change their feed to http://bahaiviews.posterous.com/rss.xml and http://bahaimusic.posterous.com/rss.xml. I have been autoposting my Baha'i Views content using two Posterous blogs since last fall to http://bahaiviews.net and http://bahaiviews.blogspot.com. Please also note that I spun off music-related content to its own separate blog on Posterous, but all content, music-related or not, continues to appear on the old (Word Press) and older (Blogger) blogs.
 
 
For some months Baha'i Views content was not appearing on the wonderful Baha'i Explorer aggregator for the same reason cited above, but is appearing again now.
 
All the best to you, Alex. I deeply appreciate your including me in your emails of items you find of interest on the Internet.
 
George

On Sat, Mar 27, 2010 at 10:22 AM, Alexander M Zoltai wrote:
 
For quite awhile now I've had a problem getting to your site from Google Reader--clicking on a post title in Reader opens the origin site but with yours all I get is a blank page.........

;-(

~Alex

 

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

On Rocky Stories: No 117, "Feloria said to Zee, 'Please come to my home & let me cook for you sometime"

 
Here is Rocky Story No. 117, from Baha'i devotions in our home, March 25, 2010. Here he tells about his wife Zee's reactions to the arrival of so many people for the celebration of Naw Ruz in their home and Perisan believer Feloria's reaction to being there.
 
Fereidoon & Feloria

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On African & Gypsy Children Dance to Baha'i Music in Portugal: Thanks Maryam, Eric, & Paulo

In the U.S. we may see headlines again this summer such as Black-Hispanic Gang Rivalries Plague Los Angeles. In other parts of the world there are other rivalries and conflicts among ethnicities. As referenced by Paulo below on Facebook, it's between Gypsies and Africans in Portugal. Thanks to Marco for bringing this wonderful video footage, linked below, to my attention. The song is, of course, by Eric Harper. -gw

Paulo Ribeiro de Lemos (videos). We have been watching news reporting gangs fights between Africans and Gypsies in Portugal. To solve this social calamity the use of force and discipline has been unsuccessfully applied by authorities. Hundreds millions of euros are annually granted by the government to... be used in public policies to re-establish the social order in several challenging neighborhoods. Without support of any kind, except Love and the word of GOD, amazingly beautiful African and Gypsy children, of various age, have been gathering together to learn and consult about thewritings of Bahá'u'lláh. Their happiness and joy stamped on their gorgeous smiles and expressed by their incredibly loud laughs have been responsible for unite their families and for make them understand that we all have to harmoniously participate in the process of building our common and shared destiny. To you Maryam Sanai and to the entire Baha'i Community of Portimão (Portugal) many thanks for making it possible! I'm so grateful to you all for allowed me to be a witness of this unifying movement during the celebration of Naw Ruz. I will never forget this moment ... Happy Naw Ruz to all my baha'i fellows all around the world. I invite you all to watch the following video...


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On Reading Baha'i Stories to My Children: And other images from back in the day

I found behind the bookcase a photo collage on a beat-up display board that one of the children had put together of photos taken back in the 80's when we lived in Montana. These images are too precious not to save in some way. The easiest way to save photos for posterity, I have come to learn, is to throw them up on Flickr -- or, in this case, photos of photos. As Bonita took all the photos but one, there is only one photo of her here.

The first photo is of me reading a Baha'i story to my children. It was our family Baha'i class.



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Friday, March 26, 2010

On Baha'i Recommends Belief-o-matic: Site assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul

Even if YOU don't know what faith you are, Belief-O-MaticTM knows. Answer 20 questions about your concept of God, the afterlife, human nature, and more, and Belief-O-Matic™ will tell you what religion (if any) you practice...or ought to consider practicing.

Warning: Belief-O-Matic™ assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul.

Just how many people have been introduced to the Baha'i Faith, or become convinced they are Baha'i by taking the quiz? -gw

http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

You should try the "beliefomatic" site. Your conception of God is one of an educator, which is compatible with Baha'i belief. To Baha'is, God is an unknowable essence of love which reveals his loving education to us through successive Divine messangers who reveal never ending chapters of the same revelation. God does care and provide for us, but doesnt need us. We are in need of His guidance. Heaven and hell are educative concepts. Being "good" or "bad" and "heaven" and "hell" are concepts for kindergarten children who need the teacher's encouragement. When we grow, we are no longer concerned with how people might judge us, but with the success we have in our enterprises. Hell is straying away from the path of a useful, as determined by God's messangers and wasting our precious moments in this short earthly life, and heaven is a life accomplished in the service of humanity, i.e. God's creation, the purpose of our lives being the advancement of civilisation. We then move on to other spiritual realms and the virtues we have acquired in this world will be of use to us in the next world, just as the organs we developed n the womb are useful to us now.


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100325234930AArF7RU

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On Taking Pictures While Driving: Beyond fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants

 
Matt's blog header photo got me to thinking, as did his current post. -gw
 
Religion is something totally beyond a stream of consciousness or fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants "Han Solo" approach. We are talking about your eternal, everlasting relationship with the Almighty here AND, hopefully, building of a community that can sustain you through not just your adolescent or young adult inquiries into existence but also through births, deaths, marriage, support during those later times in your life when you won't be so sure of what it is you know for sure right now, all of it. In that regard the Baha'i Faith is light years beyond my experience with other Faith communities - I do not name them here because unlike many on the internet who cannot behave themselves, I am not interested in criticising or negativity towards anything, I am only interested in promoting what I think is by far the best thing ever.
 
 

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

On Rejoice, Then, O Ye Beloved of the Lord: The billows of His rising ocean have scattered on every shore many a precious pearl

Baha'i World Faith--Selected Writings of Baha'u'llah and `Abdu'l-Baha, Pages 350-351: gr4
Rejoice, then, O ye beloved of the Lord and His chosen ones, and ye the children of God and His people, raise your voice and laud and magnify the Lord, the Most High; for His light hath beamed forth, His signs have appeared, and the billows of His rising ocean have scattered on every shore many a precious pearl. ...
 
 
Another short hike, the second one we did this past Saturday, following a little Mongolian Grill, through the forest and down to the Sound to stand on the shore. -gw

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On John Hatcher: Baha'i talks on Vimeo

In this video Dr. John S. Hatcher discusses the symbology of Baha'u'llah's "The Surih of the Temple."
 
 
In this video Dr. Hatcher discusses why Society needs a savior and how that God's Manifestations are directly responsible for Society's Progression.
 
 
I just noticed these high quality videos of Baha'i talks up on Vimeo. -gw

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On PeerPapers: On Baha'i

What constitutes plagiarism?
If you use someone else's paper as a guide and reference, then it is not considered plagiarism. However, if you use the free paper you find on our site as your own, you are committing plagiarism.
 
 
 
There are 25 essays mentioning the Baha'i Faith on PeerPapers. Kinda funny.
 
Don't do it. Write your own. -gw

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On Baha'i Party People: Peaceful belly-dancers


A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to attend a party in celebration of the Baha’i ‘intercalary days’. These are the ‘leftover’ days at the end of the Baha’i calendar and are celebrated much the same as we celebrate the New Year, but with ... no alcohol… The celebration was a real family event, and all the kids had a ball playing in the pool while the adults sat around eating all the wonderful food which was provided by the hosts and some of the guests; chatting and generally enjoying each others company and a pleasantly warm afternoon. These are genuinely very friendly people and I had some very pleasant conversations with people I’d never even met before. ... All in all, a good time was had by all and I must say that Baha’i parties are undoubtedly the most peaceful ones I’ve ever attended!

http://pigsarms.com.au/2010/03/22/a-bahai-new-year/

Belly dancing was a featured activity at this party in Australia. How do Baha'i parties compare to, say, Mardi Gras. See self-described "Bohemian Baha'i" Steve's pics.-gw

Check out my Rio De Janeiro Carnival slideshow, complete with samba music:

http://gallery.me.com/steveboone9#100141



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On the Universal Affects of Coffee on Youth: Baha'i youth in Saigon, Vietnam

Dan got married to his beloved in Vietnam and has posted on Flickr many pictures of the Baha'is there. -gw
 
"Baha'i youth in Saigon," uploaded on March 21, 2010 by dragfyre onflickr
 

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On Praveen in America: Follow his travels

Baha'i internet presence Praveen from India is visiting America. See his joyous pictures. Follow his travels. -gw
 
 

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

On the Baha'i Faith Is Like... : A dill pickle

Can we make that dill-flavored potato chips? -gw

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On Baha'i Knowledge Hunt: A light-hearted and fun way to increase knowledge about Baha’i topics

On the Clear Lake Trail: O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary

O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose providence is my companion, Whose love is the cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace, Whose nearness is my desire, Whose presence is my dearest wish and highest aspiration, I entreat Thee not to withhold from me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants. Supply me, then, with the good of this world and of the next.

Thou, truly, art the King of all men. There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

( Bahá'u'lláh, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 16)

We only did a small portion of the Clear Lake Trail last Saturday, but we chose the most open space, given the sunshine. The trail is in the heart of Kitsap County, very close to the regional mall in Silverdale, meandering in some places behind large commercial box stores. Call it an urban trail, if you will, but it has all the natural beauty you can want for something so close in. -gw



clear creek

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Sunday, March 21, 2010

On the Pierce Penninsula Naw Ruz Celebration: At Rocky's place

Bonita, Charles, Louis and I all went over to the Pierce Penninsula Naw Ruz celebration at Rocky's, this on the heels of the Naw Ruz celebration in Tacoma.
 
There I learned of the joy of sliding down carpeted stairs on your stomach (actually, the joy of watching little people do it).
 
 
There Charles enlisted Patrick as a soccer coach for kids 12 to 18 on the Hilltop.
 
 
There Bonita talked what it takes to build good soil. And other marvelous subjects that friends find themselves addressing when engaging in coversation with friends so dear. -gw
 

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On Twitter Naw Ruz Updates: Easily more than 140 characters are extending you their greetings

 pedraum A late Naw-Ruz gift for my music-loving friends: well-shot concert video of Thom Yorke playing solo. http://bit.ly/biN3RB #fb 5 minutes ago reply
 
 ashiyan Wonderful Naw Ruz party for Berkshire just finished. Work tomorrow and study circle in the evening in my new neighborhood in Reading. 6 hours ago reply
 
 fiveplusfour My first photo of the new year was (Naw Ruz) was of a fig tree and my first meal of the year was at Fig Restaurant at the Fairmony in SM.
 
robinmelin Busy family day with pancake breakfast, tennis, swimming,a bowling birthday bash and Naw-Ruz celebration in Lund. 9 hours ago reply
 
 haikudiaries As the sun rises, a new year greets us with a smile. Happy Naw-Ruz! #haiku 9 hours ago reply
 
 indigginus HAPPY NAW RUZ (new year) TO ALL!!! http://www.bahai.us/with... #nawruz 10 hours ago reply
 
 spitkitten Happy Naw-Ruz everybody (the Baha'i new year)! http://bahai-library.com... 11 hours ago reply
 
 mad_alchemist Happy Naw-Rúz! Tadiq, Persian dancing, and good time was had by all. 12 hours ago reply
 
 Libbyjoon Happy Naw Ruz! Let's start this year with energy and much more love than last one!!! 12 hours ago reply
 
 LauraHarley Very Happy Naw Ruz (Baha'i New Year) to all my Baha'i friends! Wishing you a year filled with joy, learning and growth!
 
 KatrinaFleming Happy Naw Ruz everyone! 46 minutes ago reply
 
 ghazieg Hope everyone had a joyous Naw-Ruz 2 hours ago reply
 
 Taxicr Great Naw-Ruz party tonight! Saw a hall director and Parviz had my favorite comment for the night: If you don't eat, Caitlin... We mind! Lol 3 hours ago reply
 
 theninestarshop Happy New Year! Happy Naw Ruz ! Happy Vernal Equinox. Our kids had an exciting morning hunting for hidden chocolate "Naw Ruz Eggs" Peace All 6 hours ago reply
 
 CoachBahieh blessing of the day: celebrating the persian and bahai New Year (Naw Ruz) with my family. my heart is full, I am happy. #blessings 7 hours ago reply
 
 mizzphashion i just got $20 bucks from my grandma for persian new year! (naw ruz) yeah!!! 7 hours ago reply
 
 
Twitter is a great place to be on a Baha'i Holy Day. Get greetings from allover the world, minute by minute. -gw

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