Discussion of the 5 Year Plan with Tom Price

Dear Friends,
For those who may be interested, here are recordings of three talks on the Five Year Plan presented last week at the Tennessee Baha’i School.

It would be wonderful if you want to comment on this post about the recordings.

ALL TALKS IN ONE DOWNLOAD
All three talks in one Zip File – 168 mb

1. www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/pfz8a1

OR
INDIVIDUAL TALKS

1. Part 1 – The Organic Process of the Five Year Plan.mp3 – 53 mb
   www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/tfq3yu

2. Part 2 – The Twofold Mission of the Five Year Plan.mp3 – 56 mb
   www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/8b4ofk

3. Part 3 – The High Calling of the Five Year Plan.mp3 – 57 mb
   www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/9ycoda

TBI Registration open

• Visit the website for “Tennessee Baha’i School” and register: tnbahaischool.blogspot.com
  

Mother’s Prayer Devotional – article by Jodi Rall

“It all started with an invitation to lunch from Aghdas Ghiassi when she invited me to a luncheon she was hosting. Aghdas had earlier asked me about my column and mentioned that she and a few other women take turns hosting a luncheon once a month in their homes. (.. read more)”

Tablet of Visitation website launched!

The Spiritual Assembly of Brentwood, TN has recently launched a web site for the purpose of liquidating the remaining limited stock of the book, Tablet of Visitation. You can visit the site at www.tabletofvisitation.net.

At this site, this magnificent work of art is being offered at or near the production and marketing cost of $150, which includes domestic freight and handling; the book will be shipped immediately via UPS. Quantity discounts are also available: Purchase five copies and receive the 6th copy for free.

We invite you to:

a) Visit this site and secure your personal copy of Tablet of Visitation, which is sure to become a cherished family heirloom;

b) Forward this e-mail to your, family members and friends on your distribution list; and

c) Mention this link on your facebook page by placing it on your wall or entering it in your status line.

“This I believe” essay

(this is taken from the “Bahai Connect” email list for Bahai’s of Greater Nashville)
Sunday on National Public Radio’s “Bob Edwards’ Weekend” the “This I Believe” essay that was shared was written in the 1950′s by Robert Powers, the former police chief of Bakersfield, CA, who was a spiritual thinker. In it he mentions the Baha’i Faith and quotes Baha’u'llah, which afterward is commented upon by the producer in discussion with Bob Edwards. The essay is quite worthwhile, even aside from the mentions.

To hear the author reading the essay and the commentary: http://thisibelieve.org/essays/listen/classic/

To read the essay: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16903/

The “This I Believe” series can be found at http://thisibelieve.org/. It was originally produced by Edward R. Murrow and includes essays by Helen Keller, Pearl Buck, Norman Cousins, John Heinlein, Martha Graham, Harry Truman, Jackie Robinson and Eleanor Roosevelt as well as persons who were not famous.

Declaration of the Bab music Video Slide

New York Bahais published the following tasteful and moving video link concerning the Declaration of the Bab.

We are our Baha’i brothers’ keepers

Persecution of members of the Bahai faith has in recent months escalated to alarming heights in Iran, the birth-place of this peaceful and world-embracing religion. The Baha’i's embrace an uncompromising standard of peace upraised by their faith’s founder Bahá’u'lláh, a standard also recognized in Christ’s exhortation to ‘love your enemies’; yet since the faith’s inception they have been the objects of prejudice, violence and oppression in the birthplace of the religion- Iran. Some one hundred and fifty years ago, during the first waves of religious persecution there, thousands were murdered and countless multitudes humiliated, persecuted and humbled with grief as they witnessed members of their families slain daily. Now, with some thirty members presently awaiting trial for baseless charges – all the while outside the court system a steady torrent of assaults imperil the Baha’i's daily. We may well ponder how better it would have gone for us all if signs of religious and ethnic cleansing had been perceived and responded to early by humanity at large when groups had been persecuted in the past.

slideshow

One of the features of the modern and civilizing aspect of the planet we share is the connectedness of it’s once fragmented kindreds. It is now conceivable for peoples all over the world to strive to adhere to a long-forsaken responsibility: being ‘our brother’s keeper’. Previously- such an ideal had been too immense and unattainable. Humanity’s responsibility to it’s own kind had of some necessity been limited. At this time however not only is the possibility of reaching out across great distances within reach, we find ourselves so connected to the rest of the world that we are unable to resist the effects of changes in the remotest regions.

We should make every effort to educate ourselves concerning these recent events in Iran. To that end, follows are some resources and some suggestions about how to contact government representatives in order help to inform them and encourage action.

Media

1. 1983, ABC news broadcast: an older broadcast.
2. Video Excerpt from feb 21st Brentwood Devotional Gathering
3. Rain Wilson Interview (CNN): Rain Wilson a bahai actor of ‘The Office’ fame comments.
4. Bahai News Service Article on Student persecution.
5. “We are Ashamed!”: a ‘mia culpa’ document produced and signed by Iranians throughout the world.
6. Continuing updates.

Photos

Devotional Gathering Concerning Persecution in Iran

Please consider contacting your government representatives. The following links and template are offered for your convenience:
Senator Bob Corker	Senator Lamar Alexander	Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
Sample letter: Dear [Senator or Congressman], I am writing to inform you of the continuous and persistent persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran. This campaign of oppression against this religious minority, which started nearly 150 years ago, has been sharply escalated during the past 30 years and has reached alarming levels recently. Members of Baha’i community have and continue to suffer greatly in the hands of the oppressive regime in Iran. During the last 30 years nearly 250 members of this community—including its elected leaders–have been executed on trumped up charges. Last year seven members of this community’s administrative leaders were arrested and will soon face trial on trumped up charges including espionage. This places their lives in grave danger. Additionally, the Iranian government is systematically depriving the members of the Baha’i community from their basic human and civil rights. I ask that you lend your support by affirming or co-sponsoring any resolutions that is introduced or may be introduced in your chamber condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and demand that their human right sbe respected.
The following links are helpful if you live outside of this communiy but wish to contact your government representatives: www.house.gov and type in your Zip Code + 4 www.senate.gov and select your state.

Video for the Feast of Mulk – 2009.

The National Spiritual Assembly for the Bahai’s of the United States has released a video for the Feast of Mulk (Dominion) This video has been made available on line. Click here to watch the video.

Ruhi Book 4 study circle at Mrs. Agdas Ghiassi home to begin soon

Mrs. Agdas Ghiassi is about to start a Ruhi Book 4 at her home. For those who are interested to join, please call 370-5583 or e-mail her at aghdasghiassi@yahoo.com.

First Monthly Devotional At Faryab Lohrasbi’s home

I asked permission from all present to take some photographs and publish them to which everyone graciously concented. That said- if there are any second thoughts- please let me know and I will remove any photos upon request.

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