Veterans Homeless Luncheon Blessings

Mike Ghouse,Islamic Benediction

The Homeless Center for the Veterans held a luncheon in Dallas, and I was pleased to deliver the Islamic and Pluralistic benediction at the event. The Jewish Benediction was delivered by WWII Veteran Harry Kabler and Christian Benediction by Rachel Roberts.

The Pluralism Prayers covers most of the faiths including Atheists wishes. By the way, no matter where I get invited, I do make a point to represent as many religions as I can, at least ten in any given time.

The annual event was Organized by Teresa House-Hatfield, Director of the Center in Dallas, and the food was sponsored by the 256 Jewish Battalion. 

URL: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/11/veterans-homeless-luncheon-blessings.html


PICS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157632016152185/show/

Here was my part;

First of all I am thankful to our creator for blessing us with life,  and secondly, I appreciate you and the men and women in uniforms for defending our freedom and guarding our safety. I am pleased to acknowledge your service to the nation, and I appreciate the sacrifices you have made to keep us guarded.

I was at the Veterans Day parade in Down Town Dallas the other day,  and it was good to see the public support.

Now, I am pleased to share the Universal prayer, also known as the Pluralism prayers.

Dear creator, please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Mahio, manito, Yahweh, Elohim, Ishwar, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, Mother Earth, Allah and Jesus Christ.

Thank you lord for enriching our nation, represented by different races, nationalities, ethnicities, orientations, languages, cultures, ideals and religions, we are your own country, a cosmic representation of your universe.

Dear causer of the Universe, in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful America with care, kindness and dignity to every one of the 312 million of us as well as 7 billion of us in the world.

Dear God, guide us to talk, act and believe that we are one humanity and one nation under you.

Dear God, as we undertake the mission of building cohesive societies, where no one has to live in apprehension of the other, we are painfully aware of the ignorance, fear, mistrust and ill-will that divides us, help us open our hearts and minds towards receiving each other.

Dear God, Protect our men and women in uniforms committed to our safety and well being.

Dear God, help us think, speak and act peace every moment of the day.

Dear God, guide us to value and practice the principles of liberty and justice for all of your creation, just as you treat us.

Dear God, give us your infinite wisdom and give us the courage to do the right thing, every moment of the day.

Dear God, help us learn to respect the otherness of other in each one of us, and help us accept the uniqueness you bestowed on each one of us.

In your precious name we bow.

Now the Muslim prayer

Al-Fatiha (The Opening)

In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace: 

All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds,
The Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace, Lord of the Day of Judgment!
Thee alone do we worship; and unto Thee alone do we turn for aid.
Guide us the straight way.
The way of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings,

and not of those who have gone astray and did not follow your guidance.

Now, I render the same in Arabic.

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (1:1)
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (1:2)
الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ (1:3)
مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (1:4)
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (1:5)
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ (1:6)
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ (1:7)


Amen!

God bless us, and God bless America.

MikeGhouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

National Prayer Day 2012 - Plano City Council

National day of prayer is an annual event, originally observed in 1775, and the US Congress formalized it in 1952, and revived in 1981.  It is a day, where Americans of different faiths come together and express their gratitude to the creator in their own way. It is a way to learn that God can be thanked in so many different ways.

 Other pictures  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157629964330261/show/   

I have been a part of the interfaith movement since 1993, and I  have been fortunate to develop unique prayers and greetings format for the event.

My usual speech includes all religious traditions in the interfaith gatherings. This time I was asked by the Plano Multi Cultural Association to represent Islam and I did. This is the first time I have represented Islam in a gathering like this, I usually speak on Pluralism and interfaith.  But I do speak on Islam, India, Israel and building cohesive pluralistic societies. 

However, I did my interfaith greetings, which includes explaining the essence of greetings in each traditions and what it means to you and me.  The greetings shared were from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Wicca, Native Americans and Zoroastrian traditions.

PLEASE NOTE: TWO OF THE SCHEDULED SPEAKERS DID NOT SHOW UP. I was ready to fill in one and did not take the 2nd one, which was Hindu; I thought there was a Hindu in the audience, there was none.  No one prayed the Hindu prayers, and I felt bad, it should never happen on my watch and in my presence. Organizers can call and follow up, but cannot produce the speakers. 

NO MATTER WHAT FAITH YOU BELONG TO, if you cannot make it, please call me in Dallas Fort Worth area, I will fill in for your religion, any religion. I will go to New York or Siberia to represent your faith, if you pay for it.

PRAYERS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN EVERY TRADITION, AND THEY ALL MEAN GOODNESS FOR HUMANITY. Almost all faiths are inclusive in their prayers, meaning they wish well for the entire humanity. If you sincerely believe there is only one ultimate creator or causer of life, then it does not matter what name you call him ( her or it) or how and what words you say. 

Don't judge others and other religions by a few you know, go by the majority and resist the  temptations to judge others, you will find your own goodness come to the surface when you start seeing the good in others. All prayers are beautiful.

In the past, I have filled in for Hindu, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Baha’i, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and other traditions.  I have not had a chance to represent Christian tradition yet, as we are always blessed with their presence. 

A few pictures from the event are in this link.  I forgot my camera and my Mrs. Shaheen Salaam, co-Chair of the event took the pictures from her i-phone and shared it. Thanks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157629964330261/show/

Some of the prayers from the past
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/05/today-is-national-prayer-day-lets-pray.html

SPEAKER FOR NATIONAL PRAYER DAY http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/04/speaker-for-national-prayer-day.html

National Prayer Day, Thursday, May 7, 2010

http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/05/national-prayer-day-thursday-may-7-2010.html

MikeGhouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily. 

Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrollton

Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrolton
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

By Mike Ghouse

I am proud of my City, the city of Carrollton for adopting inclusive prayers prior to the City Council Meetings. Tonight was my fifth time this year and we began this process about three years ago. We are a blessed city to have taken the lead in the nation to say who we are and we are blessed with Mayor Matthew Marchant and a great city council and staff.

LET'S PRAY

Dear creator and causer of the universe,

in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful Carrollton with care kindness and dignity to every one of the 130,000 residents of this beautiful City.

Dear God,
 please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Manito, Yahweh, Elahi, Ishwar, Allah, Mahavira, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, mother earth and Jesus Christ.

Guide us to talk act and believe that we are one nation under you

Guide us to value and practice the principles of liberty and justice for all of your creation without prejudice.

We have gathered here this evening as representatives of a diverse community.

Thank you lord for inhabiting our city with all of your creation; represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see you as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

Help up to preserve the diversity and plurality you have chosen for us.  

As we undertake this mission we are painfully aware of the ignorance,

the prejudice, the fear, the mistrust and the hatred that divide people in our world today.

We recognized that these destructive attitudes are found not only in the other, but in ourselves as well.

Dear God, purify our hearts and minds

Dear God, give us wisdom and give us the courage

Dear God, help me welcome Anthony Wilder and Bob Garza to serve us.

Dear God, guide our Mayor, council and the staff to have an open heart and mind towards your creation and help them make the decision that you would be pleased with.

In your name we bow, Amen.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/