My adventures with not smoking

I started smoking at age 10 with a friend Darin McGrath, while camping with his family. I remember my first cigarette greeted me with coughing. Darin taught me to take invisible hits and I would adjust. It worked, I continued down the road attempting to be “Cool” and fitting in. Kelly Camp, my best friend, joined me trying to smoke everything that burned including our spelling book. At 16, I was a fulltime smoker and gravitated to the crew that hung out in the Agoura high school access road. I finally enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard when I was eighteen. I was legal!! Smoking gave me a false sense of status, a reward system and way to settle down. My dad smoked, my mom smoked and no-one ever gave me a reason to stop including my parents. It was universally accepted by the fellowship I kept which was, recovering alcoholics who smoked rather than drink. Smoking was normal, and I received very little encouragement to stop. In my 20’s, I had brief periods of not smoking. I would come to a peaceful, relaxed state and I would reward myself with a smoke which always led to a pack, even though I promised to stop for good. I would think to myself “I just wanted one cigarette then I would stop”. This addiction model  has carried on to this day, 30 years later, can you believe it?! This will bring us here to this day, I am now 39. I am a professional quitter. My wife doesn’t smoke and I have been ordering a pack at a time because I am always on the verge of quitting. I understand the destruction it causes in people and families and I just can’t stop. I needed spiritual help and I turned to Jesus to relieve me of this obsession. He did it for me when I was baptized and I need him to do it again. An elder at my “Toast to the master and Lord” , Toastmasters group encouraged me by offering advanced gratitude for relieving me of this problem and I got to tell you it’s worked so far.  Jesus is so awesome!! Our provider and friend. He spared my life in my accident and he’s not going to let go of me now!! Today is day three and I’m breathing easier.

Do you have a seat in heaven?

What do think when you hear the word “Jesus”?

Condemnation, religion, Church, rules , republican and dogma? I hope to answer some of these questions. Let us see what the bible says.

John 3:14-17
14 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

To us it says we only have to believe and that’s where it goes.  So, when you boil it down, it’s a change in your belief system, not a turn to a religious body or church doctrine.

What about rules?

Let’s start by the laws that govern our behavior in the United States. Try not paying taxes and see what happens. God knew we would all fall short. How about lying (by omission), stealing and bearing false witness (Gossip) and pre-marital sex? I fall short of many of these. What will we say when confronted by God? I’m sorry? That’s not enough. God wants to have an intimate relationship with each one of us and will seek us out like a father coming to the rescue! God sent his son to redeem us and bring us into his family!

Sacrifice, God needs this to forgive our sins. Jesus came as an offering for us in order to enter his kingdom.

I understand that we were born into sin thanks to Adam and Eve. I hope this answers a couple of these questions. If we all were not set into sin, why would God send his son to suffer and die for us?

So, this system of universal laws pertain to us. We used to burn sheep, goats and cattle as offerings to receive forgiveness then Jesus came as an offering for us all!! Even you!! Now is the time and now is the place!
 Simply say

"Jesus, I am sorry for my sins, I surrender completely to you, write my name in the Lamb’s book of life, Thank you Jesus!!"

There is an eternal reservation in heaven just for you!! Thank you for reading through this blog! You have taken a huge step in your life and want to congratulate you!!

What are the benefits you ask? http://www.ugcoc.org/Jesus/benefits_of_following_jesus.htm

What inspires you?

It inspires me when I hear a story about someone who rises above a physical disability and positively impacts the world. This brings me to the word “inspire”.

: to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on

These folks are like angels in the dark nights of others in order to bring them light. I learned of a man without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic . Nick was born with no arms or legs and struggled with his situation to the point of suicidal ideation at age 10. “How could God use me?” he would ask. He received his answer as he confronted his situation head-on. Since then Nick swims, surfs and talks to students around the world about hope, inspiration and the word of God. He continues to extend his heart to all he meets and says to those who need a miracle, to be the miracle to someone else.

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/media-center/

I also want to talk about Joni Eareckson Tada I have yet to meet her, but I am so encouraged by both of these stories. Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is an international advocate for people with disabilities.

A diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson, then 17, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands. After two years of rehabilitation, she emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. During her rehabilitation, Joni spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are highly sought-after.

http://www.joniandfriends.org/

These are 2 of my mentors by the example they set for a hope and a future despite being disabled. There is always someone 10 times  worse off, handling it 10 times better. After I Adaptive Skied, whitewater rafted, kayaked and surf kayaked I realized the only thing stopping me was my desire or lack of desire to try something new.  I wanted to form an organization in order to help new members of the disabled community by encouraging adventure sports. The Threus Foundation does just that. Our flagship program “Get Stoked on Skiing”, brings first time skiers to the slopes and covers the costs associated. Our Whitewater rafting program called “Rolling on the River” brings the disabled to the South Fork Kern River for a day of rafting and adventure.

The sky is the limit!! Make 2012 the best year of your life!!

www.threus.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1rQyU6_dc

Merry Christmas from Joe and Rosanna DeVere!!

It’s been a great year! We have done over 10 ski trips many trips during summer. Mammoth was open till July 4^th and we took full advantage of that.  My health has stabilized with MS and the frequent UTI’s. Rosanna is still working at the Westlake Pet Motel and loves being covered in critters! We celebrated our 9^th anniversary on the Mountain in June. The big 10 is coming up this year in 2012 and we love each other more each day. Rosanna’s birthdays is on Christmas and get to spoil her on her special day. We have some exciting plans for the Threus Foundation. We expanded our reach to Colorado and made any disability available to participate with us. We are thankful for all of our friends and family who supported our efforts and wish each of you a most wonderful holiday season. Consider a donation for our cause here: www.threus.org And check out the video we made!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2W1pmcSfeg

Breaking the Barriers

Breaking the Barriers

Yesterday, was a birthday I never thought I'd have. I had accident on August 2, 2005 that shattered my spinal cord. Previous to my injury, I had a psychotic break. I long suffered with depression due to my Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. My world was falling apart.

With the help of a good friend, Richard Miller, who turned me on to Jesus. I was desperate and thinking to end my life. I was hallucinating that demons were out for soul caused by a side effects from multiple medications for MS.

This happened 20 minutes before I drove my truck off a 200 foot cliff. I was lost and searching for something more. I drove off the cliff committing my life to God since I was no use to him alive. I believe that God spared my life. So here is a question. Why? Why did he spare my life? What have you done with this life since the accident?

 I had an appointment with my MS Doctor and asked him a simple question. “What is my prognosis?” With over 30 years’ experience treating MS patients he said something you never hear from a Doctor “I don't know, it’s MS” This answer transformed my life.

 So there I was, in a wheelchair with no hope with my prognosis. I took it as an E ticket to ride. MS is a disease of the central nervous system that is progressive in nature. My wife and I set out to do this many adventures as I could, while I could. If I only have a limited time available I had to just go for it!

 Adaptive skiing at Mountain High was my first adventure that came with the revelation “If you're a wheelchair, you should be able to try adaptive skiing and no charge”. The Threus Foundation was conceived.

I continued kayaking, surf kayaking, surfing , Whitewater rafting and swimming with dolphins. I have a long history of seeking adventure sports before my accident and now I have a reputation as a wheelchair adventurer. Through my experiences, I learned that you only have to have the desire to do something spectacular, to achieve it .The biggest disability is in the mind. The desire is paramount. If you want to do something, just do it. You have to want to do it.

The foundation is with Jesus. He spared my life.  I take time out of my day to learn about him. I got baptized Feb. 6^th 2011. I am a little slow and it took some time to put those pieces together, I didn’t realize I had an amazing testimony till one day while I was watching TBN.  Jesus became real for me. I have the understanding that what you put in the mind, comes out of the mind. Positive in, positive out. TBN offers the good, in a corrupt world.

I learned biblical principles and who I am in Jesus, as a son of God. I am an overcomer and bright light in the dark world. I learned faith, that I never had before. I learned about spiritual provision, that Jesus supplies all our needs. I lost the fear of death because I know Jesus prepares a place for us.

I learned there is a positive and a negative. God is the ultimate in the positive realm and if you can believe that the positive can culminate as the spirit of God then it is not so hard to believe that the negative or evil can culminate as Satan, the deceiver.

Jesus came to set us free, forgive all our sins and make a way for us. Disabled or not. I am so grateful for my life, my wife and mother, So what is your barrier? I would love to help you break free!!! 805-760-6361 for a free consultation with a man who has been there.

6 Years Today Honoring God For Saving My Life

Greetings, my name is Joseph DeVere and I am an urbanized Cherokee Indian on my mother’s side. There is very little documentation, history or talk about being part Native American. So I spent several years learning about my roots and I’m also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Graduate of the  Coast Guard’s basic coxswain course at the prestigious National Motor Lifeboat School at the mouth of the Columbia River, called “The Graveyard of the Pacific” and recipient of the “Junior Enlisted of the Year” in 1994 by the Navy League of Northern California.  Recipient of the “Citizens Medal of Merit” by the Peace Officers Association of Ventura County for rescuing 2 swimmers that got swept out by a rip current. I was a volunteer white water rafting guide for Friends of the River, PADI Dive master and devoted surfer. I am also the Founder and President of the 501©3 organization, the Threus Foundation which serves the disabled community in the San Fernando Valley with adventure sports as a form of therapy for the newly injured. I have a spinal cord injury (SCI) at the T12-L2 level considered incomplete from an accident I will tell you about briefly and am diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which has affected me with levels of disabilities at all 4 limbs. Essentially qualifying as an incomplete quadriplegic.

In 2002, I received medical diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis. This occurred after I put together a wedding with Rosanna Hersh and acquired a great new job with Royce Medical. We were shocked when we got the news. The only thing the doctors could offer was disease modifying drugs filled with side effects that gives you a perpetual sick feeling. I believed in God but wondered, Why me? Then we got the news that MS could be exacerbated by heat and stress, I was devastated. I was very hard headed and willful destroying my relationships with others. I was exposed to high stress at my job and would have attacks every three months on the nose. I tried 5 different disease modifying medications with very severe side effects and were ultimately ineffective.

 Slowly, I in addition to my body, my life would deteriorate. I lost friends, hope and eventually lost my job. I suffered a psychotic break due to side effects from the medications I was taking that didn’t work. I started hallucinating that my life’s transgressions were displayed on my TV. I was receiving instructions from the TV to go to the LA Airport. I also hallucinated that demons were gathering up souls on the street I lived on. I called my friend Rick and explained what was going on in my head. He said I needed Jesus and took me through the sinner’s prayer and directed me to the book John. I was overwhelmed and broken down. There was no hope. No inspiration. No thought to a better future. The demons convinced me that if I kept going down this road, it would lead me into the hands of the enemy. Serving by his side for darkness and that was not an option. I belong to God. I got in my truck with the purpose to end my life and commit myself into God’s hands. I took off my seatbelt and found the steepest cliff that I could. I then got some serious air as I went off the cliff. I lost consciousness as I flew down 200 feet.

I woke up two hours later at the bottom of the canyon unable to move my legs. Realizing the severity of what I just did I cried out to God for help! A voice returned saying “Hang in there we will be right down.” A rescue crew was preparing to extract a body but I think Jesus had another idea. I was flown to Northridge Hospital with a fractured spinal cord from T12-L2 vertebrae. I underwent spinal surgery and had a miraculous recovery. After 9 months of rehab I was walking with a cane. I felt incredibly blessed by God, but I didn’t put the Jesus factor together till years later.

While walking with the cane I developed a urinary tract infection that triggered the most severe MS attack I ever had. It put me back in the hospital where I lost the ability to walk again. I spent another 3 months in recovery but was yet to walk again. During a doctor visit, I asked my neurologist “What my prognosis was?” With over 30 years’ experience of treating MS patients within the VA system; he gave us the obvious answer “I don’t know, it’s MS.” Knowing the progressive nature of MS and not knowing when or how severe the next attack will be, I took it as an E-Ticket to ride. Rosanna and I wanted to do everything I could from a wheelchair that I could.  Our first adventure would be adaptive snow skiing, then adaptive surfing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and surf kayaking. We formed a non-profit called the Threus Foundation, when we set the goal to do the three S’s, Adaptive skiing, surfing and skydiving. Our organization is now a 501©3 with the IRS legitimizing our efforts.

When I realized that I survived the accident after praying to Jesus, I thought I would open my mind to his ideas and learn about salvation and his sacrifice. I turned on TBN and read my bible to learn everything I could about Jesus. I discovered hope and freedom during my initial exploration. Jesus gave me a reason to live. It wasn’t a coincidence that my life was spared after accepting Jesus Christ. He has a special purpose for my life as he has for all of you. I learned that God loves all of us in a very real, special way. He gave us his son Jesus Christ to give his life so that we might be saved and have an intimate relationship with him.

Matthew 19:26

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

With much respect,

Joseph DeVere

Anniversary of my Accident

As we close in on my anniversary of our accident, I feel happy and lucky to be alive. I looked back with fond memories for the adventures that we undertook. I look back six years ago and remember my state of helplessness and despair. Ready to take my own life, Jesus had another idea. After plummeting 200 feet in my vehicle with the purpose of ending my life, I survived miraculously, when I surrendered to Jesus 20 min. before. It was evident to me that God had a purpose for my life. After the surgery on my spinal cord, I was put in to rehabilitation. I was put in the world of the wheelchair, as I went to groups sponsored by the hospital. I learned that being a wheelchair is not a death sentence. I met Anthony, who holds a full-time job and volunteers with an organization called WYNGS “When you need group support“ he showed me that living a normal life was possible after being put in a wheelchair. Once I learned that, my state of mind and hopelessness was gone. Having MS, my biggest fear was to be a wheelchair but I learned anything is possible. I would eventually restore my ability to walk by New Year's I was walking with the use of the cane, I was ecstatic!

After learning to walk again, disease multiple sclerosis flared up and put me back in a the wheelchair where I sit today wife and I went through hell, hospital to hospital with bladder and kidney infections which would flare-up the MS. It was like I had frequent flyer miles in the hospitals. I had a defining moment at one particular doctor’s appointment where I asked my Dr.”what my prognosis?” having over 30 years’ experience treating patients with MS he politely said that “I didn't know , it's MS” knowing what little I did about MS, an incurable progressive disease. I took it as an E ticket to ride, I decided to live as much life as I could while I still had the ability. I tried adaptive snow skiing, adaptive surfing and white water rafting. My first ski trip, I had a revelation that if you're in a wheelchair you should be able to try snow skiing and no charge. My wife it set a goal to do the 3 S’s; skiing, surfing and skydiving. The Threus Foundation was founded. I continue to learn from other disabled people that the sky's the limit when it comes to life.

Currently, we have helped over a dozen people try adaptive snow skiing in hopes it inspires them as much as I was. In reflection, I ask myself what you have done in the past six years. Who have we helped, inspired and encouraged? I hope to send a message that inspires and encourages others, giving God the glory as he deserves it. None of this would be possible without having God’s hand in it. Today, I live under his grace, love and protection and hope others will find the same through Jesus Christ.

 With much admiration and respect,

Joseph DeVere