Mumtaz: I still say wow to beauty

Be it career or marriage, spirituality helps you believe in yourself. Isn't that how you conquer the world? Never be afraid of obstacles. Don't let anyone or anything bother you. My family has been a pillar of strength, my sister, my two daughters and my husband.

When I was suffering from cancer, there were days, I'd be low, I'd think of the time when life was only sunshine. You have to keep the faith alive. Don't indulge in self-pity. And I never detached myself from the world. I travel, I see the world with excitement, marvel. I still say ‘wow' to beautiful things.

I've kept alive my childlike innocence. I don't let anything or anyone dampen my zest for life. Now, that's very important.

So, I make sure, I live everyday to the full.



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Mom's motivation pays off for Price

Thanks to a mother who wouldn't let him walk away from football, Mike Price will be heading to East Carolina University on a football scholarship in 2009.

A do-it-all wide receiver from New Bern, Price became the ninth high school player to make a verbal commitment to ECU recruiting Class of 09 on July 8. He made the decision just over two weeks after receiving a surprise scholarship offer from the Pirates after attending a one-day camp in Greenville.

I didn't think it (scholarship) was going to come so soon, Price said. I thought I'd have to wait until the (2008) season started.

But I had been down there on a couple of (unofficial) visits. I walked around campus, talked to the coaches and got to know the program a little bit. I just liked everything about it.



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Articles Of Faith: Remember the values of independence and mercy

Spirituality or faith is personal, but it isn't private. If we are serious about growing to be more authentic and faithful people, we need others.

We need the larger tradition that most congregations are part of. We need the example and wisdom of others. We need the encouragement of others. And because all of us have a huge capacity for self-deception, we need the reality check others provide.

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Video: roxette listen to your heart (klik på play-knappen for at

(or am i gracy maybe i am i just thinking that my friends cares about me . one of my best friend is like an angel she will never ever be forgotten or i just wonna say one thing that is dont lad your mind blow you away because there is some one who cares about you guess who that person is . if you can that person have you her heart and i can say it . not yet hopely some day . but not now you will never ever be alone dearest iggu i love you. trust the angels . and they will be there for you just like me

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Obese children 'need motivation'

A health trust in Bradford is encouraging parents of overweight children to try a new approach to help them lose weight.

The weight loss course is the first in the country and comprises a six-week residential camp followed by a twelve-week programme of physical activity and healthy eating - delivered in a fun way.

Catherine Marston reports from Bradford. .



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Other religions accepted while Christianity scoffed at

Because it deals with 'truth' and 'life' and 'spirituality,' it is a religion."

I continued pondering how some religions are accepted when my Christian beliefs are often scoffed at.

One of the last assignments my son had in literature was analyzing a poem. I like to know what he's studying, so I went online to read the poem. In an effort to understand what I was reading, I Googled the author's name to learn about her. The author was influenced by Zen Buddhism, so I did some research on that as well. I found a classroom lesson from a school in New Jersey with these interesting words: "The end product will be a multimedia presentation showcasing these materials and displaying the students' knowledge of Zen principles."

Wow! I remember when my son wrote a poem in first grade about his friend, Jesus, and was admonished by his teacher.



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Pop Culture: Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Neighborhood

Pascal Boyer suggests that humans are created to have a spirituality, so whether we're religionists or atheists, we all strive toward the transcendent. Religionists tend to seek their source for meaning in a Transcendent reality (God), while atheists tend to find purpose in a Humanistic trajectory. (Admittedly, this is grossly simplistic, so my apologies to both groups.)

However, these differences are meaningless when it comes to pop culture. When Yael Naim's "New Soul" introduces the new MacBook Air, I hear a deeply religious message and my thoughts bounce back and forth from Martin Buber to Paul Tillich to Teilhard de Chardin—theologians who looked at life from a faith perspective. Others could be thinking of humanity in the cosmic scope of things, and recall the writings of Arthur Clarke, Isaac Asimov or Robert Heinlein—authors who looked at the world from a humanistic perspective.


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