Marenda, publisher of the blog, Living Life Abundantly, has recently released her Top 50 Best Blogs Of 2008 Award. Please take some time to visit each one of the outstanding blogs written by the insightful bloggers that Marenda has selected.

Congratulations to the rest of the recipients!  As a sign of respect, I tip my hat to each of you for choosing to do what you can to make a difference.

Thank you Marenda!

Quick question.  Now that you’ve finished celebrating the beginning of a new year, what’s next on your agenda? Think about it.  Maybe 2008 wasn’t a good year for you.  If not, what will you choose to do differently in 2009?

Did you discover that you  had the courage to “let go and live” your “Big Dream(s)” in 2008? If not, take time, make time to accurately identify in plain and simple terms the main reason(s) why you repeatedly failed to exceed the imaginary limits of your own self-imposed limitations in 2008.

What, or who, are you still anxiously holding on to right now that you need to let go of by faith before you can honestly expect to excel, succeed, and achieve “Greatness”  in 2009? But first, how would you define “Greatness?”  Think about it.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.“  Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 KJV

What “bad habits” must you let go of and replace with “good habits” before you can boldly and courageously live your life like never before?” Think about it.

What “bad choices” did you make in 2008 that you cannot afford to make in 2009? Have you failed to forgive yourself for what you did, or didn’t do, in 2008 to sabotage your own success?If not,  don’t you think it’s time you did? Think about it.

Do you finally “know yourself” well enough to feel safe and secure within the comfort of your own skin to begin “living without limits , loving without conditions, and leading like Jesus Christ did – by example?” If not now, when? Think about it.

Do you honestly believe that you have the courage to let go of what’s still weighing you down or holding you back long enough to live “for the first time” in your life? If not, don’t you think it’s time you finally started making a difference in your own life before too soon becomes too late to do so? If not you, who? Think about it.

If you don’t own a journal, go get one, or create your own, because you’ll definitely need it during such a season as this.  As always, the choice to “let go and live in 2009″ is yours alone to make.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

As much as I truly loved the feel, the look, and the unique design of my blog’s last theme, a mandatory WordPress 2.7 upgrade has required me to “change” my blog’s beloved template.

For those of you who watched me struggle to build this blog from scratch during 2007, you know it took many weeks to tweak my last “customized” theme.  Because Change was inevitable, overcoming my perfectionistic tendencies became “mandatory.”  There are still many features that still don’t work. To view the “archives,” you must still use the Calendar in my Sidebar.

I’m cracking up right now because I remember how many times I’ve talked about “personal leadership” or  personally challenged many of you to “face your fears and embrace Change.” Because Change was inevitable, exposing my “public failures” has gifted me with a plethora of “private victories.” What are some of the private victories you achieved during 2008?

Because Change is inevitable, what bad habits, fears, and self-imposed limitations did 2008 challenge you to overcome? How many “Big Dreams” did your fears of Adversity, Setback, Failure, and Poverty prevent you from birthing during 2008 because you’re still afraid to face your fears and embrace Change?

How many of you still find yourselves listening to the negative voice of your internal critic? Why? Who are you still trying to please? Why? Whose “attention, approval, and acceptance” are you still frantically trying to gain in vain? Why? How many of you still haven’t finished “writing the vision” God gifted to you many full moons ago?

Because Change was inevitable, I’ve been extremely busy researching and developing a new professional set of technical l skills to effectively employ during 2009. So, if you don’t like what you see, don’t worry.  Neither do I.  The current look and feel of this new theme is only a temporary “quick fix” until I can finish customizing a new template to accommodate all the new features we will gradually roll out next year.

Once again, you’ll get to watch an imperfect person like me with good intentions and bad habits  like mine share yet another humbling series of public failures. Why? Because I love you.  Love still inspires me to get up, show up, and challenge other humbled beginners like  you to “honestly believe it’s possible to beat impossible odds with God’s help and achieve Greatness.”

“But by grace still go I.”

Copyright (c)2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“Nevertheless, there is at least one defining moment that occurs in the life of every generation when limit-testers, who honestly believe there are destined to become great, will choose to face their fears and embrace Change for the first time.” — Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness

After almost 2 years of waiting, what I’ve been calling “America’s Defining Moment” for 2008, has finally arrived. On Election Day 2008, American voters will get up and show up at polling locations to choose the 44th President of the United States Of America. During America’s Defining Moment, the whole world is watching America right now and anxiously waiting to see whether or not American voters will choose to face “our deepest fears,” overcome our biggest fears, and embrace Change. For our children’s sake, our generation cannot afford to get it wrong again.

Please click on “The Inspiration For Change“ if you’re a first-time visitor or just simply don’t remember what inspires Change.

For the first time, our generation can do something tangible to galvanize our fractured, financially faltering country, a country that has been racially polarized and emotionally divided from within for too long and for all the wrong reasons. For the first-time, our generation can achieve what the diligent descendants of our enslaved, albeit resilient, ancestors had enough faith in God to believe that the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech would one day become a reality.

One of my “Big Dreams” for 2008 was to live long enough to witness President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk side-by-side into their destiny by beating impossible odds and completing the task before them with God’s help. The Obama family has done their part to give all Americans a reason to remain hopeful, a reason to believe that better days are coming, a reason to believe that we can all achieve great things. Matters not the colour of the skin our gifted souls are wrapped within.

My wife, KWiz, and I voted early. We both chose to cast our votes for President Barack Obama. Now, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to help the Obamas make history today as we pray on bended knee. Together, we can begin the arduous process of tearing down the imaginary wall that has divided America from within. Imagine the endless parade of possibilities that will appear if we choose to honestly believe that our generation can “achieve greatness.” But be forewarned.

“To impede Change, the predatory employees of Ain’t Fairusee’s mega-corporation must keep you and your generation from achieving greatness. Since your antagonists still believe the end always justifies the means, choose the battles you fight and the paths you walk wisely.” — Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness

Since Power concedes nothing without a struggle, will you have the presence of mind to choose the path you walk and the battle you fight wisely? Can you stop going-along just to get-along with the spiritually-blinded status quo who remain shackled and chained to a “win-at-all-costs slave mentality?” During America’s Defining Moment, what will you choose to do when Adversity strikes, when your cars get booted and towed away, when poll workers lack the resources they need, when the ballots are printed incorrectly, when the weather refuses to cooperate, when the police set up road blocks to intimidate you? Think about it.

During America’s Defining Moment, will you choose to love loving one another instead of loving to hate another person just because of the colour of their skin? Will you choose to do the right thing by casting your vote for Senator Barack Obama because voting for Senator John McCain simply doesn’t pass the common sense test? Do you have the inner strength of character, the confidence, and the courage to cross politically divisive party lines and dance to the beat of a different drum? I hope so.

For the first time, our generation can choose to elect a brilliant person, who just happens to be a Black man, as the next Commander-In-Chief of the United States Of America. Imagine that! Only God truly knows whether or not the culturally diverse members of humanity’s global village will choose to walk together in peace by faith and work together as one for the greater good during “our journey towards greatness.”

During America’s Defining Moment, always expect the unexpected to happen when least expected. Matters not what happens next. Trust God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

THE INSPIRATION FOR CHANGE

“Our generation’s fears of what’s lurking in the shadows of Change made Failure, Poverty, Rejection, and Violence our closest companions. But that was before Pain became greater than our individual fears of what follows seasons of Change. Until Pain inspired us to face our biggest fears and embrace Change, the strong and weak alike felt content to strike the same defiant pose behind our silent and violent peers just to avoid Rejection. But our vain efforts to avoid the inevitable failed. Without Pain to inspire Change, we found no reason to conquer our fear of Failure due to our constant failure to overcome Fear. Minus the inspiration for Change, our socially alienated souls never negated what emotionally divided the blended extended families of humanity’s global village from within.

Without Pain, nobody became strong enough to rise above the rim of self-imposed limitations just as the previous generations who never overcame their addiction to Pleasure. So, the weakest of the weak failed to become bold enough to speak those things that are not as though we had already achieved what our peers believed was impossible. Alas, it didn’t take long before the weakest of the strong forfeited the right to make better choices once Fear silenced our voices. Imagine how hopeless the weakest of the weak felt after hearing the rumor, half-truth, and true lie that only the strongest of the strong would survive the longest.

Nevertheless, Pain and Change kept working together for good until our generation realized that we could trust God without reservation. With all humility, we asked the Almighty to give us the strength we needed to beat impossible odds. So God made us struggle until the weakest of the weak became strong enough to keep risin’ after every fall. We kept embracing Change until we overcame the same fears you’re facing during your dark nights of the soul when all appears lost. Can you imagine how peaceful the world became once our generation stopped repeating the self-defeating cycle of self-destruction you’re trying to break?”

Copyright © 2007- 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Breaking News Update

Less than one hour ago, the 11th Circuit Court Of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia issued yet another “Stay Of Execution” for Death Row inmate Mr. Troy Anthony Davis. Click on “Stay Of Execution” to read this CNN breaking news report.  Click on AJC for additional information about today’s surprising decision.

Please scroll through the Archives to read the previous posts about Mr. Davis’ story. This particular post will be updated as this international news story develops. It’s true! God always does the unexpected when we least expect it. It’s always too soon to quit.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“Somewhere between the yawn of yesterday and the early morning dew that signals the dawn of a new day, …” — Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness

Quick question. As the creative, imaginative person that you are, how would you choose to write the familiar phrase “Once upon a time, …” in order to leave a lasting impression on the minds of your readers?

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

The U. S. Supreme Court has granted  a “Stay Of Execution” for Mr. Troy Davis. As many of you who read this blog already know, Mr. Davis was scheduled to be executed tonight at 7p.m. for a crime he didn’t commit.  For those of you who don’t know, please click on the highlighted words for additional information.

Gotta  run.  I’m heading down to the Georgia State Capitol  building to join hands with Amnesty International, the NAACP, and the ACLU and celebrate the good news.  It’s true! God can do more in one second that we, as imperfect people, can do in a lifetime.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon.  All Rights Reserved.

Quick question.  Have you ever sat in the “seat of the accused” after being “falsely arrested” and “falsely imprisoned” for a crime that both you, and your cowardly accusers, know you didn’t commit? Due to the violence of a false accuser’s fear-based “betrayal of silence,”  one too many “actually innocent” people have been mistakenly incarcerated and sentenced to death more often than we would like to believe.

Based upon what I’ve read recently and what was shared during the compelling discussions that aired today on Radio Station WAOK 1380AM, it appears that Mr. Troy Davis is just one of the many men who have been wrongfully incarcerated and sentenced to death on September 23, 2008 for a crime he didn’t commit.

Due to  the pervasive problems with America’s imperfect system of justice, I do not support the Death Penalty.  On September 11, 2008, a rally, sponsored by Amnesty International and the NAACP , for Mr. Troy Davis is scheduled to take place  on the steps of the “gold-domed” Georgia Capitol Building from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in Atlanta, Georgia.

Please click on the “highlighted words” in this post for links that will provide additional information and ways you can help save Mr. Troy Davis’ life.  If you know someone who’s been falsely arrested, or if you’ve ever personally sat in the “seat of the accused” as an actually innocent person, I hope to see you there tomorrow evening. The life you help us save today may be yours tomorrow.  Think about it.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon.  All Rights Reserved.

“Congratulations, Solomon! This is a phenomenal story that people of all ages, races, creeds, and colors can relate. Your insight in uplifting each person through their struggle to achieve all goals in life is real.

I am currently reading it a 2nd time and finding new meaning in addition to my spiritual walk and appreciating all of my daily miracles. Keep up the great work.

May GOD continue to bless you and the words from your heart to the paper it is written on.”

– Ms. Petra Parker