Is That Your Final Answer?

I was recently asked to speak at a cousin’s funeral and then read the selected scripture.

I will skip the eulogy I gave.

I will say that God helped me to console those grieving.

For this piece, I thought I would discuss the passage from scripture.

At the beginning of John 11, Lazarus was ill.

His sisters, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus.

But Jesus intentionally delayed his departure.

In time, Jesus told His followers that it was time to leave for Judea.

The disciples warned against this, but Jesus prevailed.

By the time they arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.

A grieving Martha heard Jesus had arrived and went out to confront Him.

In her pain, she scolded Jesus for not arriving in time to save Lazarus.

Unknown to Martha, Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Before He did so, Jesus identified Himself as the source of eternal life.

He then asked Martha a very deep and personal question that required a personal response.

John 11:25-26 (NRSVue) - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

These words were directed at Martha.

But they are directed at us as well.

Jesus is telling us exactly who He is, the source of eternal life.

He then asks us the same very deep and personal question.

“Do you believe this?”

Is He still waiting for you to answer?

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 24, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, May 1, 2026

Character Matters!

Character does matter.

It matters in our professions.

It matters as we interact with one another.

Most importantly it matters to God.

Each of us was made in the image of God.

This includes what is inside of us as well as the outside.

One of the best examples the Bible gives us of character is Daniel.

Daniel 6:3 (NRSVue) - Soon Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

People took notice of Daniel’s character.

The king certainly noticed.

The administrators and the satraps noticed as well.

But they did not share the king’s view of Daniel.

Daniel 6:4 (NRSVue) - So the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him.

Try as they might, they could not find fault with his character.

As Christians, people will examine our character.

Does our character align with our faith?

Does it align with our relationship with God?

Does it align with how we treat our fellow man?

If not, we have a major problem on our hands.

Our conduct (words and actions) builds up our character.

Our character, in turn, shapes our conduct.

Our character helps define us.

Both good relationships and a good reputation take time to build.

But the same relationships and reputation can be damaged in a heartbeat.

Using today’s vernacular, Daniel walked the walk and talked the talk.

As Christians, we should ask ourselves: “Do we?”

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 24, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, May 1, 2026

Where Trust Belongs

In Jeremiah 23, the prophet speaks of the restoration following exile.

Moreover, he speaks of God’s role in that restoration.

God will restore the people and prosper them.

Jeremiah 23:3 (NRSVue) - Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd.

He talks about the role of a thief.

He then contrasts that to His role as the Good Shepherd.

John 10:10 (NRSVue) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Our lives and successes are in the Lord’s hands.

This was true thousands of years ago and it is just as true today,

No matter what stage of the journey we find ourselves, every part of our existence is in His hands.

And we should respond accordingly.

Our service is bound in our relationship with the Lord and our fellow man.

All we need to do is trust Him alone and not ourselves.

For without trust, where would faith be?

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, April 10, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, April 17, 2026

What's the Good Word?

Numbers 6 contains the Priestly Benediction.

The word benediction originates from the Latin words "bene" (well) and "dicere" (to speak).

This “good word” is still spoken at the conclusion of worship services today.

The Priestly Benediction goes back to the time of Moses and Arron and begins…

Numbers 6:24 (NRSVue) - The Lord bless you and keep you;

In Matthew 28, Jesus commissions the disciples.

This commission has both instruction and a promise.

Matthew 28:20 (NRSVue) - and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Benediction and the commission have reminders for us.

In God, we find refuge.

Even when life seems chaotic, God’s love for us never falters.

We can trust His promises no matter how ancient those promises are.

God remains faithful, and Christ is with us to the end of the age.

All we need to do is to trust.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 22, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, September 5, 2025

Go to the Source

Isaiah 49:10 (NKJV) - They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.

Isaiah delivers a message from God.

God promises provision.

God even promises a time when he will provide a source of water.

And with that provision, God will make certain that none are thirsty again,

In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus encounters a woman at a well.

Even though she is Samarian, Jesus speaks at length with her.

The woman tells Jesus she comes to the well every day to draw water and carry it home.

Jesus then tells her of the living water and how those who drink of it will never thirst again.

This evokes quite a reaction from the woman.

John 4:15 (NRSVue) - The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

It is not difficult to connect the dots and see the relationship between these two passages.

God the Father created us and provides for us.

He provided the Son, by Whom we are saved.

God also provided us with the Holy Spirit who works to improve us day by day.

Christ, the living water, is available to all.

Those who have partaken of this water thirst no more.

Their obligation is to bring others to the source.

And it does not matter how different the two people are.

Jesus demonstrated this for us at the well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, October 11, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, October 18, 2024

God’s Will and God’s Provision

Psalm 94:19 (NRSVue) - When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Psalm 94 is about God avenging the righteous.

But the psalmist recognizes that when troubles are many, God is there.

Luke 22 is the account of Christ just prior to His betrayal and crucifixion.

Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives, a place He frequents.

As the time draws ever nearer, the moment weighs heavily upon Him.

He leaves His disciples behind and goes off to pray to the Father.

His Divine and human nature come to the fore.

His human nature knows of the coming pain, suffering, and death.

But His Divine nature prevails.

And God provides Him with strength at this crucial moment.

Luke 22:42-43 (NRSVue) - “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.

Like the psalmist, sometimes we feel the weight of the world upon us.

But like the psalmist, we recognize that God is there for us.

We understand that we do not face these cares alone.

And being human, we still might find these burdens too difficult to bear.

Christ reminds us that what the Father has planned will ultimately prevail.

Acknowledging this, we will then see God at work strengthening us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I will be back here on Friday, October 4, 2024

Resistance Is Futile

Job 9:4 (NRSVue) - He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and succeeded?

One of my favorite recurring lines in television is: “Resistance is futile.”

While entertaining on television, there is truth in the statement where God is concerned.

Job understood this.

Even as Job suffered, he understood the sovereign nature of the Lord.

He understood that to resist the Lord is futile.

Paul understood this as well.

In his letter to the Romans, he discusses God’s wrath and God’s mercy.

To resist God is futile.

Romans 9:20 (NRSVue) - But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Job explained to his friends that no one can resist God.

Paul explained this to the Romans.

But are we any better than the ancients were?

We try to resist God.

We may even argue with Him.

In our pride, we sometimes even think that we know better than God.

When we do these things, we end up in situations we could have avoided had we trusted God’s sovereignty.

C.S. Lewis put it this way: “There are only two kinds of people: those who say to God ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says ‘All right, then, have it your way.’”

Fortunately for us, God is compassionate.

He even forgives us when we have resisted Him.

When our resistance turns to trust, He leads us back to where we need to be.

It is never too late for us to learn that resisting God is indeed futile.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 28, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, May 5, 2023

Trust and Victory

Exodus 14:13-14 (NET) - Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.”

The heading for this chapter in this translation reads “The Victory at the Red Sea.”

I prefer this to other translations that refer to it simply as the crossing of the Red Sea.

The last part of verse fourteen states: “The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.”

As the Egyptians closed in on God’s people they cried out to Moses.

With their backs to the sea, they were certain they were about to die.

Moses knew better.

Moses knew that God would fight for them.

So, he reminded them of this.

God then instructed Moses to have the people move toward the sea.

He then instructed Moses to raise his staff and divide it.

The sea parted and the people advanced through it on dry ground.

After the people crossed, God instructed Moses to extend his hand toward the sea.

The divided sea then covered the pursuing Egyptians.

The waters covered them, and the people never saw them again.

Exodus 14:31 (NET) - When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Centuries later, Paul understood that the Lord was still dependable.

This is evident in his letter to the Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:23 (NET) - And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

Centuries later, we have the same assurance.

At times, the road we travel makes it difficult for us to see this.

During such times we can turn to the Lord.

We can ask for the strength to see.

The Lord will then open our eyes once more.

He will help us find His calling.

He will also help us to see His calling in others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 13, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, August 20, 2021

Weathering the Storm

Psalm 26:12 (NET) - I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

It seems a bit ironic to open with this verse these days.

The pandemic has managed to do on a global scale what nothing in recent memory has.

Worshipping in our own churches stopped.

In some cases it restarted only to stop once again.

In some cases it has resumed but with a limited number of worshippers.

Obviously, those in high risks groups should not attend.

We must also understand that some will remain uncomfortable attending in person again for quite some time.

Understanding is, after all, part of what loving one’s neighbor is all about.

Through it all, we must continue to encourage one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NET) - Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

A wise pastor once reminded me of something at a special worship service.

He stated that the church was not the building, it was the people.

Reflecting on these words reminds me that every believer has been given gifts by God.

Those gifts can build up the church even if a believer cannot attend services at this time.

Some will use their voices.

Some will use their instruments.

Others will use brush and canvas.

Some will even use a computer and the Internet.

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NET) - What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

All these things, and others, will continue to edify the church until the pandemic passes.

That is because the work we do is not our own.

It is granted to us and inspired by God.

Philippians 1:6 (NET) - For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

The pandemic has certainly changed the current landscape of worship.

These changes, and others still to come, might change the landscape permanently.

We will not know exactly how much until the pandemic has passed.

We might find these changes stressful along the way.

People, as a rule, do not like change.

But working together with God’s help we can weather the winds of change

Let faith, hope and love guide our actions and our words.

Hebrews 12:14 (NET) - Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

  

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 14, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 21, 2020

 

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

Not By Chance

We live in a marvelous universe.

A universe that testifies to the existence of a designer.

Yet there are still those who cling to the notion that the universe and all in it are the result of chance.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

God created everything.

Genesis 1:1 (NET) - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

He created us in His image.

Genesis 1:27 (NET) - God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

The Psalmist understood that he was part of a designed creation.

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 that his role was part of that design.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The Lord’s message came to me, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

In fact, all life points to a divine hand.

Job 12:7-10 (NET) - But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.

Yet people still cling to the notion that the entire universe is governed by chance.

But God is a god of reason.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NET) - for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.

Even the forms of technology we use daily remind us of the importance of design.

It takes teams of people to design complex pieces of technology.

Everything from cell phones to space stations are planned and executed down to the smallest detail.

These things cannot come into existence by chance.

What does that say for us?

We are more complex than any form of technology.

We simply cannot be products of chance.

Nor are those with whom we come into contact.

Jesus reminded us to love our neighbor.

Perhaps recognizing that our neighbor was designed by God would help.

After all, we were both made in His image.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 14, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 21, 2020

Dual Roles

I recently watched two old programs that had something in common.

In each there was an actor or actress who played two parts.

In the first there was an actress who portrayed both the head of a corporation as well as the woman trying to take it away from her.

In the second, an actor portrayed both a ruthless dictator and a man trying to put an end to his regime.

The use of a single actor for dual roles was quite effective in each case.

This put me in mind of one of my favorite Christian allegories written in the 1600’s by John Amos Comenius.

It is entitled The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart.

One of the devices employed by Comenius in his work was the use of masks.

In his book, people go about in public wearing masks.

They try to pass themselves off as beautiful, hiding their true ugliness behind their masks.

Comenius used this device to illustrate that people go about pretending to be something they are not.

They try to cover up things like greed, jealousy and pride.

They do so in order to fool the people with whom they interact daily.

They try to fool others into thinking more highly of them.

But there is a danger in this attempt to deceive.

If we practice it long enough ourselves, we might begin to believe the mask rather than the truth.

We might even convince ourselves we are the illusion rather than the reality.

One thing is certain.

We will never be able to fool God.

Galatians 6:7 (NET) - Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,

There is a way to make the make the mask completely unnecessary.

Isaiah 1:18 (NET) - Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.

This is possible through Jesus.

Hebrews 7:25 (NET) - So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Performing dual roles may be fine for actors.

But it is certainly no way for us to live.

Galatians 6:8 (NET) - because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 9, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 16, 2019

Held to a Higher Standard

I had a wonderful time this week.

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

This man devoted his life to improving education for children.

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

His methods were nothing short of revolutionary.

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

Rather, education should be for everyone including girls.

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

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

People resist change.

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

Education in his day consisted of rote memorization.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He does not say we should.

He said we must.

We must however do so with care.

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

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

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

Simply trust God and give Him the glory.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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

The Church is Not the Building

John 2:19 (NET) - Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”

The news broke recently about the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Like many others around the world, I continue to follow the story.

More recent headlines discuss the money that is already being raised for reconstruction.

As both a believer in Christ and a student of history, I am glad plans are under way.

But Notre Dame is by no means the only one to be damaged. destroyed or abandoned.

These others rarely make the headlines.

When they do, it is usually for a brief time period as news audiences quickly lose interest.

Some are only reported in their area only.

Many areas of the world are hostile toward Christianity.

Some in these areas take matters into their own hands and destroy church buildings.

They may also threaten, beat or even kill members as well as their leaders.

Some governments tear down church buildings and imprison those who attend.

When is the last time you saw a headline proclaiming this?

Perhaps saddest of all are church buildings that are simply abandoned.

According to one expert, 100 to 200 churches in America will close their doors this week alone.

Again, the news is virtually silent about this.

But there is hope.

We must distinguish between the church and the church building.

They are not the same thing.

Christ understood this and so must we.

In the verse I opened with, the leaders thought he meant the structure.

John 2:21 (NET) - But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body.

The church is the body of believers who gather to worship Christ.

Not long ago, a small church building nearby was destroyed by fire.

Those who attended there worshipped outdoors until a new building was erected.

They never ceased being a church even without a building.

As for declining numbers, a good friend often reminds me that God does incredible things with small numbers.

In Judges 7, we learn of Gideon who fought the Midianites.

God reduced the size of his army not once, but twice.

God did this in order that He be given the glory for the victory.

Let us remember that Jesus did exactly what He promised to do in the three days He promised.

John 2:22 (NET) - So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.

Let us remember that there is a difference between the church building and the church.

Let us also remember that success is not determined by large numbers.

Matthew 15:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 26, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 3, 2019

Do Something

Jesus was many things.

Among them, he was an excellent teacher.

Jesus did not teach with His words only.

He also taught by example.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am currently leading a class in this study.

In a recent session we discussed this.

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

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

I began talking to her.

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

She also admitted to feeling overwhelmed by them all.

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

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

Continuing to listen, I prayed for guidance.

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

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

The things I did do not merit discussion.

Her reaction, however, does.

This woman began weeping openly.

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

I found myself quite moved as well.

I replied, “I love you too!”

1 John 4:9-12 (NET) - By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

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

The Lord wants us to love one another.

Not one of us can do everything.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

A Matter of Trust

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

I recently watched the first season of that program again.

Two episodes grabbed my attention this time.

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

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

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

In both episodes, a sense of trust was restored.

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

Namely, trust was something that had to be earned.

I began to think of this in terms of faith.

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

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

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

There are many more.

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

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

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

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

Again, there are many more.

Does Jesus really need to earn our trust?

No.

But he did so anyway

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Subject to Change

Recently, there has been a string of violent attacks in the city where I work.

Sadly, these attacks have resulted in the loss of life.

Some are referring to these as hate crimes.

Others, as acts of terrorism.

In my opinion, both assessments are correct.

My initial reaction was one of shock.

Things like this do not happen here.

Things like this happen in other places.

The sad reality is that things like this can occur anywhere and at any time.

As a Christian, I pray for the victims.

I also pray for the families and friends whose live are forever changed.

Praying for these people is not difficult, but Christians are obligated to go beyond that.

We are also to pray for the individual or individuals responsible.

As humans, we likely discover that is not always an easy thing for us to do.

Yet, Jesus commands us to do so.

Matthew 5:43-46 (NET) - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?

Scripture also reminds of another man whose heart once burned with anger and rage against the early church.

He was there when Stephen was martyred.

This man was named Saul, and scripture tells us exactly how he felt.

Acts 8:1 (NET) - And Saul agreed completely with killing him.

Saul began taking matters into his own hands.

Acts 8:3 (NET) - But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

People lived in fear of Saul.

But one day, on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Christ.

Saul’s life changed forever.

Saul who once persecuted the church began to proclaim Christ.

The more he proclaimed Christ, the more capable he became.

It took time for Saul to earn the people’s trust.

Even the disciples were wary of him at first.

The book of Acts reminds us that Saul was also known by another name… Paul.

The same Paul who went on to write a good portion of the New Testament.

We don’t have the power to change a life like Paul’s.

Only Christ has that power.

Our job is to pray for them.

Remember, no one is beyond hope.

Whenever we say that someone is beyond hope we place limits upon God who has no limits.

Paul came to understand this as well.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NET) - Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 23, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 6, 2018

The Ultimate Self-Help Book

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

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

This is nothing new.

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

There is one book that can help.

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

Unfortunately, this book often goes disregarded and unread.

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

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

Think about that for a moment.

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

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

David understood that.

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

That’s not all.

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

He made that clear to the prophet Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 1:5 (NET) - “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

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

Why not turn to it now?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Music to His Ears

I was watching a concert on television that was performed by a very large orchestra.

The orchestra featured many types of musicians divided into several sections.

Some musicians played brass instruments.

Others played woodwind, string and percussion instruments.

I really enjoyed this concert.

The audience in the concert hall really enjoyed their experience as well.

I thought about the experience the live audience had as compared to my own.

As I considered this, I concluded that my experience was good.

My experience was one recorded on tape and played through speakers.

Those in attendance heard it live and directly from the musicians themselves.

Even though my experience was different, I could still make out groups of instruments.

I could even distinguish between different types of instruments.

Even while the brass instruments were playing I could still hear the flute or the oboe.

I could also tell the difference between happy melodies and sad ones.

This caused me to reflect on prayer.

One of the questions people often ask is: “How can God listen to so many prayers at one time?”

Everyone’s prayer is important to God.

Jeremiah 29:12 (NET) - When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.

But nowhere in scripture does it say we must wait our turn.

When we listen to a concert we hear all the musicians at once.

We do not have to listen to each musician one at a time.

We who are made in God’s image can listen to many musicians at the same time and we call the result music.

So surely God, who has no limitations, can listen to a limitless number of prayers at once.

If you think about it, your prayer is like an instrument.

It is like an instrument that God longs to hear.

No matter how many instruments are playing, God hears each one.

So…

Romans 12:12 (NET) - Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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