We shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. All you have to do is to turn on the news and there wars and rumors of wars. Israel was attacked by hamas terrorists and all most 2000 Israelis are dead. Israel has mobilized there army and called up 300,000 reservists. Hezbollah has attacked in northern Israel. It seems that Iran is behind all of this conflict. There has been atrocities on both side of this war. But the Palestinian people are going to suffer the brunt of this war.

But the bible says that the end isn’t yet. It says that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. It also says that there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you. This they are doing to the Israelis right now. And you will be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. When this happens to the Israelis, then each of us has something to be concerned about. I am talking about believers in Jesus Christ, Jewish and Christian.

And except those days of tribulation should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. This war in Israel is not over by any means. And it can escalate into a world war very easily. The United States is trying to keep this conflict from becoming global. There is one US Aircraft Carrier strike group in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel and another on the way. There is another US Aircraft Carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf. There are 7 fleets of the US Navy and three are in the Middle East, not counting nuclear submarines.

The bible says that before the end comes, the earth shall quake and the heavens shall tremble. The sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall will fall from the sky. And the Lord shall descend with a shout before His army. And this will be the great and very terrible day of the Lord. But no man knows the day or the hour this will happen except our Father God.

We, as believers, are the sons of God, and it doesn’t yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when Jesus shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as Jesus is pure.

What I can recommend to everyone is to pray and ask God the Father to stop this war. And if we do, I believe that a world wide crisis will be averted. Because once the End Times begin, there is no stopping until Jesus descends to this earth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Abraham, on his way back from defeating the king of Elam and his allies, came through Jerusalem or the city of Salem. Melchizedek came out and meet Abraham. Melchizedek, king of Salem and high priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham. The scriptures say that Melchizedek had no beginning or end, but continues as a priest of God forever. Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. This is the first time that Jerusalem is mentioned in the bible.

If you remember Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice to God on Mount Moriah, which is the modern day temple mount in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a Canaanite city until Joshua conquered it, when the Israelites came into the promised land. From that point on it became the capital of Israel. King David ruled Judah and Benjamin from Hebron. When king Saul and his sons died, the Israelite leaders came to David and ask him to rule them. That is when David moved to Jerusalem. God promised David that a descendant would sit on his throne forever. Jesus is the last king to sit upon the throne of David. Then Jerusalem was lost for 2000 years.

God choose Jerusalem to place His name. 2 temples were built to house God’s ark of the covenant, the first was Solomon’s temple, the second was Herod’s temple. The ark of the Covenant has be lost to time. But the importance of Jerusalem has never gone away. God called Jerusalem the center of the earth. This is why there has been war in Israel since the beginning of time.

Israel was reformed as a nation in 1948. Israelites has secured formidable defenses to secure their nation. They have defeated all of their neighbors several times. This recent attack, although not foreseen, was inevitable. No one wants a war, but Israel will defend themselves. Gaza is going to be destroyed. But maybe that is what Israel’s enemies want. The peace deal with Saudi Arabia is just a few months away. But like David and Goliath, Israel will take on anyone who will attack it.

In Psalm 122:6-7, it says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and any one who does God will prosper them.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus came the first time, preaching and teaching that the kingdom of God is at hand. Everyone knew about Jesus how He went about doing good and healing everyone. Many people followed Him at first, but when many heard the truth about themselves, they left. Jesus even questioned the disciples their loyalty to God. Peter spoke the truth by the Holy Spirit when he said, where can we go, you have the words of truth, life.

Jesus came the first time for three reasons. The first reason was to call everyone to repentance. He said I came to save that which was lost. The second reason was to die for our sins. Jesus told the disciples that He was going to be betrayed and handed over to sinful men to be killed. The third reason was to give us eternal life. God said that anyone who believed in Jesus wold have eternal life with Him.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He stayed with the disciples to teach them. Jesus stayed 40 days after His resurrection. Jesus and the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane. There He ascended into heaven. The disciples watched Jesus ascend in a cloud into heaven. Two angels appeared to them and told them that Jesus would come again. He would appear or descend from heaven the same way He ascended. Jesus is coming again.

There are many scriptures that tell us about preparing for Jesus’ return to earth. The preparing for Jesus’ return is for one reason, that we would look like Jesus. The bible says that when Jesus returns, we will see Him as He is. The reason is that we will look like Jesus. Take a look in the mirror and see if you look like Jesus. If you don’t then it is time to change into His image.

The second coming of Jesus is called the great and terrible day of the Lord. In Matthew 21:33-41, it describes the second coming of the Lord. This is the parable of the husbandman that built a vineyard and hired people to run it. Only the workers rebelled against the owner and killed his son. The owner came and killed the workers and replaced them with workers who would be loyal.

This time Jesus is coming as a King of kings and Lord of all. The world will come together to fight against Him. This is the battle of Armageddon. It will happen in the valley of Jezreel or Megiddo. And with the spoken word of God, Jesus slays 200 million people. The bible says the blood is as high as the horse’s bridle, which is 6 feet deep. And it will take 6 months to clean up.

God gives everyone time to hear the gospel and repent of their sins. But when that time runs out, it is over. Then that person has no recourse except hell. Just because God hasn’t judged you yet, doesn’t mean that He won’t. There are few things that are set in stone and one of them is God’s judgment of each and every person that has ever lived. As long as you are alive, you have the opportunity to repent of your sins and ask God for forgiveness. But once you die, then comes the judgment of God.

I look forward the great and terrible day of the Lord. Jesus will return and bring the peace of God for a 1000 years to this earth. He will reign and rule from Jerusalem and anyone can visit with Him. And as John 3:16 says, For God so loved the earth that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him, shall have everlasting life. I am a whosoever.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It has several meanings. It means to bury, to drown, to completely defeat or given too much to handle. When the pandemic struck in 2020, there was a feeling of helplessness. Covid 19 took a toll on everyone. People didn’t know what to do. Some people just carried on as if nothing was happening. Then people began to die at an alarming rate. That got most every bodies attention.

The world became overwhelmed by the vastness of the virus. Most every countries economy came to a stand still. Merchants trying to survive, began to implement usual method of keeping customers. Large retail store were delivering goods to people’s doorstep. Grocery stores are still delivering foodstuffs to people’s houses. If a business didn’t have a drive through, they did now. Most people were afraid of getting out of their homes. And the government was and still is in panic mode.

Being overwhelmed isn’t anything new. It has been happening since the beginning of time. King David of Israel, before he became king, was being chased by his father in law, king Saul. Saul wanted to kill David, so he couldn’t become king. David left Jerusalem with 600 men of valor and their families. Saul chased David all over Israel until he ended up in a cave in the Negev desert. David was overwhelmed because Saul was at the mouth of the cave. Saul didn’t know David was there, but went into the cave to sleep. David cut a corner of Saul’s skirt while he slept. When Saul arose, he left the cave and David followed him out of the cave. David faced his fears and convinced Saul with the cut piece of his skirt, that he wasn’t going to harm him. Saul left in peace and never chased David again.

When we are overwhelmed with anything in life, we must face this fear head on. It may kill us to do it, but you will never be free from it until you face the fear. In Philippians 4:6-7 it says, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Then you will not be overwhelmed by anything.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Courage is defined as giving support, confidence or hope to yourself. Courage is a hope or faith in yourself. It is believing in your ability to stand up to something that frightens you. So, then what is bravery? Bravery is courageous behavior in the face of danger. So, Courage is believing that you have the strength to stand against danger. Where Bravery is doing something about the danger. The words are similar in concept, but different in action.

The US Congressional Medal of Honor is given to individuals that go above and beyond the call of duty. They showed bravery in the face of danger risking their life in the action. You would say that they are courageous and brave. The American National Anthem’s last 2 lines say, the land of the free and home of the brave.

Many people that you have never heard of, have had courage in their hearts and bravery to carry out the action. If you start reading about our country and the people that traveled west to settle this vast land, they had courage and bravery. There are hundreds of thousands that you will never know that made it possible for us to live in this land.

Courage is hoping that your belief can be put into action. When God called Abraham to leave his home, he travel 700 miles on foot to Hebron, Israel. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans with 300 families and his animals. He didn’t know what to expect, but showed bravery traveling to Hebron. Samson was a judge in Israel, but didn’t follow the Lord. He lost his anointing when his hair was cut. The Philistines captured him and made a slave out of him. When Samson’s hair grew out, he prayed and asked God for the anointing to come back. God gave it to him and Samson destroyed the Philistine’s temple and killed over 3000 Philistines and himself. The prophetess Deborah called Barak to muster an army of 10,000 Israelites to face the Canaanites. Barak refused to lead an army against the Canaanites. God gave the honor to Deborah. She defeated the Canaanites and killed their king. Daniel refused the king’s order not to pray to any God except the king’s god. Daniel pray everyday to the Lord and never stopped. Daniel got into trouble and was thrown into the lion’s den. God shut all the mouths of the lions and Daniel wasn’t harmed. He put his conviction into practice. In other words, he put his courage into action and it became bravery.

Jesus did the same thing and became our example of courage and bravery. Our lives are meant to be an example to the world. We as believers need to stand up and be counted as courageous and brave. This only happens when we have convictions or faith that works. Because faith without works is dead.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everybody has big ideas. They want to achieve something worthwhile in their lives. We look at impossible task and say that I can do this. The strange thing about that is that most people if they stuck with it they would accomplish the task. But like great ideas, there are people around us that say you can’t do this. You don’t have the money or the education to accomplish that goal. If you listen to negative people, you will never accomplish anything.

In a business plan, you start with a one year plan. Then you go to a five year plan and change as your business grows. And if you are energetic and are willing to persist in the plan, it will work. The difference is if you will be persistent in your endeavor.

Counting the cost starts when you are young and see the world and your future as open and waiting for you. Then you begin to build your way to your goal. First is your education. It doesn’t need to be formal. You can work your way up to a goal. If you are persistent. Then as new avenues present themselves, you can take advantage of the opportunity. Always being mindful that you take one step at a time. Complete the task in front of you, then move on to the next one. Always counting the cost.

Everybody learns as the grow into an opportunity. You may not have the resources to move on to the next task. But through persistence you can achieve you goals. Never think that just because you don’t have all the money in the world to do what you want, doesn’t mean that you are not successful. Success is not measure in money. And don’t let people convince you that only money gauges success. Monetary success will come with your persistence.

Count the cost in everything. But be persistent in you education, social relationships, business adventures and family life. Never let people convince you that you can’t accomplish your goal. Strive for excellence in everything. And guess what will happen, you will succeed.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

A lack of Confidence can be express several different ways. It is low self-esteem, indecision. Doubt and unbelief. It can manifest itself in different ways also, like sensitivity to criticism, social withdrawal, hostility, excessive preoccupation with personal problems, depression, anxiety, anorexia, smoking tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse. We can overcome a lack of confidence by the right support, mindset and change in behavior.

Today everything is about taking one step at time. And it is the same with overcoming a lack of confidence. The first step is seeing the truth about oneself, identify the wrong conditions and situations in our lives. It is called coming to one self. Seeing where you are and acknowledging the truth you are in the wrong place. The second is being aware of what got you there, your thoughts and beliefs. What got us there is believing lies over the truth because we wanted what we wanted. The third step is challenging what you know to see if it is the truth. Challenging our wrong headedness. Then the fourth step is to change our mindset.

It is said that to change a habit, it takes 30 days of not doing it. So if you are in the habit of cussing while you are talking, don’t curse for 30 days. See what happens. Now for addictions, it will take a bit longer than 30 days, but it is achievable. The beginning of everything is you seeing that you want to change and not live the life that you have.

My life as a young man came to a head and I was in a death spiral. I kept on doing what I knew was wrong, because I didn’t see any other way. I knew that if I didn’t change I was going to die, both a physical and spiritual death. I went to a parochial school. It was a good education, but I didn’t believe what they said about life. I was going to find out myself. This is where I first got into trouble. I didn’t get arrested or get addicted to alcohol or drugs. But alcoholism was coming close behind me. I was miserable. I didn’t see at first a way and became embittered. I was angry at everyone.

Finally, a friend ask me to join the business. It was selling merchandise. I wasn’t the greatest salesman in the world, but I could hold my own. We meet every morning for coffee. He managed a cafeteria.

Each morning, he and another man would talk about what Jesus had done for them. I didn’t join in in the conversation. For about 3 months, they talked together never directing the conversation towards me. But God was speaking directly to me. I saw what my life had come to. I knew that I needed to change. An a way to change was being presented to me. I had to come to myself first and understand where I was and in need of help.

Then one morning in September 1978, they asked me if I would like to go to church with them the next Sunday. I immediately said yes. When I arrive at their church, it was like I was in a foreign land. People shook my hand and greeted me. We sat down, then the singing began. When that was finished, the pastor came up and began preaching. All the time I was watching the people. I was raised in a church when you didn’t say a word the whole time. In the middle of the pastor’s sermon, he stopped turned the people and said, hello. It was an expression that I used. I never heard anyone say it like that. I turned to the pastor and heard this voice say to me, what more do you want. I didn’t know at the time that it was God Himself. But knew that this is where I belonged and He would help me change for the better.

There is only one power in this world that will change our lives for the better. That is God Himself.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In the beginning when God set up the earth, He made the sun and the moon. God design the sun to provide light and as He said to rule the day. Then God made the moon

to provide some light to rule the darkness. God set up the sun and moon for man to be able to measure seasons, minutes, hours, days, months and years. This was the beginning of time. Then God also uses the sun and the moon to tell the end of time. The sun will be darkened and the moon will turn to blood before the great day of the Lord.

God has used the sun and the moon to be able to tell us many truths about ourselves and the world. The Light and the darkness and two different sides of this world. God has always been concerned with man’s well being. God promised a savior and called Him the Dayspring. He also called Him the Light of the world, differentiating the light and the darkness, day and night.

Man has always used time to direct his life. The very first measurement of time was the sundial. It’s very simple, you put a stick straight up in the ground and the sun will cast a shadow each hour of the day. The ancient Egyptians used the star constellation, Orion’s Belt, to built their pyramids, some 4500 years ago. In the 5^th century BCE, the Mayans had a calendar that is still in use today. It consists of 3 different calendars, the Long or astrological calendar, the divine or religious calendar and the civil or solar calendar. Then there is the Hebrew or Jewish calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar. It was made in 3721 BCE. The Jews use it still today for everything, agriculture, business, or religious activities. Let us not forget our Gregorian calendar. It is a solar calendar based on a 365 day year, except on every 4^th year, it is 366 day year. There is a leap year because there are 365.25 days in a solar year.

Life is determined by time. This is why time is one of our most precious possessions. Before the great flood, which occurred about 5000 BCE, people would live 500 to 700 years. After the flood, people were only living less than a 100 years. Today people basically live about 70 years. It seems that time is running out.

During Jesus’ time, He often would talk to the Pharisees. One day He was speaking to them about what they could see in the sky. He said, you see in the morning that the sky is red and know that a storm is coming. And in the evening, you see that the sky is red and know that the storm has passed. He said if you can discern the face of the sky, why can’t you discern the sign of the times?

Can you take a yardstick or a measuring tape to measure time? How can you know what will happen tomorrow? How much time do you have left? Where is your life going or coming from? How can you measure the time left in your life? Are you gambling on your life expectancy? Is it just a roll of the dice or is there a better way? Time waits for no man. It is coming to a conclusion soon. So, what is there to do?

Measuring time means looking at your life and sizing it up. There was a Babylonian king that took the cups and plates from the Jewish Temple and used them for his banquet. Then God wrote on the wall of the banquet hall, you are out of time. That king died that night. Are you waiting for God to give you a sign that your time is up? Are will you do something about your life while you can?

From the beginning of time, God has always made a way. From Adam down through today, that way has always been there. In the 5^th century BCE, God wrote how man can assure his life in this world and in the world to come.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How can two people walk together unless they are agreed. This is an Old Testament scripture that was true when it was written. And it is true today. God and Adam walked together in the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden. When God gave Noah an assignment, he agreed with God and they walked together. Enoch agreed with God and they walked together on earth then God took him home.

When Solomon became king of Israel, He asked God to help and agreed to follow God’s path. Then God gave him the world and the world agreed to follow Solomon. Although many people have tried to rule the world, there has only been one person to do it. That is Solomon, king of Israel. He is an archetype of Jesus, who is coming and will rule the entire world from Jerusalem.

In the New Testament, God says, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? How can a believer agree with an unbeliever? A person chooses what path they will walk on. If you have chosen God’s path, then why go back to the world and walk their way.

God also said in the New Testament, that if any two believers agree upon anything, it will be done by our Father in heaven. The power of prayer is in the agreement of the believers. Agreeing takes on a different meaning when it is applied in prayer. There are many examples of agreement and non agreement in the bible. But it shows us that agreement is what God has what for man all along.

In Matthew 5:25 it says, Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

How can two walk together unless they be agreed?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The acquisition of information is to give us knowledge and understanding and is considered power. The power to control our lives, the power to control our surroundings and the power to control other people. This statement is written on the walls of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Knowledge is power. The bible says that people are ever seeing and never getting enough. Or ever learning and never being satisfied. Knowledge for knowledge sake is a worthless endeavor.

Understanding and knowledge have to be put into practice for it to mean anything. The bible says that anyone who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him is sin. When you put knowledge and understanding into practice, it becomes experience. When knowledge and understanding become experience, it then becomes wisdom. When knowledge, understanding and experience become wisdom, then it becomes discretion. Discretion is a way of living your life so that people can trust you. Being trustworthy is a life long ambition. And if you lose your trustworthiness, it is very hard to get it back.

So, how do you use this knowledge and understanding? It is used in the betterment of mankind. Helping each other is the goal our lives. In each of us has a basic instinct that compels us to help one another. It doesn’t matter who or where you are from. Our lives are intertwined with each other. If you don’t reach out to another person, you are cut off and alone. Our heart reaches to find a connection with another person, whether we are conscientiously aware of it or not. It is always there.

The Age of Information gives us all that knowledge at our fingertips. So, what do you do with it? Is it so important that we keep our nose to the phone that we miss everything that is going on around us. Or do we look up and use that knowledge in the pursuit of helping mankind.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com