Dare to dream a big dream. Give your dream an opportunity to happen. Too many people give up on their dream and settle for the ordinary. The extraordinary is available to all who will pursue their aspiration and reach new heights in life.

Two brothers-in-law had a dream. They wanted to make a mere $75 each week. Their goal seemed extraordinary. Yet, they continued to dream. They took a single product and served in 31 different ways and Baskin-Robbins ice cream had been born. Their dream had became a reality.

The vision is now bigger than the two had ever imagined. People who love ice cream are glad the founders never gave up on their ambition.

Go ahead and dream. Dream a big dream. Give it an opportunity to happen. The world is waiting for your dream to become a reality.

Your situation may seem impossible at the moment and you may not see any immediate solutions. You may not have the answers, but know you're not alone. There are a lot of people around you suffering from more adverse situations than you.

One young man, David Rothenberg, made it through an impossible situation. In an angry outburst, Rothenberg's father poured kerosene over the young boy's body and the entire room. He then lit the room and Rothenberg's body on fire.

As a result, 95 percent of his body was covered with third-degree burns. The outlook was grim; an estimated five thousand operations would be needed for him to recover. Through it all, David remained full of hope for his future. At the tender age of seven he responded to his adversity with these words.

"I am alive! I am alive! I am alive! I didn't miss out on living! And that is wonderful enough for me."

Rothenberg made it through his adversity and so can you. After all, you are alive. That fact is wonderful enough.

Problems are all around us. Some problems seem like impossible situations. They can leave a person feeling anxious, fearful and depressed. Still other problems can be so overwhelming that a person cannot imagine being able to solve them.

J. C. Penny understood the emotional turmoil involved in dealing with problems. He was the founder JCPenny department stores. After being successful in business, he found himself in a crisis. Penny suffered a financial setback, after the stock market crashed during the Great Depression. He was admitted to a psychological institution as a result. After hearing the hymn, "God Will Take Care of You," Penny had a spiritual turnaround. He later said, "I am grateful for all my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties."

Find the grace to be thankful for your problem. Overcome your situations and discover new strength. You have a great future ahead of you!

This past week Rev. Jeremiah Wright emerged again from the ashes of obscurity to the spotlight. Like the mythical phoenix rising again from the fires of death, Wright is still politically alive after becoming a symbol of racism and division for mainstream America. His actions mirror his friend, Louis Farrakhan, who has recently attempted to malign Jews worldwide. The question I would like to answer here is, "How can such vehement hate mongers like Wright and Farrakhan survive so long in a land that longs so much for racial and religious equality?" Let's explore the answer as we look at the current status of Rev. Wright. How did he arise again?

Wright recently taught a weeklong course at the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). The school is a 150-year old institution affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC). As many may not remember, Rev. Wright's former church (Trinity United Church of Christ) is the largest church in the UCC denomination. This denomination supports Rev. Wright's assessment of America's moral condition and motivations. CTS represents institutions that have continued to embrace the famed Chicago minister long after he dropped off the national radar.

Last week, Rep. Artur Davis (D) lost his primary bid for governor of Alabama in a crushing defeat. His opponent, Ron Sparks, won by 25 points in a contest which some believe shows that the race-based politics of the south have not changed. This conclusion has been postulated because traditional, non-elected black political stakeholders seem to have temporarily derailed the career of one of the Democratic Party's fastest rising black stars.

Before the emergence of President Barack Obama on the national presidential scene, lots of Democrats felt that Davis would eventually become the nation's first black president - especially members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). His credentials were incredible. In fact he was a classmate of President Obama at Harvard Law. He was incredibly articulate and what he lacked in charismatic speeches, he made up for in strategic thinking and networking ability.