Twelve Things ..... Plus One ©

Change your thoughts and you change your world - Norman Vincent Peale

In the midst of turmoil and chaos it is easy to lose sight of the Goodness of God and the many blessings he bestows upon us daily. I’ll be the first to admit that I have occasional A.D.D when it comes to God’s grace towards me. Nevertheless, it is short lived. I am a work in progress and every day I don’t always roll with WWJD… But because I have faith in Him and he hasn’t left me hanging yet I stay encouraged.

The following is for those individuals out there who – like me - need an occasional reminder to stay encouraged and to never give up. It blessed me.

I pray that it blesses you……


Twelve Things to Always Remember and One thing to Never Forget

Your Presence is a present to the world.

You’re unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be what you want it to be.

Take the days just one day at a time.

Count your blessings not your troubles.

You’ll make it through whatever comes along.

Within you are so many answers.

Understand, have courage, be strong.

Realize that it’s never too late.

Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Have health and hope and happiness.

Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don’t ever forget…..even for one day…..

How very special you are!

- Collin McCarthy


Always remember to be true to yourself in spite of what the world throws at you.
I leave you with the following quote from a Phenomenal Woman of God by the name of Shellie Warren:

“There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular."

PSA ©

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There has been talk of the end of the world since before any of you reading this entry were even thought of. People have been predicting the end of the world since before Moses parted the Red Sea, Christ came to Earth and walked among us or before Noah built the Ark.

Even in recent history we have had our share of doomsday prophecies. During the Great Depression there were those that surely thought that the hard times were definitely signs of the end of days. Y2K..... need I say more? Yet again there are predictions that the world will end in 2012.

You know what I say to that? Wonderful. My soul is ready. I am servant of the Most High God and because of that I am not given to a spirit of fear. Besides being afraid of something doesn't prevent it from occurring. 

 However, I think that the doomsayers got this one wrong (as obviously was the case with all of the aforementioned bootleg apocalyptic predictions). I don't think that  2012 is going to bring about the end of days. I do however think that 2012 is going to bring about the end of the world as we know it. The destruction of the Status Quo. I do believe that God's promise to his children that "the last shall be first" will be undeniably evident in the Earth realm. I mean just look around. Look at all that has happened to us in the last 8 years (The number 8 in some circles represents a New Beginning). It took us 12 years to get to this point (12 in some circles is the number for Divine Government). Our nation has been shaken to its very core. 

People are losing everything. Their jobs, their homes, their families, their faith, even their lives. These are dark days that we are experiencing right now. Even as optimistic and faithful as I am, I still marvel at the events (some unprecedented)that we as a nation..... bump that..... we as a global community are experiencing right now.

 Yet with that being said, I have great news for you. It is ALWAYS darkest before the dawn. And the dawn is coming. One of the wonderful things about God is that his will is perfect. If there is one thing that I have learned over the course of my 35 years on this planet is that you can't rush perfection. During some of the darkest times of my life was when I had some of the most awesome character revelations. It was those times that made me take inventory and forced me to evolve in every area and aspect of my life. I believe this is the position that the world finds itself in right now. 

I actually believe that God is preparing America to once again take it's place at the forefront as one of the world's leading superpowers. I mean let's face it. The past few years have been rough. The Euro is worth more than the dollar. American's can't travel to certain areas of the world because.... hmm, let's see...... we're American. The world's opinion of us has been severely damaged by the last eight years of shotty leadership. But as negative as the opinion of some of the world's populace may be of us... it is not irreparable. It's basically like my father used to say.......you can't really fix anybody else's problems until you fix your own. I think that it is a well-known fact that America has its share of problems to fix right now. Which is why I think that things basically sometimes have to get worse before they get better.

To this author, what America (and the World for that matter) is experiencing right now is what I like to refer to as the Ultimate Reality Check.

What makes me say that? 

Why, I'm glad you asked.

Look at the current economic crisis. It's global. Look at the issue surrounding the harmful rate consumption of the world's natural resources. It's global. Look at the push for alternative fuel sources. It's a global initiative. Look at the blurring of class, gender and racial barriers that have separated people for centuries. It's happening the world over. Hell, even the GOP elected its first Black Chairman (for what that's worth). Hmph.....When the Republican Party start shifting their mindset on certain things you KNOW things are changing! 

Let's go a little deeper. In the Word of God whenever there was a shift in the consciousness of individuals and of the people of a particular period, there was always drastic change involved. The Flood, the Exodus, The creation of the Ten Commandments, the Tower of Babel, Saul on Damascus Road, The Sermon on the Mount, The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ and the list goes on and on. Based on His track record, I think it's safe to say that God makes sure He has your undivided attention before he blesses people and answers prayers.

Even throughout the course of history this same trend applies: 

The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the discovery of America (Vespucci or Columbus take your pick), the Boston Tea Party, the American Revolution, The Declaration of Independence, the Middle Passage, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Great Depression, the Holocaust, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, the Election the 44th president of the United States and that just a few of the event over the years that signaled shifts in consciousness during particular periods of modern history (and that by the way was the extremely condensed version). 

Even on a personal level I am all too familiar with the concept of God using drastic means in getting your attention before releasing you into your purpose and destiny. I was a knucklehead. Completely undisciplined with absolutely no direction. I am not afraid to admit that at all. But God got my attention. In ways that when I think about them makes me so grateful for God's Grace and Mercy. Were it not for that, ya boy would not be sitting here bringing you this Public Service Announcement.

But I digress.....

2012. All I can say to the predictors of gloom and doom is get your house in order. The Word says that no one knows when the world will end. So please don't start selling all your stuff and leaping off of buildings because some scientist or theologian says it's a wrap. As a matter of fact, just get your life right anyway. It can't hurt, it can only help.

Stay faithful,  stay prayerful, stay hopeful, and by all means stay cheerful. I know right now for some individuals that may be easier said than done. But like my Grandfather used to say ……. There is ALWAYS somebody out there that’s got it worse than you. Be thankful for what you have and for what God has blessed you with. Don’t waste your time (or your life for that matter) concentrating on what you don’t have. All things come in time to those willing to remain faithful and patient. However, here are a couple of things we must remember. The Creator does not work according to OUR timetable and He’s never late. Just trust that when you truly need Him, He shows up and shows out. January 20^th, 2009 was my most recent reminder of this undeniable fact.

Now don’t get it twisted. I am not by any means delusional. We are definitely experiencing some very serious challenges. Not just in the United States but the World over. Some challenges that won’t see a resolution for years to come. Nevertheless, I remain faithful and optimistic.  

I leave you with some words of wisdom from famed author and humorist Samuel Langhorne Clemens better known as Mark Twain….

“Challenges are what make life interesting, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

With God’s divine direction, faith, courage and unshakeable determination we will most definitely overcome the challenges that we are currently experiencing AND the ones that are sure to come. Hopefully, the lessons we learn from them will give all of our lives more meaning.

Pedigree ©

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. – Psalms 28:13-14

Life can sometimes beat someone down so bad that the person feels like the only way for them to survive is to lash out at the world. I know. I was one of those people. Misery definitely loves company. The more the merrier. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is self destructive because it eventually consumes the soul. You lose sight of who you are and the purpose that you were born to fulfill because you become so obsessed with retribution.

Believe me I know..... it took me witnessing one of my closest friends nearly lose their life because of it. That was evidence enough for me that this was not the way I was going to continue living my life. Now don’t get me wrong ….. not all change is comfortable. In all actuality change never is. Nevertheless, almost everything that is worth anything has to be obtained through some type of sacrifice. Whether that be leaving that comfort zone behind (What ever that represents for you), leaving certain social circles, or standing on true principles and morals even when that is contrary to the Status Quo.  

As for me, my enlightenment came through introspection.

I discovered for better or for worse I am my father’s child. I share many of his attributes (Much to my mother’s dismay….lol) and the beautiful thing is that I am good with that….

Here’s why:

I am a fairly good writer (My father was a phenomenal writer).

I am a Messenger of God (My father was a Minister)

I am an adventurer (My father was a trailblazer in many respects)

I am a grinder (My father’s work ethic was extraordinary)

I am clothes horse (My dad was one of the cleanest brothers I have ever known)

I am a life coach ( My father was a teacher)

But of all of the many things that my father and I had in common, there are so many things that we differ on. For example:

I am an observer (My father was impulsive)

I am extremely selective in who I am intimate with (My father absolutely did not discriminate)

I am a nurturer (My father had issues maintaining relationships)

But for all of our similarities and differences we first and foremost had this one thing in common:

We’re King’s Kids. Servants of the Most High God who is truly worthy to be praised. Connected to the True Vine.

I said all of that to say this…

 We all have a Pedigree. Now whether or not you claim it is on you. Your Pedigree can give you insight into who you are but it does not have to be the ultimate determinant of who we are or what we become. I have found that far too many people live lives that have been determined by what they saw or experienced early on in their lives. Trust and believe I can truly relate (I’ll go into that in a little more detail later). Dictionary.com defines the word Pedigree as follows:

An ancestral line; line of descent; lineage; ancestry.

So many people get lost in the shadows of their past. Reputations of one’s ancestors can be an “Albatross” around the neck of the descendant whether said reputation was a good one or a bad one. If it was a good reputation the expectations to follow suit are tremendous and can sometimes be overwhelming. While on the other hand if the reputation was a bad one, then most of the time the descendant is always “Guilty until proven innocent”. Unfortunately, this is the way of the world. It’s so much easier to prejudge an individual as opposed to evaluating them on their actual actions or merit. It’s not until an individual decides that they are going to stake their own claim in the world and declare what I refer to as “Ancestral independence”, they will forever be doomed live in the shadow of their past. Your past does not have to determine your future. Using the past to justify current dysfunctional behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Mainly because most of the time the people you hurt or inconvenience with your dysfunctional behavior don’t deserve the mistreatment. Here’s what I mean:

The Woman that was abused as a child albeit mentally, sexually, etc. distrusts ALL men.

The Man that saw his father beat the brakes off of his mother, abuses women.

The “Good” Brother that is “done wrong” by the woman he loves becomes dogmatic.

The “Good” sister that trusts the wrong man and gets hurt and labels all men “dogs”

The White Man who grew up in a racist household uses the “N” word to describe blacks.

The Black Man who watched his parents get sprayed with hoses distrusts all Whites.

The Boss that was picked on as a child, torments those in his/her charge.

The Millionaire that had no friends growing up tries to buy friendship and Love.

And the list goes on and on…….

But I am here declaring that today you don’t have to continue letting your past dictate your future. It is never too late for a new start. Trust me I know. For as long as you continue living dysfunctionally you will never experience true happiness.

I said I would elaborate a little on exactly what I meant by letting the events of your life early on determine how you live in the present. MY Life actually started for me at 30. I say that because every year of my life prior to age 30 was lived trying to please everyone. My Parents, My friends, my lovers, my employers, hell even people I barely even knew. Now you may be saying to yourself…… “What in the hell?” Well for me I suffered from very low self esteem because I was never truly affirmed as a child. My parents never supported anything that I did and only paid attention to me when I was doing something that THEY felt was “worthwhile”.  Case in point, at an early age close to the end of my parent’s marriage I was blessed with the opportunity to present an Award to Shirley Chisholm at the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. My mother refused to come because of my Father’s involvement with the coordinating of events at the banquet. That devastated me. There are other examples. Both parents were violators and it took its toll early in life (I was an introvert, I never felt like what I did was ever good enough for anyone and a  whole list of insecurities sprang up).

 Nevertheless, I did not let that stop me from wanting better for myself. One day I decided that it was time for a new start. Yes, it meant disassociating myself from certain groups (As I stated earlier misery loves company), Learning what it meant to truly love myself in spite of what the world may think about you or how the world sees you. We live in a world obsessed with labels. A very dear friend of mine once told me that if you let a person define your world they would always make it too small. Everybody is quick to label you something or put you in a box. I tell all of my friends that there isn’t a box in this universe big enough to put me in.

So the next time you find yourself beating up on yourself for something that happened in your past remember that it is just that….your past. You have the chance to start a new life. No, it is probably not gonna look the way you think that it should in the beginning because a new situation and a new beginning should not resemble the situation you are trying to move away from or change. Otherwise it’s just more of the same ole’ same ole’. The key is to not let the naysayers discourage you. Of course they are gonna hate on you because you want better for yourself. Of course they are gonna tell you every possible reason as to why you should avoid the prospect of a new way of life like the plague. Then it will be one less member of their pity party. Press on. Be of good courage knowing that you indeed have every right to live the life you have always dreamed about. The only thing stopping you……. Is you.

Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:2

Knowledge of Self ©

Knowledge of self is something that every human being has to obtain before they leave this earth in order to lead a purposeful life. The objective of today’s entry is hopefully to enlighten individuals on what I believe it means to obtain knowledge of self and what that entails. 

Knowledge of self goes far beyond an individual’s personal history. In order for someone to truly get to know themselves, he or she needs an understanding of their ancestral history. They also need to obtain knowledge of the history of the race, creed or color that they consider their own. Whether you are African American, Asian, Hispanic, Pakistani, or Italian it is imperative that you learn from whence you came. Learning one’s heritage establishes a firm foundation for not only the present but it also solidifies a productive and prosperous future for generations to come. Nevertheless, the road to self discovery begins with an individual and their inquisitiveness. There are those that have absolutely no desire to learn about their ancestral history and they go on to lead productive lives. However, those individuals that decide to discover their ancestral heritage tend to lead more purposeful lives. Purposeful in the sense that by obtaining knowledge of self,  one also acquires certain intangibles such as: respect of  other cultures, loyalty towards peers,  strength and courage in the face of adversity, and temperance for the most annoying and  infuriating of circumstances.

Now let me be absolutely clear. I am not saying that if you never set out to learn about yours or your ancestor's history that your future is a bleak one. I am merely stating that individuals that trace their ancestry tend to live more fruitful and fulfilled lives because they don’t waste time duplicating the mistakes of their ancestors.

I am a student of patterns. All throughout history there have been several recurring patterns that transcend race, creed, or color. So many in fact that it would take entirely too long to list them all. Nonetheless, anyone with even a moderate amount of discernment (albeit spiritual or not) understand exactly what I mean. The Word of God states the following:

Ecclesiastes 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

This is the exact reason why I am a student of  patterns. Why? I’m glad you asked. Studying patterns keeps me from making the same mistakes over and over again. It allows me to be proactive instead of reactive. Studying patterns also allows me to advise individuals on the best course of action for their particular situation albeit their careers, their investments, their goals and objectives, even their lives.

True knowledge of self comes from continuous introspection. Asking the really hard questions. Those questions that causes one to look at themselves objectively. Those questions that cause discomfort and upsets the balance of things. Complacency is the number one enemy of self discovery.  It is only when we ask ourselves the “tough” questions when we truly begin to discover who we truly are.

Trust me I know.

I know because over the course of my life there have been times when I would find myself being unproductive pursuing fruitless goals and objectives.  Doing the same things over and over again. Making the same mistakes time and time again.  It was only when I faced my demons, accepted my flaws and shortcomings (while making a sincere effort to correct the ones that I was empowered by the Most High to correct) that I actually began to obtain true, unadulterated knowledge of self. Now don’t get me wrong. I am in no way a “completed work”. As a matter of fact I am very much still a “work in progress”. However, learning Whose I am helped me to discover who I am. I had to do some serious soul searching and had to undergo what I like to refer to as “Spiritual Rehabilitation”. A portion of my therapy involved making some difficult choices (Because as I always say, Life is all about choices). I had to sever ties from certain individuals and situations that were stunting my growth.  I had to stop frequenting certain places and certain circles because they were impeding my progress. I found myself foregoing certain “guilty pleasures” in order to reach certain goals and objectives. 

Sacrifices. Choices. As I always say, The quality of life we lead is solely dependent upon the choices that we make. Life – in essence – is fairly simple. We make choices and don’t look back. The preceding statement is truly the ultimate reason why it is extremely important to obtain true knowledge of self.

So in closing, knowledge of self helps us to eventually discover our life’s true purpose and ultimately improves our decision making. If you are anything like me then you understand the importance of leaving a legacy for those that come after you. It is our job to insure that our youth never forget from whence they’ve come.  A word to the parents. Instill in your children a yearning to discover about their ancestry ( Kemet - Ancient Egypt, the institution of slavery, the holocaust, the battle against desegregation and unequal treatment, etc.) The list of topics is endless.

Talk to them about your personal history (pleasant or unpleasant – once you determine they can handle it, of course) because this gives them a better understanding as to how and why you discipline them. 

I leave you with the following quote by Edgar Cayce:

"The conquering of self is truly greater than were one to conquer many worlds."

Embark upon your journey of self discovery. There has never been a better time than the present.

The Wilderness ©

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it – Confucius

For the purposes of this passage the wilderness that I am referencing does not refer to foliage or giant oaks. The wilderness that I wish to discuss is that place everyone occasionally finds himself or herself in psychologically as well as spiritually. Metaphorically speaking, there have been many names given to encountering a wilderness experience. Some call it a sabbatical, some call it a hiatus, and some call it being in “time out”. Even the words exile and isolation comes to mind. Regardless of the label, most will agree that wandering in the wilderness can be a life altering happenstance.

Dictionary.com defines the word Wilderness as a state of disfavor or a bewildering profusion (the property of being extremely abundant). This is extremely interesting to me that there could ever be disfavor in abundance. But after turning that concept over a few times in my mind I can kind of see how this could occur. Here are some examples of what I mean. The Billionaire that cannot maintain friendships or relationships of any kind because he/she can’t trust anyone. The Professor that holds several degrees and has every possible letter imaginable behind their name but doesn’t have any common sense. Or better yet, the child that has every toy, gaming system or gadget known to man but receives no love and affirmation from their parents.

That last example is near and dear to me because I see so many of our youth crying out for attention and affirmation. Unfortunately for them, a great many of them have parents that think throwing them some money and buying them everything that they ask for is showing them love. I don’t believe that this is a lost generation as many of my peers do. I have hope for our youth. It’s just a matter of parents becoming parents and not babysitters. If somebody other than you is raising your child because you willingly gave up your parental rights (For whatever reason) you are partly to blame for the state of our youth today. Children did not ask to come into this world. They arrived here because you chose to participate in activities that led to conception. Don’t penalize the child because you were not willing to face up to the consequences of your actions.

But I digress. I’m just very passionate about children’s rights and welfare. I know what it is like to have to practically have to beg your parents for attention and affirmation. However, that’s a whole ‘nother entry in and of itself.

I was talking about the wilderness, right…

The Word of God alludes to the wilderness on several occasions. Each time it is referenced it is usually in conjunction with a life-altering event for the individual or group having to journey through it. Just look to Moses and the Children of Israel (Deuteronomy Chapter Eight specifically speaks to the reason for the Children of Israel’s wilderness experience) for a perfect illustration of what it means to wander aimlessly (40 years) in the wilderness because of questionable decision-making and blatant disobedience to God’s law. Even the Son of God Himself spent time in the wilderness (40 days) where the strength of his character and the depth his faith was tested. Nonetheless, once the journeys of the aforementioned individuals were completed, a new chapter of life began for them all. So it is with us as well.

The wilderness can be a frightening and frustrating place if you allow it to be. The wilderness can also be a place of hopelessness without the right type of guidance available to you to assist you with finding your way. You can wander around aimlessly for years with no idea of where you are heading and with no desire to return to from whence you have come. However, the wilderness can also be a place of growth and enlightenment if you use your time wisely and take the time to ascertain how and why you have ended up in the wilderness.

The wilderness for me has been a place of self-exploration and solitude. I guess it’s the only child in me. I treasure my time in the wilderness. Once the initial discomfort fades away I learn to appreciate my time there. For it is in the wilderness where I have found spiritual enlightenment, learned valuable lessons, and been forced to take emotional inventory and get rid of unnecessary (not to mention unhealthy) emotional baggage.

Wilderness experiences lead to irrefutable testimonies. They also bolster the confidence of anyone that has ever endured such an experience simply because the person knows that they are better for having gone through it.  They also offer an opportunity to witness the Grace and Mercy of the Most High firsthand. This is why at times bad things tend to happen to Good people. God does not punish his children. However, there are times he may remove the protection he places around those that choose to make Him the center of their life. Not vindictively, but sort of like an instructor that throws a pop quiz at his students. To make sure that you that you are retaining what you are reading and putting into practice the things that you are learning. However, here is the wonderful thing about the times when God allows certain negative things and negative situations to transpire in your life. Thorough it all He keeps you covered. He keeps the environment from hindering your progress. He keeps the damage and trauma that you suffer and endure during your wilderness experience from manifesting itself outwardly. For example, there are individuals that you interact with daily and you have no clue as to the amount of torment and anguish they have experienced over the course their lives.  There are people that we interact with daily that have been physically and sexually abused, sick to the brink of death or literally on their death bed, nearly homeless or literally living outdoors, had no idea of how they were going to pay their bills or provide for themselves or their families because they were unemployed or underemployed. Nevertheless, no matter what your wilderness experience has been… you survived. The enemy did not defeat you and you are a better person for having experienced it. Not to mention during the process, God kept you looking brand new. I am a living witness to that. You can’t look at me and tell what I have been through (What I am currently going through), the sleepless nights, the bitter disappointments and betrayals, the health scares, the near death experiences… When people hear my testimony they are amazed and inspired and that in a nutshell sums up the very reason why we are required as servants of the Most High to endure occasional journeys through the wilderness.

So the next time you look around and find yourself isolated, don’t panic. Sometimes the only way you can get to where the Creator is trying to take you is by traveling through the wilderness. There’s something liberating about enduring the trials that come along with isolation (Trust me once you are placed in “time out” the trials are sure to follow). Primarily to test your faith but secondly to build your character. Trials and Tribulations as those old “chuch” mothers call them are a constant occurrence along life’s journey but they are seemingly intensified when a portion of that journey is traveled alone. I know from personal experience that there will come a time when you will find yourself so low that there is no other place to go but up. A time when you will find yourself in a place where nothing but your Faith will sustain you. Not your money, not your prestige, not your fame, not your entourage, not even that “thang” you are toting. Only your Faith coupled with Grace and Mercy bestowed upon you by the Most High.

I have been a wilderness wanderer several times over the course of my life. I can honestly say that my life has been enriched each and every single time I have emerged from my wilderness experience. Going in is absolutely unsettling but the feeling you get once the forest begins to clear and your objective comes into view is nothing short of exhilarating. The Book Ecclesiastes Chapter seven verse eight puts it best:


"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."


So just a word to those that may one day find themselves wandering in the wilderness of life. Don’t be disheartened and don’t fight the process. Relish in your time spent in the wilderness. Everything that happens in this life happens for a reason. Experience has taught me that nothing is accidental or coincidental. Nonetheless, the key to surviving in the wilderness is being properly prepared. Keep an open mind, learn the lesson, keep the faith and keep on pushing toward your goal until you can’t push anymore. Then push some more. God honors effort. Now I know this can be easier said than done at times. There are times when frustration and the lack of any visible evidence that what you are doing is bearing fruit can cause one to entertain thoughts of throwing in the towel. However, take solace in knowing that as long as what you long for and strive to achieve is rooted in integrity and righteousness that it will bear much fruit, thus making your time in the wilderness time well spent.