Thursday, December 24, 2009

A tribute to Jesus

A tribute to Jesus on this Christmas;
What does it mean to be religious?
Mike Ghouse

This column is dedicated to Rev. Petra Weldes of the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas. Some of my conversation with her inspired me to write this tribute to Jesus and what it means to be religious.

Continued: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/12/tribute-to-jesus.html
~~~

Friday, June 12, 2009

Carrollton's Ghouse calls for Interfaith

Carrollton's Ghouse calls for Interfaith Understanding after Holocaust Museum Slaying

6:25 PM Thu, Jun 11, 2009 Permalink
Dianne Solis/Reporter Bio E-mail News tips

Like many, Mike Ghouse was horrified and worried when he heard about the fatal shooting this week at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

Who was the killer behind the death of security guard Stephen Johns?

The Carrollton resident, homebuilder and property manager, hoped it would not fuel religious tensions. "I thought why do people have hate," Ghouse said. "That was my first response."

Ghouse is an avid blogger and many of his commentaries can be found at www.mikeghouse.net and an array of links. He called for more understanding as details poured out about the violence at the Holocaust Museum.

Fifteen years ago he founded the Foundation of Pluralism. Its mission is to embrace and accept the eccumenical ways of the world. "There is not a faith we haven't covered," he says.

He is a Muslim himself and originally emigrated from the Bangalore area of India some 30 years ago.

"I will never claim my faith is superior to others," he says. "Every faith is beautiful to me. The inability to accept the differences of others causes conflict."

And when weekend worship comes, Ghouse likes to bounce around North Texas to different houses of worship, including a few synagogues.
...
Mike Ghouse has shared his thoughts. Please share your own.

Orginal Article was published at:
Muslims Condemn display of hate at Holocaust Museum
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/06/muslims-condemn-display-of-hate-at.html

_________________

Comments
Posted by Mike Ghouse @ 8:36 AM Fri, Jun 12, 2009

I have received a lot of flak for saying "I will never claim my faith is superior to others,” This arrogance is the mother of all conflict.

Think about this; Spirituality and Arrogance are inversely proportional to each other. Higher the arrogance, lower the spirituality (humility or religiosity).

Most people, religious or not, believe that the purpose of religion is transform an individual to be a good human being to him and what surrounds him or her. Most people get it, a few don't.

Every one of the spiritual masters had a similar message - the whole world is one family, indeed, our pledge of allegiance is the most beautiful thing “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all".

What happened at Holocaust Museum is sad and all of us need to stand together in solidarity, not to be against some one, but to be together for all. It is our duty to work towards safety and security of every one of the 301 Million of us. No one will be safe unless every one around him or her is not.

As a society we need to have long term plans and dialogues with extremists. Every human is amenable to goodness, we cannot eliminate hate with anger and drastic actions, we can fade it out with love and long term plans to have goodness for one and all. Together, we can gradually shape a better society with patience.

Stereotyping Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus or others is another evil, some of us give room to in our hearts, remove it and see the joy of being open mindedness, that is what God is, open minded, all embracing, all loving.

Visit every place of worship and see how many ways you can appreciate the causer of life.

I appreciate Dallas Morning News for giving a lift to good happenings that gives hopes to the mankind when things like the hate at display at the Holocaust Museum.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Carrollton quilt project stitches community together

There are so many ways of forging the communities to come together for the well being of itself, and the Carrollton quilt project stitches community together and will go down in the history as a record of doing it.

The idea is brilliant and the focus is right. This is one simple way to bring the communities together.

I pray every community and every city starts working on it... it is in our interest to understand each other, live as a cohesive community and contribute towards the wellbeing of community life.

Thanks Bonnie for this initiative

Mike Ghouse
Carrollton


Carrollton quilt project aims to stitch together migration to city over century
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=211756900651&h=uP4wa&u=2ILVc&ref=mf

Bonnie Kaplan says she wants to put the unity back in community.

The former Carrollton city councilmember leads a move to stitch the city's various narratives together in a community quilt--a signature quilt--that will be displayed in the city's historical museum. The quilt started as a fundraising project to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the A.W. Perry Homestead. A museum bears that homestead's name.

But constructing the narrative of the city became something deeper as Kaplan reached out to different niches in this city of 124,000. Others have had a similar experience with quilts that chronicle life--and death. Think of the AIDs memorial quilt and how it grew, or the history recorded in the fabric and appliqués in African-American quilts from slave days. Or maybe think of your mother's block quilt, stitched together from scraps of fabric used for the dresses and blouses of your youth.

For Kaplan, the fund-raiser's morphed into an exercise in demography. She realized how much change had swept through Carrollton.

And she'd like signatures from those with long-time roots and those among the many immigrant communities. About a fourth of the city is foreign-born.

Kaplan's reaching out to Muslims, to the Vietnamese, Korean, and Mexican and Salvadoran immigrant communities, as well as long established black and Latino residents.

Tuesday, she was collecting autographs at the City Council meeting, including the signature of new politicos like Jeff Andonian. Josh Potter, an Eagle Scout, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and then he got courted by Kaplan, who soon had him signing a fabric ribbon for the quilt.

Anyone who wants to be stitched up should contact Kaplan at be.kaplan@verizon.net. She'd like to get signatures together and delivered by mid-June to a veteran quilter.

Also in Carrollton Leader:
http://www.planostar.com/articles/2009/06/04/carrollton_leader/news/53.txt

Friday, March 20, 2009

Carrollton Candidates

Please feel free to write your comments below
Thank you

Carrollton Elections

City of Carrollton General Election May 9, 2009
NOTICE OF CITY OFFICERS' ELECTION

To the Registered Voters of the City of Carrollton, Texas:

Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009, for voting in a General Election to elect four Council members - one for Place 1; one for Place 3; one for Place 5; and one for Place 7.

THE POLLING PLACES LISTED BELOW WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO
7:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009:

LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES PRECINCTS
Dallas County (Condado de Dallas)

Central Elementary School 1400, 1407, 1408, and/y 1409 - 1600 S. Perry Road

Newman Smith High School 1402, 1404, and/y 1405 - 2335 N. Josey Lane

Country Place Elementary School 1401, 1403, 1406 and/y 1411 - 2115 Raintree

Denton County (Condado de Denton)


Rosemeade Recreation Center 204, 206, 211, 215, 217, and/y 225 - 1330 Rosemeade Parkway

Thompson (Woodlake) Elementary School 205, 209, and/y 212 - 2915 Scott Mill Road

Carrollton Public Library @ Hebron & Josey 200, 203, 208, 213, 218, and/y 221 -4220 N. Josey Lane


EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE WILL BE CONDUCTED AT JOSEY RANCH LAKE LIBRARY, 1700 KELLER SPRINGS AND AT HEBRON & JOSEY LIBRARY – 4220 NORTH JOSEY LANE AS FOLLOWS:

April 27-May 1 (Monday – Friday) 8am -- 5pm
May 2 (Saturday) 8 am -- 5pm
May 3 (Sunday) 1pm -- 6pm
May 4-May 5 (Monday – Tuesday) 7am -- 7pm

APPLICATIONS FOR BALLOT BY MAIL SHALL BE MAILED TO:
Aplicaciones para boletas en ausencia serán enviadas por correo a:

Bruce Sherbet, Early Voting Clerk
8th Floor Elections Department
2377 N. Stemmons Frwy.
Dallas, Texas 75207

Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business (5:00
p.m.) on Friday, May 1, 2009.

Issued this the 17th day of February 2009.

By/por: ____________________________________

Ronald F. Branson, Mayor/Alcalde

Voter's Registration Information
For voter's registration information, click on the appropriate county link below:

Dallas County
www.dalcoelections.org

Denton County
www.elections.dentoncounty.com

Friday, February 27, 2009

Carrollton Daily

Big screen dreamsFilmmaking is becoming a popular pursuit among Carrollton natives and residents. - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:44 PM CST

City to offer incentives for new signs near downtownThe city of Carrollton plans to actively go out to businesses on Belt Line Road, between Josey Lane and Myers Street, to let them know of a new program that will provide incentives for new signs. - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:44 PM CST

(SLIDESHOW) Nature Tales at Elm Fork Nature PreserveMatt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:58 AM CST

State: Lawmakers weighing impact of stimulus participationEditor’s note: This weekly report on the state legislature is compiled from daily informational reports supplied by Richard Lee and other sources. - Saturday, February 21, 2009 1:09 AM CST

Carrollton creates stimulus planThe city of Carrollton is taking steps to help residents ease the stress of unemployment with a new stimulus program. - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

Raises for C-FB ISD teachers may depend on votersSalary increases for teachers in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD may be in the hands of voters. - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

Students explain “Why we celebrate”A group of Creekview High School students spent Friday explaining the significance of black history in an original play “Why We Celebrate.” - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

State Legislature: Economy linked to state’s strong banking industryEditor’s note: This weekly report on the state legislature is compiled from daily informational reports supplied by Richard Lee and other sources. - Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:55 AM CST

Carrollton: Police to enforce new traffic ordinance beginning MondayThe Carrollton Police Department will begin enforcing a new city ordinance enacted by the Carrollton City Council beginning Feb. 16. The ordinance authorizes officers to impound vehicles that have been stopped for violations of city or state traffic laws or other laws applicable to the operation of a vehicle on the roadway and the vehicle’s owner or operator fails to show proof of financial responsibility as required by the Texas Transportation Code. - Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:20 PM CST

(SLIDESHOW) Lego Construction class at Rosemeade Recreation CenterMatt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo - Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:02 PM CST

Election filing under wayThe Carrollton City Council is set for an overhaul this spring with four seats up for election and three current council members unable to run for re-election because of term limits. - Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:21 PM CST

Carrollton man slain during robberyThe Carrollton Police Department is looking for two males suspected of robbing and murdering a Carrollton man in January. - Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:21 PM CST

State: Early senate focus on health, education, online safetyHealth, education and online safety have been the issues at the forefront of Texas Senate discussions during the first two weeks of the 81st Legislative Session in Austin. - Sunday, February 8, 2009 11:30 PM CST

Sunday, January 18, 2009

PR - II Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

II ANNUAL REFLECTIONS ON HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDES

Our Mission is to create awareness of the inhumanity in all of us, and discover and create solutions for peaceful co-existence. We need to remind ourselves frequently to do our share to make the world a better place to live, vow to say “never again” to human atrocities, and at this annual occasion dare to practice the power of forgiveness.

II ANNUAL REFLECTIONS ON HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDES
Day: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: UNITY CHURCH OF DALLAS, 6525 Forest Lane • Dallas, TX 75230
Contact: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
email: MikeGhouse@aol.com
Website: www.HolocaustandGenocides.org

RSVP: ConfirmAttendance@Gmail.com

Dallas Morning News:
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/reflections-on-holocaust-and-g.html

Details - Press release:
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Articles/Holocaust-and-Genocides-Press-Release-011709.asp


Mike Ghouse,
Event Chair (214) 325-1916
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com