Have you reached your Potential?

Sol and Antonio meet in Acapulco… few days later Antonio was asking my grandpa Eduardo permission to married Sol and to take her to Cozumel, where he was based. More than a permission it was just an advise, because he had to go back immediately to his duties. My grandparents give him a blessing, they married and that was the start of a whole new adventure in their lives. Cozumel Island, it was a primitive tropical paradise, with a rich ecosystem and it was a tactical base, not a touristy destination. The mosquitoes where big, my dad told me that even with leather boots, mosquitoes where able to bite his heel and ankle. Big bugs where all over the place. My dad, Antonio shared with me a story about their first months in Cozumel Island. He started to make home improvements on the house he got at the Island, so he asked some natives to cut some trees to get wood for the construction, and they suggested not to do it, because it was full moon… He was upset and asked some soldiers under his ...

Yesterday was a great day... Everyone on the office was in the Christmas Spirit and they decorated all the facilities on a 60's and 70's feel... Look at the pictures. My Pastor, Troy Gramling is preparing a great new series called "Love Sign, a retro Christmas"... you cannot miss it at any of our campus... That's why I love Flamingo Road Church , because is "A Church where you are"

My mother in law is visiting us from Mexico... every time she came to Fl, she prepares great enchiladas... and other delicious high calories dishes... yummy!!! I'm being at the gym twice a day... and believe me, is not enough... Who can resist a great Mole platter with hand made tortillas?

I know just a little about my grand grand parents, but I have the names and a picture. Lucecita García Luna and Blas Carrasco, they had 19 kids… It's obvious there no was TV on that time. One of their sons, Eduardo Carrasco García Luna, married María Contreras Nuñez, who was daughter of Vicentita Nuñez and Teodoro Contreras. They had five kids: Natalia, Eduardo, Alicia Solveigh, Manuel and Lolita. My Grandpa Eduardo used to work for the city of Tlalnepantla and he was recognized because his honest service. He was also a talented self taught musician, he played piano, violin and other musical instruments. He was always a family man, and he died in the early 60’s. I barely remember when he past away. It is one of my first memories, and it was a painful process for the family. My grandma moved from Tlalnepantla to Mexico city to live close to his two sisters Margarita (Mago) and Linda. Grandma was a faithful woman. I remember her as a devoted Christian Catholic. She walked every day f...

Antonio started a great military career, and he was from the first generation of Pilots who had a formal training with the Mexican Army and US Air Force. He graduated with honors and his generation was called “Los Penicilinos” (The penicillin’s). He was ranked on the 5th place from the Air Force School from 5,000 students. By that time, World War II was on its apogee and German submarines launched an attack against Mexican oil tankers that were providing fuel and materials to the Allies. These attacks eventually caused the Mexican government to declare war on Germany; Mexico was involved on the war and was part of the Alliance, so they needed to send forces to join the battle front. Antonio was promoted to Captain and because of his high qualifications he was part of the leading team of the “The Aztec Eagles” the squad that is historically recognized as the "201". He was trained at Majors Field in Greenville, Texas on November, 1944. Here, he and other pilots received advanc...

A s I look through family history and my past, I realize that I can gain a better understanding of my present and garner tools to help build a better future. So let’s get started: About my grandparents on my father side: My grandfather Antonio De la Mora was married to Martha Montaño Bosques. Together they had three children, all boys, Antonio (My dad), Jorge and Adolfo.My grandfather Antonio was a talented man; Politician, Musician, Composer and Publisher. He was the Master Band and Director for the Mexican Army’s 6th Infantry Band. Years later, he was the Band Master of the 20th Infantry for U.S. Army. He published a few music books in the USA. As a Mason, he reached the 33rd. degree, and participated on political activities in Mexico. He was the Secretary of Defense during the Adolfo De la Huerta Interim Government in 1920. Three years later, when De la Huerta was exiled, he moved to Wichita Kansas. He became a captive of the alcohol and in 1926 died from a heart attack. After my g...

Every time we made a decision, we initiate a chain reaction. The Bomb “H” is based on that: a chain reaction, started by a simple proton movement on a hydrogen atom. We barely can imagine how a big massive destruction force started with the most infinitesimal part of an element… or also the same reaction can be used to generate tons of Kilowatts of electricity to power up a whole city. What makes the difference between destructive and constructive energy release? The difference is based on a decision. Albert Einstein though of Atomic Fusion as a inexpensive energy source to help thousands, but someone else visualized a destructive weapon to be used on a war… Every decision we make will impact, not only our life, but many others… what will be you choice on that decision? The answer… is floating in the air.

I’m being reading a Book of Josehp A. Michelli, “The Starbucks Experience” and it is the story of some one who was able to transform a regular cup of coffee into an extraordinary experience. The Starbucks coffee shops expanded across the world, and on that book, Michelli shares 5 principles that are fundamental for success on a business: Make it your own Everything matters Surprise and delight Embrace resistance Leave your mark The book is great and is a you-must-read-it book. If I where asked what to add to that book could be an extra chapter about how to revert the process. Starbucks has been a successful company on the last few years, nevertheless, on its last financial report they experienced a step backwards on their numbers, having a negative growing. Why this can happens? I don’t know what’s going on inside the large corporation, but I can tell you something about what I can see as regular SB visitor. Success is not easy to handle… they are now so focused on the growing and open...

Memorial day... also a good opportunity to share time with one of my daughters, Tania. For the first time, she was able to build a computer... A friend of mine asked me to build two computers and it was a great opportunity to share the experience with Tania. So, I expended half of the time, because she was doing the same I was doing... We installed the processor on the motherboard, a Pentium D @ 3 Ghz, 1 Gb DDR memory, a DVD burner, A 80 GB Hard Drive, a lot of screws, and few cables all together, made a new computer. One of the principle we live at Flamingo Road Church is to raise leaders, not followers. A good leader on the beginning is a good follower, then he takes of like on their own. When you raise a leader your work load will be less, and nicer... is not the same to do the task by your self, than to make life with others, teaching, learning and having great time! :)

At my church, Flamingo Road Church , we are doing an event called “Christmas Express” and Troy Gramling , our Lead pastor, challenged all the community to be part of this experience, to help us to deliver more than just toys; to deliver hope, dreams, dignity and to leverage the season reaching at least 600 families, delivering smiles and of course, toys. I remember that my Grandma always told me “It is much better to give than to receive… and if you don’t believe it, just ask a pugilist”. And that’s true. I always enjoy more when I give something than when I get something. While I was taking a picture of the toys delivered this morning, one little one came and place two little cars on top of one of the bike’s chair, he suspired observed all the toys and with a satisfaction face continued with his mom to the service… I don’t know what was on this little kid’s mind, but I’m sure he gave two of his most precious treasures… and reminded me about the history on the Bible about the widow w...

Family, Values, Love, Respect, Patience, Forgiveness, Protection, Care, Compassion, Understanding, are some of the most important things in life... What is the right desition? To do what is inside of your own values...

There is something that has no value or has very low value today. It is commitment. Many couples today engage and disengage just like that. Marriage is almost an erased word from the vocabulary of many people. Yesterday, I was invited to witness a commitment between Brian Fuller and Jackie (Now) Fuller at our church . There was a great worship moment and a brilliant ceremony. Garland Robertson conducted the ceremony with some reminders about commitment and encouragement words for the lovely couple. Brian is the worship pastor for Flamingo Road Church Sawgrass Campus and Jackie is one of the core team members on the children ministry at Flamingo Road Church Cooper City Campus. They meet, like each other and they decided to have a life together. They committed each other to be one and now they are Mr. and Mrs. Fuller. God bless them always! Congratulations Brian and Jackie

Every day is a day to be grateful to God, but yesterday was a special one. First, let me share the Gratitude definition I found in the dictionary: “Gratitude is the substance of a heart ready to show appreciation, or thankfulness; it is not simply an emotion, which involves a pleasant feeling that can occur when we receive a favor or benefit from another person but rather the combination of a state of being and an emotion; often accompanied by a desire to thank them, or to reciprocate for a favor they have done for you. In a religious context, gratitude can also refer to a feeling of indebtedness towards a deity, e.g. the expression of gratitude to God is a central theme of Christianity. One of the core indications of being a Christian is being grateful to God regardless of any human action taken towards you...” God is a God of amazing surprises… Today I was looking at two friends who had their I-phones, interacting, checking e-mails and surfing the web. I was thinking; “When will I ha...

Tonight, my pastor Troy Gramling , challenged me to write a name of a person or persons who influenced me on my Christian life, the first name that came to my mind, it was Dora, my beloved wife. When I started dating, she never told me she was a Christian, she never invited me to a church, and she never preached me any sermon. (God knew what was right for me) Instead, she showed me love, patience, understanding, and care. That’s the way I meet Jesus. Every Sunday she was on a congregation… and after few weeks of dating, I ask her to invite me to her meeting. On that day, I surrender my life to God… because her actions, not her words, I got saved. After Dora, there was another person who influenced me on a great way, and his name is Jose Victor Dugand. He pastors a church at Kendall and I got baptized with my daughter Tania at his church, and for me that was the beginning of my ministry. Another man who impacted my life, was another pastor, Vincent Valedon, a man from who I learned many...

The Two D's Decision and Discipline. Those are two indispensable elements to reach sucess. One is worthless without the other. Good decisions without discipline leads to procastination; Discipline without good decision will get you only regimentation without growth. Is just like fries and catsup, nails and dirt, Dogs and Barks... You can't have one without the other to get the good taste of reaching your potential. :)

When I was a kid, I remember my afternoons riding my bike, from my house to the park and vice versa… The park had a track with a complex shape, and I loved to ride there, it was challenging remain inside the track, may be I felt down several times, but I was never discouraged by so. Today I was watching my two little ones riding, Sarai is practicing now how to stop, so she starts, and stops, starts and stops several times… then she rides for a while, then again back to practice how to use the break, and back to ride together with Sol… Then we came back to home and both of my girls wanted to read their brand new books they got a the Book Fair at School… Last night Dora was filling the report sheets for reading for Sol and Sarai. Sarai has to read 240 hours every month and Sol 400. When we summarized their accounts, Sarai got more than 700 hours and Sol over 1,100 hours… They really enjoy reading. What a great lesson I learned today. With Web 2.0 youth has no time for ride a bike or to g...