Youth With A Purpose
"We help inner-city young people
 build solutions to poverty and violence."
  • ABOUT YWAP
    • Contact YWAP >
      • HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?
      • YWAP LIFE TICKET
  • Support YWAP
  • YWAP News
  • Devotionals
  • Grill & A Prayer Flagstaff

ARE YOU LIVING ON THE ISLAND OF ALMOST?

2/18/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

From a message at the Sunshine Rescue Mission Man Cave on February 9, 2021 

          Sometimes folks live life on the "Island of Almost." Folks give up before they become "Finishers." Success and fulfilment is always a step away - reaching the space of almost done, but that's as afar as they go. Many guys who end up in shelters for men arrive with a long history of failures. All of us have failed many times over. The folks who've escaped from the "Island of Almost" have learned a secret. They no longer live as "Almost Men", they have learned how to become "Finishing Men."
​          Businesses almost thrive. Marriages almost survive. Addicts almost learn how to stay alive. The list of "almosts" is never complete, there's always another almost waiting to happen. Why do we stop short? Is it a character defect? Is it part of God's testing ground to grow our character? I won't waste time looking for excuses, let's focus on how to become finishers.
          There's something I've noticed that all successful people do - they own their own stuff (they accept responsibility for their place in life.). That means they don't play the blame game. The guys stuck on the island of Almost are always blaming somebody else for their failures. Back in the Old Testament days, folks with the contagious disease of leprosy would have to announce their presence by yelling, "UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!" Folks on the Island of Almost announce their  presence as well. With their attitude and habits, they announce to the world, "ALMOST MAN! ALMOST MAN!"
          For some guys the recognition of danger is enough to catapult them off the island. One act can lead to the development slovenly (and sinful) habits that ignore consequences. King Solomon was recognized as one of the wisest guys who ever lived. He wrote many Proverbs to teach a wisdom. In Proverbs 14, he writes about the dangers of adultery. In the 5th verse he uses the word "almost." Read that verse in four different versions.
1. "I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly." KJV
2. "Now I’m totally disgraced and my life is ruined! "I’m paying the price—for the people of the congregation are now my judges.” TPT
3. "I have come very close to being completely ruined in front of a whole group of people.” ICB
4. "
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, 
and now I must face public disgrace.” NLT
          Folks who live on the Island of Almost have almost given up hope of ever losing disgrace - that's the brink of ruin. Back in Solomon's day the act of adultery would get you stoned to death. That might seem like a harsh penalty for one act of cheating, but imagine what one sinful deed can lead to. People die from sexual disease. Marriages, businesses, friendships and relationships with children can be destroyed through infidelity. One bad act can have a ripple effect of greater destruction. One small step for Almost Man can be one step away from hell.  Folks in continued and unchecked sin are almost in hell.
         Our actions can cause us to become disgraced in front of a large group of people, but with God there's always grace. Our next article is called "Leftovers, Hangovers & Do-Overs." Jesus hung on a cross in disgrace that He didn't deserve so that we don't have to live in the disgrace that we do deserve. 
          Take ownership of your life and begin again. Turn your failures into steppingstones of success. Get off the island of Almost and stop living as "Almost Man." In a horrific end of life, Jesus was setting the stage for new life when He said, "It is finished." God doesn't consider anybody He made to be a waste of His time.
     
    Here are the steps to leave the "Island of Almost." 
  1. Surrender your past. Jesus has already taken your past from you, don't pull it back.
  2. Disgrace and shame are place settings for the devil. Don't share a meal with him.
  3. ​Jesus fed 5,000 and 4,000 on separate occasions when nobody saw enough food. With Jesus, you will always have enough to get you to the finish line. 
  4. Jesus didn't stop at almost, He gave thanks to God and always finished by the grace of God - and so will you!
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.
#ywap4Finishers #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW
Picture
YWAP IS BIG ON MENTORING & COMMUNITY SERVICE! YWAP empowers people in Christ to become collaborators in a community effort to create a better world for children and their families. Investing in youth is a preemptive strike against sexual abuse, drug addiction and human trafficking. Man Cave is a place of transparency and accountability. A fatherless generation is lacking the knowledge of a Father’s Love. Our goal is to help guys become Christ-centered men who respect women and accept the responsibilities of becoming a dad. We don’t hibernate in the Man Cave, we believe in Community Engagement through good neighborliness. The YWAP Directors serve in Pastoral Leadership by ministering to Youth Ministry Teams and Prayer Teams. We teach Biblically based best practices from a 25 year background in ministry. We appreciate your prayers and support. For more information about YWAP programs, to volunteer or become a guest speaker, please call us at: 716-830-8240 or email, [email protected].
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Bob Kuebler

    Real men are teachable and willing to learn how to be Strong Men and Great Dads.

    Archives

    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020

    Categories

    All
    ABANDONMENT & PLANNING AT MAN CAVE
    A DIRTY GIRL MEETS MR. CLEAN
    A RAP LESSON - REJECTION
    CAN THE KILLING FIELDS HAPPEN IN AMERICA?
    DEMONS
    DO WE MENTOR ANGELS?
    Guarding Your Thoughts
    I'M WITH YOU - MAN CAVE AT THE MISSION
    Man Cave
    Man Cave At SRM
    Man Cave At The Mission
    MAN CAVE AT THE MISSION - CUTTING THE ROPE ON A FRIEND
    MAN CAVE ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN AMERICA
    Man Cave Prayer
    Man Cave Session 5
    MEN ON A MISSION FROM GOD FOR CHILDREN
    MEN ON A MISSION FROM GOD TO SERVE CHILDREN
    MENTAL ILLNESS & MOUNTAINS IN THE MAN CAVE
    Mentoring
    Naomi House
    Porn
    PORN IS A MAN CAVE DISCUSSION
    Session #4 Part Two
    Session #6
    Session Five Part Two
    Smgd Session #5
    SRM
    SRM MAN CAVE
    Strong Men Great Dads
    STRONG MEN GREAT DADS SESSION #4
    Sunshine Rescue Mission
    THE PRIVILEGE OF GOD IN A MAN CAVE
    Thought Life
    WHY WAS A WOMAN IN THE MAN CAVE?
    YOUR MAN-CODE-4-LIFE SESSION #2

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.