As we were growing up, we stretched our boundaries to see what we could do. Our parents were there to help us make decisions. They were there also to stop us from going to far. There are boundaries that we cannot cross without doing damage to ourselves. I was a teenager in the 1960s. Life changed in America. Everyone was convinced that they did not need God and His controlling laws. The 1960s become the generation of free sex. Then all the sexually transmitted diseases followed. Then in 1973, the supreme court voted to approved abortion. Do you know that this is the practice of worship to the god Moloch. This is idolatry and murder. It is curse on this nation and God will repay. Boundaries are there for a reason to prevent us from falling into a trap that we cannot get out of. This pit of sin that we cannot get out of leads to hell. There is only one person that can get us out of the pit of sin, that is Jesus the Christ. He was the only one that could pay the price for our forgiveness and redemption. Jesus paid that price because He loves us unconditionally. God raised Him from the dead to make Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords. God’s boundaries are for our good. They protect us from the ravages of sin. Remember that God loves us unconditionally and wants the best for us. But we have to choose Him and live the life He has for us. Then we are safe in His boundaries.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When Jesus walked on this earth, He taught His disciples about being in the kingdom of God. One lesson was abiding in Him. The disciples did not quite understand what was going on, but followed along. Abiding is a concept that can only be understand or practiced once a person has received Jesus in their heart. It is a spiritual practice. Jesus was telling the disciples in advance so they could practice this every day. Once Jesus had risen from the dead, everyone could receive Jesus in their heart. And the Holy Spirit will reside in us. Teaching and guiding us into all truth. The disciples came to understand that abiding was living in the presence of God. In reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles, you can see why Jesus said for us to abide in Him. The apostles were hunted down and killed. God wanted to strengthen the church to be able to bear up against the persecution. In Hebrews 12:2, it says the Jesus endure the cross because of the joy in His heart that God gave to Him. When you abide in Jesus, it does not make any difference what the world can do to you. This is because the Joy of the Lord is my strength. For this reason I abide in Jesus all the way home.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

God chose a city to place His name in. Even before Abraham moved to Israel, God had chosen a City for Himself. God called this city the center of the earth. When Abraham arrived in the promise land, there was already a king in the city of Salem, the city of peace (righteousness). Abraham went to rescue his nephew Lot with his army. On the way back from the rescue, Abraham came to the city of Salem. There he found a king Melchizedek. Melchizedek came out to met Abraham and blessed him. Melchizedek said be blessed Abraham of the most high God (Genesis 14:18-20). Abraham tithed ten percent to Melchizedek of all that he had. In Hebrews 7, it says the Melchizedek had no beginning and no end. It also says that we are priest after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was and is the king of righteousness. His Name is Jesus and Jerusalem is the city of our great king.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

            A small phrase that has such great meaning. Every person looks for that freedom in our lives. Some find it and some do not. Some people think the money will give you freedom. Some think that knowledge will give you freedom. There are so many ways that people think that they will acquire freedom. Have no doubt freedom is not free. We must earn our freedom and maintain it if we want to keep our freedom viable. Throughout the ages, people have acquired freedom and lost it because they did not keep it alive. America has come closest to attaining true freedom. But because its citizen are refusing to stand up and take on the responsibility for freedom, we may lose it. People from every part of this world see the opportunity for freedom in this country. That is why they come to America. Freedom is a choice only if you are willing to pay the price. That price is your commitment to freedom with your life. That means that you are more concerned with the welfare of others over yourself. With this commitment, you will obtain freedom. Without your commitment, all you have is nothing and slavery. Jesus said if you commit sin, you become the servant or slave of sin. And a servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son does. And if the son sets the servant free, he is free indeed. Freedom is a choice and everyone has to make that choice. If you do not make any choice you have chosen. Freedom is a commitment that costs you your life. This is true freedom.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Yesterday, my family gathered at my home. My second son bar-b-qued so I could go to church. As expected, there were many people who were not there. But Jesus came anyway. The weather forecast was rain. It was forecasted to had thunderstorms and 60% chance of rain. But it did not rain at all. Thank God. The bar-b-que was done when I returned from church and all the food was ready. My third son and his family arrived as I was driving up. His family is growing. He has an 8 year old, a 2 year old and a 7 month old. We put up a small swimming pool in the backyard for the kids. The 8 year and 2 year old took full advantage of the swimming pool. It was almost 90 degrees yesterday. And with 50% humidity, it was hot. We have a large back covered deck and set up chairs inside and out. The family ate as they were hunger. We cut back on the food and had more than enough. All my four sons came and their families and 2 dogs. People floated in and out of the house. Mostly we were watching the grandkids play in the pool. Yesterday was a blessed day, orchestrated by God. I am thankful that God blessed us with a wonderful day. And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Today in America we celebrate our Independence, the Forth of July. This has been a characteristic of our way life. We came to these shores for religious freedom and found freedom in general. We had to face every situation to hold on to freedom. But with persistence and faith we persevere. For over 400 years we have pursued our independence. All this time we understood that our freedom was based on our work ethic and faith in God and in our system of government.  Now all 3 aspects of our life in America are being threatened from within. Many people have lost faith in God and our government. As for the work ethic, it seems that only older people still have it. So, now we must go through this exercise in freedom again. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. What was before shall be again. Man learns by repetitive actions. Unfortunately, sometimes it is war. But for now our freedom is still intact. We are going to bar-b-que today. The family is coming over and it should be a great day. I pray for a blessed day for you and your family. And remember, it is God who brought us here and has kept us here. So, have faith that God is working in our lives and in the country.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The King James English is sometimes unusual to us. Sometimes the turn of a phrase I have to google it to understand. But the KJV is very succinct. This is the Bible I started with and I never will change that. I use this Bible everyday. It is a source of my inspiration. When I first started with God, I wanted to hear His voice clearly. As I learned scriptures in the KJV Bible, God would speak to me in King James English. It was so that I would accept His voice as being God. After a while when I began to trust God’s voice, He spoke to me in American English. God will do what He needs to accomplish His goal. That goal is for us to believe and trust in Him. The phrase Go to Now mean to come. It is from James 5:1. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” it is the chapter on effectual fervent prayer. James describes different reasons to pray. But what he is saying is pray. He says this because prayer is the answer for us in any situation. So, what God is saying is come let us reason together. So, what are you waiting for? Go to Now and pray.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was praying about my future and my health. And God reminded me of a scripture in Psalms. In Psalm 20:7, it says, some trust in chariots and some in horses. When Psalms was written the main military weapon of the day was horses and chariots. Kingdoms would use this weapon to conquer nations. People trusted in them. In Israel, God gave them specific instructions that they were not to have horses or chariots. The Israelite army marched wherever they went. In Psalm 20, it also says that I will remember the name of the Lord. You see that was the only way that the Israelite army won. Then the Psalm talks about what happens to the nations with horses and chariot. It says that they will be defeated. The application to our lives is very direct. God is saying that we are not to trust in the things of this world. If we do, we will be defeated. But we are to trust in the Lord and remember His promises. But why not have horses or chariots? God said they are a source of pride. And we know that pride goes before the fall of man. When we believe and trust God, we can have confidence in His promises that our lives will turn out the way they are suppose to. I will trust in the Lord and His promises.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When we go visiting people, we walk up to the door and knock. Then we say anybody home? Visiting folks is a southern tradition in the US. We call it hospitality. We gather around the kitchen table and drink coffee and talk about the day or our children. My mom had a 3 cup porcelain coffee pot. She would put 2 scoops of dark roast coffee in the coffee pot. The coffee was darker than espresso. She served it demitasse. After leaving home, I could never drink coffee as strong as that. She would make several pots of coffee and people would drink it. This fellowship is a way of life. Jesus said the same thing over 2000 years ago. In Revelation 3:20 ^” Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” This is the fellowship God has wanted from the beginning. This is the reason that God made man. Image that God wants to have supper with us. I miss those times with my parents, family and friends around the kitchen table. It is the fellowship that bonds us together. And the more time that you spend in God’s presence, the greater the bond grows. Is Anyone Home?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

            Time is such an elusive thing. You think you have a long time, then it ends just like that. Or you find something you really like to do and get into it. Then your time is up. As we get older, it seems that time speeds up. But when we were children, time passed so slowly. We were always in a hurry to grow up. Then when we did grow up, we wish we kids again. Life seems so topsy turvy. And how much time do you have left? When we were young, we thought we were immortal and had all the time in world. Then reality sinks in. We have so much time and once it is over, it is over. There is no more time for us. There is a story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus was a homeless man. And he sat at the gate of the rich man. The rich man was only concerned with his wealth and possessions. He did not help Lazarus. One day Lazarus died. The rich man died on the same day. Lazarus woke up in paradise. The rich man woke up in hell. The moral of the story is that it does not make any difference what you have. The difference is what you do with your stuff. No one is guaranteed that they will be here tomorrow, and we need to live our lives each day as if it were our last. Then we will live our lives to the fullest. Then time will have no claim on our lives. And how much time do you have left?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com