New Year, New Love

Hosea 6:6 (NRSVue) - For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

The prophet Hosea called upon the people to repent.

But repentance was not in their hearts.

They continued to offer their sacrifices, but their hearts were not in them.

God made it clear that sacrifices and offerings were not what he wanted.

What God wanted was their love and for them to come to know Him.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminded them that they were to love their neighbor.

Moreover, it was love, not sacrifice, that fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10 (NRSVue) - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

On the surface, this seems simple enough.

But history has shown us repeatedly that humans find this difficult.

Today’s headlines reveal just how difficult we still find it.

In Matthew 22, an expert in the law tried to trick Jesus.

He asked Jesus which commandment was the most important.

Christ gave him a two-fold answer.

This response must have taken the expert by complete surprise.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NRSVue) - He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Christ understood that the commandments were about relationships.

Some are about our relationship with God.

Others are about our relationship with each other.

By keeping both these commandments, we would in effect be keeping all others.

God still wants us to love and get to know Him.

He still prefers this to any other offerings we make.

Christ came into this world to teach us.

He did so by both word and example.

He reminded us to love both God and our neighbor.

That means all people.

As we embark on a new year, let us learn once more what it means to genuinely love God and people.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 12, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, January 19, 2024

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

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

Love Without Limit

The Christmas season is now upon us.

The signs are everywhere.

There are Christmas songs on the radio.

Christmas trees are everywhere.

At night, the soft glow of Christmas lights cast their light into the winter darkness.

Even reluctant actors like me are preparing to appear in Christmas programs.

One nearby church will do their annual live nativity scene.

I find myself grateful for the season.

I am also grateful for currently teaching about heaven and hope.

Christmas is a celebration of the time the Lord took our human form and dwelt among us.

He was born in the humblest of circumstances.

But that is only the beginning of the story.

The course I teach reminds me that His life with us was full of service and love.

His earthly journey would ultimately lead Him to a cross and to an empty tomb beyond it.

                                                                                                                          

Therein lies real hope for us all.

I reminded my students that Jesus took this journey to obey His Father’s will.

He also took it to save a fallen mankind that could never save itself.

He did this out of love.

It is a love for everyone which includes you and me.

It is a remarkable love that has no limit.

It is never diminished by the vast numbers of people He loves.

A number that grows larger with each passing generation.

Upon sharing these thoughts with my students, one of them shared the feeding of the 5,000.

The time Jesus took a very small amount of food and fed a vast multitude until each had their fill.

When that meal was over, leftovers were collected.

The love Jesus has for us is a great deal like that.

In truth, I consider this contribution by my student to be a blessing to everyone in the room.

I find myself especially blessed.

I share that blessing with you.

As Christmas day draws nearer, we will hear more songs and see more decorations.

We may see Christmas programs or attend nativity scenes.

I hope that we will also set aside some time to be still and really feel the love Jesus has for us.

A love that is without limit.

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.

1 John 4:19 (NET) - We love because he loved us first.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

God with Us

Genesis 12:1 (NET) - “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.

.

God told Abraham to leave the familiar and step into the unknown.

God did not even say exactly where this was.

Rather, God said that He would “show” him.

Abraham was no longer a young man when God gave him these instructions.

How did Abraham respond?

Genesis 12:4-5 (NET) - So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.) And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.

Abraham obeyed God.

God called Abraham and Abraham responded.

This would not be the only time that Abraham would answer God’s call.

There would come a time when God would ask much more of Abraham.

Genesis 22:2 (NET) - God said, “Take your son—your only son, whom you love, Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”

Abraham dearly loved his only son.

How did Abraham respond?

Genesis 22:3 (NET) - Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.

This time, just like the time before, Abraham obeyed God.

God called Abraham and again Abraham responded.

Abraham was prepared to do everything God asked of him.

He was even prepared to sacrifice his only son Isaac.

In the end, God spared Isaac.

Genesis 22: 11-12 (NET) - But the Lord’s angel called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”

God provided a ram for the sacrifice.

The name Abraham gave to the place means “The LORD provides”.

Romans 4:3 (NET) - For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

God was with Abraham.

I think it is more than fair to say that God was with Isaac as well.

That is the way it is.

God calls and we are to respond.

What will our response be?

If we obey God’s call then God will be with us.

The prophet Isaiah understood this.

Isaiah 7:14 (NET) - For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.

This prophecy was fulfilled.

Matthew 1:23 (NET) - Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”

When my ancestors first came to the region where I now live, most of them did not even speak the local language.

They had no idea what awaited them in this new land.

But they did know one thing.

They knew that God was with them.

When they built their first church in the area 150 years ago, their pastor painted “God with Us” behind the pulpit as a reminder.

He panted these words in the language they knew.

God was with Abraham and Isaac.

God was with those who preceded me.

God is with me.

God is with us!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 11, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 18, 2017

Spring Cleaning

In 2 Chronicles 34, we learn of the king of Judah and his response to a discovery in the Lord’s temple.

The repair of the Lord’s temple had already begun when this discovery was made.

2 Chronicles 34:14 (NET) - When they took out the silver that had been brought to the LORD’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the LORD had given to Moses.

The priest gave this scroll to the scribe who in turn brought it before the king.

The scribe then read the words to the king who had a remarkable reaction.

2 Chronicles 34:18-19 (NET) - Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.

The king understood that the people had departed from the law God gave Moses.

The king ordered that an oracle be consulted.

Huldah the prophetess was consulted.

2 Chronicles 34:23-25 (NET) - and she said to them: “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: “This is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah. This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’”

These words were not easy to hear.

The words for the king that followed were a bit more comforting.

2 Chronicles 34:27-28 (NET) - ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the LORD. ‘Therefore, I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.’ Then they reported back to the king.

When the king heard these words, he first summoned all the leaders.

He then went up to the Lord’s temple in the company of all the people.

He read to them the words on the scroll and renewed their covenant with God.

2 Chronicles 34:32-33 (NET) - He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the LORD their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD God of their ancestors

Scripture reminds us that all the detestable idols were removed.

When we think of idols today we likely think of carvings made of would and stone.

In truth, an idol is anything or anyone that keeps the Lord from being first in our lives.

Even things that on the surface seem benign or beneficial can become idols if we are not careful.

As we enter the season of Lent we contemplate Jesus, the suffering He endured and the sacrifice He made for us,

Let us first clear away the clutter and the distractions from our hearts and minds.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 10, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 17, 2017

To Whom Shall We Listen?

In 2 Chronicles 18, we are told of the alliance between King Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat.

King Ahab desired to attack Ramoth Gilead,

He also wanted Jehoshaphat’s support.

Jehoshaphat said he would support Ahab but he also recommended consulting the Lord first.

King Ahab assembled 400 prophets and consulted them.

All 400 said to attack and the Lord would hand Ramoth Gilead over to him.

Jehoshaphat then asked if there was a not man of God nearby who could be consulted,

2 Chronicles 18:7-8 (NET) - The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!” The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”

When the messenger arrived with Micaiah he tried to influence this man of God.

He informed Micaiah of the 400 consulted who guaranteed success for King Ahab.

He then ordered Micaiah to do the same.

2 Chronicles 16:13 (NET) - But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the LORD lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!”

Micaiah foretold disaster for King Ahab.

2 Chronicles 18:17 (NET) - The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?”

Micaiah was struck in the jaw.

King Ahab ordered him to be imprisoned until he returned.

2 Chronicles 18:27 (NET) - Micaiah said, “If you really do return safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Take note, all you people.”

King Ahab did not return alive.

Even though he was in disguise, he was struck by a random arrow and died as the sun was setting.

The Lord had spoken through Micaiah and not the 400 who gave King Ahab the answer he wanted to hear.

What about us?

To whom shall we listen?

Some tell us that if we follow the Lord then our prosperity is guaranteed.

Others promise that we can ask for anything in the world because it will be ours for the asking.

Do these things sound too good to be true?

That’s because they are.

Life is certainly better with Jesus than without Him.

Just remember the words of Jesus.

Make certain that you listen to Him.

Matthew 16:24-26 (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. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 24, 2017.

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

Revolving Around the Son

Recently there was news of the possibility of a new planet in our solar system.

Planet 9, when confirmed, will be very far away.

It will undoubtedly be quite different from the world on which we live.

Although each planet is unique, there is one thing that each of the planets have in common.

Each one revolves around the sun.

That is because the sun’s gravitational pull keeps them in orbit.

The sun also provides warmth which makes life on earth a reality.

If these influences from the sun stopped then the solar system would cease to exist.

In fact, it would no longer be a system at all.

The planets would simply fly off on their own directions into the cold, empty void of space.

This would prove disastrous for life on earth.

Without the sun’s influences, all life on earth would perish.

As we continue our journey through Lent, thoughts of this brought to mind other things.

Just as the planets revolve the sun, so our lives should revolve around the Son.

We rarely give thought to what the sun means to our world.

In a similar way, we can easily lose sight of what Jesus means to our lives and the lives of others.

The sun keeps the planets from wandering away.

The season of Lent reminds us what the Son did for us because we wandered away.

John 15:7-13 (NET) - No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends.

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, may we be reminded of how much the love of Jesus really means to us.

It is the kind of love He demonstrated for all of humanity at the cross.

Given that, shouldn’t our lives revolve around the Son?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 26, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 4, 2016

A Universal Symbol

Symbols are everywhere.

They tell us what we need to know at a glance.

Corporations utilize symbols to promote their products and services.

When utilized in this way a symbol is called a logo.

We identify their product or service with their logo.

This is an important concept because logos are international.

Coca-Cola is an example of this.

If I were to travel to a foreign country where I did not speak the language, it is safe to assume I would be able to purchase a Coca-Cola by recognizing one or more of their logos.

There are symbols in Christianity as well.

The cross is likely the most recognized symbol in the world.

For those who believe this symbol represents the ultimate in service.

God is the perfectly Holy creator.

Isaiah 6:3 (NET) – They called to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!”

Man is the fallen creation.

No amount of sacrifice on the part of man can put him right with God.

Jesus had both a divine nature and a human nature.

Although He had a human nature, He never once committed a sin.

This made Jesus the perfect sacrifice and the pain and humiliation He suffered on the cross is the means by which a fallen man can have a relationship with a perfectly Holy God.

Hebrews 9:14 (NET) – how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

The symbol of the cross is an international reminder of that most remarkable of services.

No matter where in the world you are the symbol of the cross is understood.

In some cases it is even detested.

The one thing it should never be is ignored.

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

Whatever their reasoning may be I find this unfortunate.

Everyone, even Christians who attend services regularly, need this symbol.

We need this visible reminder to help us understand why we need Jesus so very much.

Acts 2:23 (NET) – this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 2, 2015

Kind Words

Who among us does not appreciate a kind word?

In today’s fast paced world, words of encouragement are increasingly rare.

Words of gratitude seem even rarer.

With each passing day, we get busier and busier.

Thoughts of lifting each other up seemingly fall by the wayside.

Even the simple act of saying “Thank you” seems to be dying away.

Yet a kind word or a simple “Thank You” can make a tremendous difference in someone’s day.

As Good Friday approached, I thought about this.

I also thought about the kindest words of all.

Those words were the ones spoken by Jesus as he hung on the cross.

Words that He spoke while crucified between two criminals.

Words that He spoke while others cast lots for his garments.

Luke 23:34 (ASV) – And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.

Jesus had already suffered abandonment, humiliation and torture.

Still, He had these kind words, words of forgiveness, for all.

Jesus would have more kind words before His ordeal was over.

One of the criminals hanging there with Him asked Jesus for a special favor.

He asked Jesus to remember him.

Jesus responded with these kind words.

Luke 23:43 (ASV) – And He said to him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.

Those kind words of His forgiveness also apply to us today.

So do the kind words of His promise.

They are kind words of forgiveness and promise that reach across the centuries to us today.

What will our response be?

Hopefully will we make the time say, “Thank You, Jesus!”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Wising Up

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) - Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

This is one of the four verses I selected to focus on during the Season of Advent.

I selected this particular verse because it would remind of two things.

First, it would remind me that men anticipated the arrival of Jesus.

Second, it would remind me that their response was to seek Him out and worship Him.

When I selected this verse as one to focus on in the days leading up to Christmas, I did not realize that it would bring with it a third reminder.

That happened when I received an email from a new friend.

As I read that email, I remembered that the words in Matthew 2:2 were spoken by the Wise Men.

Notice that scripture does not refer to them as the Intelligent Men.

There is good reason for that as there is a big difference between being intelligent and being wise.

Intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge.

Wisdom is the sound application of knowledge,

For example, intelligence allows one to learn a song.

Wisdom tells one to sing it for His glory.

Intelligence allows one to memorize passages of scripture.

Wisdom tells one to put into practice what scripture teaches.

Intelligence allows us to learn the Ten Commandments.

Wisdom tells us that they are about the relationships we are to maintain with God and our fellow man.

Intelligence tells us that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25^th.

Wisdom tells us we celebrate His birth because Jesus changed everything and we should celebrate Him every day of the year.

Intelligence allows us to understand that there has to be something greater than ourselves.

Wisdom tells us that no one can do what Jesus did for us.

Intelligence allows us to sharpen our skills.

Wisdom occurs when we use those skills to bring others to Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

When the wise men came to worship Jesus they brought Him precious gifts.

We can bring Him precious gifts as well.

We can use the gifts He has generously given us to bring those who are lost and in need of salvation to Him.

As we continue our journey through Advent, that would be a very wise thing for us to do.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

What Happened, Really?

As our journey continues, we should be mindful of what Jesus endured.

According to Matthew's gospel, Jesus goes to Gethsemane with His disciples.

There, He instructs them to sit while He goes to pray.

Filled with distress, He takes Peter and two others aside with Him.

He tells them that He is grieved and asks them to remain awake with Him.

He leaves them and goes a little farther where His human nature struggles with what is to come.

Death by crucifixion is the cruelest and most painful form of execution devised by man.

Jesus throws Himself face down to the ground and prays.

His human nature, knowing what is to come, leads Him to pray to the Father and ask if possible, to change what is to transpire.

His divine nature leads Him to pray that the Father's will prevail.

Jesus returns and finds Peter and the two others asleep.

Three times this process repeats itself.

Three times Jesus asks His followers to remain awake as He prays.

Three times they fall asleep and Jesus prays alone.

Judas arrives with armed men and betrays his Lord with a kiss.

With that signal, the armed men forcibly take hold of Jesus.

In the brief struggle that ensues, Jesus tells one of His followers to put away his weapon.

He reminds him that those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

Jesus states that He could, if He so desired, call upon the Father and be rescued by twelve legions of angels.

Yet He does not do this in order that prophecy is fulfilled.

His disciples, every single one of them, flee and abandon him to His captors.

He is taken away to the high priest and those assembled there.

His physical ordeal begins.

They spit in His face, strike Him and mock Him.

Peter, who promised Jesus that he would never leave Him, denies that he even knows Jesus.

Jesus is taken to Pilate, the governor.

Pilate, not wishing for a riot, gives in to the demands of the crowd and the religious leaders who incite them.

Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion.

This time it is soldiers that assail Jesus. They hurl insults at Him, crown Him with thorns, spit on Him and strike Him repeatedly.

Jesus is crucified along with two common criminals to further demean Him.

As He suffers, the chief priests, experts in law and the rest of the crowd that has gathered hurl even more insults at Him.

Jesus suffers for hours as darkness falls over the land.

As His life ebbs away, Jesus takes all the sins of the world upon Himself.

God, who is perfectly holy and righteous, must break away from these sins.

For the first time in His eternal existence, Jesus experiences separation from the Father.

You can hear the anguish in His cry.

Matthew 27:46 (NET) - At about three o'clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Then, Jesus cries out one final time in a loud voice and gives up His spirit.

Jesus endured so very much to save the world.

It is easier for us to think that He endured this in order to save a vast, faceless and nameless sea of humanity.

It is not so easy to think about the fact that He did so in order to personally save individuals like you and me.

That was the Father's will.

When we realize this, the experience is both truly amazing and truly humbling.

A feeling of deep sadness also accompanies it,

But there is wonderful news.

The tomb in which they laid Him is empty!

He has risen!

Jesus is exactly who He claims to be and our salvation is assured!


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

What do we have to offer

           The world is not interested in what you need but what you have to offer, The world already has more than enough problems.

          Only those with solutions are relevant. Jesus called us and sent us to offer solutions to the world and not more problems.          The gospel is good news.. if you don't have good news to tell, please shut up. Tell me what Jesus is doing and not what Satan is doing. publish Good report not evil report!           The proof of God's call upon your life is the exploits He is doing through you, We don't need money to cast out demons, heal the sick or preach the gospel to the next door neighbor.         You may not have the money to organize a mega crusade, just reach out to the few you can with whatever resources you've got.
Your faithfulness in little will command in the much. I have learned that problems do not attract resources it is ideas that do. Have you got one? run with it, don't wait for money you will suddenly find the money chasing you because you carry that thing that attracts it.
All poor people have one thing in common, they have ran out of ideas or visions!!

Matthew 5:13,14 - “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it. You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid."

Preparing for Devotion

I'm often distressed at the disconnect between what God expects of me and what I deliver on an average day. "[W]hat doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"  (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)  Christ Himself expanded on this expectation:  "[T]hou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  (Mark 12:30-31)

That seems to be asking a lot, doesn't it?  With the multitude of our daily obligations to family and employers, with the myriad temptations and distractions today's world puts in our way, isn't an unswerving, all-consuming devotion to God pretty much unattainable for most people?  Wouldn't one have to withdraw to a mountain cave, or to a cell in a monastery, and spend the rest of one's life in constant prayer, meditation, and scripture study?

Some have felt called to such a life over the centuries, and through their writings and teachings have had an influence for good on the many who could not follow the ascetic path. But I don't think God requires such a life of most people. While we're not to be conformed to or "of" the world, we remain in it (Romans 12:2; John 15:19; John 17:13-16). Believers are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). There may be rare exceptions, but as a rule God wouldn't ask of us something we couldn't attain without abandoning our families and the work we need to do to support them, or disappearing from amongst our friends and neighbors to search for Him alone.

A life of devotion to God and fellow man can be, and is, lived every day by otherwise ordinary people, everywhere. It results from a combination of what we do and what we avoid.

One vital element is maintaining a constant, 24/7 connection with the Lord in prayer--both the kneel-down variety, when that can be done, but also the conversation with Him that you carry on in your head and heart while going about your daily business. Another element is daily reading in God's word: it needn't take hours or follow a rigorous study plan, but may consist of only a few verses--you can't hardly find any in the Bible that aren't bursting with inspiration and comfort. In addition, we must constantly and humbly repent of, and strive to avoid, sin: nothing else so thoroughly prevents a healthy, ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father, nor so clouds our judgment with selfishness and despair. As far as possible rid you life of things (for example, unedifying television, movies, music, or literature; drugs or alcohol; other worldly infatuations)  that may tempt you to sin or distract you from God and others toward an immersion in Self. Finally, do your best to make a habit of thoughtfulness, generosity, and a readiness to help, however when or much it's needed--this will bring you closer to the model of the Good Samaritan.

Following this path keeps one's mind and heart clear, clean, and undistracted; keeps us ready, willing, and able to help others; and keeps us open to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. By this means we're able to grow and thrive in faith, and in devotion to God and those around us, just as He commands--one day at a time.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Love Story

Over the last two days we've observed both Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent and our remembrance of Christ's passion and resurrection, and St. Valentine's Day, when we celebrate romantic love. These events wouldn't seem to have much in common, unless one remembers that Christ's victory over sin and death climax the greatest love story ever known.

Maybe due to the frequency of its telling, many approach the story of Holy Week and Christ's betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection mostly as a colorful tale involving things done and said by Jesus and those around him over 2000 years ago--the stuff of epic movies. Do we really experience the story personally, and fully appreciate our own role in it?

To do so, we must understand the purpose and the force behind everything that happened that fateful week, and that it was all for us--not just for mankind collectively, but for every person individually. The purpose was our salvation from sin, so that we could share eternal happiness with our Father and Lord. The force was Love--a love vaster than the Universe and older than Time, yet as immediate and personal as you and I this moment; a love that satisfies both absolute justice and infinite mercy. It's a love that extends to all people and to every soul one by one, as if Christ came to this earth, lived and taught, suffered and died on the cross, and rose from the dead specifically to save [your name here] alone (Luke 15:4, 7). It was for YOU and to win YOUR salvation that He did all this--not grudgingly, but willingly, even before you were born or had ever heard of Him, and regardless of anything and everything you would ever do, no matter how deep your ignorance or contempt of Him. It's a love beyond rational comprehension and entirely unconditional, having nothing to do with deserving or worthiness--except His.

Never doubt that God knows and loves you personally. You're as precious to Him as any and every other one of His children. Remember that Christ came to earth to save you, to pay for your sins, no matter what they might be--and would have done so if even you were the only sinner who had ever lived. He loves you so much, that He went through all that He did just so He could have your company in Heaven forever. There's never been a greater miracle. It truly is the Greatest Love Story Ever Told!

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

When God Calls

Sesquicentennial.

It’s a fancy word that means 150th anniversary.

I begin this way because about three years ago I felt God leading me to write and share a weekly devotional and this makes devotional number 150.

What’s so remarkable about that?

Not much unless  you consider the fact that I never considered writing on my own.

In fact, by profession, I deal far more with numbers than words.

I followed His lead and I am glad that I did because some exciting and completely unexpected things happened as a result of it.

When I first began  writing, it was a challenge for me.

I knew this was going to take me out of my comfort zone.

I also knew that if it made a difference in only one life, all the effort will have been completely worth it.

Mark 16:15 (NET) - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Eventually I learned that this happened when I was contacted by someone who was reading them.

We began communicating and I will never forget the question he posed to me.

"Do you think there is hope for me?"

I replied that there was indeed hope for all of us because of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3 (NET) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,..."

That individual, with God’s help, turned his life around in an amazing way and we still stay in touch.

Of course the credit and the glory both belong to God.

I am delighted simply to be the instrument that He used.

As a result of this, I came to another conclusion.

Since I was able to help this one individual, perhaps I will be able to help others along the way,

Another benefit I have personally received as a result of following His lead are the connections I have made with other Christians along the way.

Connections with the other contributors to this blog site are a great example.

Although I have never met them (and others like them) face to face,  I feel as if I know them because of their willingness to both encourage and edify.

That is what Christians are supposed to do for each other.

I always look forward to seeing what God has written upon their hearts to share with others.

I have also made connections with others.

Therein lies opportunity.

Most surprisingly, I have come to know myself better as well.

I have also had to make some choices and some changes along the way.

The biggest among these is how I choose to make use of what I consider a very precious commodity.

Time.

When people think about stewardship, thoughts automatically turn to money.

Also important is how we choose to invest our time.

We all have a finite amount of time and not one of us knows how much of it we have.

How we choose to invest that time is of tremendous importance.

So, when you feel His leading, I strongly urge you to follow it.

God indeed works in strange and mysterious ways.

If someone had told me a decade ago what my life would be like today, I simply would not have believed them.

I once heard someone say that God does not always call the equipped, but he does equip those He calls.

There is a tremendous amount of truth in that.

When God calls, follow the example of Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:10  (NET) - Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as He previously had done, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel replied, "Speak, for Your servant is listening!"


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

Where was God?

Tragedy.

It strikes without warning.

It strikes even the young.

Last week it did both in America at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

One moment children were exactly where they were supposed to be while doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing.

In the next moment twenty of them along with several adults were dead.

So was the gunman that ended their lives.

It does not make sense.

The days leading up to Christmas are supposed to be days filled with joy, aren‘t they?

Now, a community begins coping with a tremendous loss.

A nation begins asking difficult questions.

As if this were not sad enough, sadder still is the fact that those without faith will use this to excuse their unbelief.

"If God exists," they reason, "why would He let innocent children die?"

It is time to wake up.

Believers and unbelievers alike must understand that evil exists in this world.

There simply is no way to sugar coat this.

1 Peter 5:8 (NET) - Be sober and alert. Your enemy, the devil, like a roaring lion is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

We may never know what the gunman’s personal motives were.

We do know that Satan can convince almost anyone of anything.

John 8:44 (NET) - You people are from your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

In fact, that is the one thing he will do that God will never do.

God will not lie.

Titus 1:2 (NET) - in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.

But what of the tragedy?

Doesn’t God care?

Is God just a casual observer?

On the contrary, God cares very much and He does more than merely observe.

The life of Joseph provides us with an excellent example of his involvement when evil strikes.

Joseph’s brothers allowed jealousy to cloud their sense of family and their sense of right and wrong.

In the beginning, they actually plotted to kill their own brother.

They threw him into a pit.

Then, they sold him into slavery which took him to Egypt.

There, Joseph refused the advances of his master’s wife and ended up in prison as a result of her lies.

There, he was even forgotten by a prisoner whom he had helped.

Frankly speaking, a lot of bad things happened to Joseph.

Yet God was with Joseph every step of the way.

With God’s help, Joseph attained the position of prime minister and his efforts saved the lives of many during a terrible famine.

This included the lives of the very brothers who sold him into slavery in the first place.

Joseph was keenly aware of God’s presence and the active role God played when evil befell him.

Genesis 50:20 (NET) - As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so He could preserve the lives of many people as you see this day.

God can and does use the results of evil for good.

He did this with Joseph.

I am confident that He will do so with this tragedy as well.

At this point parents are dealing with the pain that comes with the death of a child.

I cannot even begin to imagine what that must feel like.

God knows.

He knows only too well.

After all, He watched His Only Son die a painful and humiliating death on a cross.

A Son who willingly died for you and me and the victims in Newtown, Connecticut.

So, what do we do now?

How do we move forward and make a nation, indeed the world, a better place?

We do what Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, did.

We pray.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NET) - If My people, who belong to Me, humble themselves, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

As for the children, I close with the words spoken by Jesus Himself.

Luke 16:18 (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."


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

Saving to Serve

The Thanksgiving holiday in the USA is behind us (except for its crass commercialization, unfortunately). One thing I found myself being thankful for this year was being able to share with others the bounty God has showered upon me. I haven't always taken that opportunity as I should have. When my wife and I were younger and had several children living at home, our income was less and day-to-day expenses greater, and we were carrying too much debt. So, I I felt anxious about every dollar and was too reluctant to part with even a few to help the needy and other good causes. I shouldn't have been that way; my faith in God's providence was lacking.

In any event, I'm blessed to still be here today, with my health and a good job, and my children are all on their own. We CAN and now DO more to help those less fortunate, though of course there's so much more we could and should be doing--personally, and not just by sending dollars someplace. With the Lord's help we've learned over the years to be reasonably frugal and to live within our means, so we now have an excess beyond minimum sustenance that can be used to do things like support children and families in Asia, supply our local homeless relief mission, and fund missionary efforts, as well as to help our children and a few friends through rough economic stretches. We've also managed to stockpile supplies of non-perishable food and water to help ourselves and our neighbors through an emergency.

It's so important not to get distracted by the dazzling images of opulence that modern society dangles before people's eyes, to entice us into a life of careless spending and debt that only makes a few others rich and ourselves helpless and dependent on assistance for our very survival. Not only does that open us to a corrupting level of control by those upon whom we're dependent, it prevents us from obtaining the blessings, to ourselves and others, that flow from helping the less fortunate. How can we properly care for our families and help the poor, as God expects us to do (1 John 3:17–19), if all our means have been frittered away on unnecessaries? Remember this admonition: "[L]et him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Ephesians 4:28)

Get into the habit of pausing before you buy anything, or subscribe to any service, that isn't indisputably essential to daily existence. Do I really NEED that big-screen TV or that new mobile device? Can our family have a nice vacation somewhere besides Disney World? Carefully consider--and pray--whether other, more important things might be done with the money you'd be spending, including saving it away for harder times, or to assist someone else. If you condition yourself to put your family and others in mind first, and the future before the present, you'll develop habits of prudent living that will enable you, your loved ones, and your neighbors, with God's help, to weather any storm and remain strong in God's service.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Don't Wait for Tomorrow

How often are we presented with opportunities to help others, but let them slip by?  Do we hesitate because we're unsure if we have free time or spare money enough to give?  Do we withhold the help because we decide that the beneficiary doesn't really deserve it, won't appreciate it, or will squander it?  Perhaps we feel like his or her problems are none of our business, or that we just don't want to "get involved."

These are natural and commonplace feelings, but as believers in Christ we need to remember the terrible price that He paid to save us for eternity, while we were yet sinners and hardly deserving of such a sacrifice (Romans 5:8), and return some measure of that same love to those around us (". . . love one another; as I have loved you . . ."  John 13:34). As was so perfectly expressed in Proverbs:

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. (Proverbs 3:27-28)

Thus, we're not to be hesitant, stingy, or judgmental in helping others, but should do so readily and freely. The phrase "them to whom it is due" is not meant to limit our help to those to whom we're otherwise obligated, or to those who somehow "deserve" or who have "earned" our help:

This requires us . . . 5.  To be ready to all acts of friendship and humanity, and in every thing to be neighbourly; for these are things that are due by the law of doing as we would be done by. 6. To be charitable to the poor and necessitous. If others want the necessary supports of life, and we have wherewithal to supply them, we must look upon it as due to them and not withhold it. Alms are called righteousness because they are a debt to the poor, and a debt which we must not defer to pay.  (Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary)

In this my great example is my dear wife--the countless hours and untold labor she has spent preparing and delivering meals to families in need, in buying or sewing clothes for the poor, in caring for the elderly or sick, or looking after others' children!  She often doesn't wait to be asked, but sees opportunities to help and dives right in. This is how to be proactive in giving!

Remember that those who give without reservation shall "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world . . .":

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. . . . Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)

So, if you want to live as our Savior would have you live, and share eternal life with Him:  Help early and often!

Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises

Acceptable Sacrifices

On my bus ride to work one day recently, I overheard a lady in the seat behind me telling a friend about how large a part of her life is devoted to church work: how much time she spends as the church's music director and as a member of several committees, how much money she spends on church projects and charities--and how much more valuable she is to her church than its lazy, clueless pastor!  I lamented in my heart that one who obviously thought of herself as an exemplary Christian could be so lacking in love and humility, and remembered Christ's parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14). I silently prayed that the Holy Spirit would move her to see how wrong her attitude was (Psalm 15:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20), and what a more abundant life--for her and her church--awaited a true change of heart.

In this Christmas season of special services and boisterous activity in churches and among their members, it may be well to remember that the Lord is not pleased with "vain oblations" (Isaiah 1:13), with the fasts and tithes of one a Pharisee in heart (Luke 18:12), or with the "many prayers" of those whose "hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15).  "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."  (Hosea 6:6)  Our meetings, prayers, hymns, fasts, feasts, and even almsgiving are acceptable to God only when done in a spirit of genuine humility and of love for Him and for our fellow men. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalms 51:17)  What the Lord really wants is for us "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [Him]." (Micah 6:8)  The acceptable sacrifice is to make ourselves clean; "cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." Our commemorations and celebrations will have true meaning only when our hearts are like the Publican's, and--like the child Jesus and his earthly parents--we live our daily lives in simple faith, reverence, and love toward others.


Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises