The 4^th of July is a day to celebrate freedom. The concept of freedom didn’t start with the American Revolution. The concept is as old as time. I want to explain this very important concept through the lives of the ancient Israelis or Israelites. After 6000 years of history, the Israelis today have a passion for freedom. They will defend themselves to the last man. But in the beginning, it wasn’t so. Adam and Eve lost their position with God through sin. God, not willing to abandon them, provided a way of salvation or freedom from the slavery of sin. When God couldn’t get mankind to follow, He chose one man, Abraham, to led a nation dedicated to God. Abraham, his son Issac and his son Jacob followed God. They had freedom to live their lives and follow the pursuits of their heart. Their children didn’t understand the cost of freedom and became enslaved by the Egyptians. God raised up a deliverer, Moses. He led them out of Egypt to the Promise land. Half of the Israelites didn’t want to fight for their freedom. But to reach the Promise land, they had to fight their way to it. Although, God gave them this land, there were still people occupying the land. The Israelites fought to take the land. Those who refused to drive out all the inhabitants, paid a heavy price for it. The inhabitants of the land of Canaan corrupted the Israelites and this lead to slavery again.

Freedom isn’t free. It cost everyone that wants it. Our country was born out of the struggle to be free from tyranny. Of all the Americans that lived in our country in 1776, 1/3 of the people were for fighting the British, 1/3 of the people didn’t care and 1/3 of the people were for the British. When the Americans won the war for freedom, they set up a living document that would govern all the people. It’s living because it can be changed to suit our needs. But it spells out our freedom and the responsibility to maintain that freedom.

If we aren’t willing to maintain our freedom through the our responsibility, we will lose our freedom. What are our responsibilities? There are set out in the US. Constitution, the freedom of assembly, the right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to petition the government to redress grievances. These freedoms have been hard fought for and can only be preserved though our due diligence.

I pray that everyone enjoys their 4^th of July. And that we all remember where out freedoms came from and where they are going in the future.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

As Time goes by is a title to a popular song from World War 2. The song talks about how things remain the same while changing as time goes by. Time is relentless. It doesn’t stop for anyone or anything. As we change growing up, we remain the same in all of our needs. We need food, clothing and shelter all of our lives. We are social beings who need to interact with other beings. It is how we are physically and emotionally hard wired. That need of social interaction manifested itself during the pandemic through depression. We are a people that were separated from each other causing the depression in most of the people of the world. Now that the separation of the pandemic is over, people are reconnecting. It’s funny that the internet didn’t resolve the issue of the separation, neither did our cell phones. Time hasn’t stopped and we are getting older. Which means that we have less time than we did before. So, what are you going to do with the rest of your time. You can’t sell or give it away. You have to use it or time just slips away. And did you know that we are accountable for all the time we have. Who are we accountable to? We will have to answer to God/Jesus for all the things that we did on this earth. So, what can we do? We can follow God’s plan for us from the beginning. His plan is for us to become His son, just like Jesus. How do we do this? It’s very simple. Ask God to forgive us and accept Jesus into our heart.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have written about time before. And spoken about it’s importance. Everyone has a set amount of time. And What you do with it is up to you. I have known people who have lived only three months. And there were people who lived one hundred years. But they all had the same problem. There was never enough time. Time is consistent and never stops. I seen people, including myself, waste precious moments, which we will never see again. So, what do we do? We can plan and scheme but it never seems to work. All we can really do is to live our lives to the fullest, being consciously aware of what we are doing. We can be with family and friends and have those moments count. In the end, our relationship with family and friends are the only thing worth having on this earth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@Juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Our lives are all about choices. We look at everything and decide what we are going to do. It seems that as we get older our choices blend together. We want what we want. Even though we were taught how to live the right way, the more we choose the wrong way, it seems to get easier. It is not just our lives but the lives of other. We as a people have made decisions that are morally wrong. Although we have passed laws to make our choices legal, it doesn’t mean that they are always morally right. Being morally right takes courage and bravery to stick to our convictions. I don’t have to mention anything and you know what I am talking about. There is a list of 7 deadly sins. People know what they are and there are laws against them. But what is interesting is that there is a sin that is worst than murder, rape or theft. Most people commit this sin every day with regularity. They don’t think that this sin is anything. Yet it will condemn you faster than murder. That sin is lying. Everybody lies at one time or another. Yet God calls satan the father of all lies. And anyone that lies has made himself the servant of the devil. Today in this world people expect people to lie to them, that they don’t think twice about it. It is a way to do business in this country. It has become legal but morally wrong. This isn’t the only thing, but as far as that goes you know the truth and what is morally wrong. Like I said to do what is morally right takes courage and bravery in your convictions.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

My 3rd. son usually has a crawfish boil for the family on the Saturday before Easter. If you don’t know what a crawfish are, it is a small freshwater lobster. Here in South Louisiana, boiling crawfish is an annual tradition. Crawfish are sold by the pound and come in 40lb sacks. He bought 3 sacks of crawfish. My whole family is here, grandchildren and all. The little kids and playing with the crawfish, trying not to get bit by the crawfish. Everyone is talking to each other. The crawfish are almost boiled and smell good. Of course, there are potatoes, corn and mushrooms in the boil. We are about to eat. I enjoy these gathering. I hope and pray that the children remember these gatherings when the get older. It is such great memories to have. Happy Easter. Y’all have a good weekend.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I published my new episode Book Prayer ch.1, Developing a skill, part2, please check it out https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-695mu-1377ae2

I published my new episode Book Prayer, ch.1 Developing a skill, part1, please check it out https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-2wydc-1375b8e

Their are different beliefs about death and hell or sheol. Most people want to believe that they would not go to hell after death. But it all depends upon what we do on this earth. This is the staging ground for our entrance into heaven. If we don’t accept Jesus here and now, we don’t have any chance of making it into heaven. The bible say in Hebrews 9:27, once we die then comes the judgment.

I have watched people die in hospitals or homes. As I paid attention to the person, I saw their spirit separate from their body. It happened sometimes instantly and sometimes over a period of days or weeks. How I recognized it was talking to them. As their spirit began to separate from their body, there was a delayed reaction in answering me. My grandmother was dying over a period of 2 weeks. I went to the hospital to see her. As I stood in the door of her hospital room. I says to myself in my head, I hate to see you like this. I sat down next to her and she turned to me and said, don’t say that, don’t say that. My great aunt who was sitting there, said she is talking out of her head. But I know that she heard what I said because her spirit was separating from her body. People who are dying can hear and speech to us as their spirit separates from their body. But once the connection is broken between body and spirit, they can only speech to us through the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 12:1-2).

There is a Jewish belief that when a person dies, their spirit lingers on earth for 3 days (John 11:39). This is why Jesus was died for 3 days. When Jesus was on the cross, the thief on the right side of Jesus ask Him to remember him when He enter into His kingdom. Jesus said, this day you will be with me in paradise. Paradise was not heaven. All the saints that died before Jesus died and rose again, where placed in Paradise. The Jewish word for hell is Sheol. As Jesus explained in the parable of the beggar Lazarus, there is the bosom of Abraham or paradise. Hell was split into two places. One was made for the saints before they could enter into heaven. The other was a place of torment with the devils in hell (Luke 16:22-26). Jesus descended into hell to do 2 things. One was to led captivity captive, the people in paradise, back to heaven. And the other was to take the keys of death and hell away from the devil (Ephesians 4:8; Revelations 1:17).

That is why we can say that mortality has put on immortality. O, death why is your sting and grave where is your victory? It is because we have the victory through Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection. The sting of death is sin and we have been forgive through the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Today, the place called Paradise no longer exist. When all the saints went to heaven, there was no need for it. On the other hand, hell and torment are still there. Sadly, hell is filling up with people who refuse to hear and listen to God and Jesus. Our chance for redemption is here on this earth. Once we die, there is no more time. The judgment of God is final. This is the story of Sheol and hell.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s a day before Christmas and it’s mad dash to finish up last minute preparations. Buying those last minute presents and maxing out your credit cards. Is this the real meaning of Christmas? Is it about material wealth? All too often people just ignore the real meaning of Christmas. It is about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We think about our troubles and don’t see what really happened when Jesus was born. His country was occupied by a foreign power. They killed whoever didn’t obey their rules. Jesus was hunted by the authorities to kill Him, even as a child. He had to live incognito for most of His life. But this was the plan of God for Jesus and mankind. When we share with our families the Christmas food and fellowship, let us also share our faith in the Creator of all this, Jesus. I hope and pray that everyone has a blessed Christmas day and New Year. Crain.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com