Wedding Speech - Best Man -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Speech - Best ManFirst I?d exchangeable to thank GROOMS NAME for those kind words ? some sort of response is probably in orderBefore I start, if theres anybody here who feels a miniscule nervous and apprehensive, its probably because youve just got married to GROOMS NAME.I shake a bit of an issue to raise, it has come to my attention that there is a bet on about the length of the Best Mans speech.... however I am real you bequeath all be glad to know that I got get throughd of this and carry put a bet down of an hour, and with the kitty currently at $100 you might as well all settle and enjoy the ride...So I have a bit of a dilemma ? do I drag the speech out for the hour so I win or do I get on with it so we can get in the bar?As best man I have a few specific jobs to do today, this being one of them, and an earlier one being to make sure GROOMS NAME got here on while and in decent form, sober and smart - it is my responsibility to make sure his face and hair are in o rder. I think that this duty is sooner unfair, and have frankly just tried to do the best I could given what I had to work with, although at least his hair today is a considerable improvement on some of the styles that he has sported over the years, which include a pony tail and an impeccable bob. Another duty is to make sure that certain people are thanked for their part in today, so I?d like to take some time to thank a duo of people who ... ...at with you both?long may it continue?So, ladies and gentlemen, it really has been an honour and a pleasure being best man, but today I am the best man in title only. It?s GROOMS NAME and BRIDES NAME?s day and I wish them all the happiness in the adult male for this new chapter in their lives.To round up then, I d like to thank you all for your attention, and let me just say that if youve enjoyed listening to this speech as much as I enjoyed making it, then all I can do is apologise most sincerely.Thats it. I am sure you will be as glad as me that there is no more, bar a toast, so if you would all please charge your glasses and be unanimous?ladies and gentlemen, the toast is the bride and groom?

Why Do I Volunteer? :: Contribution to My Community Service

Some hoi polloi offer up to gain career experience, to build their resume. Develop skills or record new ones. In addition volunteer work enables others to make contacts with people in their chosen career. Some people volunteer to build self-esteem, to make themselves palpate better. To olfaction needed, to feel that they drive home a place in this world. To truly feel like they are making a contribution to society. Some people volunteer for the friendly aspect, to climb the social ladder while sufficeing those less fortunate. Some people volunteer as a result of the instilled erect of values they have a set of values that compel them to act on deeply held beliefs about the importance of helping others. Some people volunteer because they have tangle the cruel sting that animateness may have afflicted them or a loved one with. For example someone power volunteer for the Ameri tail Cancer Society because a family member died of derrierecer. And some people do it because they want a better understanding about several(predicate) people or the organization they serve, bridging the gap, so to speak, in order to better understand their community and themselves. However, I volunteer to give back to my community. I am grateful for the help I received from others. When I was in high school I participated in the Upward Bound program. There I was influenced by the academic success of my tutors. I was challenged by them to exceed all of their expectations, and to broaden my horizons of thinking. Through Upward Bound I was able to acquire skills and opportunities that have helped me plow the person that I am today. So I give back to enable kids to have the same chances at life that I have had. Volunteering is the crowning(prenominal) payback to those who helped me on the road to success. I remember asking a counselor when I was in Upward Bound how I could repay him. He smiled and said You can help me by helping another. A statement so simple, yet so de ep in its meaning. The feeling that I can shape someones life for the better is unexplainable. When I got my first volunteer position as a junior counselor at my local Boys and Girls club, I was bore to be a great role model for the kids. But things did not work out as I initially thought.Why Do I Volunteer? Contribution to My Community ServiceSome people volunteer to gain career experience, to build their resume. Develop skills or learn new ones. In addition volunteer work enables others to make contacts with people in their chosen career. Some people volunteer to build self-esteem, to make themselves feel better. To feel needed, to feel that they have a place in this world. To truly feel like they are making a contribution to society. Some people volunteer for the social aspect, to climb the social ladder while helping those less fortunate. Some people volunteer as a result of the instilled set of values they have a set of values that compel them to act on deeply held beli efs about the importance of helping others. Some people volunteer because they have felt the cruel sting that life may have afflicted them or a loved one with. For example someone might volunteer for the American Cancer Society because a family member died of cancer. And some people do it because they want a better understanding about different people or the organization they serve, bridging the gap, so to speak, in order to better understand their community and themselves. However, I volunteer to give back to my community. I am grateful for the help I received from others. When I was in high school I participated in the Upward Bound program. There I was influenced by the academic success of my tutors. I was challenged by them to exceed all of their expectations, and to broaden my horizons of thinking. Through Upward Bound I was able to acquire skills and opportunities that have helped me become the person that I am today. So I give back to enable kids to have the same chances a t life that I have had. Volunteering is the ultimate payback to those who helped me on the road to success. I remember asking a counselor when I was in Upward Bound how I could repay him. He smiled and said You can help me by helping another. A statement so simple, yet so deep in its meaning. The feeling that I can shape someones life for the better is unexplainable. When I got my first volunteer position as a junior counselor at my local Boys and Girls club, I was eager to be a great role model for the kids. But things did not work out as I initially thought.

White Oleander :: essays research papers

As a result of her mothers incarceration, Astrid is thrusted into a myriad of unmerited situations- the foster homes. One evil stepmother leads to some other in this tale of adversity and just when Astrids prospects brighten under a shining sun, the clouds roll in and it begins to rain. White Oleander is a Cinderella baloney with all the ingredients of misery and misfortune but the wrong ending.At the beginning of her first real encounter with calamity, Astrid is inundated with a deluge of emotions, leaving her dazed. It is during this quantify of bewilderment that the young girl is placed in her first foster home in the custody of a Sunday Christian named Starr. With the absence of a father figure in her life, Astrids feelings for Ray metamorphose into those of desire and what began as a timid liking, turns into something much more. The Oedipal feelings she harbors towards Uncle Ray, Starrs boyfriend, lead ultimately her acoustic projection from the home. Now crippled with the consequences of her desires, Astrid is relocated to the racially opinionated turquoise home of Marvel where she is exposed to the influence of the sophisticated Olivia. In her time of need for something comely when her own beauty has been marred by the Starrs jealousy, Astrid idolizes the woman next door who is, in her eyes, perfect. She comes to depend on Olivia as a staple in her life, someone who will be there to teach her the things a woman should know. However, contact with her idol eventually leads Astrid to another home because of Marvels anti-Semite(a) ideals.Cut off from her hero, whom she reluctantly realizes is just like her mother, Astrid is placed in a beautiful home in the custody of a graceful Latino woman named Amelia. At this point, Astrids role changes from that of a babysitter. In Amelias home, she becomes money to pay for more remodeling. In this environment where she has nothing to eat, Astrids excerpt instincts come to play. What isnt provided for her, she provides for herself. At the urging of her mother, Astrid asks for new placement and is, for once, lucky enough to have her case handed to a social worker that seems to care. It is at this point that a ray of light breaks through the clouds. Though Claire seems extremely fragile and dependent, it is also evident that she is a caring person.

Turning Points in History :: essays research papers fc

Turning Points in History Turning points in history back end mean a change in the way the things are done in the past, sometimes for the better, and other times for the worse. Two notable turning points in history were the Industrial Revolution and also homo War I. These both had some political, social and cultural impacts.The Industrial Revolution was a time of large(p) change and increased efficiency. No more would be goods be produced by sole means of farming and agriculture, but now by the use of machinery and factories. engine room was beginning to increase along with the food supply as well as the population. However, this increase in population would greatly impact the social facial expression of that time. Urbanization was becoming much more widespread. Cities were becoming overwhelmingly crowded and there was an increase in disease as well as bitter child labor. Although child labor would be reduced somewhat due to unions, the Industrial Revolution still contained bo th its positive and negative results. World War I was another major turning point in history. This turning point consisted in the way war was fought and how it has changed due to the advances in engine room that took place during this time in the 1900s. War was triggered in the Balkans where the Ottoman Empire had once maintained control. Industrialization and technology had both contributed to the advances in the development of weapons. This devastatingly was the get of millions of deaths in World War I. War was now fought in trenches and they used machine guns as well as tanks and grenades. There was definitely a turning point in the way war would be fought. However, the most important turning point in the war had to be the involvement of the US. The US time-tested to remain neutral in the war but ended up joining the Allies. Thanks to the USs involvement, however, the Allies received the help required to win the war. In conclusion we can see that revolutions and wars can lea d to positive and negative turning points.

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks Essay -- The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks The novel The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks is a sequel to the love story, The Notebook. The characters in this novel are facing beautiful much one big problem. The setting in this story is taken place in the year 2003 in a little place called radical Bern, where the lives of the Lewis family would change in many ways. Wilson and Jane Lewis a married couple for many years, are the main characters in this novel. They are facing a very knockout time in their lives. It seems as if Jane has fallen out of love with Wilson. Wilson is the kind of guy who spends far too much time at work. He knows he should be spending more time at home, but just never could find the time to do so. During the course of their life, they had kids and did everything a normal f...

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks Essay -- The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks The novel The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks is a sequel to the love story, The Notebook. The characters in this novel ar facing pretty much one big problem. The setting in this story is taken place in the year 2003 in a trivial place called New Bern, where the lives of the Lewis family would change in many ways. Wilson and Jane Lewis a married couple for many years, are the main characters in this novel. They are facing a very difficult time in their lives. It seems as if Jane has fallen out of love with Wilson. Wilson is the kind of guy who spends far too much time at work. He knows he should be spending more time at home, but just never could find the time to do so. During the course of their life, they had kids and did everything a normal f...

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 37

This Squ are in My HandMy father refuses to go with mummy, so I arrogate on the new suit she bought me earlier this month and accompany her to the candlelit Mass at St. Josephs. It is a crisp night, scarcely we walk the few blocks required, and soon we are in the very sanctuary w present I was confirmed so many a(prenominal) years ago. Rows of red and white poinsettias are lined up on the altar, and old-timer wrought-iron lamps stand guard at the ends of the pews, just like two other Christmas Eve. The candlelight makes the stone building look even more antiquated to the highest degree medieval. And sitting stilt in the pew again reminds me of when Jake and I were just boys. Wed come to Christmas Eve Mass so excited for the next day, ready to frivol away into all those presents. But tonight its just mom and me, as Jake and Caitlin are spending Christmas Eve in New York City with Caitlins parents, and Dad is home inebriation beer.After some announcements and Christmas hy mns, the priest talks about stars and angels and mangers and donkeys and miracles, and somewhere in the story, I start praying.Dear God, I cheat it would take a miracle to regulate Nikki to show up tomorrow at the place where we were engaged, but lucky for me, You and I both believe in miracles. As I sit here thinking about this, I wonder if You actually believe in miracles, since You are all-powerful and can do anything. So technically, Your making Nikki show up tomorrow or putting Baby saviour inside of the Virgin Mary is no more difficult for You than, say, watching an Eagles game which has been pretty blowzy since backup QB Jeff Garcia has managed to win three straight. Its sort of funny when I think about it now. If You created the world in only a week, sending Your Son down to do a mission must pose been no sweat for You. But I am still glad You took the time to send Jesus to teach us all about miracles, because the possibility of miracles happening keeps a lot of people moving forward down here. I dont have to control You that I have been working pretty hard on bettering myself since apart time began. I actually want to thank You for disrupting my smell, because I would never have taken the time to improve my character if I did not get sent to the bad place, nor would I have met Cliff, or even Tiffany for that matter, and I know this journey has been for a reason. I trust that there is a divine plan in effect, and that is why I believe You will make for sure Nikki shows up tomorrow. I want to thank You in advance for helping me get my wife back. I am looking forward to the years ahead, when I can treat Nikki how a woman should be treated. Also, if it is not too much trouble, please allow the Eagles to win on Christmas Day, because a win oer the Cowboys will put the Eagles in first place and whence my dad might be in a true(p) mood and maybe he will even talk to Mom and me. Its strange, even with the Birds in play-off contention, Dad has been a grinch this holiday season, and it has really made Mom sad. Ive caught her crying several times, but You probably already know that since You are all-knowing. I love You, God.I cross myself just as the priest finishes the homily, and then the candles are passed out and illuminate while the people sing Silent Night. Mom is sort of leaning against me, so I throw an arm around her shoulder and give her a smaller squeeze. She looks up at me and smiles. My good boy, her lips mouth, bathed in candlelight, and then we both join in with the singing.My father is in bed asleep when we return home. Mom pours some eggnog and plugs in the lights, and we sip in the glow of the Christmas tree. Mom talks about all the ornaments Jake and I made as runty kids. She keeps pointing to painted pinecones, wee Popsicle-stick picture frames with our grade school photos inside, and reindeers made from clothespins and pipe cleaners. Remember when you made this in so-and-sos class? she keeps saying, and I nod every time, even though I dont remember making any of the ornaments. Its funny how Mom remembers everything about Jake and me, and somehow I know that Nikki will never love me as much no matter how much I improve my character and thats what I really truly love about my mom.Just when we are finishing the last sips of our eggnog, the buzzer rings. Who could that be? Mom asks in a dramatic way, suggesting she knows exactly who it could be.I start to get excited because I think that it might be Nikki, that Mom has arranged the best Christmas present ever. But when I answer the door, its only Ronnie, veronica, Tiffany, and little Emily. They all but skip into the foyer and start singing, We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. At this point Tiffany stops singing, but Ronnie and Veronica continue to belt out the first verse, and my pose is all smiles as she listens to the good tidings they bring. Little Em ily looks like an Eskimo, all bundled up, but her parents singing makes her little round face look content. I can even see the Christmas tree lights reflected in her dark eyes. As they sing, Ronnies family looks like a happy one, and I envy my friend.Tiffany is looking at her feet, but she rejoins the singing when they get to the chorus again.The song ends with Ronnie holding the last note too long, but my mother claps anyway, and then we are all seated around the Christmas tree drinking more eggnog.Maybe you want to give your friends their presents, Mom says.Mom had taken me shopping many times in the past few weeks, and we picked out presents for the people who have helped me get better, because Mom says its important to recognize the special people in your life around the holidays. Cliff loved his Eagles dartboard, and it turns out that Veronica and Tiffany both like the perfume we purchased thank God, as I did sniff just about every bottle in the Cherry Hill Mall. Ronnie loves the official NFL leather football I picked out for him so that he can work on his throws, and little Emily hugs the stuffed eagle wearing an Eagles jersey that I picked out special for her, and she even begins to chew on the yellow beak just as soon as she finishes ripping off the physical composition.For my moms sake, I keep hoping my father might come downstairs and join the party, but he doesnt.And we have a present for you too, Ronnie tells me. semen on, Em. Lets give Uncle Pat his present. He hands Emily a box, which is too heavy for her to carry, even though she is walking pretty well now, so he and Emily both carry the present over to me.For Pap Emily says, and then starts to rip off the wrapping paper.You want to help me? I ask her, and she tears the rest of the paper off as everyone watches.Once Emily finishes with the paper, I open the box and fish through the Styrofoam peanuts and find what feels like a plaque of some sort. I bend it out of the peanuts and can see it i s a framed picture of Hank Baskett. Hes in the end zone with a football in his hand.It was taken during the Dallas game, Ronnie says.Read whats scripted on the picture, says Veronica.To Pat,Youre on the road to victoryHank Baskett 84This is the greatest present ever How did you get Baskett to sign the picture?Veronicas cousins a barber, Ronnie explains, and one of his customers works for the Eagles promotions department, so we were able to pull a few strings. Vinnie said that this was the first request his contact got for a Baskett autograph, and Baskett was actually pretty excited to get a particularized request, since his autograph is not in such high demand.Thanks, Ronnie, I say, and then we give each other one-armed manly hugs.Merry Christmas, Ronnie says to me as he thumps my back.Well, I hate to break up the party, but we need to get Emily in bed before Santa comes down the chimney, Veronica says.As they put on their coats, my mom is putting their presents into a holiday bag with fancy handles and thanking everyone for coming over, saying, You dont know how much it means to Pat and me. Youve been so good to us this year. Youre good people.All of you. Such great people. And then Mom is crying again, saying, Im sorry. Thanks. Merry Christmas. Dont mind me. God bless you.Just before everyone leaves, Tiffany grabs my hand, kisses me on the cheek, and says, Merry Christmas, Pat. When she pulls her deal away from mine, I have a square in my hand, but the look in Tiffanys eyes commands silence, so I stick the square in my pocket and say goodbye to Ronnies family.I help my mother clean up the wrapping paper and empty eggnog mugs, and then she catches me under the mistletoe in the hallway. Shes pointing up and smiling, so I kiss her good night, and she reaches up to hug me. Im so glad I have you in my life right now, Pat, my mother says to me, flexing her arm muscles so hard, pulling my head down so that her shoulder juts up into my throat and it becomes a litt le harder to breathe.In my room, by the light of the electric automobile Christmas candle Mom has stuck in my window for the holiday season, I unfold the note Tiffany passed me.

“Complete, trusting surrender to God” Essay

Although the Quran, its sacred text, was sole(prenominal) revealed to their Prophet Muham tired of(p) more than five centuries after the death of Christ, Moslems trace the beginnings of Islam to the time of Abraham. agree to them, the series of revelations of the Quran which stupefyed in 610 CE in a cave in Mount Hira, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, marked only the renaissance of a religion which sank into insignificance when the multitude of Mecca rejected the monotheism preached by Abraham.The Islamic claim further states that universe the original religion, it provided the foundations for the development of Judaism and Christianity. ( black cat. 2005. Islam) Since the time of the stolon revelation in Mount Hira, Islam has rapidly vainglorious to become the second-largest religious denomination in the piece, next only to Christianity, claiming a following of almost twenty percent of the worlds population. However, its growth has been temporarily slowed down, particularly in the Unit ed States, by the effects of the American state of war against terrorism which is evidently directed against Muslims.This U. S. -orchestrated anti-terrorism war, coupled with the dearth of knowledge about Islam, has heavily alienated the Muslims from the rest of the non-Muslim world. (Fisher. 2005. Islam) Yusuf (n. d. ) said that majority of the Muslims argon convinced that while the U. S. decreement has been blaming terrorism on Islam for years, it was the 9/11 incident which dealt the most weighty blow on the credibility and reputation of their religion. This was beca u underworldg up the international media was able to depict that me very(prenominal) Muslims several(prenominal) the world rejoiced after that incident.The truth is, however, that majority of the Muslim world was saddened by that incident and the repercussions it caused. They would the like to tell the world that terrorism is not an official policy of Islam and that, in tear downt, Muslims also consider ter rorists as enemies of their religion. He laments the fact that When a crazy Christian does something terrible, everyone in the West knows it is the actions of a mad man because they have some knowledge of the core beliefs and ethics of Christianity.When a mad Muslim does something evil or foolish they assume it is from the religion of Islam, not because they hate us but because they have never been told by a Muslim what the teachings of Islam argon tot aloney about. Muslims are also complaining about the way non-Muslims always confuse them with Arabs. According to them, while most Arabs are Muslims, less than 20% of Muslims have Arab blood. (Almuslimin. org) Allah is the only authority of this religion.Muhammad was only the messenger and oracle with whom he entrusted the sacred texts called the Quran in a series of revelations and who, three years after the first revelation occurred, preached them to the flock according to his instruction and his will. However, Muhammad was the r ole model for all Muslims. His life story and his sayings were saved in the Hadith for every Muslim to realize from and emulate. The central teachings of Islam are oneness of God and of humanity prophethood and the compass of Islam human relationship to the divine belief in the unseen life and belief in the Last Judgment.(Fisher, 2005. Islam) Islam teaches that there is only one God. This is why the first words spoken to a Muslim infant are the words of the Shahadah la ilaha ill-Allah Muhammad-un Rasulu-llah ( in that respect is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God). God may be called by many names, but all the attributes assigned to those different names make up the totality of the One God. They contend that there must be absolute unity among all men of all races because they are all brothers under the one God, and no one race should consider itself the chosen race.Islam teaches that the individual should be one with God, therefore his or her thoughts and deeds s hould always be inspired by God. This oneness of God and of humanity was very emphatically expressed by Abu Hashim Madami, an Indian Sufi sage, when he said that There is only one thing to be gained in life, and that is to remember God with each breath and there is only one loss in life, and that is the breath haggard without the remembrance of God. (Fisher. 2005. Islam, p. 373) All the prophets from Abraham to Jesus Christ are honored, but they maintain that Muhammad was the last prophet sent by God with the final message.This means, therefore, that the Quran sums up all the messages from God so Islam should include all religions, including Christianity and Judaism which also trace their roots to Abraham. They consider that God created the universe for a purpose and set down laws to govern everything. For this reason, man could live in peace only if he recognizes these laws and abide by them. They accept the existence of the angels, especially Gabriel, whom they credit with bring ing the messages of God. They believe that morning star exists just as they believe that there are saints.For them, the Last Judgment means that dead Muslims are allowed some rest before being raise from the grave for the final reckoning, after which the sinners and the unbelievers are sent to hell. (Fisher. 2005. Islam) Their basic practices consist of what they call the Five Pillars of Islam, namely Beliefs and witness Daily prayers Zakat Fasting and Hajj. Every Muslim, without resorting to the use of force or intimidation, are obliged to spread the words of Islam so that other people may know about it, understand it, and use the knowledge to guide them in choosing their faith.Prayers should be recited five times a day while facing the direction of Mecca. It is believed that requiring every Muslim to face Mecca symbolizes unity among the devotees of Islam around the world, while the daily prayer emphasizes Islams teaching that every Muslim should remember God everyday of his or her life. Zakat, the third pillar, means spiritual tithing and almsgiving. Muslims are enjoined to help the poor by donating part of their annual income to charities of their choice.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for example, channels its contribution through the Islamic Relief Organization which aids people around the world regardless of their religion. Every year, the first Quranic revelation is celebrated with a month-long fasting called Ramadan. All able Muslims are call for to abstain from food, drink, intimate intercourse, and smoking from dawn to dusk. Although fasting during Ramadan is an obligation, fasting, per se, is advised from time to time because it provides an individual with a Transparent Soul to Transcend, a Clear Mind to think and a Light Body to move and act. The last Pillar the hajj is a pilgrimage which is expected of every Muslim who is financially and physically capable even only once during their lifetime. Their pilgrimage destination is Mecca, where their holiest sanctuary, the Kabah, is located. (Fisher. 2005. Islam) Muhammad, whose name was taken from the Arabic word hamada which means to praise, to glorify, was born in Mecca, Western Arabia, in 570 CE to Abd bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. (Kikim Media. n. d.) His parents were believed to be descendants of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian slave who mothered Abrahams son, Ishmael. The story goes that Abraham fled to Mecca with Hagar and Ishmael after his wife, Sarah, also gave stimulate to a baby boy (Isaac) and became extremely overjealous of Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham later built the Kabah, Islams holiest sanctuary and now the destination of pilgrims during the hajj, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with the assistance of his son, Ishmael. (Fisher. 2005. Islam) The birth, life, and death of Muhammad impacted the world of Islam differently.His birth in 570 CE also signaled the rebirth of Islam which sank into obscurity for centuries when the people of Mecca rejected Abrahams monothe istic Quran religion. His life as a preacher which began three years after the start of the revelations resulted to a rejuvenated Muslim world. The flight of the Muslims to Medina (or the hijrah) which he orchestrated in order for them to escape persecution from the hands of the Qurayshites of Mecca was what strengthened Islam as soon as they had settled in Medina. This later enabled them to raise a strong army to capture Mecca from the Qurayshites.However, while he re-established Mecca as the holy sanctuary of Islam, Muhammad himself chose to live in Medina. While his birth signaled the rebirth of Islam and his life rejuvenated their religion, his death in 632 CE in Medina caused a differentiate in the Muslim world between what we now call the Shia and Sunni Muslims because of the issue of while. Most of the surviving Muslims believed that although Muhammad was able to tell his followers what to do after his death, he failed to appoint his successor. Thus, the majority decided to settle the issue of while by election.However, there was a minority group who insisted that it was not true that Muhammad did not name his successor because of a report that some weeks before he died, Muhammad held his son-in-law Alis hand and uttered the following words Whoever I protect, Ali is also his protector. O God, be a friend to whoever is his friend and an enemy to whoever is his enemy. (Fisher. 2005. Islam, p. 380) The issue of succession was ultimately decided according to the wishes of the majority by election but the two factions have never reconciled up to this day.The Shia Muslims now approach pattern the majority faction in Iran, while the Sunnis are the majority in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, northern African countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian countries of the former Soviet Union, and In dosia. (page 378) Their model of worship is called a mosque. When I interviewed Bonsan Go, a student from Indonesia, he described a basic mosque as A square b uilding with a lessened box-type space in front which serves as an extension. It has a dome on the center-top of the main building and a turret or a small ornamented towboat or a tower-shaped projection on another building.Inside, you will fine a division (usually a length of fabric) which separates men from the women. There are no tables, chairs, or figurines inside the mosque. I thought, maybe, Mr. Go described a traditional mosque which used to be an Islamic architecture with a dome and one or two minarets. However, the more recent ones especially those constructed in the United States have chosen to go without the dome and the minarets. The more modern mosques have also done away with the curtain-like division which separates the men from the women.I have located one such mosque in Urbana, Illinois. A photo of this mosque is shown below This is the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic focalise at 106 S. Lincoln, Urbana, Illinois. It is unmistakably an Islamic architecture with the arches found in front, but without the dome and minarets of olden mosques. Their website (http//www. prairienet. org/cimic/) announces that the mosque holds congregational prayers five times during the day, the first session being at 545 in the morning and the last at 730 in the evening.The center also offers Arabic classes and is open to visitors any day. CIMIC Newsletter is published bimonthly. In my interview with Bonsan Go, I was able to gain some insights on how a lay Muslim understands and practices Islam. About the hajj, Mr. Go describes it as the symbol of unity between the Muslim Ummah and the Oneness of Mankind. According to him, this has to be done at least once in a lifetime and is very important because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. He said that the hajj is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it financially and physically.It is also important that the money played out for the hajj comes from hard work and not from corruption. He also talked about th e Sunnis and Shiites. He described the Sunnis as following the teachings of Muhammad, imitating his every actions and words while the Shiites believe that Hadhrat Ali was the real successor to Muhammad because he belonged to the family of Muhammad. He further said that the Shiites call their leader an imam while the Sunnis call their leader a caliph, just like they do in Indonesia where the great majority of the Muslims are Sunnis.On the question of marriage, he said that a Muslim is not obliged to have several(prenominal) wives. However, once a man decides to do so, he can only marry as much as four times and he is required to treat all of them equally and see to it that all his wives maintain harmonious relationships all around. The Muslims, according Mr. Go, have never worshipped Muhammad. It is Allah that they give praise to. He considers it very disturbing that most people tend to equate the position of Muhammad with the one who created him. He said that to worship Muhammad ins tead of Allah is considered a great sin in Islam.On jihad, this was what he said Jihad is not a declaration of war against the enemies of Islam but a striving and a struggle in the path of God. Commitment to God involves commitment to sacrifice ones time, energy and wealth to promote the right cause. It may be necessary at times to give ones life in order to preserve TRUTH. Before we part ways, he told me that he is deeply saddened by the war on terror being waged by the United States and is targeted at Muslims. He said that the U. S. government has categorized all Muslims as terrorists and as such, must not be trusted.He said that the claim that Islam, as a religion, supports the activities of terrorists is definitely not true because even a Muslim like him hates terrorists. In the assume of the beliefs and teachings of Islam and Christianity, Fisher (2005) has shown us the similarities between the two religions. They are both monotheistic, they have their own prophets (Jesus an d Muhammad), and both religions trace their roots to Abraham. Islam and Christianity teach their followers to treat their fellowmen with pallor and both religions profess anti-violence sentiments.The Muslims are making this especially clear at every opportunity, enough reason for them to feel very badly towards the U. S. -led anti-terror war. The central beliefs of Islam are also very identical to the central beliefs of Christianity they both believe in the brotherhood of men, in the angels, saints, even in Satan, and in the Last Judgment. If a split occurred between the Shia and Sunni Muslims after the death of Muhammad, a great schism likewise rocked the Christian world when the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church parted ways in 1054.Sadly, however, Fisher has also shown us that both Islam and Christianity have chosen the options of wars of aggression and occupations during the early days for the purpose of spreading their doctrines and widen their spheres of influenc e. (Fisher. 2005. Christianity Islam) However, if Fisher (2005) has shown that Islam and Christianity have many similarities, they also differ in some aspects. The first difference is rather basic. While Islam revolves around Allah as its God and only authority, Christianity, as a faith, is based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Muslims disagree with Christians in this regard.They do not believe that Jesus is a son of God. To them, Jesus, like Muhammad, was only a prophet and messenger of God. Another glaring difference between the two religions occurred in connection with the death of Jesus and Muhammad. While Muhammad died peacefully in his bed because of some illness, his death divided the Muslim world into the Shia and the Sunni Muslims. Jesus, on the other hand, died a violent death (he was tortured and crucified), but his death strengthened and integrate his people. (Fisher. 2005. Christianity Islam).References Almuslimin. org. (n. d. ). Who Is Muham mad? (Retrieved prove 9, 2007 fromhttp//drupalmalaysia. org/Islam/Muhammad) CIMIC. (n. d. ). Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center. (Retrieved March 5, 2007 from http//www. prairienet. org/cimic/) Fisher, M. P. (2005). Christianity. Living Religions, Sixth Edition (pp. 284-361). Prentice-Hall. Fisher, M. P. (2005). Islam. Living Religions, Sixth Edition (pp, 362-416).Prentice-Hall. Kikim Media. (n. d. ). The Life of Muhammad. (Retrieved March 5, 2007 from http//www. pbs. org/muhammad/timeline. html. shtml) Yusuf, S. H. (n. d. ). A Time for Introspection. (Retrieved March 9, 2007 from http//www. masud. co. uk/ISLAM/misc/shhamza_sep11. htm) .

Life of the Prophet Jeremiah

More is kn experience of the life of Jeremiah than of any other literary prophet. He began prophesying in the thirteenth year of the reign of fagot Josiah (12 253), i. e. , 627 B. C. , when Jeremiah was but a youth (16). Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet, but felt compelled to peach Gods word (209). He prophesied until after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C. (391-10 437-8 441), and his ministry lasted a total of about fifty old age. Josiahs great religious rehabilitation came in the early part of Jeremiahs work (cf. Kings chapters 22-23), but the reforms did not reach the hearts of the people, for they were still rebellious (251-7). The Jews opposed Jeremiah and his work from the very outset.First, the citizens of his native Anathoth act to stop his work and even attempted to kill him (1118-23). Even his kinsmen opposed him (126). Jeremiah later moved to Jerusalem, but he endured inveterate opposition there also. When King Josiah died, Jeremiah lamented his death (2 Chron. 3525). Jeremiah prophesied against Josiahs wicked successors Jehoahaz (also called Shallum) (2211-17), Jehoiakim (2218-19), and Jeconiah (i. . , Coniah or Jehoiachin) (2224- In the very year Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem, Jeremiah announced both his coming and the seventy year captivity of the Jews (251-14). Under the district of Jehoiakim, Jeremiah preached a great sermon in the temple in Jerusalem (chapters 7-9). After this the princes, prophets, and priests of Judah called for his death (268-11). However, Jeremiah was delivered at that time (2624). At the passkeys direction, Jeremiah dictated his prophecies to Baruch, who wrote them on a scroll (361-8).However, when King Jehoiakim read the scroll, he was so angry he cut it with a scribes knife and threw it into the fire (3620-25). The king commanded that Jeremiah and Baruch be seized, but the Lord hid them (3626). Jeremiah dictated the prophecies to Baruch again and added others (3627-32). Jeremiah urged King Ze dekiah to be faithful to Nebuchadnezzar, but Zedekiah refused (2712-22). The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, and great suffering resulted. Later, Jeremiah was accused of trying to defect to the enemy and was placed in prison (3711-15).Subsequently the king transferred him from the dungeon to the court of the prison and gave him a daily ration of bread (3717-21). When Jeremiah again prophesied against Jerusalem, the king turned him over to the princes, who threw him into a dungeon, the bottom of which was filled with mud, into which Jeremiah sank (381-6). Jeremiah would have died there, had he not been rescued by Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch of the kings house (387-13). When Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem, he let Jeremiah go free to his own home (3911-14).A mutinous band of Jews murdered Gedaliah, who had been appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar (411-3). They decided to flee to Egypt for safety, taking Jeremiah with them as a hostage (431-7). They took Jeremiah to Tahpanes in Egy pt, where he continued to prophesy against them (438 441). The life of Jeremiah was one of sorrow upon sorrow. His people whom he loved and with whom he pleaded unceasingly for fifty years continually refused to hear him, rewarded his labor with rejection and persecution, and eventually perished as the result.

America Needs It Nerds Essay

People around the world need to open there eyes to what intellectual individuals can do for the world kinda than only idolizing the celebritys and athletics. the States Needs Its Nerds by Leonid Fridman talks about how in our society that we idolise celebritys and athletics more than than intellectual people. Friedman effectively persuades an audience of intellectuals to value their academic prowess with a logical definition of Geek, comparisons that highlight the extent of the issue, and rhetorical questions that encourage actions. In the branch of his essay, Friedman defines geek to catch the contributors attention and offend them, so that they will take action. He cites the Websters New World Dictionary delimitate geek as a street performer who shocks the public by biting off the heads of live chickens. The archaic term was used derogatorily about geeks. Today, intellectuals would be offended by this definition, and it would ultimately catch their attention.He intends that i ntellectuals, when learning this fact, will become offended, read the article, and then take action to resolve the injustice. Halfway finished his essay, he compares the unite States with East Asia and the intellectuals at Harvard to athletes in order to show the dire need to take a stand. He compares to the intellectuals that live in the United States and the intellectuals that live Asia. who ironically do not feel comfortable expressing their own intellectual selfs to the world because the chance of embarrassment. In the last clock time in the third paragraph Nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized. this quote is explicitly trying to inform the reader that intellectual individuals should be more idolize as well as any other athlete or celebrity.At the end of his essays, he uses a rhetorical question to get the reader to think about how intellectualism should be valued and what they are going to do to change societys fault. To prove his point, Fridman asked, How long ca n America breathe a world- class power if we constantly emphasize socialskills and physical prowess over academic achievement and intellectual ability? He asked us this show the necessity of knowledge we need to strive and stay a main power in the world. Present day, we emphasize the need for social skills an America rather than intelligence, and it will definitely catch the citizens of America who still want to be a striving country. Fridman asked this question to the intellectuals of the United States to evaluate the current business office we are in and ultimately speak up, take a stance and make knowledge the main focus of our nation rather than social skills.

Business Trip Brussels Essay

My flight to Stockholm would be late landing. The pilot told us that we were in a voltaic pile of savorlesss circling above the snow clouds that were giving Brussels its first taste of winter. Air traffic control had closed the runways for a short period at dawn, and the primeval morning flights from every last(predicate) around Europe were now organism allocated new landing slots a capacious with the long-haul jumbos from the Far East and the US. After a 20-minute delay, we descended bumpily through the clouds, and ca-ca on a recently cleared runway.Even then there was a further hold on a taxiway we were told that the de-icing of the apron was being completed so that planes could proceed to their allocated stands and airbridges. All around the airport I could see the scurrying flashing beacons of the snow-clearing vehicles, the catering suppliers vans, the aviation fuel trucks, the luggage trailers, buses transporting crews and passengers, tri exclusivelye police cars, and a n assortment of other vehicles all going purposefully about their work.Brussels airport always looks busy, with over 10 million passengers a year, but this morning the complexity and scale of the operations were particularly evident. Finally, about an hour late, we pulled up to the gate, the engines were turned off, and we disembarked into an rimed-cold airbridge, leaving behind a particularly untidy plane strewn with litter from a full cabin of restless passengers. We passed the team of cleaners and maintenance staff waiting just outside.They will hurl a big(p) time this morning more mess to clear and probably less time than usual to do it, as the airline will want a quick turnaround to get back on to schedule, I commented to my colleagues. We could just hear the sounds of frantic activities going on below the plane baggage and lode being unloaded, catering vehicles arriving, fuel being loaded, and technicians checking over the engines and control surfaces. Every nonpareil tryi ng to get their work completed quickly and correctly, not least so that they could get back indoors out of the biting cold windFrom the airbridge we walked past the crowded seating areas, where plane-sized groups were gathering anxiously awaiting the signal from the gate staff to placard their much delayed flights. Then on to the moving walkways, conveyed leisurely past other departure lounges, equally overfilled with passengers. Anxious to get ahead of the crowd, we took to a racetrack pace past the rows of cafes, bars and shops, hoping to avoid the usual morning queue for Passport Control. I should have remembered the old saying more haste, less facilitate because my next journey was to the First Aid roomI had apparently slipped on some spilt coffee that had not been cleaned up in the haste of the morning, and had move awkwardly, straining my ankle and breaking my duty-free brandy. At least they would clean the floor after that, I thought, sadly. Suitably patched up, I hobbled with my colleagues and joined the long queue for Passport Control, and eventually through to Baggage Reclaim. Even with the excellent new baggage-handling systems in Brussels, the passengers usually get there first, but the accident had changed all thatScanning the video screens, we found no reference to our flight arrival the remaining bags from our flight had apparently already been removed from the carousel and were stored in an attached office. After a simple signing ceremony, we were reunited with our belongings, and hastened (slowly in my case) to the taxi rank. Our hopes of a quick ride to the city were dispelled when we saw the long queue in the icy wind, so we made our way to the station below, where a dedicated City Express train departs every 20 minutes for the Gare de Nord and Gare Centrale.We just missed one After a busy and successful day at our Brussels office, a taxi was called, and we were back at the airport in the thick of the eventide rush hour. The departures check-in area is the upper floor of a vast new terminal extension, and is very orderly and well equipped. Facing you on opening from the taxi drop-off point is a huge electronic display which lists all departures scheduled for the next few hours and showing the appropriate check-in desk snatch for each flight.The speed of the check-in systems has been improved dramatically, so there was no queue at our desk, and the three of us were issued with boarding passes in only a couple of minutes. Our baggage sped away on conveyors down to the new sorting hall two storeys below. Brochures explain that the new terminal extension was designed to refer it possible to go from check-in to final boarding in only 20 minutes, which has involved investment in a state-of-the-art automated baggage-handling system.On my last visit, following traffic delays on the way to the airport, I found that this system works, but I doubt that it would if everyone arrived only 20 minutes in the first place depa rture It is no wonder that they advise checking in one hour before it also gives passengers much more time to spend money in the duty-free shops, restaurants and bars By this time, my injured leg had swollen up and was throbbing painfully. This seemed to be a routine situation for the check-in staff, who arranged for a wheelchair and attendant to take me through Border Control and security checks. speckle my colleagues travelled down to the departures hall by escalator, I took the slower route by lift, meeting just outside the duty-free shops where the attendant left them to take care of me. We had some time to spare, so we replenished the brandy, bought some Belgian chocolates and headed for a cafe-bar. While Brussels is renowned for its excellent cuisine, we didnt expect to find high standards of food in the quick-service environment of an airport, but we were wrongThe delicious aromas of freshly hustling food attracted our custom, and we werent disappointed. After a welcome glas s of speciality raspberry-flavoured beer to round off the meal, we headed for the airlines executive lounge. The view across the theatre of operations was not promising After a bright, crisp day, more snow-laden clouds had arrived and a chill wind cut across the tarmac. De-icing crews were working on the parked aircraft and others were treating the runways, fetching quick action between the aircraft movements.Concerned that we might be delayed and miss our connection at Oslo, we checked with the staff at the airlines flight information desk. After some phoning, they confirmed that, although there could be some delays, Oslo had arranged to hold connecting flights, as many passengers originated from Brussels. Their professional and favourable advice made us feel much more at ease, and they even offered to allow us to send fax or phone messages to our destination. They couldnt have been more helpful.Announcements of the minor delays were made over the speaker system, but it wasnt lo ng before we were directed to the departure lounge and were preparing to board. Outside, around the aircraft in the gloom, the baggage trucks were pulling away and the giant push-off tractor was being connected up to the nose-wheel. Ten minutes later, we were at the end of the runway, ready for take-off. Today must have been a very busy one for everyone involved in keeping the airport open, I thought, but perhaps every day has its own challenges in such a complex operation.