I was drinking something to fast. I begin to choke and cough. My cat ran to me as fast as she could. She was concerned there was something wrong with me. She brings such comfort to me. She was keeping faith with God and me. God wants us to keep faith with Him. As Jesus set us free to be able to come home. There are things that He wants us to do in the kingdom. God didn’t call us to set down on our rear end and vegetate. To be able to stay free, we must follow His commandments. Just as my cat ran to me, we are to run to the battle. Wherever it is. Having this confidence in our faith in God, that He will perform His word in any situation. This is what keeping the faith with God is about. Our weapons aren’t carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Some of the strongest warriors I have ever seen were little old ladies in their kitchen. Keeping faith with God isn’t reserved for Sunday. Everything we learn is for the world. For faith without works is dead, being alone. This is keeping faith with God.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

There’s a recruiting station next door to my work. The marine recruits are outside drilling, both day and night. The marines are trained to be warriors. It is why they are sent into battle first. Did you know that Jesus trained the apostles to be warriors. All of them, expect John, were killed for their faith. God says to be ready to answer anyone who asks why you believe. This is training. God also says to live your life as if it was your last day. He also said to put on your whole armour to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. God says to take up your sword and use it, the word of God. The call has gone out, 2000 years ago, to gather and face the enemy. Only 300 out of 23,000 stayed with Gideon to face the enemy. I exhort you all to be part of our community.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

No soldier is ever ready for combat. They can train forever, but until they experience combat, they will never understand. It is the difference between knowledge and understanding. When my son went off to war, I tried to explain the best I could what he would experience. I told him he was going to see dead people. And how he came out of it was going to depend on his faith. It was and always will depend on what you believe and who you are trusting. The combat soldier is depicted in the bible. It talks about training, defensive and offensive weapons. It talks about armour. Yet there are few warriors among the brethren. In Ephesians 6:12-13, it says, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand In the evil day and having done all to stand, stand therefore.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Then Pilate said unto them, why, what evil has He done ? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify Him. After becoming a Christian, you wonder why anyone would do such a thing. Listen folks, there isn’t one person on this earth that has not cried out, Crucify Him. Yes, you and I have cried out against Jesus. Do you know what Jesus said on the cross? He said, Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing. The bible says there are none righteous, right before God, no not one. For the wages of sin are death. Jesus took all the sin and crucified it on the cross with Him. We layed hands on Jesus and transferred our sin to Him. He was the scapegoat for our sins. All this was God’s plan to give us the opportunity to come home to Him. Jesus descended into hell and lead captivity captive. And the saints followed Jesus home to heaven. And now it’s your turn. Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened and seek and you will find God and heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

When Jesus chose the 12 disciples, one was the leader of the church and another one betrayed Him to death. And both betrayed Him. But Jesus chose them anyway. The name of Judas is a curse word in Christianity. But Peter sinned the same as Judas. But Peter went out from the high priest home crying, seeking repentance. Judas went out counting his money. Judas realized what he had done. But he didn’t believe the God would forgive him. Peter knew that God could and would forgive him. Peter sought God for repentance until Jesus appeared to him after He rose from dead and forgave him. Jesus forgave him because he sought God. By that time Judas had hung himself. Judas didn’t believe what Jesus taught him. Jesus called everyone to come. Some believed and some didn’t. So what are you going to choose?

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Jesus and the disciples were in Jerusalem. They were looking at the temple. Jesus told them that not one stone of the temple would remain. Later on the mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus when this would happen. Jesus began to explain what will happen. They became anxious. Jesus said it was the beginning of sorrows. Jesus had been teaching his disciples, which we are as followers, about seeking God and living in the kingdom. God had John write revalations to explain about the end. But isn’t what God wants us to think about. God wants us to walk each day seeking Him and living each day in the kingdom. Things are going to happen because it is God’s plan. But you aren’t to be concerned about that. We are to work the works of God for the people in front of us. We aren’t to be caught unaware if the thief comes in the night. But Seek ye first and His righteousness and all shall be added to you.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

It’s part of a scripture in 1 Thessalonians ch.4. It’s referring to the return of Jesus. It is actually called the day of the Lord. On that day, the earth as we know it ends. Jesus is returning to reign and rule over the earth. It’s to give hope to believers. They thought in the first century that the saints who died weren’t part of the resurrection in Christ. Paul wrote that the Lord will return in the clouds and the dead in Christ will rise first. And those who are alive will be caught up with Him in the clouds. And it is also referring to those who gave their hearts to God and died to themselves. Yes, I am part of those who are dead in Christ. I die daily. Where do you stand?

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

We all love stories of adversity. How people can overcome insurmountable odds. They did it through personal characteristics, help from others or just pulling yourself up by the boot straps. We love and enjoy super heroes. Because they exhibit the characteristics we should have. But there is one man most people don’t want to hear about His exploits. His mother was engaged to a young man in their community. It was a conservative group of people. She became pregnant. Went to her cousin Elizabeth’s house for six months. She went home to face her fiance. The angel Gabriel had spoken to Joseph. He took Mary as his wife. Then when she due, the Romans had everyone go to the city of their family and register and pay taxes. Mary rode 90 miles on a donkey to get to Bethlehem. Then when they got there, there was no room for them. All they had was a stable. This is winter in Israel. It’s the cold and rainy season. It rains from December to March. People complain about hardships. But Joseph and Mary succeeded against all odds.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Before Jesus was crucified, He was in the temple teaching. The religious leaders had already made up their minds to kill Jesus. The religious leaders send certain scribes and pharisees to try and catch Jesus in His words. They would ask Him about the law. Jesus would answer their questions. But the scribes couldn’t catch Him. Because Jesus spoke the truth. One scribe marveled at His teachings. Jesus saw that he wasn’t far from accepting God and the kingdom. But Jesus told them that knowing was only half of it. If you know the truth and don’t do it, to you it is sin. A certain widow came to the temple to give her offering. She knew the truth and gave her 2 mites. Jesus marveled at this. She gave all she had. It takes faith to do the truth. The truth is the word of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

This is the me generation, me,myself and I. The thought of dying is so foreign, it’s unrealistic to most people. And what’s even sadder is it is what most of the church believes. Jesus was a man for a reason. He came to show us how to live and to die. Do you think Jesus wanted to go to the cross? He asked God 3 times in the garden of gethsemane don’t to die. But He knew that He had to die to fulfill God’s plan. Jesus taught that no man comes to the Father but through Him. Or more appropriately through His death. Which means that we as Christians must die to oneself. Only through our death can we achieve that relationship with God, our Father. This isn’t a onetime occurence. I die daily that I might achieve God’s plan for me. Most Christians today wouldn’t survive the first century. There was only one church and if you didn’t belong you were normally killed by the world. And guess what, its happening again. Dying to oneself is the only way to survive this world. It’s your choice.

Crain Blanchard.

Crainb52@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com