What do you enjoy?

Posted on by under Uncategorized

What is the most enjoyable thing that you can do? Enjoyable means having delight or pleasure in something that you do and when you think about it afterwards. What delights your heart? Is it a walk in the park? Or having a good meal? Maybe, it’s your grandchildren. Think about the most enjoyable time you have had in the past year. What do you see? Why am I asking about this particular subject. It is because what you think about or see with your mind is who you are.

Our lives are made up of everything that we have experienced through sight, sound, touch, smell and hearing. If you think it doesn’t matter what you experience, you are wrong. I am not saying that we don’t go into the world and learn who we are. I am saying that we need to be careful what we do. All the input into our hearts and minds develops our character as a human being. Did you ever wonder why a person who has lead a hard life looks so aged and weary of life. Their experiences have taken a toll on their being. We can think on good things without it being pie in the sky attitude. I like to watch the clouds that form for every different situation. I like watching and thinking about my children or grandchildren play. These situations are ever changing, but there is a constant to them.

There is nothing wrong with our senses being engaged with something good and thinking about them. There is so much that is wrong in this world. So, why dwell on these things. Look for the good in everything. And when you see, hear, feel, taste or smell it, it will be enjoyable to you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What can you see?

Posted on by under Uncategorized

It’s not surprising that people don’t see with their eyes wide open. I know what it is like to live from day to day, being oblivious of the world around me. I would get up and go to work, then come home not ever interacting with people around me. I always said hello or goodby or please or thank you, but never really talking or seeing about people. I was more concerned with the pain in my heart than anything else. People didn’t come into focus until I started questioning my life and situation. I missed out on a lot opportunities that were in front of my face.

When I opened my eyes to see what was around me, I saw so many things. I saw that others were going through the same things I was going through. I didn’t feel so alone anymore. Then I started listening to people and heard their life’s story. As I heard these stories, I saw that people just wanted someone to listen to them. I would talk to strangers about anything and most people responded to me. If I just listened, people would tell me who they are within 10 minutes. It amazed me.

If you want people to respond to you, listen to them. Don’t try to tell them your agenda, just listen. Eventually, after you have listen to them, they will be willing to listen to you. Some will hear what you are saying, but not all. And if you keep listening to them, they will see who you are and be willing to hear what you have to say. So, what to you see? Are you willing to listen to hear enough to see what is around? Hearing and Seeing are tied together. So, what do you see?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How Coincindences Work.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

This is how coincidences work through events happening without any of the same apparent causes. Let’s look at the life of Joseph, the eleventh of twelve sons of Israel, Jacob. Benjamin was Joseph’s younger brother. Jacob protected Benjamin, being the baby of the family. But he also favored Joseph, because he was first son of his favorite wife, Rachel. When Jacob blessed his children right before he died, he called Benjamin a ravenous wolf. Jacob didn’t do right by his other ten sons, who were the sons of Rachel’s sister Leah. When God chose Joseph to be the one who saved his family, God gave him a dream about how Joseph would do it. Jacob also gave Joseph a coat of many colors. Which showed the other brothers that he was the favorite son.

One day when Joseph was out in the field with his brothers, he told them about the dream God gave to him. His brothers had had enough and plotted to kill Joseph and blame it on a wolf. Reuben stopped them from killing Joseph and instead sold him into slavery to an Egyptian. Eventually Joseph was sold to Potiphar and then put into prison for thirteen years. By the hand of God, Joseph could interpret dreams. He interpreted a dream for a servant of Pharaoh, who was restored to service with Pharaoh.

God gave Pharaoh two separate dreams which no one could interpret. Finally, the servant that Joseph helped spoke up to Pharaoh about him interpreting dreams. They took Joseph out of prison, cleaned him up and presented him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh told him the two dreams and Joseph said they are one and the same from God. Joseph gave him the answer and Pharaoh made him Prime Minister of Egypt.

Eventually the famine that God showed Pharaoh came. Joseph had prepared Egypt against famine. They stored enough food to save not only Egypt but the rest of the known world. This made Egypt very rich and powerful. Famine came to Canaan and Jacob, Israel, had his sons to go to Egypt and buy food. They appeared before Joseph twice before telling them who he was. When he revealed himself to them he told them this:

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

There are no coincidences with God. It may have seemed that the two events were unrelated, but God prepared a way to save as many people as possible through Joseph. God is still making a way for people not only to survive, but to live through His planning.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Fourth of July.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

This is the day that our fore fathers declared our Independemce from England for multiple reason. It was the first time that our nation wrote down a list of freedoms that we wanted and were willing to fight for. One thing that the founding fathers wrote was the all men are created equal. It was the first time in history that was written down. But sadly it took almost 200 years this to become true in American life. There are many rights and laws written down that we still struggle for. The founding fathers wrote down many things that had not come true, knowing that we as nation would have to fight for thoses rights. The expression, Freedom is not free, is true for all Americans. The responsibility each American bears to preserve those God-given rights is on going. This is why we as a nation have had so many wars.

It seems that when the next generation forgets what freedom is about, we have a war. Wars seems to correct our attitudes about our responsibilities we are to bear for this nation. Preserving our freedoms is not the other fellow business. we are responsible to this nation and our fellowman to carry the load. How many family members served voluntarily or were drafted into the military. Since the founding of this country, my family has served to defend it’s principles. What we all have learned is that the struggle is just as important as the peace. It defines who we are as a people. So, as you enjoy your family get together with bar-b-que or whatever food you choose, remember the men and women who gave their lives or their youth for you to enjoy your Fouth of July.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Fear and Doubt.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I don’t have to introduce you to fear and doubt. They are old and familiar friends that we were raised with. I wouldn’t call them friends, because they always got us into more trouble. As much as we don’t want them around, they were always there in times of trouble. When we couldn’t see a way out, they would stick close to us. Fear has been clinically proven to cause heart attacks. Doubt will stop us dead in our tracks from doing anything productive. Fear and doubt are the opposite of faith and hope.

I should say hope and faith. It is hope that we receive first. Hope that our lives can be changed into something better. Hope is the promise of the future. It is what leads to believing in ourselves and someone greater. Usually hope comes when we hit the wall running and fall down nearly dead. We come to ourselves hoping for an answer that will solve our problems. If we see that there is an answer that will resolve our pain and misery, we being to hope. Hope is a fleeting thing. It will not last forever. If we decide to accept the way out of our problems, then our hope will grow. Then when we see our problems being solved, we begin to believe and our hope becomes stronger. Then our hope becomes faith.

In the beginning, it is always hope and faith are sketchy. We are looking for proof that our lives will change. But once we have decided to follow the plan to change our lives, then we will see the proof we need to believe what God says it true. It doesn’t mean that our faith will not be tested. What it does mean is that our hope and faith can grow into what God wants for us. Anything that we receive without any adversity isn’t worth having. So hope and faith come by adversity, knowing that we have decided on the God’s plan to change our lives for the better.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Why would God create and sustain mankind?

Posted on by under Uncategorized

When God created mankind, He knew that man would fail. How did He know this? His 1/3rd angels that He created rebelled against Him. God had to expelled them from heaven. Knowing this God made man anyway. Why would He do this? The scripture that always comes up explaining this phenomenon is very familiar to everyone. People have heard up signs with this scripture everywhere. There was even a US court case about that very scripture. It was ruled that holding up a sign with the scripture name and number wasn’t illegal, no matter where it was. I bet you can guess the scripture I am talking about.

“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

So, what does this scripture say? It says that God loves this world, mankind and creation, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. This was to allow mankind to come home again. And anyone that accepts God’s offer of clemency, can enter into heaven once again. You talk about faith in this world. God’s faith that man would accept His offer, from the offset, seems risky at best. So, what makes the difference in this offer? It is the love of God. It is how far God will go to bring us back home again.

So, let me ask you a question. How is heaven our home in the first place? We were wonderfully and perfectly made by God. Our spirit, who we are, is immortal and comes from God. This is what will return to heaven to be with God. Earth is temporary and will disappear in the end. Our home will be either heaven or hell. Heaven is where the children of God reside. Hell was made for the devil and his angels and all the people who don’t chose God’s offer. As individuals, we have a choice to make, whether or not to chose God. With that choice, it decides where we are going to living eternally. I chose to accept God’s offer and to live in the kingdom of His dear son, Jesus.

It has been written out for us for over 4000 years. It is called the bible. Read for yourselves and decide whether God is telling the truth or not.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Our Soldiers and Veterans.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I have four sons. Three of them served Operation Iraqi Freedom. My older brother and I served during Vietnam War. I have a cousin that died serving during the Vietnam War. I have a cousin that died in Korea with the 1st Marines. My dad and his two brothers served during WWII. Whenever there was a need for soldiers, my family answered the call. The average age of a soldier is in the military is 18. That means they are giving their youth to serve their country. My family served as Minute Men in Massachusetts and in the Atchafalaya Militia during the American Revolution.

During each and every war that America served in, men gathered to answer the call. When they gathered, their families were there to see them off. The families did not know whether or not they would see their sons again. So they laughed and cried and cheered them on. Do you know how many times since the founding of our country that families gathered to see their sons of to war?

I want to tell you about an experience that I had when we saw our second son off to the Iraqi war. We were gathered with many families. Some were crying, some were laughing and everybody was being brave for their soldier. We got there about two hours before they left. The longer I was there, I kept hearing a song go through my head. I couldn’t shake the song out of my head. In fact, it got louder. The song was from the American Revolution called “Johnnie has gone for a soldier”. The more I heard the song, I looked around and thought about how many times families have gathered to send the children off to war. And how we were no different than those families in the American Revolution. As much as we say that things have changed, they still remain the same.

I am proud that my children have served and that my family has served also. Honor the men and women that serve our country. They have given their youth for your freedom.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Uncertainty principle of our lives.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

The principle says that the more something becomes certain, the more everything else becomes uncertain. It is like all things, atoms, are in motion. And they will fly apart if there isn’t a stabilizing element to everything. There is truth to the principle. If you look at mankind throughout the ages, you can see how uncertain or unstable he is. Man has never been able to keep the peace anywhere for any length of time. War always breaks out somewhere. This is a fundamental flaw in mankind. Man doesn’t have the power to overcome this flaw. Mankind can hid this flaw only for a certain period of time. Then it crops up and destroys everything around them. Peace isn’t an attribute of man.

So, why is it that mankind can’t live in peace? It is because we are born flawed or defective. God made us with this hole in our makeup. The only way to fill that hole in our makeup is through obedience to God’s way. As smart as man is, we are powerless to change our makeup. Do you remember all the self-help books that came out? The premise for each book was that we, mankind, can change our destiny through determination. It is a half-truth. Just like the half-truths that the devil spoke to Jesus in the wilderness. They seem to be truthful, but are a trap.

If we, mankind, align ourselves with God and accept His plan, God will use His power to change our lives for the better. We don’t have the power, only God does. Then our uncertain world becomes certain, if we follow after God and obey. This is where determination comes into play.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This Day in June.

Posted on by under Uncategorized

What do you remember about this day in June? I remember the end of school and summer camp. In high school, I remember working each summer delivering newspapers 6 days a week. I remember missing a vacation trip my parents to California to go to college. My life is filled with memories about every stage of my life. As each period of my life transformed, I saw the future and was uncertain what would happen to me. But I never backed down. I didn’t care if I stumbled and fell. I would get up and go again. I was determined not to stop, even if it killed me. Then one summer, I sat and listened to 2 men about Jesus. It fascinated me that these men lived a life that I rarely saw. I listened intently. And finally decided this life was for me. So, when they asked me to go to church with them, I had already made up my mind.

My life in Christ has never been easy. There has been ups and downs. But I have been determined to follow Jesus, no matter where He leads me. I remember the first time I realized that He was talking to me. I was so excited that God cared enough to want to talk to me. I never thought that I was anyone special to God. But I was wrong. I am a son of God. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus died and was resurrected for me. And not only for me, but for everyone. And the sad part about all of this is that not everyone will chose to follow Christ. God said that Jesus will not return to this earth until the gospel is preached to every creature. So, that everyone will have the opportunity to accept God’s plan and return home. Praise God.

So, remember today what God has done for you and chose to go home to heaven to be with God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Truth!

Posted on by under Uncategorized

Everybody talks about how their reality is truth and everybody else’s is a lie. Our perception of the truth is as far as we can see. Sometimes that’s at the end of our nose. People get disillusioned when their truth is proven wrong. Did you know that the #1 illness in the world today isn’t cancer. It is depression. This is what happens when our belief system fails. Yes we are talking about the same thing. When our truth or belief fails, it causes depression. This is how human beings function in this world. Unless our belief system is based on a truth that is real, we will become disillusioned. Truth is based on a fragile hope that it will change our lives for the better. The cares of this world will trash our hope unless it is based on a faith that can’t be shaken. What kind of faith is that? It is a faith that is based upon proven reality. When our faith in truth comes true, we perceive that it is a reality. When it continually comes true, we see that our faith is justified. This doesn’t mean that our faith isn’t tested. Sometimes it seems that our faith is pressed to our limit of endurance. This is when we find out if our faith is justified or not. So, what is this truth that I am talking about?

I have only found one truth that is real enough for my lifetime. His name is Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father(God), but by Me. This truth has been proven in my life for over 40 years. It is very simple for anyone to be able to receive this truth. God said, turn to Me and repent and I will forgive and restore you. This is truth!

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com