Again I Will Say, Rejoice

 Psalm 5 is about trusting God.

 In verse 11, the psalmist discusses how those who trust God can rejoice.

 Psalm 5:11 (NRSVue) - But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.

Acts 5, tells of the persecution of the apostles.

After healing many they were arrested.

Freed by an angel of the Lord, they went on with their teaching.

Arrested once more, they were asked about their disobedience.

They responded by saying they obeyed God rather than human authority.

The council was enraged.

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel interceded,

They were flogged and released,

They rejoiced at their persecution.

Acts 5:41-42– (NRSVue) - As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

Rejoicing in persecution is a sign of faith.

To rejoice in the face of difficulty demonstrates to others the nature of true faith.

Such a demonstration benefits those in our families.

It benefits those whom we encounter regularly.

It especially benefits those who have yet to find a personal relationship with the Lord.

It can lead them from wonder to a genuine rejoicing of their own.

Philippians 4:4-5 (NRSVue) - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 13, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, June 20, 2025

Where Treasure Is Found

 Psalm 119 is about the glories of God’s laws.

 With 176 verses, the psalmist had a great deal to say.

 This time around, it was verse 162 thar caught my attention.

 Psalm 119:162 (NRSVue) - I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

 Here, to “find great spoil” equates with finding great treasure.

 And we should consider God’s word to be a great treasure.

 Matthew 13 contains several parables of Jesus.

 One concerns the Kingdom of Heaven.

 As Jesus began this parable, He compared it to a treasure,

Matthew 13:44 – (NRSVue) - The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The list of treasures God bestows is extensive.

Scripture certainly is among them.

And, when the time comes, we will learn firsthand how great a treasure the Kingdom of Heaven is.

But a treasure we can enjoy right now is doing the work of the Kingdom.

There are so many who go through life looking for material wealth and possessions.

Some even succeed.

But these gains do not last.

Unless they are reached before the end, they will find their search and their labor has been in vain.

Others go through life seeking happiness.

They do not realize that true happiness cannot be found in the world.

From that perspective alone, the work of the Kingdom is both vital and rewarding.

Such work is also a treasure.

Jesus even told the disciples as much.

Matthew 9:37-38 (NRSVue) - Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, May 23, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, June 6, 2025

Forgive Us Our Debt

In Psalm 116, the Psalmist gives thanks for a recovery from illness.

Psalm 116:1 (NRSVue) - I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my supplications.

But illness if not the only time we should earnestly seek God.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant.

In the first part of the parable, a master called together his servants who were in his debt.

One who was severely in debt, begged for mercy.

Matthew 18:26-27– (NRSVue) - So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.

We are burdened by sin.

Like the slave in the parable, we earnestly seek God’s salvation.

Like the Psalmist, we offer our supplication to God.

God healed the Psalmist.

And like the servant in debt, God forgives us.

Although we do not deserve it, God delivers us from our sin.

God grants us the healing salvation we desperately need through Christ.

And we would do well to remember just how great a debt we are forgiven.

We should also forgive others for their debts.

Matthew 6:12 (NRSVue) - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, May 9, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, May 16, 2025

Grace Is for Everyone

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

Yet Job understands God’s wisdom and strength.

Moreover, Job understands that everyone belongs to God.

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

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

Everyone belongs to God.

And God wants everyone to be saved.

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

Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

The simple answer is Christ,

Jesus said as much to His followers.

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

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

They can help us discern the truth and be saved.

But we must remember that everyone belongs to God.

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

Like us, they belong to God.

Like us, God wants them to be saved.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Generations of Faith

Recently, I came across an old photograph of my mother’s older siblings.

It made me consider the faith of the previous generation of my family,

It also made me consider my own faith as well.

In Ezekiel 20, the prophet first discusses the continuing rebellion of the people.

He then turns his attention to the fact that God will restore them.

Ezekiel 20:41-42 (NRSVue) - As a pleasing odor I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. You shall know that I am the Lord when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your ancestors.

In Hebrews 11, Paul writes on the faith of Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8 (NRSVue) - By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.

God told Abraham to go to a new land.

This was a land Abraham had never been to before.

Abraham did not question God.

Abraham simply obeyed.

We have scripture to remind us of the witness of generations long past.

Some of us are blessed enough to recall the faith of our previous generation.

But what will the next generation say of us?

Will they remember our obedience, faith, and witness?

If not, the fault is entirely our own.

But it is never too late.

We can begin today by listening.

We can then hear God’s call to us.

Then, we can obey that call.

And in doing so, we can demonstrate our faith.

May we be the next in a continuing legacy of faith for the next generation.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, August 23, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, September 6, 2024

Attacks on Christianity?

Jeremiah 1:19 (NRSVue) - They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”

This verse is part of God’s call and commission of Jeremiah.

God reminds the prophet that people will oppose him.

God also promises never to abandon Jeremiah.

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples.

Jesus prays for them and not the world.

John 17:9 (NRSVue) - I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.

I find it amazing that these verses were on my mind at this time.

This was at the same time of the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics,

Many people, especially Christians, were outraged by the spectacle,

Both Christians and political pundits were quick to refer to the ceremonies as an attack on Christianity.

Many Christians took this personally.

But when you think about it, is this really an attack on Christians?

If anything, it was an attack on Christ, not an attack on Christians.

As Christians, we would do well to remember the words of Christ.

We would do especially well to remember His words from the Sermon on the Mount.

When Christ spoke to His followers and others, He was telling them (and us) how to live.

His words indicated He wants us to live a life of discipline.

Christ instructed us to love.

This means loving our enemies,

It means loving those who disagree with us.

His words should instruct us to live a life of love instead of a life of retribution.

Will we take those words to heart?

Or will we instead feel personally threatened and attacked by those who mock Christ.

We know we belong to Christ.

We know we are precious to Him.

And we are assured that Christ is always with us.

And, hard though it may be to believe, Christ loves those who are still lost,

Instead of feeling threatened by the lost, we should demonstrate the love Christ commands of us.

Love, not retribution, is the key to reaching those who are still lost.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, August 9, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, August 16, 2024

First and Last

Isaiah 41:4 (NRSVue) - Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am first and will be with the last.

In this chapter, Isaiah assures the people of God’s help.

Speaking for the Lord. Isaiah reminds the people that God was the first and he will be the last.

After the opening of Revelation 1, John shares a vision of Christ.

John states that the moment he saw Christ, he fell at His feet.

But Christ offers words of comfort and encouragement.

Christ reminds John that, as part of the Trinity, He was first, and He will be the last.

Revelation 1:17b-18 (NRSVue) - “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.

In the simplest of terms, being both first and last means being eternal.

Our lives on earth, by comparison, are fleeting at best.

Even the lifespans of those who live beyond 100 years are here for but a fraction of eternity.

The Triune God is eternal.

We are not.

The Triune God is constant.

We are not,

The Triune God is always there for us.

He is there for us even though we are not always there for Him.

But even then, God is ready to welcome us back.

I have one final thought.

Not one of us knows how much time we will have on this earth.

But how much or how little is not important.

What is important is how we choose to use the time given to us.

May we use that time wisely and strengthen our relationship with God.

May we also use that time to build and strengthen our relationships with others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, July 26, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, August 2, 2024

A New Spirit and a New Heart

Ezekiel 11:19 (NRSVue) - I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

In this chapter, God shares his judgement of evil councilors with the prophet.

God then pronounces that He will restore His people.

This will be a complete restoration.

The people will have a new spirit.

They will also have new hearts.

These new hearts will be capable of gentleness and compassion.

Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, opens with words of encouragement.

Paul reminds Timothy of the new spirit and the new heart that God promised.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSVue) - for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

In our modern world, many have rejected both the spirit and the heart.

The world relies on false wisdom.

It teaches that success equates with material wealth.

It teaches that we should look out only for ourselves.

It teaches that kindness and gentleness are signs of weakness.

Despite the many who have fallen prey to this false wisdom, these things are far from true.

When we are down, God extends His love.

When we feel weak, God reminds us to rely on His strength.

When we feel we have utterly failed, God offers His renewal.

In accepting these gifts, we receive our new spirit and our new heart.

We learn that success equates with loving God and our neighbor.

We learn to care more for others than we care for ourselves.

We also learn that gentleness and compassion arise out of inner strength.

The world will go on believing what it will.

And in doing so, it will allow others to tire and fall.

But blessed with a new heart and new spirit, we can lighten the loads of the fallen.

We can share with them what God has so generously shared with us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, July 12, 2024.

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

A Solid Foundation

Ezra 3:11b (NRSVue) - And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid.

In Ezra 3, the builders laid the foundation of the temple.

The priests made music.

They then sang songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Then all the people gave a great shout as they praised the Lord.

In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, he addresses division within the church.

He even addresses the confusion concerning his role.

He likens himself to a master builder who laid the foundation.

Yet others will build on that foundation.

He reminds these to build on that foundation with care.

Yet, Paul reminds his readers of who ultimately laid that foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NRSVue) - For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

In our time, we tend to think of church as a building.

A building perhaps made of wood, stone, or brick.

The reality is quite different.

In fact, there is only one church.

That one church is, in fact, the entire body of believers with Christ as the head.

And we, as a body, have a responsibility that goes beyond worship alone.

Just as a human body has parts, the church body has parts as well.

We are told as children that God wants our hearts.

That is only partly true.

God wants all of us - our heart, hands, feet, and our minds.

He wants our hearts to love Him and our neighbor.

He wants our hands to serve.

He wants our feet to take us where He wants us to go.

And He wants our minds to tell the world about Christ and to discern the truth.

It is important that we remain open to God’s leading and to respond accordingly.

This is how we carefully build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ.

And we can take comfort that future generations will continue to build upon it as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 28, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, July 5, 2024

Return to the Fold

Joshua 24:16 (NRSVue) - Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,

In Joshua 24, the tribes renewed the covenant.

Making promises is easy.

Keeping them is another matter,

In Judges (after Joshua’s death), the people fail to follow God’s instructions completely.

It did not take them long to forsake the promise they made.

In John 6, we are told that many disciples heard the teaching of Jesus.

Many of them found His teaching difficult, so they turned away,

Jesus then asked the twelve who remained if they wished to leave.

They stayed.

Their reasoning was made clear when Peter admitted that Jesus had the words of life.

John 6:68 (NRSVue) - Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.

But, like the people of old, we too forget our promises.

Our forgetfulness can even be intentional.

When we stray, God is there to welcome our return to the fold.

We must remind ourselves that we are unworthy.

We must remember the teaching and example of Jesus.

We must remember that He has the words of life.

We must then repent.

And, if we are sincere in both our regret and repentance, God will welcome our return to the fold.

And, if we are wise, we will be willing to forgive others as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 14, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, June 21, 2024

We Change, God Does Not

Psalm 40:3a (NRSVue) - He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

Psalm 40 encompasses two themes.

It is a psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance.

It is also a prayer for help. 

Yet both share a common root.

God delivers and is a source of help because He is eternal and unchanging.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds his readers that they are to change.

Paul discusses the old life and the new life.

Paul reminds them, and us, we need renewal.

Ephesians 4:23 (NRSVue) - and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds

But this renewal is only possible because God is eternal and unchanging.

We must be the ones to change.

We must give up our old lives and claim our new ones.

This is only possible because it is God who does the renewing within us.

God has always loved humanity even when humanity has failed to love Him in return.

God planned for humanity’s salvation even when our faith in Him faltered.

Through the eternal and unchanging God, we can surrender our old lives and claim our new ones.

And, as God renews our faith, we can offer our heartfelt thanksgiving for deliverance. 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, May 24, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, June 7, 2024

True Peace of Mind

Isaiah 54:4a (NRSVue) - Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace,

Some translations refer to Isaiah 54 as “The Lord Loves Israel,”

This translation refers to it as “The Eternal Covenant of Peace.”

Frankly, I will not argue with either,

The prophet begins this verse with “Do not fear.”

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that we are not to fear.

Small wonder as we seem to need reminding throughout our lives.

Scripture also reminds us of this after the Resurrection,

When the women went to the tomb of Jesus, they found an angel instead.

This filled them with fear.

But the angel reassured them.

Matthew 28:5-6 (NRSVue) - But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

In our modern world, it is all too easy for us to give in to fear.

Inflation is on the rise,

The cost of necessities increases accordingly.

The nation, indeed, the world is divided politically and ideologically.

There is unrest on college campuses.

The list goes on.

Yet God is there to remind us that we do not have to fear.

He reminds us in His Word.

And, when we focus on our relationship with Him, we can feel his reassuring presence.

We can then put fear out of our hearts and minds.

Then, filled with peace, we can serve both God and others.

We can help bring true peace of mind to those who currently live in fear.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, May 10, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, May 17, 2024

A Plan for Life

Ezekiel 18:23 (NRSVue) - Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?

Ezekiel 18 speaks of individual retribution.

A common belief at the time was that punishment for sin would be passed on to ensuing generations.

The prophet declares that this is not so.

A child will not be punished by God for the sins of his parent.

Neither will a parent be punished by God for the sins of his child.

Those who do not turn away from their sin and repent will die.

But this is not what God desires.

What God wants is for the sinner to change his ways, repent and live.

Paul discusses this in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 6:23 (NRSVue) - The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is not vindictive.

He created us in His image.

It is only logical that God would wish to save us.

And God did just that through Jesus.

So. if God is willing to forgive us, shouldn’t we be willing to forgive each other?

Through Christ, God teaches us how to forgive.

He also teaches us to love.

When it comes down to it, each of us has sinned.

On our own, each of us comes up short.

But by God’s grace and mercy we have been set free.

If God can forgive so much, shouldn’t we forgive what is little by comparison.

We can let go of the desire for individual retribution.

And. we can be happy for those who come to know Him through Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 26, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, May 3, 2024

A Place Prepared

Isaiah 43:16 (NRSVue) - Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,

In Isaiah 43, the prophet speaks of God’s restoration and protection.

He hearkens back to the day when Moses led the people out of bondage.

When pursued by Pharoah’s chariots, God parted the sea for his people,

He provided a means of escape so they could reach the Promised Land.

In John 14, Jesus also speaks of a way out.

He speaks of the means of escape from the cares of this world to the Father.

And just as God parted the sea, God provided us with a way to our own promised land.

God provided us with Jesus as the means of coming home to Him.

John 14:3-4 (NRSVue) - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.

This was not an impulsive decision on God’s part.

This was God’s plan from the very beginning.

Like the people who were delivered from the bondage of slavery, God used Jesus to free us from the bondage of sin.

God used Jesus to free us from fear.

Our salvation is assured,

Our way has been prepared.

The fear of death no longer has any power over us.

Thanks to Jesus, we will close our eyes in this world and open them in the next.

We will then see firsthand the Father welcoming us into His presence forever.

When that happens, fear and darkness will become a forgotten memory.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 12, 2024.

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

Transformed Messengers

Judges 10:10 (NRSVue) - So the Israelites cried to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and have served the Baals.”

These were the words of the people as the Ammonites oppressed them.

In time, God used a man named Jephthah to deliver them.

Once delivered, Jephthah served as their judge for six years.

But their deliverance began with the confession of contrite hearts.

Luke tells us the story of John the Baptist.

When John the Baptist was born, he was not named after his father Zechariah as was the custom.

Before his birth, the angel Gabriel spoke to Zechariah,

He foretold the child’s birth, but Zechariah did not believe him.

As a result, Zechariah was silenced for his disbelief.

When the time came for John to be named, Zechariah still could not speak.

To the amazement of all, he wrote “His name is John.”

Zechariah was then filled with the Holy Spirit.

This time, to even greater amazement, he spoke.

Luke 1:76-77 (NRSVue) - And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

While not completely identical, our journeys as Christians are akin to these events.

We start out rebellious.

We do things our way rather than God’s way.

We even believe that things and people are more important than God.

Then, one day, we realize the error of our ways.

We approach God with contrite hearts and confess our sins to Him.

In the process, we even admit them to ourselves.

Then, the timeless and loving God forgives us.

He listens to our sincere confession.

We place our faith in the redemptive Christ.

As a result, we return to favor in God’s sight.

We then continue the work begun by John the Baptist.

We share the Good News so that others may learn of salvation and true forgiveness.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 22, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, January 5, 2024

Being Ready

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

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

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

This surprises the teacher.

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

“Oh sure, someday!” exclaims Timmy.

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

We are a great deal like Timmy.

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

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

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

We take great comfort in that.

John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

We do things in order to live longer.

We might decide one day to eat better.

Or, we might decide to get regular medical exams.

The list goes on and on.

Frankly, these are things we should be doing anyway.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 15, 2019

Unexpected Blessings and Love

This is not what I originally intended to post today.

I learned long ago that in such endeavors you must follow your heart.

I went to the post office today to pick up a package.

I was in for a surprise.

Along with my package, I received a thick envelope containing a card from a cousin.

The envelope also contained some old black and white photographs and a letter.

I felt a bit emotional as I looked at the photographs and read my cousin’s letter.

These photos were taken immediately after my brother’s funeral more than 60 years ago.

My brother died in infancy almost a decade before I was born.

I never met my brother in this world, but I have other photographs of him.

These photographs depicted the officiating pastor.

He once preached at the church I still attend.

It also depicted four of my cousins who served as bearers.

They were all quite young at the time.

There were also photographs of the coffin, the flowers and so forth.

I very much appreciated receiving this package and I will make certain my cousin knows this.

Many people often get uncomfortable when it comes to discussing death.

I said earlier that I felt a bit emotional.

But my emotions were not based on fear, but rather, they were based on love.

Love for my cousin who thought I should have the photographs.

Love for a brother I never got to meet in this world.

Love for my parents who did all they could for a very sick and tiny infant.

But most of all, love for the Lord.

As a Christian, I know with conviction that death is not the end.

It is merely a transition.

I also know how much the Lord loved my tiny brother.

He proved this in His ministry.

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.”

As stated, I never met my brother in this world.

I am completely confident that we will meet in the next.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 12, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 19, 2018

Unfriended

A young friend of mine moved away several years ago.

We still stayed in touch through social media.

Imagine my delight when my young friend posted that he found Jesus.

Later that day he posted that several people chose to sever ties with him.

As I tried to think of a way to encourage my young friend, my thoughts turned to Jesus.

Jesus was not popular in every circle.

In fact, some people absolutely hated Him.

Some looked up to Him but wanted that kept secret.

Take Nicodemus, for example.

John 3:1-2 (NET) Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Nicodemus had an idea of who Jesus was and even admired Him.

But notice that he was careful not to be seen with Jesus during the light of day.

Even those who followed Jesus abandoned Him.

Peter denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times.

John 18: 25-27 (NET) - Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” Peter denied it: “I am not!” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the orchard with him?” Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Then, there was Judas.

He was the follower who betrayed Jesus.

Luke 22:47 (NET) - While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him.

As these thoughts ran through my mind, I knew I found a way to encourage my young friend.

I told him he was in good company.

After all, Jesus was unfriended too.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 25, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 1, 2018

Christmas, Tradition and Love

One of the things I enjoy about Christmas is tradition.

The church I attend has several traditions.

Some of these traditions go back many years.

For example, a traditional gift among people who share my heritage is “The Christmas Sack”.

This is a simple brown paper bag containing an apple, an orange and a few pieces of candy.

My parents always gave me this gift every Christmas when I was a boy.

I am not certain how many generations back this tradition goes.

My church continues this tradition as well.

Every year my church puts on a Christmas Program.

A few nights before the program, a few of us will meet at the church and prepare many sacks.

When the Christmas Program ends, everyone in attendance gets one and so the tradition continues.

Another tradition I enjoy takes place at our worship service every Christmas Eve.

Prior to the start of the service we place a rocking chair in our sanctuary.

At some point during the worship service our pastor will sit in that chair.

The children in attendance will then come forward and sit on the floor around the pastor.

He will then read to them about the very first Christmas from the gospel of Luke.

Another tradition we have is quite new.

Empty boxes are provided to all members at the start of Advent.

Members place a non-perishable food item in their box each day during the season of Advent.

By the time Christmas arrives, all the boxes have been filled with food.

The filled boxes are gathered, and the food is donated to the local food bank to help the less fortunate.

These are but some of our traditions.

No doubt, you have traditions of your own.

Traditions play an important role in helping us observe Christmas.

It is important that our hearts are in the right place as we take part in them.

Simply going through the motions is not enough.

Everything we do should be rooted in faith, hope and love.

After all, it is God’s love for us that is at the very heart of Christmas.

Christmas is not a celebration of how we reach up to God.

Christmas is a celebration of how God reached down to us.

It is a celebration of how God reached down to a disobedient and fallen world that could not save itself.

It is a celebration of how God reaches down in the most remarkable and unexpected of ways.

Luke 2:11 (NET) - Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

I wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 5, 2018

Beyond Dead

I was looking forward to hearing someone speak on Ezekiel 37 and John 11.

The first speaks of Ezekiel and his experiences in the valley of dry bones.

The second speaks of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

Unfortunately, the weather in the area turned quite severe and this was cancelled.

How I would have loved to hear this man speak on these powerful chapters.

Instead, I had to ponder them for myself.

Ezekiel tells us that the Lord had His hand upon him and led him into a valley filled with bones.

Ezekiel did not merely see these bones from a distance.

The Lord made him walk among the bones which must have been quite an experience.

Ezekiel noticed that the bones were very dry.

Bones in and of themselves imply death.

The fact that the bones were dry shows us these individuals had been dead for a very long time.

Then the Lord asked Ezekiel a question.

Ezekiel 37:3 (NET) - He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said to him, “Sovereign Lord, you know.”

The Lord then instructed Ezekiel to prophesy over them.

Ezekiel obeyed the Lord.

Ezekiel first heard a rattling sound as the bones came together.

They were then covered with tendons and flesh.

Even so, the bodies were still not yet alive.

The Lord then instructed him to prophesy over them once more.

At this, the Lord breathed life into them and a living army stood where there was once nothing but death and decay.

Something similar happens in John 11.

A friend of Jesus named Lazarus fell ill.

His sisters sent Jesus a message to come at once.

Jesus delayed, but for a reason.

Lazarus died before Jesus departed for Bethany.

When Jesus and his followers arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

The sisters came out to meet Jesus; first Martha and then Mary.

Jesus wanted the stone removed which covered the tomb.

John 11:39 (NET) - Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.”

Again, just as in Ezekiel, this implies a state beyond death as decay had already set in.

The stone was removed.

Jesus prayed to the Father and then commanded Lazarus in a loud voice to come out of the tomb.

John 11:44 (NET) - The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”

In both cases life was brought back to the lifeless and every trace of decay was completely reversed.

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, let us be reminded that Jesus conquered death.

For beyond the cross there is another tomb - a tomb that was occupied for days.

A tomb that now lies empty because it former occupant has arisen.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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