A Solid Foundation

Ezra 3:11b (NRSVue) - And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid.

In Ezra 3, the builders laid the foundation of the temple.

The priests made music.

They then sang songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Then all the people gave a great shout as they praised the Lord.

In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, he addresses division within the church.

He even addresses the confusion concerning his role.

He likens himself to a master builder who laid the foundation.

Yet others will build on that foundation.

He reminds these to build on that foundation with care.

Yet, Paul reminds his readers of who ultimately laid that foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NRSVue) - For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

In our time, we tend to think of church as a building.

A building perhaps made of wood, stone, or brick.

The reality is quite different.

In fact, there is only one church.

That one church is, in fact, the entire body of believers with Christ as the head.

And we, as a body, have a responsibility that goes beyond worship alone.

Just as a human body has parts, the church body has parts as well.

We are told as children that God wants our hearts.

That is only partly true.

God wants all of us - our heart, hands, feet, and our minds.

He wants our hearts to love Him and our neighbor.

He wants our hands to serve.

He wants our feet to take us where He wants us to go.

And He wants our minds to tell the world about Christ and to discern the truth.

It is important that we remain open to God’s leading and to respond accordingly.

This is how we carefully build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ.

And we can take comfort that future generations will continue to build upon it as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 28, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, July 5, 2024

For Sale

I decided to take a drive Sunday afternoon,

It’s one of the few activities one can indulge in with the current COVID-19 restrictions in place.

With no specific destination in mind, I decided I would first drive by the church I attend.

With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, worshipping together has been suspended once more.

Fortunately, our services will still occur and be streamed online.

Many churches have chosen this option at least until the pandemic has subsided.

I remembered twice finding a note on our church door from a youth group.

The note said that they stopped by and prayed for us,

Each young person had signed their name to it,

I recalled thinking what a remarkable gesture this was.

Being familiar with the many churches in the community, I decided to make this the focus of my journey.

I made a mental list of all these churches and proceeded to drive from one to the next.

I paused my journey at each one and said a prayer on behalf of those who call that church home.

Luke 18:1 (NET) - Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.

I prayed for their worshippers and the day that they would be able to gather once again.

So I traveled from one to the next, pausing at each to pray.

Things proceeded as I expected until I was taken by surprise.

One church to which I traveled had a “For Sale” sign.

I suddenly became quite sad,

There could be any number of reasons as to why this church had permanently closed its doors.

Perhaps it was the pandemic.

Perhaps the number of worshippers had been in decline.

Perhaps there was a disagreement that led to division.

Whatever the reason, this church and its congregation was no more.

Its doors will remain closed until a buyer comes along.

What will occupy the building remains to be seen.

Now, I know the Church is not the building.

It is the entire body of believers with Christ as the head.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NET) - And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Still, I could not help but feel sad as I thought of all that happened within its walls over the decades.

All the sermons that were preached.

All the hymns of praise that were sung.

Al the prayers that were lifted.

All the weddings, baptisms and funerals that united generations of people.

Now, the lights are turned off and silence fills an empty space.

It will remain that way even after the pandemic is over.

I know that those who worshipped there did so differently than I do.

That does not matter.

I continue to pray for them.

My prayer is that they will find a new church that they can call home.

That prayer turns my sadness into hope.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NET) - God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 10, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 17, 2020

Unrecognized

Although Easter Sunday was several days ago, we are still in the Easter season.

Before COVID-19, the Sundays following Easter would remind us of this.

Sermons, hymns and prayers would help remind us of the importance of the Resurrection,

As such, I find my thoughts returning to one fact about the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection.

People, including those closest to Jesus, did not recognize Him at first,

This started when Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty.

She then told the disciples who came to see for themselves.

After she was left alone, she encountered the risen Jesus.

Initially, she mistook Him for someone else.

John 20:14 (NET) -  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Soon afterward, Jesus appeared before two others on the road to Emmaus.

They did not recognize Him at first either.

Luke 24:15-16 (NET) - While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).

Then there was the time the disciples were fishing and did not realize it was Jesus on the shore.

John 21:4 (NET) - When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

I find it more than interesting that those who knew Jesus best did not recognize Him at first.

Scripture does make it plain that they were kept from recognizing Him as in the verse from Luke.

I will not dispute that.

But those He encountered were also caught up in other things at the time.

Mary was caught up in her grief.

Those on the road to Emmaus were caught up in their conversation about current events.

The disciples were caught up in their fishing.

It is easy for us to question how those closest to Him could fail to recognize Jesus.

Do we really fare any better?

Jesus reveals Himself today in many ways including Scripture.

Can we honestly say that we always recognize Him?

Or, are we perhaps too caught up in our own thoughts and actions to notice?

One final thought…

Since COVID-19 has impacted our lives, churches have had to find new and creative ways to worship.

We have also had to find new and creative ways in which to serve.

I hope these trends continue well after the threat of this pandemic has subsided.

I pray churches continue to find even newer and more creative ways in which to worship and serve.

If we do, perhaps people just might not recognize the church at first either.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 1, 2020

Truth Revisited

I decided to write this in the closing hours of 2019.

For the last several weeks the discussions in my class gravitated toward one topic: Truth.

The search for truth is nothing new.

When Jesus was brought before Pilate, Pilate asked Him a question we could ask in the modern era.

John 18:38 (NET) - Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

The age in which we live has blurred the truth so much that many are walking in darkness.

We live in an age of “fake news”.

The media, which is supposed to be nonbiased, often has an agenda.

Politicians make promises to get elected never intending to keep them.

Regimes willingly lie to the people to keep them in check.

Even the business world clouds the truth justifying it with “It’s just business”.

Truth is absolute, yet people try to make it relative.

They say that what is true for one person may not be true for another.

In my opinion, this is one of the most dangerous lies we can spread.

Abandoning truth, for whatever reason, is wrong.

The prophet Isaiah had an ominous warning for those who abandon truth.

Isaiah 5:20 (NET) - Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.

So, where can we turn in an age that wants us to ignore truth.

Is there an answer to Pilate’s question: “What is truth?”

Fortunately the answer is yes.

About five years ago, I visited a church that was 150 years old.

Over time, the congregation grew and built a new church but kept the original as it was.

There is a sign above the door taken from scripture.

John 14:6a (NET) - Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

The sign also includes “- words of Jesus Christ”.

Those who passed beneath this sign on their way inside knew what awaited them.

Even after 2,000 years, these words can be trusted.

John 1:14 (NET) - Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

My prayer for the New Year of 2020 is that we will regain the courage to stand up for the truth.

There are those who will say we are intolerant.

We must expect that.

Remember that Pilate asked, “What is truth?” even when Jesus stood right in front of him.

We must re-learn that it is okay for us to disagree.

It is not, however, okay for us to be disagreeable in the process.

After all Jesus, the source of truth, also tells us to love our neighbor.

Even those who disagree with us!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 10, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 17, 2020

Gone Too Soon

I have experienced several deaths this year.

Most of these have occurred within my church family.

Losing someone is never easy, but two of these were especially difficult because they were young.

Both died in accidents.

The first was a young lady of 19 who attended my church.

As such, I knew her for a very long time and watched her grow up within the church.

She was an absolute joy to be around.

She made sharing the love of God look natural and effortless.

This is as it should be, so she was one up on many of us,

The second was a young man of 21.

I only knew him briefly over the summer as an intern where I work.

I found him pleasant, agreeable and he too was a joy to be around.

About a month after his internship ended, we received word that he was gone.

While these young people were with us, I was struck by the amount of potential they had.

It would have been nice to see where that potential would have led them in their journeys.

Sadly, we will never know what might have been.

That perhaps is why it is so hard to say farewell to the young.

One moment we expect them to be around for a long time.

The next, we find out they are gone.

And as deeply as we feel grief, we know their parents and siblings feel it more.

Some will point to events like this and question the existence of God.

Yet scripture reminds us that there is good in what we perceive as tragedy.

Romans 8:28-29 (NET) - And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

As for grief, we find both comfort and blessing in the Beatitudes.

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

We also have the promise that grief is with us but for a time.

Revelation 21:4 (NET) - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.

But, for now, it is okay for us to mourn the passing of the young.

It reminds us how special they were.

May it also remind us that we now have even more work to do.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 27, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 4, 2019

What Unites Us

I have been preparing to teach a class about a remarkable Christian who lived centuries ago.

Part of my preparation involved anticipating questions I may be asked.

One question I am anticipating is: “What would this man have to say about Christianity today?”

Frankly, a great deal.

But I think one thing that would surprise him would be the number of denominations that have arisen.

I think he would be amazed at the number of different churches there are each claiming to be Christian.

This put me in mind of a conversation I had with a friend long ago.

We attended different churches.

We had some lively discussions concerning our differences.

Suffice it to say, my friend was a bit opinionated.

At the end of one such conversation, I asked my friend to consider scripture we might agree on.

I asked him if we could agree on this passage from Romans…

Romans 6:23 (NET) - For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Of course, neither of us disagreed with that.

I then asked my friend if we could agree on this well-known passage from John…

John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Again, this was something we could agree upon.

I than asked my friend about an earlier passage…

John 3:5-6 (NET) - Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Again, we agreed upon this.

I then told my friend that although we worshipped in slightly different ways, we agreed on some very important things.

Perhaps, as Christians, we would be wise to focus on that which unites us rather than that which divides us.

In doing so we would be better able to serve God.

In doing so we would be better able to serve our fellow man.

I think the man about whom I will speak would agree.

He once had this to say…

“Whenever you encounter one of your neighbors, regard him as yourself in another form (which he is), or indeed as God in another form, for he is the image of God, and God will be watching to see how reverently you treat him.” - Comenius

I think we can all agree on that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 24, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 7, 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

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

Subject to Change

Recently, there has been a string of violent attacks in the city where I work.

Sadly, these attacks have resulted in the loss of life.

Some are referring to these as hate crimes.

Others, as acts of terrorism.

In my opinion, both assessments are correct.

My initial reaction was one of shock.

Things like this do not happen here.

Things like this happen in other places.

The sad reality is that things like this can occur anywhere and at any time.

As a Christian, I pray for the victims.

I also pray for the families and friends whose live are forever changed.

Praying for these people is not difficult, but Christians are obligated to go beyond that.

We are also to pray for the individual or individuals responsible.

As humans, we likely discover that is not always an easy thing for us to do.

Yet, Jesus commands us to do so.

Matthew 5:43-46 (NET) - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?

Scripture also reminds of another man whose heart once burned with anger and rage against the early church.

He was there when Stephen was martyred.

This man was named Saul, and scripture tells us exactly how he felt.

Acts 8:1 (NET) - And Saul agreed completely with killing him.

Saul began taking matters into his own hands.

Acts 8:3 (NET) - But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

People lived in fear of Saul.

But one day, on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Christ.

Saul’s life changed forever.

Saul who once persecuted the church began to proclaim Christ.

The more he proclaimed Christ, the more capable he became.

It took time for Saul to earn the people’s trust.

Even the disciples were wary of him at first.

The book of Acts reminds us that Saul was also known by another name… Paul.

The same Paul who went on to write a good portion of the New Testament.

We don’t have the power to change a life like Paul’s.

Only Christ has that power.

Our job is to pray for them.

Remember, no one is beyond hope.

Whenever we say that someone is beyond hope we place limits upon God who has no limits.

Paul came to understand this as well.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NET) - Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 23, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 6, 2018

Christmas, Tradition and Love

One of the things I enjoy about Christmas is tradition.

The church I attend has several traditions.

Some of these traditions go back many years.

For example, a traditional gift among people who share my heritage is “The Christmas Sack”.

This is a simple brown paper bag containing an apple, an orange and a few pieces of candy.

My parents always gave me this gift every Christmas when I was a boy.

I am not certain how many generations back this tradition goes.

My church continues this tradition as well.

Every year my church puts on a Christmas Program.

A few nights before the program, a few of us will meet at the church and prepare many sacks.

When the Christmas Program ends, everyone in attendance gets one and so the tradition continues.

Another tradition I enjoy takes place at our worship service every Christmas Eve.

Prior to the start of the service we place a rocking chair in our sanctuary.

At some point during the worship service our pastor will sit in that chair.

The children in attendance will then come forward and sit on the floor around the pastor.

He will then read to them about the very first Christmas from the gospel of Luke.

Another tradition we have is quite new.

Empty boxes are provided to all members at the start of Advent.

Members place a non-perishable food item in their box each day during the season of Advent.

By the time Christmas arrives, all the boxes have been filled with food.

The filled boxes are gathered, and the food is donated to the local food bank to help the less fortunate.

These are but some of our traditions.

No doubt, you have traditions of your own.

Traditions play an important role in helping us observe Christmas.

It is important that our hearts are in the right place as we take part in them.

Simply going through the motions is not enough.

Everything we do should be rooted in faith, hope and love.

After all, it is God’s love for us that is at the very heart of Christmas.

Christmas is not a celebration of how we reach up to God.

Christmas is a celebration of how God reached down to us.

It is a celebration of how God reached down to a disobedient and fallen world that could not save itself.

It is a celebration of how God reaches down in the most remarkable and unexpected of ways.

Luke 2:11 (NET) - Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

I wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 22, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 5, 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

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

Living Our Faith

I pass several churches along my commute.

From time to time I see drivers breaking traffic laws as they enter or leave their parking lots.

I realize not every driver entering or leaving those lots attends those churches, but stay with me.

Along my commute I also encounter many drivers violating the established traffic laws.

Some of these same drivers have Christian bumper stickers or decals on their cars.

Inconsistent behavior is not merely confined to the roads.

I was in the store the other day.

I was awaiting my turn in the checkout line just like everyone else.

Someone in line was complaining quite loudly about what they considered poor service.

They even spoke harshly about the cashier.

Unfortunately, the person complaining was wearing a T-shirt promoting the church they attended.

Not one of us is perfect.

That includes me.

Yet when we go to the effort to make others aware of our faith, others will watch us more closely.

Some like nothing better than to see us slip up simply to further justify their lack of faith.

Making others aware of our faith is a good thing.

We can certainly do that with tangible things like T-shirts and bumper stickers.

We also need to make certain our behavior reflects our faith as well.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NET) - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 23, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 7, 2016

Acts of Worship

An older friend of mine used to open up the church every Sunday morning.

One Sunday morning, he took me under his wing and began to show me all the tasks he performed.

Every Sunday morning after that, we would go through these tasks together.

Eventually I learned how to do all of them.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, he is no longer able to open up the church on Sundays.

These tasks now fall to me as he has shown me how to do them.

I am grateful because performing these tasks reinforces something I have always believed.

Every service performed for the Lord is an act of worship.

Even the smallest of tasks can be an act of worship.

What matters is our motivation for doing them.

For an act to be one of worship the focus has to be on Him rather than ourselves.

It has to be done with an attitude of love rather than automatically and without thought.

Unlocking the doors permits His worshipers to enter.

Turning on the lights allows his worshippers to see.

Turning on the speakers and microphones allows his worshippers to hear.

Setting out the offering plates allows his worshippers to give.

These and other tasks, no matter how small they may seem, can be acts of worship.

My friend taught me that.

I could see that in the way he did them.

That is the best way to instruct.

Love has to be demonstrated.

One day, I too will take someone under my wing and show them how to do these things.

Then the day will come when I will no longer be able to do them.

The one I teach will then perform these acts of worship.

I sincerely hope I can demonstrate the kind of love to that person that was shown to me.

1 Samuel 15:22 (NET) - Then Samuel said,

  “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

  as much as he does in obedience?

  Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;

  paying attention is better than the fat of rams.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 27, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 3, 2016

A Different Perspective

One of the services I provide for my church family is photography.

I have provided this service for them for the last nine years and it is a ministry I particularly enjoy.

This ministry not only allows me to reach out to others, it occasionally gives me some personal insight as well.

It gave me such an insight on Easter Sunday.

I arrived at church well before dawn to help get things ready for our sunrise service.

As always, I had my camera with me.

I made my way through the church and turned on lights, checked microphones, made coffee and did whatever else was needed.

Being Easter, many members of my church family purchased lilies for the sanctuary.

As I prepared the sanctuary in complete silence I could not help but notice these symbols of Easter.

Somehow, they helped make the moment feel more special.

Once my duties in this part of the church were complete, I decided to take a few photographs.

I wanted to get some photographs of the lilies as I knew they would not be around for long.

As I made my way around the sanctuary taking photographs I decided to take one of our cross.

I have taken photographs of our cross before, but from a distance.

This time I stood almost directly beneath it and moved a few paces to my left.

I then looked up at the cross and took the photograph.

As soon as I did, I knew I had something special in my possession.

People, myself included, are creatures of habit.

This can be true even in a place like church.

We park in the same places.

We sit in the same pews.

We even sit with the same people.

That is because they are creatures of habit as well.

Week after week, our view of the cross doesn’t change.

We see it from the same angle from the same distance time after time.

I don’t believe chance had anything to do with me taking that particular photograph on Easter.

I honestly believe God wanted me to see the cross from a different perspective that particular day.

I have had the opportunity to share that photograph with others.

Their reaction to it is remarkably like mine.

The cross did not change.

What it represents certainly did not change.

What changed was my perspective.

This, by necessity, produced a change in me.

Christianity is about growth and change.

Our growth.

Our change.

Sometimes that requires us to get up and move from the place to which we have grown accustomed.

Sometimes what we need is a change in our perspective.

Romans 8:28-30 (NET) - “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 22, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 6, 2016

When a Believer Says No

Even believers feel overwhelmed from time to time.

Speaking from personal experience, I can assure you this believer does.

Although something I never enjoy, I sometimes have to give people an answer they will not like.

No.

At church I serve on a committee on which I feel led to serve.

Every now and then someone who means well will ask me to serve on a board or another committee.

When I explain to them that the committee I am in is where I belong, they typically suggest I serve on both.

No.

By trying to do both I feel I would be stretching myself too thin.

I would not be able to serve either body to the best of my ability.

There are also times I have to say no to family.

Recently a family member planned a very special occasion for a particular day.

While the timing may have been great for some, it could not have been worse for me.

Along with career, I had just gotten through a series of medical examinations.

One of the ministries to which I am committed also required my attention that very same day.

I would have loved to spend time with family and joined in their celebration.

After taking all things into consideration, I had to say no.

Things like this brought back memories of days when I took care of my mother.

Although she was mentally sharp, she suffered from debilitating arthritis.

I loved her with all my heart.

Every time she wanted to go somewhere or do something I had to assess the situation first.

Because I loved her there were times that I had to say no.

As we continue our journey through Lent, my thoughts turned to Jesus.

I recalled the times when the human side of Him felt overwhelmed and even He had to withdraw to a quiet place.

Luke 5:15-16 (NET) - But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Does this mean that Jesus stopped loving people?

Hardly.

If Jesus, who also had a divine nature, found it necessary to withdraw to a quiet place from time to time, what does that say for us?

Although we do not enjoy doing so, sometimes a believer has to say no.

There are times when we must withdraw to a quiet place.

The answer “No” does not mean that we have stopped loving others.

It simply means no.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 11, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 18, 2016

Call Me Wilson

The Lord has surprised me many times and in many ways this year.

The season of Advent was to be no exception.

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in our Christmas program.

I normally work with adults so when I was offered this chance to work with our young people, I jumped at the opportunity.

The days leading up to Christmas tend to get busy enough.

Participating in the Christmas program meant I was going to get even busier.

There would be lines to learn and rehearsals to attend.

Working alongside our young people would be worth the extra effort.

I was asked to portray a wise man in the neighborhood named Wilson to whom the children would come to for wisdom and advice concerning Christmas.

At our rehearsal, I was delighted to see how many adults gave of their time to work with our youth.

Parents, grandparents and Sunday school teachers patiently helped out.

There were even some young adults who volunteered their time and talents as well.

I recalled that it was not very long ago when they were the ones on stage.

Now, they felt the Lord moving them to lend a hand in this effort.

I appeared in scenes with three groups of young people.

As we went over our lines, I recalled watching them grow up.

I also thought about how they will become outstanding adults in the years to come.

The program took place on the Sunday in Advent on which we reflect on hope.

How fitting this was.

As we gave our performance, I realized that one of the ways God provides us with hope is through young people.

Their energy and optimism is contagious.

They not only learn from us, but God can teach us through them if we remain open to the possibility.

This makes perfect sense as we are all God’s children.

When the program ended I felt a bit sad, but God knew just how to cheer me up.

As I prepared to leave, many of your young people went out of their way to tell me, “Goodbye, Wilson!”

Matthew 18:10 (NET) - See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

I wish you a blessed Christmas!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 25, 2015.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 1, 2016