SGN Music Awards 2010

The SoGospelNews is hosting their annual SGN Music Awards Celebration April 13, 2010 at 7:00pm at the Smyrna River of Life church. (no functional website)


It is free and open to the public. If you're in the mood for religious based music then plan ahead and enjoy yourself.

Smyrna River of Life Church
596 Sam Ridley Parkway West
Smyrna, TN‎
(615) 459-2533‎

Inauguration of Mahmood Mosque

MASJID MAHMOOD - SMYRNA , TENNESSEE
Originally uploaded by Citizen of Two Worlds

The local Mosque is having their official inauguration and sent me this email. Since it does say 'and your friends' I thought to share this news with you. My last trip to their open house was very pleasant and I think it might be a good experience for you and your children to meet with a part of what a growing town like Smyrna entails, the introduction of many people of other faiths, customs and cultures to our community.

Dear Sir,
Official inauguration of Mahmood Mosque in Smyrna is scheduled for March 20th. The program is as follows:

12.30 Lunch (Indian Food)
2.00 Gathering
2.10 Introductions
2.20 Guest Presentations
3.15 Question/Answer
4.00 Thankyou

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community respectfully invite you and your friends to join us in this celebration.

Lutf Rehman
President
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Middle TN

I'm withholding a reaction right now on another issue, but I saw on the sign of the Higland Heights Church OF Christ that it is having a 5 hour long seminar this weekend on Islam. I'm not sure what that includes and have recieved back no replies after several attempts to contect them to ask about this meeting and its contents. I hope it is not in reaction to the mosque coming to Smyrna.

Getting to know your neighbors

In my last post I mentioned that Smyrna was the home to a mosque, but the term mosque might be misleading. The term mosque normally leads you to think the term "Muslim Mosque" but in this case the situation is incorrect for many reason. A little searching through WIKI found that this mosque and the ones who use it for worship has an interesting history.

Ahmadiyya (Urdu: احمدیہ Ahmadiyya) is a religious movement founded towards the end of the 19th century and originating with the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908). Ghulam Ahmad was an important religious figure who claimed to have fulfilled the prophecies about the world reformer of the end times who was to herald the Eschaton as predicted in the traditions of various World religions and bring about the final triumph of Islam as per Islamic prophecy. He claimed that he was the Mujaddid (divine reformer) of the 14th Islamic century, the promised Messiah (“Second Coming of Christ”) and Mahdi awaited by Muslims.

Reading on the group shows that during their history due to their beliefs the main stream sects of Muslims have carried out many acts of violence against them up to this day in many countries in SouthEast Asia. These acts of violence against the Ahmadiyya are doubly worse because they are for the most part pacifists.

I'm going to have to make sure that I mention that the mosque is from a schismatic sect of the Muslim faith when talking about it to people. I'm glad we have these new neighbors and I'm going to extend an invitation to the head of the local congregation to do a guest column if he/she wishes as a way of saying hello. Maybe they will be holding an open house or something.

MASJID MAHMOOD - SMYRNA , TENNESSEE

MASJID MAHMOOD - SMYRNA , TENNESSEE
Originally uploaded by Citizen of Two Worlds

I was looking on FLICKR for any pictures that people might have posted from Depot Day. I found instead this image. It seems that Smyrna might have a Mosque within its borders. I'm surprised at the image because this is the old church my wife and I used to purchase our angel food ministries food order from.

We had noticed that several months ago they were not listed anymore as a pickup site and figured they had simply dropped it. Looks like instead they might have closed down the congregation or moved to a larger building.

The church is also listed as a mosque in a national list of mosques.


A little bio on the mosque says this.

Ahmadiyya Mosque Nashville opened its door on July 31st with Friday prayers. Following day, on August 1st. the monthly meeting was held in the mosque. Almost all members attended this meeting. Children made excellent presentations about the new mosque.
The mosque is located in the city of Smyrna. Total land is 0.8 acres. Total covered area of the building is 6,250 square feet. there are 29 parking places with the building.

The first story of Christmas

This here looks like it might be nice treat in tune with the holidays.

Stones River Baptist Church will present a combined dramatic and musical performance in honor of the birth of the Messiah at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Stones River Baptist Church is located at 361 Sam Ridley Parkway East.

Fifteen Biblical characters will retell their part in the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child while the church choir intermingles music from a new Christmas arrangment entitled “Hope Has Hands.”

For more information, contact the church at 615-459-2933.

Looks like this might be fun.