In Matthew 14:15-21, Jesus was teaching in a desert place. There were 5000 men, not including women and children. It was getting late in the day. The disciples came to Jesus and said that these people need to go and get food, while they can. Jesus said to have the multitude sit down. He told them that they would feed them. The disciples said all they had was 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus said bring it to Me. He pray over the food, then broke it and gave to the disciples to hand out. When the people had finished eating, the disciples gathered 12 baskets of fragments. Faith isn’t about what you can do. Faith is about what God can do for you. We don’t possess the power to change anything. What we do possess is faith, believing and trusting, that God will honor His word. All things are possible when you believe. And Jesus did miracles because people believed.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 14:1-14, Herod had news of jesus and all the miracles. Herod thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. He had beheaded John for speaking against his wife. Jesus left Jerusalem when John was beheaded. Jesus and the disciples went into a desert place. Many people followed Jesus into the desert. Jesus healed everyone that came and asked. Even then people wanted to kill Him. But it wasn’t the time to reveal Himself. God arranges our life. Even Jesus’s life was directed by God. We have a choice to make. We have to choice what we are going to do, every minute of every day. Nothing makes us do anything. We have to choose it, either good or bad. Jesus didn’t have to die for us. God gave Him a free will just like us. Jesus chose to die on the the cross. And because He did, God raised Him from the dead and made Him King of kings and Lord of lords. God is still trying to make us kings and priests. But we have to choose this life. No one can make you. Choose life this day.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus had finished teaching and headed home. He taught in His synagogue. The people who knew Him were amazed. They had a hard time believing that Jesus could teach with such wisdom and to do all those miracles. They said we know His family and He is just a carpenter. They didn’t want to believe that Jesus was more than they were. The people became offended. Jesus said that a prophet is without honor in his own country and family. The bible says that Jesus couldn’t do many miracles because of their unbelief.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:47-52, Jesus told 2 parables, the net and the scribe. He said a fisherman cast his net into the sea and caught many fish. He rowed ashore. There he separated the good from the bad. Saving the good and destroying the bad. Jesus said these are the angels that gather the harvest of people and separate the good from the bad. The bad are thrown into the furnace of fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus also talked about the scribe who understands the mysteries of heaven and brings them forth. It’s like bringing out his treasures and sharing. Parables aren’t meant to be understood by everyone. They are meant to be understood by those that seek God. Because only the Holy Spirit will give us understanding. So, Jesus spoke in parables, dark sayings.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus speaks about the same subject twice. It’s the parables of the treasure and the pearl. The person who finds the treasure and the pearl, hides it. Then goes and sells everything he has and buys the treasure and the pearl. You have to look at this 2 different ways, God’s and ours. God’s way is the He sold His all, Jesus, to redeem us, the pearl and treasure, us. And our way is that we sell all we have, which is our life, to purchase the treasure and the pearl, Jesus. It was a dark saying, proverb or parable, to most everyone. He that has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:34-43, Jesus explained why He spoke in parables. He quoted a scripture from Psalms 78:2, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter (dark sayings) things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (KJV). Jesus took the disciples aside to house where they were staying. He began to explain the parable of the tares. Jesus said He is the sower. The good seed are the children of the kingdom. The tares are the children of the devil. The Angel’s are the harvesters. The tares will be gathered first and thrown into hell. The children of God will be gathered into heaven. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

A parable is a proverb. In Matthew 13:33-35, Jesus told the parable of the leaven. A parable or proverb is a dark saying. To understand them, you must seek God. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t understand the bible. Jesus began to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom. Even the disciples at this point didn’t understand the parables. Jesus had to explain them to the disciples. The parable of the leaven is the word of God recieved in your heart. It begins to grow inside of you. So much so, that it will change you from the inside out. You become a different person. One that is useable in the work of the kingdom. Jesus is the bread of life. We become little Jesus’s or Christian’s. Only the people who sought God would understand the parables. This is one of the mysteries of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus talks about the mustard seed. It is a very tiny seed, but grows to almost a tree. Jesus was saying to never judge a person by their size or heart. Because of what a person can grow into. A friend, from high school, was the worst student and so much trouble that they graduated him to get rid of him. He got to college and caught fire. He graduated with a doctorate in Petroleum engineering. He is a fine man and a good Christian. One of his many accomplishments is a abortion counseling clinic. I would have never thought it. Jesus said those who are last shall be first. In God’s hand all things are possible. In the parable, Jesus said that the birds of the air lodge in the branches of the mustard plants. Meaning that we as believers will help the world find rest for the weary. All this from a little mustard seed.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:24-30, is the parable of the sower that sows wheat in his field. Then the enemy comes and sows tares or weeds in the same field. You can’t tell the difference until they begin to produce fruit. As Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. The sower didn’t want to disturb the wheat growing by pulling up the tares. So He said let them grow together. At harvest time, gather the wheat into the barns and tares into the fire. Jesus is talking about this world. There is good and bad in this world. We will live in this world with both. It is up to us and with God’s help to be productive to be gathered home with Jesus. It’s hard for me to be surprised by evil. It’s a constant thing in this world. But I’m always amazed by the hand of God. I look for God in every situation and I find Him there. He always goes before me and makes that path for me to walk on. So, I follow in faith and stay on the right path.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Andre Boutte, French and Indian War, 1763.

Francois Boutte, Louisiana Militia, American Revolution, 1775.

Calvin and Luther Blanchard, Massachusetts Minute-Men, 1775.

Thomas Blanchard, North Carolina Militia, 1776.

Thomas Newton, Commissioner, US Navy, 1776.

Thomas O. Blanchard, War of 1812.

Francois Boutte, War of 1812, Battle of New Orleans, 1814.

Albert G. Blanchard, Maj. General, 9^th Louisiana, CSA 1861.

Calvin and Ebenezer Carson, 16 Alabama Cavalry, CSA 1861

Carey Edward Blanchard, 17^th Texas Brigade, CSA 1864.

William P. Blanchard, 71^st Inf., US Army 1941.

Neal Blanchard, Doctor, US Army, 1941.

Dyer Blanchard, US Navy, 1941.

Hal McGown, Lt. General US Army, Korea and Vietnam, 1948.

Felix Castille, 1^st Marines, Korea, 1951.

Charles Blanchard, US Air Force, Vietnam.

William Carson Blanchard, US Army Medic, Vietnam.

Burl Crain Blanchard, US Air Force, Vietnam.

Jonathan David Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.

Joel Christopher Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.

Joshua Luke Blanchard, US Air Force, Afghanistan.

Jared Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.

William Preston Blanchard III, US Army, Iraq.

My older brother was a Physician’s Assistant in US Army during the Vietnam War. I served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. Three of my sons and two of my nephews serve in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since my grandfather came to this country in 1637, our family has defended it. My family are patriots. There are a lot of people who have served our country and I am thankful for it. We are blessed by God with a good land to live in. And it is worth defending our country, no matter how bad it seems to be. I just want to thank the men and women who have served our country in the military. It is right to honor them. Have a blessed and safe Memorial Day.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com