Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NET) - For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth;
Someone wiser than me once said that the only constant in the world Is change.
There definitely is a great deal of truth in that statement.
Over the course of the last few months, I have seen a building in various stages of demolition.
My father once ran his business from this building,
He passed away several decades ago at a rather young age.
He learned television and radio repair through a combination of a correspondence school and on the job training working for a gentleman who was experienced in this line of work in a city about forty miles away.
Eventually, my father knew enough to go into business for himself but needed a location within our town.
Money was a problem for him early on, but he had a friend.
This friend rented a part of the building he used for his own business to my father at a price that was more than reasonable.
Mother also helped Father by keeping the books and keeping track of his appointments.
My father began experiencing health problems and this friend of the family always kept the rent at a price my father could afford.
Eventually, my father’s health deteriorated to the point where he was no longer able to do this sort of work.
He no longer needed to rent this workspace from this family friend.
Shortly after that my father passed away.
Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NET) - A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;
Mother and I continued to be friends with this kind man for decades.
Eventually, his health began to deteriorate as well.
He passed away a just few years before my mother did.
Over the course of the last several years, the building fell into disrepair.
Then, several months ago, demolition of the structure began.
Ecclesiastes 3:3 (NET) - A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
I would drive by from time to time to just to check on the progress of this project.
Each time I would think back on old times and enjoy good memories I made with my parents in that building and the good memories I had of this friend of the family.
You see, our relationship changed as well as I grew up.
Each of us shared a fondness for crossword puzzles and coffee.
We spent more than a few hours sharing both when my schedule would allow,
Although it was hard to say goodbye, I am very happy to have counted this special man among my friends.
I am also very happy to know that he has a place in heaven,
Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NET) - A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
So, time has moved on.
There is now an empty lot where the building once stood.
My parents have gone to be with the Lord.
So has this very special friend.
Even my fondness for crossword puzzles diminished with his passing.
Time can change a great many things, but some things remain unchanged.
My memories of my family, this man’s kindness and the friendship we developed will stay with me always.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 6, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 13, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Lord Provides
Last week, we hosted Vacation Bible School.
While this week is mainly about teaching children, I had the opportunity and the privilege to teach two of the four adult classes provided.
Trusting God was the theme for the week.
Each night, a different episode from the Bible was presented as a means of reinforcing the Biblical truth that God can always be trusted.
On the fourth night, my task was to teach the adult class focusing on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
While it was easy to see that Jesus trusted God completely throughout His ordeal, the class itself was not easy to teach.
After all, what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection are major pillars upon which Christianity rely.
In preparation for this class, I also learned something very valuable that I was able to incorporate into the lesson.
The scripture assigned for this class began with Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross for Jesus.
Matthew 27:32 (NET) - As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry His cross.
I was struck by that and was forced to think about what occurred preceding this.
Just prior to Simon carrying the cross, Jesus carried the cross Himself.
Think about this...
Jesus is God’s one and only Son.
God loves Jesus very much.
For the first part of the journey at least, Jesus carried the wooden cross to the place of His sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, another sacrifice was ordained by God.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac,
Abraham loved Isaac very much.
Genesis 22:6 (NET) - Abraham took the wood for the sacrifice and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together,
Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice.
What a remarkable example of something in the Old Testament pointing to an event in the New Testament.
The prophecy, if you will, continued.
In the Old Testament account, God spared Isaac and provided a ram, the male of the species, for the sacrifice.
Genesis 22:13 (NET) - Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
And there is one more remarkable prophetic event that took place.
Abraham gave a special name to the place where this took place.
Genesis 22:14 (NET) - And Abraham called the name of that place "The LORD provides." It is said to this day, "In the mountain of the LORD provision will be made."
"The Lord provides."
On a dark day in the New Testament, the Lord provided for our salvation in the only way possible.
He sacrificed His one and only Son as provision for us.
The Lord provided.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 22, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 29, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
While this week is mainly about teaching children, I had the opportunity and the privilege to teach two of the four adult classes provided.
Trusting God was the theme for the week.
Each night, a different episode from the Bible was presented as a means of reinforcing the Biblical truth that God can always be trusted.
On the fourth night, my task was to teach the adult class focusing on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
While it was easy to see that Jesus trusted God completely throughout His ordeal, the class itself was not easy to teach.
After all, what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection are major pillars upon which Christianity rely.
In preparation for this class, I also learned something very valuable that I was able to incorporate into the lesson.
The scripture assigned for this class began with Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross for Jesus.
Matthew 27:32 (NET) - As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry His cross.
I was struck by that and was forced to think about what occurred preceding this.
Just prior to Simon carrying the cross, Jesus carried the cross Himself.
Think about this...
Jesus is God’s one and only Son.
God loves Jesus very much.
For the first part of the journey at least, Jesus carried the wooden cross to the place of His sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, another sacrifice was ordained by God.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac,
Abraham loved Isaac very much.
Genesis 22:6 (NET) - Abraham took the wood for the sacrifice and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together,
Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice.
What a remarkable example of something in the Old Testament pointing to an event in the New Testament.
The prophecy, if you will, continued.
In the Old Testament account, God spared Isaac and provided a ram, the male of the species, for the sacrifice.
Genesis 22:13 (NET) - Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
And there is one more remarkable prophetic event that took place.
Abraham gave a special name to the place where this took place.
Genesis 22:14 (NET) - And Abraham called the name of that place "The LORD provides." It is said to this day, "In the mountain of the LORD provision will be made."
"The Lord provides."
On a dark day in the New Testament, the Lord provided for our salvation in the only way possible.
He sacrificed His one and only Son as provision for us.
The Lord provided.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 22, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 29, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
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