Sufi Books & Musics

Madonna shakes her pom poms at Super Bowl

There were no wardrobe malfunctions Sunday during Madonna's Super Bowl halftime performance , which clocked in at 13 minutes and reaffirmed the legendary Material Mom's ability to turn any spectacle into an even bigger spectacle.

With enough glitz and glitter to a Saturday night on the Las Vegas strip look almost sedate by comparison, the 53-year-old superstar delivered an eye-popping performance that made last year's Super Bowl halftime show by Black Eyed Peas seem restrained by comparison.

The production was staged with lots of help from Cirque du Soleil and an enormous cast of dancers, whose attire suggested a mash-up of ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, with a dash of Norwegian viking thrown in for extra flavor. The gold throne on which Madonna first appeared on stage looked like something from Donald Trump's wildest dreams -- or a prop from Madonna's latest coronation.

Leaving nothing to chance, her impeccably choreographed mini-concert appeared to be entirely lip-synced, meaning there was no interruption of the flow with "How's it going, Indianapolis?" or "Are you ready to party at the Super Bowl?"

Source: U-T San Diego

The Hours of Mary Magdalene « The Painted Prayerbook

by Jan Richardson

Just in time for Holy Week, Gary and I have released a new video today that we are happy to share with you. The Hours of Mary Magdalene offers images from my mixed-media series of the same name, in combination with an enchanting song Gary "Maria Magdalena "from his CD House of Prayer. The video draws from the life of Mary Magdalene, whose history is so intertwined with the death and resurrection of Christ. Called by Christ to be the first to announce the news of his resurrection, Mary Magdalene became known in medieval times as "apostle to the apostles."

The video also draws from the body of legends about Mary Magdalene-fascinating stories that can be thin on facts, but to convey something of our centuries-old fascination with this woman who played a distinctive role as a follower of Christ. As a chick preacher, I am particularly fond of the legend that Mary Magdalene went to France and became a famous preacher. (I like to imagine her going for a cappuccino and a croissant with chocolate after holding on). It is also said to have freed prisoners from a French prison.In the video, you will find glimpses of these and other legends, including one who says he spent his last years as a hermit in the desert, wearing only his long hair, in the canonical hours, and his angels would come up at the sky noise for the liturgy, then the noise would go back down again....

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News

A parable of martyrdom for minorities

DAWN.com - Jun 13, 2011

prayers, a boy came up beside him and whispered, 'the Imam wants to see you.' Shakeel Hussain got up and walked into the hall. The Imam sat with his back towards the intricately carved window shutter that illuminated him in an otherwise dark room.

Our Town - Living on a prayer

The Interior News - Feb 22, 4673

The white fur of the bear has turned into an illuminated beacon of change. “I no longer have to feel that low again to the point of having a meltdown.” As she figures out a way to properly display her praying bear in her hom, she has also pondered what

Ripon Cathedral to host much-admired sculptor

Wetherby Today - Jun 10, 2011

Prayer to my Father, part of a solo sculpture exhibition by Linda Thompson at Ripon Cathedral. COMING soon to Ripon Cathedral is a major solo exhibition by much-admired local sculptor Linda Thompson. Called Inner Tendrils, it's a return visit for Linda

Turkey: Kurds Boycott Mosques for Language Rights

EurasiaNet - Feb 22, 4410

Last week, an illuminated mosque ceremony (kandil) celebrating the conception of the Prophet Mohammad was conducted in Kurdish in Diyarbakir's main mosque, the Ulu Cami. "It was a beautiful evening. Some of the old men were crying, as it was their

In Islamic culture, gift-giving is an art

Los Angeles Daily News - Jun 06, 2011

These gifts came in many forms, including Chinese blue and white tableware, silk carpets, richly illuminated Qurans, enameled and gilded glass and jewel-encrusted armor. From the personal to the pious to the diplomatic, "Gifts of the Sultan"