I could really use a wish right now

Since an early age many of us find ourselves blowing out the candles of our birthday cake as we make a wish...There is no doubt I enjoy wishful thinking but in all reality I have issues with it. The greatest issue I have with wishful thinking is too often that is all it is, thinking. I just wander what this world would look like if we transferred our wishful thinking into acting on behalf of our wishes. The older I become the more familiar I am with living out my wishes. The brutual truth is our time on earth is brief, and realistically we don't know when our life will expire. I don't want to wait till I am on my death bed to live out my last wishes. I want to see them come to completion while I am alive and well...today as you go about living, pause and visualize yourself blowing out the candles on your birthday cake...what are you wishing for? More importantly what are you doing to make those wishes
become reality?
Write a book? Start a business? Volunteer at a nonprofit? Start a community movement? Start a new career? Adopt a child? Get a college degree? Be a better parent?

Act upon your wishes!!!

Live to love,
c

Who Will?

This week has moved quite rapidly as a result of my busy schedule that has included many different comittments. One of those being preparations for Stop The Violence. In all honesty at times I wonder does Stop The Violence even make a difference in our city? Then today I stood at the side of a hospital bed that encompassed a beaten homeless man that been my friend for a little over 12 years. He was beaten so badly that he has fragments of his skull floating around in his head,and not only that he lost one of his ears. All afternoon I have been reminded, that is why I am a part of the Stop The Violence Movement...if we don't do all we can to silence the silence and stop the violence, who will? Will you join me?

Live to Love,
c

A Time To Remember

Memorial Day Weekend is quickly approaching. Memorial day is tough for me, it causes me to remember. Memorial Day although it is a day that commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service, which is a beautiful thing, it also causes me to remember the pain I felt a couple of years ago, when reality set in that a friend of mine, Albert Cadena became a murder victim. Albert, as I become weary from all the preparations that need to be made for Stop the Violence this year, your legacy keeps me going. I promised you almost 2 1/2 years ago that I would help you speak against violence, and do all I can to help the younger generations see the truth. I still hold true to that promise, I am doing all I can to silence the silence and stop the violence.

Live to Love.
C

Sea of Opportunities

Life as we know it is filled with so many beautiful opportunities. Yet one of the most tragic occurrences in human history is so many of us refuse to seize these times of beauty. A couple months back I had a vision to write a third book, I remember sitting down with my wife and sharing this deep sense of conviction. As I hesitated in the midst of our conversation I shared with hesitancy that I wanted to contact a well known sports author, to see if he wanted to collaborate in this project. Today I was able to see my vision become reality as that sports writer and I completed most of the final touches on the book. In just a few short months, I have witnessed first hand that when you step out in faith dreams not only can come into fruition, they can become a distant goal in the past. Almost a year ago I had the great honor to watch my first project come into existence, and almost a year later I am going to have the beautiful opportunity to watch my second project be published. When my life here on earth comes to a close, my deepest desire is that I am remembered for two things. The first is that I left this world a better place than I found it, secondly that I was willing to adventure in a sea of risk to see my dreams not only be accomplished, but achieved in such a way that they far exceed my greatest expectations. As you look in the mirror, I challenge you to ask yourself, "what am I waiting for, what is keeping me from chasing after my greatest dreams?" Is it the fear of failure? Rejection? Fear of unknown?

My prayer for each one of us is that we do not allow ourselves to be bound from achieving our dreams.


Live to Love,
C

Walking with Angels

This past Saturday night I had the great honor and privileged to not only train with the Dallas chapter of Guardian Angels but I also got to go on patrol with them in some of the worst areas of Dallas. As a result of my time with The Guardian Angels I have a completely different outlook on activism. I also witnessed first hand what it looks like when citizens refuse to accept crime and injustice in their city by truly walking the walk and not just talk the talk as many do. I am so excited that Curtis the founder will join us for Stop The Violence this year. Let me leave you with a thought that has disturbed me since my time with the angels, Are we talking about making a difference, or are we being a difference?

May 30th 2010

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On Sunday May 30^th, 2010 We are going to have a life change service. The service will include testimonies from people that have experienced life change at Mission Abilene. We will also have a day of baptism. If you have not been baptized this would be a great opportunity for that to occur. Sheri will have a sign up sheet in the foyer, for those interested they will need to include their name and contact info so we can follow up with them within the next week.

24 Years Ago Today

The older I get the more I realize how quickly the days of our lives sweep away. Twenty four years ago today, I attended my mom's softball game at Nelson Park. My dad chose to stay at home that night for reasons I can't recall. Upon completion of her game we started our journey back to our home. As we proceeded closer and closer to our home I noticed a huge cloud of smoke in the sky. I remember as if it was yesterday asking my mom, "Hey Mom, where is that smoke coming from?" She replied, "Not sure, Chad. Maybe a house or a building has caught fire." Boy was she right, as we turned the corner to our home there the fire was, it seemed bigger than life. At that moment I witnessed an image that I will never forget the rest of my life. I watched a fireman take an axe to my roof as flames burst out of it. My mom slammed the car in a neighbor's front yard and off we ran to see if my Daddy was okay. In a matter of seconds, by the grace of God we found my Dad, he was shaken up, but he was okay. He then went on to tell us about two heroes, that I will be forever grateful for. My dad was watching TV in his bedroom when he heard the door bell ring and a lot of knocking on the door. He opened the door and two young college girls, said Mr. your house is on fire." Dad ran outside looked at the roof, and immediately went back in, gathered up our dog and what valuables he could and exited the house. Although we lost everything we owned, in all honesty it didn't matter whatsoever because my Dad was alive. Without those two young ladies knocking on my door to inform my Dad about the fire, my Dad most likely wouldn't had made it out. In the exact bedroom he was watching TV just above the ceiling in the attic the fire was birthed due to birds building a nest in the attic fan. As you go about life, remember the truest heroes are those that are everyday people doing all they can to help out humanity.