It’s December 1st and it’s another year gone by. When I was 25, I didn’t think much about time. All I thought was I will live forever. It is true that I will live forever, but not in this world. My time is running out. I have prepared for that contingency. My life in the next world is assured by submitting and following Jesus Christ. But what upsets me is that my life on earth is just about over. I don’t know the time or place but it’s is coming. Time seems to be speeding up. This year has gone by so quickly. And what have I done to improve my life and the lives of others? From my prospective. it’s not enough. I want to do more than I am now. There is so much to accomplish before I pass on. That desire to accomplish more woke me up at 4am this morning. And I am writing this blog to affect the lives of as many people as I can. And hopefully, the effect is distinguishable. When I first started writing this blog, I asked the Lord if He would show me if I was reaching anyone. I wrote a blog that went viral. It traveled around the world and produced 15,000 comments in a month. Now that was changing people’s lives. They heard me and I was glad. It is time for more viral blogs to be written. I hope and pray that your life is one of joy and peace in this Christmas season.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com.

Joseph1637.com.

I was thinking about the many things that disconnect us. People are more disjointed than ever. All you have to do is to pick a subject and you will find examples. But what is sad, is that it’s the norm rather than the exception. In recent events, there is the Covid-19 epidemic. This one event, in world history, has separated all the people for fear of this disease. The panic amongst our leaders was real and effective. No one would go near each other for fear of catching the disease and/or dying. What it created is an atmosphere of fear and distrust. People are using the first thing that disconnected us, the cell phone, to talk to each other. We are social beings and need to communicate and fellowship with each other. Even though we think differently, there is a need in us to be with each other. And when that need is not met, we begin to have emotional and physical problems. There is in this country a rampant emotional problem, that rivals Covid-19, it is depression. Depression is caused by not having your emotional needs met. The saddest thing I have ever seen is a person that is lonely in the middle of a group of people. Being disconnected is not a by-product of the pandemic, it is the purpose of it. The whole exercise is about controlling the population and changing people’s attitudes. It is time to reconnect with our fellow man. To begin talking to each other and meeting that social need of communication, face to face. As the commercial says, try it, you will like it.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1537@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

For years now the struggle against authority has been raging. I can’t say that rebellion began in the 1960’s, but it came of age in America. I grew up in a conservative home. My parents tried to teach me self-constraint. It was like water on a duck’s back. It didn’t really take effect until my rebellion started to cost me. I will tell you the truth, it cost me a lot. I wouldn’t listen until I was almost 30 years old. That is because I was so close to death. I had burned down everything that was good and true in my life. I finally figured out that my parents weren’t as dumb as I thought they were. Each person has to come to that reality or they will lose their life, literally. Authority is portrayed as something useless. You don’t have to go far in America to see people who have lost the constraint of authority. All you have to look at the mess that was in Missouri and Maryland. Then you can look at people who believe in authority in South Carolina after the church shooting. In the 2015 there were 9 police officers killed in the line of duty in America. If you don’t recognize what this whole plan is I will tell you. It is a plan to discredit God Himself. Without God in charge, who will fix the problems of man? You can see for yourself the failed plans of our government to fix anything. Every great civilization has fallen because of the lack of God in their lives. Soon Christianity will be outlawed in America. What will happen is the fall of America. The church will have to go underground just like the 1st century Christians did. There was a Roman Centurion who went to Jesus to ask for help. His servant was sick. As the soldier approached Jesus, he began to ask for help. Jesus said I would go to his house. The soldier said, I am a man under authority. All I have to say is to do this or that and it is done. He ask Jesus just to speak the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus said, I haven’t found so great a faith in all of Israel. You can’t be in authority without being under authority.

Crain Blanchard
joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com

I have been listening to music of my youth. I like ballads more than anything else. As I listened I remember my youth and wasted time I spent. I can see all the opportunities that I had. I am listening to Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle”. We all want our lives to count for something. We don’t want to be irrelevant. This is where our family comes into play. The support they give encourages us to go on. Sometimes you can get lost in the world. The saddest thing is to be lonely in midst of people. This is where we need to seek help to live the way we are suppose to. As I watch programs on TV that talk about getting needed help for depression, I think about how lonely they are. We were never made to be alone. We are social beings and need each other. Jesus walk around doing good so that people would not feel alone. God’s word always talks about how much that He loves us and wants to share His life with us. That hole in your heart can only be filled with Jesus. There is no other thing in this world that will satisfy your heart. We can block off the world and people from our lives, but we can never live alone.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is the song “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce.

What are your limits? How far will you go to achieve your goals? Do you know what you want to do with your life? Can you see yourself doing what you dream about? Have you achieved your goals yet? These are important questions in your life. And what you do with them will make the difference in reaching your goals or not. Do you ever think about your life and whether you are accomplishing anything? You can ask anyone if your dream is real and achievable. Most will say no. But there will be a few people that will encourage you to go on. Listen carefully to what is being said, then choose the right way to accomplish your dream. Everything depends on you and your choices. Do I dare to pursue my dreams, even if no one agrees with you? You cannot let your fears stop you. What will happen if you pursue your dream and it fails? Edison tried 2000 ways to make a light bulb, before he discovered the right way. Do you know what Edison said about his light bulb? He said, I found 2000 ways how not to make a light bulb. Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. In his home, that is a museum today, the light bulbs he invented 143 years ago are still burning bright. So, what are your limitations? Do your limitations make any sense? Then what is stopping you from your dreams?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In the military, there is an expression. Soldiers that are causalities but can still walk around are called the walking wounded. I served in the military and have dealt with wounded soldiers. When my sons served in the military, my wife and I were in the Family Readiness Group. We helped soldiers and their families. The wounds that war creates are sometimes deep and hard to overcome. One of my sons suffers from survivor’s guilt. It shows itself in PTSD. It is hard sometimes just to live normally. But he is not the only person to suffer because of it. The family of wounded soldiers suffers along with their soldier. God never said that life would be easy. He said that it would be simple. There is nothing more devastating than a wounded heart. And sometimes it is a long process to overcome that wounded heart. You become vulnerable and try to protect yourself from everyone. There are trust issues. When I came to know the Lord, it took time for me to see what God was offering and to accept it. My life was in a death spiral. I needed help greater that anyone could offer. That is when God intervened. There are many walking wounded in this country and they never serve a day in the military. If you look around with your heart, you will see these people and have compassion. That is the only way to reach the walking wounded with compassion. Just as God had compassion on us, when He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We all live our lives thinking that we won’t die. It is because we are part mortal and part immortal. The mortal part is our body, our flesh. The immortal part is our spirit. Both parts were joined together at conception by God and they are separated at death. The mistake is made thinking that our flesh, body, is immortal. If you remember what a preacher says at a funeral, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. We are made of the dust of the earth and will return to that state when we die (Genesis 3:19). But our spirit is immortal and will return to God. Our spirit is our mind, will and intellect. It is who we are. Now when we die, the place we will go to is our choice, heaven or hell. We have to make that choice when we are alive. Because after we die, it is God’s choice. We don’t choose while we are alive, don’t expect to live in heaven. You see there is only 2 choices, heaven or hell. To go to heaven, we have to choose God while we are alive. Life or death is a reality for us. We are mortal and live for a certain time on earth. So, I ask you to choose God and live in this world and to be able to live in heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Time has been called many things, seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years etc. And we know that time is linear. It only goes in one direction and when it is spent, it is over. We spend so much time trying to save time, only to find out it cost us more time. How many times have you said that your life has gone by in a blink of an eye. Did time accelerate and we did not notice? Or does our brain only perceive the present time? So, how can we stop the advancement of time in our lives? It is impossible to stop time. It will run until time runs out. Yes, there is an end to time, and I am not sure that I want to see that time. The time of the future is uncertain, and the time of the past is gone. We can not change the past, but the future time is ours to change. We have the ability to make changes in our lives, good or bad. The question is what will you do with the time you have left? I know from my life, that it takes courage to change the time we have left. Nobody’s life is perfect. There are flaws that seem to be built into us. It always seems so hard to change our lives. But the strangest thing about changing our lives is that we are the only one that can do it. Many people will try to change our lives, but we are the only one to make that choice. It called free will. It is a gift that God gave to us and is the only reason that God choose to give us a change at redemption. So, the question is what are you going to do with the remaining time in your life? Will you choose God or not?

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We were made kings and priest unto God through the work of the cross of Jesus. But most believers do not understand office and position of king and priest. A king works incessantly for his kingdom. And a priest is ever before his God making intercession for the people of the kingdom. Throughout history there has been few kings and priests. But the one that comes to mind is King David of Israel. He is called a man after God’s own heart. He always tried to live the way God wanted him to. And if he got into trouble, he knew where to go to find the answer. He was always before God to fulfill his duty as king and priest. David never wanted to be king of Israel. God chose him to serve as king and priest, because the Israelites needed a man that would do what is right before God. Now God has called us to be kings and priests in this world. God gave us dominion over this earth as sons of God. And to pray for people to be healed, delivered and to receive salvation from God. So, what is the sticking point for you? Where is your commitment to the kingdom? Through personal sacrifice and persistence, King David ruled Israel with great diligence. Do you know your part in the kingdom of God? Now is the time, today is the day of salvation.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was listening to music from the 60’s and heard a song that I use to play all the time. It had harmonies that I still like. It also reminded me when I was in high school.

We look around in this world to find harmonies. Things that go together perfectly, a beautiful sunset with all the colors of the clouds or a babbling brook set in green mountains. With the chaos of our lives, harmony brings peace to our soul. We hear the sounds of children playing in the park and see them running around. There is harmony there. Or we see the bliss of young love or of old love as an older couple walking side by side holding hands. There are many ways to find harmony in our lives. But it seems that the harmony does not last. It is a temporary thing that comes and goes. Until I was 28 years old, I looked for this harmony or peace in my life. I looked everywhere and almost became an alcoholic because of it.

Some friends introduced me to a harmony or peace that I thought I would never have. When I found that peace, I knew that I had found what I was looking for. It is funny how that works. When you find something real, you know it. The only harmony that was lasting was centered around one person and that of Jesus Christ. He said, Peace or harmony I give you, not as the world gives. When I accepted the gift that Jesus offered me, I accepted peace in my life. I found a peace or harmony that passes all understanding.

Below is a link to the song I was listening to. Enjoy the music. It is a blast from the past.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com