Teamwork

The last two weeks have been among the most challenging I have ever experienced.

The circumstances that led up to these two weeks were completely outside my realm of control.

As the situation grew steadily worse it became obvious that something had to be done.

I was brought in as one member of a team of five people tasked with solving the problem.

Although there were some similarities in our backgrounds we were unique individuals.

We each brought to the table a unique set of strengths.

Together, as a team, we looked at the situation objectively.

We then weighed the options available to us.

Finally, as we neared the end of the first week, we determined the best course of action.

This course of action would bring with it a unique set of potential problems.

It would also be extremely unpopular with a few people who were not part of the team.

We presented our plan and defended it as best we could.

We then put that plan into action.

During the process we encountered a few problems we anticipated and we dealt with them.

We also encountered a few that could not be anticipated.

Working together as a team, we were able to resolve these as well.

Finally, we regained control of the situation and circumstances have returned to normal.

The members of this team have returned to their normal routines.

It is very unlikely we will ever get the chance to come together as team ever again.

I am sure that I will fondly remember each of these individuals and how we came together and succeeded as a team.

There are also some personal lessons I took with me as well.

First, there was a sixth member of this team as God was with us from start to finish.

Second, as challenging as this was it pales in comparison to the realities that some people face day in and day out and so we have no reason to complain.

Third, we are each the stronger for having faced up to the challenge together.

Fourth, we will each be able to utilize what we learned from this situation as we face other challenges in the future.

There will always be times when we are faced with challenges that seem overwhelming.

But, we do not have to face them alone.

We can put together an unbeatable team and overcome them.

Just make certain that God the first person you ask to join your team.

Psalm 138:3 (NET) – When I cried out for help, You answered me. You made me bold and energized me.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Wising Up

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) - Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

This is one of the four verses I selected to focus on during the Season of Advent.

I selected this particular verse because it would remind of two things.

First, it would remind me that men anticipated the arrival of Jesus.

Second, it would remind me that their response was to seek Him out and worship Him.

When I selected this verse as one to focus on in the days leading up to Christmas, I did not realize that it would bring with it a third reminder.

That happened when I received an email from a new friend.

As I read that email, I remembered that the words in Matthew 2:2 were spoken by the Wise Men.

Notice that scripture does not refer to them as the Intelligent Men.

There is good reason for that as there is a big difference between being intelligent and being wise.

Intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge.

Wisdom is the sound application of knowledge,

For example, intelligence allows one to learn a song.

Wisdom tells one to sing it for His glory.

Intelligence allows one to memorize passages of scripture.

Wisdom tells one to put into practice what scripture teaches.

Intelligence allows us to learn the Ten Commandments.

Wisdom tells us that they are about the relationships we are to maintain with God and our fellow man.

Intelligence tells us that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25^th.

Wisdom tells us we celebrate His birth because Jesus changed everything and we should celebrate Him every day of the year.

Intelligence allows us to understand that there has to be something greater than ourselves.

Wisdom tells us that no one can do what Jesus did for us.

Intelligence allows us to sharpen our skills.

Wisdom occurs when we use those skills to bring others to Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

When the wise men came to worship Jesus they brought Him precious gifts.

We can bring Him precious gifts as well.

We can use the gifts He has generously given us to bring those who are lost and in need of salvation to Him.

As we continue our journey through Advent, that would be a very wise thing for us to do.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Stop Your Striving

Psalm 46:10 (NET) – He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”

The account of Joseph in the book of Genesis is fascinating.

It documents Joseph’s journey from a youth to becoming the second most powerful man in the land.

Once he had that authority, Joseph saved the land and its people from a terrible famine.

Yet Joseph’s journey was not an easy one and it took a considerable amount of time.

Joseph’s journey began when his own brothers hated him out of jealousy.

They threw him into a pit and conspired to kill him.

God intervened and Joseph was sold to a caravan.

Eventually this caravan made its way into Egypt and Joseph was sold into slavery.

An Egyptian official named Potiphar purchased Joseph.

God was with Joseph and Potiphar’s household prospered through him.

Just when things seemed to be going well for Joseph, Potiphar’s wife found herself attracted to Joseph.

She made advances to Joseph.

Joseph rejected these advances.

This infuriated Potiphar’s wife who falsely accused him of attacking her.

As a result, Joseph was thrown into prison.

Yet even in prison God was with Joseph.

While imprisoned, Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of two men who once served Pharaoh.

The man who once served as baker was executed, just as Joseph interpreted.

The man who once served as his wine steward returned to his post, again, just as Joseph interpreted.

Joseph asked the latter to remember him when he returned to serve Pharaoh.

The man, however, forgot all about Joseph.

Joseph remained in prison until Pharaoh was troubled by dreams which none of his advisers could interpret.

At this, the wine steward remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him.

Joseph was removed from prison and brought before Pharaoh.

He correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and Pharaoh made Joseph the second most powerful man in all the land.

God continued to be with Joseph in this role and the decisions Joseph made saved the lives of many people including the brothers who once thought about killing him.

Joseph’s journey was long and filled with difficulty.

Yet God was with Joseph each and every step of the way.

God is with us on our journey as well.

Our journey may seem long and difficult, but that is not an indication that God is either absent or does not care.

God cares and is using our circumstances to prepare us for what He has in store for us.

We must trust God’s time table rather than our own.

We must be patient.

Perhaps patience is one of the things God is trying to teach us along the way.

Isn’t it time we stop striving on our own and truly recognizing that He is God?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

As Strange As It May Seem

I was a child when I first heard the phrase, “God works in mysterious ways.”

I suppose that this is a more polite way of saying that God works in strange ways.

If you really think about it, His ways are often strange... to us.

No matter how long we have been believers, we can never completely understand His ways.

Isaiah reminded us of that.

Isaiah 40:13 (NET) – Who comprehends the mind of the LORD, or gives Him instruction as His counselor?

God both listens to and answers prayer but often times not in the way we would either prefer or expect.

In the book of Numbers, the people complained both about God and His servant Moses.

God’s response came in the form of poisonous snakes.

Numbers 21:6 (NET) – So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died.

It did not take long for the people to realize their error.

They went to Moses and confessed that they had sinned against God.

They asked Moses to pray that God would send the snakes away.

So, Moses prayed for the people.

God both heard and answered that prayer but certainly not in the way the people expected.

God told Moses to make a poisonous snake of bronze and set it on a pole.

He then instructed that when (not if) one was bitten he should look upon the bronze serpent.

If he did, he would live.

How strange this must have seemed to the people.

They expected God to take the snakes away.

Instead, God gave them something to do.

Something that, on the surface, seemed to make no sense at all.

Those that followed His instructions lived.

Those that did not, perished.

I suspect that it did not take very long for the people to realize God was as good as His word.

I also suspect that it did not take very long for the people to realize that it was in their best interest to know exactly where the bronze serpent was at all times in case they were bitten.

Perhaps this was an object lesson in and of itself.

Looking was important.

Knowing exactly where to look was also important.

That is a very good lesson for us today.

Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.

When we do, we often pray to God to remove those circumstances.

Sometimes the circumstances remain.

If that is the case, the better prayer would be to ask how He wants us to deal with those circumstances.

Be open to the possibility that God wants to bring about a change in us rather than our circumstances.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Fear Not

The other day I had some work done on my car.

There was a great deal of work needed and I knew repairs would take the entire day.

Knowing this, I brought along both a book to read and a notebook in which I could write.

I am glad that I did.

There was a television in their waiting area but it was tuned into one of those 24 hour news channels.

The last thing I wanted was to be exposed to bad news all day long.

I found a seat in the lobby and alternated between reading and writing.

Although I could see the television from my seat I was far enough away that I could not hear it.

Every time I glanced at the television, I could tell from the graphics that the news anchors were talking about Ebola.

When I no longer felt like reading or writing, I gathered my things and went for a walk.

It was a beautiful day.

The sun was shining.

The birds were singing.

I almost hated to go back inside.

Eventually, I made my way back inside and glanced at the television before opening my book again.

Just as I had suspected, two different news anchors had come into the studio and were talking about the same thing.

I gladly returned to my book.

I certainly do not wish to minimize the severity or the risk of contracting Ebola.

I will certainly not deny that the first person to die of it in my country did so mere hours away.

As I glanced today's headlines, it became easy to see that the levels of fear and anxiety are continuing to rise.

This is most unfortunate.

That is why I am so glad to be a Christian.

Compassion and reason should never allow fear and anxiety to get the upper hand.

As time goes by we will learn more and better understand how this disease is transmitted.

As we do, we must take all necessary precautions in the treatment of its victims.

In the time that Jesus walked the earth a different disease brought about fear and anxiety.

That disease was leprosy.

Victims of this disease were greatly feared and treated as outcasts.

Jesus showed them love and compassion.

Jesus healed with a word or a touch.

Although it is not within our capacity to heal in this way, we can follow His example.

We must never allow fear and anxiety to push aside our love and compassion for those in need.

Psalm 23:4 (NET) – Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff reassure me.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Break the Cycle

Persecution is alive and well.

Today's headlines bear that out.

It has existed almost since the dawn of humanity.

It began with the very first generation of humans born to Adam and Eve.

The result of that persecution was that Cain murdered his brother Abel.

Persecution, however, sprang into the world as a result of envy and hatred.

Cain envied his brother's relationship with God and then hated him for it.

God gave Cain sufficient warning.

Genesis 4:7 (NET) - “Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”

Cain was so blinded by his hatred that he ignored God's warning.

Sin desired to dominate Cain and he failed to subdue it.

Cain then murdered his brother Abel and was punished by God.

That was just the beginning.

One only has to look at history to see the results of persecution through the ages.

Literal millions have died as the result of persecution.

Millions more have been maimed and disfigured.

And still, persecution arises out of hatred.

Why does hatred continue to have such a strangle hold on mankind?

Personally, I think much of today's hatred has its root in fear.

One group hates another because, deep down, they fear the differences between them.

Perhaps it is because they are of different races or different religions or different political ideologies.

If left unchecked, sin uses that fear to dominate mankind.

Fear crouches at the door just as God warned.

Once inside that door, it quickly festers into hatred.

Once this happens, can persecution be far behind?

As a Christian, this forces me to ask the question, “What can we do?”

We can break the cycle but first we have to be willing do what many, even the best among us, struggle to do.

We can forgive and pray for those who hate.

We must heed the warning God gave Cain and not allow sin to dominate us.

We must do what Jesus instructed us to do even if we initially find it difficult or distasteful.

Luke 6:27-28 (NET) - “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Isn't it time to break the cycle of fear, hatred and persecution?

Remove any and all fear and hatred from your heart and allow His peace which exceeds all understanding to enter.

Pray for those that persecute.

Pray for those that know only hatred.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Small Packages

After church on Sunday, a friend and I went to another church in our denomination.

They were celebrating their 100^th anniversary.

Being that this church was about 45 minutes away, we were delighted to celebrate this milestone with them.

It was wonderful catching up with some old friends.

It was equally wonderful making new ones.

After a meal was served, everyone made their way into the sanctuary.

There, a worship service was held.

Hymns were sung and prayers were offered up God.

There were several speakers including clergy, community leaders and members.

Each spoke about this church, its mission or its 100 year history.

One of the speakers is a personal friend of mine and is currently serving our denomination as president.

His message was brief but it resonated deep within me.

He spoke about the size of this church.

My friend then reminded us that God often makes excellent use of small numbers.

One of the examples my friend cited was how Jesus fed 5,000 with just five barley loaves and two fish.

He also cited Gideon's army and told us that God reduced the size of that army first from 32,000 to 10,000.

He then reminded us that God reduced the size of the army once again this time from 10,000 to 300.

It was with the 300 man army that God gave victory to Gideon.

As I stated before, this message resonated within me.

I thought about the Sunday School class I teach and how it has decreased in numbers through time.

I thought about the Senior Assembly I help to lead which has also decreased in numbers.

As my friend spoke, I realized something.

I remembered from my study of chemistry how a solution containing water becomes stronger as the water in it evaporates away.

In a similar way, as the number of believers within a particular group diminishes, shouldn't the concentration of its collective faith should also rise?

I am grateful to God for the message He placed on my friend's heart.

I am also grateful to God for the realization He awakened in mine.

It is said that good things come in small packages.

In matters of faith, great things can come in small packages as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Faith Is Not Complicated

What is faith?

Faith and trust go hand in hand.

Faith is belief without reservation.

Faith is belief without the need for additional analysis.

When I sit down in a chair, I do not analyze it first to determine if it will support me.

I do not consider its age, its materials or its quality of construction.

I simply sit in the chair fully trusting it to support me.

When I drive across a bridge I do not perform any complex mathematics.

I do not consider the design or the engineering that went into its construction.

I do not estimate the weight of my vehicle and multiply that weight by the number of vehicles that happen to be on it.

I simply drive across it fully trusting it to be able to support whatever load it happens to bear.

In that sense, faith and trust are remarkably similar.

Once when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came asking for his help.

He told Jesus about his servant who was paralyzed and in anguish.

Jesus offered to go to the servant and heal him.

The centurion replied that he was unworthy to have Jesus come to his home and added the following.

Matthew 8:9 (NET) - “For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one 'Go' and he goes, and to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this' and he does it.

Scripture tells us that Jesus was amazed.

Matthew 8:10 (NET) – When Jesus heard this He was amazed and said to those that followed Him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel!”

The centurion did not ask Jesus to go to the servant.

He did not ask Jesus to lay His hands upon the servant.

He simply believed that Jesus had the authority to do it from where He was.

With that, the servant was healed.

Matthew 8:13 (NET) – Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; just as you believed, it will be done for you.” And the servant was healed at that hour.

Scripture tells us many things about Jesus.

We do not need to analyze them.

All we need do is believe.

Romans 10:9 (NET) – because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Things often become complicated when we choose to make them that way.

There is no need to make faith complicated.

Trust is a great place to start,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

So Close and Yet So Far Away

I keep the blinds in my office closed in the summer.

My windows face the afternoon sun and keeping the blinds closed helps keep my office cool.

Recently, as I walked past the windows, I saw something peeking out from under the blinds.

I raised the blinds and discovered that what I saw was the tail of a dead lizard.

Somehow this little fellow managed to get inside our building.

He then made it up to the second floor.

Having survived the trip thus far, he then made his way down the hall and into my office.

Once there, he climbed up onto the window sill and crawled between the window pane and the blinds.

That is where he died with only a bit of his tail sticking out to give away his position.

If more of his tail had been visible, I might have noticed him sooner and perhaps have been able to help him.

Such was not the case.

The other thing I noticed was that his head was raised and he appeared to be looking out the window the moment he died.

It was almost as if he could see where he both wanted and needed to be.

He simply had no way of getting through the glass.

He lacked the means to open he window for himself and only needed someone to open it for him.

Only a thin plate of glass stood between himself and what he most needed.

He was so close, yet he was so far away.

That is how it is with people.

We go through life seeking true happiness.

We seek it in people.

But people will let us down.

We seek it in careers.

But work, though necessary, brings its share of disappointments.

We seek it in wealth, possessions and security.

But even these can be fleeting.

We even seek it in leisure.

But even the activities associated with leisure often leave us feeling more fatigued than before.

True happiness is something that can be achieved.

It can only be achieved through union with Christ.

Christ gives us glimpses of Himself all the time.

But catching those glimpses is not enough.

Faith is what bridges the gap between us and Him.

Faith is asking Him to remove the barrier that separates us.

Romans 15:9 (NET) – because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Three in One

John 1:1-2 (NET) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning.

The Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a difficult concept for some to understand.

For those who are not Christian, we appear to be worshiping three separate gods instead of one.

To put this in mathematical terms, they see it as 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.

But such is not the case.

C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity used the concept of dimensions to give us some insight.

In a world of one dimension, one could conceive of nothing more complex than a line.

In a two dimensional world, one of length and width, one could conceive of something more complex.

Lewis used a square for his example which is formed with four lines.

Extending this concept to a third dimension, that of depth, Lewis used a cube for his illustration.

The cube has six sides, each being a square, with each square being composed of four lines.

The idea being that as dimensions are added, new and far more complex figures can exist that still retains something of those preceding it.

If a being existed in a world with a single dimension, he could not fully grasp the concept of a two dimensional figure, but he could get a glimpse of it.

In the same way, a being that existed in a two dimensional world could not fully grasp the concept of a being that existed in three dimensions, but he too could get a glimpse of such a being.

You and I live in a world of three dimensions (four if you incorporate time) and scientists speculate that there could be additional dimensions.

Being confined to a limited set of dimensions, we cannot fully comprehend the magnificence of God.

We are fortunate in the fact that He does provide us with glimpses of Himself.

The Persons of the Trinity, namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct.

Yet, they are one.

As Christians, each Person provides us with what we need.

The Father created us and wants us to be saved.

The Son saves us and acts as a bridge to the Father.

The Holy Spirit guides us on our journey and teaches us that which we need to understand.

The most elegant explanation I have ever come across was from Billy Graham.

According to Dr. Graham, it is not 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, rather it is 1 x 1 x 1 = 1.

The book of John tells us that the Word was with God and was fully God.

The account of the creation in Genesis bears this out.

Genesis 1:26 (NET) - Then God said, "Let Us make humankind in Our image, after Our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth."

John confirms this in his continued discussion of the Word.

John 1:3-4 (NET) - All things were created by Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.

The Three are One and the One are Three.

That is the way it has always been.


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

Our Daily Manna

I recently watched a DVD in which the speaker discussed miracles.

One of the miracles the speaker focused on was the quail that the Lord sent His people in the book of Numbers.

The speaker made this sound like a wonderful thing for them.

He did this to imply that God will do marvelous things for us if we but ask Him.

Unfortunately, the speaker neglected to tell the entire story.

While everything God does is miraculous, sometimes His purpose is correction.

The account of the quail really began much earlier when the people complained about the Lord's provision.

In Exodus chapter 16, the people complained to Moses and Aaron about hunger.

God told Moses that He would rain down bread from heaven for the people.

He also gave Moses very specific instructions.

The people were only to gather as much as they needed for the day.

On the sixth day, however, they would be able to gather twice as much so that the seventh day of rest could be observed.

Moses instructed the people that they were to keep none of it until morning.

Some, as if doubting that God would continue to provide, gathered more.

What they kept overnight went bad.

This angered Moses.

So, each morning the people went out and gathered their daily portion and returned.

On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as the Lord had instructed.

The people called this bread from heaven “manna” and it was in this way the Lord provided for them.

Then, in Numbers chapter 11 we find the account of the quail.

This was preceded by complaint as well.

The people missed the food they ate in Egypt.

They even believed they received it freely forgetting that they paid for it by being slaves.

It was at this point that they openly declared their dissatisfaction with what the Lord had provided.

Numbers 11:6 (NET) – But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!

One can almost imagine how that made God feel.

God informed Moses of what would take place.

He would give the people meat.

Numbers 11:19-20 (NET) – You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick, because you have despised the LORD who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come out of Egypt?”

The Lord then caused the wind to drive in quail from the sea which fell around the camp to a depth of three feet.

The people eagerly gathered quail all that day, through the night and all the next day.

That is when it happened.

Numbers 11:33 (NET) – But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.

The speaker on the DVD left that part out.

We really need to be grateful for God's daily provision.

Just as He provided His people with enough manna for each day He provides for us.

Jesus echoed that sentiment.

Luke 11:3 (NET) - “Give us each day our daily bread,”

It reminds me of something an old friend said to me years ago, “Be needy, not greedy.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Faith, Hope and Love

Faith is a wonderful thing to have.

Hope is another.

Yet there is something even greater.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET) - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Scripture reminds us that love is greater than either faith or hope.

I think that is something of which we need to remind ourselves from time to time.

This is especially true as we reach out to those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus as we have.

Before we attempt to do anything at all for them spiritually, we first need to love them.

Maybe they have put their faith elsewhere.

Perhaps they have no faith in anything other than themselves.

In either case, they need our love all the more.

Let's look at it this way.

What happens when a child comes into the world with badly impaired eyesight or complete blindness?

Won't that child be dependent upon the love of those around him to help him overcome his circumstances?

Won't he require their patience as well?

Can we in any way help a child with impaired vision by treating him harshly?

Will yelling the command "See!" at the top of our lungs help him?

In the same way. we cannot force our belief upon others.

Just as we were free to say, "Yes" to Jesus, they are equally free to say, "No".

As unfortunate as that might be, we cannot drag them kicking and screaming to Him.

We cannot do this no matter how much we want them to believe.

It simply does not work that way and history has proven that time and again.

We must continue to reach out to them because that is what is required of us.

But we must do so with love.

In doing that we keep hope alive.

And when we combine love with hope, we keep open the door for faith to enter.

Remember, Jesus is the one who saves.

Our task is to love them and to make the meeting possible.


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

Setting a Good Example

We just completed a week of Vacation Bible School at our church and what a wonderful week it was.

While the children that attend our church know me, it usually takes the visiting children a day or two to come out of their shells when they are around me.

Such was not the case this year.

Even the youngest of the visiting children seemed to feel comfortable around me and for that I am truly grateful to God.

It reminded  me of a time years ago when I watched an interview on television with a very famous athlete and a reporter asked him how he felt about being a role model.

This athlete responded by saying that he was not a role model because he was not paid to be a role model.

I disagreed with his position.

When it comes to children, every adult they encounter along the way is a role model.

The only choice adults have in the matter is whether we will be positive role models or negative ones.

There is a quote attributed to Austin L. Sorenson that goes, "Children are not likely to find a father in God unless they find something of God in their fathers."

I will not dispute that.

I am also willing to extend that thought to include men in general including me.

One of the things I want to be in life is a good male role model for children.

It does not matter to me whether they are the children in the church I attend who see me every week, or children that attend our Vacation Bible School whom I see once a year or the children who see me when I am out and about in public.

There are two ways that we can teach children.

We can teach them with our words.

We can also teach them by our example.

Teaching by example is one of the most effective means of teaching because children are watching us very closely to see if we practice what we teach.

There is also another very important reason why I want to be a positive male role model for children.

Matthew 19:14 (NET) - But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Children are special to Jesus.

Because they are special to Him they are also special to me.

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

Teach Us to Pray

In the very near future I will be leading two adult classes on the subject of prayer.

On one hand I am very much looking forward to leading these classes, but at the same time I admit that I am keeping my enthusiasm in check.

In my opinion there is a tendency among some authors and televised pastors to encourage people to "pray big".

The idea being that since nothing is impossible for God we should not sell Him short and pray for things well beyond our needs or wants.

But prayer is far more than simply asking God for things we want or would like to have.

Prayer is one of the most effective ways in which we develop and strengthen our relationship with God.

To be completely honest, God knows what we need even before we are aware of it.

Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

I think we would do well to heed the examples Jesus gave us when it comes to payer.

On one hand, He told us how not to pray.

Luke 18:11 (NET) - The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortioners, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.

A short time later, He told us a better way.

Luke 18:13 (NET) - The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!

His disciples had the right idea when they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.

And Jesus did just that.

The prayer that He taught them we now call the Lord's Prayer.

We can pray as some suggest and "pray big".

Or, we can pray the way Jesus taught us to pray.

If you decide to "pray big" anyway, be careful.

You just might get exactly what you prayed for.


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

Just Do It

There is a corporation today whose well known slogan is "Just Do It".

In a way, that is how our response should be in our relationship with God.

God had a special relationship with Abraham.

We remember how God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son.

We also remember that Abraham was willing to obey God.

God spared Abraham's son and, according to the book of James, Abraham's willingness to obey God was counted as righteousness.

Yet there was a point much earlier in Abraham's life when God asked him to do something and Abraham obeyed.

This happened after Abraham's father, Terah, settled in Haran.

Terah settled there with his son son Abram and his daughter-in-law Sarai (God had not given them their new names of Abraham and Sarah yet).

It was there that God spoke to Abraham.

Genesis 12:1 (NET) - Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father's household to the land that I will show you."

Notice that God did not tell Abraham where to go.

He said that He would show him.

Abraham was 75 years old when God spoke these words to him.

How did Abraham respond?

He "just did it".

He left the country with which he was familiar.

He left his father and relatives behind.

He obeyed God and, with his wife at his side, he left his old life behind him.

He did not know where they were going.

He did not know how far they were to travel.

He certainly did not know what awaited them once they got there.

All he had was God's instruction and God's promise.

Genesis 12:2 (NET) - "Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing."

Abraham obeyed.

God kept his promise.

God made Abraham a great nation.

Beyond that, Matthew's gospel begins with the human family tree of Jesus and begins it with Abraham.

Matthew 1:2 (NET) - Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

Yes, God had a special relationship with Abraham.

God wants a relationship with us as well.

What is God asking you to do?

What gift has he given you to use for Him?

Do you know what that gift is yet?

That is something you must work out with Him.

One thing I can tell you is that it may not be at all what you expected it to be.

Just follow Abraham's example and trust Him.

Trust Him completely.

In other words, "just do it".

Wherever it takes you, you can be sure of two things.

You will be where He wants you to be and you will not be there alone..


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

Sometimes We Need A Reminder

I have been thinking a great deal about the life of John the Baptist.

In the first chapter of Luke's gospel, we are introduced to his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth.

An angel of the Lord foretold the birth of John to Zechariah.

He told of his role as forerunner for the Lord and how he would prepare the way for Him.

He even told Zechariah to name him John.

Elizabeth became pregnant just as the angel foretold.

In her sixth month with child, the angel Gabriel visited a virgin named Mary and told her that she would conceive a Son by the Holy Spirit and was to name Him Jesus.

Mary is told by the angel that Elizabeth, her cousin, was also with child.

Mary went to visit Elizabeth and when she did something remarkable happened.

Luke 1:41 (NET) - When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

It appears that even before birth, John was mysteriously aware that he was in the presence of Jesus.

In the third chapter, we read that John preached of baptism and repentance around the Jordan River.

As foretold, he was the voice of one shouting in the wilderness and preparing the way for the Lord.

In John's gospel, we read of his reaction when he first laid eyes on Jesus.

John 1:29 (NET) - On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus came to John to be baptized.

John protested stating that he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus.

Jesus, convinced John that this had to be and John conceded.

When John baptized Jesus, again something truly wonderful happened.

Matthew 3:16-17 (NET) - After Jesus was baptized, just as He was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My one dear Son, in Him I take great delight."

John's role was foretold.

It is evident that he understood who Jesus was and witnessed firsthand an affirmation confirming this.

Then, something else happened.

John was imprisoned.

While in prison, he heard about the the things Jesus has been doing.

He sent two disciples to Jesus to ask a question.

Matthew 11:3 (NET) - "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

John's role was ordained by God.

John knew who Jesus was.

John witnessed the amazing.

Yet, after languishing in prison, it would seem that John was not as certain as he once had been.

John experienced doubt.

How does Jesus respond?

Matthew 11:4-6 (NET) - Jesus answered them, "Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

Jesus did not rebuke John.

He did not criticize John.

He simply reminded John of that which he was already aware.

Sometimes, those we know experience doubt.

Doubt that can manifest itself in a number of different ways.

We could rebuke them.

We could criticize them.

Or, we could follow the example of Jesus and do what He did for John.

We can lovingly remind them of who Jesus is and what He does.


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

What Happened, Really?

As our journey continues, we should be mindful of what Jesus endured.

According to Matthew's gospel, Jesus goes to Gethsemane with His disciples.

There, He instructs them to sit while He goes to pray.

Filled with distress, He takes Peter and two others aside with Him.

He tells them that He is grieved and asks them to remain awake with Him.

He leaves them and goes a little farther where His human nature struggles with what is to come.

Death by crucifixion is the cruelest and most painful form of execution devised by man.

Jesus throws Himself face down to the ground and prays.

His human nature, knowing what is to come, leads Him to pray to the Father and ask if possible, to change what is to transpire.

His divine nature leads Him to pray that the Father's will prevail.

Jesus returns and finds Peter and the two others asleep.

Three times this process repeats itself.

Three times Jesus asks His followers to remain awake as He prays.

Three times they fall asleep and Jesus prays alone.

Judas arrives with armed men and betrays his Lord with a kiss.

With that signal, the armed men forcibly take hold of Jesus.

In the brief struggle that ensues, Jesus tells one of His followers to put away his weapon.

He reminds him that those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

Jesus states that He could, if He so desired, call upon the Father and be rescued by twelve legions of angels.

Yet He does not do this in order that prophecy is fulfilled.

His disciples, every single one of them, flee and abandon him to His captors.

He is taken away to the high priest and those assembled there.

His physical ordeal begins.

They spit in His face, strike Him and mock Him.

Peter, who promised Jesus that he would never leave Him, denies that he even knows Jesus.

Jesus is taken to Pilate, the governor.

Pilate, not wishing for a riot, gives in to the demands of the crowd and the religious leaders who incite them.

Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion.

This time it is soldiers that assail Jesus. They hurl insults at Him, crown Him with thorns, spit on Him and strike Him repeatedly.

Jesus is crucified along with two common criminals to further demean Him.

As He suffers, the chief priests, experts in law and the rest of the crowd that has gathered hurl even more insults at Him.

Jesus suffers for hours as darkness falls over the land.

As His life ebbs away, Jesus takes all the sins of the world upon Himself.

God, who is perfectly holy and righteous, must break away from these sins.

For the first time in His eternal existence, Jesus experiences separation from the Father.

You can hear the anguish in His cry.

Matthew 27:46 (NET) - At about three o'clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Then, Jesus cries out one final time in a loud voice and gives up His spirit.

Jesus endured so very much to save the world.

It is easier for us to think that He endured this in order to save a vast, faceless and nameless sea of humanity.

It is not so easy to think about the fact that He did so in order to personally save individuals like you and me.

That was the Father's will.

When we realize this, the experience is both truly amazing and truly humbling.

A feeling of deep sadness also accompanies it,

But there is wonderful news.

The tomb in which they laid Him is empty!

He has risen!

Jesus is exactly who He claims to be and our salvation is assured!


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

A Slippery Slope

The book of Exodus describes for us that body of law that is best known as “The Ten Commandments”.

Each commandment is about relationships.

Some are about our relationship with God.

The rest are about our relationship with others.

Although I have read these commandments a number of times over the years, my thoughts lately seem to keep turning to one in particular.

Exodus 20:17 (NET) - "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet you neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor."


I think there are two reasons why my thoughts keep turning to this one in particular.

First, failure to keep this commandment can cause us to break additional commandments that damage relationships with others..

For example, a man who covets his neighbor's possession could be more easily tempted to steal that possession.

Second, a breach of this commandment can seriously damage our relationship with God.

God expects to have top priority in our lives.

In coveting something so badly, a man can displace God from His rightful place and give that which is coveted priority instead.

When that happens, a man is guilty of committing idolatry.

If you think about it, covetousness is what led to the Fall in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:4-5 (NET) - The serpent said to the woman, "Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil."


Eve and consequently Adam desired to be like God.

God is the creator and man is but the created.

It was this unnatural desire of being like God that caused their expulsion from Eden.

By acting on this impulse, the relationship between mankind and God was forever changed.

Things are certainly not any easier today.

Think about how much of the world's economy is based on the act of coveting.

What would happen to the economy if people stopped desiring more extravagant possessions than their neighbor has?

Almost every television commercial and printed advertisement is aimed at this particular human weakness that has been present in every generation.

Even some of the television programs themselves now serve as case studies in greed.

It may not be easy to avoid covetousness, but there is someone we can turn to to help us overcome it.

Hebrews 2:18 (NET) - For since He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.


That is a promise we can count on.

We cannot escape temptation completely.

Such is the nature of both man and the world we live in.

Yet with His help we can overcome it.


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

The State of the Church

(Author's note: I struggled with this post more than any other I have written to date. I will not devote any space as to what inspired and motivated me to write this, but I trust that it was genuine. It certainly raised my concern for the church as a whole and I came to some inescapable conclusions. ~ JP)

Church, frankly speaking, no longer plays the pivotal role in the lives of people that it once did.

As time goes by both church and the worship experience get pushed further into the background as lives get busier and other things compete for our attention.

Part of the problem is external.

When I was young school activities and organized community sporting events were never scheduled on Sunday let alone during the same hours that worship services were taking place.

Today, parents are forced to make a choice.

As more and more of these events take place on Sunday, the church experience is given an ever diminishing priority.

The problem is further compounded by the internal choices some churches continue to make.

Some dilute the message in order to make it more palatable.

Some choose not to display crosses or other religious symbols because they do not wish to make people feel uncomfortable.

Their end goal thus becomes one of delivering a message that merely makes members feel good about themselves and presents God as having few if any expectations of them.

As these churches grow larger, the message becomes even more watered down and expectations decrease.

As such, the cycle becomes more dangerous and more difficult to correct.

I personally know of one person who joined such a church.

What was his motivation? Sadly, he felt joining this particular church would be a good way for him to make new business contacts.

As these types of churches gain in popularity one would be hard pressed to find any real and meaningful differences between them.

Beyond this there are those outside the church who openly attack it.

For some of them, merely tearing the church down is not enough.

What they desire above all else is to see it fall.

Still others see church as an obstacle.

To them it is something that stands in the way of getting what the world has to offer.

Church requires time, money, effort and a host of other resources they do not wish to relinquish.

If you have read this far you are probably saying to yourself that this does not sound very uplifting.

You are correct. So far, it is not.

As difficult as this is, I am concerned that something is looming on the horizon.

I do not know what it is nor do I wish to indulge in speculation.

One thing of which I am certain is that when it happens we will receive very little warning if any.

Furthermore, any man made warning signals currently in place may prove to be of little value.

I am reminded of a warning from the book of Revelation that I find rather ominous.

Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV) - I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,I will vomit you out of My mouth.

There is still a chance.

This warning is also accompanied by words of hope for the faithful.

Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

In the final analysis the choices are ours to make and there still remains time for us to make the right ones.


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

The More Things Change...

As I am about to turn yet another year older I find myself reflecting on change.

When I was a child television was black and white and there were only a few local channels.

Telephones required lines.

There were no computers, laptops, tablets or even calculators.

Man had not yet set foot on the moon as the space program was still in its infancy.

Now, half a century later the world is a much different place.

Television is not only in color and high definition but there are literally hundreds of channels to choose from.

With the advent of cell phones, land lines are decreasing in number.

In fact, phone booths which allowed us to make telephone calls when away from home have all but disappeared.

There have been several manned missions to the moon and we now have unmanned craft on Mars while still others orbit Earth and explore the solar system and beyond.

There are even people living and working in space for extended periods of time.

Computers have entered the workplace and it is almost impossible for businesses to succeed without them.

People are using their laptops, tablets and even their cell phones to stay connected and to access information wherever they happen to be.

Change was inevitable and I am amazed at the number that has taken place in my lifetime.

Along with these changes unintended consequences have arisen as well.

Although some television services offer hundreds of channels only a small percentage of the programs are actually worth watching.

People are using their cell phones to call, email and text so frequently that the amount of actual personal interaction between people is diminishing.

As far as space exploration is concerned, there is now a cloud of debris and space junk orbiting Earth and NASA has to monitor it constantly in order to minimize the risk it poses to today's missions.

Though it is impossible to do business without computers, identity theft is a very real threat which the headlines bear out more frequently.

With laptops, tablets and other such devices we are now bombarded with so much information that only a fraction of it is really useful.

Personally, I make use of these technological changes and would be hard pressed to do without them.

But, if one is completely honest, one must admit that the unintended consequences that came about with them have certainly complicated things.

Isn't it comforting to know that when it comes to that which is most important there has been no change at all?

In fact, there never will be.

Hebrews 13:8 (NET) - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!

In a world that changes at an ever increasing pace and assaults our senses with new and more difficult challenges to overcome, it is comforting to know that Jesus Christ remains a source of constant love, strength and stability.


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

Catalysts of Change

How much have things really changed in the last 400 years?

Quite a lot.

Cities have grown larger.

Buildings are certainly much taller.

We have electronic computers that process data faster than ever and hold ever increasing amounts of it.

We have air travel and can find ourselves on the other side of the world in a matter of hours.

With cell phones, people are now more connected than ever before.

Yes, things have changed a great deal in the last 400 years.

Yet how much have people changed, generally speaking, in that same 400 years?

In reality, not much.

Corruption still exists.

Crime has certainly not gone away.

War, it seems, is a constant reality.

Having made my point, I will stop my list there.

Although things have changed dramatically in the last four centuries, we are still facing many of the same problems as people did then.

We have even managed to create some new ones along the way.

That is one of the reasons I am so glad that in the class I teach we are studying “The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart” by John Amos Comenius who wrote this classic in the 1600's.

It is just as relevant today as when it was written.

In this classic, Comenius depicts the world as a labyrinth or maze full of twists, turns and deceptions.

When his main character, a pilgrim, finishes his tour of the Labyrinth of the World, he is distraught because the world offers no happiness and ultimately death itself..

Then my bowels quaked, my whole body trembled, and, terrified, I fell swooning to the ground, and cried mournfully : " Oh, most miserable, wretched, unhappy mankind ! this, then, is your last glory ! this the conclusion of your many splendid deeds ! this the term of your learning and much wisdom over which you glory so greatly ! this the rest and repose that you crave after countless labours and struggles ! this the immortality for which you ever hope ! Oh, that I had never been born, never passed through the gate of life! For after the many vanities of the world ; nothing but darkness and horror are my part ! O God, God, God ! God, if Thou art a God, have mercy on wretched me ! "

All however, is not lost, for then he encounters Jesus and finds the Paradise of the Heart.

Hearing such speech, and understanding that He who spake was my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, of whom I had indeed heard somewhat in the world, but superficially only, I folded my hands, and then stretched them out, not, as in the world, with fear and doubt, but with full happiness and complete faith ; then I said : " I am here, my Lord Jesus ; take me to Thee. Thine I wish to be, and to remain for ever. Speak to Thy servant, and permit me to hear Thee ; tell me what Thou desirest, and grant that I find pleasure in it ; lay on me what burden Thou thinkest fit, and grant that I may bear it ; employ me for whatever purpose Thou desirest, and grant me that I may not be found wanting ; order me to act according to Thy will, and grant me grace to do so. Let me be nothing, that Thou mayest be everything."

This is the turning point for the pilgrim, for it is then that Christ tells him that, for a time, he must reside in two worlds at the same time.

As believers, so do we.

We may not be able to change the world, but with His help we may be the catalyst of change for some of its people.

Our task remains the same.

We are to introduce people to Jesus.

It is He who will forever change them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Growing the Distance

Growth is something every church hopes to experience.

Our church welcomed seven new members last Sunday.

Words cannot adequately express how grateful to God I am for bringing them to us.

Yet growth is not merely confined to numbers.

Growth is something Christians should experience in their personal walk with the Lord as well.

When our young people reach the age of confirmation our pastor asks them two questions.

He asks them what they expect to receive from the church.

He also asks what the church can expect to receive from them.

I frankly do not remember how I responded to those questions because too many years have gone by.

I really do think these are excellent questions and ones that we should ask ourselves from time to time.

I suspect that if we did we would find that our answers would change as we continue to mature.

What I offer my church today I could not have imagined decades ago.

What I offer in the future I may not be able to imagine today.

My expectations of my church have no doubt changed since the day I was confirmed.

My expectations of it in the future will be different than my expectations today.

That is another aspect of growth.

With God's help, we will grow in numbers.

With God's help, we will also continue to grow as individuals.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV) – I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Yesterday, Today and Forever

There is a saying about the weather where I live.

“If you don't like the weather, stick around a minute and it will change.”

This is a bit of an exaggeration but there are times when the weather changes quite frequently.

That was the case two weeks ago.

Saturday saw mild temperatures but very high winds.

Sunday saw a cold front arrive and the wind changed directions.

Monday brought cold temperatures.

Not to be outdone, Tuesday saw record cold temperatures.

Wednesday saw milder temperatures but the rains came.

Thursday the rain turned into drizzle.

On Friday the drizzle was replaced by dense fog.

Each day brought a new set of circumstances to contend with.

Each day brought its own set of challenges.

Of course change doesn't merely confine itself to the weather.

Our lives can seem turbulent at times and we can feel overwhelmed.

Politics, the economy, education and our careers can bring change into our lives.

People can also bring change in the ways they look at us and treat us.

Even family and friends can look at us and treat us differently at times.

Regardless of what changes upset our lives there is one constant we can always rely on.

Hebrews 13:8 (NET) – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!

Even when our lives seem turbulent, Jesus is constant.

He does not change.

In the Matthew Chapter 8, we read where Jesus and His disciples were traveling by boat.

While Jesus slept, a storm developed with intense waves.

The disciples, convinced they were about to perish, awakened Him.

Jesus took control of the situation.

Matthew 8:26 (NET) – But He said to them, “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was dead calm.

I really love the way this translation words this.

It was not the disciples who ended up dead.

Instead it was the once turbulent sea that turned dead calm.

Jesus calmed a threatening sea.

Jesus never changes.

That means He can and continues to bring calm and stability to our lives.

Even when things seem out of control, Jesus remains constantly in control.

Yesterday.

Today.

Forever!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com