A Big Deal

I had a new experience Sunday.

We celebrated Holy Communion in my church.

The celebration of Communion is certainly not new to me, but this time, I was to be called upon to help serve it.

I knew this day was coming and was more than a little nervous about it.

Please understand that I am a man who seldom finds himself in a state of worry.

I know that Scripture reminds us time and again to "fear not", so I try to approach life confidently and normally succeed in the attempt.

Yet there was something about being on the serving side of this equation for the first time that caused me more than a fair amount of apprehension.

I confided my concerns to a few friends and colleagues.

There was a recurring response I received that caused me perhaps even more distress than the thought of serving for the first time.

That response usually began with "Don’t worry about it", and ended with "It’s no big deal."

To avoid being judgmental, I will assume that such a response was merely an attempt to ease my concerns and that those who gave me such a response did not mean to be taken literally.

I say this because it really is a big deal.

In fact, the sharing of Communion is one of the most important parts of the Christian experience.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NET) - and after He had given thanks he broke it and said, "This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, He also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this every time you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Clearly, the elements are important in what they represent.

Yet, it goes far beyond that.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NET) - A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup.

Scripture reminds us to examine ourselves first before we partake of this meal.

It therefore stands to reason that those who serve this meal must do likewise.

That is why the response "it’s no big deal" bothered me to the degree that it did.

Obviously, it still does.

By the way, with God’s help, the role I filled in this service transpired without incident.

Having now served in this capacity, I doubt that I will be as apprehensive when called upon next time.

But, it will still be "a big deal".


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, April 8, 2011 and April 15, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, April 22, 2011.

On the Face of It

Some people are really good with names and faces.

I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.

Try as I might, it takes me a while to associate new names with new faces.

A few years ago I had an encounter with an older gentleman who was good with names and faces. Really good.

A new store had opened up along my daily commute about fifteen miles from where I live,

I stopped there on my way home one evening to pick up a few items and to check out then new store.

I said hello to the greeter on duty as he handed me my shopping cart and then proceeded to do my shopping.

I did not purchase very much so I determined there was no need for me to take my shopping cart outside.

I would simply leave the cart with the greeter on my way out.

As I prepared to exit the store, I noticed that the greeter I originally encountered was no longer on duty and another had taken his place.

I removed my bags and handed the now empty cart to the greeter and said, "Thank you. See you next time."

I was about half way to the door when the man said rather loudly, "Hey!"

I stopped and turned to face him.

He said, "You’re a Pokorny. Aren’t you?"

"Yes," I replied as I wondered how it was that he knew my last name.

He then named my parents and asked if he was correct.

I told him that he was indeed correct.

He then identified me by my first name and asked that was correct.

I replied that he was and asked how it was that he knew this about me.

He told me that he used to live in the town I still call home.

He then told me the year that he moved away and that he remembered my parents and me.

I was amazed.

This man had not seen me in decades!

The last time he saw me was when I was a child less than ten years of age.

Suddenly, decades later, he spotted a middle aged man with a full beard among a crowd of people filing out past him and was able to make a connection between the man I am today with the child that I once was!

We talked for a few more minutes about how much time had gone by and how much things have changed.

That incident still amazes me to this day.

As impressive as this man’s ability was, there is one whose ability surpasses even this.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The LORD said 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."

Luke 12: 6-7 (NET) - Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.


There are about six billion of us currently alive.

Billions have preceded us.

An untold number are yet to come.

Yet God knows each of us individually.

Now that’s impressive!

Why not take a moment now and get to know Him better.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 18, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 25, 2011.