Just to get a stupid blaze rod, and when I finally find a blaze, I die because I neglect my hunger bar and get tag teamed by 3 blazes and a ghast

Protip: Rum or Fire Resistance potions.

I can't craft a brewing stand though.

Let's all just go into a corner and cry together!

Protip: Rum or Fire Resistance potions.

So Rum it is

(Hunger bar in minecraft can suck it)...

Dolf is right. The only reason you need a stand and a piece of glowstone dust is in order to distill the drink and make it more potent. Also, I believe you can buy some rods if you just asked around when the server had some people online and possibly get it cheaper than on the market itself.

But my tip for you is: Infinity bow, iron set of armor, don't bring stuff you don't want to loose, bring enough food for the journey, always have a bucket of water in your inventory slot and a stack of blocks, preferably stone or whatever the ghasts cannot go trough.

Got into a hairy situation? Well great! Now you can simply block yourself in and regen some hp. You can also get a double chest on your hot bar and simply note the exact coords as you move trough. Thus, even if you fall in lava you can save the important stuff: food and things you needed from the nether like quartz and blaze rods and merely get them back by returning there.

Also, as I think was mentioned you can buy fire resist potions from players or the market. Or simply ask to use somebody's house with a brewing stand in it until you get potions to get rods for your very own, um... thing...

This one is from February.. At least try looking at the dates before you post replies please.