Everyone likes to listen to music. I like a variety of music, jazz, not Dixieland, classical, Bach, Beethoven. But mostly of I like Christian, Southern gospel, hymns and Adult Contemporary. I never thought I would like Toby Mac or Lincoln Brewster. I was the music director for a Christian Radio station. I got to listen to all the music all day long. It was great. I chose music that push the boundaries at that station. They were conservative. But they said as long as they could hear the lyrics and it talked about Jesus. My big push was Amy Grant and her song Emmanuel. Today, it’s Citizen Way and their song Bulletproof. Do you know why music connects with everyone? It is because God made music. In the old testament, they were limited with the instruments they had. But David using a harp, discovered a musical progression, that is still used today. Music is an expression of who we are. If there is light in your heart, your music will worship God. If not, it is of the other side. Choose carefully. What you listen to because it will affect who you are.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

I have always been looked upon as peculiar. Some would even say I was odd. I have always looked at things differently. Sometimes it sideways. But I always look for the truth, no matter where I find it. You can find the truth in some strange places. I looked at a garbage dump and found beautiful flowers. It is out there. And it is waiting for you to find. I have a dry sense of humor. And I laugh sometimes at what other people would say as inappropriate times. But I still see things that most people pass by. The world is serious enough and I don’t need to add to it. So, I look for things that are worth more than all the gold in this world. I look for love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Because it is a sign that God has been there. And wherever God is or has been the world will never be the same. You have to know that bread will not sustain you. It is only the word of God that will sustain us. So, what are you wanting for. Seek God and let Him change you into something beautiful.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Everybody talks about love. There are many movies made about love, but not one of them actually knows what they are talking about. The drive for sex isn’t love. If people would know how they wreak their lives with unmarried sex, they would leave it alone. Love can be seen in this world. People don’t even know that when an act of kindness is done it is love. Showing gentleness toward a person is love. Being longsuffering toward an idiot is love. Giving a person a hand-up is love. Rejoicing with a person who has accomplish a goal is love. Weeping with a person who has suffered loss is love. Providing food, clothing or shelter for the poor is love. Doing for someone without expecting a return is love. Love doesn’t fail, it bears all things, believes for all things, hope for all things and endures all things. If you want a good example of love all you have to do is look at God. God loves man unconditionally. And man has done everything they could to destroy the love of God. Yet God still loves us. This is true love.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Although, from our youth, we hear the voice of God, there comes a time we must answer the call of God to come home. A lot of people pray all sorts of prayers. The first prayer that God will listen and respond to is the prayer of salvation. This is when you sincerely ask God to forgive your sins and live in your heart. This begins a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The gospel has been preached for 6000 years. I am sure that Adam preached the gospel. Did you know that Adam wrote down the covenant he had with God, the gospel? In Egypt, the Levites taught from the book of Adam. They had dedicated themselves to the study and teaching of the gospel. This is why God chose them to carry the ark and tabernacle. There has always been a people who trusted and believed God. We love convenience. How many bibles do you have in your house? I have about 20, different versions. But the prayer of salvation is where you begin your journey with God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

We always start at the beginning. Sometimes we must keep on going back to the beginning to figure out what we are doing and where we are going. It is true with God and the world. We sometimes refer it as moving mountains. If we don’t remove the mountain, we will go around it one more time, hopefully. I have seen people struck going around the mountain, because they refuse to listen and obey. God gives us everything we need in the kingdom. God gives us the measure of faith. We are to take that faith and use it. Until, we are proficient and effectual. The bible talks about Elijah, a man like us. He prayed that it wouldn’t rain in Israel. It didn’t rain for 3 ½ years. He become so hunted for, that he had to hide out from the people. Then he prayed, and it rained, effectual prayer. God was giving us an example of how to use faith. There are many examples of faith being used in the bible and in the world. So, when you start at the beginning, use your faith. Exercise your faith and become effective in the kingdom of God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

It is the thing today to make connections with different people. I’m on several social media sites. I have made connections with many people all over the world. Some are business, some are social, and some are because of God. But the connection is so important. With the world becoming so deceptive, knowing who you are connected to makes a difference. It seems that lying, cheating and stealing are trying to become the standard for living. What a horrible way to live. Not being able to trust anyone. Believing that anyone will destroy you just because. This is why in the first century; the church was underground. Because they were hunted as criminals. If they were found, they were put to death. The church, in the first century, was strong and vibrate. It was because of the persecution. Anyone who is a Christian sees and understands what is coming. And it is the connections that you make among believers that will help you. Trust and believe God will direct you where you need to go. And you will find out what a friend that is closer than a brother truly is.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

The Jewish New Year began Monday. Rosh Hashanah is a time of preparation and remembrance for the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. It is not only time to think about what you have done this past year. But to think about your sins against God. Jesus went out to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. Jewish people were going out to be baptized and repent of their sins. John told Jesus that he needed to be baptized by Him. But Jesus told John that He needed to be baptized to fulfill scripture. There are 3 festivals that Jews must participate each year. The first is the festival of Trumpet/Tabernacles, (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur). The second is the festival of Passover. And last but not least, is the festival of Pentecost. Everything goes with fasting and food. Eating a meal together bonds people together. There is nothing like it. Whether you are Jewish or not, it is a good time to remember who you are in God, to repent of your sins and praise Him as Lord of all, King of kings.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

An interesting question, why would God want you to pray or give in private? The gospel is preached in public. God said that the world wouldn’t end until all the earth has heard the gospel. For so many years, the churches of America have sent out missionaries. There was a change in the wind in the 1980’s. Missionaries from the world began coming to America to preach the gospel. At first, I didn’t understand it. Now I know why, and it is a sad commentary for the American people. It is because the American people have lost their way and need to hear the gospel again. But to answer the question, why does God want us to pray and give in private? It is because pray is talking to God. Giving is in private is to glorify God, not ourselves. God says let everything be done decently and in order. God says anyone who makes a show out of praying or giving, already has their reward. Which is nothing. So, when you pray, enter into your prayer closet and talk to God. He said He will hear in secret and reward you openly. The same is true for giving.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

I look at the world and see many questions. I see people asking those questions and not listening to hear the answers. Why ask a question if you don’t want the answer? Many are screaming at the top of their voice but can’t hear a thing. This is the age of information. You can find an answer quicker than at any time before. All the technology in the world still can’t answer your question. Then it is time to look in a different direction and disconnect the technology. That is a scary thought. Living without your phone or computer. Being cut off from the world. Having to listen to your own thoughts. I still carry pencil and paper to write my blogs. So, what questions are worth asking? Let’s start with who you are. Then ask where are you going? And how are you going to get there? Sometimes, it’s like the blind leading the blind. Nobody knows where they are going or who knows the way? Questions are the way we get answers and find our way. But it always has been to ask the right questions. Foolish questions will never get you anywhere. God says, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened, ask and you shall receive.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

In the beginning God had everything that He wanted. All of His needs were satisfied. He had no need of anyone else. But the problem was that He was alone. He had no one to share all of His blessings. It is funny to think that God was lonely. But it is exactly what was wrong. We, being the image and likeness of God, get lonely. So, God made a plan to create man and a world to live in. His plan was perfect. The only problem was that man wasn’t. God didn’t want a robot. What He wanted was someone like Him, a child, to share in the blessing. What is hard to grasp is that God knew before He even made man, that man would sin and walk away from Him. Yet He made man anyway. God didn’t need the aggravation man was going to cause. So, why did God even bother to make mankind? Loneliness is the opposite of sharing your love with someone. God had all this love in His heart, that He wanted to share with someone. He began with Adam and Eve. It was good for a while. Until, Adam sinned against God and was cast out of the garden. But God didn’t abandon him. His love knows no bounds. God doesn’t need us. He wants us.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com