MY INFLUENCES

When I think about what inluences me, I think about my goals! A goal gives you a sense of direction. Without a goal you dont know where your'e going. To establish a good goal you have to know what you want and what you don't want.
So I think that I am influenced more by what I don't want than anything else.

• I don't want to live in abject poverty so I work hard
• I don't want my children to use drugs, so I dont use them
• I don't want the my children to struggle so I try to provide a better life for them
• I don't want to be a follower, so I lead

I also pay close attention to my surroundings, especially at college. I see things from people attending college that one wouldn't expect from a college student. Many people live their life just taking up space. I want to leave a footprint that states that I strived for excellence daily.

These are just a few of the tools which guide me. I was taught these life-tools by my Great-Uncle Richard Temple Sr. He is 80 years old and says he stills strives to be a better man each day. He also just happens to be my pastor and freind!

CINCO DE MAYO

Don't you just love Cinco de Mayo? I do, because it's my birthday! I don't need alot of gifts or anything like that.  I just thank God that I am well and alive and that I have a lovely family and great freinds to share it with. Doesn't it make you feel special when you wake up in the morning and your children are so excited about your birthday. I guess they enjoy it because they get to share in the going out to dinner part. This is my first birthday as a married man and I am so excited. My wife and the child she is carrying is the best birthday gift a man could ever ask for! All I can do is look to heaven and say , "Thank You Lord!" Happy Birthday to me!

The NBA Playoffs have started!

I am so excited about the 2011 NBA Playoffs. This year has shaped up to be a great round of playoffs for sure. Two of my favorite teams are currently in the playoffs. Sorry the Bulls are not one of them. My two favorite teams are Boston and Miami.  I also like any team that beats the Lakers.  I am also a lifelong Larry Bird fan, so I do hope that Indiana does well since Larry is their GM. I want Lebron James to win the Championship though! I want him and the Miami Heat to shut up all the naysayers. Gooooooooooo Heat!

Cameron Meets Governor Pat Quinn

On Thursday March 31, 2011 I had the pleasure of meeting Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Governor Quinn was here at Southwestern Illinois Community College in Belleville to make a huge announcement. The announcment was that the state of Illinois approved a 19 million dollar expansion of the Liberal Arts Building.
"One of the great things that Southwestern (Illinois College) is doing and other community colleges are doing is to understand the challenges of the green economy, a green way of thinking, a green way of acting and sustainability," Quinn said.

I had the opportunity to see the sketch of the new addition and although it looks to be very nice, I have some concerns. How can the state of Illinois afford to invest capital into our college while cutting programs which allow single parents to work or go to college?
Why are teachers being laid off all over the state?

Cam & April

Oh, what a joy it is to have a true soul mate! That's exactly what my wife is........my soul mate! We are doing absolutely great thus far on this life-long journey. God is our foundation so I know that we will make it work. Marriage just as any relationship takes alot of committment and hard work. I'm not afraid of either of the aforementioned. Sometimes I simply look to heaven and say, "Thank You Lord", for blessing me with my lovely wife, even though I'm undeserving!

C@ms top 5!

My top five basketball players of all time are as follows and in this order:

1.Michael Jordan - In this photo Michael Jordan has just won his fourth championship. It was also his first that his fahter didn't get to witness because he was brutally murdered.

2.Scottie Pippen- One of my fondest memories of scottie pipen is his dunk on Patrick Ewing in the playoffs. This dunk to date is still recognized as one of the best dunks of all time!

3.Larry Bird- Larry was known as Mr. Clutch or Larry Legend. His team could be down by 10 points with less than 1 minute to play, but as far as Larry was concerned, the game wasn't over. He broke many hearts with his last minute heroic scoring! To me he was one of the best closers ever.

4. Dennis Rodman- Dennis is known as the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. He had an uncanny knack for finding loose balls. No one could even come close to his rebounding skills. His off the court antics marred  his storied career! He was a wild child!

5. Lebron James- lebron is known in the sportsworld as an absolute phenomenon. He is very fast for his size and exceptionally strong. he has done everything in the NBA but win a championship. 2012 may be his year to win though! He is known for his chalk throwing ritual before each game.

Tell me what you think of my top five picks????????

I've got a Great Nephew

Wow! I can hardly beleive it, I'm a Great Uncle. My neice had a handsome baby boy on March 1st 2011. My brand new great Nephew's name is Curtis. Look at the adorable anouncement below!

My neice Scarlett and  her boyfreind Gustavo are young but my family has been very supportive. She is 17 and he is 19, so they have many challenges ahead of them. We can't erase anything that has already occurred, so we've decided to shower them with love. Abortion was not an option!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We want to insure that they provide the best life possible for their child. My family members have talked to them both about continuing their academic goals.
God is a good God and I know that He will provide for my Great Nephew. I can't wait to buy him his first pair of Jordan's and a slick Rocawear outfit! We will be starting a trust fund for him as well, because money talks.

Why Lie?

"Why not just tell the truth?" - Raymond Carver   WCWp.109

What an absolutely profound statement! When you lie you have to lie again to cover up the original lie. The truth may be uncomfortable sometimes but the truth is 'honorable! People respect you more when you tell the truth. You can tell one lie and people will recognize you as a liar, no matter how many times you tell the truth thereafter!

                                          (Chicagotribune.com)

Raymond Carver was born on May 25, 1938 and died on August 2, 1988. He was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in revising shortstories in the 1980s. Carver was born in Clatskanie, Oregon, a mill town on the Columbia River, and grew up in Yakima, Washington.

I totally agree with Carver in his stance on telling the truth. I spend alot of time convincing my friends to tell the truth! The Bible states that the truth will set you free! Try it you might like it! Raymond Carver and I would have been good friends if he were alive today! I'm the new Raymond!

The Author of Love!

To understand Love and all of its vast principles, one must know the Author of Love. Firstly, I must say I make no apologies to anyone for my love of God. I love God with my 'whole heart'!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting LIFE! That is the best definition of love that I have heard any orator proclaim. When you feel like you've lost everything, you still have everything when you know my God! To even love yourself you have to know God, then and only then can you truly love others.
I dare you to get to know God and see how He can transform your life.
I have Favor with God that you wouldn't beleive! Every time I look around God is blessing me abundantly, even when I don't deserve it. i'm so glad that I am one of His favorites. You should see the wife God blessed me with, she is beautiful inside and out.
One of my favorite gospel songs is "Nobody Greater" by Vashawn Mitchell. Please watch the video link below, but more importantly, listen to the awesome lyrics! Go ahead click and get your blessing, I double dog dare you!
"http://www.youtube.com/embed/lB6I-T3U3Hs"

I did it!

My fiance'e and I had planned on getting married August 19, 2012. One must first understand that we are absolute soulmates! It seemed like every couple of days we decided to move the date closer and closer. Then me, being the romantic guy that I am decided that I wanted to get on my bended knee and ask her to marry me sooner. She had kind of strongly "hinted" at that anyway. You should know that I had already went to Jared!!!!!!

On saturday February 12th we went to obtain the Marriage License. On the eve of Valentine's Day we decided that we wanted to get married on Valentines Day this year. We contacted my Pastor who had a previous engagement, as did her Pastor. Thus we went to st. Clair County Courthouse and tied the knot on Valentine's Day. I AM SOOOOO HAPPY, that I need a seat belt to stay in my seat! I thought it was interesting too that the Judge that married us said we were the only couple smiling that got married that day! I am totally committed to making my marriage work. I asked God to send me an angel that I could absolutely cherish and that's exactly what he did! "Ain't God good?" (That's a rhetorical statement as I already know the answer.)

I AM FROM............

I am from Etta and Jesse
Ruby and Clyde
No lack of self esteem
and full of pride
I am from
cooks and builders, police and pastors
football players
who always run faster
I am from
uncontrollable laughter
and charitable spirits
bold speaking family
that didn't wanna hear it
I am from
a hard work ethic
no unemployment here
the men didn't cry
and never showed fear
I am from never give up
and don't you dare quit
I am from
on no man
do you ever spit
I am from Church every Sunday
don't you dare miss
and if you really love her
don't hold back the kiss
I am from
musical instruments
drums and violin
always give your best
and you usually win
I am from
the Marine Corps
Traveling the world and such
I am from
Budweiser
but not too much
acting  and modeling
mingling with stars
singing in Church
and singing in bars

I am from
The land of East St. Louis
where people love to say
you can never do it
where crime is high
and drugs are everywhere
there's alot going on
but don't you dare stare
streets laced with potholes
that noone wants to fix
people robbing each other
just for the kicks
I am from
where people say you can't be smart
when you're from
where I'm from
In fact if you're from
where I'm from
they like to call you dumb
But I broke the mold
and shocked the all-knowing
and showed em' it's not where C@m's from
it's really where he's going!

Love feels so good!

I never knew that I could love someone as much as I love my fiancee April. I feel her love running through my body when she simply holds my hand. Have you ever felt this awesome feeling? She's got me watching Lifetime Movie Network (don't tell anyone :) ) instead of Sportscenter all day and night. My whole world is changing before me. I only want to be the best man that I can be for her. My children call my phone and ask for her and I just love it. She treats my angels like they are hers which is so important to me. I have been bitten by the love bug and I don't want to ever be cured. tell me what you think about love!

When did you find love?

Today I ask the question....When did you find love? Have you been in one or many relationships and years later found out that what you experienced was not love?  Relationship experts say that love only comes into our lives once or twice if we are lucky! Most people never find or experience true love.
I would like to share my journey to love with you and maybe help you to find love as well.
I have been married before, but was divorced in 2001 when I realized that I wasn't in love. Most times we confuse love with the all too humanistic lust. Lust has strings attached which make no sense at all. Love has conditions attached which make all the sense in the world. Love is not just a feeling , it is verb which denotes action.
I am currently experiencing some feelings I have never felt in my life. My fiancee April and I are absolutely in love. I didn't know I could love a woman as much as I love her. They say when you find love you will know it! I feel like I just won the Superbowl. We finish each others sentences and simply have fun being with each other.
It's amazing too that I met her while doing what I love to do. I was feeding the homeless and needy, and giving out toys at a toy drive.
Do you have a love story that you would like to share?
Click the link below by one of my favorite artists Anita Baker , the song is entitled 'Sweet Love'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3NKFiUeb58&feature=player_detailpage
"If you love someone, you won't do anything to hurt them!"- Chris Beaird