In the military, there is an expression. Soldiers that are causalities but can still walk around are called the walking wounded. I served in the military and have dealt with wounded soldiers. When my sons served in the military, my wife and I were in the Family Readiness Group. We helped soldiers and their families. The wounds that war creates are sometimes deep and hard to overcome. One of my sons suffers from survivor’s guilt. It shows itself in PTSD. It is hard sometimes just to live normally. But he is not the only person to suffer because of it. The family of wounded soldiers suffers along with their soldier. God never said that life would be easy. He said that it would be simple. There is nothing more devastating than a wounded heart. And sometimes it is a long process to overcome that wounded heart. You become vulnerable and try to protect yourself from everyone. There are trust issues. When I came to know the Lord, it took time for me to see what God was offering and to accept it. My life was in a death spiral. I needed help greater that anyone could offer. That is when God intervened. There are many walking wounded in this country and they never serve a day in the military. If you look around with your heart, you will see these people and have compassion. That is the only way to reach the walking wounded with compassion. Just as God had compassion on us, when He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We all live our lives thinking that we won’t die. It is because we are part mortal and part immortal. The mortal part is our body, our flesh. The immortal part is our spirit. Both parts were joined together at conception by God and they are separated at death. The mistake is made thinking that our flesh, body, is immortal. If you remember what a preacher says at a funeral, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. We are made of the dust of the earth and will return to that state when we die (Genesis 3:19). But our spirit is immortal and will return to God. Our spirit is our mind, will and intellect. It is who we are. Now when we die, the place we will go to is our choice, heaven or hell. We have to make that choice when we are alive. Because after we die, it is God’s choice. We don’t choose while we are alive, don’t expect to live in heaven. You see there is only 2 choices, heaven or hell. To go to heaven, we have to choose God while we are alive. Life or death is a reality for us. We are mortal and live for a certain time on earth. So, I ask you to choose God and live in this world and to be able to live in heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Time has been called many things, seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years etc. And we know that time is linear. It only goes in one direction and when it is spent, it is over. We spend so much time trying to save time, only to find out it cost us more time. How many times have you said that your life has gone by in a blink of an eye. Did time accelerate and we did not notice? Or does our brain only perceive the present time? So, how can we stop the advancement of time in our lives? It is impossible to stop time. It will run until time runs out. Yes, there is an end to time, and I am not sure that I want to see that time. The time of the future is uncertain, and the time of the past is gone. We can not change the past, but the future time is ours to change. We have the ability to make changes in our lives, good or bad. The question is what will you do with the time you have left? I know from my life, that it takes courage to change the time we have left. Nobody’s life is perfect. There are flaws that seem to be built into us. It always seems so hard to change our lives. But the strangest thing about changing our lives is that we are the only one that can do it. Many people will try to change our lives, but we are the only one to make that choice. It called free will. It is a gift that God gave to us and is the only reason that God choose to give us a change at redemption. So, the question is what are you going to do with the remaining time in your life? Will you choose God or not?

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We were made kings and priest unto God through the work of the cross of Jesus. But most believers do not understand office and position of king and priest. A king works incessantly for his kingdom. And a priest is ever before his God making intercession for the people of the kingdom. Throughout history there has been few kings and priests. But the one that comes to mind is King David of Israel. He is called a man after God’s own heart. He always tried to live the way God wanted him to. And if he got into trouble, he knew where to go to find the answer. He was always before God to fulfill his duty as king and priest. David never wanted to be king of Israel. God chose him to serve as king and priest, because the Israelites needed a man that would do what is right before God. Now God has called us to be kings and priests in this world. God gave us dominion over this earth as sons of God. And to pray for people to be healed, delivered and to receive salvation from God. So, what is the sticking point for you? Where is your commitment to the kingdom? Through personal sacrifice and persistence, King David ruled Israel with great diligence. Do you know your part in the kingdom of God? Now is the time, today is the day of salvation.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was listening to music from the 60’s and heard a song that I use to play all the time. It had harmonies that I still like. It also reminded me when I was in high school.

We look around in this world to find harmonies. Things that go together perfectly, a beautiful sunset with all the colors of the clouds or a babbling brook set in green mountains. With the chaos of our lives, harmony brings peace to our soul. We hear the sounds of children playing in the park and see them running around. There is harmony there. Or we see the bliss of young love or of old love as an older couple walking side by side holding hands. There are many ways to find harmony in our lives. But it seems that the harmony does not last. It is a temporary thing that comes and goes. Until I was 28 years old, I looked for this harmony or peace in my life. I looked everywhere and almost became an alcoholic because of it.

Some friends introduced me to a harmony or peace that I thought I would never have. When I found that peace, I knew that I had found what I was looking for. It is funny how that works. When you find something real, you know it. The only harmony that was lasting was centered around one person and that of Jesus Christ. He said, Peace or harmony I give you, not as the world gives. When I accepted the gift that Jesus offered me, I accepted peace in my life. I found a peace or harmony that passes all understanding.

Below is a link to the song I was listening to. Enjoy the music. It is a blast from the past.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In the past couple of blogs, I have put forth a riddle to be solved. Several people have answered that riddle, but only one actually guessed it. Here is the riddle again:

What is the same and is constantly changing? And why?

I answered the why, but now for the riddle. The same or constant is change. And the changeable thing is Mankind. Through our lives and the bible, we see the changes that occur in our lives. We are always changing, for the good or bad. Sometimes, we just get stuck in the change and do not know how to fix it.

I have only found one way to fix my bad decisions. And that is in Jesus Christ. There is no other way. We will try to find other way that seems to work for a while. But in the end, we find that it was just another bad decision. Jesus is the only. He will forgive us and help us to live the right way. Then when our life is over, we get to go home to heaven.

I hope you had fun with the riddle. I will see you next time.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Yesterday I presented a puzzle or riddle. Only one person got the answer. I’m not going to give you the answer yet. But I will explain the why?

The riddle is: What is the same and is constantly changing?

The answer is in the riddle. The same or constant is change.

One person got the answer. So, I am giving you another to figure it out. Thanks for playing along.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Sorry I haven’t written anything in a while. I was just taking time off. I’m going to start again with a riddle or puzzle. I always write to present a puzzle to figure out. So here is the riddle. I will give you the answer tomorrow. Let me know if you figure it out. Thanks, Crain.

What is the same and is constantly changing? And Why?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Looking at the history of our country, America, we are not strangers to trouble. but our country has moved along with every struggle that we have gone through. Usually, we progressed strong than every. In the past 20 years, it have been different. From 2000, there has been disaster after disaster. Each one has been more devastating than the last. Each of the disasters has cost more money than we seemed to have. They have never stopped. If it was a terrorist attack, it was a fire, or a hurricane. Let us not forget the tornados that wiped out much of the mid-western states. And they lasted for almost 2 years. Then there is the on-going megadrought in the western states. Which has been on-going for 22 years. Just look at the statistics for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Those 2 lakes provided water for irrigation and electricity to 4 states that produce 40% of all foodstuffs for the US. Lake Powell is at 138ft. deep. Normally, it is 583ft. deep. Lake Mead is 532ft. deep. Normally, it is 1229ft. deep.

There is no amount of money or government program that can stop or reverse this disaster. If the drought continues, Boulder dam will stop producing electricity and suppling water to grow food. If you take 40% of our food away, what will people live on?

I have said all this for one reason. There is only one person who can stop these disasters. One person alone. And I know that most people don’t want to hear this, but what will it take for you to listen to the truth. How many nations have fallen because they couldn’t feed their people? This isn’t a scare tactic. This is a reality check. I’ll ask you the question. Are you in right standing with God/Jesus? If you aren’t, then you can remedy the situation by asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus in your heart. I live by Assurance, not insurance. And I know that if I seek God first and His righteousness, everything else will be added by God.

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Have you ever talked to someone about a what you believe, and they looked at you as if you were from Mars? Or what you were diligently trying to explain to someone, they thought you had lost your mind. When I first tried to explain my conversation to Christianity to my dad, he told me to get the hell out of his house. I came back the next day and tried again. He told me the same thing. I didn’t give up and kept coming back until he finally realized that something real had happened to me. Then he listened to what I had to say. He did not accept what I was saying right away, but he listened. He was amazed at what had happen to me. He thought I would never turn out to be anything. I never told him all the things that I had gone through. One night, I came home from church, and I was full of the Holy Ghost. My dad and I did not have a good relationship. There was a time when I did not speak to him for several years. Anyway, I walked in the house and my parents were in the living room. My dad looked at me and asked if I had been drinking. It was because I looked drunk. I was, as they say, drunk in the Holy Spirit. I walked pass my father and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, tell your father you love him. I turned around and walked up to him and said, dad I love you. He looked at me and his heart melted. He said, I love you too son. It was the beginning of my relationship with my father. To get your point across to anyone, requires persistence and love. Even if they think you are a few bricks shy of a full load. God will turn around any situation, if you will stand in faith, believing that it will work out. Every believer has something worth saying. We need to say it to anyone that will listen and to those who will not listen to you. Don’t you understand yet? All these people that come before us, their lives are at stake. And if we don’t speak up, they could lose their life and place in heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com