Tag Archives: jesus

There is Nothing New under the Sun!

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Almost 3000 years ago King Solomon lived. His reign was extraordinary. Solomon was and has been the richest man ever to live on earth. The Temple was clad in gold. His guards were dressed better than any king or queen. All of his gold was kept inside the walls of Jerusalem. The silver was dumped on the ground outside the walls. He control the known world. His rule stretched from China to Britain. Solomon is the only man to do this, because of God’s gift to him. God gave Solomon wisdom beyond any man including today. Kings and Queens would travel to Jerusalem just to hear him speak. He wrote the book of Proverbs in one day.

Yet with all this wisdom, He said, that with much wisdom comes great sorrow. Solomon could see what people were thinking about as they went about their daily lives. He could see their suffering and pain and understood why. The wisdom didn’t control him, but it began to weigh heavily on him. Reading what he wrote in the beginning of his reign and what he wrote in the end, you would say it isn’t the same man.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written before his death. It is a no nonsense approach to living. It is very matter of fact. There is hardly any emotion in the book at all. Solomon had become jaded of life. It is because he saw too much of the good and bad in life. The book is true none the less.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun. What had gone before shall be again. Thus the saying that history repeats itself. What Solomon saw in humanity is the sin nature of man. That nature that always wants to do evil in this world. It brought him much sorrow. Solomon saw that education, enough food and a stable government didn’t change anything. And people weren’t willing to listen to God and follow Him. There were some, because God has always had His people. But people looked to Solomon as their savior.

Solomon understood the truth. That man can’t live without God. As God spoke to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” What was true 3000 years ago and is true today. For you see, there is nothing new under the sun.

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How do we learn?

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Most people would just say in school. Thinking about our formal education. But how much of the knowledge that you learned in school did you retain in life? For most people we have retain some of the knowledge, but how many people have retain that knowledge? The knowledge didn’t become real until they applied it to a practical application. When they took the knowledge and did something with it. How many people remembered the first time you applied your knowledge and it went wrong. You messed up something important. And the world came down on you. Then what happened? We had to face the truth of our reality. More experienced people had to step in the correct our mistaken. If we were blessed, we had someone who could guide us in the right path. Some didn’t. But in either case, you remembered how to apply the knowledge we learned. Even if it is years later, you still remember how to apply the knowledge in a workable way.

Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom. Wisdom = Discretion. This is the application of Proverbs. Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs in one day. He asked God for wisdom to rule Israel. God gave him the wisdom of the ages. He understood the workings of mankind. He saw how everything worked and fit together. No one could trick him. Kings and Queens of many nations travel to Jerusalem to see and understand the wisdom of God. Many people have tried to rule the whole, but only one man has ever ruled the world. That man was Solomon. Through the wisdom of God, Solomon conquered, made treaties with and received tribute from all the nations of the known world. He was the richest man to ever live. Solomon kept all the gold inside the walls of Jerusalem. He dumped the silver on the ground outside the city.

So Solomon past on the wisdom of the ages and taught Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom. Wisdom = Discretion.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There are Good and Bad Conseqences.

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Consequences, most people think about bad ones instead of good ones. There are both good and bad consequences. Sometimes making a bad choice turns into a good one. Those are few and far between. For the most part, we think that our decisions are the right ones. The bible says that man thinks he is right in his own eyes. Until everything goes south quickly. Then we are in fix it mode and try not to tell anyone about. Unless it is monumental and we can’t get out of it. I am not saying that everything we choose is bad. The good is mixed in there with the bad. Unfortunately there is more bad than good. And you know that this is true.

I am writing this because my mother in law died last Saturday. Her life, as far as I saw was that mixture of good and bad. I have plenty of good memories about her, but the bad memories have influenced her family far greater than the good ones. My wife would go to her aunt for advice and comfort, knowing that she could not or would not talk to her mother about whatever. My mother in law had progressive dementia the last few years of her life. My father in law is a decent man, but he also made good and bad choices. Everyone has. There is no getting out of them, unless God changes the circumstances. Both my father and mother in law are Christians. I have seen them live a life for Jesus. So I know where my mother in law is, in heaven. Her trials and tribulations are over. I am grieving for my mother in law. Not only for her absence, but for our family and the legacy that she left behind.

When we think that we are completely right, that is when we need to look at what we have done in this world. To see whether or not it was right. Or whether we need to change our ways. We need to stop and consider what our decisions have done to our family and in general the world around us. And if we judge rightly with the wisdom of God then we can be satisfied with the decisions we have made. God bless and keep you wherever you go.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When Time runs out?

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What will you do when time runs out? Just like an hour glass, time will run out for everyone. We are given by God a certain about of time. We can do whatever with of lives until time runs out. Then what is going to happen to us? It is a very valid question that everyone must answer. No one can escape answering the question. People put off answering that question until they understand it’s all over for them. Then reality sets in as they see their lives clearly. What they did or did not do in their lives. It is an unsettling dilemma. People have to face that dilemma with uncertainty. Not knowing what is going to happen to them if they don’t settle the issue of their life.

How can we settle the issue or even know what is going to happen? Why do we know about or even be concerned with this issue? There is a hole in our being. To become whole we have to try to fill that hole with something. I have watched people fill that hole with money, power, sex, drugs or anything that they think will fill that hole. The only problem is that hole was designed by God to be filled with only one thing, God Himself.

It is said the people fear death because of this hole and are held in bondage to it. This is when people become slaves to money, power, sex, drugs or anything that they can fill that hole with.

So how do we break free from this bondage and fill that hole in our lives? There is a plan in place for us that is over 6000 years old. It was there at the beginning of time for every human being. God finished the work for us about 2000 years ago. This work was done for us because God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. His only begotten son is Jesus Christ. And all we have to do is to turn to Him and repent of our sins and believe in Him. This will fill that hole in your life and assure you of the life to come when time runs out.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Power of Words.

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We learn to speak when we are young. We can’t wait to able to speak. Many times I have seen small children run around screaming with other children. They were not saying a word, but they were communicating with each other. It can get irritating because of the noise level. But communicating is a real need in our lives. We strive to be understood and become frustrated when we are not. Some people are chatter boxes, while some don’t say two word. Have you ever met someone that didn’t say anything, but you knew what he was saying anyway? It’s interesting how that works. We learn communication all of our lives. Yet, some things are a puzzle.

Words have power. Speaking must be done judiciously. We can encourage, discourage, up lift or destroy with our words. I heard this many years ago, but have found it to be true. You can’t take back hurtful words or reverse what you said. It is like taking a box of feathers to the top of a mountain, then releasing them. Then try to gather all of them back again. You can’t. Our words have a power of its own.

Using our words correctly takes self discipline. We have to learn to speak at the right time. Everybody knows the fable of the boy who cried wolf. In the end, no one believed a word he said. It is important that people can believe what you say. It is not only for your sake, but for others also. This is where using our word correctly comes into play. What if all your words come to pass, just as you have spoken them. I have heard many people say, that kills me or I can’t do that. Guess what, those words come to pass whether or not we want them to. It’s not that we can’t speak. It is speaking the truth and live that way. For as the mouth speaks, so are we.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Fear and Doubt.

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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?

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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

The Uncertainty principle of our lives.

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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.

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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 Call.

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Do you remember when you were young and one of your parents call you home for supper? You heard that distinctive voice and responded to it. There was no mistaking that voice. You knew exactly who that was and responded accordingly. If it was your dad and he called several times. Each time with increasing volume, you ran as fast as you could until he saw you. All time knowing that there was an urgency about that call. Or if your mom or dad called your full name across a crowded room of people talking. You heard that voice clearly. This is the clarity of the call.

Most people don’t think that they hear God’s voice. But this isn’t true. God place in each of us His word or the bible from our birth. And we hear His voice to varying degrees accordingly to how we have responded to that voice. If we have ignored that voice and push it out of our consciousness, that voice begins to dim. And to that point, we can no longer hear the voice of God. It is a scary place to be, because at that point we don’t have any shame only guilt.

I won’t go into details about shame, but God put shame and fear into our hearts as tools to protect us against evil. And the understanding on how to use them correctly. So how many people can say that they hear the voice of God? And if you answer yes, then why aren’t you answering the call? God calls everyone. There isn’t one person on this earth that God doesn’t call home. God isn’t a respecter of persons. Everyone is equal in His eyes. You see, we are His children and He wants us to come home. It is because home is the only place that we will be safe forever. So the next time God calls your name, turn to Him and say, here I am.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com