New Creations

Isaiah 62 is about vindication and salvation.

It also speaks of a new name - a new creation.

Isaiah 62:2b (NRSVue) - and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes about reconciliation.

He also touches on a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – (NRSVue) - So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!

But what does it mean to be a new creation?

In basic terms, the moment we establish a relationship with Christ, we become a new creation.

We are different from the way we were before.

We start to see things in a new way.

We begin to understand things that mystified us before.

We are given a new and fresh start.

Moreover, God grants us courage to make this new beginning count!

As we proceed on our journey through Lent, we see the cross before us.

But as new creations, we also see the empty tomb that lies beyond it!

Colossians 3:9-11 (NRSVue) - Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, March 28, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, April 4, 2025

Living Instead of Surviving

In Isaiah 46, the prophet reminds the people that God is unique in the universe.

No one compares to Him.

Isaiah 46:9 (NRSVue) - remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me,

At the beginning of Revelation, John concludes his introduction.

Revelation 1:8 – (NRSVue) - I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Aside from God, everyone and everything is finite.

We are born, we live, and we die.

Even the churches of Earth are finite.

God existed long before human beings were created.

God existed long before the first church buildings were constructed.

Our lives, in fact, all recorded history pales in comparison to Eternal God.

Our lives on earth are certainly brief by comparison,

But God gives each of us this moment in time to flourish.

How much time each of us has here is not important.

What we do with the time God grants us is.

And we really do not begin to truly live until we fix our gaze upon the Eternal God.

When we seek to please God our lives flourish,

We cease surviving.

We begin living,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, March 14, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, March 21, 2025

Grace Is for Everyone

In Job 12, Job claims that he is a laughingstock.

Yet Job understands God’s wisdom and strength.

Moreover, Job understands that everyone belongs to God.

Job 12:16 (NRSVue) - With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, goes a step further.

Everyone belongs to God.

And God wants everyone to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4 (NRSVue) – who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

The simple answer is Christ,

Jesus said as much to His followers.

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

Scripture and a personal relationship with God can teach us much in the way of wisdom.

They can help us discern the truth and be saved.

But we must remember that everyone belongs to God.

And so, we have a responsibility to share God’s redeeming grace with others.

Like us, they belong to God.

Like us, God wants them to be saved.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 28, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, March 7, 2025

The Power of the Understated

Scripture often has a great deal to say about some people.

People like Moses, Abraham, and David come to mind.

There are others, to be sure.

In comparison, some are barely mentioned,

There may be a verse here and a verse there making these individuals easy to overlook.

Enoch was such a person.

Genesis 5 tells us he was the father of Methuselah.

But then Scripture adds one especially important verse.

Genesis 5:24 (NRSVue) - Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.

Here, scripture tells us that “Enoch walked with God.”

Although brief, this statement is full of meaning.

What does it mean to walk with God?

Well, what does it mean when we walk with someone?

It means we have a personal relationship with that person.

So, when Scripture tells us that “Enoch walked with God” it means that Enoch had a personal relationship with God.

Later, the New Testament adds a bit more about Enoch and his relationship with God.

Hebrews 11:5 (NRSVue) - By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death, and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.”

Enoch not only walked with God, but Enoch also “had pleased God.”

These are two small verses from among thousands in Scripture.

But they should make us ask, “Do I walk with God?”

They should make us ask, “Do I please God?”

The only way we can respond yes is to have a personal relationship with God.

When it comes to Scripture, never underestimate the power fn the understated.

Sometime the most important things Scripture has to say, it says in a few words.

It can even do it in as few as two words…

John 11:35 (KJV) - Jesus wept.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 24, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, February 7, 2025

New Year; New You

Psalm 48 is a song about the strength of Zion.

But the Psalmist ends the song with a reminder of the source of strength.

Psalm 48:14 (NRSVue) - that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.

John 14 is a beautiful chapter,

In its opening verses, Christ reminds his followers of several inescapable facts,

He reminds them that He is going to prepare a place for them.

He also reminds them that they know the way.

Only Thomas asks the question that the others were asking themselves.

“Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

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

As we enter a new year, it is good to bear these facts in mind.

Change is inevitable.

But as a rule, we resist change.

But change is necessary if we are to grow spiritually.

The man I am today is different from the boy I once was.

Nor am I the man I was decades ago.

In years to come, I will not be the same man I am today.

Yet throughout the years of change and personal growth, God remained constant.

As we leave behind another year and embark on another trip around the sun, we leave things behind.

Perhaps the past year was one of joy.

Perhaps it was one of sorrow.

More likely, it was a year that combined both.

As we embark on the new year, we know that change lies ahead.

May we see the challenges we encounter as opportunities for spiritual growth.

May we remember that God never changes.

May we remember that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

May we remember that He is the way to the Father.

And may we not be the same people we were when the new year comes to its end.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 10, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, January 17, 2025

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

In Job 5, God corrects Job.

But it is verse eleven that stands out to me especially at this time of the year.

Job 5:11 (NRSVue) - he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, he writes of the wisdom of God which is different from the wisdom of the world.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NRSVue) - But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong

Hear again, these words mean much to me at this time of year.

It was at this time of the year almost twenty years ago that my mother passed away,

I had the privilege of caring for her in her final years.

I made certain she spent her final years at home rather than in a home.

I also realize that not everyone has that option.

I was blessed that in her final years, regardless of her physical pain, she remained both kind and gentle.

Those who encountered her noticed those qualities.

But I wonder how many people understood them.

The world teaches us to stand up for our rights.

The world warns us not to let people push us around.

The world would have us believe that gentleness and kindness are qualities of the weak.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

By example, Christ showed us the value of humility.

He demonstrated the power in being vulnerable on a cross.

He showed us that love is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal against evil.

Yes, the world sees kindness and gentleness as signs of weakness.

Those who have real faith understand that the opposite is true.

And truly blessed are those of us whom He gave the best possible teachers.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 27, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, January 3, 2025

What Is Your Ministry?

Isaiah 61 is about The Good News of Deliverance.

But the prophet speaks of more than deliverance.

He also speaks of roles that are to be filled.

Isaiah 61:6a (NRSVue) - but you shall be called priests of the Lord; you shall be named ministers of our God;

We typically think of ministers as individuals who answer God’s call to lead a congregation.

But this is only one type of ministry.

Paul, in his first letter to Corinth, writes of The Ministry of the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 4:1 (NRSVue) - Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.

Believers are given a wide assortment of gifts by God to conduct various ministries.

True, some are called to be ministers of congregations.

Some are given the gift of music.

Others are given the ability to create.

Some are given the ability to write.

Others are given the ability to administer (you can even see the word ‘minister’ in this).

Some are given the ability to teach.

Others are given the ability to encourage.

These merely begin the list of all the gifts God bestows.

God has given us life, but he also equips us to serve,

It is up to us to listen to His call and to respond accordingly.

There is much in the way of Kingdom work to be done.

Not one of us can do absolutely everything, but each of us is equipped to do something.

And there is no greater joy than discovering your gift and making that a vital part of your personal ministry,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 13, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, December 20, 2024

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

Cliffhanger

I enjoy old movie serials and television episodes.

Many of these installments ended in what has come to be known as “the cliffhanger”.

Simply put, this is a plot device in which the installment ends with a character in a precarious position.

It is also intended as an incentive for the viewer to want to watch the next installment.

Until then, the viewer is left wondering how the character can possibly escape almost certain doom.

There is an old saying that states life imitates art.

For those who do not know the risen Lord, death appears to be the ultimate cliffhanger.

Is death the end?

Can there be more to come?

Fortunately, Christ makes it very clear that death is not the end.

This happened at His crucifixion.

One of the criminals turned to Jesus.

Jesus gave him a promise.

Luke 23:43 (NET) -  And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

But these were far more than words intended to comfort a dying man.

This was a genuine promise of hope!

This was not the only time Jesus assured us of eternal life.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus made a promise to His followers.

John 14:1-3 (NET) - “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.

Cliffhangers are fine for movies and television programs.

But, thanks to the risen Lord, the end of our time on earth is not the end at all.

Nor is it something to be feared.

It is a transition of hope made possible through Christ’s love!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 8, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 15, 2020

Kept in the Dark

Continuing the journey toward Easter I found my thoughts turning to the hours of darkness.

An eerie and unexpected darkness occurred while Jesus was being crucified.

Mark 15:33 (NET) - Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

This reminded me of the phrase “kept in the dark”.

To keep someone in the dark currently means choosing not to inform them of your plans.

This was certainly not the case with Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples exactly who He was.

He told them exactly what He came to do.

He even told them He would rise on the third day.

But the truth is the disciples’ reactions were like those who had been “kept in the dark”.

As He was crucified, they kept to a distance.

Luke 23:49 (NET) -  And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

After Jesus died on the cross, these men went into hiding.

But there was one man who understood.

He was not a disciple.

In fact, one might think this man would have been the last to understand.

But He did understand.

Mark 15:39 (NET) - Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

One cannot overlook the difference between the centurion and the others who knew Jesus personally.

Those who were supposed to have known Jesus best chose to keep their distance.

They reacted as if they had been kept in the dark.

Others stood close by and some of them, even the most unlikely, really understood.

The days leading up to Easter can be uncomfortable.

This is especially true when we consider what Jesus did for us.

But He does not want us to stand at a distance,

He wants us to draw near to Him.

What better time is there than Easter to do just that?

Matthew 6:21 (NET) - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We are only kept in the dark if we choose to be.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 13, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 20, 2020

Who Is Truth?

One of the most profound questions in scripture can be found in John 18.

In this chapter Jesus is brought before Pilate.

In verse 38, Pilate asks this question.

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

That question is just as profound today.

Perhaps more so.

In today’s world, truth is considered a relative concept.

It has been stated that what is truth for one, may not be truth for another.

This is impossible as truth, by its very essence, means it must be absolute rather than relative.

As I tell my students: The truth is the truth… and that is that.

Perhaps the better question to ask is: “Who is truth?”

That is the explanation Christ gave Pilate just before the question was asked.

John 18:37 (NET) - …Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus is the source of truth.

He said it here and elsewhere.

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

That’s as absolute as it gets.

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.

Understanding that Jesus is truth and this truth is not relative is important.

What of it?

What does this achieve?

A great deal, actually,

This sets us free.

John 8:32 (NET) - and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Freedom?

From what?

Will life suddenly be trouble free?

Jesus was clear on this as well.

Matthew 16:24 (NET) - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus never promised us an easy way through this world.

But He told us He is the truth and what is required of us.

And… life is certainly better with Him than without Him.

What of those who disagree with us?

Jesus told us that we must love them.

That is also true.

We do not have to agree with everyone.

To do so makes truth relative.

We must be willing to take a stand for the truth.

But… we must do so with love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 25, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 1, 2019

The Shaper of My Faith

Faith is a very personal matter between a person and the Lord.

That said, there are people in our lives who help shape our faith.

In thinking about this, I can honestly say my mother did more to shape my faith than anyone else.

As a child, she taught me to pray.

As an adolescent, she encouraged me to study scripture.

She did the things mothers are supposed to do for their children.

But, she did so much more.

As she went through her day, I could hear her humming or singing her favorite hymns.

I also listened to scripture she recited.

There were passages she would turn to many times as I was growing up.

Passages like Psalm 23 were among her favorites.

There were others to be sure.

Psalm 121:1-2 (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.

Another of her most often quoted Psalms was this one.

Psalm 18:2 (KJV) - The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Even when I was a child and she a vibrant woman, she knew the importance of relying on God’s strength.

Perhaps without realizing it, she was teaching that to me.

In time we would find our roles reversed.

One day it became my turn to take care of her.

Reliance on God’s strength helped her accept this reversal of roles with dignity and grace.

As more time passed, life became more difficult and painful for her.

Still, she relied on God’s strength to see her through each day.

Then came the day she left this world behind.

I don’t mind admitting that I leaned harder on God in the days that followed than I ever did before.

Later, I realized that God wanted me to do just that.

To lean on Him and trust in His strength rather than my own,

As time moves ever forward, I know I will have to rely on His strength more and more.

That’s as it should be.

The best teacher I ever had taught me that by word and by example.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 2, 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

Being Ready

One of my favorite stories is about a young Sunday school class.

The teacher walks into the room and asks, “Who wants to go to heaven?”

Every child raises his hand except for a boy named Timmy.

This surprises the teacher.

Still a bit stunned, she asks the boy, “Timmy, don’t you want to go to heaven some day?”

“Oh sure, someday!” exclaims Timmy.

“I thought you were talking about us leaving now!”

We are a great deal like Timmy.

On one hand, we say we want to go to heaven.

On the other, we just do not want to go there right now.

As Christians, our salvation is guaranteed by the blood of Jesus.

We take great comfort in that.

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.

We do things in order to live longer.

We might decide one day to eat better.

Or, we might decide to get regular medical exams.

The list goes on and on.

Frankly, these are things we should be doing anyway.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NET) - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

The things we do for our health will help us serve God better as we grow older.

But the truth is, only God knows exactly how much time we have on this earth.

Job 14:5-6 (NET) - Since man’s days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it. Look away from him and let him desist, until he fulfills his time like a hired man.

There is no point to worrying about how much time we have left.

What is important is what we choose to do with the time given us.

Then when someone asks if we want to go to heaven, our answer can be a resounding “Yes!”

  

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 8, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 15, 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

Speaking Out

I find the amount of division in my country and other countries staggering.

A recent headline certainly does not make me feel any better.

There were almost 18% more hate crimes in my country this year than the year before.

Frankly, I feel that percentage is likely higher.

After all, not all hate crimes get reported.

There are also crimes based in hatred that are not officially classified as “hate crimes”.

Division has found its way into entertainment and sports.

This solves nothing.

In fact, it merely fans the flames of hatred.

Elected officials and candidates knowingly or unknowingly contribute to this growing problem as well with their rhetoric.

What is the solution?

Before attempting to answer such a question, I think we need to look at things objectively.

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis stated, “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.”

I think we can easily throw division and hatred into the list.

                                                                                                                          

In Surprised by Hope, N. T. Wright cites a reporter who states that we live in an age where politicians want to live like rock stars and rock stars pretend to be politicians.

As for me, I think the rise in hate crimes in my country and others can be directly contributed to our desire to distance ourselves from God.

Our continued futile quest to find things other than God to make us happy.

This is compounded by those who are supposed to lead but do not.

It is aggravated by those who are supposed to entertain but choose to play at politics.

Through the years, we Christians have been told to keep our opinions to ourselves,

We have done just that.

What is more, our silence is deafening.

It is not enough for Christians to simply want problems like hate crimes to go away.

We must be willing to be part of the solution in partnership with God.

If not us, who?

If not now, when?

1 John 4:10-11 (NET) - In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

When the Danger Passes

In my last offering I discussed the string of violent attacks in the city where I work.

I spoke of the need for prayer.

Prayer for the victims.

Prayer for their friends and families.

Prayer for the attacker, as well.

Since then, these attacks have stopped and life in the city has returned to normal.

The sense of fear that once hung over our collective heads evaporated almost as quickly as it came.

All because the attacker who, when cornered, chose to end his life as he had the lives of others.

In the days that followed, we learned a bit about this young man.

We learned that his background was not what we would have expected.

We learned that his roommates knew absolutely nothing about his plans or his preparations.

His neighbors knew nothing as well.

Perhaps the greatest shock of all came to his parents.

So, although this crisis has passed, the need for prayer goes on.

Prayer for his parents who are asking themselves questions that may have no answer.

Prayer for roommates who are realizing just how close to an accidental catastrophe they were.

Prayer for neighbors who are asking if where they live is safe.

Prayer for a city that, now that the danger has passed, has returned to normal

Prayer for world that needs Jesus more with every passing day.

To be honest, not one of us knows exactly how much time we have left on earth.

We find it almost too easy to move on and put off critical things.

This includes making ourselves right with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 (NET) - See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Scripture reminds us to pursue what is good and that prayer is a constant necessity.

It should not be reserved only for times of crisis.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 13, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 20, 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

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

Discomfort, Change, Growth

There is a growing tendency these days to want to ban things which make us uncomfortable.

I recently read where some libraries are banning a literary classic because of a single word.

The reason given is that this word might make people feel uncomfortable.

This is nothing new.

History tells us of other times when books were banned.

In some cases, they were even burned.

There have even been times when people banned and burned the Bible.

Even churches are not immune to this kind of thinking.

Some churches have made a conscious decision not to display the cross.

The reason given is that the display of a cross could make people feel uncomfortable.

But is discomfort alone a good reason to ban anything?

Right now, I am studying The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Frankly, this book makes me feel uncomfortable,

Even the title is disquieting as Bonhoeffer reminds me that discipleship comes at a cost.

Bonhoeffer’s words are also unsettling as they remind me that I still have a very long way to go in my journey.

Even the Bible makes me uncomfortable at times.

This happens when it reminds me that I fall short even on my very best days.

The cross certainly makes me feel uncomfortable when it reminds me of the price Jesus paid for me.

In and of itself, discomfort is not bad.

Discomfort is a great motivator for change.

In fact, we should find books like Bonhoeffer’s uncomfortable.

We should even find the cross and the Bible uncomfortable at times.

The personal discomfort these things bring on should motivate us to change.

They should motivate us to grow as Christians.

As for the book in question, the word it uses should make all of us uncomfortable.

It should remind us that some things should be relegated to the past of which they were a part.

It should remind us not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

If we ban things like books, Bibles and crosses when they make us uncomfortable then we also ban the lessons they teach us.

Without these lessons, we are less likely to change.

Without change we do not grow.

Ephesians 4:13-15 (NET) - until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 27, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 3, 2017