- HOME
- NEWS
- SPORTS
- BUSINESS
- FYI/LIVING
- ENTERTAINMENT
- OPINION
- JOBS
- CARS
- REAL ESTATE
- RENTALS
- CLASSIFIEDS
- SHOPPING
- EXTRAS
When I was a child, my mother taught me a simple table grace: “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen.” I taught it to my son, who added another line: “Please don’t let this make us sick.” (I wondered if he was worried about my cooking.)
Almost every pilgrim who makes the hajj, Islam’s holy pilgrimage to Mecca, brings home an unwelcome souvenir: the common cold. That, however, has never deterred tour operator Emad Elseidy, who has led hajj pilgrimage groups for about 10 years. The 42-year-old Egyptian immigrant accepts — almost embraces — the possibility of getting sick during hajj, but he thinks fears about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, are overblown.
Take charge of your finances The Rev. Duke Tufty, Unity Temple on the Plaza: I believe money should be viewed the same whether we are in the midst of a financial recession or not. I believe money should be viewed the same whether one has a great deal or very little, whether one has inherited money, won money or worked hard for money.
Where do you go to experience awe, peace and the sacred? Perhaps it’s a way to escape the stress and clatter of the world or a means to be in touch with the divine. It may be a special event or activity.
When Bishop Robert W. Finn was watching the rainy and snowy weather earlier this week, he was thinking of the outdoor procession that was to take place Friday during the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City. Therefore, he did what anyone in his position would do: pray for good weather.
As I write this, my husband is having open heart surgery — an aortic valve replacement. I am sitting here with family and friends who are showing their support and love. Others have brought us doughnuts and sandwiches to help us endure this eight-hour surgery. This is not a time of my life I would consider to be happy. I would say this is one of the most stressful, emotional and tiring days of my life. The negatives keep popping into my head, threatening to send my heart down the pathway of anxiety, helplessness and despair. I have taught classes and given speeches exhorting others that when negative thoughts seem to push you into the dark tunnel of despair, you need to think positive thoughts. Well, I needed to practice what I preach.
Qur’an constant Syed E. Hasan, Ph.D., Islamic Research Foundation International: The critical word here is “antiquated.” Revision may be in order for scriptures where the original words have been altered by human beings to suit a particular social set-up. If so, certainly many of the so-called injunctions would not be tenable and may need a revision. On the other hand, if we consider a scripture where the original divine words and injunctions have remained intact, the need to make any change does not arise, because man-made rules are subject to change, but God’s are not — they are eternal and transcend the bounds of time and space.
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving 25 years ago, folks from many faiths met to share a meal and give thanks for the religious liberty we enjoy in this nation. I had the privilege of presiding over that meal and those each year since.
