In a time of meditating on His word I began thinking of some of the questions God may ask when we see Him face to face.  One question I couldn’t get away from was did you believe?

Perhaps the setting of looking out over the Pacific Ocean on Sunset Beach provides more mental power to meditate or not, but I clearly could see that this question goes beyond the surface of a quick answer to searching the depths of everything I know to be truth about who God is and all I believe.

As I considered my belief in the amazing stories of the Bible to belief that God loves me at the core of my existence, to the belief that He is not angry at me so He smote me with ALS, I realized this is an exercise in knowing truth.   You can see I really considered this question in its entirety over my life.  The more I considered this question the more I came to the absolute understanding that YES I believe.  YES is a powerful word that result of absolute peace – when you are able to arrive at YES it moves everything over to the shoulders of God.  Those are pretty big shoulders that are well able to carry everything we encounter in life.  Every disappointment, weakness, sad day, heart-break, loss, mistake, diagnosis, worry, fear, up, down, diagnosis, work related stress, relationship stress – everything.  You see with our life carried on God’s shoulders nothing is missed, He covers it all down to the complete restoration of our lives 100% covered by His grace, mercy and abounding love.  His love never fails us – oh there is not a more beautiful place to be than fully submersed in the complete rest of I BELIEVE!

One day we will all find ourselves before God.  The question will not by why didn’t you believe, you see the decision will have been made prior arriving, there will be no time for reasons why we didn’t believe.  My prayer is that you take the time to meditate on God, find Him and believe.

SBSTERN

Bo of course is my wife, lover, best friend and an amazing woman.  Like everyone who ever lived Bo has a few interesting ways, adores Twinkies, can misplace things rather often, has a lead foot but thankfully a safe fast driver, and after 27 years that’s all I can come up with.  Truth is, she is a huge fan of me and I’m a huge fan of her so it’s going to be difficult to see too many areas that are “interesting”.

Bo Stern has a way with words and helping you see things that change your perspective and touch your heart – she’s been touching mine from the day she stole my heart.  Bo has found her gift in life, just ask her four kids and son-in-law, she has learned how to live life as an adventure and tell both sides of the story.  She has shown us how to love God, see Him in everything and know that He is the creator of beautiful things even when the world and life can seem so harsh and ugly.  I think it was God who inspired Stan & Ellen to name her Bonita.

Guys, take some time to see the beauty in the one God has blessed your life with.  Life is too fragile and short – make the most of your time with her.

My heart is full this morning, and thankful, joyful and even at peace.  Love has found me, embraced me, kissed me and believed in me.  What more could you ask for.

SBSTERN

Elimilek is in a similar situation. Famine has created a scenario that has him looking to neighboring nations that God said don’t deal with and with whom most of them were rival enemies. In the end to save his family from the looming possibility of starvation he moves them into one of those nations that I’m sure he never thought he would ever find himself living in. Under pressure we have a tendency to consider things that used to be outside of our moral compass or ethical compass. Instead of staying true north and on course, we deviate another direction under the pretense of having to do it to save something. In reality what we do is take the situation into our own understanding and try to figure a way out instead of completely relying on God or staying the course He set us on. I’ve seen myself and many others change our thinking direction in order to try to make sense of the economic failure of our nation – could Elimelek have thought that God had forgotten about him and his people and decided to take the situation into his own hands? Have we done the same?

This is quite possible and a great lesson for us to learn as we face trials, financial hardship, relationship issues and even a diagnosis. Let us glean to the understanding that God is unshakable, never changing and the same yesterday, today and forever. This means that He is always faithful!

SBSTERN

Being able is subjective to where we receive the gift of ability.  My whole life I’ve been under the notion that I’m the one who creates that gift within me.  When I was 12 I wanted to be a basketball player, so I taught myself the game.  When I was 23 I decided to learn how to play golf, so I taught myself the techniques of the golf swing and learned to play the game well.  I believe we all have the mindset that says just do it.  If you want to learn German, find the resources of a good teaching aid and do it.  If you want to take a trip, save money and do it.  I think there are very few things that we can’t do if we simply plan ahead and kick ourselves in the behind and set our minds to accomplish it. 

I ran head long into a scenario that I couldn’t plan, think, execute good hard work habits, or will myself to change in 2011.  It became the year that my abilities to change a situation in my life no longer  able.  During my bout with ALS I’ve learned a lot about my ability to creatively function and learn new ways of doing things that used to happen without much thought or thinking do I have the ability to do this. I’ve had this thought, “What do I do when I’m no longer able?”.  Ah, able is a sneaky little word isn’t it?  Have you ever thought or said, “Don’t know if I’m able to get myself out of this one!”  Let me shed some light on your world – there will come a time in life that you won’t be able.  If you have not had the pleasure of coming face to face with your in-ability it will come. I’m sure you have by now, but to the point of being disabled?  There it is again, shows up in the strangest of places doesn’t it?  To my disabled friends you know what I’m talking about, sometimes you feel pretty helpless with the most simple of tasks.  My daughter drives a Grand Vitara with a 5 speed.  Until yesterday I didn’t know how difficult it could be to release the emergency brake if set too strong.  I couldn’t do it, I needed help from a friend to do it for me.  Doing it for me – that my friends starts to hit a sore spot for all of us dealing with a disability.  It’s hard to need help with the things that used to come naturally.  I’m sure therapy would help – or not, you just have to deal with it – is how I’ve always dealt with things.  2011 has been different, my therapy has come from seeing myself from a different view point and then going to the Bible to help me understand my humanity.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the word my is used quite a bit in this post.  To deal with issues like this I have to get out of the MY routine.  A constant diet of what I’m dealing with will lead to only seeing MY issue and can lead to a poor me mentality – not interested in going there.  My life is much bigger than me – it transcends span of time lived and reaches generations with What my life was all about.  So dealing with the incadentals of my lack of ability becomes much easier when I’m focused on a big screen of faith.  Check out this great verse in Ephesians 3:20:  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.

While God can’t set the e brake for me, He can through a friend.  He is able to do immeasurably more than I can.  Whether you have a disability or not – He is still able to do immeasurably more than you.  This knowledge is a pearl of great price that I’m finding brings peace, hope and joy in a time that is difficult.  My theme for 2012 – He is ABLE – no disability with Him!  The big secret to this type of understanding and living is putting Him first in every area of our lives.  I encourage you to take steps in that adventure – it takes courage because it is counter to our culture of 2011.  But He is able to do immeasurably more than you can in you.

SBSTERN – Happy New Year

It’s not been a perfect year – if I wanted to I could recount everything that has not gone perfectly for me this year – but that would be an exercise not worth the time invested.  You could also take time to recount all the things that were grand about this year and that would be fun.  When you analyze life you find the good, bad and the ugly.  It seems like they have formed some sort of plot to make something grand of your life.  Working together good, bad, well I guess we could lose the ugly – sorry Clint, team up to produce something in us – perhaps perfection or at least something close to it.  I’ve tried and have found I’m unable to be perfect on my own because perfection is only found in one source.

In a little town of Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Jesus, Emanuel – God with us.  God surprised everyone except a few that He brought on this journey.  Three of them would come from hundreds of miles away bringing gifts for a king, this baby King.  This King’s kingdom is heaven and He came to dwell on earth.  You may think that’s a stretch and if so I encourage you to research it on your own and even inquire of Jesus himself.  You see I can’t explain to you why I have such excitement for next year and the year after that.  Perfection has come to me in the form of peace through a relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Nothing on this earth can separate us from the love of God, neither life nor death – not ALS either.  One of the prophets that for told of Jesus arrival and kingship was Isaiah.  Isaiah wrote this in chapter 26:2-4 as a song of praise to God:

² Open the gates to all who are righteous;
allow the faithful to enter.
³ You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
⁴ Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

I encourage to make an exchange with God.  Exchange sorrow for joy, hatred for love, envy for contentment, evil for life, fear for faith and worry for peace.  This exchange brings heaven on earth in you.

Merry Christmas & Perfect Peace be with you,

SBSTERN

Yesterday Abby was undeniably on her last leg of life and it was our pleasure to have her in our family for the past 7 years.  We adopted Abby at a pet fair, we noticed this boarder collie/lab quietly sitting by a lady and actually thought she brought her pet to the fair.  Well, turns out Abby was abused as a younger dog and was really timid around people, so Abby was getting special privileges – she had a way of getting those with the big brown eyes.  She wasn’t the easiest dog for the first three weeks but soon settled in to a great pet.

Abby and I had developed a bond over the past year.  It was pretty obvious she was slowing down and I felt for her when I was diagnosed – she provided a real calm for me.  I related to her slowing down and having to adjust to new normals physically.  Well, today something was missing at my feet, following me down the stairs to go outside, barking at me to PLEASE feed me!  We had this unique banter type of communication.  While she couldn’t tell me – I think she knew something was up with me too – I’m gonna miss that old girl – thanks for the memories Abbs, Abby-Lou, Abby-Gail, Aberlavine (I think that was my favorite).

SBSTERN – life goes ON!

I’ve noticed a new phenomenon.  I was out to a couple of dinners this week and I’m amazed at the amount of use cell phones get at dinner.  You see people talk for a bit and then there is like a force that makes them put their phone in hand as if social media was magically calling to them.  I’m sure it’s hard to go for a bit not knowing who commented on your status or who might of posted something funny on their wall, but really people – at dinner, a live social event!  Yes, it’s live – people, your friends are actually right there in front of you in living, breathing color and not words on a wall.  With all this attention grabbing technology and social mayhem, how hard it is to be still.  The verse goes on to say be still and know that I am God.  I often hear from people that just aren’t sure if God really speaks.  How do I really know it’s God?  I think He’s trying to tell you how to know in the verse.  Being still requires you to put aside things, quiet your mind, your heart and listen.

There are a lot of things vying for our attention and then we give our attention to mostly other things then God.  When you combine what calls for your attention and what you give your attention to there is little time left to be still.  Do you have a smart phone or does your smart phone have you?  I’m picking on public phone usage, but you know there are other things that captivate your heart and mind that keep you from being still and listening.  It takes discipline to put them aside, but I know you can do it.

This Christmas season you are going to hear a lot about Jesus.  Listen and be still for a moment.

Silent night, holy night, ALL is come – so beautiful!

SBSTERN

Legacy is serious business!  My parents have been faithful legacy builders over the past 60 plus years.  Through them I have learned to stare death in the face and not fear!  I’ve watched them do it in their lives and have seen the hand of God faithfully be with us over and over again.  They set the pace for me and my family, for my siblings and their kids and now a new lineage of great grand children and reaping the benefits of lives lived in purpose to the call of God over them.  Unwaivering in their devotion and dedication to His will, even putting us in harms way with the assurance from God that if they would “be still” – they would see the glory of God.

In the second photo is my son Josiah, me and my Fatherinlaw Stan Mishler.  I am so blessed to be grafted into a family so similar to mine.  Stan is a godly man, a pace setter in his family establishing a legacy of faith filled lineage.  Today I was reminded of the covenant that God made with the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6.

6Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^{[a] 5} Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

These pace setters have loved the Lord with all their hearts, souls and strength.  By faith they endured a culture that was moving away from the statutes and love of God and stood strong in their hearts to serve Him.  They sacrificed  and gave their lives to the work of the Lord – we who call them Dad and Mom are so honored to carry on the legacy.  Thank you Dad’s and Mom’s for loving God and us enough to be strong and courageous!

sbstern

Picking up from yesterday – we are off to Rome from Livorno.  I had been to Rome as a kid and threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain – the saying is that if you do it correctly (back to the fountain and throw over your left shoulder) you will return.  So here we are almost 40 years later.

I really like Italy – something about seeing the Coliseum and remembering people died for their faith in this place.  For me it brought to light those who are dying for their faith today in countries not too far from Italy.  Our tour guide Uta was fantastic.  She asked what the purpose of our travels were and Bo had the time to tell her about my diagnosis and taking this trip with Whitney, Corey and Casey (our oldest kids,ha).  She was moved by our story which is God’s story and we believe it was a witness to her.  We blessed her in many ways that day which put a special grace on the day.  My favorite spot in Rome is Rome – I can’t really decide on one specific place – the Pantheon is an architectural marvel for the day it was built and I’m always amazed at the aqueducts being in operation till this day.  Rome today is pretty over populated and I wouldn’t call it the friendliest place I’ve been.

That changed as we headed south to Napoli.

We call it Naples, an amazing port city that has its rough edges with considerable Mob ties till this day – but they leave the tourists alone – we are money to them.  Again we had an amazing tour through the Amalfi Coast.  This is considered the most beautiful coast in the world – I wouldn’t ague that, although there are some coast lines in OR and CA that do rival it.  What we can’t match is the ancient cities that are built into the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean – simply stunning.  Poritfino was our favorite stop – a quaint town with no roads through it, so you walk down flights of stairs through the city – amazing – would love to spend a week there someday.  We ate lunch at a family owned spot with incredible views and the best service I’ve ever experienced – the food was out of this world.  The communion was unforgettable – I’ll let you figure that one out.  On the way back to the ship we drove through town after town – listening to the history and enjoying a new place and experience.  Life is good!

We sailed the next day on our way to the Balearic Islands and the port of Palma.  We were soon to find out this is where the rich and famous of the UK head to get away.  Off the southern coast of Spain, Palma is a beautiful and very well maintained city – a return trip to tour the Island is under consideration as we feel like there was so much we didn’t see.  A mountainous Island and a harbour that probably had over 4 billion dollars of yachts in it, you can see why folks from the UK get down here – sunny and warm with shopping galore – Bo was smiling all day long.  Unlimited coffee shops, restaurants and cathedrals to tour, this was one of our top stops on the trip.

Well, there was so much to take in and not much time to really do it justice.  I think it whet our appetites to head back that way someday as the Lord wills.  I would like to see Madrid and visit Portugal and Scotland – I think Scotland may win out at this point.  So much to see as Singapore comes to mind as well.  As soon as I know where I’m going – I will let you know.

SBSTERN

After seeing many wonderful places like the Cathedral of the Sea, we set board a ship – we chose one called the Epic – we soon found out it was rightly named.

Besides a couple of water slides, it was a monstrosity of iron with theaters, eight restaurants, two bowling allies and food available 24/7 – I liked that part.  The place I enjoyed the most was our balcony room and the deck, the Blue Man Group was pretty good too.

Our first port was Livorno, Italy in NW Italy.  Famous for being the port to Florence and the leaning tower of Pisa it is not so well wanting to be known as the slave trade port of Italy back in the early days.  Now they have upgraded to a beach town and tourist stop for cruise ships – it had it’s own style and thing going on – not really sure how to explain it.  We did meet a nice man who waited on us at lunch in the city.  Turns out he is from NY and moved to Livorno and married a gal from Romania and they just had a baby.  Meet Bernadette and her parents.

Enough for today – I will show you Rome tomorrow

SBSTERN