Where do you fit in? Everyone wants to fit in somewhere. Sometimes it is with your family, but mostly it is just trying to fit in with your friends. The young people tend to gravitate to other young people. Us old guys tend to talk to older people and children. I have seen people take to the ninth degree. It is rather a sad commentary on people. Everybody is unique. Many people have quirks that are unique to themselves. I wouldn’t call people odd, but sometimes that is the case. Whether odd, unique or quirky, God made us all. We are to a point, different from each other. I like blues and purples. My wife likes reds and purples. God made us to fit together. We are only separated by what we think. Sometimes then it isn’t really real. God said do unto other as you would have other to do to you. God also said He is no respecter of persons. He judges all peoples by their hearts. This is the true judgement of people. You see everybody’s heart looks the same. There really is no difference.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Joseph1637.com

The one constant in this world is change. We can’t stop it or prevent it. When you’re your young it is easier to change than when you are old. Tell me about it. You get set in your ways and that is what you like. It doesn’t matter even if your ways are destructive. You become use it them, like old friends and acquaintances’. You can plod along in life and not knowing there is a better way. Doesn’t it annoy you when someone comes along that is truly happy with their situation in life. You see a person who knows God and happily shines their light on our lives. In that light you begin to see your life as it really is. Sometimes your life isn’t that great as you thought it was. Then it becomes really annoying. God says that the heart of man is the most deceitful thing on earth. He also says the man believes what is right in his own eyes. This is why we can’t judge rightfully on our own. God put inside of us the need to seek a higher power to help us live. People fill their lives with everything from rocks that heal to booze to drain out the sorrow. Nothing really works like it supposed to. There is really only one place we can go to receive the guidance and help for our lives and it ain’t the rocks. God loves us more than anything and is willing to help us with everything. Why is it so hard to ask Him for help? Why can’t you go to God? Yes, you will find out who you are, but it only hurts for a little while. God said call unto Me and I will show you great and mighty things which thou know not. Call Him and ask.
http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

That really is the question. To be a Christian or not. When I began to walk with God it was strictly by faith. I knew nothing. When I say I knew nothing. I had not read the bible at all. I was 28 years old and completely ignorant. I went to a parochial school sponsored by a church. I graduated from high school where I took religion classes and never read the bible. I had some strange ideas back then about God. I always saw God as having a big stick. If I did wrong He was going to swat me good. As God’s child I have received spankings. And I deserved it. But for the most part, His love is a far better teacher than His stick. Jesus choose 12 men to teach about the kingdom of God. All these men had a profession before Jesus picked them. Peter, Andrew, John, James, Thomas and Bartholomew were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. Philip, James and Judas were tradesmen. Simon and Judas were zealots, freedom fighters against the Romans. It took Jesus 3 years to teach these men about how the kingdom of God works. So when Jesus died they were ready to take over the church. In any profession there is an end goal. To learn the skills well enough to be able to function partially on your own. God is always calling people to come to Him and learn. Can you answer the question? Is it to be or not to be a Christian?
http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

Learning comes in many forms. Everybody went to grammar school. They learned their ABC’s in whatever language used in their country. Then they learned reading, writing and arithmetic. Then they went on to high school and then some went to college. Depending on the school, the information learned was traditional. In the past few years teaching has become unorthodox. The school system still uses traditional classrooms, but have gone outside the school to teach broader subjects. I received a traditional education, grammar school, high school then on to college. When God got a hold of me, I was too old for the traditional bible school. I was set on another path, the unorthodox one. When the Apostle Paul met Jesus on the Damascus road, he had graduated from the best theological school in Israel. God had to take Paul and put him on the backside of the desert to teach him. For about 14 years Paul had to unlearn all that he was taught. That is why he wrote most of the New Testament. So God took me to the backside of the desert to teach me. You could say it was the school of hard knocks. God wanted me to see His prospective and understand how the kingdom of God really works. Christianity isn’t a church or a denomination. It is trusting and believing that God will do what He says. And the only way that you are going to find out what God says is to read His word. So just read the bible.
http://www.joseph1637.com

Everybody wants to hear good news. There is so much bad news in this world. Good news like a baby is born or I got a new job or I paid off the mortgage. But it doesn’t always work that way. Why can’t we have good news all the time? What is wrong in this world that we have to hear bad news? I look at the evening news stations and all they are reporting on is death and destruction. And they say that is what the people want to hear. Why are all the new movies stupid and annoying? I must say there are a few good movies, but they are few and far between. People want to be encouraged about life. They really want to hear how someone succeeded. It is not a rare thing to want to hear good things. Jesus began teaching in His home town of Nazareth. He spoke about what God was going to bring to His people. The people started fussing about Jesus saying such mighty things in church. After all He was just a carpenter’s son and not a bounified teacher of the law. Jesus said this is why all of you don’t receive miracles. They got angry and grabbed Jesus. They were going to throw Him off a cliff. They all became confused and Jesus walked away. Hearing good news from God is what He wants to do for us. He wants us to be encouraged that our lives can work out the way it is supposed to. God was so encouraged that we could respond, He wrote it all down in one book, the bible. Read it for yourself and find out what He really has to say.
http://www.joseph1637.com

Can a broken heart serve you as well as a whole one? Does sorrow serve a purpose in our lives? How do we carry on when sorrow surround us? What do we do when death visits our doorstep? Who is immune to death and sorrow? Life is precious. We all want to live and prosper. When I was young I was invincible. No one could stop me. I took on foes that fell before me. I could fight all through the night. It seemed that sorrow only strengthen me. When I entered an arena my enemies shook with fear. My experiences strengthen my resolve. I walked with giants. Then tell me why the death of my younger brother hurts so much. Cancer took him and I couldn’t stop it. He lived a good life. He raised his children and had grandchildren. He loved his family and did anything for them. He loved the Lord and live the life before mankind. He was to me a giant among men. I will see him again when I cross over to the other side. He has become part of that great cloud of witnesses that watches from heaven. He took his final breathe this afternoon and crossed over. I know that Jesus came for him and I told him so. God is faithful to all that He promised us. Precious in His sight is the death of one of His children. God has proved this to me over and over again. I will miss my brother until I see him again. I love you brother.
http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

For thousands of years, when a son reached a certain age he was expected to join his father in the family business. This would give the son a trade and way of earning a living. Even after there were universities, this was how young people began to live in the live in the world around them. Many people still do this today, they take over their father’s business. As you well known, young women were to follow their mothers and learn for her the household and raising children. Most young women don’t know that in God’s economy, a young wife could own her own business. She could make money separate from her husband. She was in charge of the home and the children. A couples home belong to the wife. Her husband was a partner, though God made him responsible for all decisions made in the home. God wanted harmony in the home. Each partner was to be satisfied with the relationship. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went with His earthy parents to Jerusalem for the Passover. When it was over his parents packed up and began the journey home to Nazareth. They believe Jesus was with his cousins in the caravan. After they journeyed a day, they stopped for the night, but Jesus wasn’t there. They went back to Jerusalem to find Him. After three days they found Him in the Temple discussing the law with the priests. His momma fussed at Him for not telling them. And Jesus said, I must be about My Father’s business. The statement is as truth today as it was then. Are you about your Father’s business?
http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

A crucible is a trial by fire. It is where a person is tested to the limit of their endurance. Sometimes they are tested beyond their limit. It is to find out what the person is made of. Even if the person fails, it still shows what is in your heart. It is a trial that you don’t want to go through. For the most part it is always necessary for the person’s future life. Fortunately or unfortunately, we go through many crucibles. It is a simple as leaving home or starting a family or joining the military. Sometimes it is as hard as watch a relative die of cancer or your parents dying. Your life will never be the same again. For better or worse, it will change the way you look at life. When Cain told God after he had killed his brother Abel, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer to the question is yes. Are we linked together in some invisible way? Again the answer is yes. God says we are watchmen on the wall and if we don’t sound the alarm to protect our brother and sisters. We are guilty of their blood just like Cain was guilty of Abel’s blood. So what is your crucible? Are you able to make it to the other side?
http://www.joseph1637.com

You know I am married and have 4 sons. They are all grown and only one is married. My father died when my oldest son was only 6 months old. None of my children ever had the chance to know my dad. That was one thing I had asked God for is that I would live long enough for my grandchildren to know me. My first grandchild was born 2 months ago. His name is Noah. He was 22 inches and has big hands and feet. His fingers are half the size of mine. This boy is going to be very tall. It is funny that my mom was 5 feet 4 inches tall and my dad was 6 feet. His dad and brothers were all over 6 feet tall. My daughter in law’s family are all very big men. We are talking 6 feet 5 inches or better. My grandson is going to be very tall. By the way I’m only 5 feet 6 inches tall. I took after my mom’s side of the family. But God has been faithful to his promise to me. And I know that God is faithful to whatever promise He makes to us. All you have to do is trust Him and believe. I have a grandson and he is a cute little fellow.
http://www.joseph1637.com

I’ve been watching a fishing show. I like to fish. I tell the truth I’m not that good at fishing. I like to be on the water where there is a silence. The only thing you hear is fish jumping or the occasional duck or bird. The noise of humanity isn’t on the lake. What you hear is God’s creation. The show I was watching the guy was fishing in brackish water not quite in the Gulf of Mexico. He was catching large red fish. They were just beautiful. You know that about half of all the apostles were fishermen. They fished on the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all day and hadn’t caught anything. Jesus was preaching on the shore and asked Peter if He could use his boat to preach from. Peter said ok. When Jesus had finished He asked Peter to cast out into the deep and let down his nets. Peter said that they hadn’t caught anything all day, but at your word I will do it. Peter and his fellow fishermen went and cast their nets. They filled their boats with fish to overflowing. Peter came to the realization that he was a sinful man. He went to Jesus and said so. Jesus said follow me and I will make you a fishers of men. The realization of being separated from God by sin is the beginning of your life with God.
http://www.joseph1637.com