If I Were A Man And Had A Wife
August 30, 2006
If I Were A Man And Had A Wife was written in seven days, seven days before Easter, 2006 while on an “unleavened bread” fast. It was published in June, 2006. God ‘s purpose for this book is to give our leaders, the head of the household, the husband an opportunity to strengthen himself in his role in his home. For the husbands who aren’t aware of God’s theory for the family, this book will enlighten him. He will then understand that If he follows God’s rules and regulations, then his wife will follow him.
Husbands! Which Category Do You Fall Under?
- The Christian Family Man
- The Christian Man With A Family
- The Ungodly Family Man
- The Ungodly Man With A Family
- The Wicked Family Man
- The Wicked Man With A Family
GOD IS CALLING ALL HUSBANDS TO REPENTANCE!
If I Were A Man And Had A Wife will prepare aspiring husbands to be the head of his home as God requires and desires.
Aspiring husbands and wives, search the scriptures together to learn God’s instructions for marriage.
Husbands, love your wife and treat her as a precious jewel. Be reminded that your wife is a gift to you from God and all good and perfect gifts come from above. If I Were A Man And Had A Wife is a paperback book written to change the hearts of husbands; bestow understanding upon wives; and increase everyone’s prayer lives.
About the Author: Brenda B. Matthews is the author of this life-enhancing, tear-shedding, soul-transforming book. She writes spiritual songs, books, and pamphlets. Her anointed teaching ministry has redirected hundreds of saints and sinners to righteousness. She lives in St. Louis, MO where she is the pastor’s wife of Temple Church of Christ. For more information about If I Were A Man And Had A Wife, contact the author at brendab{at}brendabmatthews{dot}com or write to: Prioritybooks, P. O. Box 2535, Florissant, MO 63033
Related:
Guest Post Aliza Sherman Risdahl
Tags: Brenda B. Matthews, Books, Authors
Labels: Books
posted by Shirazi @ 8:06 AM,
, links to this post
Curry in a Hurry
August 27, 2006
If you think I am going to tell you a curry recipe' then you are mistaken. Even though there is lot of curry involved in this write-up but wait till I get to it. Let me build up the background first. Our home in Karachi has a cricket ground located next to it. Being a 'puraana chaawal'(seasoned rice) of the area, I became manager of this ground in early 90s. My duties included assigning the cricket ground to different local teams as well as arranging a match or two on special occasions.
Once I arranged a match for a neighborhood team but the local players didn't show up on time. After doing a typical eleventh hour calling and rounding-up of players, I was able to field a 'pakaR dhakaR XI' (rounded-up XI). It was a very colorful team in a sense that eleven players spoke at least five different languages and yet understood each other very well. In my view, that is what makes Karachi a true cosmopolitan city.
Ok, back to curry business. The match started smoothly, but wrinkle started to appear soon. At lunch break all the players gathered around me and demanded lunch. Some claimed that I owe them a lunch because they have done me a favor by coming to play to Federal-B-Area from far flung areas of the city such as North Nazimabad. Those familiar with Karachi geography may know that North Nazimabad is located right next to Federal-B-Area. Only a 30-feet wide drainage stream called ‘Gujjar Nala’ separates the two localities. Look at the image below. I've marked the location of the cricket ground and the 'Gujjar Nala' dividing Federal-B-Area with North Nazimabad.
Being outnumbered 1 to 13, I gave in to their demands. I was still a student so did not have money to buy 13 people any kind of lunch. Not even cheap 'bun-kababs'. So I walked inside home to see what was ready for my personal lunch. Nobody was home and my mother had cooked 'aaloo-shorba' (Potatoes with curry). It was of course not enough for 14 people. Since necessity is the mother of invention therefore I took a huge bowl out of closet and poured some curry in it. A quantity, that was just enough for 4 people. Then I filled up a jug with water and mixed it in the curry. Curry’s volume now increased by a few liters and its density decreased to become as thin as a soup. I then sent our 12th man to the nearby 'Gharib-Nawaz tandoor' (Poor people's clay Oven) to get a few ‘naan’ (flat round bread). 12th man was an aspiring young cricketer and in an aspiration to debut from our team soon, he happily went to get the 'naan'. Our team management used 12th man not only for on-ground services but off-ground services too. Long story short; when bread came; 14 people ate my specially prepared 'pani-shorba' (water-curry) without any complaint. I do however remember some of the remarks made at the occasion. They were a pure delight to hear such as this famous one coming right out of Urdu literature: 'kiya piddee aur kiya piddee ka shorba' (What little bird and its little curry)
Then there was a remark given in a complete state of denial and astonishment: 'ye kis cheez ki yakhni hai bhai? (What is this soup made of?)
Note: In an ideal world of culinary delights, a soup is supposed to be thinner than a curry.
Another: ‘ye to shorbay kay shorbay kaa shorbaa hai’ (This is an extract of an extract of an extract of a curry).
And yet another was when somebody called this curry as ‘lamba shorba’ (tall curry). The voices of dissent soon died down as getting free food was an incentive enough to shut up and eat whatever was available. To this day, whenever I remember this indigenous recipe' of mine, it makes me smile. Conclusion is that curry is such a form of food which can be diluted as needed and can be fed to a varied number of people ranging anywhere from 1 person to many (or any).In the beginning I had mentioned that it is not going to be a curry recipe' write-up; but for the welfare of general public; may be I should key it down: Recipe' of Curry in a Hurry
1. Volume of already cooked curry (any kind): 100 ml only
2. Count the people available: x (say)
3. Empty glass of water: 1
4. Empty curry bowl: 1
5. Pour 100 ml curry in the empty curry bowl and pour a glass full of water into curry 'x' times.
6. 'ae-lo mazaydaar shorba tayyar hai' (lo-behold. tasty curry in a hurry; is ready)
Tag: Culture, Society, Pakistan, Owais Mughal
Labels: Owais Mughal, Society
posted by Shirazi @ 12:10 PM,
, links to this post
Dream it, plan it, do it!
August 23, 2006
posted by Shirazi @ 8:05 AM,
, links to this post
Basket of Rain
August 20, 2006
A visit from a well-meaning neighbour brings her life into sharp focus and she realises that she cannot just watch from the wings, but has a role to play in life after all.
Urged by the spirit of her dead husband to "buck up, or you'll never feel wind or rain again", Doris plays her new role with humour and courage, resisting her daughter's efforts to lure her away from the "war zone" her neighbourhood has become. In widening her circle of acquaintances, she finds unexpected friendships and faces the greatest challenge of her life so far.
As a reader you will share her fears and delight at rediscovering life; be angry with her and society, need her to go on to find her peace, hate “Ms Goatley” for finishing her story so soon. And if you're afraid of old age, then read on…
I wrote Basket of Rain over a period of 15 years, at odd moments between working full time (very full) and doing all the usual household things. I wrote it on scraps of paper in Brazil, America, Canada, on sea and on land. Dialogue developed on every journey. I was never alone when I had all those characters inside my head. A combination of things brought about its completion. I loved my mother-in-law dearly and used to take her armloads of books which she loved to read. I was introduced to people as her librarian and I began to dream of putting a book in her hands that said "by Moya Goatley". She was advancing in age so, realising that I would have to be quick, I finished it and published it. I was too late. By the time it was in her hands she had lost the concentration need to read a book but she loved it as an object and would point to it with pride saying "My daughter-in-law wrote that for me". Embarassment was an added spur. I dreaded the question "Did you ever finish that book you were writing"?Buy the book here or direct from the author at: goatleykimbo[at]aol[dot]com
Labels: Books
posted by Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
, links to this post
Motorcycle Safari
August 17, 2006
Despite the cold weather, we made our way towards the beach on two motorcycles. I had a Yamaha 100 and Umar had a Honda HS100. Our plan was to take an unmetalled road North of Hawkes Bay and explore Hub River’s delta.
From Hawkes Bay a 40 km long single lane asphalt-cum-gravel road goes towards the Hub River delta. Few kilometers before the delta a sandy and marshy road branches off and goes to the actual Bay where sweet waters of Hub River meet the salty Arabian Sea and form a huge lake. It is arguably the best swimming spot in Karachi. Locally the place is called ‘Sunehra' (Golden) beach. The ride to Sunehra beach is an adventure in a sense that there are no gas stations or puncture shops enroute. Any mishap can result in one being stranded in wilderness.
By 9 a.m we had reached the point on this gravel road from where the sandy road branches off to Sunehra beach.It was before the daily tide comes in the bay therefore water level in the bay was so low that it could be crossed on foot. We saw many boats marooned in the mud. The rise of tide here is spectacular during monsoon, when within few hours the water level at its deepest point may go up to 10 feet deep.
We took a walk along the beach and saw the breath taking view of the beautiful ‘Charna’ island which lies few kilometers away in the Arabian Sea and right across the Hub rivers delta. 'Charna' is the largest among rocky islands around Karachi. 'Oysters Rocks' are the other well known rocky islands off Karachi coast. The photo to the left shows Charna Island in the distant from the beach. After visiting Sunehra beach, Umar and I decided to explore the road further to the south west. After few kilometers of travel the road ended in a village called ‘Goth Alla-Bino’. As we were driving through the village we saw a notice board on the road side reading: yehaN hamari aurateN rehti haiNghair afraad ka daakhla mana hai.Ba-hukm-e-Wadera, Goth Alla-Bino (Our womenfolk live here. Outsiders are not allowed.By the orders of village leader, Goth Alla-Bino).
The satellite image to the left shows Hub River delta and Goth Alla-Bino locations marked in blue and red arrow respectively. Charna island is visible in the top left enclosed within a red square. The coast line towards lower right are the Karachi beaches of Cape Monze.
On this trip, Umar and I were claded from head to toe in jeans and motorcycle helmets that looked like part of a space suit. Therefore there was no way we could’ve blended in this village as locals. As we were cruising on village dust roads, village children gathered around us. Some started clapping and shouting. As we drove forward, the dust road ended in a hut which turned out to be Goth Alla-Bino's grand cafeteria. The owner came out and asked us whether we would like to park our motorcycles in a dedicated parking lot and take a ‘gasht’ (local word for a tourist visit). When we said yes, he beckoned us to the village parking lot. It was a 20’ x 20’ lot with a fishing net used as its boundary wall. A donkey was already parked there. We parked our motorcycles in parallel to the donkey who lifted his face, looked at us and gave a muted little bray as if saying: ‘mut cheRh malangaaN nooN’ (leave me alone, dude)
The cafeteria owner invited us in. The wooden doors at the entrance creaked open and in a semi lit room we saw three other locals sitting and staring right back at us. This could've been a scene right out of a Clint Eastwood’s westerner. Everyone started asking the café owner that why were we there and he had to pacify them by telling that we were just on a ‘gasht’ (visit).
Beautiful ‘Charna’ island was visible from this hut cafeteria also. While we were enjoying the natural beauty, the café’ owner put two bowls full of tea in front of us. He also proudly announced that the milk used in the tea was from his own pet goats. That remark alone took away all the left over excitement we had for the tea. Anyways not to break his heart we drank those bowls of tea.
While we were enjoying the sight of Charna Island, a local Baloch started having conversation with us. He said that this area is famous for catching ‘labashtar’ (lobster). After giving us an unwanted detail of a lobster’s aphrodisiac powers he told us that he sells it for rupees 500 a piece at Karachi’s fish market. In 1991 it was a handsome amount of money for a lobster.
He told us that Charna island used to be much higher at its peak but over the years, Navy has been using it for practice and thus the height of the island has reduced to its present. He also told us that any little tremor at the little island is felt at the mainland too because in his own words ‘donoN ka jaR to ek hai’ (both have the same roots). What he meant to say was that under the sea bed the island and mainland are connected together by the same rocky formation. I was very impressed by this geological explanation.
After spending some more time at Goth Alla-Bino we rode back to home and thus ended one of our best safari picnics. The journey was no exciting so it is not worth mentioning. Both motorcycles however, proved their metal as we did lots of off-roading on this trip.Owais Mughal: Welcome at Light Within
Previous:
Dot on Pakistan Map, International
Motorcycle Safari along LBD Canal
Tags: Travel, Travel Destinations, Pakistan, Owais Mughal
Labels: Owais Mughal, Travel
posted by Shirazi @ 8:56 AM,
, links to this post
Guest Post Aliza Sherman Risdahl
August 14, 2006
When the Internet first took hold in the public sphere, everyone began wondering if we would all be locked away in our houses, attached to our computers. Would we never get out again to meet people face-to-face? Would the Internet replace human contact? Well, for a few odd people, it probably did, but for the majority of us, we still get out of the house and interact with others. But we also wouldn't give up the added connections we have because of the Internet.
Still, one cannot deny the incredible connections that are being made these days through blogs and blogging. My own very personal blog is an account of my miscarriages, pregnancy and now struggles with early motherhood. My blog is an emotional outlet where I can rant and rave about my experiences. My blog is also a lifeline to getting immediate advice from other women who have been there, done that.
The community forming around my blog is tight knit, protective, intimate, caring. I don't have this same kind of community of women where I live right now, so in a way, my blog community is standing in for a real world group of women who I could call upon at any hour of the day or night. But replacing it? Never. As soon as I can get out more, I'll be looking for like-minded women, new mothers who can go out for coffee with baby in tow or go out for a jog with our baby joggers.
When I do have my real-world support system, will I give up my blog community? No way! There is something so comforting about having 24/7 access to information, supportive comments, advice. And I still need my emotional outlet to "talk" about the things that I'm going through at this new juncture in my life.
Blogging, like the Internet in general, cannot replace our offline interactions. But they can enhance them and offer some things that are only possible in the digital world.
Tags: Aliza Sherman Risdahl, Books, Authors
posted by Shirazi @ 9:28 AM,
, links to this post
Snow Leopards
August 11, 2006
People from Baltistan who arrived over the mountains by crossing the Biafo and Hispar Glaciers might have been first to settle in Nagar, the former kingdom across the river from Hunza. A man called Borosh is said to have founded the first village in the Valley and married a Balti girl he found there. The legend has it that the girl and her grandmother were the sole survivors of a landslide that killed all the earlier Balti settlers in Nagar area.
Just beyond the Ganesh Bridge across the Hunza River, the jeep track leaves the Karakorum Highway to enter Nagar. The first few kilometers of this pathway are dry and barren, and then the path bifurcates: a branch crosses the Hispar River on a bridge and climbs up into the fertile villages of central Nagar. Trees that one sees here owe their existence to the human hands and the careful construction of irrigation channels by natives.
A trail to the Nagar valley winds around the mountain, with splendid and ever-changing Himalayan views, arriving at a little village with apricot trees in bloom next to a huge glacier. Botanists say that the original genus of apricot, the ur-apricot (also walnut and rose), comes from this area or the nearby Pamirs. The climate is certainly ideal for them.
Located about 65 kilometres north of Gilgit, the capital of the Northern Areas, the Nagar Valley is a cluster of small hamlets. The Valley expands northwards from these villages, adding in their summer meadows, gorges and snow capped mountain ridges.
Nasirabad is the largest village in the area with about 400 households. It has grown since the opening of Karakorum Highway, which passes through Nasirabad. The other villages of the area are smaller, dotted amongst the tapestries of fruit trees, small fields and painstakingly structured fields. The people, forests, plants and wild animals have all adapted to find a niche within this unique environment. Nasirabad has one such spring which is famous for having excellent mineral water. The white marble mines in Nasirabad are known to be the second best in the world. Minerals like zumurrad and ruby are also found in and around the Valley and are on sale in shops for travellers mostly.
There is a cultural craft centre in Nasirabad where local women have been trained to produce local handicrafts. This is an important area of development, supporting local people. You can be sure that the purchases there are 100 per cent natural, meticulously hand made and directly benefiting the communities. Local handicrafts include woolen handbags and small purses, sharma (carpet), traditional mats, rugs, and bedspreads, caps, and pattu (cloth prepared from sheep wool used to make jackets called waist coats).
The only facilities on the route to the Valley are informal camping grounds and occasional huts of shepherds. Informed backpackers taking this route go fully equipped with tents and sleeping bags and other necessary accessories so that they can enjoy these unfrequented destinations or they have to rely on local help that is found easily. You may find friendly locals with horses (and other offers) following at some distance, waiting for the call that you will make when tired.
And you are sure to make a call on Mayoon bar trail, the name given to one of the summer pastures above the village of Mayoon, leading up to Mayoon nullah. The hike passes through steep undulating areas along the valley side. In summers, pastures come to life and a whole variety of plants transforming the area into a green carpet dotted with colours. Shepherds live in their huts keeping a watchful eye on their stock. Easy access to get quality water from the torrents makes Mayoon Bar (and Rooi Bar) a wonderful camping location. Look out on the way for the birds of this area including chukar, jungle crow, yellow-billed chough and magpie. Also keep alert you may be rewarded with a view of the Himalayan ibex or the snow leopard.
It is cold in the winter with temperature below freezing point. Snow is not only confined to the peaks and ridges but also decorating the trees of the Valley bottom, the area takes on a new and stunning beauty, making it worth braving the cold. The area used to be domain of snow leopards that are now on the verge of extinction. Winter visitors stand much better chances of seeing the prized wildlife of the area, as they venture much love down the slopes in search of food. Given its remarkably elusive nature there are good chances to actually see one of these great creatures in the wild but the sighting of snow leopards depends almost totally on luck and luck most commonly favours at dawn or dusk during winters. It is also pleasing to see areas covered with thick flocks of birds and large herds of four-legged creatures roam free? If you have any capacity for wonder, you will experience wonder. I had no difficulty satisfying my addiction during my zigzagging in Nagar.
Few animals match the rare beauty and quite mystery of the snow leopard. Seldom do people see these animals in the wild. They live in remote pockets of Asia. The big cats differ in appearance, body types and functions, live in different habitat and prey on different animals. Scientist believes that the last ice age, which ended about 10,000 years ago wiped out but a few species of big cats. The exact number of snow leopards is difficult to estimate; they live in rugged terrain and researchers mostly rely on indications of the animals rather than direct sightings. Snow leopards are superb jumpers and leapers. They can spring and pounce on prey that is up to 45 feet away. Some of them can still be found in the Nagar area.
A strategic plan for the conservation of snow leopards in Pakistan was presented on April 20, 2001 by an international NGO in collaboration with the International Snow Leopard Trust in Gilgit. The presentation was attended by a large number of potential partners and stakeholders. It was revealed there "the total remaining population of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) - a globally endangered species - is estimated around 7,000-10,000, out of which approximately 300 are found in Pakistan. Some of the critical habitats of the snow leopard have been identified by the NGO and it is being planed to extend scope of activities by focusing on identifying critical habitats in NWFP, AJK and Northern Areas.
The plan also identified various threats to the survival of snow leopards. Based on these findings; various strategies were proposed which could be implemented by both government agencies and the NGOs which are interested in big cats' conservation. Only last winter, a young snow leopard was caught in Nagar Valley. Work of international NGOs to save different species of big cats' family in Iran's Kavir Desert and Nakuru area in Kenya is a good example to follow.
The most dominant geological feature of the area is Rakaposhi, first climbed in 1958 and ranked among the world's 50 highest peaks. The people of Nagar claim that they have the best view of their peak. And it is true, stunning views of both Rakaposhi and its sister peak, Diran, can be seen from the Valley. And downwards, towards the Hunza River and the tall thin poplars way below reminds one of the scales of the Karakorum Mountains.
"Tourism is like fire you can cook your dinner on it but if you are not careful it will burn you house down," an old Asian adage reads. Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world. It has significant environmental, cultural, social, and economic impacts both positive and negative. If under taken responsibly tourism can be a positive force for sustainable development, conservation and environmental protection. Whereas an unplanned tourism can be socially, culturally, and economically disruptive and have devastating effect of fragile environments. Northern Areas, to a large extent, rely on the existence of attractive, uncrowned and clean destinations. These are often in environmentally fragile areas that are biologically significant and rich in wild life. In addition these mountain areas have now also become the object of desire of a number of competing interests: resort hotels, polo tournaments, adventure tourism, and big game hunting. What the public as well private tourism sectors in Pakistan are aiming at is a common goal: the long term preservation of the natural environments.
Go to Nagar and you may still have a good probability to see the big cat some time called snow queen.
Labels: Travel
posted by Shirazi @ 12:21 PM,
, links to this post
Re: Crossing the Line
August 09, 2006
posted by Shirazi @ 8:36 AM,
, links to this post
Job Search
August 05, 2006
Career Center offers options in slow economy: With today's slow economy, the U.S. job market is tough. Students graduating this spring with little or no work experience may find it especially difficult to land that first professional job.
Job growth unexpectedly slows: Grace Wong writes , "Job growth came in weak for the fourth straight month in July while the unemployment rate rose, according to a government report Friday that could give the Federal Reserve reason to pause in its two-year-old campaign to raise interest rates."
Tags: Higher Education, Jobs, Career, Jobs in Pakistan
Labels: Jobs
posted by Shirazi @ 8:47 PM,
, links to this post
What are blog(s) to Me?
This blog is a resource for my thoughts. More often, I blog form impressions and or generate ideas to see how they invoke reactions, to keep track of others’ work in the fields of my interests, or simply to rant or point out things that come to my attention.
Also, I use blogging as a platform to prune ideas. This is where I meet others. And “I am neither geek, nor nerd, I am not a hacker, a phreaker, a programmer or any variety of technoid dweeb.”
What are blog(s) to you?
Internet is a lonely place without Blogs; a fine art and economics. Blogs are different to different people. I usually ask blogger friends to share their views on what is a blog to them?
Contribute your thoughts on blogging in general. In particular, write how you blog? Why? How blogging matters in life and work? Answer these questions and more (add what you feel is important dimension for you) and share {sajshirazi(at)gmail.com} here.
