To my valued Subscribers: Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification Since the only purpose for this post is to complete the MyBlogLog Verification process, please ignore this one. I respect each and everyone of you too much to waste any of your precious time with meaningless posts.

Last year, my wife, KWiz, and I watched the movie “Freedom Writers.” This year, we watched “The Great Debaters.” Both are unforgettable films. If you’re an aspiring writer who needs a reason to finish writing your book, please don’t wait to see either of these films. Both are amazing examples of the art of story-telling.

It’s true! Everybody has a story to tell. Some of you are extremely talented, gifted writers who can effortlessly employ the power of the written word to tell your stories. For me, writing is a struggle, which is why I started blogging last year. Have you ever wondered if there’s some secret formula or writing technique that will make one book sell better than another?

Can “talent alone” ensure the success of the books that authors allegedly choose to write? Who or what enables prolific writers to repeat the meticulous process behind the creative chaos that made your book a success? Does the timing of a book’s release play a significant part in its author’s ability to emotionally connect with one generation and not another? Do you believe that book sales, or the lack thereof, are an accurate indication of the perceived success or the failure of a book?

According to prolific author Paulo Coelho’s profile, “Slow initial sales [of The Alchemist] convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.

Have any of you ever pondered the possibility that the part you played did little to determine the success of your book? Did God’s sovereign will and perfect plan have anything to do with the success of your book? If yes, does it really matter whether or not an author chooses to employ “urban street teams” or “main stream” marketeers to promote a book that’s destined to become a national best seller? As writers, what part do we play in the books we author?

Do books choose their writers or do writers choose the books they pen? I had no desire to write a book before I began to pen Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness. I believe the book that I birthed chose me. I can still recall waking up in the middle of the night to write the first page of my big dream. Once I began writing it, I couldn’t stop. Whenever I felt inspired to write, I didn’t sleep much. I didn’t eat. I didn’t talk. Since I didn’t have anything to distract me, I just wrote. I constantly canceled or rescheduled appointments until the words stopped flowing from somewhere deep within the heart of my soul.

Am I crazy or has this ever happened to any of you? What did you do initially? Did you look around the room to see if you were all alone? Did you ignore the words you heard or did you heed the still, small voice that inspired you to believe that you could achieve something bigger than yourself? Did people laugh at you, ridicule you, and reject you when they heard about the genesis of your big dream? My mother and my wife stood by me at a time when I needed their love and support the most.

Writing Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness was an act of faith for me. I wrote on anything and everything I could get my hands on as evidenced by all the cardboard boxes still stuffed with the hastily scribbled notes that I stockpiled over the years. During those difficult days when I had no place to lay my head, I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself. For reasons that still escape me, I refused to give up after the fall I survived.

Nevertheless, trusting God when nothing made sense wasn’t easy. To challenge myself to keep getting up and showing up for my street fight with Adversity, I started writing poetic essays. Writing literally saved my life after my business failed and I was forced to file bankruptcy. Because of the vision that God gifted to me, I had a plan that I could believe in. God’s unchanging love gave me hope during my darkest days. It’s true! Without a vision, people with no reason to hope will perish.

For reasons now known, “But by grace still go I” is not just some empty Christian phrase that I casually toss around to sound spiritual. If you’re a published writer, did your book choose you or did you choose your book? I hope this post has encouraged somebody to rise to your feet and inspired you to honestly believe that you can beat impossible odds with God’s help. If so, please let me know.

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

I’m supporting 2008 Presidential Candidate Barack Obama because he gives me “hope.” He’s beating the odds. It’s my heart-felt prayer that Senator Obama isn’t the only political candidate who sees past all the smoke and mirrors, chooses the high road, and endures the escalating personal attacks while sitting in the “seat of the accused.”

Watching and listening to Mrs. Michelle Obama gives me a reason to hope. As a sign of respect, I tip my hat to this wise woman of substance as she steadfastly stands by Obama’s side with honor and dignity during a time when marriages are failing at an alarming rate. I agree with her. I’m also sick and tired of living in fear for all the innocent children who’ve been “marked for destruction.” Aren’t you?

All the emotionally-charged mud slinging that has recently inundated the news appears to be nothing more than acts of desperation. Senator Obama has successfully managed to capture the hearts and the attention of an eclectic collection of highly-motivated voters who’ve also grown sick and tired of “business as usual.” Let the sleep-walking status quo know that you’re not afraid to face your fears and embrace Change.

Are you ready to take a stand by using your blog to let the world know that you’re a blogger who believes that Senator Barack Obama will do what’s best for all Americans and not just a few? Matters not the color of your skin, your gender, your political affiliation, your religious beliefs, your personal preferences. Take a stand. Register. Vote. Together, we can make a difference during what shall soon prove to be yet another “defining moment” in the history of this country.

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

B.M.A.D.™ in 2008 is an acronym for “Bloggers Making A Difference™ In 2008.” For new visitors, I birthed this blog January 1, 2007. Since then, I’ve learned so much from many of you about the art of blogging. In the process of reading your insightful, informative, and thought-provoking posts, I’ve learned much about myself. I look forward to doing the same this year with your help, prayers, and support.

Personal growth is always a painful process. Nevertheless, I’m a better person because you have chosen to love me despite my imperfections and great weaknesses. Hopefully, I’ve learned from the mistakes I made during my first year of blogging. If not, check me. Better to be wounded by a friend than to be kissed by an enemy.

As we begin yet another journey together, I want to ask each of you to think about what you plan to accomplish with your blogs in 2008? Knowing your purpose as a blogger will gift you with a deeper understanding of how you can improve your blogs and increase traffic to your sites?

How can you use your writing skills and your blogs to make a difference in the lives of the people you will meet “for the first time” this year? How can you use an activity that I still consider a privilege to inspire, empower, and encourage the readers who visit your blogs or subscribe to your blogs?

Let’s challenge one another to do something this year that will compel the whole world to sit up and pay attention to what bloggers have to say in 2008 to make a difference in the lives of our blended, extended family members. Let’s challenge one another to actively participate in the making and the shaping of our ever-evolving history.

What can we do to focus more attention on the ordinary, everyday people I call “unsung heroes and sheroes?” How many people do you know who have the “courage to teach” the next generation of leaders? What person’s courageous “act of faith” has had the most impact on your life? What teacher or mentor challenged to you to do more than you ever thought possible? Who still inspires you, encourages you, empowers you and loves you unconditionally?

Since Change is inevitable, I challenge myself and all my peers in the blogosphere to “B.M.A.D™ In 2008″ before it’s too late to save the next generation of leaders who are destined to become great. Are you willing to do more than you ever thought possible? I hope so.

Copyright © 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights reserved.

“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”

–Picasso

Guess what? My blog is “broken.” Why? Because I broke it during a failed attempt to fix a possible security risk that upgrading to WordPress 2.3.1 is supposed to resolve. Quick question. How many bloggers have not attempted to upgrade to WordPress 2.3.1 because you’re afraid you might fail? As evidenced by my “Home Page,” my efforts to finish this arduous upgrade have failed.

Why is failure and failing perceived as a bad thing if one learns more by failing to “do something” than by succeeding to “do nothing?” Does failing and failure frighten you? If not, share your “success story” by letting us know what you’ve done for the “first time” during 2007. Before you post a comment, think about how you’ve been programmed, conditioned, and taught to define “success” and “failure.”

What have you done for the first time this year? For the first time, I’ve published a blog. Did I fail to write perfect, error-free posts?  Most Definitely!  Did I fail to achieve all the goals I set out to accomplish thus far? Most definitely! But I’ve learned so much and met so many beautiful bloggers because I stepped outside the boat of my self-imposed limitations.  Steppin’ outside the boat of what gave me a false sense of security and launching this blog was truly an act of faith for a person like me with perfectionistic tendencies like mine.

Because my site is not monetized, I sacrificed my blogging goals as a blogger to birth my big dream by finishing a literary project that began before leaving Los Angeles, California in 1997.  For the first time, I’ve “successfully” written, designed, and produced a 272 page book that has taken me over 10 years to complete. Only by the grace of God is Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness finished.

But because I’ve failed to write a post for this blog as frequently as expected to become a successful blogger, am I a failure in the eyes of my peers? Does anybody know who wrote the rules that govern bloggers and blogging?  Who sat down and wrote the formulas  and algorithms that determine “Page Rankings?”  Did they succeed or fail?  Does money earned determine who becomes a successful blogger?

How many of my prolific peers in the blogosphere will vilify me, ridicule me, reject me, and think less of me because I’ve failed, fallen short, and missed the mark set by a few professional bloggers? How many of my “subscribers” will stop supporting my relentless efforts to make a difference by abandoning my community because I’ve failed to rise to the level of your expectations? How many of you still believe that nobody loves a “loser” as much as everybody loves a “winner?”

During your quiet talk with God in your secret place, ask yourself, Does failing and failure frighten you because you still fear ridicule and rejection? Think about your answer before posting your comment.

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

This blog is currently experiencing technical difficulties due to a required WordPress upgrade.  Some of the features and pages are currently missing or not functioning properly. Nevertheless, I choose to remain hopeful that we shall prevail over Murphy’s Law.

During the final editing phase of my book, Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness, a question arose that I thought insightful, critically thinking bloggers like you would best be able to answer.

When does a “girl” become a “woman?”

Copyright (c) 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to all of you who have recently sent emails and private messages to check on me. Rest assured, all is well. “Quality is more important to me than quantity.” So, where am I and what am I doing? I’m busy birthing my big dream. But that’s not all.

I’ve also been busy reading “your” blog posts. I’ve been digging through “your” archives in hopes of strengthening our emerging relationship. As always, I’m extremely impressed by what many of you have to say. I’ve learned so much from what you’ve written, from the comments received, from the hindsight of your insight.

“Seek first to understand before seeking first to be understood” is a paraphrase of one of the 7 habits of “highly effective people” as outlined in the book, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey. How many of you have read any of his books?

How do you read another blogger’s blog? Do you ever take time to peruse the archives? This blog was birthed January 1, 2007 when I had no idea what I was doing. But I kept risin’ after every public fall. Doing so was truly an act of faith for a person like me who struggles to overcome my “perfectionistic” tendencies. The benefits and rewards of blogging and meeting all of you have been such a blessing to me.

As you know, this site is not “monetized.” My income will come from the big dream that’s being birthed as you read this post. Over the past few months, I shared snippets from Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness. The unforeseen setbacks, the revisions, the changes, and the obstacles have been numerous. As you know, “failure always follows the path of least persistence.”

What do you do when your big dream doesn’t cooperate, when life happens, when Adversity strikes? The weapons formed but did not prosper. But by the grace of God, Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness is finally finished. I will announce the “scheduled release” of the first in a series of books soon. As my grandmothers often said, “Thank you Jesus!!”

Delayed, But Not Denied.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

On July 23, 2007, Joezul, at All Is One, One Is All, has awarded me with an “Awesome Guy Blogger” award. All the recognition I’ve been receiving from my blended, extended family members is extremely humbling. I’ve seen so many bloggers who also deserve to be honored and recognized for their outstanding efforts.

July 2007 has been an extremely difficult month for me but so many of you have showered me with your love, your support, your patience, your prayers that I felt empowered, encouraged, and inspired to keep getting up and showing up to read what you have written.

Technical difficulties with my site have prevented me from publishing posts worth reading because my DSL link keeps crashing for some inexplicable reason whenever I try to publish my posts. As some of you know, I have been able to leave a few comments on other bloggers blogs.

So far, the DSL connection has been stable enough to publish this post. If this post appears on-line, then I will try to publish all the posts that have been archived until this perplexing problem gets resolved.

Troubles don’t last always.

I thank all of you, who commented or emailed me this month, for your continued patience and for all the link love I’ve received. I have not been ignoring you.

Even the strongest of the strong struggle to keep risin’ after every fall. Whenever possible, I will personally respond to all your comments and finish listing all the names of the bloggers I’ve chosen to receive their individual awards from me.

Copyright 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

My wife, my queen, my best friend, the mother of our beautiful pearl of a girl, KWiz, publishes Women Walking In Wisdom’s Footsteps™, knows that I take receiving any Blogger award from my peers and blogging seriously. Blogging is not a game to me. I consider what we, as critically thinking, socially conscious bloggers, do a privilege that should not be taken lightly.

I’ve done extensive research since receiving my Thinking Blogger Awards. I have nothing but love and respect for the outstanding bloggers who chose to honor me. During my temporary leave of absence, I thank each of you for your patience and for understanding that you weren’t being ignored or taken for granted during my extended season of “sunny-side-down days.”

Since day 1 of this unpredictable “year of firsts,” I’ve learned so much from the many gifted bloggers God has blessed me during my humble beginnings. The arduous amount of behind-the-scenes work my mentors do to prepare, write, and publish their posts must be extensive.

My blogging is done for an audience of One, for an eternal purpose. For me, blogging is a non-traditional form of “ministry” to inspire people who just need a breath of fresh air to keep going during those dark days and lonely nights when all seems lost.”

To avoid any misunderstandings about the reasons why I published this blog, this site isn’t monetized. I don’t blog to acquire many of the mind boggling stats that appear to indicate the success or failure of a blog or a blogger.

My reward will come when my humbled soul crosses the Great Spiritual Divide and Jesus Christ looks me in the eye on the Day of Accountability and says,

“Well done good and faithful servant.”

The 15 bloggers I’ve selected are diversified and more than deserving to receive their individual awards for making us think. Each recipient has inspired me because they are committed to making a difference in the lives of ordinary, everyday people to whom little appears given.

The first 5 winners of the Thinking Blogger Award are:

1) Rev. Dr. Renita Weems publishes Something Within.

2) Dana Roc publishes Daily Dana.

3) Dave Schoof publishes The Disquiet™ In Men.

4) Content Black Woman publishes Content Black Woman.

5) Glace and Philip from The ZDocs Blog, publish How To Publish A Book.

Congratulations to all of you for the excellent, thought-provoking work you do. To obtain your awards and to view the rules for receiving this award, please visit, Women Walking In Wisdom’s Footsteps™ to review the established “rules of engagement.”

Copyright 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.