This comes from the book of James in the bible. This James wasn’t the brother of the Apostle John, who was killed in Jerusalem. This is James the lesser, generally considered the son of Joseph and Mary, the half-brother of Jesus. He was considerably younger than Jesus. And he didn’t believe at first. But later came to believe. He was martyred around 62 AD. James was writing to the Jewish diaspora. When he got to prayer in his letter, he said they prayed amiss. It means for things to satisfy your lust. He said because you lust for things, there are wars and rumors of wars. When you ask for things to satisfy you, you will not receive them. He used rather strong language. But said if you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God. He said God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. He also said, submit yourself to God and resist the devil and he shall flee. James was an orthodox jew. He believed in Jesus and the laws of God. He didn’t care what people thought of him. He wanted only to do what God wanted. These men and women began preaching the gospel to a world with no Christians. They were the beginning and I believe we have to start again.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com

I woke up this morning to the sound of pouring rain. Which lasted about 4 hours. A cold front has come through. The last 2 days have been perfect, clear skies and 60-degree weather. But for the past 40 or so days, it has been rain. Rain is a blessing from God. Unless it floats your boat in your back yard. I was flooded out in 2016. And with God’s help to buy a new house in a flood free zone. It seems that no matter what I do, I need God’s help in every situation. This is a good thing. I want and welcome God’s help in anything. Despite what I think, I am not the sharpest tool around. I get into trouble more often than not. But I know that I can depend on God and His help in the time of trouble. It took awhile to get there. But I am there now and will stay there forever. God cares about me and my family, my animals, my house, my cars and whatever else I own or have dealings with. I have prayed for a dying man in a coma and God raised him up. I have prayed for a dead dog and God raised it up. I haven’t found anything that I was concerned with that God didn’t respond. So, you see that the rain in Spain doesn’t stay there.

Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

We look around at the world today and see the needs of everyone. It is all around us. There isn’t anyone on this earth that doesn’t have a need. Most of the time, it is multiple needs. If it isn’t food, shelter or clothing, it is something personal. Selfishness is the order of the day. To what length will you go to make sure you have what you need or want? I have seen people so focused on their needs that they lose everything else, just to get what they want. The saddest thing I have ever seen, is when they reach their goal and then lose even what we struggled so hard to get. We weren’t designed to acquire things. Our life was put into motion to see about other people. As a social being, we need other people to fulfill our lives. What we are given isn’t for us. It is for other people. The happiest people I know are the ones who give their lives to others. Why is this? Why were we designed to be charitable? We are the image and likeness of God. We were designed by God to be like Him. So, you are telling me that God has needs. Yes. God gave His son for us, so that we can choose Him. So, we can love God freely. This is what we were made for. And in turn meet the needs of mankind.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Who am I that anyone would listen when I am complaining? When I am in pain and suffering usually because of something I did. But still no one wants to hear complaints about anything. All they want to hear is I am fine. Not everyday is a good one. And I know what God says, but we still suffer pain. It is because we love or am frustrated. This is the very reason I came to God. I was in so much pain, that I couldn’t stand it. My Father reached down and just loved me. And I knew that it was Him. It not that I’m perfect, it is that I am loved and forgiven. God will listen and love me back to health. There is no one else in this world that will do this for me. And I know that I am not the only one. It doesn’t matter whether you are a believer or not. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever would believe on Him will have everlasting life. God is love. And He loved me, and I have been following Him all these years. God will listen to you. Talk to Him. He loves you.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Ever since I could understand, I wanted to know where I belonged. Even with my parents, I knew that I wasn’t home. I always wondered what that was about. As I grew, I searched for home. A place I would feel safe and secure. It was the strangest thing. My parents tried their best to provide a good home for me. I did appreciate their efforts. But I wasn’t home. I searched for many years but didn’t find what I was looking for. The more I searched, the more I got homesick. I couldn’t understand why I was so homesick for a place I had never seen. But I was going to find it, even if it killed me. My brother asks me to join his business. The businessmen began talking about this place where they were going. I recognized it immediately. I listen and learn how to get to this place. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. They introduced me to the person who could take me home. His name is Jesus and my home is heaven. My homesickness was the will of God, calling me home.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

It doesn’t make any difference how old or young you are. Age has nothing to do with anything. It is always the attitude of the heart. What you are willing to do to accomplish your goals. The people of Babylon thought they were greater than God. They built a beautiful kingdom. They all spoke one language. This was the cradle of civilization. They built a tower, so the king could shoot an arrow at God. Telling God that they were greater and didn’t need Him. God looked at them. He saw they were of one mind and one accord. God said there is nothing that they couldn’t do. Then God scrambled their language. Then He dispersed them to the world. The lesson learned is don’t mess with God. But more than that, it is being in one mind and one accord. We can begin again to accomplish a goal. It all has to do with your heart. It is who you are, where you want to go and how to get there. My heart is set on home, to be with my Father, God, and my older brother, Jesus.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

A vision is seeing yourself at a place you want to go. To get to this place, depends on what you do to make it happen. If you have a vision and do nothing, that is where you will end up. A vision is only part of the process. The vision is the first step. Then you have to figure out who you are. Where you are right now. Being truthful with yourself, whether it is good or bad. Then you need to figure out how to get to your goal. That is the next step in the process. Take an honest evaluation of yourself, to see your weakness and strengths. Then seeing where you can truthful build upon you understanding and knowledge. Knowing that you can learn, no matter how hard it is. The whole process requires persistence. I took an EMT course when I was 42 years old. I thought I was brain dead. But I passed the course and the national exams. Never give up your dreams. Press though and accomplish your goals. Then when you arrive at your vision, enjoy the fruits of your labor. For this is the gift of God. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

I have enjoyed freedom for so long I take it for granted. Before I was able to vote, I had to served in the military. I learned the difference between duty and rights giving by our constitution. This country was built on duty, not freedoms. The freedoms followed after the duty was done. Those duties are responsibilities that we have to this country. Yes, over the years, our freedoms have grown in this country. But our responsibilities have remained the same. Each citizen must perform their responsibilities to this country on an on-going basis. I don’t like taxes, but our government would soon go out of business if we didn’t. Service in the military is another responsibility. People have come from all over the world to have our rights and responsibilities. This is still the best place in the world to raise your family and earn a decent living. We are a nation of laws that has afforded its citizens freedoms that we all cherish. I have the right to freedom of speech, of peaceful assembly, of religion, of the press and to petition the government for redress of grievances. These rights were given to me by the people of this country, who lived and died by its laws. And I am grateful that I live in this country, America.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

As a child, I always wanted to fit in with the people around me. It wasn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes trying angered me enough that I walked away. As I grew, I wanted people to accept me for me. I never thought that I was perfect, but still I wanted people to accept me. I had friends that I grew up with. But there was this nagging feeling that I didn’t belong here. It made me feel uncomfortable in certain situations. I began to choose me friends carefully. I would always talk to people, but never really open to them. I keep looking for the place that I belonged. One day, I did find out where I belonged. I ran into it or I should say it ran into me. It was always there in front of my face. I couldn’t see it because I was blinded by this world. It was as simple as asking. The place I belong has fresh air, green pastures, trees, comfortable temperature and a beautiful crystal lake. This place is perfect and I am a citizen of it. I am so homesick I can hardly stand it. So you ask, where is this perfect place. It is called heaven and my Father rules over it. And all you have to do is ask my older brother, Jesus, to come home.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Despite what people think, a leader is cultivated as they grow up. The first thing they learn is understanding. Seeing what is really true. Not clouded by opinions or dogma. Then understanding what needs to be done. Able to have a clear objective in mind. Then seeing how the objective can be done. This comes with experience. Being able to complete a task successfully. Then what you have is wisdom. Wisdom is understanding plus experience. As a person learns from childhood. They develop wisdom. This wisdom can be applied to the next task at hand. As a person moves forward in this process, people will see the person developing confidence in themselves. As people see this person has the confidence and experience, they will allow the person to do the task for them. As a person develops leadership skills, as understanding and confidence, they need to learn how to influence people. A true mark of a leader is that a person can influence people. Getting people to follow you is key in a successful leader. That skill come by understanding who you are, by being an example and leading with wisdom. The best leaders are the ones that people will want to follow. It all comes back to understanding, knowledge, confidence, wisdom and leading by example. Then you will be a competent leader. Line upon line, precept upon precept.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com