8 years ago my younger brother was dying of lung cancer. He discovered he had cancer in January and died in July. When I found out, I was at his side every evening. The cancer treatment was ruff on him. The cancer had caused his bones to weaken. Both of his femur bones, his legs, were broken. The doctors had to do surgery on his legs before they could start the chemo treatments. After the surgery, the doctors wanted him out of bed and walking. Everyday the nurses walked him through the cancer ward which was one whole floor of the hospital. What my brother saw was that most cancer patients were alone and had no flowers in their room. He looked at all the flowers in his room and told the nurses to bring his flowers to their rooms. Then he got his sons to start a memorial golf tournament to raise money to put flowers in the rooms of cancer patients. He did this while dying of cancer himself. It is called the Bill Blanchard Memorial Golf tournament and it is held every two years in Lafayette, La. The last tournament raised $10,000.

I was with Bill until he died. We had many a discussion about life and death. Also we discussed God and Jesus. But about a week before he died, he was at home. We were talking and he asked me if it hurts to die. I looked at him and began to explain what the word of God says about death. It is the most feared thing in this life. People are afraid of death because they don’t know Jesus. But to anyone that is a believer, there is no fear. But the bible does say that believers will close their eyes in peace, in death, and open them in the arms of God. I told brother that death is just a doorway to the other side of life. The pain is in this side of life because of our flesh. You see our flesh is made of the dust of the earth and is cursed by God himself. God cursed the earth in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned against God.

Bill was at home with his family around him, when he closed his eyes and opened them in heaven. Death is not something to fear. It is our way home. This life we have on earth is just temporary. Home is heaven. And when we cross over that barrier, we wont feel any more pain. We will feel the joy and love of God to the fullness. He has been gone for 8 years and I still miss him. And sometimes I wish I was already there, home.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have heard that from the moment you are born, we begin to die. I can understand that somewhat. Our skin continually is shedding the outer layer everyday. Our body rejects anything that doesn’t belong inside of us. But time and age always catches up to us no matter what we do. We look at people from around the world that have lived over a 100 years. But they are an anomaly. With medicines and better living, we have increased the average age lived to from 32 in the 1800s to 73 in the 2000s. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to die.

Life and death are two subjects that people seemed to be obsessed with. If it isn’t trying to live longer, it’s glorifying death so that we seem more important. The bible has different views on life and death. It says in Proverbs, life and death are in the power of the tongue. It also says that if you don’t bridle your tongue, you can’t control your life. It’s interesting that our tongue has a direct influence upon our life or death. And if you don’t think that is true, just look at people that you know that don’t control their tongues. In Ephesians, it says to obey you parents that you may live long on this earth. That is a direct correlation to the length of our lives.

It’s funny, interesting, how God seems to be interested in how long we live on the earth. And He delineates what will cut off our lives prematurely. And all of this decision making comes right back to what we do and say. So, we are in charge of our lives and have to make the right decisions to, 1, stay alive and 2, live a long life. Life and death are not only in the tongue, but also in what we do with our lives.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The bible says that Jesus made everything including earth. After God set everything up and gave it to man, man rejected God. It was by God’s will that the earth and mankind be made to share with Him all that God has. God has continually tried to bring man back into the fold. God has not given up on mankind. But mankind has given up on God. Ever since Adam and Eve received the knowledge of good and evil, man has declared his godhood. He can do what ever he wants. The only problem with that is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Then mankind does not have the power to correct his mistakes. In which they lead to death and destruction. That is why there is so much devastation in this world.

God has from the beginning intervened in the affairs of man. He has tried and with some success, helped man to create a stable world to live in. It is funny, interesting, that man knows and proclaims who the devil is. But is unwilling to confess the same for God. In 1982, a US Congressman, who was dying of cancer, tacked a bill on the wall of Congress for anyone to sign. This bill would proclaim that 1983 was the Year of the Bible in the US. It didn’t go through any committee or any debate. It was just up to the Congressmen and Senators to sign if they wanted it to become law. Well it passed and the President Reagan signed into law. It was the first time in 2000 years that any government had acknowledged God. The GNP for the US increased by 100% over the passed 20 years. People became wealthy by the will of God.

The bible is a written history of what God has said and done for mankind. In every case, those people who did the will of God have prospered. And those who did not, fail in their efforts. We ,with free will, have to decide if we are going to do the will of God. God did not make His will complicated. He made it simple for man to follow. But we have to decide what we are going to do. I would ask you and implore you to follow God. This is the only way that we will succeed in this life and in the world to come. Yes there is another world. It only has two place to go to. There are heaven, God’s home, and hell, the devil’s home. God does not send anyone to hell. Anyone who goes to hell has to choose to go there. Although God is sovereign with all power to do anything, we have to choose where we are going after death on this earth. God’s will is there for anyone to choose. And I highly recommend to follow God home to heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam war. I went to basic training like everyone else. I went on to advanced training school. Then I was assigned to my post. I left home not knowing what to expect. Even when I was at my post, I still did not understand what it took to go to war. The basic training I received was just that. It was the basic knowledge of being in the military. Training for war was more of advanced than that. Also the knowledge of war or the understanding of that knowledge had to be experienced. I was stationed state-side for my tour in the Air Force. Three of my sons served in the Iraqi and Afghanistan war. Two came back with PTSD. They all understood what it took to go to war. They had experienced the trauma of war. It’s been 15 years since they served and are coping with the understanding of war.

War is not natural to man. It goes against everything that we are. It takes a little bit by bit of our heart each time anyone serves in the front lines. But it is a conscious decision on our part to go to war. It is not surprising that many people choose not to go to war. There are cost to war. The bible says that before a king goes to war, he sits down and counts the cost. To see if he is able to wage the war and win. If not he sues for peace. This comes from an understanding of war.

Jesus calls us to be good soldiers to put on the armor of God to fight the enemy. Many people when they first start with God are on fire and press against the enemy. I have watched them falter and stop their fight with the enemy. The cost became to high for them. They saw and understood the cost of war. Jesus fought the fight everyday. He did not stop just because the devil was pressing in on Him. People say He is God and can do that. Jesus proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that man can live righteously on this earth. He was a man was all the frailties. The bible says that Jesus learned obedience by things which He suffered. God’s call to man comes with many promises. These promises can be had if we stand up and press into God. It all depends on what you decide to do. Whether to go to war and follow Jesus or not. Yes it does cost us everything we have, our life. But once you have given your life, what else can the enemy take from you? He can’t take anything from you because God has promised.

I saluted all the men and women who have served their country with honor. Some paid the ultimate price. But all gave their lives to serve with duty and honor. God bless you all.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com