New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Rick Hoganson Media) My trainer asked me if I wanted to go to a local park and see a flight of stairs that professional UFC fighters train on. Of course I said, "Yes," but I knew there was more to it. So when we arrived, this is what I saw (see image above). It looked like the road ahead of me. All uphill, intimidating and way over my head. So I tried to run up it and got about halfway before my lungs felt like they were going to burst.
You see with Multiple Myeloma Cancer, it deprives your bloodstream of vital oxygen and you lose your breath fairly quickly. The doctor said, "You can't push beyond it because there's nothing to push to until your blood gets healthier."
So with everyone who has donated to the Kickstarter (https://bit.ly/CarmanKickstarter) program giving me an opportunity to record again, and with everything above the $200,000 mark going into the stage production, I'm now feeling very responsible to get healthy -- so I can perform on tour and not pass out from lack of oxygen!
These stairs now represent writing 10 new songs, taking two handfuls of daily meds, going into the studio for 2 months, cleaning my blood cells, building up my cardio, planning out a tour for the first time in 13 years, having enough stamina to complete these tasks, and not failing everyone by relapsing -- never allowing failure as an option.
These stairs represent my life. Everyday I stop by them and I try to run up, but somewhere in the course of that run, I can be found bent over with my hands on my knees gasping to inhale oxygen. It's such a lofty goal, the desired results have been set so high and just looking at that climb makes me want to quit. That is, until I hear the encouragements of so many who are pushing me forward, giving me strength with their words and prayers.
Just in the last few days on my Facebook page alone, Bob encourages, "…think of your song 'The Champion,' ...The day you feel like you can't go one step further is the same day breakthrough comes. Rise up mighty Champion! You were created for more!"
Linda says, "This is so what you do, and powerfully! Your love and commitment to Jesus is salt and light! Praying for you and over the new songs and inspiration that God is giving you!" Kathy says, "Hold on to God, Carman. He will get you through and give you the strength you need to do your concerts."
Daisy shares, "Signed up and waiting for the alert of when you will be in Pittsburgh! I'm supporting you no matter what Carman, and will continue to do so through prayer as well." Rhonda prays, "Lord strengthen my brother Carman's body and mind more and more each day. Thank you for his life. Amen."
These comments and so many more have been my lifeline. God bless all of you that have given me and my ministry new life.
Carman
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New Album and
Music Video + V.I.P. Elite Tickets https://bit.ly/CarmanKickstarter
About Carman:
Carman, whose full name is Carman Domenic Licciardello, is now in the fight of his life, diagnosed with terminal, Multiple Myeloma Cancer and given a three to five year life expectancy by doctors. Stunned and initially devastated by the news, Carman's spirit was soon lifted up by the overwhelming love and support received by tens of thousands of fans after posting the news on his Facebook page. One fan said, "Look what Jesus did in 3 years." Turning the death sentence into a renewed vision and hope for the future, Carman is not only determined to fight the cancer, but his fans have brought him and his ministry back to life. He is also well underway to his first independent, fan-funded new album and music video in 10 years through Kickstarter, the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. In fact, his campaign is the second largest music campaign (any genre) ever for Kickstarter, at $353,000 and climbing with 8-days left (https://bit.ly/CarmanKickstarter). In addition to the new music, Carman is resolute to not let cancer detract from doing what he does best, sharing the hope of the gospel to live audiences. He is planning a 60-city tour now.
An enigmatic Christian music pioneer, Carman is often described as part evangelist, part
Vegas showman, his concerts are like a rock and roll Billy Graham Crusade. They combine drama, rock, comedy, funk, satire, acting, singing and preaching, all woven together for a unique style not duplicated by any other artist in any other musical genre. The only Christian "stadium act" ever, Carman drew 80,000 outdoors in Charlotte, 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa and filled many other significant venues across the world. He also held the No. 1 position on the Billboard Christian sales charts for an astounding 33 weeks, with his The
Champion album staying on the Billboard overall sales charts for a record 168 weeks. Known for such hit "story" songs as "Sunday's on the Way," "Satan Bite The Dust," "Lazarus Come Forth," "Revival in the Land," "Witches Invitation," "No Monsters," "
The Champion" and more, Carman has also has written songs for several motion pictures, including The
Prince of Egypt.
With as many as 5,000 people responding each night to the gospel message delivered by Carman, he has also collected the most names on a petition in American history by any individual - one million signatures for a constitutional amendment favoring prayer in public school. He is further the co-founder of the Parable Christian Film Festival and received the Humanitarian Award, whose other recipients include former President and Mrs. Regan, Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. Bill Bright and others.
Among the greatest of Carman's contributions to Christianity at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century is his bringing back a full force, worship revival - not just through song and music, but also through dance and drama, revolutionizing Christian arts and music.
More information on Carman can be found at www.carmantv.com, www.facebook.com/CarmanLicciardello and Twitter (@carmantv).
