HUMILITY FOR PRESIDENT

Humility is an electable trait.
Haughtiness is a destructible trait.
Pride slithereth before the fall,
Humbleness makes the lowly feel tall.

Compassion is an electable trait.
Conceit is a destructible trait.
Contempt slaps the poor with heavy tolls,
Kindness fills the chasm in empty souls.

"Look at me!" Said the man in his tower tall.
I've raised myself up to be the leader of all.
"Money is the way!" Cried all the folks below!"
"Elect the tower man, a new wall he will sow.

Alack and alas the babel tower was built,
Hypocrisy became law, an oath without guilt.
Humility was crushed by fools in disguise,
An arrogant country became wise in their own eyes.

Time is of no consequence, the hourglass is banned,
Building foundations of mockery, they've taken the sand.
They crave controversy and the next quarrel with glee,
Welcome to the tower, home of the modern day Pharisee.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Proverbs 25:18-22 Contemporary English Version
18 Telling lies about friends
is like attacking them
with clubs and swords
and sharp arrows.

19 A friend you can’t trust
in times of trouble
is like having a toothache
or a sore foot.

20 Singing to someone
in deep sorrow
is like pouring vinegar
in an open cut.

21 If your enemies are hungry,
give them something to eat.
And if they are thirsty,
give them something
to drink.

22 This will be the same
as piling burning coals
on their heads.
And the Lord
will reward you.

Thanks for your time. Go do some compassion for somebody.
‪#‎JLYASDW‬

Sunday, August 23, 2015
9:49 am

WHO ARE THE MEN WHO CRY IN BUFFALO?

Bibles surround a street side memorial for a murdered young man.

Who are the men who cry in Buffalo, New York? 

• Some men are in jail crying to get out.
• Fathers who don't know their children, cry for lost years.
• Fathers of dead boys cry over son's in caskets.
• Men whose brains are fried from drugs cry for sanity.
• Men live under bridges cry for some coin to buy a drink.
• Wounded men cry for revenge.
• Senile men cry for lost memories.
• Divorced men cry over their loneliness.
• Diseased men in pain cry out for a cure.
• Guilty men cry over lost innocence.
• Young men cry out for a father figure.
• Confused men cry out to be understood.
• Men of truth cry out for justice.
• Broken men cry out for forgiveness.
• Humble men cry out in compassion.
• Married men cry deeply for their brides.
• Widowed men cry over lost love.

There is a future for weeping men in Buffalo. There is a future for the young men in Buffalo who don't have a father. There is a future for guys who want to stop shooting other guys in an attempt to fill the hole in their souls.

Jesus wept.

John 11:35

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, 

and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

John 20:11

Fear not, for I am with you; 

be not dismayed, for I am your God; 

I will strengthen you, I will help you, 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 

and death shall be no more, 

neither shall there be mourning, 

nor crying, nor pain anymore, 

for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

May the fathers of Buffalo cast their former things upon the cross of Jesus and become strengthened as men who become compassionate fathers to the next generation of fathers in Buffalo. Amen.

Thanks for your time. 

Go do something nice for somebody.

Jesus loves you and so do we.

Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner-city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.



Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org

DON'T GIVE UP!

A Cross on the wall at Steps Ministries in Buffalo, NY.

Hardship is a heart condition meant to be harvested as a healthy blessing of perseverance poured out upon folks whose will to live is fading.

Overcoming adversity is an anointing meant to be poured into the soul of the afflicted.


Suffering is a seed of blessing sown in the darkness that will rise with healing in its wake.

John 18
2 "And Judas, who betrayed Him,"
12 "Arrested Jesus and bound him."
17 "said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”
22 "struck Jesus with the palm of his hand,"
27 "Peter then denied again."
38 "What is truth?"
40 "Not this man..."
19:1 "Took Jesus and scourged him"
5 "wearing the crown of thorns"
6 "they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
17 "And He, bearing His cross, went out "
28 "“I thirst!”
33 "He was already dead,"
20:13 why are you weeping?”
16 “Rabboni!”
19 “Peace be with you.”
21 "I also send you.”
22 “Receive the Holy Spirit."
27 “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands;”
31 "but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

Healing is a moving experience.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
‪#‎JLYASDW‬

Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.


Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org

MOLECH'S VIABILITY CHECKPOINT FOR CHILDREN

Folks in the City of Molech were becoming downright ornery. The local politicians were crafting new laws faster than a crow flies. Children under the age of ten were nowhere to be seen, the Viability Police had taken care of that.

All existence for Molech City residents begins at the Viability Hospital. Pregnancies are strictly regulated by the Physician's of Potential (POP's.) Each existence that is allowed to continue as a Molech life form is implanted with a microchip. When an existence that has been predetermined to be presently a female is found to be impregnated with a potential existence, an alarm is triggered in Molech's Security Agency (MSA.) The Physicians of Potential must examine the impregnation and measure its potential for society. All existence with potential for society was allowed to live until the Age of Viability.

Women's reproductive rights were determined in relation to the Age of Viability. The current Age of Viability was the second Saturday after the existence had turned ten years old. All women who were impregnated with Approved Potential must carry the existence for a full term of impregnation which was now equal to the Age of Viability. All women must give birth only at 10 years plus the second Saturday.

Birth certificates were given upon reaching womb deliverance at the Age of Viability. The terms male and female would soon be banished. The sex was determined as needed for the furtherance of the City of Molech. A male was now called a "Viability Implanter" and the females were called "Viability Suppliers." All roles were interchangeable with the exception of impregnation. The Viability Implanters could be implanted themselves with the existence and be required to carry the existence for ten years plus the second Saturday.

The residents had become accustomed to living without young children. They were upset about a new law about to be passed. The "Law of Viability" could be applied to any life existence at any time. As soon as an existence was determined to be unviable in terms of the furtherance of society, that existence was relieved of its existence. The elder-heads argued for respect. The young-heads argued for power.

The arguments got lost in the appearance of another law that was passed while nobody was awake. It was called the "Law of Contrary Thought." Here is what the Law said,

"Any intent to think a thought that is contrary to Molech Philosophy is punishable by thought removal and the relief of existence. All intended thoughts will be destroyed and the offending thought-intender will no longer be viable. The Loss of Viability (LOV) will cause the potential to be removed and existence to cease."

 The Hall of Molech was packed with elder-heads, young-heads and angry-heads. An eleven-year-old girl was pushing her way to the front of the Hall. Several people made room for her to reach the Questioners Podium. Her head barely able to be seen above the podium. The Molech Mayor motioned for the crowd to be quiet. The young-head's name was Shalom Aleikhem (shah-LOHM ah-ley-KHEM.) "I have a thought," said the young girl. Immediate disapproval erupted among the old-heads. "Heresy!" They cried, "Young-heads are not allowed to have thoughts that haven't been pre-approved by old-heads!" The poor girl was whisked away by officers from the MSA and relieved of her existence due to the fact that she had lost her viability.

Before the girl was whisked away, she dropped a piece of paper. An old-head picked it up and read it to the assembled crowd.

"You are the one who put me together
inside my mother’s body, and I praise you
because of the wonderful way
you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me
is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes
you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
everything I would do. Your thoughts are far beyond
my understanding,
much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains
of sand on the beach.
And when I awake, I will find you nearby."

Psalm 139:13-18 CEV

The people were stunned and sat in silence. (to be continued.)

Thank's for your time. Go do something nice for an old head.

Jesus loves you and so do we.

Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.



Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org

TODAY IS NATIONAL "DO SOMETHING NICE FOR AN OLD HEAD" DAY

Photo of Old Head was taken by Linda Kuebler.

     Last week I walked over to my neighbor's house, hoping to spread some heart smiles. I offered to share some landscaping supplies that someone had shared with my wife and I. The kind lady smiled and said she would talk to her husband and let me know. The neighbor's heart probably did smile, but mine went into a heart frown.

     The grass in the neighbor's yard was just below my knees. She went on to tell me that when her husband was younger, and before his back injury, he was very active. He would cut the neighbors lawns and shovel the snow from their driveways. They thought that when they got old that somebody would take care of them. She looked at her tall grass and said; "Forget about that!" Those words hit my heart like a hawk sinking its talons into a starling. I smiled and told her I hoped to speak to her husband soon.

     It's not like we don't help each other in our neighborhood. We cut our other neighbor's lawn and sometimes even mow the City owned lot on the corner. But still, it seems like somebody's always forgotten. I cut their lawn the next day and made plans to do a little bit more. Time is minimal when helping neighbors. it only takes a couple of hours to help a neighbor.

     I spread the word in schools this week. I told the students how I had missed an opportunity to help a neighbor, but I was given a chance to redeem myself. So I have proclaimed today (and every day this week,)  

"NATIONAL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR AN OLD HEAD DAY." 

     An old head is simply somebody who could use some neighborly support. Opportunities to do something nice for an old head are all over the place, you don't have to look hard. Don't be afraid of rejection either, somebody who rejects you has been hurt and ignored for too long - they don't trust anybody. Show some love Buffalo! Go and love your neighbor. 

Leviticus 19:32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."

Proverbs 16:31-32 The Message "Gray hair is a mark of distinction,the award for a God-loyal life." 

 Acts 20:35 "By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, “More blessings come from giving than from receiving.”

Thank's for your time. Go do something nice for an old head.
Jesus loves you and so do we.

Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.



Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org

MY EXPERIENCE IN YOUR SIN

I've climbed out of the boat you're in,
From my experience, I can see your sin.

Walking on water, He grabbed my hand,
He knows your pain, wounds unplanned.

Blinding loneliness gave your eyes dim vision,
Heartbreak was the tempest of your bad decision.

Waiting for you, a Shepherd walks on the seas,
Before you were formed, He heard your pleas.

Time is of the essence, your soul's in danger,
Without His guidance, you're a sojourning stranger.

May your tears become the water you walk on,
Waves of mercy and grace, to His love you'll be drawn.

Micah 7:19 Amplified Bible
"He will again have compassion on us;
He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
‪#‎JLYASDW‬

Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.


Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org

A Pastor's Sin On The Way To A Sermon

   

   Sunday morning May 17, 2015 provided complete evidence that Buffalo's winter was finally over. Sun, warmth, birds and the windows were open in the car as we drove to church. This morning's message would be about the "Almond Anointing" and doing new things in the midst of old things coming against you. I felt peacefully adrenalized, I was on my way to deliver a sermon that I had diligently prepared for. I was ready and felt adequate for the task.

     My wife and I left the Fruit Belt in our little red Honda Civic and headed toward South Buffalo. Driving south on Oak St. through Downtown Buffalo, I spotted two ladies sitting at a bus stop. Peering across the passenger side windows, I tried to see if they were smoking. My thoughts at that point were something like this:

  "People at bus stops smoke and leave their filthy butts on the ground. Bus stops smell like stinky, discarded cancer sticks. Those ladies are probably smoking and adding to the mess."

     I had puffed myself up to my haughtiest level of self-indignation. Within fifteen minutes, we were sitting in church. My contentedness carried me right into my sermon which began shortly thereafter. I was in the middle of my sermon when the Holy Spirit began needling me with my own personal deflate-gate. The way of love is narrow and my inflated self-righteousness would not fit into the pearly gates. I needed to be deflated of self-righteous judgment before I could be brought into the fullness of Christ. The Holy Spirit's needle of love slowly began to deflate my haughtiness.

     The message on Sunday morning was about an Almond Branch and how God can take deadwood (like me) and supernaturally bring new life. My sermonizing was delivered with some seriousness and some smiles until I read these words from Isaiah 11:3-4 from the Amplified Bible:

13 And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, neither decide by the hearing of His ears;4 But with righteousness and justice shall He judge the poor and decide with fairness for the meek, the poor, and the downtrodden of the earth; and He shall smite the earth and the oppressor with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

     My smile quickly disappeared as I realized that the rod of my words toward those two ladies was destructive. Within a few minutes when the Holy Spirit gave me all the clarity I needed, I confessed on the spot to the kind church folks who were like a group of witnesses. I was preaching about the words of your mouth as being a testimony to your thoughts. I was convicted, became as deadwood, confessed, repented and God's love was restored. Jeremiah 1:11 was the main verse within the text that I had been studying.

11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter].     

   The roots of my sin grew from two guilt pollinators. I'm a former smoker and my overcoming that bad habit has inflated my ego as an overcomer. The other part of the equation comes from a memory of resentment. Several years ago I needed to wait at a bus stop because my van was in the shop for repairs.I noticed that folks smoked heavily at bus stops and I judged them as being less than an overcomer like me. When you sin, examine the roots and pull them out or they will grow again.  Ego and resentment are a destructive force.

     It was God who alerted me to my own sinful condition. There was another passage in the Bible that we covered yesterday that could more adequately describe my journey through inadequacy from Numbers 17:5-8.

5 And the rod of the man whom I choose shall bud, and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.6 And Moses spoke to the Israelites, and every one of their leaders gave him a rod or staff, one for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.7 And Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.8 And the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and brought forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded [ripe] almonds.

     I went from murmuring against two ladies at a bus stop and became dead in my sin of judgment and self-righteousness. My words are now a rod of testimony that bring alertness and activity in the name of God.

     Sometimes we are tempted to let ourselves off the hook of sin a bit too easily. We rationalize that our actions have only hurt us and nobody else.  I suppose the effects of sin can sometimes be singular in nature, but life generally has some ripple effects. My activities or inactivities all carry varying degrees of multiplicity. Withholding love may cause the growth of hate. Unrighteous judgment may nurture unrighteous living. Haughty eyes may cast a glance that applies another layer of dirt upon a heart longing to be loved. We have been called to remove the barriers that separate folks from the love of God. Go forth and apply some love.

John 7:24 Amplified Bible (AMP)24 Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
#JLYASDW


Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 12 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of four books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.


Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240
or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com.
www.youthwithapurpose.org