For those of you who have been consistently reading this blog since January 1, 2007, you know that blogging was an “act of faith” for an ex-perfectionist like me.  Like many of you, I am a fallen, imperfect person. I, too, have good intentions. But I’ve also got some bad habits and some great weaknesses.  Sometime my Big Dreams don’t cooperate.  So we probably have a lot more in common than you think.

During the past four years, you chose to love me, to challenge me, to encourage me, to pray for me anyway. And for that, I will always and forever be grateful.  Although we’ve never met face-to-face, I still love you more than you could ever imagine.  Your love lifted me out of the ashes of obscurity.

You’ve graciously endured my many mistakes during my humble beginnings.  You’ve watched me fail publicly, stumble badly, and fall flat on my face.  Yet and still, so many of you refused to give up on me.  You’ve made my private victories possible.  By choice, you became my “champions.”  So many of you loved me unconditionally and encouraged me despite my many shotcomings.  Because of your love, I kept getting up, showing up, and challenging you to take the next step towards making your own Big Dreams come true.

To this day, your love, your private words of encouragement, your comments still inspire me to keep blogging and doing what I love to do — write.  I hope and pray that all the culturally diverse members of our galvanized community will choose to “keep loving to love one another” as we share our thoughts and ideas. So please don’t stop challenging the rest of our blended, extended family members to keep risin’ to our feet after every fall our gifted souls survive until the day we can all stand side-by-side and meet the greatness of God’s faithfulness.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” ~ Proverbs 27:6 NASB

Together, I honestly believe those of us to whom “little” appears given really can make a difference in the lives of the children who will become the next generation of leaders.  Do you? I hope so. Remember, upon first glance, looks can be deceiving. As always, the choice to dig deeper so you can climber higher than you thought was possible is still yours alone to make.  I believe in you.  But do you believe in yourself? Gee, why not? Think about it.

“But by grace still go I”

Copyright © 2011 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” ~ Amos 3:3 KJV

S.I.N.™ Stop Incivility Now™ Quick question.  How many more women and children must die for nothing before real men like you and I rise up and start walking together in peace while working together as one to help cultivate a culture of civility? Think about it.

When the world least expects it, a swift paradigm shift will happen that is going to change the way men see women, treat women, relate to women. Matters not the colour of their skin. Real men will choose to Live, Love, and Lead United™ to stop the culture of incivility that condones sex trafficking, rape, and slavery in any form. Difficult? Most definitely! Impossible? Not!

Imagine the endless parade of possibilities that will appear when the women that real men love, honor, and respect finally stop living with Fear. My challenge to all who read this is simple. Stop Incivility Now™! Dare to dream bigger and act like you honestly believe it’s possible to beat impossible odds with God’s help.

As always, the choice for “this one” and “that one” to agree as one that it’s time to do something that has never been done before is theirs alone to make.  But please don’t take too long before deciding to do the right thing by letting love lead the way because it’s much later than you think. Can you imagine a world without women? I can’t. Can you? I hope not. S.I.N.™ Stop Incivility Now™

Copyright © 2011 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“Teaching children and adults to read, write, and comprehend is not only our essential duty and investment in America’s future; it is also an act of love.” – John Corcoran, author of The Bridge to Literacy and The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read

Mr. Corcoran is a former adult nonreader who decided to make a tangible investment in America’s future. Please visit Mr. John Corcoran’s Blog to see what I honestly believe is an excellent example of “Personal Leadership.”  As a sign of respect, I’m shining a light on this philanthropic literacy advocate for having the courage to “face his fears and embrace Change.”

“Out of 191 million adults in the U.S., as many as 44 million cannot read a newspaper or fill out a job application. Another 50 million more cannot read or comprehend above the eight grade level.” -from the 1998 US Government Report, The State of Literacy in America, released by the National Institute for Literacy (NIL).

Quick question. Who, or what, is still stopping the millions of illiterate adults who never learned how to read above a 5th or 8th grade level from doing the same? Hmmmm. Think about it. In the meantime, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

It’s still true.  One person really can make a difference. Difficult? Most definitely! Impossible? Not!

Copyright © by Roderick O. Solomon except where otherwise noted.  All Rights Reserved

Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness is no longer available for purchase.

Here’s a thumbs up from North Carolina about Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness.

“It has been years since a piece of literature has evoked such thought and inspiration in me so to you…I am grateful. After completing the book, I was eager to share this with everyone I know. I let one of my family’s long term friends (a pastor) read the book. She was so moved that she decided to focus a few of her bible study and sunday school lessons around your work. This is truly a labor of love that has been well worth it.” –Ms. Dywanna Sheridan

Copyright © 2007-2009 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of granting Mr. Troy Davis a new trial an “evidentiary hearing” in order to prove his innocence.  Click on “A Second Chance” for additional information.  As many of you know, I’ve been closely monitoring the status of Mr. Davis’ case and praying on bended knee for an innocent person who deserves a new trial.

Yes, I’m posting this breaking news story with tears of joy streaming down my face.  This developing story will get updated as time permits.

In all fairness to the sister, Ms. Kathy MacPhail-McQuary, and the immediate family of the murdered police officer, Mr. Mark Allen MacPhail, here’s a recent Athens Banner-Herald article that presents their side of this tragic story. Comments related to this news article have been included.

Martina, it’s true!  Prayer works!! Your relentless efforts to save your brother’s life have not been in vain. Here’s an Essence Magazine article about Ms. Martina Correia that will inspire you to “never give up.”

As promised, this post has been updated to correct my previous mistake.  Mr. Davis’ sister, Ms. Martina Correia, contacted me yesterday to inform me that the U.S. Supreme Court has graciously granted her brother an “evidentiary hearing” instead of a “new trial.” Click on evidentiary hearing in this paragraph to read the NAACP‘s statement.

“I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.” — Abraham Lincoln

“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.

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.

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.