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

Character Matters!

Character does matter.

It matters in our professions.

It matters as we interact with one another.

Most importantly it matters to God.

Each of us was made in the image of God.

This includes what is inside of us as well as the outside.

One of the best examples the Bible gives us of character is Daniel.

Daniel 6:3 (NRSVue) - Soon Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

People took notice of Daniel’s character.

The king certainly noticed.

The administrators and the satraps noticed as well.

But they did not share the king’s view of Daniel.

Daniel 6:4 (NRSVue) - So the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him.

Try as they might, they could not find fault with his character.

As Christians, people will examine our character.

Does our character align with our faith?

Does it align with our relationship with God?

Does it align with how we treat our fellow man?

If not, we have a major problem on our hands.

Our conduct (words and actions) builds up our character.

Our character, in turn, shapes our conduct.

Our character helps define us.

Both good relationships and a good reputation take time to build.

But the same relationships and reputation can be damaged in a heartbeat.

Using today’s vernacular, Daniel walked the walk and talked the talk.

As Christians, we should ask ourselves: “Do we?”

 

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

Where Trust Belongs

In Jeremiah 23, the prophet speaks of the restoration following exile.

Moreover, he speaks of God’s role in that restoration.

God will restore the people and prosper them.

Jeremiah 23:3 (NRSVue) - Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd.

He talks about the role of a thief.

He then contrasts that to His role as the Good Shepherd.

John 10:10 (NRSVue) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Our lives and successes are in the Lord’s hands.

This was true thousands of years ago and it is just as true today,

No matter what stage of the journey we find ourselves, every part of our existence is in His hands.

And we should respond accordingly.

Our service is bound in our relationship with the Lord and our fellow man.

All we need to do is trust Him alone and not ourselves.

For without trust, where would faith be?

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 10, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, April 17, 2026

Forever Young

Psalm 71 is a prayer for protection.

In it, the psalmist acknowledges God’s presence from his youth.

Psalm 71:17 (NRSVue) - O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul demands something from him.

Paul demands that Timothy continue in the way in which he was instructed.

2 Timothy 3:15 (NRSVue) - and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

These are good reminders for us, especially as we grow older,

Regardless of our age, we should always delight in the Lord’s love and mercy.

Moreover, we should retain youthful hearts,

We should remain open to new lessons that God wants us to learn.

We relied on the love of our parents as children.

As children of God, we should rely on our Heavenly Father’s love.

We should take delight in it.

Our earthly parents taught us new lessons.

Our Heavenly Father also has new lessons to teach us.

It is up to us to be open to His guidance as well as His love.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, March 27, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, April 3, 2026

Created for a Purpose

In Isaiah 29, the prophet uses the analogy of the potter and the clay.

Put another way, the potter is the creator, and the clay becomes what the potter makes of it.

In the same sense, God is our Creator, and we are His creation.

God creates us to serve His purpose, and we, the created, should not question God’s intent.

Isaiah 29:16 (NRSVue) - You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, “He did not make me,” or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds his audience of this fact.

But Paul expands on this.

Ephesians 2:10 (NRSVue) - For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.

God is the Creator.

We are the creation.

And we are created “in Christ” to do good works.

Moreover, these works were planned for us before we were created.

Let us return to the potter and clay analogy for a moment.

The potter decides what he will make of the clay beforehand.

Perhaps it will be a vase.

Perhaps it will be a bowl.

Perhaps it will be something entirely different.

The potter decides and the clay responds to his touch.

Likewise, we respond to His touch through the Holy Spirit.

We can then fulfill the need for which we were created.

We can then lead those in our midst out of the darkness and into the light.

Then, they too may see that they were created for His purpose.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, March 13, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, March 20, 2026

Not Wanting Anyone to Perish

In Ezekiel 12, the prophet spoke of judgment.

Verse 25 begins with a reminder of God’s omnipotence.

The Lord spoke.

And what the Lord spoke would be fulfilled.

Ezekiel 12:25 (NRSVue) - But I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and fulfill it, says the Lord God.”

The creation account in Genesis also attests to His spoken word.

Genesis 1:3 (NRSVue) - Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote of another time the Lord spoke.

This too was fulfilled.

Galatians 3:8 (NIV) - Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

This was a promise God made.

This was also a promise kept.

Genesis 22:18 (NIV) - and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

All peoples can be blessed, but they can only be blessed by God.

All peoples are created in the image of God.

At the end of the day, all peoples are children of God.

And God would have it that none should perish but come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

Seeing Divinity in Creation

In Isaiah 37, Hezekiah consulted with Jeremiah,

Afterward, Hezekiah went to the house of the Lord to pray.

In this prayer, Hezekiah, recognized that God is the creator of all things.

Isaiah 37:16 (NRSVue) - O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

In the first chapter of John, we are told that the Word became Flesh.

We are also told that Christ took an active role in creation.

John 1:3a (NRSVue) - All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

The late Billy Graham explained the relationship of the Trinity like this: “The Father is the source of all blessing, and the Son is the channel of all blessing. It is through the Holy Spirit at work in us that all truth becomes living and operative in our lives.”

We are creations of the Triune God.

And through the Holy Spirit, we gain wisdom.

And, because of that wisdom, we can recognize the Triune God in all aspects of life.

We can even recognize the spark of the divine in others.

This enables us to live according to the will of the Triune God.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

In a Word

Psalm 33:6 (NET) - By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all the starry hosts.

Here, the Psalmist writes of God’s role in creation.

In verse six, he echoes the words first recorded in Genesis.

Genesis initially tells of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth.

Although the Psalmist focuses on the heavens, there is one thing common to both.

God simply speaks and creation results.

One word from God, and it is so.

Moreover, God looks upon His creation and calls it good.

This illustrates God’s awesome power.

First, God speaks.

Next, what God speaks comes into being.

And what is created is exactly the way God intends it.

When Paul arrived in Athens, he noticed that the people served many idols.

He also spoke with the people about Jesus and the resurrection.

This was something new and exciting to the Athenians who were curious for more.

In his travels, Paul saw an altar dedicated to an unknown god.

Paul used this sighting to reach the people.

He told them they were worshipping without even knowing it.

Paul told them about God and the universe He created.

He also reminded them that God does not live in temples.

Paul then explained why this is so.

Acts 17:25 (NET) - nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

The universe was created through the breath of God when He spoke.

You and I have our existence through that same breath.

As we continue our journey through Lent, let us remember Paul’s teaching.

When Paul spoke about Jesus and the resurrection, the Athenians were amazed.

We should feel the same kind of amazement.

We should also remember that God created our fellow man.

Therefore, we should be concerned about his struggles and needs.

True, we should pray for God’s intercession.

But we should also pray for God to show us what role He means for us to play in the world.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 25, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, April 1, 2022

Not By Chance

We live in a marvelous universe.

A universe that testifies to the existence of a designer.

Yet there are still those who cling to the notion that the universe and all in it are the result of chance.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

God created everything.

Genesis 1:1 (NET) - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

He created us in His image.

Genesis 1:27 (NET) - God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

The Psalmist understood that he was part of a designed creation.

Psalm 139:16 (NET) - Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.

The prophet Jeremiah understood that his role was part of that design.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The Lord’s message came to me, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

In fact, all life points to a divine hand.

Job 12:7-10 (NET) - But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.

Yet people still cling to the notion that the entire universe is governed by chance.

But God is a god of reason.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NET) - for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.

Even the forms of technology we use daily remind us of the importance of design.

It takes teams of people to design complex pieces of technology.

Everything from cell phones to space stations are planned and executed down to the smallest detail.

These things cannot come into existence by chance.

What does that say for us?

We are more complex than any form of technology.

We simply cannot be products of chance.

Nor are those with whom we come into contact.

Jesus reminded us to love our neighbor.

Perhaps recognizing that our neighbor was designed by God would help.

After all, we were both made in His image.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 14, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 21, 2020

Future Plans

This past weekend it was my honor and privilege to speak at our church convention.

On Saturday, I spoke to the delegates about our church history.

On Sunday, I gave the devotional as part of the worship service at the very first church in our state which was built in 1866.

Although that congregation has since built a newer church, the old church has been preserved for history.

I am glad that they decided to preserve the old church.

That church is one of the “Painted Churches” which means that the interior was painted in a very special way.

In January, I had an opportunity to stop by that old church but I only got to see it from the outside.

After the worship service on Sunday I was able to go inside and see it for myself.

I made certain that I had my camera with me as I wanted to get some photographs of the interior.

In the 1880’s, the Reverend Bohuslav Laciak painted the interior.

Laciak painted geometric patterns on the ceiling and the walls as well as ornate columns.

At the time the church was also used as a schoolhouse and Laciak was the teacher.

Word has been handed down that the students remembered studying while the good Reverend Laciak stood on a ladder painting those elaborate designs.

Unfortunately, Laciak died in a hunting accident and his painting was never completed.

It remains just the way he left it.

I took a number of photographs and in two of them I could make out the pencil marks drawn by Laciak.s hand indicating where he intended to continue his work.

At the worship service, a pastor reminded us that the church is not the building.

The church is, in reality, the people within the building.

He is quite correct in this.

Still, I am glad that the building was preserved and I am also glad to have been able to capture Laciak’s pencil marks.

These serve to remind me that the work of the church… the work of the people… is never really complete.

The duties of faith, hope and love never end.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Visit His World

It's mid-September here in western New York, USA--a time when the warm, sunshiny glories of summer gradually give way to the cool breezes and waning, golden light of autumn. In this season we're especially sensitive to the divine Creation that surrounds us, and are blessed with many ways to immerse ourselves in it--trails through the woods and meadows, beaches along lakes great and small, marshes and rolling hills to explore.

It's important for the believer to remember daily, as the great old hymn says, "This Is My Father's World."  The worries, frustration, and artificiality of the man-made, day-to-day realm tend distract us from the well-spring of all life, our loving Heavenly Father. In order to keep our connection with Him strong, we need to keep in touch with the world as He made it, and makes it anew every day. Scripture abounds with joyous testimony of how the heavens and earth, and everything in them, reflect God's power and providence. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." (Psalms 19:1) And again: "Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains." (Psalms 147:7,8) And especially: "The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them." (Psalms 89:11)  Indeed, Psalm 104 is one long hymn of wonder and thanksgiving to God for all that he means to His Creation.

Make generous room in your life for experiencing that Creation as directly as you can. If possible, take regular walks in woods or fields, or in natural parks if you're city-bound. Explore the shorelines of lakes or streams. Listen intently to the breeze whispering through the trees or grass, and reflect on the abundant plant and animal life around you. Don't be afraid to spend some time outside in a gentle rain or a light snowfall!  When skies are clearer, admire the rising or setting sun and the clouds ablaze with shimmering light and color. At night, look upon a starry sky and contemplate the immense distances and ages into which you can see, and wonder at the majesty and eternity of the Father who who wrought them. While doing these things, talk to Him in prayer--silently or aloud--and thank Him for all the beauty and bounty He has heaped upon His children! Don't confine these experiences to when times are good, but seek them also--perhaps, especially--when you're troubled. And don't always do these things alone; two or more souls discovering and sharing the glorious handiwork of God together can spread an unquenchable spirit of joy and faith through a multitude of lives!

We are immersed in God's love--all we need to is reach out and touch it!

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Lessons from the Park

I’ve never considered myself to be "the creative type" and will probably not receive much in the way of argument.

Yet, one of the things I’ve learned since I started writing devotionals is that God provides not only inspiration but also reminders of His Word and actual glimpses into His divine nature by means of His creation.

The latest inspiration He provided me came in the form of a gathering of ducks and geese.

Allow me to explain.

In my country, Monday was a holiday.

I recently purchased a new camera in order to take photographs for my church and my church family.

I decided to take my camera to the local park and experiment with its different settings and features in order to familiarize myself with them.

As I drove through the park I notice a large gathering of ducks and geese either sleeping or simply relaxing in the shade of the trees growing by the lake.

This was an opportunity I could not pass by.

I parked very nearby and approached slowly, camera in hand, and began taking photographs.

Even though they heard the sound of my car door closing and my approaching footsteps, my presence did not appear to bother them in the least.

While photographing them I could not help but notice the lake.

That brought Psalm 23 to mind.

Psalm 23:2 (KJV) - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

I then wanted to get some close up photographs of these beautiful sleeping  birds.

As I moved about them their routine remained unchanged.

Those that were awake were not the least bit frightened by my intrusion.

Those that slept did not awaken.

Again, another reminder.

Proverbs 3:24 (KJV) - When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

After taking many photographs at this location, I walked away from them and concentrated on other photographs.

I took photographs of the trees, the lake and the small island within it.

I had wandered a good distance from my starting point when I saw an older couple with their grandchild walking toward the group of birds I had recently left.

As they neared them, the setting that only moments before had been quiet and serene suddenly erupted into a collection of quacks and honks that could rival the noise of city traffic.

I wondered what caused them to suddenly become so excited.

I looked on as the grandmother gave the grandchild a bag from which he began to feed this collection of birds.

Obviously, this was a routine event.

These fortunate birds had become familiar with this kind group of people and, by conditioning, knew what they could expect from them.

Again, another reminder.

Matthew 6:26 (KJV) - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they.

Through His creation, God both reminds us that He created all things and declared each good.

Yet some still deny His existence.

Paul explains this and also adds a stern warning. 

Romans 1:20 (NET) - For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

God uses His creation to reveal Himself to us.

God also uses His creation to remind us that His word is true.

God also gives us glimpses of His divine nature.

He also inspires creativity in us so that we can glorify Him.

Take it from someone who is not "the creative type".


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