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

Why Do It?

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes.

But the best gifts of all are those that do not come in boxes.

Days ago, I received just such a gift.

It came on the day of our annual Christmas Program.

For the last several years, I have participated in our Sunday School Christmas Program.

Although the program is comprised mostly of children, several adults are involved.

Having neither children nor grandchildren, there is one question I am asked every year.

“Why do it?”

A few, it seems, just cannot wrap their minds around why I would invest my time and energy in this.

There are many reasons why I do so.

Most of the year I work with adults.

Once a year, twice if I am fortunate, projects like this allow me to work alongside the young.

Their spiritual needs are different than our own.

In fact, their needs are a bit different than were mine at the same age.

Today’s youth live in a different world than the one I grew up in.

Technology is inescapable.

There are more organized activities.

There is a virtual bombardment of information.

In short, for good or bad, there are far more distractions and demands on their time.

I also understand that there are two primary ways to teach.

We can teach with our words or we can teach by example.

When it comes to teaching the young, teaching by example is the most effective way.

Having once been young, I remember that the young look for cracks in our armor.

One bad example can undo years of teaching.

That is why I invest my time and energy in the Christmas program.

This year, on the day of the program, I received a special blessing.

A mother with two children told me that they thought a lot of me.

That is the best gift I will receive this Christmas.

Next year, when someone asks me “Why do it?” I will recall that moment.

Matthew 19:14 (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.”

Philippians 4:9 (NET) - And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 3, 2020

All That He Did

I do many things for many people.

This happens both professionally and personally.

I certainly do not mind.

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

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

Jesus understands that only too well.

Many came to him.

Most probably were unaware of all He did.

Many came to him to be fed.

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

Moreover, there was food left over.

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

In fact, all four Gospel writers documented this miracle.

These were not the only people who came to Jesus.

Some came to Him to be healed.

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

Jesus healed these outcasts from society.

Only one returned to thank Him.

Some came to Him for the healing of another.

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

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

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

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people.

He did many other things as well.

He cast out demons.

He even raised the dead.

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

Fortunately, we have scripture and hindsight to our advantage.

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Keeping Busy-ness in Perspective

It seems these days I just don’t have enough time.

True, we did have a holiday this week.

But somehow that turns into getting five days’ worth of work done in four.

Then things cropped up at home requiring my attention.

Next, my physician reminded me it was time for my annual physical.

I also have a speaking engagement at the end of the month for which I am still preparing.

Also, I am facing another deadline at the end of the year that requires prep work now.

Then, there are my other ministries (like this one) that cannot be ignored.

I am sure anyone reading this can relate to the feeling that there just isn’t enough time.

Fortunately faith, helps us cope in times that could otherwise appear overwhelming.

Perhaps that is why my “go to” verse in these times can be found in Philippians.

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

I know I can get through all this because I do not go through it alone.

As for health, we have a role to play in maintaining it which includes annual physicals.

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.

Scripture also reminds me the importance of being prepared to serve my fellow man.

This applies both to my speaking engagement and other deadlines.

1 Peter 4:10 (NET) - Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Yes, I will be able to do all things through the One who strengthens me.

We all can.

But I must set aside some quiet time along the way for God and acknowledge Him.

Psalm 46:10 (NET) - He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”

Through it all, no matter how busy we get, we must keep God first in our lives.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Held to a Higher Standard

I had a wonderful time this week.

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

This man devoted his life to improving education for children.

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

His methods were nothing short of revolutionary.

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

Rather, education should be for everyone including girls.

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

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

People resist change.

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

Education in his day consisted of rote memorization.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He does not say we should.

He said we must.

We must however do so with care.

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

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

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

Simply trust God and give Him the glory.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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

Giving Them My Best

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

I certainly do.

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

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

There are lines to learn.

There are rehearsals.

As always, there are also the general preparations.

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

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

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

A journey that began in a stable,

A journey that ended at the cross.

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

I pray it does for others as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These young people have a future of their own.

Some will go to college.

Some will get jobs and move to another city.

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

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

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

That applies to whatever committee on which I serve.

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

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

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

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

That means giving them the best I can provide.

God will take care of the rest.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

A Good Word

Church, first and foremost, must be about worship.

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

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

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

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

That is why I always look forward to the benediction.

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

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

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

The benediction itself can be offered in different ways.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Kindness

The other day I found myself behind schedule.

When it came time for lunch I opted to go to the corner store for something quick.

I was in hurry but my plans changed when I arrived.

As I walked from my car to the store entrance I glanced over at the gas pumps.

Something caught my eye.

I saw an older lady standing at the one of the pumps.

She had the pump handle in one hand and her credit card in the other.

She also had a look of confusion on her face.

I walked over to her and asked if she needed help.

She said she needed to put gas in her car but was not at all sure how to go about it.

I offered my help and she accepted.

I explained everything I did along the way.

Once her car had been filled I showed her how to print her receipt.

She thanked me and told me something I could never have expected.

She told me that her husband had recently passed away.

She then stated that he always put gas in the car.

This was the first time she needed to put gas in the car since he passed.

She then thanked me for showing her how it was done.

I believe that this is just one of many firsts for her as she continues her journey without him.

Please understand that I am not posting this for my sake.

It occurred to me that in today’s hectic and fast paced world it is quite easy to overlook others.

Sometimes people need help and do not ask for it.

We must not become so preoccupied with ourselves that we fail to notice.

As I paid the store clerk for my purchase, he thanked me for helping her as well.

It turns out that he was keeping a watchful eye on me as I approached her.

I was grateful for that as well.

It reminded me that God is looking out for her in other ways.

I thought of Paul’s words when he found himself shipwrecked.

Acts 28:2 (NET) -The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold.

There is always time for an act of kindness

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 28, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 4, 2017

The Interests of Others

Not long ago, I took my vehicle in for some routine maintenance.

I gave the crew my information and my key and went to the waiting room where it was cool.

A gentleman was already seated there when I took my seat.

A quick glance told me several things about him.

It is summer where I live and the outside temperature was hovering around 100 F.

I could tell by his tan that he worked outdoors.

By his physique I could tell that his work was physically demanding.

I also noticed that this man looked like he might be feeling ill.

I asked him if he was okay,

He confirmed that he was not feeling well.

Before I could ask him anything else, he began speaking to me as if he knew me.

He informed me that he had just gotten some bad news from his doctor about his heart.

He told me more.

He told me that he worked outdoors and the thought of working in the heat concerned him.

He wondered how many hours he would be able to work with his condition.

He told me he worried about providing for his family.

As if things were not difficult enough for the man he was about to get more bad news.

At this point, the mechanic who checked his vehicle came into the waiting room.

He told the man that he could not work on his vehicle and gave him several reasons.

The man was now distraught.

He informed the mechanic that he needed his vehicle to provide for his family.

The mechanic apologized.

He recommended another garage in town that might be able to help him.

By the way the mechanic said “might” I doubted they would be able to fix his vehicle.

As he left, I could not help but feel sorry for the man.

I prayed for him.

I prayed for his health.

I prayed that he would be able to provide for his family without additional damage to his heart.

I prayed that he would be able to find someone to fix his vehicle.

I continue to pray for him today.

It is not necessary to know someone to pray for them.

I do not know the man… but God does.

I do not know what exactly is wrong with his heart… but God does.

I do not know how he will provide for his family… but God does.

I do not know what he will do for transportation… but God does.

I know so very little about this man.

I do not even know his name.

Yet God knows everything about him.

Philippians 2:4-5 (NET) - Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,

Praying for others is important whether we know them or not.

The more I pray for this man and his interests, the smaller my interests become.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 14, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 21, 2017

An Open Letter to Fathers

Fathers:

Some of you know me quite well.

Some of you know me socially.

Many of you do not know me at all.

Regardless of the nature of our relationship, I know that as fathers you are concerned about your children.

I appreciate your concern especially in these times.

I have no direct experience with the responsibilities that accompany fatherhood.

That said I am well aware that all men, including me, have responsibilities where children are concerned.

Fathers teach their children with words and by example.

I might not teach your children with words, but I hope I can teach them by example.

If we attend the same church, there are things your children will see.

They will see me coming out of my Sunday school class.

They will see me at Vacation Bible School serving in some way.

They will see me participating in Christmas programs and attending rehearsals.

They will see me helping out during church in one capacity or another.

There are also some things neither you nor they ever see.

You will never see the hours I spend in committee meetings which help direct the course of their education.

You will never see me when I come in on the occasional Saturday to set up and test equipment for their use in Sunday school.

You will never see the hours of preparation and research that go into my ministries.

Some of you do not attend my church.

In fact, many of you do not know me at all.

My responsibility to your children is equally important.

Whenever I am out in public I know that there is always a chance a child might be observing me.

Your child might notice my behavior or interaction with others.

Having been a child myself, I am well aware that children are not fooled by hypocrisy.

If I should speak or behave inappropriately in a public setting, I could potentially damage valuable lessons you are trying to teach them.

I might not be a father but I am a man.

That is a role I take very seriously.

Although I have no children of my own, scripture reminds me how special all children are to the Lord.

Luke 18:16-17 (NET) - But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Because all children are special to Him, they are special to me.

That includes your children.

No matter how well you know me, I want to be the kind of male role model for your children that other men were for me.

As fathers, you are concerned about your children.

That goes with the territory.

I appreciate that concern.

When Father’s Day comes on Sunday your children might give you a gift to express their love for you.

There is nothing I can give you that can equal that.

What I hope I have given you is one less thing to worry about.

I wish you a happy and blessed Father’s Day.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 24, 2016.

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

Acts of Worship

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

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

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

Eventually I learned how to do all of them.

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

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

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

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

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

What matters is our motivation for doing them.

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

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

Unlocking the doors permits His worshipers to enter.

Turning on the lights allows his worshippers to see.

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

Setting out the offering plates allows his worshippers to give.

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

My friend taught me that.

I could see that in the way he did them.

That is the best way to instruct.

Love has to be demonstrated.

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

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

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

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

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

  “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

  as much as he does in obedience?

  Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;

  paying attention is better than the fat of rams.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Mama's Boy

Sunday is Mother’s Day.

When I was young the term “Mama’s boy” was considered an insult.

If a boy was really intent on getting into a scrap with another boy on the playground then this phrase was almost sure to do it.

Frankly, it did not get much better when we grew older.

Now there is even a definition for it.

Today, “Mama’s boy” is a term for a man who is extremely attached to his mother at an age when men are expected to be independent.

In my case, being a “Mama’s boy” was born more out of necessity rather than choice.

My father died when he was a young man.

Shortly afterward, my mother’s health began to deteriorate.

Having no surviving siblings, it fell to me to make certain her needs were met.

Unlike my father, my mother lived into her advanced years.

As each year passed, she was physically able to less and less so she counted on me more and more.

Mother passed away about a decade ago, but I treasure all those years I was able to spend with her.

The faith she instilled in me as a boy she built on as I became a man.

While I am by no means perfect, I have come quite far.

The ministries I am involved in today would likely have surprised her.

They certainly have surprised me.

Looking back, I realize just how much my relationship with her prepared me for today.

I have no idea what God has in store for me tomorrow.

Whatever His plans are for me, it is likely that the relationship I had with her will play a pivotal role as well.

When I was a boy, she taught me with words.

As I became a man and she needed help just to get through the day, well, that is when she taught me by example.

Those are the lessons I have learned best of all.

When I was young the term “Mama’s boy” was considered an insult.

Today I consider them praise.

One more thing…

As I said, Mother passed away about ten years ago.

Not a day goes by that I do not think about her or miss her.

The love I have for her, however, has not died.

Such is the beauty of faith.

Scripture reminds us how vital it is to honor our parents.

Exodus 20:12 (NET) - Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.

I believe that means honoring their memory as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 13, 2016.

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

A Different Perspective

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

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

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

It gave me such an insight on Easter Sunday.

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

As always, I had my camera with me.

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

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

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

Somehow, they helped make the moment feel more special.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

People, myself included, are creatures of habit.

This can be true even in a place like church.

We park in the same places.

We sit in the same pews.

We even sit with the same people.

That is because they are creatures of habit as well.

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

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

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

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

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

Their reaction to it is remarkably like mine.

The cross did not change.

What it represents certainly did not change.

What changed was my perspective.

This, by necessity, produced a change in me.

Christianity is about growth and change.

Our growth.

Our change.

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

Sometimes what we need is a change in our perspective.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

His Guiding Hand

A new year is upon us.

We tend to look upon each new year as a chance at new beginnings.

We promise ourselves we will do some things which will improve the quality of our lives.

We also promise to try to improve the lives of those around us.

As this year ended, I found myself looking back upon the year that sped too quickly by.

In doing so I realized that I grew considerably as a Christian this year.

I served in ways that I could not have imagined serving a few years ago.

As I reflected on these things, I recalled some of the events that led up to them.

There was the class I attended five years ago.

There was the book I read which my pastor recommended four years ago.

There were the books I taught from for the last several years.

There were special people that entered my life and influenced it.

As I considered these things, I came to one inescapable conclusion.

God used all these things and more to help prepare me for the year that has gone by.

His guiding hand has led me to the books I have read.

His divine influence placed those special people in my life.

So when the times came for me to step outside of my comfort zone this year, God made certain that I was prepared.

In fact, He spent years preparing me for them.

As I reflected on these things, something new occurred to me.

Perhaps He has used the opportunities of the year past to prepare me for future service.

After all, nothing is impossible for God.

As we enter a new year, let us remain open to the ways God desires to utilize us.

Whatever avenues of service He leads us to, He has prepared us for them.

Psalm 143:10 (NET) - Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.

Father, teach us to do what pleases you in the year to come.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 8, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 15, 2016

Use Words If Necessary

One of my favorite stories is about Francis of Assisi.

The story goes that one particular day he planned to go into town to preach.

He invited a young monk to accompany him.

The young monk felt quite honored to be asked along.

The pair set out the following morning.

When they arrived in town they walked up and down its streets.

They stopped and visited with everyone they came in contact with.

They met with people of all classes and all occupations.

As the day ended, they headed for home.

As they made their way, the young monk commented to Francis that perhaps they forgot their purpose in going to town.

After all, the monk had been told they were going to town to preach,

Francis reminded the monk that they had indeed preached.

They encountered many people who observed their every move and attitude very closely.

That, according to Francis, was how their sermon was preached.

Christians today, myself included, can take a valuable lesson from Francis.

Sometimes we defeat our purpose in the way we act or the words we choose.

On one hand, we desire to bring people to Jesus.

On the other hand, our actions and attitudes can drive them away.

Sometimes the way we act is not like Christ would have us act.

Sometimes we even argue about the smallest of things.

We might even let the color of coffee cups at Christmas upset us.

What kind of sermon is that?

The words of Francis of Assisi remind us, “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.”

Ephesians 6:10 (NET) - For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 27, 2015.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 4, 2015