People are taught that prayer is nothing and doesn’t make any sense. For the longest time, I never even expected that God would make any difference in my life. I felt alone most of the time, but I knew that God was calling me. I didn’t want to surrender my life, because I was the master of myself. For me it was a sad joke that I could control anything. My life went from sad to bad and I couldn’t do anything about.

Until one day, a friend invited me to join his business. I am a terrible salesman, but I was interested in his proposition. I continued to go to his business meetings. For three months, I had coffee and listened. Finally, one day he asked me if I wanted go to church with he and his family. Surprisingly, I said yes.

It was an interesting day. First, I was greeted by multiple people and shook hands with I don’t know how many people. We sat and the service began. I stood when they stood and sat when they sat. I was watching all the people sing worship songs. I didn’t say anything, but just watched everyone. Then the pastor came and began to preach. Everyone was listening intently. I was still watching the people. Then the pastor stop in the middle of his sermon and said hello. It was an expression that I used all the time. I looked at the pastor who stopped talking. Then I heard a voice speak to me. The voice said, what more do you want.

I knew who spoke to me and I knew what I must do. When my friend asked if I wanted to go up and talk to the pastor, I said yes. We prayed the prayer of salvation. A peace came over me that I longed for. Then the pastor asked if I wanted to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I said yes and God came down and surrounded me. People shook my and talked. I don’t remember anything except walking into my house. I don’t remember driving home. It is because I wasn’t driving. That closeness with God has never stop.

You see, prayer is talking to God. Just like Adam, God wants to communicate with each us on a daily basis. We talk to God and He talks to us. And the more you pray, the better you become at it.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

My younger brother died from cancer a few years ago. For the last 6 months of his life, I stayed with him everyday. He knew that my faith in God is strong. He asked me many questions about death. I have learned many truths about death. One is that our 5 earthly senses are in tact until we die. It doesn’t make any difference whether we are conscience or not. Another one is that physical pain is on this side of eternity. This physical body can’t go into the spiritual realm. We are made of the dust of the earth and because of the sin of Adam, the dust of earth was cursed by God. We are spiritual beings. Our heart is our mind, will and intellect. This is the part of us that is eternal. And when we die, our spirit and body separates. Our spirit goes into the next realm. Our body returns to the dust of the earth.

My brother asked me what it is like to die. I said that when the time comes that he will close his eyes and Jesus will be waiting for him. And you will walk into the next realm. Just like walking into the next room.

And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall guard, kept, your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:7). This only happens when we are reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin and the shed blood of Jesus. I knew that my brother had given his heart to Jesus. His life was an example of the love of God. So, when died, he had the peace of God.

I miss him, but I know that I will see him again. He is part of the great cloud of witnesses in heaven that watch me. I don’t fear death because I know and am known by God and Jesus. Come Lord Jesus.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We all know the story of the prodigal son. He take his inheritance from his father and spent it on booze and women. When he had nothing left, everybody deserted him. The prodigal son ended up living and eating with the pigs. As story goes, when he came to himself, he remembered that his father’s servants ate well and lived in a good house. He decided to go home and ask his father for forgiveness and to work as one of his father’s servant.

As the prodigal son neared his home, he began to see the estate. What do you think his thoughts were as he approached home. I am sure he was afraid that his father wouldn’t accept him back again. What did he see on the horizon that compelled him to go home. When he saw his father running toward him, I can see his heart drop within him. But he was determined to go home to his father. The prodigal must have been amazed that his father hugged him and showed his love for him.

It is a poignant story that is played out in each of us. We waste what God has given to us on nothing. Then when we are caught between the rock and the hard place, we look for a deliverer. Those who are sincere find our way back home to our Father. Who by the way, loves us unconditionally. Those who want nothing more than to get out of trouble, never find peace in this world.

Our Father, God put this story into the bible to show us that we can go home again. But it takes repentance on our part to make that connection back to God. You can’t fake it with God. He knows our heart and hears what we say. So, if you are fed up with the trouble the world gives us, turn back to God and repent.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When I was young, I ran track. I wasn’t much for the field part of it. I couldn’t throw the javelin or shot put. I didn’t have all that great of upper body strength. But I could run like the wind. I was faster than any kid in school. I ran track in high school. My best time in any sprint was done in a practice run. I ran a 10 second 100 yard dash. I loved to run. It gave me a feeling of exuberance that nothing else could. I was a sprinter not long distance. In the military, you have to run a mile under 8 minutes. I jogged the whole way and came in a 71/2 minutes. There is just something about running that is precious to me.

Hebrews 12:1 “and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

Galatians 5:7 “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”

Habakkuk 2:2 “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

From the scriptures, we can see that life is running a race. It is all about winning the race. People will do just about anything to win. But God expects us to run this race according to the rules. And what rules are those? They are God’s rules. We can’t expect to win any other way. If we lie, cheat or steal from ourselves or others, we lose the race. And the loss is greater than winning it. People don’t quite understand the cost of losing the race. It is unbearable knowing that we chose to lose.

God made the rules of the race knowing who man is. It is not always easy, but it is simple. God said that He would go before and make the way for us. So, we could run the race almost effortlessly. We are to read the word of God, fight the fight, run the race, obey the truth and finish our course. Then we will win for ourselves an everlasting victory.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In my blogs, I have written about time more than anything else. It is because time is important. There is very little time left in our lives. Even if you live a 100 years, you still don’t have much time left. Time is finite. There is a beginning and an end to time. It was created for man to tell days, months, years and the seasons of the year. Time was calculated by man using the rising of the sun and the going down of the same. We use time to judge everything. How much time does it take to accomplish a task? When will the weather patterns change? How long will a person live? It is a very important commodity for us. It is how we judge our lives.

There is something that I have observed about time. It is the most wasted gift we have. There is an old saying, that youth is wasted on the young. It is because we spend our time in the pursuit of nothing. What am I talking about? Don’t get mad if you see your pursuit of nothing in my list. Here is my top things on my list. You can put them in any order you like. I start with video games, then social media, talking on cell phones or playing on the computer. I am not saying they are bad, but people have taken them to an art form.

You can never get back wasted time. Once, you have spent your time, it is gone forever. Time is too short to waste it on nothing.

Although God created time for man to use, He emphasizes the importance of time and how to use it correctly. God talk about Now. It is the time that we have to do something in our life.

“behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

So, redeem your time, because all we have is now.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What was God’s purpose in letting Jesus die on the cross? Was there a real plan of God for all that suffering?

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”

God doesn’t think like we think. God isn’t selfish or self-centered. He loves us with an everlasting love, no matter what we do. That in itself is amazing. Have you ever loved someone with no conditions or restrictions? It is one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life. And this is how God loves.

So, if God loves us so much, why did Jesus have to suffer and die? Jesus being our examples proved to what extent that God would go to show us His love.

Hebrews 5:8 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”

Jesus didn’t have to choose to die on the cross. God gave Him the choice. Just as God gives us the choice on what to do with our lives. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, asked God three times not to die. He knew what was coming and Jesus wanted to stay with us. But He also knew what the plan of God was and He played an integral part of that plan. If Jesus would not have die on the cross, we would not have been set free from the law of sin and death. That law kept us in bondage, slavery, all of our lives.

John 9:31 “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth,”

The one thing about the law of sin and death, it separates us from God. And without God, we will struggle and die alone. And there is only one place that we can go separated from God. That is hell. The funny thing about hell is that we will know God and how much He loves us and never be able to share in that love. This is the torment of hell.

We have choice in this world. We can choose God and live with Him or live without Him. Without God we know that the consequence is the torment of hell.

Psalm 86:5 “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

All we have to do to receive this freedom from God is to call upon Him, turn from our sin to God and accept Jesus into our hearts.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Why pray for Jerusalem? It’s not only the city of our great King and God, Jesus, it is the center of the earth. Jerusalem has been fought over since it’s foundation. Every country throughout millennia, has attacked and try to conquer Jerusalem. God has allowed 3 nations to rule over Jerusalem, Babylon, Rome and Islam. This was because of the sins of Israel. And each time God has gather Israel back to the promised land, it has flourished.

In 1967, Israel retook Jerusalem for the first time in 2000 years. Revival broke out across the world. People of every tongue and nation received salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. It was none stop for almost a decade. Healings and miracles were happening every where. And Jerusalem was the key to everything.

Since 1948, Israel has fought and won 8 different wars. Israel will defend the Promise Land to the death.

“He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” Isaiah 27:6

This scripture was written almost 3000 years ago. And today Israel is the bread basket for not only the Middle East, but for Europe and America. Jerusalem is an important city for everyone on this earth. That is why we must pray the peace of Jerusalem.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

A lot of people talk about freedom. Yet most people don’t understand the concept of freedom. Yesterday, I wrote a blog on freedom and what is cost. Yes, freedom has a cost which has to be paid for us to participate. There are many peoples outside of America that want the freedoms we enjoy, but hate us for having this privilege. Getting back to the cost of freedom. What are the costs of freedom? We have to be diligent about protecting our freedoms. They can be taken away as easily as they were given. How are they protected? Our freedoms are protected by our government, law enforcement or our military. And we see that our government and law enforcement does what is right by being involved, voting and participating. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” A quote from an 18^th century statesman, Edmund Burke. The US. Constitution sets our our rights, 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.

Long before our government was formed, God set into motion a plan to set man free. Jesus came to earth that through His death He might destroy devil who had the power of death; And delivered mankind who through fear of death were subject to bondage, slavery, all their lifetime. Jesus led captivity, for those saints held in hades to heaven.

It’s time to stand up for our freedoms that we enjoy on this earth and the ones to come in heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

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