Integrity

I recently attended another funeral service.

This service was for a cousin.

Although family, I always looked up to him as a man.

When his obituary was posted, his many admirable qualities were mentioned.

But one word jumped off the page and caused me to think.

That word was ‘integrity.’

Sadly, it is not a word we hear much anymore.

Personally, I have used the word many times in day-to-day affairs with others.

But what is integrity, and is this a biblical trait?

Merriam-Webster defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.”

My perhaps oversimplification is “be as good as your word.”

If you make a promise, keep it.

If you say you are going to do something, do it.

But what does scripture say about integrity?

Proverbs 11:3 (NRSVue) - The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

There are many other proverbs.

But what does the New Testament have to say?

2 Corinthians 8:21 (NRSVue) - for we are setting our minds on what is right not only before the Lord but also before the people.

What did Christ have to say about integrity?

The Beatitudes provide this answer.

Matthew 5:8 (NRSVue) - “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Integrity is essential to following Jesus.

But unlike other godly characteristics, the results of integrity develop over time,

Characteristics such as love, patience, and kindness are immediately evident.

The fruits of integrity develop over time and have a bearing on our relationship with God and with others.

These relationships take a long time to build.

They can be damaged in no time at all.

That is why integrity is so important and why scripture stresses this fact repeatedly.

My cousin had this quality and God made certain I observed it during our time together.

I am indebted to both.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 12, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, June 19, 2026 

Is True Peace Achievable?

Sometimes it seems as though peace is unachievable.

The lack of peace between nations makes continual headlines.

There is even a lack of peace between individuals.

Simply disagreeing with someone can lead to heated exchanges and violent conflict.

Sometimes, we even find it difficult to be at peace with ourselves.

One thing is certain.

We cannot have peace with others unless we first have peace with God.

The good news is that Christ has made this a reality.

Romans 5:1 (NRSVue) - Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

When we acknowledge this, we have peace with God.

Christ gave us this peace.

John 14:27 (NRSVue) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Once we have this peace with God, we can work on our peace with others.

Hebrews 13:14 (NRSVue) - Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Scripture promises us peace.

But Scripture also makes one thing clear.

John 16:33b (NRSVue) - In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!

Remember these words from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:9 (NRSVue) - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, May 22, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, June 5, 2026

Is That Your Final Answer?

I was recently asked to speak at a cousin’s funeral and then read the selected scripture.

I will skip the eulogy I gave.

I will say that God helped me to console those grieving.

For this piece, I thought I would discuss the passage from scripture.

At the beginning of John 11, Lazarus was ill.

His sisters, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus.

But Jesus intentionally delayed his departure.

In time, Jesus told His followers that it was time to leave for Judea.

The disciples warned against this, but Jesus prevailed.

By the time they arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.

A grieving Martha heard Jesus had arrived and went out to confront Him.

In her pain, she scolded Jesus for not arriving in time to save Lazarus.

Unknown to Martha, Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Before He did so, Jesus identified Himself as the source of eternal life.

He then asked Martha a very deep and personal question that required a personal response.

John 11:25-26 (NRSVue) - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

These words were directed at Martha.

But they are directed at us as well.

Jesus is telling us exactly who He is, the source of eternal life.

He then asks us the same very deep and personal question.

“Do you believe this?”

Is He still waiting for you to answer?

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 24, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, May 1, 2026

Power in the Blood

I accidentally cut myself this weekend.

It was much more than a slight wound.

Fortunately, I kept calm and remembered my first aid training.

This combination saved me a trip to the emergency room.

The incident, although painful, reminded me just how important our blood is.

When I was a boy, I knew an elderly man who had a blood disease.

This disease prevented his blood from clotting properly.

Even a small cut that most would take for granted could have proved fatal to him.

I had another friend with a similar condition.

His was due to the medication he was taking.

Our blood is necessary for survival.

In fact. I currently have a friend who donates blood faithfully and regularly.

He has done so for many years and I can only imagine how many lives his blood has saved.

Yes, our blood is a precious thing.

But as precious as it is, there is something far more precious.

Something far more powerful.

That is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:12 (NET) - Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.

Each of us has been saved by the blood of Jesus

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NET) - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

By His blood, we are made right with God.

Isaiah 53:5 (NET) - He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.

Every one of us, regardless of background, has been brought nearer to God by His blood.

Ephesians 2:13 (NET) - But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

As time goes by, the scar from my injury will fade.

Hopefully it will serve to remind me to be more careful in the future.

It will also serve as a physical reminder; a reminder of the importance of the blood of Jesus Christ.

It will remind me why the sharing of the bread and the cup is so vital to us.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NET) - In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Human blood is a precious thing.

We could not survive without it.

But the blood of Jesus is even more precious.

Because of it, we truly live!

The old hymn says it so well: There’s Power in the Blood.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 24, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 7, 2020

Love Endures

Proverbs 31:26 (NET) - She has opened her mouth with wisdom, with loving instruction on her tongue.

Mother’s Day was a bittersweet time for me.

Mom passed away almost 15 years ago, and I still love and miss her very much.

That is why I was so grateful to receive an email from a friend who is a man of God.

Like me, he too had a wonderful relationship with his mother,

In his email, he reminded me how blessed both of us are for the mothers God gave us.

I readily agreed.

My faith would not be what it is had it not been for my mother.

Some of my earliest memories are of her telling me stories from the Bible.

She told them with great conviction.

Afterward, she took the time to answer the questions a young boy inevitably had.

That is why I always think of Proverbs 31 whenever I remember my mother.

The last half of this chapter describes a good wife.

I believe it also describes a good mother.

This year I wondered how Mom would have dealt with the current situation.

I concluded she would have been concerned.

But her concern would have been for others rather than herself.

In fact, two passages of scripture she cited most often were about concern and where to turn for help.

John 14:27 (KJV) - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Psalm 121:1-3 (KJV) - I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Mother’s Day will always be a bittersweet time for me no matter how old I get.

That’s a good thing.

It reminds me how special she was to me.

It also reminds me others thought she was special as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 22, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 5, 2020

All That He Did

I do many things for many people.

This happens both professionally and personally.

I certainly do not mind.

The downside is that people tend to be aware only of what I am doing for them.

They easily overlook the fact that other people turn to me also.

Jesus understands that only too well.

Many came to him.

Most probably were unaware of all He did.

Many came to him to be fed.

Jesus once fed a crowd of over 5,000 with a small boy’s lunch.

Moreover, there was food left over.

This was the only miracle of His to be documented more than once.

In fact, all four Gospel writers documented this miracle.

These were not the only people who came to Jesus.

Some came to Him to be healed.

In Luke 17, we read of ten lepers who called out to Jesus to be healed.

Jesus healed these outcasts from society.

Only one returned to thank Him.

Some came to Him for the healing of another.

In Matthew 8 we read of the Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant.

This man understood that Jesus could perform this miracle without even going to the servant.

Jesus could do this from a distance and Jesus was amazed by the Centurion’s faith.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people.

He did many other things as well.

He cast out demons.

He even raised the dead.

Despite all the miracles, many were probably unaware of what He did for others.

Fortunately, we have scripture and hindsight to our advantage.

We know the things Jesus did and for whom He did them.

Thanks to the Book of John, we know something even more astounding.

John 21:24-25 (NET)- This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 22, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 6, 2019

Comfort in Troubled Times

It seems that I cannot turn on the news without hearing about violence.

This is especially true about gun violence.

Just two weeks ago, a mass shooting took place in the state in which I live.

Within 24 hours, another mass shooting took place in a different part of the country.

On Wednesday, in another state, six police officers were wounded while serving a warrant.

That same evening, I received word that shots had been fired in the neighborhood where I live.

Frankly, this kind of news is enough to frighten anybody.

Fortunately, God provides words of comfort in troubled times.

Perhaps the most comforting of all can be found in the 23^rd Psalm.

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.

There are others.

John 16:33 (NET) - I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.

Christ tells us that in the world we will have trouble and suffering.

But He also tells us to take courage for He has conquered the world.

What about those who have lost loved ones to violence?

Christ provides these words of comfort in the Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:4 (NET) - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Comfort after the fact is all well and good, but what about the here and now?

John 14:27 (NET) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

It is a comfort to know that we can rely on the kind of peace that only Jesus can give.

Finally, there are words from an old hymn that can also ease our minds in these troubled times.

His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 23, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 6, 2019

No Thanks Required

This has been an interesting week in that I had two people thank me at work.

The first was an intern who is trying to gain valuable experience.

He had been assigned a task and was having some difficultly seeing it through.

He turned to me for help, so I set aside the task I was working on to assist.

I walked over and he explained to me both the task he had been assigned and where he had become stuck.

My years of experience allowed me to see a better way of going about the task.

This experience also led me to another conclusion.

I did not merely tell him what I would do in this situation.

I decided the better path would be for me to show him and allow him to observe and ask questions.

In no time, the intern understood why I chose to perform the task as I had.

He gained some valuable experience.

That is why he is with us.

The second person to thank me was an administrative assistant.

When I asked why she gave me her thanks, her answer surprised me.

She thanked me for always turning in my paperwork on time.

Surprised, I stated that as far as I was concerned this was part of the job.

Christians do not do things the way we do them for gratitude or adulation.

We do things the way we do them because that is how God wants us to live.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET) - Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

It is my hope that the intern remembers this experience.

It is likely that he may become very successful one day.

I hope he remembers what it is like to be new and inexperienced.

I also hope he remembers the importance of kindness, patience and the value of being shown what to do.

James 4:17 (NET) - So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.

This even applies to the mundane things in life.

Even making certain we turn our paperwork in on time.

Not only are such things required, being timely makes life easier on the next person.

These things are part of loving one’s neighbor.

We love our neighbor in various ways.

These include displaying kindness, exercising patience and making their burdens easier to bear.

We can easily lose sight of these especially when we feel taxed ourselves.

When this happens, scripture has a great reminder for us.

Philippians 4:13 (NET) - I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 12, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 19, 2019

Held to a Higher Standard

I had a wonderful time this week.

It was my privilege to teach an adult class on the life of a man of God who lived in the 1600’s.

This man devoted his life to improving education for children.

This man felt that education would help lift mankind out of the cycle of cruelty and war.

His methods were nothing short of revolutionary.

In his view, education should not be limited to boys born to elite families.

Rather, education should be for everyone including girls.

He reasoned that a child’s first teacher would be his mother.

Therefore, it was important that the mother be educated as well.

People resist change.

As a result, people would resist the changes he recommended.

Education in his day consisted of rote memorization.

Boys who could not recite the lesson verbatim were often punished and humiliated.

At this point one of my students reminded me of this verse from James.

James 3:1 (NET) - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.

I agreed that a teacher who uses punishment and humiliation to motivate students should not teach.

I also shared with my class that this same verse made me consider teaching very carefully.

This applies to this class I teach one per year and the one I teach every Sunday morning.

After all, who in their right mind would be willing to teach knowing they would be held to a higher standard?

For me, the beginning of comfort was found in Romans 12 where Paul discusses gifts.

Romans 12:7 (NET) - If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;

Paul reminds us that those of us given the gift of teaching must teach.

He does not say we should.

He said we must.

We must however do so with care.

We must give God the glory and we must present scripture as God has given it to us.

We must never take it out of context or pick out the parts we like while disregarding the rest.

If you are called to teach, then teach; even if it means being held to a higher standard.

Simply trust God and give Him the glory.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 14, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 21, 2019

The Church is Not the Building

John 2:19 (NET) - Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”

The news broke recently about the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Like many others around the world, I continue to follow the story.

More recent headlines discuss the money that is already being raised for reconstruction.

As both a believer in Christ and a student of history, I am glad plans are under way.

But Notre Dame is by no means the only one to be damaged. destroyed or abandoned.

These others rarely make the headlines.

When they do, it is usually for a brief time period as news audiences quickly lose interest.

Some are only reported in their area only.

Many areas of the world are hostile toward Christianity.

Some in these areas take matters into their own hands and destroy church buildings.

They may also threaten, beat or even kill members as well as their leaders.

Some governments tear down church buildings and imprison those who attend.

When is the last time you saw a headline proclaiming this?

Perhaps saddest of all are church buildings that are simply abandoned.

According to one expert, 100 to 200 churches in America will close their doors this week alone.

Again, the news is virtually silent about this.

But there is hope.

We must distinguish between the church and the church building.

They are not the same thing.

Christ understood this and so must we.

In the verse I opened with, the leaders thought he meant the structure.

John 2:21 (NET) - But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body.

The church is the body of believers who gather to worship Christ.

Not long ago, a small church building nearby was destroyed by fire.

Those who attended there worshipped outdoors until a new building was erected.

They never ceased being a church even without a building.

As for declining numbers, a good friend often reminds me that God does incredible things with small numbers.

In Judges 7, we learn of Gideon who fought the Midianites.

God reduced the size of his army not once, but twice.

God did this in order that He be given the glory for the victory.

Let us remember that Jesus did exactly what He promised to do in the three days He promised.

John 2:22 (NET) - So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.

Let us remember that there is a difference between the church building and the church.

Let us also remember that success is not determined by large numbers.

Matthew 15:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 26, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 3, 2019

A Clean Start

A new year is once again upon us.

Many of us see this as an opportunity to make resolutions.

A chance to make some changes that will perhaps improve the quality of our lives.

We may promise ourselves to eat healthier foods or get more exercise or get enough sleep.

When you get down to it, resolutions are about making a new start with a clean slate.

What’s not to like about that?

Unfortunately, we are flawed human beings.

We may keep these promises for a few days or weeks, but then we easily lapse back into our old habits.

We might even go as far as to promise ourselves that next year we will do better.

Next year we will get it right.

A clean start is not impossible.

To make a significant and lasting change we need to change our perspective.

When it comes to resolutions, we tend to focus our gaze inwardly upon ourselves

                                                                                                                          

But what would happen if we were to refocus our gaze outwardly toward Jesus and our fellow man?

Something amazing.

That would bring about significant and lasting change.

That would really be starting with a clean slate.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NET) - So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!

What does this have to do with our fellow man?

Christ himself pointed the way.

A short time before His crucifixion, Christ washed the feet of his disciples.

He did this for a reason.

John 13:11 (NET) - For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.

Christ does not simply tell us how to live, He shows us!

New and lasting change is not impossible.

We just need to know where to look.

By looking first to Christ, we become a new creation.

We do this by listening to His words and following His example.

Resolutions are easily abandoned.

But the more we do as Christ bids us, the more we wish to continue.

John 13:34 (NET) - I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 11, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 18, 2019

The Wisdom of Scripture

People, as a rule, dislike change.

Yet there are times when change is inevitable.

Scripture is clear on this.

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us of just some of the many changes we can expect in this world.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NET) - For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Sometimes, change comes upon us without warning.

Often, we can see it coming on the horizon.

When the latter is the case, the more effort we put in early on the better.

By waiting until the last-minute, we put undue stress on ourselves.

We also put unnecessary stress on others as well.

In preparation for a future change I was assigned a very rigorous and physically demanding task.

I knew that once I started it would take me several days to complete the task.

I have not done this sort of work in a very long time.

But being in good health for my age I took on the task with vigor.

                                                                                                                          

One verse kept coming to mind as I worked at it.

Philippians 4:13 (NET)- I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

This was especially true as I neared the end of my task,

After several days of hard work, I realized the task was near completion.

I realized that if I put good effort into it and counted on His help I could have the task finished by day’s end.

That is what happened,

As soon as the task was complete, scripture reminded me of something else.

The need for rest.

After God created the universe in six days, he rested on the seventh.

Even Jesus sought out quiet places from time to time.

Following their example, I now take some time to rest.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 9, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 16, 2018

Unexpected Blessings and Love

This is not what I originally intended to post today.

I learned long ago that in such endeavors you must follow your heart.

I went to the post office today to pick up a package.

I was in for a surprise.

Along with my package, I received a thick envelope containing a card from a cousin.

The envelope also contained some old black and white photographs and a letter.

I felt a bit emotional as I looked at the photographs and read my cousin’s letter.

These photos were taken immediately after my brother’s funeral more than 60 years ago.

My brother died in infancy almost a decade before I was born.

I never met my brother in this world, but I have other photographs of him.

These photographs depicted the officiating pastor.

He once preached at the church I still attend.

It also depicted four of my cousins who served as bearers.

They were all quite young at the time.

There were also photographs of the coffin, the flowers and so forth.

I very much appreciated receiving this package and I will make certain my cousin knows this.

Many people often get uncomfortable when it comes to discussing death.

I said earlier that I felt a bit emotional.

But my emotions were not based on fear, but rather, they were based on love.

Love for my cousin who thought I should have the photographs.

Love for a brother I never got to meet in this world.

Love for my parents who did all they could for a very sick and tiny infant.

But most of all, love for the Lord.

As a Christian, I know with conviction that death is not the end.

It is merely a transition.

I also know how much the Lord loved my tiny brother.

He proved this in His ministry.

Matthew 19:14-15 (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.”

As stated, I never met my brother in this world.

I am completely confident that we will meet in the next.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 12, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 19, 2018

Size Doesn't Matter

I watched a rather interesting program two weeks ago.

It was about a very tall communications building built in a major city in the 1960’s.

At the time it was built, it was the tallest building in the city.

Many things have changed in the almost sixty years since the building was erected.

For one thing, it is no longer the tallest building in that city.

For another, the building is now owned by a private company.

The makers of the film contacted the current owner of the building.

They got permission for a dignitary who was present when the building was dedicated to return.

They also got permission to accompany this man to the observation deck and to film his reaction.

I enjoyed listening to this man reminisce about the building, its past and his role in it.

In no time, his comments became quite profound.

He remarked that at one time the city’s cathedral was its tallest structure.

He added that in time the communications building then became the tallest.

He then added that banks and financial institutions now share that claim.

He paused to reflect a moment and added that the size of the building may indicate what we worship.

According to this wisdom, first we worshipped God.

Later we worshipped technology.

Now, it appears we worship money.

I must admit, there is a certain wisdom in his observational thinking.

I shared this with my students last Sunday and they added sports arenas to the list.

While these are not the tallest structures, some can easily seat over 100,000 people.

Fortunately for us, a huge structure is not required for worship.

I recall a time when the power was out in our neighborhood one Sunday morning.

As people gathered for worship that morning I secretly hoped the power would stay off for a time.

I would have loved for us to have had a worship service outdoors.

Where we worship God is not critical.

Even large numbers of worshippers are unimportant.

It is what is in the hearts of the worshippers that matters.

.

Matthew 18:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 28, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 5, 2018

A Matter of Trust

One of my favorite television programs first aired in the 1960’s.

I recently watched the first season of that program again.

Two episodes grabbed my attention this time.

Although each was written by a different writer, both episodes dealt with trust.

In the first of these two stories, the main characters began to mistrust each other.

In the second, this group began to mistrust those around them.

In both episodes, a sense of trust was restored.

Although each was written by a different person, their messages were the same.

Namely, trust was something that had to be earned.

I began to think of this in terms of faith.

The Psalms talk about trust and many references are made to it.

Psalm 20:7 (NET) - Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God.

Psalm 31:14 (NET) - But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, “You are my God!

There are many more.

Even Jesus knew that human beings were prone to mistrust first.

Perhaps that is why he went out of his way to stress there was truth in his words.

John 3:3 (NET) - Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 8:58 (NET) - Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!”

Again, there are many more.

Does Jesus really need to earn our trust?

No.

But he did so anyway

Romans 5:8 (NET) - But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 24, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 7, 2018

Rules, Rules, Rules

We live in a complex and often confusing world.

To be honest, we are responsible for a good deal of the complexity and confusion.

In fact, we have made things so complex and confusing that we have devised systems of rules.

We have rules on what is considered appropriate behavior.

We have rules about what is considered ethical.

We have rules on how we are to interact socially.

Many of these are written down in one form or another.

Some are only implied.

The question is: Do we need all these rules in the first place?

For example, recent headlines point out inappropriate contact between people in sports and entertainment.

Sadly, this type of behavior has been going on unchecked for decades.

What was once accepted as a “part of the business” is just now being revealed for what it is.

Hasn’t this been wrong all along?

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NET) - Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body”—but the immoral person sins against his own body.

When it comes to ethical behavior, there seems to be no end to the list of rules.

People in business must often take refresher courses on what constitutes ethical behavior.

But what does ethics really boil down to?

Philippians 4:8-9 (NET) - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

When it comes to interacting socially there are still more rules.

When meeting rulers and dignitaries we are supposed to say and do certain things to acknowledge their position of authority.

In business, we tend to treat the CEO far better than we do the janitor.

Matthew 20:25-28 (NET) - But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

As human beings, we really tend to overcomplicate things.

As a result, we find ourselves making rule after rule after rule.

When Jesus came into the world, He did his utmost to simplify things for us.

Once, an expert in the law posed a question to Jesus.

He asked which commandment was the most important.

Jesus gave him a two-fold answer.

Mark 12:30-31 (NET) - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Jesus knew that if we obeyed these two commandments we would be obeying all the others.

We would not need even one of the rules we have written or implied since.

Jesus cited two commandments.

It really does not get any simpler than that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 9, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 16, 2018

Giving Them My Best

I think everyone gets busier the closer we get to Christmas.

I certainly do.

One of the things that makes me busier is our annual Christmas Program.

The last few of these have seen me become an active participant.

There are lines to learn.

There are rehearsals.

As always, there are also the general preparations.

To be honest, I really don’t mind the extra work this creates for me.

This is certainly an opportunity for me to thank God for sending His Son into the world.

Christmas marks the beginning of Christ’s journey among us.

A journey that began in a stable,

A journey that ended at the cross.

Taking part in the Christmas Program helps drive that home for me.

I pray it does for others as well.

One of the additional benefits I receive from this is having the opportunity to work directly with our youth.

Most of the time I work with people my own age – the “not so young” people.

Of course, I do things indirectly that benefit our youth serving on various committees.

One of the things I hear quite frequently is: “These young people are our future.”

Granted, there is a fair amount of truth in that.

God has blessed me with a somewhat unique set of circumstances.

Circumstances that allow me to be perhaps a bit more objective.

These young people have a future of their own.

Some will go to college.

Some will get jobs and move to another city.

Some will become part of a new church family when they get married.

My responsibility, from a purely objective standpoint, is clear.

I need to give our young people the best I have within me spiritually.

That applies to whatever committee on which I serve.

It also applies to working directly with them in a Christmas Program.

No matter how busy I get, serving them means serving God.

Proverbs 22:6 (NET) - Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

No matter where their future takes them, I want them to have the best preparation we can provide.

That means giving them the best I can provide.

God will take care of the rest.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 8, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 15, 2017

Country Road

There is an old country road I traveled many times in the past.

I hardly ever use it anymore.

It passes alongside farms, fields, horses and other livestock.

It also passes alongside an old country church that is still in use.

Just beyond that, the road comes to a T shaped intersection leaving you with two options.

You can turn left, or you can turn right.

Sometimes we would turn to the left and go to the home of my uncle and aunt.

Sometimes we would turn to the right and visit the home of some dear family friends.

Whichever way we went, we would always take that same country road home.

I recall a time when I was very, very young when we traveled on that road at night.

As we passed that old country church it was bathed in light.

“What is that?” I asked my parents.

“That is God’s house,” my mother answered.

I already had some idea of who God was thanks to my parents.

I took Mother’s statement quite literally.

As a small child, I honestly believed this was the one place on Earth God chose to call home.

I also thought my family, my uncle and aunt and our friends were very fortunate to live so very near God’s home.

As I grew older, I learned that this was just Mother’s way of defining a church to an inquisitive child.

My parents and my uncle and aunt are gone now.

The friends we had no longer live in that area.

So, there is no need for me to travel down that road much anymore.

In my mind I still do.

At times when I feel God’s hand upon me, I recall that church, that old country road and that night when I was so young.

I recall how special it felt to believe God was so very near.

Now, as a man, I understand that God is everywhere.

Because He is everywhere, He is always very near.

Jeremiah 2:22-23 (NET) - Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?” the Lord asks. “Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?” the Lord asks. “Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks.

I do now.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 24, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 1, 2017

Choosing Life in a Fallen World

To say that the world is in a mess right now is an understatement.

A review of recent headlines bears this out.

But is this necessarily a new development?

No.

For example, millions of people died in the last world war.

The best estimates put the number of dead somewhere between 50 million and 80 million.

During that same period genocide was attempted.

Members of one race tried to completely kill off another.

New and fearsome technology led to weapons capable of killing thousands in a single stroke.

Today, others are developing similar weapons and threaten us with them.

Turn the clock further back and we confront a time when disease threatened to wipe out a continent.

The Black Death is thought to have killed 30 to 60 percent of Europe’s population.

People did not understand what was happening to them.

Some misinterpreted the disease as a punishment from God.

Many lashed out at against their neighbors.

They searched for possible heretics and the like which resulted in many unnecessary deaths.

History reminds us time and again that bad things have happened and can do so again.

There are two major difference between past calamities and present ones.

First, technology has made it possible for us to learn about them almost the moment they happen.

Second, those using this technology may try to influence how we should think and feel about them.

All catastrophes, modern as well as ancient, do have something in common.

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis put it this way: “All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

Lewis also stated: “History isn't just the story of bad people doing bad things. It's quite as much a story of people trying to do good things but somehow something goes wrong.”

From the very beginning, God offered mankind a choice.

Choose Him and life, or, choose their own way and the consequences.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve made the wrong choice.

Collectively speaking, we have been making the wrong choice ever since.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NET) - Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

We still have a choice.

Let us choose life.

Let us choose life even when others choose otherwise.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 13, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 20, 2017

A Good Word

Church, first and foremost, must be about worship.

Beyond that, it is also a place where we become refreshed and renewed.

It is when we leave church that the work really begins.

After all, the “Great Commission” is still in effect.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NET) - Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

That is why I always look forward to the benediction.

This is the blessing with which the worship leader dismisses the congregation.

For me, the benediction does not merely mark the end of the service.

Rather, it is a blessing for everyone to help them fulfill the “Great Commission” in the week to come.

The benediction itself can be offered in different ways.

My personal favorite is known as the “Franciscan Benediction”.

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

And the Blessing of God, who Creates, Redeems and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen.

The word benediction comes from the Latin roots bene, meaning "well" and diction meaning "to speak" — literally meaning “to speak well of”.

I look upon it as a blessing that strengthens us to fulfill the “Great Commission” in the days to come.

The “Franciscan Benediction” not only strengthens, it reminds us just how much work there is to be done.

It also reminds us that we do not do this work alone.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 25, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 1, 2017