Value of life

  Very little things surprises me in this world, this is true, but I'm ecstatic when I see that man becomes when he is not in the ways of God, that I am. My God! Actually I have to agree with what the Bible says in 2 Peter 2:22 ... Return the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed back to wallowing in the mire, yes, they go back to the mud and vomit! Thus, there is not much to do but contemplate their shame horrified.

... and reserve for the day of Judgement the wicked, who are already being punished; 10 those who after the flesh, walking in lust of defilement, and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, not afraid to speak evil of dignities, 12 these, like irrational creatures by nature meant to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of you do not understand, perish in their corruption, 13 getting the wages of unrighteousness; men that take pleasure to revel in the day, and cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousness, children of cursing; 15 who, forsaking the right way, they turned away, ... 19 promising them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, the same is made a slave. 20 so if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, them became the last state worse than the first. 21 better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 befallen them so what does this saying true; Return the dog to his vomit and the sow that was washed back to wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:10-22

The spiritual blindness for which again leads to a wasted life, shameful and empty, as they have the knowledge that nothing in this world can supply them, will seek in filling the hours of the day things really silly.

Their desires entice them,  leaving them wrapped in shame and futility. His words exposed to the public (thanks facebook and internet for allowing us to see the inside of certain people because when they sit at your computer, feel free to open their hearts empty, exposing to the world that really the knowledge of God is far and an empty heart that is source of worthlessness and shame. They are embarrassed by them and not realize!) show that the human being is really nothing without God.

In John 9 Jesus encounters a man born blind, and after, say, different approach to healing, allows the end of the physical blindness of the boy, opening a new lease of life! "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth ... spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva, and smeared with mud eyes of the blind man said unto him, Go, wash yourself in the pool of Siloam. And he went and washed, and came seeing. "
Seeing!!!
New doors. Opportunities and new life, no longer dependent on people, from now learn to trust God and rely on his own efforts to win. When people are blind spiritual or mundane, they are dependent ... Dependent on others to be happy, dependent parties and circles of friends. Indulge in vices and create situations that make them more dependent on an infinite circle of emptiness in which they put all their attention, money, thoughts and emotions. They put their lives in a vicious circle empty void that is now all they are, or anything. And because they are blind, don’t see,  just think it's life.  
But dear readers, is not the worst blindness of people like this boy who was born blind, since he was not responsible for your condition, your healing comes, give glory to God for salvation and release. However, the worst blindness belongs to those who say 'I see'. 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus answered them: If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see, your sin remains. Some people have become blinded by their choices. Have abandoned the doctrine of love, compassion, humility and forgiveness to follow the vanity of their hearts and the vain philosophies of the world.
For those who deliberately give up walking with God and choose to return to the mundane, there's not much else to say or add to them, since the Word of God is clear when he says: Hebrews 6 it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, and then fell away, to renew them again unto repentance, because, as they are crucifying again the Son of God, and exposed to public shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God, but if it bears thorns and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing; its goal is to be burned.
We still have time to choose the way in which we follow, or rather to stay on the path already chosen and let not the trifles of this world entice our understanding, for there is much more of God reserved for those who walk with perseverance. Recalling also that it is painful the way of God preach as many out there (1 John 5:3 His commandments are not burdensome)
But you, beloved, we expect better things, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love to his name shows, because they ministered to the saints, and still do minister. Hebrews 6:9,10
Wisdom
Honor
Respect
Peace
Worth and things as such, are not walking in the world nor in its rudiments. Values ​​like theses are added to the lives of people who believe and walk with God.
You are worth far to turn back. Be firm in the presence of God and not let the world put you useless in the same package. We were bought by the Blood of Jesus, are worth much more for sure.

 SAY NO  The Futility AND YES LIFE WITH GOD.

Bridging the Gap

The Pennybacker Bridge is a bridge I drive across twice every day, five days a week.

If I do the math that’s ten times every week.

That totals 490 times every year.

If I multiply that number by the number of years I have worked for the same company that comes to over 9,800 times I have driven across this bridge.

It is a very beautiful structure that crosses a picturesque body of water.

It is a massive steel arch from which are suspended steel cables.

Those cables are, in turn, attached to a gigantic slab of reinforced concrete which is divided into four lanes which allow traffic to travel in both directions without interruption.

This bridge has won numerous awards for its design and countless photographs have been taken of it.

It is often used to symbolize the city of Austin in which it resides.

I have seen it in magazines, newspapers and even used as a backdrop for the local TV news.

One thing, however, is more important to me than either its beauty or its awards. What matters most to me is its functionality,

This bridge allows me to go to work and to come back home.

It provides this same service for many other drivers as well.

Without this bridge, I would have to find an alternate route that would add miles to my commute.

Yet, there is another bridge I count on even more.

A bridge I count on every day all day long.

A bridge on which my life, not just my livelihood, depends.

That bridge is none other than Jesus Christ.

You see, God is completely Holy and completely righteous.

I, on the other hand, am not.

There is no way that I, a sinner, could approach God in such a state.

Were it not for Jesus Christ, there would be an enormous separation between myself and God.

Regardless of how hard I might try, there would be nothing I could do on my own that could bridge this gap.

Fortunately for me, Jesus bridged the chasm between us.

The very moment Jesus died on the cross, the barrier between myself and God was removed.

Matthew 27:50-51 (NET) - Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up His Spirit. Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom, The earth shook and the rocks were split apart.

If the Pennybacker Bridge were closed, I would be forced to find an alternate route between my home and my job.

Jesus. however, is my only access to God.

John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

There are some who say that having only one way to God is too narrow a view.

Yet that way is available to everyone.

I ask you, "How can a way available to everyone possibly be considered too narrow a view?"

Jesus indeed bridges the gap between man and God.

Jesus did not make use of steel and reinforced concrete for my benefit.

Rather, He used two pieces of wood in the form of a cross and a fistful of nails.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

3 Enemy of God's People

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither I turn again till they were consumed. I crossed them so that they could not rise; fallen under my feet. Psalms 18:37
No army wins the battle running away but facing the enemy! And the three enemies of the believer are: the world, the flesh and the devil! There are believers extremists who can see the devil in all things. Everything that goes wrong is the work of the evil one! They do not analyze their bad decisions, their guilt .... they are always to blame the devil. There are believers who are to blame in the flesh .... the flesh is weak! God knows my limitations .... I can not resist. And there are those who place the blame in the world, explain why it is very difficult today to be a Christian and things like that. The three ways of coping are wrong, because they fight with carnal weapons and not with spiritual weapons.
The first thing to do is to discern the enemy knowing that we are fighting against to use the correct weapon and win.
The world - And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Matthew 21:9
But all the people cried to one, saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Luke 23:18
The same crowd that said, Blessed Son of God says, crucify!
The world is screaming mass. The world means the rule for situations dictated, they say, "that if you do, in the other you have to do that," It made you feel bad for not feeling or reacting like everyone else? Sometimes they asked me not miss you, you do not suffer for not having this or that? And sometimes the answer NO I looked like I was insensitive or oblivious to others. No, I'm not, I just learned to deal with certain things that people do not face or deal
Well, have you stopped to think about the effect of mass information?
The mass says where to go, said the way they must go forcing everyone to do the same. The worst in all this? The mass itself and follow only the screaming I do want anyone who sends me. I am free, I'm fashionable, I'm original hahahahahah
We may not think much about it, sometimes you do not even think you're following the mass, but when certain information or launch campaigns that mobilize the mass media is the tendency of people to be moved, and then to mobilize the masses.
What was the news in recent days of mass? You follow? Posted about it?
Your answer determines whether or not you are influenced by the mass. Sometimes you never saw and was surrounded by 'good intentions campaigns' that are nothing more than tests to see and know how to manipulate the masses. The objectives are multiple: to sell, launch a product, find out which media add more power to influence and, of course: to prepare the world for the Antichrist.
He'll come after a good looking (can be 'join campaign that good' or 'everyone just talks about it' or 'how can you be out of this'), and finally things that you are not careful with your mind the truth, you become a follower and when you see, is part of the package.
Think if you are not part of mass campaigns that will not really change anything or posting just because everyone posts.
The mentality of mankind is being prepared to follow the mass. Caution, heed brother because the door is narrow!
The world makes you feel bad for being different, but I John 2: 15 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
We must learn to fight this subtle enemy that tries to get slick in our army as an ally!Galatians 1:10
The Devil: If the world is in contrast with the Father, the devil is in contrast to the Son.This enemy is, undoubtedly cunning and dangerous, and we are told to be sober and watch, "because the devil, your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8) . The devil will sometimes try to use against us even if our senses: hearing ... trying to make us hear what does not exist or distorting reality, making noises to scare. The tactic of the noise is used in war since antiquity. Feelings: feelings are tools created by God to help us interact in this world. But the feelings are, from birth, bombarded by traumas, bad experiences, distortions of reality and the life history of each one. Knowing this, the devil has a powerful weapon in the hands, because when our feelings do not submit to the cross of Christ, to be treated and cured, the devil will use them against us to try to thwart the plans of God in our lives. The fears, insecurities and escapes from reality are very powerful weapons against the advance of God's plan in our lives. - Ephesians 6:12-18. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand firm, then, ...
The Flesh - Flesh For we must understand the principle of sin that is within every man's flesh is representation of the sinful nature, the original corruption, whereby we are all unwilling to things that are God by violating His law (Romans 3:9-18 , 23), these sinful impulses are identified by the evil deeds of men (Galatians 5:16-21) and can only be controlled by the entire dependence on the Spirit of God in his work that produces regenerative spiritual transformation in the believer (Galatians 5:22 - 25). This corruption of nature during this life, those that are regenerated, and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, as their impulses, are truly and properly sin. Galatians 5:17,18. Therefore, our struggle against the flesh must be constant.
One important thing to know about victory over the enemies is: Do not beat them unless we face. The escape has never been a weapon of God. The Bible is called the sword, or gun attack in advance. Many people lose great opportunities for fear ... Fear of being alone, fear of not having money, measures of rejection, fear of public speaking (according to research one of the greatest fears of humanity). Whatever your fear, if it is not going to stop you faced one time or another.
David said: chase my enemy, I advanced to defeat them before they come upon me and beat me. Task for the week face one of your fears. Jesus conquered to give us victory. Take courage because the cowards will not inherit the kingdom of God. To advance in this life we ​​have to take risks and step out of line of security and fear.
Fear always begins in the mind and makes us see nonexistent situations making the enemy seem larger than it really is.
God is greater than all and is always with us, so face it.

Thank You, Lord, for Allowing Me to Serve You

This Sunday we celebrated Holy Communion as part of World Communion Sunday.

In my new church role, I am expected to assist in serving Communion.

This Sunday was particularly special, because I was asked to arrive at church early and help prepare this meal so that everything would be ready and in place by the time people arrived for church.

A wonderful couple who helped provide this service for a very long time were no longer able to do so. Another member of this group was going to be out of town. Thus, the "Communion Stewards", as we refer to them, were in need of some assistance this particular Sunday morning.

I assisted them by filling the cups with wine while they made the other preparations.

As I did so I reflected on the significance of both the bread and the wine.

I also reflected on the significance of the service these stewards provide on a regular basis.

They really are special people.

They work quietly behind the scenes to make sure everything is just right.

They do this even if few people thank them.

They do this even if few people notice.

I would venture to say that everyone in my church feels as I do that Communion is a vital and essential part of the Christian experience.

Yet, human nature being what human nature is, it is easy to arrive at church with everything prepared and not give a second thought to the fact that someone had to wake up early and work to make this a reality.

Perhaps work is not the right word.

It is, rather, a labor of love. A labor of love they perform time after time after time.

It is a labor of love they perform for their Lord.

After all, we share both the bread and the wine in remembrance of the Lord.

As the congregation prepares to partake in this meal, our pastor always has some special words prepared prior to the distribution of the bread and wine.

These words always incorporate specific scripture.

Matthew 26:26-28 (NET) - While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks, He broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body."  And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of my covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

He also incorporates Jesus’ words from Luke 22:19 which state, "Do this in remembrance of Me."

The pastor then called the elders forward and we took up our positions and prepared to serve.

Two elders guided the congregation forward in two lines.

The pastor and one elder served the bread and gently reminded each person, "This is the body of Christ, broken for you."

After reflecting on this, each person consumed his bread and approached the next elder in his line and selected his cup.

As he did so, he was gently reminded, "This is the blood of Christ, shed for you."

After reflecting on this, he drank his wine and made his way to the next elder in line.

This was the role I filled along with another elder.

I held a basket in my hands for those in my line in which they could deposit their empty cup.

As each did so, I gently stated, "Go in peace."

I said earlier that this was a special day and it was in many ways.

Not only did I assist in preparing and serving this meal, there was one more thing.

As I collected their cups, several of them reached under the basket which I supported with one hand.

They wrapped their free hand around mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.

No additional words were said.

No additional words were necessary.

This simple and silent gesture spoke volumes.

It was their non-verbal way of saying, "Thank you for serving the Lord."

It was also a great reminder for me to say, "Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to serve you."


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/

when will be the end of the world

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy  3:1-5

Lovers of themselves? 

Boastful?

What? 

No....

Why twitter has became the most popular tool of communication in this 21st century? If I can call it of “tool of communication”….

this stuff is almost a monolog! Look >>>

1 - 

Goal => have a lot followers – even that they say a lot fool thing! What matter is the “impression” to be popular, even that almost all of them neither know about your existence! Tool to incentive the self-deceive! Few people indeed read what you write!  Everybody has the same goal >  to have people who follow and read what they write! Believe, no one are on twitter to read but yes, to be read! 

2 – 

Twitter is this,  you read just what you want and some programs, helps you to use twitter without the only place where you need read more than  your owns tweet,the site (it if you wanna be read too,  so, in the end, the selfish intention keeps there!) These tool just grown because everyman yet is “lover of yourself”

Of course, the tendency of twitter – to grow more and more! Why?

>>       I speak more and more

>>       I don’t need give attention to anybody

>>       I show all that have inside me, good or not ( the most part) and no one will ‘unfollow’ me why? They love me? NOOOO, they just don’t want lose its own follow, so, focus in yourselves, again!

•          Relationships

•          Warm

•          Attention

•          Love

•          Help

•          Compassion

Try send one of these words, maybe you reach one ‘unfollow’! no one wanna know it!

Then, the days are going and the months also! In this illusion of *fame* . In this fantasious world where we have the impression to be loved! Self deceive, how someone can get what never gave?!

And, in real life? The real friends are very few! And you almost don’t feel lack this!

Well, I use twitter. I have seen some good tweets about, Jesus, good word and prayer request! 

Sometimes I try take a chat ( ingénue, I know), I get just “ see my site” look my pic or hey... can  you follow me?! Sad if not was comic! 

I have discovered in this twitter world that, day by day , when they said me HI it don’t means that are a interest in me, just in a number of follower that I can be! 

there are good people there. Those indeed wanna know people and say good things to another, I know. I'm just saying about this century and its nonsense.

The bible reality has became so far !

 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” John 15:12,13

No! no one know it ! The egocentrism, love of yourself, self-worship has blinded the humanity day by day, so far from the TRUTH  

look to me and be saved, 

all you ends of the earth; 

for I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 

Look at me!

The Only way to Salvation is take out our eyes from ourselves and look upon Jesus.

The 21st century is doing lookers of yourselves.

Don’t allow it in your life.

Look to Jesus and be save, be strong and happy!

A warning against Idols!

Some verses to remember

Exodus 20:3-5

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them

Exodus 20: 23

Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold

1Samuel 15: 23

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Colossians 3: 5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry

Romans 1:24-25

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

A definition to ponder...

That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a focus of your attention; anything that draws you away from God.

A question to truthfully consider...

What are the idols in your life?

We no longer carve our idols out of stone or cast them out of Gold. No, the idols we have today are far more dangerous. They come better disguised. We don't physically bow down to them and set them on alters – but they are the attention of our focus, our worship, our adoration. Some of them, when we think about it, are pretty obvious. Let's take a look at our live in regards to...

Work

Family

Friends

Television

Computers

Sport

Money

Health

Books

Education

Writing

Music

The list could go on and for each individual it will be different. Where is your security? Is it in God or in the things you do? In your work, your ability to earn money, the title you have, the power you yield, the influence you have, the lives you control? Where is your focus? Is it on God or on your family or your friends? What do you spend your time doing? Do you spend it with God or playing on the computer, watching television, playing sport? What is the focus of your concern? Is it the things of God, how you can serve Him better, how you can draw closer to Him or is it on your health, your family, you career, your education, your debt, your possessions? When was the last time you spent a couple of hours watching a good film, engrossed in a great book or watching some sporting event? Yesterday? Last week? My guess is that it won't have been too long ago. And when was the last time you spent a couple of hours with God? I'm not letting you off the hook here and including going to church, or reading the Bible, or reading a Christian book, or doing God's work in the community. I'm talking about spending time in God's presence, listening, seeking, dwelling, soaking. Yesterday? Last week? Last year? Never? Thankfully my life is so perfect that I spend every minute with God... he says choking on every word. This challenge is far more pointed at me than anyone else. However, as I think it all through perhaps one or two of you might think along with me. If you can honestly say that you have made good progress in putting God first, making him the real focus of your life I'd love to hear from you – you have much I could learn from. I mean that in all honesty – when we find real tangible ways to put God first, to remove idols from our lives we need to share and encourage others. The Christian life is hard, there is no two ways about it. Let us share our struggles but also our successes. Not to brag or to build ourselves up but to share the recipe for success with others to build them up and draw each other closer to God.

Now, the idols I've mentioned so far are fairly obvious when we think about them. I just want to mention some that I believe are more veiled and in some ways, therefore, far more dangerous. You may well disagree with me, in fact, please do!! Let me know what you think. I'm wanting to help people think through these issues alongside me so I'll just put them out there and see what you think...

Church Building projects

The Bible

Feeding the poor

Sermons

Community projects

Church

Prayer

Theology

Grace

Fear

Now I guess some of you are now thinking that I've totally lost the plot, but bear with me. Now, most of the things I've listed are good and honourable things to do and have a place in the lives of most Christians. And there is the rub, they do have a place, a rightful place but are they in their rightful place in our lives. Are they in the right place or have we elevated them? Where is the focus of our church is it on God or has it become skewed? Has the building project taken over that focus? Has the sermon become the focus of our service and not God himself? Have we subtly, over time changed our focus from God onto His word. Did we start off the community project as part of our worship of God but in fact it is now all consuming and we now live for the community project? Has the grace of God in our lives become more important than God in our lives? These are subtle things. It's easy to convince ourselves that we are working for God, when in fact we are now just working. Surely reading God's work is one of the best things we can do? However, we can't put the cart before the horse. We can't raise the Bible to a position above that which it was meant. The Bible is a tool to point us towards God. It is a wonderful, mystical, marvellous thing for of truth and wisdom and inspiration but Bibliolatry is still idolatry.

We need to be so careful. We need others around us to speak into our lives and keep them on line. We need wise people from outside our churches to examine them and see if they are continuing to keep the main thing the main thing. It only takes a little nudge, a human perspective and not God's to take us miles away from where we should be. A small shift in focus one day can mean being totally out of focus from then on. Join me in this discussion and in praying that we would be able to identify the idols in our lives and have the strength to do something about them. Pray that you would have wise people around you that you can be accountable to and who can and will speak into your lives. Let us fix our eyes on the creator and sustainer of our faith and keep them there!!