So what was made so simple that man could understand? Why is the US experiencing horrendous weather? The majority of scientist will say it is Global Warming. That is only a symptom. It isn’t a root cause for the troubles in this country. Global Warming was written about 4000 years ago by a reputable authority. So finally the scientist have caught on. But that isn’t the reason. Man has fought against the reason for all of their existence. And it seems there is no letup in sight. There is only one outcome for this coming battle. Man will lose and die. If you would like to read about, there is a commentary written over 2000 years ago. It is very graphic and full of details. The battle is called Armageddon. It will be fought in the Valley of Jezreel near the old city of Megiddo. It says that 200 million men on one side will fight in the battle. And they will all be killed. It also says in the commentary that the blood from the soldiers will be 6 feet deep. The Victor will go on to Jerusalem. This is where He will reign for a 1000 years. When He begins His reign, there will be peace on this earth for the 1^st time. You know what is sad is that man has known this for over 2000 years. And just about nothing has changed.

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It is funny how it rains in one place and not in another. California is experiencing a drought. And in California, most of the vegetables and nuts are grown for the US. In Texas, they are still suffering through drought. Texas is beef country. The Mid-West has been experiencing storms, tornados and hurricane force winds. Then winter just ended with its storms of snow and ice. The Lower Mississippi Valley has received an abundance of rain. I had to cut my grass in between rain drops. It seems there is a pattern to this strange weather. Where the rain and wind aren’t needed, they get it. And where it is needed, they don’t get it. Of course, all of this is going to be blamed on Global Warming and the changing weather patterns. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. There is only one person who controls the weather, only one. And that person doesn’t live on this earth. Only man lives on this planet. So by the process of elimination guess who it is. You want the short version or the long version? It is so simple, it is scary. It was made simple so man could understand. If you don’t know. It is Jesus Christ. And all you have to do is to ask Him for anything.

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How many people do you know including yourself, that struggle to achieve what they believe is their station in life? They want the biggest and best there is to offer in life. When I first started walking with God, He told me that I needed to be content. The bible puts it this way. It says that godliness with contentment is great gain. I had never been content with my life. I was focused on my needs. God wanted me to stop looking at my life and to start looking at the lives of ours and to see their needs. No matter what station in life they have, people are basically the same. Everyone has the same needs. In 1983, it was the Year of the Bible in the United States. Gallop poll took a surrey in the US, to see what people wanted most in life. Not only were they surprised by the answer, but amazed at the three basic needs in life. The poll showed that people wanted love, joy and peace most in their lives. You would think that it would be food, clothing and shelter. The needs of man are divided just like we are into parts. The part that is of the world, the dust of the earth, calls us to food, clothing and shelter. The part of us that is the image and likeness of God, call us to love, joy and peace. Therein is man’s struggle. Whether we will walk with God or to go the way of the world. The bible says, come to me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. God has made provision for all of us. And He sealed the deal with the death and resurrection of Jesus. By the way, Love, Joy and Peace are the first three gifts of the Holy Spirit that God gives freely to man. Look around and listen to see the needs of people. 

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After the incident in the Old Testament, on Mount Tabor, Elijah ran for his life. He ran all the way across Israel to the Sinai. He ran to the mountain of God. He complained to God that he was the only one left in Israel that was faithful to God. God corrected him and told him that there were 7000 people who had not bowed to baal. God has always had a people. The unfortunate part of that was there were over ½ million people in Israel. You see God’s people are few and far between. Why is that? Why aren’t there more people wanting to follow God. When people get into trouble that they can’t get out of, they want God to help. But once it is over, it’s bye bye. Man wants to be god of his own life. Even if that life would kill him. And guess what, it will. God has a plan for everyone. It isn’t always the same plan except for Jesus. Our lives can be full and rich if we are willing to follow in the way. If you read church history, you’ll find that only a few people actually stepped out in faith and did what Jesus did. Those stories are well publicized. It is because people who have led simple lives are not as exciting as the big name ones. There are people all over that have lived for Jesus. There were just as many miracles in their lives as anyone. But you will never find them unless you are looking for them. I know of a maid that spoke French and went to Haiti and opened an orphanage. She lived there for 20 years into her 80’s and retired. You too can live a life that will glorify God. All it takes is faith and trust that God is who He says He is. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seeks Him. Be the few and far between not the many who’s lives end in tragedy.

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This article appeared about 100 years ago in May, 1919, in Dusseldorf, Germany. It is a listing of the Communist rules for revolution. These are the rules.

1)    Corrupt the young get them away from religion, get them interested in sex, make them superficial and destroy their ruggedness.

2)    Get Control of all means of publicity thereby:

a.    Get the people’s minds off their government by focusing their attention on athletic, sexy books and plays and other trivialities.

b.   Divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matter of no importance.

c.    Destroy the people’s faith in their natural leaders by holding the latter up to contempt, ridicule and obloquy.

d.   Always preach true democracy, but seize power as fast and as ruthlessly as possible.

e.   By encouraging government extravagance, destroy its credit, produce fear of inflation with rising prices and general discontent.

f.    Foment unnecessary strikes in vital industries, encourage civil disorders and foster lenient and soft attitude on the part of government toward such disorders.

g.    By specious argument, cause the breakdown of the old morale virtues, honesty, sobriety, confidence, faith in the pledged word, ruggedness.

h.   Cause the registration of all firearms on some pretext, with a view toward confiscating them and leaving the population helpless.                          

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was written over a 100 years ago. And guess what it still works. Have you looked at America lately? This is the playbook for a certain political party. And it seems to works just fine on American citizens. They aren’t immune to this and guess what. This country will fall if it doesn’t stand up and do something about it.

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My father went into Normandy on D-Day +1. He was a combat engineer. He followed the troops all the way to Germany. He had a picture of himself and his brother looking out the window at Berchtesgaden. My dad fought in the battle for Alaska first. Then fought in North Africa. And finally landed in Normandy at D-Day+1. When he came home, he never wanted to talk about his time in the army. He had seen too much. He wouldn’t even allow guns in the house. When he came home, his old employer offered him a job in Bermuda. Mom said she wanted to go. But dad said he had traveled the world and seen enough for a life time. Dad wanted to go to college to be an engineer. He started but his first son came along. He left college and began to work to support his family. Even though his dream was college and career as an engineer, he never went back. He worked in the Post Office until he retired. Then mom and dad began traveling around the country in their motorhome. Mom and dad both believed that traveling gave you an education. The kind that you couldn’t get anywhere else. When we were all at home we would travel across the country every summer. I never saw my father complain about not getting his way in life. He lived his life for his family and did what was necessary. I did see him get on his knees every night and pray. Often when I would look at the newspaper after my father read it, there would be engineering problem worked out on the pages. Honor and Integrity can’t be taught like math or science. It has to be learned by example. My father was that example to me.

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Calvin and Luther Blanchard, Massachusetts Minute-Men, 1775.

Thomas Blanchard, North Carolina Militia, 1776.

Thomas Newton, Commissioner, US Navy, 1776.

Francois Boutte, Atakapa Militia, Louisiana, 1776.

Thomas O. Blanchard, War of 1812.

Albert G. Blanchard, Maj. General, 9^th Louisiana, CSA, 1861.

Calvin and Ebenezer Carson, 16th Alabama Cavalry, CSA, 1861.

Carey Edward Blanchard, 17^th Texas Brigade, CSA, 1864.

William P. Blanchard, Sgt., 71^st Inf. US Army, 1941.

Neal Blanchard, Doctor, Capt., US Army, 1941.

Dyer Blanchard, US Navy, 1941.

Hal McGown, Lt. General, US Army, Korea and Vietnam, 1948.

Felix Castille, 1^st Marines, Korea, 1951.

Charles Blanchard, Sgt., US Air Force, Vietnam.

My older brother was a Physician’s Assistant in US Army during the Vietnam War. I served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. Three of my sons and two of my nephews serve in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since my grandfather Blanchard came to this country in 1637, our family has defended it. My family are patriots. There are a lot of people who have served our country and I am thankful for it. We are blessed by God with a good land to live in. And it is worth defending our country, no matter how bad it seems to be. I just want to thank the men and women who have served our country in the military. It is right to honor them. Have a blessed and safe Memorial Day.

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When we start out in life, we look for our purpose in life. We want to know why we are here and if there is a plan for our lives. As a child, we want to be firemen, policemen, soldiers, fathers or mothers. We look to see people with honor and courage. We have heroes that are spectacular. As we grow up, we find that these people are ordinary. Then, we are disappointed. We wanted to them to be super heroes. There is a need in us to be super heroes or at lest extra ordinary. That need is real and is put in us by God. We want to live our lives with honor and courage. Because in this jaded world, it is extra ordinary. There is a life that is real and extra ordinary. It is called a life of prayer. It is living your life next to God and doing what He has called you to. It all start with confessing your sins to God. Then to let Him transforming you into the His image. Then living your life next to God. I was reading Psalms 23. It is King David talking about to walk in the presence of God, no matter what comes. Living this life isn’t always easy, but it is simple. When you do, your life will be extra ordinary with honor and courage. It is the life your saw as a child and believed it was true. Because it is a life that is extra ordinary.

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Sometimes I wish I could go back to the time when I was young. I miss that precious time. Only one of my sons is married and I have a grandson. All I want to do now is to play with him. These days I am still working 12 hours daily. My 4 sons are working just about the same. They building their lives. When each one of my sons became a teenager, they all thought that I had become senile. And thought that I didn’t know or understand anything. As each became a man, they begin to understand that I wasn’t dumb after all. Now when they have a problem, they will come to talk to me about it. You know what is funny, I did the same thing with my dad. My dad and I became close as father and son and as friends when I became an adult. I miss him and he has been gone for 35 years. My youngest son, who was in the military, cuts his hair military fashion. It is called a high and tight haircut. He convinced me to cut my hair the same way. When he finished and I put on my glasses and looked in the mirror, I saw my dad. I began researching my family history. I wanted to see who they were. I can now blame my ancestors for my bald head. I also can blame them for the set of 4 children in each generation. My family means to world to me. The view from the cheap seats is where you can see most everything but not always clearly. The End.

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I learned how to work from my mom and dad. When my dad graduated from high school, he went to work for Western Electric (AT&T) as a lineman. He was making so much money, he was able to buy a new car. He also bought silk suits from the best men’s shop in his town. He did well. Then WWII came along. He met mom before the war, but they decided to wait until he returned from the war. Just in case. When he returned, AT&T gave him his old job back. They wanted him to go to Bermuda. They were setting up their phone system. Mom wanted to go. But dad had traveled the world fighting for freedom. All he wanted to do was stay home. Mom agreed with dad. He went to work for the post office. Then 4 sons came along. Dad worked from sunrise until almost sunset. Mom was a school teacher. They were able to send us to the best high school and to college. Once we, the sons, were finished with school and married, they both retired. Then they bought a motorhome and traveled across the US and Canada. Both of my parents are gone, but I still hear them. They weren’t perfect, but gave their lives to my brothers and I. Their actions taught me how to raise my 4 sons. And how to give my life for them. The view from the cheap seats is where you can see most everything but not always clearly. To Be Continued.

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