More Stones to Gather

A new year is upon us.

In reflection, my thoughts turned to a sermon offered by a young man.

Joshua 4 was the inspiration for his message.

Joshua 4:4-7 (GNT) - Then Joshua called the twelve men he had chosen, and he told them, “Go into the Jordan ahead of the Covenant Box of the Lord your God. Each one of you take a stone on your shoulder, one for each of the tribes of Israel. These stones will remind the people of what the Lord has done. In the future, when your children ask what these stones mean to you, you will tell them that the water of the Jordan stopped flowing when the Lord's Covenant Box crossed the river. These stones will always remind the people of Israel of what happened here.”

Joshua led his people across the Jordan river.

When the ark of the covenant reached the halfway point, the river was held back.

The people then crossed on dry ground.

Joshua then commanded that stones be gathered and a monument be raised with them.

This monument would serve as a reminder of what took place.

At the conclusion of his sermon, the young man drove his point home.

Throughout our lives, we encounter challenges.

This is true even of Christians.

And when those challenges seem to get the best of us, we should look back on our lives.

We should look back on the stones we gathered to remind us that God was with us.

I had a chance to visit with the young man afterward.

I thanked him for his message.

I also told him that it reminded me that my work is not yet finished.

I still have time to figuratively gather stones in whatever time God sees fit to give me.

Reflecting on the past two decades, I can see that my life has changed significantly.

In fact, this ministry is now entering its 17^th year.

I began a new and personally rewarding career three years ago.

There are other “stones” too numerous to mention.

But one thing is abundantly clear.

I did not accomplish these things alone.

Philippians 4:13 (GNT) - I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 9, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 14, 2026

And Justice for All

There is currently a great deal of talk about social injustice.

Sadly, some will promote a personal agenda of lies claiming to promote social justice.

Some will even go as far as to say that what is true for one individual may not be true for another.

In Isaiah 5, the prophet condemns social injustice.

In doing so, he condemns those who lie to promote personal agendas.

Isaiah 5:20a (NRSVue) - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,

Making truth a relative commodity serves to promote injustice.

It does this by stirring up strife and creating unnecessary division,

Christians understand that truth is not relative.

In Romans 12, Paul writes about what makes a good Christian.

Romans 12:21 (NRSVue) - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Christians are called upon to promote justice.

But they can only do so by defending the truth and not trading one lie for another.

As we continue our journey through Advent, let us remember the source of truth.

John 14:6 (NRSVue) - Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

May we have the courage to defend the truth that is Christ!

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 26, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, January 2, 2026

Serious Joy

My class is currently studying a book about the characteristics of a Godly person.

We just began the section on joy.

In a different book, C.S. Lewis wrote that “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”

In Psalm 84, the psalmist wrote about the joy of worship in the temple,

Psalm 84:10a (NRSVue) - For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

In Luke 2, we read about Jesus as a boy in the temple.

Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with the group of travelers.

They returned to Jerusalem.

There, they found Jesus in the temple.

Despite their joy in finding Him, they scolded him.

The response of Jesus showed wisdom beyond His age.

Luke 2:49 (NRSVue) - He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

As we continue our journey through Advent, let us find joy.

True joy can be found when we walk with the triune God.

Our love for the Lord is a joyful experience.

And our love for those He created in His image should also be joyful.

These kinds of joy prepare us for the serious business of the joy of heaven.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 12, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 19, 2025