Completed

Election time is drawing near in my country.

There are many people vying for the highest office in the land.

Experience has taught me two things.

The first is that candidates will usually promise anything to get elected.

The second is that some of their statements are simply wrong.

One candidate’s recent claim can fall into the second category.

According to him, he has earned his way into heaven based on something he did,

Politics aside, such a statement is incorrect when viewed in the light of scripture.

Salvation cannot be earned.

It is not our doing.

Salvation is only possible through God’s grace.

It has nothing to do with our actions - no matter how “good” we think they may be.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NET) - For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

As such, we should do the things we were “designed” to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NET) - For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.

The things we do by faith are fruits of the spirit,

They are the evidence by which others see God’s presence in our lives.

They are the steps we take within our journey.

Steps we take with the Lord that benefit others.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NET) - For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.

Our salvation was made possible by Jesus during His crucifixion.

John 19:30 (NET) - When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

That was the moment.

There is nothing more that you nor I nor anyone seeking office can do to add to it.

We can’t even take away from it.

It is completed!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 28, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 6, 2020

Learn to Be Wise

My class is currently studying a Christian allegory from the 1600’s.

It was written by a theologian who was also an educator.

He began one of his books for education with the phrase: “Come, boy, learn to be wise.”

I think that is brilliant.

The author chose the word wise instead of intelligent.

Although many use the words interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing.

Intelligence is the ability to acquire new knowledge.

Wisdom takes the acquired knowledge and puts it to discerned use.

As an example, intelligence tells me my car can go extremely fast.

Wisdom tells me I should obey the speed limit.

The world has produced many that could be called intelligent.

But not all those labeled intelligent have wisdom.

Scripture has a great deal to say when it comes to wisdom.

Wisdom can be found in the Old Testament.

Proverbs 2:6 (NET) - For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Notice that the word wisdom is used rather than intelligence.

Proverbs 16:16 (NET) - How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

The New Testament also speaks to the importance of wisdom.

More importantly, it tells how to acquire it.

James 1:5 (NET) - But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

Jesus speaks on the importance of wisdom.

Matthew 7:24 (NET) - Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

When it comes to wisdom, my favorite example from scripture is found in Matthew 2.

Matthew talks about the “wise men” who came to worship Jesus.

He does not call them the “intelligent men”.

I am certain that there were others who saw the star and recognized it as significant.

They were intelligent.

But these men acted on it.

They sought Jesus out to worship him.

That was a very wise thing to do.

The truly wise still seek Jesus today.

Let us learn to be wise!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 7, 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

Giving

Giving is one of the things people associate with Christmas.

This is inspired by the wise men who brought gifts to Jesus in the forms of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Others have written much about the significance of these gifts, so I will pass on that aspect.

Scripture does not specify how many wise men there were.

Since it specifies these three gifts, people easily assume that there were three wise men.

We really cannot say how many wise men made the trek to worship Jesus.

This got me thinking about giving at Christmas.

For instance, my colleagues and I purchased and wrapped gifts for some children in need.

Members of my church marked the days in Advent by purchasing food items for the local food bank.

Volunteers ring bells for the Salvation Army encouraging people to give.

Sometimes, people give in unexpected ways like paying for someone else’s order at the drive thru.

People even donate their time and talents for Christmas programs and the like.

For some reason, giving just seems to come more easily to us at Christmas.

Do not get me wrong.

I encourage giving in these ways and others.

I gladly do so myself.

But, in a matter of days, Christmas 2019 will be but a memory.

Giving, broadly speaking, can all too easily become just a memory as well.

This is unfortunate as the need for giving will still be there when Christmas is gone.

Just as we should not limit the number of wise men to three, we should not limit our giving to Christmas.

There is scriptural basis for this.

Proverbs 3:9 reminds us to give from our first fruits and not from what is left over.

1 Chronicles 29:14 reminds us that everything (even what we give) belongs to God.

2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us to give from the heart and God loves those who give cheerfully.

Luke 6:38 reminds us that the spirit in which we give is the spirit in which we will receive.

In the days remaining until Christmas we will each find many ways in which to give.

Perhaps enough ways to inspire us to continue into the year to come.

When it comes to gifts, God gave us the best gift of all.

Christmas is not about how a fallen mankind reached up to God.

It is about how God reached down to a fallen mankind through Jesus.

That gift is so very special that it has continued to give daily for 2,000 years!

That should be the best inspiration of all.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 13, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 20, 2019

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

Reflecting His Light

It’s that time of year when it gets dark earlier.

Sometimes the sun is just setting behind me as I drive home.

At these times the setting sun can cause buildings to have a soft glow.

At the same time the sky behind them can be quite dark.

The contrast between the two is often quite remarkable.

This never lasts more than a few minutes at best.

Just moments later, the sun dips completely behind the horizon and darkness begins to reign again.

My thoughts turn to the light of God we are supposed to reflect to a darkened world.

Turning on the news or scanning the headlines reminds us of how much darkness there is.

This darkness is not impacted by the time of day,

It is always there.

That is why it is imperative that we reflect the light the Lord shines on us.

Matthew 5:16 (NET) - In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Sharing God’s light with others may not be as difficult as we think.

We start by thinking of others rather than ourselves.

We may not always find this easy.

Each of us encounters difficult people.

Yet the people we find most difficult to love are the ones who need love the most.

Scripture reminds us that we are to love them.

Luke 6:31 (NET) - Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

Some refer to this as the Golden Rule.

Whether we call it that or not makes no difference,

Our actions speak louder than our words.

Paul said this…

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

Now faith is a wonderful thing.

Who among us doesn’t like hope?

But love is the greatest of these.

Love is the key.

Through it, we reflect God’s light to others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 11, 2019.

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

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

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

First Love

February 14^th is a day set aside to celebrate love.

Florists, greeting card manufacturers and candy makers no doubt look forward to this day.

It’s important to remember that there are different kinds of love.

There is the kind of love shared between a husband and wife.

Another is the love a mother has for her child.

A third is the love we have for family.

These are just three examples of the different kinds of love there are and there are many more.

All these different kinds of love, and yet the English language has but the single word.

That’s unfortunate, as there are times when we misuse the word.

One example is when we might say something like, “I love chocolate ice cream”, or, “I love that television show”.

“Like” would be a better substitute in such cases.

The word “love” should be reserved for very special relationships with others.

Our love for our neighbor is one example.

Our love for God is another.

Jesus commanded us to love both.

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.”

But no one said love would be easy.

Our neighbor might not choose to love us in return, but we must continue to love him or her anyway.

God, on the other hand, never ceases to love us.

He proved that when he sent His Son into the world to be the sacrifice for our sin.

Had God not loved us first, we would not be able to love at all.

1 John 4:19-21 (NET) - We love because he loved us first. If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.

So, let’s show our love for God and others at every opportunity.

After all, love is too big to be confined to just one day of the year.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 22, 2019.

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

Do Something

Jesus was many things.

Among them, he was an excellent teacher.

Jesus did not teach with His words only.

He also taught by example.

One instance came as the time for His crucifixion drew near.

John 13:4-5 (NET) - He got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around Himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel He had wrapped around Himself.

When Jesus finished, He explained to His disciples why He did this.

John 13:13-15 (NET) - You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.

Jesus not only told us how He wanted us to live, He showed us how as well.

That is but one of the points stressed by N. T. Wright in his book Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church.

I am currently leading a class in this study.

In a recent session we discussed this.

To paraphrase Wright, we should live in such a way as to demonstrate to others what the world would be like if “God were really running the show” which, of course, He is.

Just a few hours after that session, my path crossed that of a woman who was some 15 to 20 years older than myself.

I began talking to her.

As we spoke, she began to reveal how a string of unexpected events in her life had caught her off guard.

She also admitted to feeling overwhelmed by them all.

As she continued speaking I noticed tears welling up in her eyes.

As I listened, I knew I needed to act, but how?

Continuing to listen, I prayed for guidance.

Through prayer I understood that I could not solve all her problems.

Through prayer I understood I could help her with a few.

The things I did do not merit discussion.

Her reaction, however, does.

This woman began weeping openly.

She threw her arms around me and kept repeating through the tears, “I love you!”

I found myself quite moved as well.

I replied, “I love you too!”

1 John 4:9-12 (NET) - By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 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. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

In a world that seems overwhelmed by division and hatred, we must remember one thing.

The Lord wants us to love one another.

Not one of us can do everything.

But each of us can do something to share God’s love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 26, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 2, 2018

Light of the World

My electricity went out in the late afternoon.

My living room windows face the sunrise, so it suddenly became quite dark in the room.

Not knowing how long I would be without electricity, I lit several candles.

As I waited patiently for the power to be restored, I began thinking about light.

In no time my thoughts turned to light in a biblical sense.

Light is important.

It is so important that it was the very first thing God spoke into existence.

Genesis 1:3 (NET) - God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light!”

Man was meant to live in light.

God created man, but He did so after He created light for him to live in.

Once accustomed physically to light, there is little we can do in darkness.

The prophets of old understood this.

They made many references to light in the spiritual sense.

They also understood the source of that spiritual light.

Isaiah 2:5 (NET) - O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.

Paul also made references to us as being children of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NET) - For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.

There are many more references made to light in scripture.

So many, in fact, that I could fill pages listing them all.

Suffice it to say that light is important.

We are meant to live in the light.

Light is also something we take for granted.

This is easily done in a modern world where we are accustomed to simply turning on a switch.

Spiritual light can also be easily taken for granted.

Fortunately for us, Christ is the ultimate source of that spiritual light.

John 8:12 (NET) - Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Thanks to the light of Jesus, we will never find ourselves walking in spiritual darkness.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 14, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 21, 2018

A Matter of Trust

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

I recently watched the first season of that program again.

Two episodes grabbed my attention this time.

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

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

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

In both episodes, a sense of trust was restored.

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

Namely, trust was something that had to be earned.

I began to think of this in terms of faith.

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

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

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

There are many more.

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

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

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

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

Again, there are many more.

Does Jesus really need to earn our trust?

No.

But he did so anyway

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Agents of Change

People, as a rule, dislike change.

If we had our way, we would like things to stay pretty much the way they are.

Yet things change all the time.

No matter how much we dislike it, one thing can be said for change.

Without change growth would be impossible.

There would be no advancement.

There would be no advancements in medicine.

There would be no advancements in technology.

Despite every advancement people still tend to dislike change.

People in the past were not that much different from us.

About 2,000 years, people encountered the biggest change ever in Jesus Christ.

His earthly ministry was unlike anything ever seen before.

He ministered to the lowly and outcast.

He healed the sick and the lame.

His criticisms were reserved for those in positions of authority.

Even the dead were brought back to life.

That made Christ the greatest agent of change… ever.

Many disliked this change.

This was true even after His death.

In the book of Acts we see that the apostles were to be the next agents of change.

They quickly found themselves in trouble for it.

They were brought before the council and the high priest for their efforts.

But a Pharisee and teacher of the law, Gamaliel, began to understand.

He told the others…

Acts 5:38-39a (NET) - So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.”

2,000 years have gone by and no one has been able to stop the changes Jesus set into motion.

Changes that began with Christ continued through the apostles.

It now falls to us to be the agents of change in a world that dislikes change.

But we can only be agents of change with His help.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 10, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 17, 2018

Man Up

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and this has been very much on my mind.

Many of my friends are fathers.

Some are grandfathers.

God has given me my own circumstances.

I have neither children nor grandchildren.

I am quite certain of one thing.

Children are special to Jesus.

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.” And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.

As a result, I have come to one inescapable conclusion.

If children are special to Jesus, they should be special to me.

Therefore, as a man, I must be careful.

Children learn not only from our words but from our behavior as well.

A careless word or action on our part as adults can do considerable damage.

It can undo valuable lessons taught to them by their parents.

Jesus cautioned us about this.

Matthew 18:6 (NET) - “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.

As a child I was blessed.

There were several men I looked up to as role models.

The way they lived influenced the way I live now.

Now, it is my turn to “man up”.

With God’s help I hope I am doing so.

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.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 22, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 6, 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

The Ultimate Self-Help Book

It seems as if more and more people want to feel better about themselves.

In a trip to the library or bookstore there are shelves full of self-help books.

This is nothing new.

Some of the titles have been around for a long time.

There is one book that can help.

Many people already have this book on a table or in a bookshelf.

Unfortunately, this book often goes disregarded and unread.

This book tells us that we were created in the very likeness of God.

Genesis 1:26 (NET) - Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”

Think about that for a moment.

You were made in the very image of the creator of the universe!

It goes on to tell us just how miraculous each one of us really is.

David understood that.

Psalm 139”13-15 (NET) - Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb. I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.

That’s not all.

It tells us that God has had a plan for us all along.

He made that clear to the prophet Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 1:5 (NET) - “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.”

When you need to feel better about yourself, there is one book that can really help.

Why not turn to it now?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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

In the Small Things

There are a great many things going on in the world right now.

The leader of one nation is developing both nuclear weapons and ways to deliver them.

Leaders of other nations challenge with harsh rhetoric of their own.

Still other nations claim sanctions must and will be invoked.

That’s not all.

There have been multiple hurricanes in existence at the same time.

These have resulted in the loss of life, injury and the destruction of property.

Flooding has occurred in different hemispheres.

Meanwhile other areas suffered a combination of drought and wildfire.

Still another area experienced a very strong earthquake.

Many people are claiming that this is God’s way of trying to get our attention.

Others are stating that this is God’s way of inflicting punishment.

These claims might even come from people in prominent places.

We really must be careful when we try to use disasters, manmade or otherwise, to interpret God’s intent.

In the ninth chapter of John, the disciples encountered a blind man.

They asked Jesus whose sin caused the man to be blind - his own or his parents?

The reply Jesus gave must have come as quite a surprise to them.

John 9:3 (NET) - Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.

Jesus then cured the man of his blindness.

Jesus even spoke to his disciples about things such as earthquakes and wars.

Mark 13:7-8 (NET) - When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

Then there was the time Elijah hid in a cave.

The LORD asked Elijah to exit the cave and stand on the mountain.

Elijah was subjected to the spectacular.

First there was a powerful wind and landslides.

Next there was an earthquake.

After that came a raging fire,

Elijah determined that the LORD was not in any of these.

1 Kings 19:12 (NET) - After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.

The LORD revealed himself to Elijah in a whisper.

As human beings, it is easy for us to assume that God only reveals himself in big ways like hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes.

God often surprises us.

God quite often reveals himself in the most unexpected ways.

He came to Elijah in a whisper.

He came to us as a child in a manger.

By focusing on only the very large, we could very easily overlook Him in the small.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 6, 2017

Say What?

People do not always mean what they say.

Politicians promise us things to gain our support.

Often those promises are unkept after they are elected.

This is just one example.

A restaurant might have the words “Home Cooking” on their sign.

Yet when we taste the food it may fall well short of the food we ate growing up.

A hotel might advertise its “luxury” accommodations.

Its rooms, however, might be anything but luxurious.

Even place names can be misleading using words like “view” or “vista”.

Once we get there, we may discover that there is not much of a view at all.

Even the people we know can let us down.

They might talk about getting together some day or repaying a loan later.

We often discover that “some day” and “later” meant “never”.

We are not happy when people tell us one thing and mean another.

In all fairness, we do this with others.

Scripture is a quite different.

The gospels tell us exactly what Jesus said.

Our response can be to ask ourselves what Jesus really meant.

For example, Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

When we ask ourselves what Jesus really meant, we are placing conditions on His commandments,

We are not to love our neighbor “if”, “when” or “depending on”.

We are to love our neighbor no matter what,

Our neighbor might not like us.

He might even hate us,

It does not matter.

Jesus told us to love him and that is exactly what Jesus meant.

We may not always mean what we say,

Jesus always meant exactly what he said.

There is great comfort in that.

John 14:2-3 (NET) - 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.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 9, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 16, 2017

Focus

We tend to think of the New Year as a time for a clean slate.

We make resolutions and all too quickly abandon them.

Some of this can be attributed to our human nature.

Some can also be attributed to our focus.

Asking what we should do for ourselves is one thing.

Asking God what He desires of us and our service to others is another.

The opening of the very first Psalm provides us with some valuable insight.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NET) - How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers! Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the LORD’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

Notice the Psalmist’s words that “it yields its fruit at the proper time”.

This reminds us that it even when our focus is on His will we might not necessarily see results right away.

This is something we struggle with as impatient human beings.

Examine those who followed Jesus throughout His life.

They eventually became powerful witnesses.

But this did not happen right away.

The opening of the book of Acts reminds us of what transpired between the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension.

Over the course of forty days, Jesus appeared to the apostles many times.

He offered them proof that He had conquered death.

He gave them very specific instructions.

He also promised them what was still to come.

Acts 1:4-5 (NET) - While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The apostles then asked if this was the time that God would restore the kingdom to Israel.

Jesus reminded them that timing rested solely in God’s hands.

He also told them of what was to be theirs.

Acts 1:8 (NET) - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

Jesus then ascended into Heaven.

Those who followed Jesus went into hiding after his crucifixion.

They feared for their very lives.

Once Jesus ascended into Heaven, they found themselves alone once more.

But now they had a new promise.

A promise that was dependent on God’s timing instead of their own.

This was realized on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon each one.

Only then would they become powerful witnesses.

If you have made a resolution and failed to keep it, don’t feel bad.

Focus on God and trust in His timing.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 20, 2016