I'm dreaming of a rubber chicken for Christmas!

Pastor Craig The Heart Farmer

         

Some folks have a direct line to God; what they hear is what they do.

      Nomadic wandering might describe my life of attending churches. Early life experiences birthed a deep mistrust in my soul and kept me on the run for many years. God slowly drew me back to His bosom through some folks who seem to have a direct link to His thoughts. Pastor Craig McLeod is one of  those special dudes, he's like a heart farmer who steadfastly produces faith through the work of his heart.

          On January 27, 2014 I took a page out of Craig's faith playbook. A young man was murdered on the East Side of Buffalo, New York. His younger brother sent me a text message at 6:13 pm saying he'd heard that his brother died earlier that day. I sent a message to the young man who was murdered about 45 minutes after he was killed not knowing he was dead. We were supposed to meet the next day to move some of his personal furniture into his new apartment. At 6:30 pm I received a confirmation text message that he was dead. That's when I took the page out of Craig's character.

          My wife and I made immediate plans to drop what we were doing and rearrange our schedule to go and be with the younger brother. The young man is like a son to me, I try and maintain regular contact with him. My actions were a learned response from the actions of Pastor Craig. Another good friend of mine told me about how Craig had ministered to him and his daughters after his wife and their mom had died. The steadfast heart farmer dropped everything through an act of immediacy and went to become present with hurting people in need. That's the action of a "Doer of the Word." 

          A person who plants seed doesn't just walk away and forget about what he's planted. There's a nurturing process that requires compassion - the kind that Jesus showed to wounded people. Craig planted, nurtured and became a doer. He listened and acted quickly - probably without even thinking. I have found that lack of thinking is a hallmark of true men and women of God. The Word is so deeply embedded in their hearts that their hands are pre-programmed to act without direction. When you hear a fire alarm you head for the nearest door. When Craig hears the Spirit of God he heads for the nearest heart in need.

          During last Sunday's message, Pastor Craig was as deep as I've seen him. The message was inspiring and life-transformational. It was borne from a season with God. Since returning from a few weeks in India, Pastor Craig seems to have reached a place of more excellent preaching. Part of the text for his sermon was from Acts 28:1-6.

Acts 28:1-6 Amplified Bible
28 After we were safe on the island, we knew andrecognized that it was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us unusual and remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.
5 Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.
6 However, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.

Here are my "take-away's" from Pastor Craig's heart farming message:

1. When you face trouble - people will gossip.
2. Shake off your fear and trust God.
3. Your integrity will remain when all is stripped away. 

Here is another verse that Pastor Craig threw out almost as a backdrop to his message:

Philippians 1:28 Amplified Bible
And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

          I left the service knowing that I would repeat many parts of his message in several places as I have the opportunity to speak. Another part of the backdrop for his service was the previously announced news that Pastor Craig's wife Carol had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Carol is the leader of Just Joy Ministries. She's knockin' the socks off ladies all over the world with her conferences and teachings. Craig and Carol are part of a family that's been heart farming as doers of the word for many generations. Even Craig's mom Becky is still shaking up the kingdom with an infectious attitude that reflects Christ and instills the confidence of God in folks around her. Their children are planted around the world as spiritual seeds. They have shaken off the chaff of destruction as they grow wheat for God's kingdom.

          Churches that shake off fear are filled with folks who are all shook up - they're dancing in the freedom of the Spirit. They're shaken up with a Holy Spirit contagiousness that breaks up fallow hearts. Through the leadership of Craig and Carol and their team at Life Church, thanksgiving, praise, mercy, righteousness are raining. May the rain of his spirit fall on us! I believe the latter rain is falling on Life Church nourishing a movement of prophetic love that will heal nations.

Hosea 10:12 New King James Version
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

If you would like to visit Life Church and let some rain fall on you, here is their info:

4928 Seneca St, West Seneca, New York 14224

Phone	716.675.LIFE (5433)
Email	info@lifechurchbuffalo.com
Website	http://www.lifechurchbuffalo.com

Saturday Night Life - Saturdays 4 pm- 5:30 pm

Worship Service Sunday @ 9:00 am & 11 am
Just Joy! Women's Bible Study - Tuesdays @ 7 pm
Real Men - Men's Bible Study - Tuesdays @ 7 pm
Spero Youth Group - Saturdays @ 6 pm

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.

THE TREES SPEAK OF MARRIAGE

Two trees grow separately.

The two trees grow into each other and become one.

The two trees continue to grow separately and together as they stretch toward heaven.

Do Trees Speak?

In the Spring, trees speak of new beginnings and fresh starts. In the Summer, trees speak of celebration and gratitude. In the Fall, trees speak of letting go and forgiveness. In the Winter, trees speak of restful solitude that gives birth to hope.

Do Trees Speak About Marriage?

Relationships have been built to last through the weathering process. Storms that cause conflict are designed to cause a stronger marriage. Unfortunately many break apart during a season marked by tempestuous and strong emotions. The rings surrounding the core within the tree's trunk will reveal it's ability to withstand the fury of life's storms. All seasons come and go, some are stormier than others. People, like trees, are designed to weather the storms of life. Sadly, some folks storm off and the marriage tree dies. The boughs of a tree stretch toward heaven. For a marriage to last, folks have to stretch.

Will Trees Help You Weather Storms?

The pressures of the forest are many. Single trees lean on each other causing stress and pressure. The spores of fungus and mold are present in the winds of jealousy and covetousness. Rotting trees are lonely and wave their decaying branches of opinion at the married trees. Two trees can choose to be struck by the lightening of self righteousness. Two people in the midst of a worldly forest can choose to let their union become a role model for all to see.

The answer to everlasting marriage is found in the Jesus Tree.

Your Marriage Will Have A Cross

God has given us His creation as a classroom. The Four Seasons are present in every breath we take. Inhaling is like Spring - new inspirations. After we inhale there is an almost imperceptible pause - that's Winter, a time of stillness, rest and reflection. As the air hits our heart and lungs, there is an explosion of freshness - that's the celebration of Summer. Exhaling is letting go - that's the forgiveness of Fall. Trees speak about the saving grace of Jesus on the Cross. He was lifted up off the ground on a tree fashioned into a cross. He was alive, died for our sins and then came back to life again. That's the cycle of a tree that has lost it's leaves, appears dead and then Springs back to life again. A marriage that appears dead can Spring back to life again - stronger and with the ability to withstand greater storms.

Creation speaks in many ways. I saw this sign in a forest as I was leaving  from a visit to a young man in jail. Nothing is hopeless, Jesus died to end hopelessness.

YWAP Camp at Schoellkopf

YWAP smiles from around the world on one picnic table!

         Another YWAP Camp is over. We spent the weekend (5/16-18) at Boy Scout Camp Schoellkopf in Cowlesville, NY. We laughed, we ate, we played hide-n-seek, we built fires, hiked in the woods, did chores and formed bonds that have the potential to last a life time. Many of the guys want to come back for Summer Camp. Somehow we will make that happen in our busy camping schedule.

          As we began our camp on Friday evening, we had a meeting to go over our expectations. The first rule is this:

"Positive words only are spoken.
Negative words make people feel broken."

          We don't allow any negativity during any YWAP Program. You cannot call someone stupid, idiot, dumb or any other name that is negative. Only words that are encouraging and uplifting are allowed. This is a pretty big adjustment for most folks. When you step into the YWAP culture, your vocabulary changes along with your heart. Everyone is accepted and encouraged to be the best they can be.

How many different countries can fit in a YWAP Van?

          One of our programs is sponsored by the Boy Scouts. They support us all year round and help us reach thousands of young people. They help us in the schools and neighborhoods of Buffalo and beyond. They provide opportunities to take young people camping. We are grateful and want to say:

Thank you to Scout Reach Executive
Steve Blass
and the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The young people in Buffalo are moving in the right direction.

          I learned about Boy Scouts growing up in Lake View, New York. Our Troop was 593 and our Scoutmaster Al Launder. We met in the Lake View Fire hall. Later my son Steve and I became part of Troop 238 with Scoutmaster Carl Rosati. We traveled to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. We learned about serving your neighbor. The picture above represents several countries and several religions. At Scout Camp we became one in the spirit of neighborliness. The rest of the pictures from camp can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.814687675225576.1073741906.111808805513470&type=1

Just in case you don't remember them, here is the Scout Oath and the Scout Law:

Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law                                                                                                       A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,brave, clean, and reverent.

Youth With A Purpose Inc. believes that "All children are gifted." One of our goals is to start a Foundation that will allow us to continue our purpose of helping children become world changers. Most of our young people come from the inner city and are witnesses of poverty, segregation, violence, and fatherlessness. We hope they will learn how to "help other people at all times." Please call us if you would like to become involved in a world shaping mission. 716-830-8240.

www.youthwithapurpose.org

Youth With A Purpose Inc
157 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY. 14204

http://www.gofundme.com/73te4

Youth With A Purpose Inc is a 501c3 organization.

Ballers Breakfast #2 A Few Seconds Can Change A Life

BUFFALO VOTER APATHY

A team of Parents, Neighbors, Teachers and Students put children first

          Many years ago in the Iroquois School District, the children were held hostage by voter apathy. The School Board Elections were held and many folks stayed home. They didn't think that the education of children was important enough t o vote for. Several candidates were elected who did not have the best interests of children in mind. Voter apathy elected them and placed them in positions of authority.

          The Buffalo Schools are full of good teachers and children who deserve better than what they are receiving. The educational bureaucracy of our Country and State are catering to folks who want to make money at the expense of our children. Apathy is lethargy and slovenliness of character that causes one to sleep through opportunity. It's contagious and grows through a welfare mentality. People stay home because they don't have an interest, they don't care or they don't believe they can make a difference. If your lungs are still filling and your heart is still beating then you can make a difference.

"The Senior Class Thanx you for saving our Schools!"

          The Iroquois neighbors woke up from their slumber having learned a lesson. They learned not to stay home when a neighbor needed help. The parents and the whole community got together and began to pay attention to who was in charge of their children. We formed a team of Parents, Teachers, Neighbors and Students to bring respectability back to Iroquois. Children need help from responsible School Board members who put children first. Please get out and vote today May 6, 2014 for the Buffalo School Board. Do not let our Schools fall into the hands of folks who do not put children first. Study the candidates and make your decision prayerfully.

"Thanks for bringing hope to Iroquois!"

This was written by a young girl from our Youth Center. I put the poster in my office as a reminder that people working together as a team can protect our children. Seta spoke the most important truth: "God comes first!" Thanks Seta, Jesus loves you and so do we. 

          There is another vote today that is much simpler but just as impactful. Ballers Breakfast represents an opportunity to vote for a team of organizations who are collaborating on behalf of the young people of Buffalo. Imagine a team of mentors joining forces to create a Mentor Force that creates new opportunities of character building relationships. You can vote everyday until May 17, 2014. You have the ability to vote ten times per day with a few clicks that take just a few seconds.

Don't wait, VOTE NOW!

          Ballers Breakfast will teach young men how to respect themselves, respect the ladies and take fatherhood seriously. Your vote will will help young people learn how to become self accountable and responsible. This is so easy, just VOTE HERE, VOTE NOW:

https://www.state-assist.com/cause/1405857/ballers-breakfast

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

Bob Kuebler

Founder / Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us:  

716-830-8240 or mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org

We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences 

2014 State Farm Neighborhood Assist(TM)

We have a chance at qualifying for $25,000 that will be used by 5 organizations collaborating to help mentor young men in Buffalo. Would you please take a few seconds and vote for Ballers Breakfast and help encourage young guys to break the cycle of poverty, segregation and violence in Buffalo. Thanks.

https://www.state-assist.com/cause/1405857/ballers-breakfast

2014 State Farm Neighborhood Assist(TM)

There is no violence here.

The Heart Farmers Mother

The Heart Farmers Mother

and his daughter Beauty.

          "Daddy, I have to write something about Mothers for my school, How would you describe your Mother?" Asked the Heart Farmer's Daughter. "The big, burly man pursed his lips as he exhaled and emptied his huge chest of all its air. "Well my little darling Beauty. Park your little prettiness right here and I'll tell you about my Mother!"

"A Mother is patient. 

A Mother is kind. 

A Mother cares more for her children

than she does for herself. 

A Mother doesn't keep a record 

of her children's mistakes. 

A Mother apologizes to her children

when she is wrong.

A Mother doesn't tease her children.

A Mother protects her children. 

A Mother hopes for the best for her children. 

A Mother never gives up on her children. 

A Mother disciplines her children. 

A Mother guides her children in the right direction

so they won't get lost when they are older. 

A Mother teaches her children

about love by loving them.

A Mother teaches her children about

the Way and Truth of Life."

          The Heart Farmer stopped, they both had tears in their eyes. Beauty looked up through her tears and said: "I love you Daddy!"

Then they both went and voted for Ballers Breakfast!
https://www.state-assist.com/cause/1405857/ballers-breakfast

*The Heart Farmers description of his Mother is adapted from 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible.
Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

BALLERS BREAKFAST

Young men shaking hands without animosity, drugs or guns. This is the future.

Today is the beginning of a unique opportunity to do something special. It's simple and easy, just click a link and vote for BALLERS BREAKFAST. 

 https://apps.facebook.com/sf_neighbor_assist/

A couple of kind folks wanted to help some kids in the city share in some life changing opportunities. As a State Farm Agent for over thirty years, John Mouw knows a few things about protecting and helping people. John and his wife Janice have been helping the community through their kindness and generosity for a long time. John passed on the information about a big opportunity to share in a grant from State Farm. Five local mentoring organizations decided to work together as a team to help some young men escape the poverty, segregation and violence of the inner city. Thanks John and Janice for all you do, we appreciate you! And don't forget to vote! https://apps.facebook.com/sf_neighbor_assist/

What will your vote do?

BALLERS BREAKFAST will create hope beyond the violent streets. Through a weekend mentoring and athletic program, the Hope Center will attract young men from the violent neighborhoods of Buffalo. The initial program will run over the summer as an open basketball league to be played outdoors (indoors due to inclement weather.) Every Saturday morning will begin with breakfast and a mentoring session. The power of this program lies in the number of collaborating organizations collectively combining their strengths to provide hope and a future for young men who are at-risk of violence. After the morning session that will last approximately 2 hours, the young men will play ball for about 4 hours. The league will follow strict adherence to the code of conduct used in high school sports. Funds would be used to purchase portable rims and backboards, training materials, facility maintenance, and youth program needs.

How much of a lasting impact on your community will your cause have?

Collaboration between community groups is a model of teamwork that will impact a city. Young people in gangs who fight turf wars against each other have witnessed the acrimony between politicians, government agencies and community organizations. Urban Christian Ministries, Mentor Force, Xertion Youth, Project L.E.E, and The Homicide Education & Prevention Project will combine forces and work as a team. Putting young people first and pooling talents, resources and expertise will become a model for a segregated community. All of the leaders of these respective organizations have personally felt the devastation of losing a young man to violence. They are all personally involved with young guys who are members of gangs. We recognize that the young men want to live safe and productive lives but lack the belief in themselves to make it happen. We are changing neighborhoods one young person at a time. Through a team approach we will reduce violence, poverty and segregation in Buffalo.

 Could you please help us? It's easy to click a link. Please vote for Ballers Breakfast. There are 5 organizations collaborating to give young men a chance to climb above poverty, segregation and violence. It's easy for each of you to vote 10 times per day for Ballers Breakfast. 

https://apps.facebook.com/sf_neighbor_assist/

Young men at peace, the violence has stopped.

You can make a difference by voting 10X per day until May 17th. Please forward this Bright Spot Report to everyone who has access to Facebook. You your Smart Phone right now, it's simple and it may save a life.

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

Bob Kuebler

Founder / Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us:  

716-830-8240 or mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org

We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences.

https://apps.facebook.com/sf_neighbor_assist/

The Word on 420

The Palm leaves that spell "420" came from Life Church on Palm Sunday.

That's when Jesus rode on a donkey as folks paved a palm path for him.

The palms lay upon the decaying leaves of old life with signs of

new life poking up through the deadness.

New life is springing up!

          So what are you smokin'? 

          You may be aware of what 420 means and you're here because you're inquisitive. If you don't know the history behind 420, it's a celebration for pot smokers. These are folks who partake in the mind modifying method of marijuana ingestion. There is a pretty cool story behind 420.

          Back in the 1970's in a California High School, some young folks gathered after school at 4;20pm to smoke some dope and get stoned. They eventually coined the term 420 as a cool way to say: "Hey, ya wanna smoke some dope?" The writer of this blog freely admits to an inhalation or two (or 420 or more). That was many years ago when I was in search of some meaning in my life. Smoking and drinking were a way of escaping the confusion of not knowing why I existed. Now I know.

          Now I get high on God. I literally walk around higher than a kite everyday. My perspective on life is much deeper than the high of an inhaled weed. I started reading holy books trying to find God. The only truths that I could find that were proven over and over were in the Bible.The munchies that you experience when you get high on weed pale in comparison to my hunger for God. I developed an insatiable desire that grows everyday. I found that there are some things in the Bible that are hard to understand, learning comes slowly. I found that some folks who portend to be Christians are really hypocrites (sometimes I'm a hypocrite.) When I realized that everyone makes mistakes, I began to understand what the Jesus story was all about.

          If you are arrested and charged with a crime, you will eventually appear before a judge. He will pronounce you guilty or not guilty. Jesus took all of the charges that could be levied against you and paid the penalty. He served our sentence so that we wouldn't have to. If you want to know more, talk to God. The following list is all of the 420's in the Bible. If you don't understand one then move on to the next one. Later, come back to the one you don't understand and look it up in a Bible. Study the surrounding verses, the time period (customs) and who the writer and the audience might be. Ask God to reveal to you the understanding that He would like you to have. I hope you enjoy a Holy Spirit high with a new 420 experience. 

"And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock."

Genesis 4:20

"Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand."

Exodus 4:20

"And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them."

Leviticus 4:20

"But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.”

Numbers 4:20

"But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day."

Deuteronomy 4:20

"And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal."

Joshua 4:20

"And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’”

Judges 4:20

"Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon;"

Ruth 4:20

"And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it."

1 Samuel 4:20

"Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing."

1 Kings 4:20

"When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died."

2 Kings 4:20

"And the sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth."

1 Chronicles 4:20

"the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in the prescribed manner in front of the inner sanctuary,"

2 Chronicles 4:20

"There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them."

Ezra 4:20

"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

Nehemiah 4:20

"They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding."

Job 4:20

"My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings."

Proverbs 4:20

"Destruction upon destruction is cried,
For the whole land is plundered.
Suddenly my tents are plundered,
And my curtains in a moment."

Jeremiah 4:20

"The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord,
Was caught in their pits,
Of whom we said, “Under his shadow
We shall live among the nations.”

Lamentations 4:20

 “The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,"

Daniel 4:20

"They immediately left their nets and followed Him."

Matthew 4:20

"But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Mark 4:20

"Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him."

Luke 4:20

"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

John 4:20

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:20

"He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,"

Romans 4:20

"For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

"I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you."

Galatians 4:20

"But you have not so learned Christ,"

Ephesians 4:20

"Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."

Philippians 4:20

"Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick."

2 Timothy 4:20

"If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"

1 John 4:20

No More Tears

Tears can be beautiful. 

          Sometimes (many times!) life gets hard. When you learn to embrace struggle, you get stronger. The storms of life are meant to be weathered as learning opportunities. Life is like the Four Seasons; changing, harsh, growing and exploding! Whatever season you are in embrace this thought:

"THIS TOO SHALL PASS!"

GOT TEARS?

May your tears fall upon your heart
Like the rain falls from heaven upon the earth.
God hears your cry for a fresh start,
Tears are showers upon a garden of new birth.

You've walked through a valley weeping.
Now with each day your Spring grows stronger.
On God's mountain you'll soon be leaping.
The story of His grace in your life grows longer.

Your cup of life is overfilled with tears,
It's time to pour it out on a new endeavor.
Look back, He's carried you for years.
His mercy and goodness are yours forever.

Revelation 21:4 - "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Psalms 56:8 - "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?"

Psalms 126:5 - "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Revelation 7:17 - "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

My Friend was Killed by a Gang

       
           My friend was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He always had a kind word for everybody. When someone needed help, he was the first one to offer a helping hand. He could change the atmosphere of a whole neighborhood by his actions. That was the problem.

          There was a gang in the neighborhood who spent their time wreaking havoc in an otherwise peaceful community. They sold drugs, stole things, intimidated people and sometimes killed folks who didn't share their way of life. My friends actions were hurting their business. He was a walking billboard for a kinder, gentler way of life. He was like "walking truth" and taught people how to be good neighbors. My friend was full of joy and peace, he seemed to love everybody. That type of belief system - love, joy, peace, kindness and gentleness became a threat to the gangs way of life. So they threatened my friend.

          At first the gang just verbally abused my friend. They bullied and mocked him. They thought he'd stop if they belittled him, perhaps if they embarrassed him he'd disappear. When that didn't work, they threatened him physically. Their threats had no power over him. In fact it seemed to enlarge the love inside him. More people took on a new way of life because of the way he treated them. This infuriated the gang . Their drug business was sagging. Guys and girls were leaving the gang and youngsters stopped looking up to them. The gang leaders got together and conceived a plan to silence him for good.

          They waited until they knew my friend would be alone and then they ambushed him. Their plan was to make him suffer before they killed him. They tried to tell people that he was a fake so they could justify their actions. They beat him badly, they pretty much did everything they could to inflict pain on his body. They left him on a street corner with the life oozing out of his body. My friend eventually did die, but before he died he made one last statement that would change me forever.

          Several of us found him on that street corner. Somebody ran and told his parents. There wasn't anything we could do to save him, the gang had made sure that he'd die. With his last breath he asked his Dad to forgive the gang. He said they didn't really know what they were doing. The words of my friend asking his Dad to forgive the gang now live in my heart. I know I have to forgive others and they sometimes have to forgive me. I know I have to try and stay away from the temptations to hurt people because they have hurt me. The truth is: hurt starts somewhere and continues until someone has courage like my friend did. Hurt keeps infecting folks who reject the courage to stop it.

          Our neighborhood is different now. People tell stories about my friend. He seems to live on through their actions. Some folks try and live lives with the same kind character that he had. There was one guy I know who died recently. His life had some ups and downs, some bads and some goods. When he was just a little kid his mom would buy him new clothes to go to school. When he got home, his mom saw that he was wearing old shoes. She asked him where his brand new shoes were and he replied: "Somebody else needed them Ma, so I gave them to him."  He had a big heart that had a big hurt for other people. His life wasn't perfect because life isn't perfect this side of heaven. A hurting person killed him. Now I know another truth, I can create some heaven here on earth by giving shoes away, by forgiving folks who hurt me, because now I know that somebody hurt them first. Yeah, I think I'll put my heart in my shoes and give it away! Forgiveness - shoe it forward!

          If you didn't recognize my friends, the first guy was Jesus. The guy who gave his shoes away was DeMario, aka "Spazz" or "Spizzy." Jesus never did anything wrong. Spazz was like you and me - we've all made mistakes and failed to be like Jesus. I remember times when DeMario did the things that Jesus would do. That's how I will keep remembering him. I will not go out and hurt somebody because I'm mad that somebody hurt him. That would make me just another hurting person who keeps hurting other people. I'm asking God for the courage to be different, the courage to give the hurt to Jesus because he already took all the hurt on his own back. He's got my back.

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

  

Just Believe

       As part of their education, we teach young people about the principle of "Cause and Effect." A simple explanation of that principle would be: "The cause is why the effect or event happened." If I drop an egg on concrete and the egg breaks, the cause is the dropping and the effect is the breaking. A good mentor isn't satisfied with just teaching principles. Your goal is to be a mentor who teaches how to remove causes that cause negative effects.

          I was talking to a Chiropractor yesterday who is writing a book on common sense in health care. His name is Dr. Michael S. Diehm and he removed the effect of back pain for my wife before there was a cause. This will require a little deep thinking on your part so please be patient with me. My wife was not experiencing any back pain but she went for some wellness care anyway. It's kind of like checking the oil in your car; your car will run without the proper amount of oil but it will eventually break down. My wife walked out feeling better knowing that she was in good shape. She was infused with confidence and that contributes to a positive life attitude.

          While Dr. Mike was contributing to the well being of my wife, he discussed some of the ideas in his book. He described some health care procedures that initially appear beneficial. I'm going to describe what I heard and it may not reflect entirely his viewpoints. Many medical tests reveal abnormalities and illnesses that we were not aware of. Some folks may have walked into a doctor's office thinking they were healthy and walked out believing otherwise. Treatment may be necessary and may also cause side effects that lead to more illness. When someone is given news that they have a disease, the mental state generally becomes regressively negative.  If the thought patterns become increasingly negative, the immune system can break down causing the illness to exacerbate. Hypochondriacs have been known to think themselves into an early grave. Their imaginations create diseases that eventually manifest themselves in the body and cause death. Deadly imagination is the cause and death is the effect.

          Dr. Mike told me about an old book called: "Magic of Believing" by Claude Bristol. I bought it for my Nook this morning. Here is something that I copied from the Forward written by the Editor, Dr. Robert C. Worstell:

"The idea that your beliefs can take power over the apparent universe we live in is an old one. Jesus spoke of it, as did Aristotle."

Another old aphorism taken from Proverbs 23:7 states: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Somehow we have taken our belief system and corroded our creativity with the effect of negativity. Instead of focusing and protecting the positive, we go looking for the negative. I am not jumping on a soapbox and preaching against preventive medicine. I am simply saying:

"Just believe in the best, because only good things are possible for those who just believe."

          Stealing, killing and destroying are the effects of one main cause - fear. We replicate those causes by feeding fear. Remove the food and fear will die. There are porn shops on many street corners. Porn is readily available on the internet and smartphones - more easily accessible than ever before. Main stream publications like "Sports Illustrated" display nearly naked women on their covers. We used to call that "soft porn." Everywhere you look, sexuality is cheapened and sold in the name of lust and greed. Prisons have more than their fair share of what we call sexual deviants; people who prey on others sexually. Why do we keep spreading the cause of porn if we don't like the effect of sexual predators? It's time to reexamine cause and effect. Which of our actions are causing more effects? How can we remove the root cause and destroy it before it becomes a killer effect?

Thanks Dr. Mike for fanning the flames inside me. I have watched many lives destroyed because we don't remove the causes. Young people join gangs because we haven't reached them with an opportunity to know what love is. We build more prisons to deal with the effect of lovelessness. Prison populations are ever expanding with a combination of new prisoners and returning prisoners. The rate of recidivism is a statistic that measures the effect of our inability to remove the cause. I will keep on believing that all children are gifted. I will keep on believing in them even after they are in jail. I believe in believing!

FYI - If you are looking for an excellent, wisdom filled Chiropractor, you can find Dr. Mike at:

Diehm Chiropractic & Wellness
500 W. Ray Rd
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (480) 491-9699

 http://www.drmikewellness.com/

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

Bob Kuebler
Founder / Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
 We teach teachers, mentors and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. 
If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us:  716-830-8240 or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com

I'd Rather Write About My Wife Than Devalued Children

      As I write this, my wife and I are still in our "Morning Devo Mode." She is sitting near me. We begin our mornings by sharing a devotional time. She reads out loud on one day and I read out loud the next. What I read this morning was about listening and learning. Husbands and wives are often too busy formulating a judgmental response instead of listening. We should be listening with our hearts to what our spouse has to say. Communication is a spoken word from one heart to another. My wife has my heart when I really focus and shut out the temptation of judging her words.
 

  
          Today I'm struggling - I want to focus on my wife and shut everything else out of my heart. It's not working. A heaviness like a thick fog is hovering over my thoughts. A burden has been placed on my heart for children - especially the ones who fall through the cracks of society. The fog isn't blinding me to my wife's presence and my desire to love and serve her. The fog is redirecting the eyes of my heart to a more excellent way of seeing others. I know I can, and I will, be a better listener. Today God is speaking through a heaviness.

          I will have time later to enjoy some "Wifey Time." We will hike on a mountain and spend all day together. We love being around each other almost 24/7. We both have unique parts in God's plan for our lives. She supports me in a more excellent way everyday. I'm drifting now with the fog. Part of God's plan for my life includes youth ministry. I believe that all children are gifted. I've seen too many end up dead or in jail for a very long time. Yeah, I'd rather think about my wife than dead or incarcerated kids.

          My wife is sitting by a window with rays of a sunbeam pouring over her head. Her blonde hair is glistening and her shadow is cast upon the wall beside her. She's reading a book that no doubt will give her more wisdom and compassion for her to share with somebody in need. She allows God's love to reflect through her heart in her words and actions. She can lift a downtrodden heart with a smile from her eyes. She has stood beside me and witnessed the results of young people dying in Buffalo. She listens while I pray on the phone with a young inmate facing life in prison. She hurts with me.

          Everyday a child is faced with decisions that they may be incapable of making. Their young brains are not mature enough to make the right decisions. Without the guide of a mentor in their lives, children can easily make life altering or life ending decisions. Our education system is built to reward the best and the brightest students. Teachers with the compassion to reach all of their students are pressured to "teach to the test."  This ensures that they are rated highly enough to save their jobs. A good teacher has a heart to reach the hearts of their students. The students who do not learn easily are sometimes labeled "special ed." Most children who are labelled "special ed" begin to feel inferior. The feelings of inferiority can cause them to engage in disruptive behavior which is really a cry for attention. They begin to feel like they are of lesser value than other children; it's almost like a caste system. By devaluing children, we are casting them into a future life of crime, incarceration and killing.

          Are you beginning to see the heavy fog on my heart for the children who are left behind? You may have never watched a child die from violence or visited a prison but have you ever felt devalued? Can you understand why I would rather write about my wife and how good she makes me feel? If I focus only on my own goodness then I would be selfish. I hurt for children who become orphans, homeless, devalued, incarcerated or are killed. I hurt for children who feel unloved and do anything to feel wanted. I hurt for children who are enslaved by people who were hurt as children. I thank God for the love of my wife. She is like my mountain retreat where I can rest in her love. God reveals His plan for my life through that rest. We both put God first and each other second - that's truly a more excellent way of love.

          For the next week (3/3 - 3/10/14) we will be in the Phoenix, Arizona area. We have a fairly busy schedule but we will make room to provide value for young people who need some direction. If you know of any children who are in danger of falling through the cracks, we would love to help. On Wednesday evening we will be speaking to a group of young people at Without Walls Christian Center in Chandler, Arizona. Please feel free to bring some young people. I'm sure their youth group would love to share some time with you.

         My wife and I are Directors of Youth With A Purpose Inc. We have created a Common Core Character Education Program called Mentor Force. By becoming team members with Teachers, we use Power Moment Mentoring to help deal with emotional concerns and reinforce the study skills needed to attain a satisfactory education. Mentor Force raises grades, reduces suspensions and helps to minimize behavioral problems. All children are gifted and all children should have a mentor.

          Linda is my wife, my friend, my lover, my prayer partner, my teacher and my mentor. 

Thanks God for using the fogs of life to reveal a greater purpose. 

Thanks God for giving me a life partner named Linda. 

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

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
 We teach teachers, mentors and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued.  
Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor. 
If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us:
 716-830-8240 or ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com

What I Love Best About My Wife Part 1

      

       I hope your day is filled with heart smiles. Before I tell you some very cool things about my wife, let me cover some human experiences that can become seeds of love if you will accept and nurture them. There is a strong possibility that you fall into one of the following categories:

• You may be a wife wishing your husband was fruity enough to express his love for you so the whole world could see it.
• You might be recently divorced and thinking that if your spouse had been more demonstrative with their love, that maybe you wouldn't be divorced.
• You may be widowed and tearfully remembering the love you shared with your spouse.
• You might be embracing a single life and wondering why you would bother to read this. (Please don't stop!)
• You might be a guy wondering how to love your wife in a more excellent way.

Whatever your "love-status,"  whether it's single, plural or a work in progress, you will find hope here for you. There are many reasons why I love my wife. This list is not all encompassing, nor is it compiled in order of importance - it's simply a list.

My Wife Simply Loves Me

Just As I Am

          Billy Graham wrote an autobiography called: "Just As I Am." It's a great book about a great man. I would read it if I were you. My wife loves me just as I am. Yup - all of me - my goods, my bads, my uglys and my in-betweens. I call them my 4 seasons of "Bob-hood." I'm just a simple Bob who wants to give and receive love and sometimes gets selfish. I am no different than Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. My personal moods and spiritual growth follows a "Four Season Life Plan." My wife knows that I sometimes have to let go, rest, plan and celebrate - repeatedly!

           My wife recognizes my imperfections and doesn't scratch them with a pointing finger. I invite her to hold me accountable in love and in truth. She gives me the comfort of knowing that I can confess a weakness to her and she won't use my confession as a weapon against me. I know that no weapon formed against me will prosper if I'm on God's side. Love cannot prosper when weapons are formed by folks who are supposed to be lovers.

          Loving me as I am requires a great deal of patience. As a simple Bob, I recognize that my love for my wife requires a diligent and participatory effort. Linda accepts what I give and doesn't ask for what I'm currently incapable of giving. She doesn't repeatedly remind me of what she has already requested from me. I think she prays and God takes care of the reminders. Yeah, the Holy Spirit is a great teammate for a spouse!

Ask and you'll be given,
Seek and you will find, 
The spouse with whom you be livin' 
The Holy Spirit will remind!

          Knowing me as I am is accepting my limitations and believing in my potential. Encouragement is one of the most beautiful words in the heart. My wife lifts me up and helps me weather the seasonal changes in life. The heavy burdens on the shoulders of my heart are like snow and ice piled high on our doorstep. She may not be able to remove the burdens but she supports me in so many ways. Her support helps me to build spiritual muscle that enables me to remove the burdens. By accepting me as I am and encouraging me to grow, my life is a limitless possibility filled with potential. My wife loves me just as I am.

          Your life may be in a mode of salvage; desperately seeking ways to save your marriage. Press on, you may have children learning about perseverance. Giving up will cause a rending in their hearts that will leave a heart-scar for life. Do the very best you can to weather the seasonal changes of love. The seasons actively change; love is a verb of action, just do it!

          Your life may be in a mode of mourning. Maybe your spouse passed away a a few years ago or maybe just a few days ago. Winter and Spring are sometimes interchangeable and do not always follow a definite pattern. Winter is a time of rest and inactivity in many ways. In your time of resting in God (Shabbat,) allow Him to plant new seeds in your heart. The love that you shared is the soil where hope will grow eternal. Love in a more excellent way is God's desire for everyone. He knows brokenness. God allows a kernel of wheat to fall to the ground and die before it returns to life. It not only returns to life - it gives more life in abundance. God wants to give you love in abundance. Rest and grow - in Him.

          Your life may be in "scrap mode." Starting over seems to be the best option available. God is a God of "fresh starts." Sow carefully - you wouldn't want to plant a sapling in the shadow of a mighty oak tree. When making a decision on when to give up on a marriage, there are 3 very important things to consider, who wants the marriage to end:

1. If God wants your marriage to end, He will do so to protect you spiritually from evil. If your spouse has done nothing evil, you have no grounds for destroying your marriage.
2. If the devil would like you to end your marriage (AND HE DOES!) he will lie, steal and destroy to accomplish the end of your marriage. Seek the Way, the Truth and the Life for instructions on how to discern whether or not the devil is influencing your decision to end your marriage.
3. If you are making the decision to end your marriage based on your desires - that's selfish. Maybe you think that being married is a hindrance to what God has called you to be - that's usually a lie from the enemy. God uses conflict to help us grow. The greater the brokenness, the greater the capacity for love. You have been made in the image and likeness of God. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not just you. Your heart was designed for community, forgiveness, and brokenness. Your heart has been endued with a "Resurrection-like resiliency." You may feel like your marriage is dead - maybe it's time for you to act like a kernel of wheat.

          I will tell you more about how my wife and I met next time. There are ways to start over after a marriage, before a marriage and within a dead marriage. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. JLYASDW

JJ/SGD/blk