Turn It Off

Last weekend I happily attended my aunt's birthday party.

Both my parents came from large families so I grew up with many uncles and aunts.

That was long ago.

Of all those uncles and aunts only this one remains.

It was wonderful celebrating this special day with her.

It was also very nice to be surrounded by family.

I took many photographs and look forward to giving them to her.

I was especially glad to see everybody spending some quality time with her.

I took my turn as well.

I also enjoyed spending time with my cousins and their families.

We talked about how much things have changed since we were young.

After several such conversations, I began to wonder.

Have times changed forcing us to cope with them?

Or, have we changed forcing the times to accommodate us?

Frankly, I think it is a combination of both.

Certainly technology has changed.

But these advances were supposed to make our lives simpler and better.

But have they really?

It seems that we are all doing more but accomplishing less.

We are bombarded with information but know so very little.

Then there is the element that concerns me most of all.

We spend so much time with our phones and devices that we interact with others less and less every day.

I recall an evening when I went to a restaurant and a young couple came in and sat at a nearby table.

They were on a date but the first thing each did when seated was get out their phones and began texting.

I will admit that the thought of them texting others and ignoring each other bothered me.

One thought bothered me more.

Could they actually be texting each other?

Is this the future of human relationships?

This reminded me of a conversation I had with a cousin at the party about time.

I think most everyone agrees that as we get older time seems to go by faster.

Frankly, I do not think time goes by any faster but rather our perception of its passing changes.

Isn't it possible that this is part of God's plans for our lives.

If we do not know Jesus as we should doesn't it make sense that God would put this mechanism in place to heighten our sense of urgency to know Him?

If we do know Him, doesn't it then follow that we experience a similar sense of urgency to share Him with others?

While it is all well and good to use technology to share our faith we must not forget the importance of personal, face to face encounters.

Such opportunities present themselves all the time.

That is when we need do is turn off our devices and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The Great Commission still apples.

Mark 16:15 (NET) – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 5, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 12, 2014

One Now at a Time

The events of the last week reminded me of one of my mother's favorite songs.

Many times I would hear her either singing or humming One Day At a Time.

There is a tremendous amount of wisdom in those words.

When you get down to it, life is best lived that way.

As human beings, we go about our lives traveling along a perceived time line.

Speaking along such a line, we divide time into three components.

The first component of time is the past.

The past is not only confined to our lives but includes everything that preceded it.

All of recorded history lies in the past.

The past is something from which we should be able to learn yet human beings have a tendency to repeat mistakes.

We repeat not only our mistakes but those of previous generations as well.

The second component is the present.

This is the most fleeting component of all.

Try saying the word "Now".

By the time you have finished saying this tiny word, the moment in which you said it has already slipped into the past.

That leaves us with the third and final component, what we call the future.

As human beings, we have little idea what lies in store for us in this mysterious realm.

We may plan for certain events.

We even fill our calendars with appointments and special events.

We even make long term plans for ourselves.

But, in the final analysis, we cannot say with absolute certainty what will occur in the future.

To further complicate matters, we do not just how each appointment, event or plan will ultimately turn out if they do manage to materialize on time.

Will we like the outcome?

Or, will we dislike it maybe to the point of wishing it had never occurred?

We simply will not know until the moment unfolds.

There is something we can count on.

God is not confined to the time line to which we have attached our lives.

He is outside time.

It may be difficult for us to comprehend, but God is already in tomorrow.

God is with us now, but He is also awaiting us in the tomorrow in which we have yet to see.

Whatever tomorrow brings, God already knows about it and will see us through it.

That is something in which we can take great comfort.

We cannot change the past.

We can only imagine the future.

All we truly have is the ever fleeting "now".

So, take one "now" at a time and use it in a way that glorifies Him.

Romans 15:5-6 (NET) - Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 15, 2014.
I’All be back here on Friday, August 8, 2014