What Now?

Another Christmas Day has come and gone but I thought there was one thing that required a bit more reflection.

This Christmas, like those that preceded it, had its share of detractors.

As time has gone by, these detractors have become both more numerous and more vocal.

Some insisted on alternative and meaningless names like Winter Holiday.

Some demanded that government institutions ban decorations that have distinct Christian themes.

This year. there was even contention over a manger scene on city hall property.

When detractors are asked why they object to Christian themes two reasons usually top the list.

Probably the most common reason cited is the canned response “separation of church and state.”

This response however has been very much taken out of context.

When the United States was still in its infancy, the Founding Fathers (another term currently in disfavor) made it very clear that the government would not establish a national religion.

Citizens would be free to choose how they would believe.

They could even choose not to believe if that is what they sincerely desired.

Therefore, separation of church and state was not intended to be a line drawn in the sand with faith on one side and government on the other.

It was simply a guarantee to citizens that a particular denomination would not be forcibly imposed upon them.

Another reason commonly cited is that Christian symbols might make some people uncomfortable.

I find this line of reasoning flawed at best.

As a Christian, I know that some choose to believe differently than I do.

Their choice is simply that. It is their choice.

As a Christian I am supposed to tell others about Jesus but I cannot force them to believe in Him,

I cannot force my belief on others. No one can.

At the end of the day, they remain free to say, “No”.

When they do say “Yes” to Jesus it is because of a change He brings about.

I dare mot take any credit for that.

Likewise, a person of another religion cannot force his or her belief on me.

Therefore, symbols of other religions do not make me uncomfortable.

That said, I do believe some individuals will feel genuine discomfort which, in and of itself, is a good thing.

Discomfort is a wonderful motivation for change.

If I place my hand too near an open flame I will feel discomfort in that hand.

That discomfort will motivate me to change the location of my hand before it sustains serious or permanent damage.

A person who feels genuine discomfort in the presence of a religious symbol, be it Christian or otherwise, feels uncomfortable for a reason.

That discomfort should motivate that person to seek out the reason for it.

It could be racism.

It could be intolerance.

It could be a an emptiness longing to be filled.

It could be something completely different.

Whatever it is, it is an indication that individual needs to incorporate an effective change and the sooner the better.

But Christmas Day has passed and soon all the decorations and symbols will taken down and put in storage for another year.

Why discuss such things now?

People should be able to tell Christians by the way we live and treat others each and every day not just during the Christmas season.

If they cannot, then it as if we have effectively removed the decorations of His love from our hearts and placed them in cold storage as well.

This would be extremely sad because this is would be a choice that we made and not one that was imposed upon us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 3, 2014.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 10, 2014.

Pearls of Wisdom

This week marked what would have been my parents' wedding anniversary.

Dad passed away several decades ago.

Mom left this world several years ago.

I was looking at their wedding picture that was taken shortly after World War II.

How young they look in that photo.

As I studied the photograph, I found myself reflecting on the wisdom they shared with me as I grew up.

Of course there were lessons that they intentionally taught me.

That was part of their responsibility as parents.

Then there was the wisdom each imparted to me.

That was different because this they did by example and by the way each lived.

The wisdom I gained from Dad was that humor was an essential part of living.

Personally, I find a sense of humor often helps me get through my day and perhaps allows me to help others get through their day as well.

One thing I have discovered is that within every bit of humor there lies at least a grain of truth.

Scripture tells me that there are times when laughter is appropriate.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NET) – For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NET) – A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

The wisdom I gained from Mom was in her gentleness.

By example, she showed me that gentleness was not a sign of weakness but a true hallmark of inner strength.

Scripture also bears that out.

James 3:17 (NET) – But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and not hypocritical.

Then, of course, I am also indebted to them for my faith.

Faith, when teamed with humor and gentleness can be quite powerful.

Perhaps the most powerful of ways is encouragement.

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

Life sometimes presents us with challenges.

When they occur, I am grateful to Dad for helping me to always look for the humor in the situation.

Sometimes it is difficult to find, but I assure you it is there.

I am very grateful to Mom for helping me to be gentle with others and perhaps be a source of strength for them.

I am grateful to them both for the faith they instilled in me as was their charge.

Most of all, I thank God for them both and for showing me the wisdom of their ways.

What pearls of wisdom have you received from the special people God has placed in your life?

What can you do with them?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 20, 2013.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 27, 2013.

Coping with Change

We are told not to fear.

We are told never to worry.

Philippians 4:6 (NET) - Do  not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.

I am finding this passage of scripture a wonderful source of strength right now.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I find that some things in my life could radically change by things completely outside my realm of control.

While the outcome is anything but certain to me, I will not fear nor will I be anxious.

As a Christian, I know that God is in complete control and His will shall prevail.

If these changes take place, there are at least three possible outcomes.

Things can be better than they were before.

Things can stay more or less the same.

Finally, there is the very real possibility that I could be presented with a whole new set of problems and challenges with which to contend.

No matter which of these outcomes materialize, I know that I will not face it alone.

God will continue to be with me as He is now.

Although I am not apprehensive, I will hope for the best and plan for the worst.

After all, effective planning and stewardship go hand in hand.

Scripture reminds me to pray, but even in this I must exercise good judgment.

God is not there merely to grant me wishes.

I must pray for His will to be done and for helping me to accept and effectively deal with the outcome.

People, as a rule, do not like change.

We prefer our lives to be more or less predictable.

Yet there will be times when turbulence upsets our predictable lives.

It is during those times that we must truly rely on God rather than our own sense of self reliance and self worth.

That is when real change takes place because that is when we change.

As I face this unknown, others will be counting on me.

The people at the church I attend, the students in my Sunday School class and my coworkers will continue to count on me during this phase.

As a believer, God helps me to direct their attentions toward Him by how I choose to respond.

Proverbs 27:17 (NET) - As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

I can remind them of His presence during periods of uncertainty.

I can also remind them that if God chooses to close one avenue, He will open another.

Having faith does not mean that life ceases to be challenging.

Having faith means knowing to Whom to turn when challenges come.

It also means being a source of strength to those around you by putting their needs ahead of your own.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 6, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 13, 2013.

Relationships

What is being a Christian all about?

It’s about relationships.

It’s about having a relationship with God.

But, there’s a wrinkle.

God is perfect, Holy and righteous.

We are not.

Even if I had the capacity to review every day of my life and single out what I considered to be my very best day, a closer examination would reveal that somewhere during the course of that day, I came up short.

Likely more than once.

Maybe I said or did something I should not have.

Perhaps I neglected to say or do something I should have.

So, how do we as fallible human beings have a relationship with God?

We do so by having a relationship with Jesus.

We have that relationship with Jesus by realizing that we have a desperate all consuming need for salvation.

We have that relationship when we recognize that He came and dwelt among us for a time.

He did so and experienced many of the same things that you and I experience.

Pain, loneliness, hunger, cold, the hatred of others toward Him and so forth.

He experienced all these things and so much more but there is one huge difference.

Jesus never committed a single sin.

That is why He was the perfect atonement for our sin.

Jesus bridges the gap that would otherwise separate us from God.

Then there is the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit.

This is perhaps the most mysterious and least understood relationship we have due to the nature of the Holy Spirit.

So, how does one know that he has a relationship with the third person of the Trinity?

I confess that when it comes to this relationship it is of such a nature that it is hard for me to put into words.

I can give you examples of what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.

He convicts us of our sin and leads us to recognize Jesus as our Savior.

He then assures us of that salvation.

He helps us recognize and understand the truth.

He transforms our lives in unique and surprising ways.

If someone had described my life today to me years ago, I would simply not have believed them.

But these changes were not my idea nor were they part of any planning on my part.

They occurred because of the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, there is one other set of relationships.

The relationships we have with others.

Jesus referred to these others as "our neighbor".

Being human, we quickly find that these prove to be the most challenging of all.

We are to love our neighbor even when our neighbor refuses to love us in return.

We are to forgive our neighbor even when they are unaware that they have wronged us.

We are to forgive them, even if they refuse to forgive us.

We are not to pass judgment on them even if they choose to judge us.

Sound difficult?

In a way, it is.

But as we establish and then improve upon these relationships, our lives become the richer for them.

Before closing, I want you to think about what you consider your most worthwhile accomplishment in life.

Now ask yourself the following question.

Do you consider it worthwhile because it was easy or because it was difficult?

Until we meet again.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, November 22, 2013.

Don't Go It Alone

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Does being a Christian mean your life will be free from trouble?

Does it mean freedom from stress?

How about freedom from illness and death?

Some ministers on television, on radio and in bookstores might have you believe that.

I would like nothing more than to tell you that becoming a Christian would mean freedom from all things that make life difficult.

I will not because I cannot.

If I did, I would be lying to you and I would not do so.

The plain and simple truth is that Christians encounter trouble.

Christians contend with stress.

Christians encounter illness and death.

Speaking for myself I can assure you that my life became more complicated when I decided to dedicate my life to Christ.

So, why do it?

A very interesting and remarkable thing happens when you hand control of your life over to Him.

He helps you cope.

When trouble comes, He reminds you that you do not face it alone.

Hebrews 13:6 (KJV) - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

When stress comes, He helps you to remain calm until the storm passes.

When illness comes, whether our own or that of a loved one, the believer can turn to Him.

What of death?

The Christian knows that Christ has conquered death once and for all.

1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

For the believer, death is not the end.

Death is a transition.

It a transition from this world to eternity.

Life may not become easier as a Christian, but there is one thing of which I can assure you.

Life is far better with Him than it is without Him.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, November 8, 2013.

No Shutdown Here

Psalm 62:8 (NET) - Trust in Him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)

I am really grateful to God for the sense of humor He gave me.

It really helps when the times are uncertain,

Take current events, for example.

Political parties in the government could not reach an agreement.

The result was a government shutdown.

Services were disrupted.

Each side pointed their finger at the other and it was the people, not the politicians, who were caught in the middle.

When Sunday came along I found myself extremely busy at church well before Sunday School began.

I was asked to arrive early and open up the church.

I turned on the lights and the air conditioning.

I turned on the coffee maker so that the water had sufficient time to get warm.

I took a telephone call from a member asking me to take some things out of our refrigerator,

Being World Communion Sunday, I assisted our Communion Stewards by helping them carry items into the Sanctuary.

I found a friend and asked him to help me reposition the Communion table.

I made the coffee.

Chairs had been removed from my classroom so I had to replace them.

I was slated to lead our Senior Assembly and was about to go over my notes one final time when I was asked to do some troubleshooting on the church’s computer.

When all these things were done I had about one minute left before the Assembly began.

That's when a humorous thought hit me, so I logged onto Facebook via my mobile and checked in from the church.

I did so with the phrase "No shutdown here" and then turned off my mobile.

The sense of humor He gave me helps me get through my day and hopefully allows me to help others get through theirs as well.

It also reminds me that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.

That bit about the shutdown is a good example.

The church does not ever shut down.

That is because God does not shut down.

God is actively involved in our lives and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week even on holidays.

He can be reached at any time of the day or night regardless of the situation.

You don’t need appointment.

He is there whenever you need Him.

He is there even if you just want to talk to Him.

In fact, that is an excellent way to develop a relationship with God.

People, even those in government, can and will let you down.

God will never let you down.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 25, 2013.

Where Does the Time Go?

Job 8:9 (NET) - For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.

It is difficult to believe that autumn is already here.

October is but days away.

I have already received an invitation for Thanksgiving.

Even the local news reminds me that Christmas is less than 100 days away.

We often hear the rhetorical question "where does the time go?"

Once, while working on a project with a pressing deadline, my employer asked me that question.

He then looked at me as if he really expected an answer that question.

I simply replied, "it goes away."

Unsatisfied with that answer, he asked me a follow up question.

"How do we get it back?"

I laughed and asked in return, "If I had the answer to that question, do you honestly believe I would be working here?"

I still am not certain if he appreciated my humor.

The fact of the matter is that every time a second ticks off the clock it is forever gone.

Time moves eternally forward and we have no way to turn back the clock and reclaim it once it is gone.

Time also seems to move faster as we grow older, though I am convinced that this is more of an illusion than anything else.

As we have grown older we simply have more of a past with which to compare the passing of the present.

Speaking for myself, I am almost certain that I have fewer days on earth ahead of me than those I left behind.

Or, those that left me behind depending on one’s perspective,

Yet not a single one of us knows exactly how many days we will have.

My own family history provides me with an excellent illustration of that.

My mother who lived into her advanced years had a great deal of time.

My father who died when he was about my age had some time.

My brother who died in infancy had very little time.

Personally speaking, I am glad that I do not know exactly how much time I will have.

If I did, my human nature would relegate my life into nothing more than a countdown.

I would no longer be living. I would only be surviving.

The question then becomes how do we best spend the time we have left.

Jesus provided the answer when He was asked to single out the greatest commandment.

In His infinite wisdom, He gave a two part answer.

Mark 12:30-31 (NET) - "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

Jesus knew that if we truly kept these two commandments, we would in fact be keeping all the commandments.

Also, He knew that in doing so we would be living our lives to their fullest.

In the end, the amount of time we have on this earth is of secondary importance.

It is what we choose to do with the time we have that matters most.

The choice is ours.

Do we waste this precious resource so graciously given to us by God?

Or, do we invest it wisely by giving it back to God and by loving and helping our neighbor?

If we do the latter, the return on our investment will exceed even our wildest expectations.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 4, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 11, 2013.

Choices

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NET) - No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also be provided a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Choices are part of life.

Each one of us is faced with a number of choices we have to make every day.

Most of the choices we make do not come with tremendous implications.

Every now and then we are asked to make choices that have that have enormous consequences.

The kinds of choices that directly impact our relationship with others.

Last week, I watched an auto race whose outcome changed based upon the choices made by others. Along with that, these choices determined the last handful of drivers that would be allowed to compete for the championship in the following weeks.

As the laps wound down and the lead changed hands, a car inexplicably spun out bringing out a caution that in effect jumbled the running order.

Those of us who watched the race on television immediately questioned why this car had spun as there was nothing apparent on the replay that appeared to cause this.

The in car audio further added to our suspicions.

The race ended, a winner was declared and the final qualifiers for the championship were determined.

Over the course of the next two days, the sport’s governing body reviewed all the evidence it had at its disposal.

It determined that the spin was a deliberate act designed to give one of the other two team members a finish that would qualify him for a run at the championship.

The team owners were required to pay a substantial fine.

The crew chief of the car that spun was suspended indefinitely.

All three team drivers were penalized in points which eliminated the driver that qualified for the championship run. He was replaced by the driver who was cheated out of that last qualifying spot.

The loss of points for the driver that spun makes it all but impossible for him to win the championship.

All this because bad choices were made.

Together, these bad choices had other far reaching consequences.

They damaged relationships, some perhaps for a very long time,

Because of the choices the team owners made their sponsors are now reconsidering their future with them.

They are concerned about their companies’ reputations becoming tainted.

Because of the choices the crew chief made, his every decision (if he is reinstated) is going to be scrutinized by both the sport’s organizers and the teams with whom he competes.

If he is not reinstated, the choices he made will have a direct impact on future employment opportunities.

Because of the choices the driver made, it will take some time for him to regain the respect he had with his fellow competitors,

It is also possible that he has alienated some of his fan base.

It will likely take a very long time, but hopefully the individuals involved will learn from their bad choices and eventually repair the damages done to the relationships.

In thinking about all this, I was reminded about sin and its consequences.

Sin occurs when we make bad choices.

It occurs when we do that which we know displeases God.

It also occurs when choose not to do that which we know would please Him.

Sin damages the relationship we have with God.

It also damages the relationships we have with others.

Fortunately God loves us and is willing to forgive us if we just admit our wrong to Him.

Others are will not be as forgiving but we must try to rebuild those relationships as well.

The best course of action is not to make the bad choice in the first place.

Even when we are tempted to make the bad choice, God always provides us the means of making the right choice,

It is always there though we may have to look for it.

He will even help us find it if we ask for His help.

In trying situations others may let us down, but God never will.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 20, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, September 27, 2013.

The Unexpected

John the Baptist has occupied my thoughts lately.

He plays a very pivotal role in scripture.

Luke opens his gospel by telling us about his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth.

In fact, an angel foretells his birth to Zechariah.

Luke 1:13 (NET) - But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John."

Similarly, an angel foretells the birth of Jesus to Mary.

Luke 1:31 (NET) - Listen. You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

As was the case with Mary, an angel (God’s messenger) tells Zechariah what he is to name the coming child.

Even John’s very name is decreed by God.

Mary and Elizabeth are related and when Mary visits Elizabeth both are with child.

The moment Mary greets Elizabeth, something extraordinary happens.

Luke 1:41 (NET) - When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Though John and Jesus are yet to be born, John is aware that he is in the presence of Jesus.

This is truly remarkable because scripture tells us time and again that many adults in the physical presence of Jesus failed to recognize who He was even in face to face encounters!

Zechariah is silenced until John is born as a sign from God.

At that point, both Zechariah and Elizabeth are asked the baby’s name.

Zechariah writes: "his name s John."

Immediately, he is able to speak again and he chooses his first words to bless God.

It is Zechariah who is then filled by the Holy Spirit and he prophesies concerning the Messiah and the role his son John will play.

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

Luke tells us that John grows strong in the spirit and is in the wilderness until he is revealed to Israel.

John goes to the region around the Jordan River and preaches of baptism and repentance for the forgiveness of sin.

John’s pivotal role is further cemented as the fulfillment of prophecy.

Luke 3:4-6 (NET) -As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet. "The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight and the rough ways will be made smooth, and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’"

John knew he was in the presence of Jesus when each was still in the womb.

John also knows who Jesus is when he encounters Him as an adult.

John 1:29 (NET) - On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

John preaches of baptism and repentance.

Jesus comes to John to be baptized though He has committed no sin of which to repent.

John baptizes Jesus and again, something truly remarkable happens.

The book of Mark tells us that when Jesus comes up out of the water the heavens "split apart" and the Spirit descends on Him like a dove.

As if these events are not remarkable enough, God has even more in store!

Mark 1:11 (NET) - And a voice came from heaven: "You are my one dear Son; in You I take great delight.

Yes, John the Baptist plays a pivotal role in scripture and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Neither Jesus nor John were what the people expected.

Mark 1:6 (NET) - John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

God places people in our lives who can play pivotal roles in our spiritual journey as well.

Some of these individuals may not be what we expect either.

After all, is it not said that God works in mysterious ways?


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 6, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, September 13, 2013.

The Other Side of the Boat

John 21:6 (NET) - He told them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish."

Whenever I read the Bible, I always look forward to the book of John.

There is something about this book that resonates deep within me.

The final chapter in the book, Chapter 21, I find very special.

As I recently read this chapter again I was struck by something I had not considered before.

As I began the chapter, I read how the disciples were fishing but had not caught a single fish.

Jesus calls to them from the shore but they do not recognize Him.

He tells them to cast their nets on the right side.

They do and catch so many fish that they cannot pull the net back in.

The things that normally came to mind still did.

First, when the disciples’ methods failed them, Jesus came through for them.

Second, this was yet another miracle performed by the risen Jesus.

Third, this was very much like the encounter in Luke Chapter 5 in which Jesus gets into Peter’s boat after Peter had caught no fish during the night. Jesus tells Peter to head into deep water and lower the nets. Peter does so and so many fish were caught that the nets began to tear.

This time, something new occurred to me as I read the account in John.

The disciples were to be "fishers of men" as well.

As believers, so are we.

When the disciples had no success fishing on the usual side of the boat, Jesus instructed them to fish on the other side.

When they did, the abundance of the catch far exceeded their expectations.

As we continue to fulfill the great commission and reach out to others, perhaps we should change our approach as well.

Perhaps we should reach out to those we have not tried to reach before.

Maybe it is time that we cast our nets in a new direction.

If we do, the abundance of the catch could greatly exceed our expectations as well.

In parting, I simply must share one of my favorite verses also from this chapter.

John 21:25 (NET) -There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 16, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 23, 2013.

Keeping It Simple

Mark 10:15 (NET) - I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.


When we were children we were taught a song in Sunday School.

Having only said that much you may be thinking of it already.

The song I am reminiscing about is Jesus Loves Me.

It was written by Anna B. Warner in 1860 as a poem.

It was set to music in 1861 by William Bradbury.

It is a simple song, to be sure.


Jesus loves me!

This I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak but he is strong.


Something happens to us as we mature.

We drift away from this wonderful song.

Perhaps we feel it is too simple.

Perhaps we feel we have outgrown it.

What a pity.

Matthew 18:4 (NET) - Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Meaning no disrespect to Anna Warner, I thought that it might be worthwhile to attempt some lyrics applicable to other stages in our lives.

Perhaps something like this when we consider ourselves "in our prime".


Jesus loves me!

Anyway.

Even when I sin or stray.

He’s been waiting all along;

For my confession that I’m wrong.


Or, something like this when we enter the twilight of our lives.


Jesus loves me!

Though I’m gray,

He’s been with me every day.

One day I’ll say my goodbyes,

Then I’ll see Him with my eyes.


Simple?

Perhaps.

As we grow older our lives become more complicated.

We continually exchange one set of challenges for another.

Faith, on the other hand, remains divinely uncomplicated.

Romans 10:9 (NET) - ... because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 2, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 9, 2013.

Citizen's Arrest

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NET) - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

I enjoy old movies and old television programs.

One of the old television programs in syndication that I still enjoy is The Andy Griffith Show.

I vividly remember the characters, some of the story lines and even some of the dialog.

One of my favorite episodes involves the characters Gomer Pyle, who was portrayed by Jim Nabors, and Deputy Barney Fife, who was portrayed by Don Knotts.

In that particular episode, a great deal of tension arises because first one and then the other makes an illegal U-turn on one of the streets of Mayberry.

Gomer makes the first illegal U-turn and Deputy Fife proceeds to write him a ticket.

Gomer pleads with Barney not to write him the ticket, but Barney is determined to uphold the letter of the law and writes him the ticket anyway.

Barney then gets back into his patrol car and makes the same illegal U-turn to go back to the Sheriff’s Office.

Gomer sees Barney do the very same thing for which he was cited.

He starts yelling, "Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest!" and chases Barney on foot.

The townspeople gather around. Barney gets out of the patrol car and wants to know just what Gomer is yelling about.

Gomer then declares that he saw Barney make an illegal U-turn and adds that as a citizen of the United  States in the town of Mayberry he  hereby arrests Barney.

The crowd cheers. Gomer and Barney begin arguing. The crowd around them grows ever larger.

Sheriff Andy Taylor, hears the commotion and seeing the growing crowd goes to investigate.

Not wanting the situation to further escalate, he takes Deputy Fife aside and instructs Barney to write himself a ticket.

There is, of course, much more to the story and many of you are likely familiar with it.

What then, you may well ask, does all this have to do with matters of faith?

A great deal.

In these days of social media, it is all too easy for Christians to criticize those that are not especially as relationships are first established.

As a Christian, I utilize social media to stay in touch with friends.

I also utilize it to make new friends and share my faith.

As a follower of Christ, I very much want to be a good ambassador for Him.

I want to bring others to Him so that they too can obtain the salvation made possible by Grace alone.

Yet, sometimes in our zeal and enthusiasm it becomes all too easy for us to become very critical of others especially where social media is concerned.

When we become critical and jump on every imperfection, many who have not yet come to know the Faith stop seeing us as ambassadors.

They begin to see us merely as characters , like Gomer, who love nothing more than running around shouting "Citizen’s arrest!" at the top of our lungs. As a result, we end up actually driving others farther away from Him.

I am not saying that we should lower our standards by "liking" and "sharing" things which we feel are inappropriate.

I would never suggest anything of the sort.

What I am saying is that we should follow the example that Christ set for us.

Jesus saved his harshest criticisms for the religious leaders and teachers of the law.

Matthew 23:15 (NET) - "Woe to you experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and see to make one convert, and when you get one you make him twice the child of hell as yourselves!"

It is important to remember that these same leaders accused Jesus of eating with tax collectors and sinners.

Do you remember how Jesus responded?

Mark 2:17 (NET) - When Jesus heard this he said to them, "Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

How did Jesus deal with sinners?

In the eighth chapter of John, the Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman "who had been caught committing adultery."

They remind Jesus that the law demands that she be stoned to death. They then ask, "What then do you say?"

John 8:7 (NET) - When they persisted in asking Him, He stood up straight and replied, "Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her."

One by one, they walked away until only Jesus and the woman remained.

He asked her if anyone condemned her.

John 8 11 (NET) - She replied, "No one Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."

What a marvelous example Jesus set for us.

He set many more as well.

Jesus did not criticize the thief on the cross.

Instead, Jesus offered him pardon and the gift of eternal life.

Social media can be like a spiritual minefield for the believer.

It is also full of opportunities for us to share our faith if we follow His example.

Having faith is a wonderful thing, but Paul reminds us that we must treat others with love.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 19, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 26, 2013.

The Master Weaver

Psalm 139:13 (NET) - Certainly you made my mind and my heart, you wove me together in my mothers womb.


I love Psalm 139 for a number of reasons.

Take verse 13 for example.

Because God made my mind and heart he understands me better than anyone,

He knows me better than I even know myself.

I am especially moved by how He "wove me together".

Knowledge of the reproduction process tells me that half of my very first cell was composed from genetic material from my mother and the other half from my father.

I also know that cell divided into two cells which turned into four and so on.

Where I really see God at work in the weaving process is in how new cells become specialized for their future functions.

Cells that eventually made up my brain are very different than cells that made up my bones.

Even my very blood is composed of different kinds of cells.

I did not simply end up as mass of completely identical cells.

Psalm 139:14 (NET) - I will give thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You know me thoroughly;

I am indeed thankful that God is all knowing and all powerful.

I am also grateful that even when others misunderstand me, God never misunderstands me because he knows me at the most intimate level.

No one else can claim to know me that well.

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

Even my physical weaknesses, such as my rather poor eyesight were ordained by Him.

My life, including my service to Him, would not be what it is today, had I been born with perfect eyesight.

My less than perfect sight is not a result of God’s imperfections.

God has no imperfections.

My weaknesses are the result of His perfect plan.

While my eyesight may be less than perfect by earthly standards, you will never hear me complain once about the vision he has given me in its place.

Psalm 139:17-18 (NET) - How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you.

I do not know what God has planned for my future here on earth.

A mere ten years ago I could not have imagined my life today.

Similarly, I cannot foretell what my life on earth will be like ten years from now,

For that matter, I do not even know if I will have a life here on earth ten years from now,

That sort of unknown frightens some people,

I know, because there was a time in my life when thoughts like that frightened me.

I may not know what age I will ultimately reach, but God knows and that is sufficient for me.

Through His word, I know that when my days on earth are complete a home in heaven awaits me.

A home that awaits all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.

And therein lies a great deal of comfort.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 5, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 12, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Life Imitating Art

Teaching Sunday school is something I am very passionate about.


Along with the current study, I also have to plan ahead for the next study and be able to move forward with it when the time comes.

One thing I have always been able to rely on is God’s guidance in the preparation of these one hour sessions which seem to go by so very quickly. I can also rely on His direction for us in future studies.

That is certainly the case with our current study which is very nearly complete.

Some months ago, I managed to get some time off around Christmas and decided to begin reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.

When my holiday arrived, I read the first chapter before going to bed and it had a very profound impact on me.

Over the course of the next two days, I devoured the rest of the book.

I remember telling friends and family afterward how "blown away" I was by the book.

I also knew that upon completion of our current study, I would ask my class would to join Christian (Bunyan’s main character) on his pilgrimage through this classic.

I procured enough copies of the book for the entire class and informed them of the pending study.

Along with continued work on our current study, I read Bunyan’s classic three more times taking detailed notes, anticipating questions I might be asked and drawing on scripture to reinforce the spiritual truths that Bunyan sought to teach in his allegory.

When the time arrived, we began our study.

One of the things that delighted me was seeing my students have the same reaction to the book that I had the first time I read it.

Also very personally rewarding were the number of times students told me, "Thank you for bringing this book to us."

Now, that journey nears its end.

Along with the joy, we also experienced some personal sadness along the way.

One of my students, Rudy, went to be with the Lord.

Rudy was much more than a student.

I counted him as both a blessing and a good friend.

I feel that way about every student.

We are a cohesive and closely knit group.

There is an old saying that says that life imitates art and, at times, there is more than a fair amount of truth in that.

In The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian acquired a traveling companion from his home town. This character’s name was Faithful.

They journeyed together intending to arrive at the Celestial City, or heaven, at the same time.

One day, as they neared the town of Vanity, they encountered an old friend and mentor, a wonderful man by the name of Evangelist.

Along with the happy reunion, Evangelist gave them words of caution.

"But be faithful unto death, and Christ will give you a crown of life. If one of you shall die there, although his death will be cruel and his pain great, yet he will be more fortunate than the other, because he will arrive in the Celestial City much sooner, and he will escape the trials the other must endure in the rest of the way."

This came to pass.

When Christian and Faithful arrived in Vanity, they refused to buy any of the worldly goods that the townspeople had for sale. This coupled with their speech and demeanor soon created quite an uproar. They were arrested and put on trial.

At the trial, Faithful gave a remarkable testimony. Nevertheless, he was found guilty in the town’s eyes and executed.

Christian then saw a golden chariot with fiery steeds whisk Faithful away to the Celestial City. He also thought he heard a trumpet sound from the Celestial City when the chariot arrived.

Christian then continued on his pilgrimage. A pilgrimage in which he encountered and overcame numerous obstacles before reaching the Celestial City himself.

My friend and student faced a trial of a different sort.

The trial he faced was a fatal illness.

Yet even in this sort of trial, he gave his own powerful testimony to those who lovingly took such good care of him.

At his funeral service, our pastor said that Rudy’s physical therapist told him, "Thank you for sharing Rudy with us." He added that these words assured him that Rudy was exactly where God wanted him to be.

Just like Faithful, Rudy has now arrived at the Celestial City ahead of the rest of us.

Just like Christian, we who remain behind must faithfully continue in our pilgrimage knowing that we will face and overcome many tribulations along the way.

Yet, we remain confident that God will see us through each and every one of them.

He will use these to build us up and refine us until we too reach the Celestial City just like our now departed friend.

Sometimes life really does imitate art.

This is not surprising when you consider that God is in complete and total control.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 21, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 28, 2013.

Third Person, Perfect

On Saturday, our church hosted a party for the neighborhood.

Saturday was also the day before Pentecost Sunday.

I arrived at the party a bit early and several members of my church family were already there.

I greeted everyone and joined a group of my friends.

Our discussion turned to Pentecost Sunday.

A friend shared an observation that churches, generally speaking, have their largest attendance on Christmas and Easter.

He added that Pentecost Sunday is also an important day in the church calendar, but attendance is not as large when compared to attendance on Christmas and Easter.

Of course, the next logical question to ask is, "Why?"

"Why?" is one of those questions whose answers are typically subjective.

They are often based on people’s observations.

That said, I offered my response, but before I share it, let’s take a look at the other two days first.

On Christmas and Easter, we celebrate the birth and resurrection of Jesus, respectively.

I once heard a minister refer to these days as the "annual Christian pilgrimages" simply because church attendance is higher then.

Pentecost Sunday, however, celebrates the Holy Spirit.

I personally believe that He is the least understood Person of the Trinity.

Generally speaking, when you ask people about God, the first Person of the Trinity, they can usually tell you about several of His attributes,

Similarly, when you ask them, about Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, they can usually tell you about a few of His attributes as well.

Ask them about the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, and the results are noticeably different.

A majority of the time they can tell you very little in comparison.

So, who is the Holy Spirit and what is Pentecost?

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and other followers (Acts 2) and some remarkable things happened.

There came a sound from heaven like a violent wind that filled the entire house.

Next tongues spread out like a fire that came to rest upon each one of them.

Then each was filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in different human languages.

This was the beginning of the Church.

Devout men from every nation were nearby.

They came and were amazed because each heard them speak in his language.

Even then, just as today, there were many who misunderstood the Holy Spirit and what He did among the believers.

Acts 2:7-8 (NET) - Completely baffled, they said, "Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that each of us hears them in our own native language?"

Today, many still are unfamiliar with the attributes of the Holy Spirit.

What are some of His attributes?

The Holy Spirit helps us to recognize both our sinful nature and our need for salvation.

The Holy Spirit then leads us to Jesus for that salvation.

The Holy Spirit helps us accept Jesus as our savior.

The Holy Spirit then assures us of our salvation and transforms our lives.

The Holy Spirit helps us lead fruitful lives and also helps us witness to others.

The Holy Spirit helps us comprehend the truth and also provides us with a combination of comfort and strength.

These are but some of the ways that the Holy Spirit influences our lives.

The Holy Spirit, like the Father and the Son, cannot be completely understood by human minds.

We should, however, be receptive and responsive to His leading.

This will not only enrich our lives, it will help us to enrich the lives of others.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 7, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 14, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Green with Envy

Matthew 6:19 (NET) - Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.


Exodus 20:17 (NET) - You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Scripture warns us about both worldliness and covetousness.

In reflecting on these conditions I realized that both the world and desire of another’s possessions often go hand in hand.

The world begins to influence us very early in life. It makes us desire the things others have which we do not.

I asked myself when did worldliness and covetousness first enter my life and the answer came both quickly and easily.

It happened when I started the first grade and involved, of all things, crayons!

Yes, even something as seemingly benign and innocent looking as a box of crayons can be used by the world in a negative way on young minds.

Before I started first grade, my mother took me to the store to get the supplies I would need according to the local school system.

One of the items on the list they provided was a box of eight crayons.

One day, shortly after school began, the teacher asked us to get out our crayons as she passed out a worksheet we were supposed to color.

As we got out our crayons, I quickly realized that not everyone was limited to eight crayons.

Many had sixteen, some had twenty four, a few had forty eight and two actually had sixty four.

Notice that I still remember that exactly two had sixty four crayons.

How I envied those two when I compared their boxes of sixty four to my paltry box of eight.

In the world of adults, this would be comparable to someone living in a modest home envying someone of their mansion.

For weeks, I remember pleading with my parents to get me a box of sixty four crayons but to no avail.

Eventually, they gave in and bought me a box of twenty four.

In our little world, that of first graders, it was the number of crayons one had that determined our social standing.

As a Christian adult and In hindsight, this was a silly thing. To a small child’s mind, it seemed like one of the most important things of all.

Yet, that is exactly the kind of hold the world can have on us throughout our lives.

If we permit it.

Without Jesus, the only thing that really changes is the price of our toys.

Jesus overcomes the grip the world has on our lives.

By the way, there is an additional lesson I have learned from all of this.

Back then, when a child with few crayons, like me, would ask to borrow a particular color from someone who had more the response was usually the same.

"My father (or mother) told me not to let anybody use them."

We are each blessed by our Heavenly Father in many ways.

Our Heavenly Father expects us to share our blessings with others and not keep them for ourselves.

He even gave us the greatest example of all when He shared His Only Son with us in order that we be saved.

We may have outgrown crayons, but we dare not let material wealth in the adult world have the same kind of hold.

Everyone needs to grow up sometime.

We do that when we mature as believers.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NET) - When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 17, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, May 24, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

In the Midst of Tragedy

Recently, two tragic events occurred within days of each other.

The first happened near the finish line of the Boston Marathon when two bombs detonated within moments of each other.

The second happened in the Texas community of West when a fertilizer plant exploded.

The first occurred in a major metropolitan area; the second in a small town.

In both, lives were lost.

In both, many were severely injured.

The first was a deliberate act by two individuals who subscribed to an ideology based on hate.

The second was a terrible accident.

In the days that followed I planned to use this devotional to address a specific question that was on the minds of many.

During that time, I also read some things that caused me a tremendous amount of personal anguish and distress.

After much reflection and prayer, I decided to address both beginning with the one that caused me pain.

Shortly after the bombings in Boston I read in the news of a church in America that believed this event was a direct punishment from God.

A short time later I learned that members of this church felt the same way about the tragedy in the town of West.

I refuse to name that church (or the issue that drives them) as I have concluded they seem to enjoy such publicity.

This church not only drew an erroneous conclusion, they compounded their error by planning to engage in protests at the funerals of the fallen.

It was my personal opinion that their position was flawed, their language was profane and their viewpoint could have been considered just as extreme as those of the bombers themselves.

Adding to my sadness were some of the comments news readers posted in response.

One reader stated that this was why he did not go to church.

Another said that this was why he did not believe in God.

As Christians, our mission is to be a beacon drawing others to Christ rather than a force that drives them away.

While there were numerous passages of scripture I could have cited in response, I opted instead to summarize my viewpoint in a comment of my own that I posted in several forums.

I share that comment with you now.

"The God I worship would have none to perish, in fact. He sent His only Son to save sinners. Even sinners like me. That same Son teaches me to love my neighbor, especially when my neighbor refuses to love me in return. Events like this are not a punishment from a vengeful God, rather, they are a symptom of a fallen world. Scripture must be accepted and understood as a whole. You cannot simply carve it apart and accept the parts you agree with and discard the rest."

This brings me to the initial question that I thought many struggled with in the aftermath of these unfortunate events.

Where exactly was God during these tragedies?

We are taught as children that God is everywhere.

He really is.

When the bombs went off in Boston. God was in the first responders who ran toward the explosions rather than away from them.

God was in the three policemen who stood in front of the fallen runner to shield him from another potential blast.

God was in strangers who assisted those they did not know as they applied makeshift tourniquets to torn limbs.

When the fertilizer plant exploded in the town of West, God was in the dispatcher who stayed calm and did her job even though her friends who were already fighting the fire had likely perished in the blast.

God was in the students who were taking a class in becoming emergency medical technicians as they ran in to assist the injured.

God was in the throngs of people from surrounding communities who came in to help. Many were turned away because too many wanted to help.

God was in the people who collected and delivered relief supplies. So many items were donated that this became a problem in and of itself.

These are but a few examples of God’s involvement.

God was also involved much earlier.

God was also with an eight year old boy when he wrote the words "Stop hurting people" well before he was killed in the blast in Boston.

We live in a fallen world.

As a result, bad things happen.

God does not punish us with these events, neither does he abandon us when they occur.

God Is in control even when the world seems chaotic to us.

God has a plan and He is in complete control.

His plan is not one of punishment.

His plan is one of hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NET) - ‘For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not harm you. I plan to give you a future filled with hope.’


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 3, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, May 10, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Pray...

If attacked because of freedom... you have given me more appreciation.
If attacked to harm the innocent... you have given me more compassion.
If attacked because of faith... you have given me cause to pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray for Boston,
Pray for the world!

Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim

True to His Faith

I have always been fascinated with history.

For me, history is not merely a collection of dates to be memorized simply for the sake of memorization.

Neither is it merely a study of the circumstances surrounding those dates.

What fascinates me are the individuals who lived during those times and how they chose to respond to those circumstances.

In the roll call of names from history, there are a few individuals that I truly admire.

Individuals who made a difference in the world, or tried to, in spite of the difficulties they faced.

One such individual that I truly admire is a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was born in the year 1906.

He was an accomplished theologian, pastor, author, musician and more.

What made Bonhoeffer remarkable to me was how he chose to live his life in response to the rise of Nazism in Germany in the Thirties and Forties.

He was ordained in Berlin in 1931.

In a sermon he wrote in 1932, it was evident that Bonhoeffer was aware that the future would be difficult.

In that sermon he stated that "the blood of martyrs might once again be demanded, but this blood, if we really have the courage and loyalty to shed it, will not be innocent, shining like that of the first witnesses for the faith. On our blood lies heavy guilt, the guilt of the unprofitable servant who is cast into outer darkness."

1933 saw the rise of Nazism in Germany and many Protestant ministers there initially welcomed this turn of events.

By the fall of that year, the Deutsche Christen gained control of many Protestant churches and approved the exclusion of those with Jewish ancestry from the ministry.

Bonhoeffer opposed this movement as he deemed it a surrender of Christian ideals to a political ideology.

In 1934, he became a member of the Universal Christian Council for Life and Work.

In 1935, Bonhoeffer established an "underground" seminary.

This seminary was shut down by the Gestapo in 1937.

In 1938, Bonhoeffer made connections with "conspirators" who politically opposed Hitler.

In 1939, he left Germany for New York City but felt compelled to return that same year and subsequently joined the political resistance.

In 1941, he was forbidden to either print or publish.

That same year, he became part of Jewish rescue action.

About this time, Bonhoeffer joined Abwehr which was at the center of resistance to Hitler.

Hans von Dohnanyi, who married Bonhoeffer‘s sister, was already a part of Abwehr and brought Bonhoeffer in because his contacts would be beneficial for Germany.

There were several plots to kill Hitler in 1943 of which Dohnanyi was aware and it is presumed Bonhoeffer was aware of them as well.

In 1943, Bonhoeffer and his sister were arrested.

Bonhoeffer found himself imprisoned at the age of 37.

In February 1945, Bonhoeffer was transferred to Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

In April 1945, an unsuccessful attempt was made on Hitler’s life.

Hitler ordered all conspirators be found and executed.

This included Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Almost immediately, Bonhoeffer was executed by hanging at the age of 39 even as Allied Forces closed in on Berlin.

Shortly thereafter, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker and Germany surrendered.

One of Bonhoeffer’s quotes that echoes in my mind reads as follows:

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."

This parallels scripture.

Ezekiel 3:19-20 (NIV) - But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

In spite of the difficulties of the times, Bonhoeffer stayed the course and remained true to his faith even at the cost of his own life.

That is why I hold him in such high regard.

One more thing.

There are some who find it disquieting that Bonhoeffer might have been involved in a plot to kill someone.

Even if that someone were as evil as was Hitler.

Bonhoeffer struggled with this himself.

Bonhoeffer wrote the following: "when a man takes guilt upon himself in responsibility, he imputes his guilt to himself and no one else. He answers for it...Before other men he is justified by dire necessity; before himself he is acquitted by his conscience, but before God he hopes only for grace."

I personally do not have a problem with Bonhoeffer’s involvement and offer the following:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NIV) - There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

It is important to remember that the world was being torn apart by a global conflict in which millions had already died.

Had this attempt or another on Hitler‘s life been successful, lives could have been saved and the time for healing would have started sooner.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 19, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, April 26, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

At What Risk?

Luke 12:38 (NET) - But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

Persecution.

Since the earliest days of Christianity, persecution of the church has been a reality.

In many parts of the world, it still is.

Some nations claim religious tolerance and freedom and cite their legality of Christianity as proof.

The real proof of their intolerance is made apparent when converts become second class citizens.

New Christians in these countries often find it extremely difficult to marry or find employment.

So much for tolerance.

In some nations professing one’s faith in Christ can bring a death sentence.

I once watched a smuggled video taken with a phone of the execution of a man who was charged with evangelizing in his village.

The entire village was forced to witness this brave man’s execution by firing squad.

Immediately afterward, an army officer stood up in the back of his jeep and addressed the village through a megaphone.

The officer shouted his warning, "This man was a fool! Don’t be a fool!"

That nation rules with an iron fist.

It uses execution as a means of both eliminating existing Christians and intimidating others in an attempt to deter them from embracing the faith.

In reality, it is the government that is frightened because Christianity transforms lives in ways that it cannot.

Still, it continues to tighten its grip using a combination of fear and intimidation.

Yet even as its grip tightens, more and more of its citizens turn their lives over to Jesus.

That frightens it even more.

I once read of a young man in another country who, along with his friends, persecuted Christians.

Like Paul, this persecutor had a conversion experience.

This young man’s conversion was made possible because of the witness of one that he persecuted.

He now shares his faith in Jesus with others.

As a result, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to kill him.

In time, he learned that a contract had been taken out on his life.

That contract was paid for by his own father and that price remains on his head.

In spite of the personal risk, he still continues to share Jesus with others.

These are but two examples among several that I thought about this week.

Persecution has been on my mind a great deal because a friend who is a pastor in another country contacted me through a social network requesting my prayers.

That pastor's church is currently experiencing persecution.

Of course, I agreed and continue to pray for them and other persecuted Christians as well.

This forced me to think about my own country.

God has blessed us with the both the freedom and safety to worship,

At the risk of painting with a very broad brush, a less than desirable consequence has arisen among Christians in America.

That consequence is complacency.

As a whole, we seem to have lost some of the drive, some of the desire and some of the sense of urgency in sharing the Good News with others.

Those in regions of persecution risk much, and their flame burns bright by comparison.

This should concern us.

The church at Laodicea received a direct warning.

You can find it in Revelation 3.

As we near Easter and consider what Jesus has done for us, shouldn’t we be more eager to share the Good News with others?

We also need to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who currently face persecution.

We should also pray for those who persecute them.

After all, their need for Jesus is the greatest.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 5, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, April 12, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Having a Bad Day?

It was a few days before Christmas about 25 years ago.

I stopped at the local mall after work to do a little Christmas shopping.

After checking out a few stores I decided to get something to drink.

I made my way to the second floor where there was a common dining area surrounded by several restaurants.

One counter and had only one customer so I got in line behind her.

A young lady in her teens manned the counter and was in the process on waiting on this customer.

This customer was digging through her purse looking for change.

It was obvious from the sound of her grumbling that was having little success.

That’s when it happened!

In an attempt to ease the tension the young lady behind the counter innocently asked, "Having a bad day?"

The woman immediately stopped looking through her purse, glared at the young lady and asked (quite loudly), "What did you just ask me?"

The young lady behind the counter then received a verbal lashing that caused her to turn several shades of pale.

The customer then demanded to see the manager.

At this point, I picked up on two things.

First, the young employee was worried that she was about to lose her job.

Second, the customer indeed had a bad day and was willing to vent her frustration at anyone who dared to get too close.

I wanted to say something to the irate customer but decided to see how the manager would handle this volatile situation.

The manager arrived and asked if there was a problem.

He then became the object of the woman’s wrath.

When the woman finished delivering her complaints, the manager told her that he encourages his employees to be friendly and he felt certain that no harm was intended.

At this the woman’s anger soared to new heights as she all but shouted, "I don’t believe what I am hearing!"

That’s when she made her mistake.

She turned and looked at me and barked, "Do you believe this?"

I looked her in the eye, smiled and asked calmly, "Having a bad day?"

Fortunately for me, looks cannot kill.

If they could, I would have just finished my last day on earth.

After glaring at me, she picked up her purse and stormed away without an additional word.

I looked at the manager who simply shook his head, laughed and returned to his office.

I stepped up the counter to place my order.

The young lady who had been extremely frightened only a moment ago gave me a smile and said, "Thank you!"

"Don’t worry about it." I said.

"You didn’t do anything wrong. She decided to take her frustrations out on you," I stated, "and that isn’t right."

I then placed my order for an iced tea which she paid for despite my protests.

Bad days.

We have all had them.

How do we deal with them?

As our journey through Lent continued, I thought about the kind of day Jesus had.

He was arrested.

His friends abandoned him.

He was mocked.

He was beaten.

He was made to carry His own cross.

He faced the cruelest form of execution - crucifixion.

As Jesus was crucified, He showed mercy to those who antagonized Him.

Luke 23:34 (NET) - But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." Then they threw dice to divide His clothes.

As Jesus endured this, a thief asked Jesus to remember him.

How did Jesus respond?

He showed him mercy as well!

Luke 23:43 (NET) - And Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Throughout this ordeal of pain and humiliation, the mercy, kindness and forgiveness Jesus showed remain without equal to this day.

As Easter draws ever nearer, we should be extremely grateful that His mercy, kindness and forgiveness are extended to us as well.

We should also take the time to ask ourselves a very important question.

If Jesus could forgive so very much under the most extreme of circumstances, shouldn’t we be willing to forgive others of so very little by comparison?


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 15, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

At the King's Table

(Author’s Note: I have personally learned a great deal from allegories through the years, and often use them when teaching my Sunday school class. As part of my journey through Lent, I felt moved to put one down in writing.)


As you walk into the great dining hall you are amazed.

The magnificent hall seems to go on forever.

For all you know it might, for you cannot see the end of it.

The table is equally spectacular.

It, too, seems to go on forever.

The end of it, like the hall, simply disappears from view.

"There is an empty seat over here," you hear someone say.

You look upon the speaker, one of a vast multitude seated at the table, as they point out an empty chair next to them.

You walk over, thank them, and take your seat.

You look up and down the table and spot some very familiar faces, but you seem to know everyone you can see somehow.

Before you can ask yourself how it is that you know everyone here, a plate is set before you.

You are amazed by the meal placed before you.

Others are already enjoying their meal.

The meal in front of you looks so inviting that you simply must taste it.

This is without doubt the best meal you have ever had.

In time, you and the others finish and you are overwhelmed by a new sensation.

Complete and total satisfaction.

Never before have you ever felt this satisfied.

As you are about to discuss this with the one who offered you your seat, you notice someone come into the hall.

As he nears, you realize two things.

First, this man is the head waiter.

Second, he carries with him the bill for the entire meal.

This is something you certainly had not counted on.

The waiter is getting uncomfortably close to you.

Discomfort turns to something akin to panic when he stops at your seat and places the bill alongside your now empty plate.

What to do?

You certainly could not afford such a meal for yourself. let alone everyone else in the great hall.

Soon, it appears that all eyes are on you.

As you try to think of a way to explain your inability to pay you realize that it is not you they are looking at.

They are looking behind you.

You turn in your seat and look up into the kindest face you have ever seen.

The individual with the kind face looks at you knowingly and smiles.

He reaches for the bill and that is when you see the nail scarred hand.

As He picks up the bill, you turn to face Him again.

You want to say something, but mere words are not enough.

He places His other hand reassuringly on your shoulder.

It, like the other, is nail scarred.

He smiles and says, "It’s okay. You see, My Father wanted Me to pay for everyone that you see here. That means He wanted me to pay for you too."

Words cannot express the gratitude you feel to this man with the kind face, the warm smile, and the nail scarred hands,

The seeds of this allegory were planted years ago when I read of David’s act of kindness to a crippled Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 9:13 (NET) - Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.

David performed this act of kindness for the sake of Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.

Mephibosheth was crippled by a fall as a child, yet David made sure he had a place at the king’s table.

We are crippled from a different kind of fall.

One that goes back to Eden.

As we continue on our journey through Lent, let us be mindful of the kindness Jesus showed us as He obeyed His Father’s will to the cross and beyond.

We cannot earn salvation.

Neither do we deserve it.

Someone had to pay the price we could never hope to pay.

As the hymn reminds us, "Jesus Paid It All!"


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Thoughts of Home

A few weekends ago, I was in my old neighborhood.

As I drove through it, I noticed thick black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.

Authorities redirected traffic so I was not able to get too near the source, but it was obvious that either a house or a business was going up in flames.

The winds were high that day, so I knew that there was not much hope in saving the structure.

As traffic was being diverted from the scene, I offered up a prayer for both the safety of the occupants and the firefighters.

About a week later, I found myself in the area again, and decided to drive past the site where the inferno took place.

A very strange feeling overtook me when I saw the remains of that house.

It was not just any house.

That house was my boyhood home.

I spent my first and most formative years in that house.

Although that was several decades ago, a flood of very vivid memories returned to me.

I remembered the floral wallpaper in the living room.

I remembered how the floor in that room leaned just enough so I could stack all but one of my wooden blocks.

Try as I might, I could never get that final block in its place on top of the stack.

Time and again the tower I created would tip over with that final block and come crashing to the floor (I was a rather persistent child).

I remembered the old black and white television in the corner that picked up the only three channels that were available.

I remembered the huge sink in which Mother or sometimes my grandmother would bathe me when I was very, very small.

I remembered the sandbox Father built for me on the back porch.

I remembered the large dining room table where my parents and I would share a meal and play games.

I remembered my bedroom where my parents taught me how to pray at the close of my day.

Then there was my favorite memory of all.

On one of those very rare occasions that it snowed, I remember Mother opening all of the curtains in the dining room for me.

As this was my first snowfall, she did this just for me so that I could watch the snow as it gently fell blanketing everything in white.

I remembered staring out of each one of those windows in turn completely mesmerized by that sight.

These were but some of my memories from that home all those decades ago.

All that physically remains now is the badly charred frame of what was a very old house.

But, there still remains something of a wonderful home forever preserved in some very old and very precious memories.

Memories that I will carry with me always.

There is indeed a difference between a house and a home.

A house is a but structure designed to provide shelter.

A home is where you live... really live.

As I considered that, scripture came to mind.

A house, like any other possession is temporary.

Matthew 6:19-20 (NET) - "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."

A house, even that which we consider home, is a necessity while we are here, but our real home awaits us in heaven.

Philippians 3:20 (NET) - But our citizenship is in heaven - and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,...

Unlike the houses we live in here, our home in heaven will be permanent.

It will be moth proof, rust proof and yes, even fire proof.

I guess some old sayings have at least some truth in them.

Home is where the heart is.

We just need to make certain that our hearts are in the right place.

Jesus can help us with that if we will but let him.



Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.