With All Due Respect

Habakkuk 2 ends with warnings to the wicked.

The final verse is more than just a warning, it is a command.

It commands all to give God the respect He deserves.

More importantly, it is the respect He expects.

Habakkuk 2:20 (NRSVue) - But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!

In Mark 11, we see a side of Jesus we do not normally see.

When Jesus enters His Father’s house, he sees the money changers and becomes indignant.

In fact, in His righteous anger, Jesus drives them out.

Mark 11:17 – (NRSVue) - He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

One of the duties I have accepted in my church is to act as the audio/visual coordinator.

Along with monitoring the sound board, I also broadcast our service.

My duties include arriving early, setting up equipment, and testing each component to make certain everything is ready to go.

But beyond the duties, I want to make certain that the work I do is not a distraction.

My goal is to enhance the experience for everyone.

If I ever feel my duties have become a distraction, I will resign.

One of the very first things I do when I step into God’s house is offer a prayer.

I thank God for the abilities He has generously bestowed upon me.

I also pray that my every action in the performance of my duties will be accepted as a form of worship.

In this way, I hope to give God His expected reverence and awe. 

I pray that I will be open to His guidance in making decisions that bring honor to Him. 

I pray for a desire to give God my absolute best in His house of worship.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

New Creations

Isaiah 62 is about vindication and salvation.

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

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

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes about reconciliation.

He also touches on a new creation.

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

But what does it mean to be a new creation?

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

We are different from the way we were before.

We start to see things in a new way.

We begin to understand things that mystified us before.

We are given a new and fresh start.

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Living Instead of Surviving

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

No one compares to Him.

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

At the beginning of Revelation, John concludes his introduction.

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

Aside from God, everyone and everything is finite.

We are born, we live, and we die.

Even the churches of Earth are finite.

God existed long before human beings were created.

God existed long before the first church buildings were constructed.

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

Our lives on earth are certainly brief by comparison,

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

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

What we do with the time God grants us is.

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

When we seek to please God our lives flourish,

We cease surviving.

We begin living,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Grace Is for Everyone

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

Yet Job understands God’s wisdom and strength.

Moreover, Job understands that everyone belongs to God.

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

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

Everyone belongs to God.

And God wants everyone to be saved.

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

Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

The simple answer is Christ,

Jesus said as much to His followers.

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

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

They can help us discern the truth and be saved.

But we must remember that everyone belongs to God.

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

Like us, they belong to God.

Like us, God wants them to be saved.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

The Power of the Understated

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

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

There are others, to be sure.

In comparison, some are barely mentioned,

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

Enoch was such a person.

Genesis 5 tells us he was the father of Methuselah.

But then Scripture adds one especially important verse.

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

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

Although brief, this statement is full of meaning.

What does it mean to walk with God?

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

It means we have a personal relationship with that person.

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

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

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

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

These are two small verses from among thousands in Scripture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

John 11:35 (KJV) - Jesus wept.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

New Year; New You

Psalm 48 is a song about the strength of Zion.

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

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

John 14 is a beautiful chapter,

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

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

He also reminds them that they know the way.

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

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

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

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

Change is inevitable.

But as a rule, we resist change.

But change is necessary if we are to grow spiritually.

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

Nor am I the man I was decades ago.

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

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

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

Perhaps the past year was one of joy.

Perhaps it was one of sorrow.

More likely, it was a year that combined both.

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

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

May we remember that God never changes.

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

In Job 5, God corrects Job.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I also realize that not everyone has that option.

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

Those who encountered her noticed those qualities.

But I wonder how many people understood them.

The world teaches us to stand up for our rights.

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

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

Nothing could be further from the truth.

By example, Christ showed us the value of humility.

He demonstrated the power in being vulnerable on a cross.

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

What Is Your Ministry?

Isaiah 61 is about The Good News of Deliverance.

But the prophet speaks of more than deliverance.

He also speaks of roles that are to be filled.

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

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

But this is only one type of ministry.

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

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

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

True, some are called to be ministers of congregations.

Some are given the gift of music.

Others are given the ability to create.

Some are given the ability to write.

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

Some are given the ability to teach.

Others are given the ability to encourage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Unrecognized

Although Easter Sunday was several days ago, we are still in the Easter season.

Before COVID-19, the Sundays following Easter would remind us of this.

Sermons, hymns and prayers would help remind us of the importance of the Resurrection,

As such, I find my thoughts returning to one fact about the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection.

People, including those closest to Jesus, did not recognize Him at first,

This started when Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty.

She then told the disciples who came to see for themselves.

After she was left alone, she encountered the risen Jesus.

Initially, she mistook Him for someone else.

John 20:14 (NET) -  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Soon afterward, Jesus appeared before two others on the road to Emmaus.

They did not recognize Him at first either.

Luke 24:15-16 (NET) - While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).

Then there was the time the disciples were fishing and did not realize it was Jesus on the shore.

John 21:4 (NET) - When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

I find it more than interesting that those who knew Jesus best did not recognize Him at first.

Scripture does make it plain that they were kept from recognizing Him as in the verse from Luke.

I will not dispute that.

But those He encountered were also caught up in other things at the time.

Mary was caught up in her grief.

Those on the road to Emmaus were caught up in their conversation about current events.

The disciples were caught up in their fishing.

It is easy for us to question how those closest to Him could fail to recognize Jesus.

Do we really fare any better?

Jesus reveals Himself today in many ways including Scripture.

Can we honestly say that we always recognize Him?

Or, are we perhaps too caught up in our own thoughts and actions to notice?

One final thought…

Since COVID-19 has impacted our lives, churches have had to find new and creative ways to worship.

We have also had to find new and creative ways in which to serve.

I hope these trends continue well after the threat of this pandemic has subsided.

I pray churches continue to find even newer and more creative ways in which to worship and serve.

If we do, perhaps people just might not recognize the church at first either.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 1, 2020

What Unites Us

I have been preparing to teach a class about a remarkable Christian who lived centuries ago.

Part of my preparation involved anticipating questions I may be asked.

One question I am anticipating is: “What would this man have to say about Christianity today?”

Frankly, a great deal.

But I think one thing that would surprise him would be the number of denominations that have arisen.

I think he would be amazed at the number of different churches there are each claiming to be Christian.

This put me in mind of a conversation I had with a friend long ago.

We attended different churches.

We had some lively discussions concerning our differences.

Suffice it to say, my friend was a bit opinionated.

At the end of one such conversation, I asked my friend to consider scripture we might agree on.

I asked him if we could agree on this passage from Romans…

Romans 6:23 (NET) - For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Of course, neither of us disagreed with that.

I then asked my friend if we could agree on this well-known passage from John…

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.

Again, this was something we could agree upon.

I than asked my friend about an earlier passage…

John 3:5-6 (NET) - Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Again, we agreed upon this.

I then told my friend that although we worshipped in slightly different ways, we agreed on some very important things.

Perhaps, as Christians, we would be wise to focus on that which unites us rather than that which divides us.

In doing so we would be better able to serve God.

In doing so we would be better able to serve our fellow man.

I think the man about whom I will speak would agree.

He once had this to say…

“Whenever you encounter one of your neighbors, regard him as yourself in another form (which he is), or indeed as God in another form, for he is the image of God, and God will be watching to see how reverently you treat him.” - Comenius

I think we can all agree on that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 24, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 7, 2019

Gifts Should Give

I will be teaching an adult class in June.

This is something I do every year and I always look forward to it.

That said, it is something I never take lightly.

Scripture is quite clear on the matter of teaching.

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

So, why would anyone choose to teach knowing they will be judged more strictly?

Thankfully, scripture addresses this as well.

The twelfth chapter of the book of Romans discusses the various gifts given to us.

It also tells us what we are to do with them.

Romans 12:6- 8 (NET) - And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Here scripture reminds us that we “must” use whatever gifts God has generously bestowed upon us.

I take great comfort in this as I prepare for this class.

Even though it is still weeks away, I am actively preparing for this class.

Although I am familiar with the subject matter, I am using the time I have wisely.

Scripture also reminds us of the importance of being prepared.

After all, Noah began constructing the ark long before the first raindrops fell.

Hebrews 11:7a (NET) - By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family.

There is one unknown I face every year.

I never know how many or how few students I will have until the class meets.

Some years the attendance is large.

Some years it is small.

However many or few attend, they will receive the best I can offer.

After all, we certainly will not be alone.

Scripture is clear on that as well.

Matthew 18:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Put your gift from God into use.

If you have not yet discovered what that gift is, why not talk to Him about it right now?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 27, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 4, 2018

Acts of Worship

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

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

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

Eventually I learned how to do all of them.

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

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

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

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

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

What matters is our motivation for doing them.

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

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

Unlocking the doors permits His worshipers to enter.

Turning on the lights allows his worshippers to see.

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

Setting out the offering plates allows his worshippers to give.

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

My friend taught me that.

I could see that in the way he did them.

That is the best way to instruct.

Love has to be demonstrated.

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

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

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

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

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

  “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

  as much as he does in obedience?

  Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;

  paying attention is better than the fat of rams.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

When a Believer Says No

Even believers feel overwhelmed from time to time.

Speaking from personal experience, I can assure you this believer does.

Although something I never enjoy, I sometimes have to give people an answer they will not like.

No.

At church I serve on a committee on which I feel led to serve.

Every now and then someone who means well will ask me to serve on a board or another committee.

When I explain to them that the committee I am in is where I belong, they typically suggest I serve on both.

No.

By trying to do both I feel I would be stretching myself too thin.

I would not be able to serve either body to the best of my ability.

There are also times I have to say no to family.

Recently a family member planned a very special occasion for a particular day.

While the timing may have been great for some, it could not have been worse for me.

Along with career, I had just gotten through a series of medical examinations.

One of the ministries to which I am committed also required my attention that very same day.

I would have loved to spend time with family and joined in their celebration.

After taking all things into consideration, I had to say no.

Things like this brought back memories of days when I took care of my mother.

Although she was mentally sharp, she suffered from debilitating arthritis.

I loved her with all my heart.

Every time she wanted to go somewhere or do something I had to assess the situation first.

Because I loved her there were times that I had to say no.

As we continue our journey through Lent, my thoughts turned to Jesus.

I recalled the times when the human side of Him felt overwhelmed and even He had to withdraw to a quiet place.

Luke 5:15-16 (NET) - But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Does this mean that Jesus stopped loving people?

Hardly.

If Jesus, who also had a divine nature, found it necessary to withdraw to a quiet place from time to time, what does that say for us?

Although we do not enjoy doing so, sometimes a believer has to say no.

There are times when we must withdraw to a quiet place.

The answer “No” does not mean that we have stopped loving others.

It simply means no.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 11, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 18, 2016

His Guiding Hand

A new year is upon us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There was the class I attended five years ago.

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

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

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

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

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

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

His divine influence placed those special people in my life.

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

In fact, He spent years preparing me for them.

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

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

After all, nothing is impossible for God.

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Future Plans

This past weekend it was my honor and privilege to speak at our church convention.

On Saturday, I spoke to the delegates about our church history.

On Sunday, I gave the devotional as part of the worship service at the very first church in our state which was built in 1866.

Although that congregation has since built a newer church, the old church has been preserved for history.

I am glad that they decided to preserve the old church.

That church is one of the “Painted Churches” which means that the interior was painted in a very special way.

In January, I had an opportunity to stop by that old church but I only got to see it from the outside.

After the worship service on Sunday I was able to go inside and see it for myself.

I made certain that I had my camera with me as I wanted to get some photographs of the interior.

In the 1880’s, the Reverend Bohuslav Laciak painted the interior.

Laciak painted geometric patterns on the ceiling and the walls as well as ornate columns.

At the time the church was also used as a schoolhouse and Laciak was the teacher.

Word has been handed down that the students remembered studying while the good Reverend Laciak stood on a ladder painting those elaborate designs.

Unfortunately, Laciak died in a hunting accident and his painting was never completed.

It remains just the way he left it.

I took a number of photographs and in two of them I could make out the pencil marks drawn by Laciak.s hand indicating where he intended to continue his work.

At the worship service, a pastor reminded us that the church is not the building.

The church is, in reality, the people within the building.

He is quite correct in this.

Still, I am glad that the building was preserved and I am also glad to have been able to capture Laciak’s pencil marks.

These serve to remind me that the work of the church… the work of the people… is never really complete.

The duties of faith, hope and love never end.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Judged More Strictly

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

If there is one passage of scripture that weighs heavily on me, it comes in this warning from James.

Teaching, whether in my church or in my blogs, is one of the great joys in my life.

But, regardless of the pleasure it brings me, the warning from James could not be clearer.

Those who teach will be judged more strictly.

Since that is the case, why would anyone even consider taking on such a task?

The answer can be found in the book of Romans.

In it we are told that we have different gifts according to the grace given to us.

Furthermore, we are told that we “must” use those gifts in proportion to our faith.

This includes teaching.

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

When people think of “a calling” they primarily associate it with a call to preach.

Yet each of the gifts discussed in Romans is, in reality, a call from God.

Each is a call to serve Him and to bring Him glory.

This is also applies to teaching.

Teaching is much more than the act of transferring knowledge from one individual to another.

It is also meant to glorify God in the process.

Another thing that helps me cope with the warning from James lies in preparation.

In an age where so many things compete for time and attention, I know that time must be set aside for preparation.

I dare not attempt to teach without being well prepared.

That preparation must include prayer as well as study.

That prayer must include a petition to the Holy Spirit.

It must be a prayer for both guidance and resilience.

It must be for the long haul regardless of how many or how few we are given to teach.

One of the groups I teach in rotation has grown smaller over the years.

Age has taken its toll and this group that was once large has now diminished to a faithful few.

So few in fact that one of its members recently suggested to me disbanding so that we would not have to prepare for such a small group.

The other teachers I have spoken to feel as I do.

We will continue to teach this class no matter how many or how few are able to attend.

Scripture has a reminder for us there as well.

Matthew 18:20 (NET) – For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

The words of James contain a sober warning, but in the end there is nothing I or any other teacher for the Lord would rather do.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

The Good Delivery Driver

Luke 27:33-34 (NIV) - But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

I read a short article in the news the other day that moved me.

In one of the largest cities in America, someone ordered pizza online.

There was a place on the online order form for special instructions.

The customer left two instructions.

The first was for the restaurant to have the pizza delivered by their “cutest guy.”

That is not what caught my eye.

The second instruction was, “Tell me I am pretty.”

The restaurant prepared the order and gave it to one of their delivery drivers.

The driver assumed that the order was placed by some college girls and the instructions were meant to be a joke.

When he arrived at the address, he was surprised by what he found.

A young lady opened the door for him.

He noticed that the room had been decorated for a birthday party.

He also noticed that there were no guests.

The young lady told the driver she had planned her own party and sent out invitations.

No one came.

She offered the driver a piece of cake which he accepted.

They talked while the driver ate his cake.

Once he finished his cake he accepted the money for the pizza.

Before leaving, he remembered the special instructions.

He gave the young lady a hug and told her that she was pretty.

As I stated before, this story moved me.

Here was a young lady living in a large city.

Yet she felt completely alone, unwanted and unloved.

I am so glad the driver did something to help her feel better.

In scripture, the Good Samaritan came across a man who was set upon by robbers and beaten.

Although others passed the man by, the Samaritan saw his physical wounds and rendered assistance.

When others are injured, we are required to reach out.

This is harder to do with emotional wounds because they are so much harder to detect.

We may not even realize how much someone is hurting until they cry out for help.

Let us not pass them by.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Intimate Knowledge

When we think about God, many things come to mind.

We think of Him as the first Person in the Trinity.

We think of Him as the Father.

We think of Him as Creator.

God is omniscient

God is eternal.

God is love.

God is all of these and much more.

Because God has so many qualities, one thing that is easily overlooked is how intimately God knows us.

The Psalmist understood this intimate knowledge.

Psalm 139:13 (NET) – Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.

In fact, the Psalmist understood this very well.

Psalm 139:16 (NET) – Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.

The prophet Jeremiah understood this once the Lord spoke to him.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) – The LORD said to me, “Before I formed you in the womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Yes, God knows each of us intimately.

He knows us so well that He knows what He has planned for our lives.

He knew this even before we were aware of ourselves.

How is this even possible?

The Psalmist understood this as well.

Psalm 92:5 (NET) – How great are your works, O LORD! Your plans are very intricate!

Someone once said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

God is the provider of gifts.

Have you found yours?

Have you given it away?

If either answer is no, now would be a good time to talk to God about it.

He has known it all along.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Small Packages

After church on Sunday, a friend and I went to another church in our denomination.

They were celebrating their 100^th anniversary.

Being that this church was about 45 minutes away, we were delighted to celebrate this milestone with them.

It was wonderful catching up with some old friends.

It was equally wonderful making new ones.

After a meal was served, everyone made their way into the sanctuary.

There, a worship service was held.

Hymns were sung and prayers were offered up God.

There were several speakers including clergy, community leaders and members.

Each spoke about this church, its mission or its 100 year history.

One of the speakers is a personal friend of mine and is currently serving our denomination as president.

His message was brief but it resonated deep within me.

He spoke about the size of this church.

My friend then reminded us that God often makes excellent use of small numbers.

One of the examples my friend cited was how Jesus fed 5,000 with just five barley loaves and two fish.

He also cited Gideon's army and told us that God reduced the size of that army first from 32,000 to 10,000.

He then reminded us that God reduced the size of the army once again this time from 10,000 to 300.

It was with the 300 man army that God gave victory to Gideon.

As I stated before, this message resonated within me.

I thought about the Sunday School class I teach and how it has decreased in numbers through time.

I thought about the Senior Assembly I help to lead which has also decreased in numbers.

As my friend spoke, I realized something.

I remembered from my study of chemistry how a solution containing water becomes stronger as the water in it evaporates away.

In a similar way, as the number of believers within a particular group diminishes, shouldn't the concentration of its collective faith should also rise?

I am grateful to God for the message He placed on my friend's heart.

I am also grateful to God for the realization He awakened in mine.

It is said that good things come in small packages.

In matters of faith, great things can come in small packages as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Setting a Good Example

We just completed a week of Vacation Bible School at our church and what a wonderful week it was.

While the children that attend our church know me, it usually takes the visiting children a day or two to come out of their shells when they are around me.

Such was not the case this year.

Even the youngest of the visiting children seemed to feel comfortable around me and for that I am truly grateful to God.

It reminded  me of a time years ago when I watched an interview on television with a very famous athlete and a reporter asked him how he felt about being a role model.

This athlete responded by saying that he was not a role model because he was not paid to be a role model.

I disagreed with his position.

When it comes to children, every adult they encounter along the way is a role model.

The only choice adults have in the matter is whether we will be positive role models or negative ones.

There is a quote attributed to Austin L. Sorenson that goes, "Children are not likely to find a father in God unless they find something of God in their fathers."

I will not dispute that.

I am also willing to extend that thought to include men in general including me.

One of the things I want to be in life is a good male role model for children.

It does not matter to me whether they are the children in the church I attend who see me every week, or children that attend our Vacation Bible School whom I see once a year or the children who see me when I am out and about in public.

There are two ways that we can teach children.

We can teach them with our words.

We can also teach them by our example.

Teaching by example is one of the most effective means of teaching because children are watching us very closely to see if we practice what we teach.

There is also another very important reason why I want to be a positive male role model for children.

Matthew 19:14 (NET) - But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Children are special to Jesus.

Because they are special to Him they are also special to me.

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