Just the Beginning

Christmas Day 2018 has passed.

In the days to come the decorations will come down and be relegated to storage for another year.

Retailers will be selling Christmas items at a fraction of cost simply to make room for new stock.

In a short time, there will be virtually no physical reminder that there was ever such a thing as Christmas.

This is most unfortunate.

Christmas is not the whole story.

It is just the beginning of the most wonderful story ever told.

It is not a story of how a fallen mankind reached up to God for help.

Rather, it is the story of how God reached down to help a fallen mankind that could not help itself.

He did so in a most remarkable and totally unexpected way.

Jesus was not a military leader sent to overthrow the oppressors by force.

He was not sent to influence those whom the world considered the movers and the shakers of the age.

Instead, He came into the world as a helpless baby.

A baby born to humble parents in a stable.

Even the first to be told of His birth were but simple shepherds.

But as I said, this is just the beginning of the story.

In practically no time, He set about His Father’s work.

In time, He went on to dine with sinners and tax collectors.

He healed lepers that were outcast by society.

He healed the blind so that they might see and the lame so that they might walk.

He taught and preached not to the mighty but to the ordinary.

He told us to love God and to love our neighbor.

Most importantly, He showed us how to do this as well.

That is the middle of the story, but there is still more.

Jesus eventually makes His way to a cross and to an empty tomb beyond it.

Therein lies real hope for us all.

John 1:14 (NET) - Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Christmas decorations might be relegated to storage for another year.

I pray we do not do the same with our hearts.

Remember, the story is far from over.

In fact, it has just begun.

1 John 2:6 (NET) - The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 4, 2019.

I will be back here on Friday, January 11, 2019

Christmas Presence

I had reason to believe that something that occurred would upset a friend of mine.

At my earliest opportunity I checked in on this friend.

My suspicions were confirmed.

After a brief conversation, I determined my friend was not ready to talk about it.

I told this friend that I know that no one likes to be upset.

Before I left, I reminded this friend that they could reach out to me any time they desired.

I prayed for this friend.

I checked in on my friend every day or so.

I could tell my friend was feeling better about things but still had some distance to go.

My friend still did not wish to discuss matters.

I restated to them that I would continue to be there for them.

Once again, I prayed for my friend.

This process went on for a while.

My friend is now feeling much better.

They also know two things.

They know that I will be there for them.

They know that I will pray for them.

There are times when simply knowing someone is there can make a real difference.

We do not have to have to pry into what the other person considers personal.

We do not even have to offer advice.

We just need to make our presence known and pray.

My friend thanked me for being available.

1 John 2:6 (NET) - The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

All this caused me to reflect on the Christmas season.

It is the season in which we celebrate the way Christ made his presence known to humanity.

His presence came about in a new and totally unexpected way.

His presence is still felt today.

Hebrews 9:24 (NET) - For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

Christ is always there for us.

Shouldn’t we be there for each other?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 21, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, December 28, 2018

The Original Black Friday

I always look forward to Thanksgiving Day.

Not only is it a great time for personal reflection, it also means spending time with family and friends.

It is also a rather ironic time.

One day, we gather around the table and share with each other reasons why we are grateful.

The next day, many of us will hit the stores the moment the doors open to shop for material thongs.

In fact, the day after Thanksgiving Day has turned into the busiest shopping day of the year.

It even has earned its own name – Black Friday.

The shopping frenzy continues into Saturday which has earned its own title, that of Small Business Saturday.

Even the following Monday has claimed its own title – Cyber Monday.

Human beings are a funny lot.

One day we say we are grateful, the next days are about continued consuming of more and more and more.

As for me, I plan to avoid all the stores this weekend.

I even stocked up on necessities the week before so as not to get caught up in the madness.

What is most ironic is that the very best gift we can receive cannot be found in any store anywhere.

It was a gift first given about 2,000 years ago.

It was given on a Friday as well.

In some respects, on the blackest Friday of them all.

It was the day Jesus gave His all for all.

Mark 15:33 (NET) - Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

His gift that day is still available to us today.

All we need to do is accept it.

Romans 6:23 (NET) - For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is certainly something for which to give thanks,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 7, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, December 14, 2018

Healing Division

Well, the midterm elections are over.

I plan not to turn this into a one-sided political piece.

But there are some things worth considering.

There are some things that definitely concern me right now.

To say that the nation is extremely divided is an understatement.

Elections have ceased to be about objectively selecting the candidates we feel are best qualified.

Elections have degraded into another component of the “us versus them” mentality that we currently find ourselves in.

The media is not helping matters in that they categorize candidates, regions and even voters as either red or blue,

One of the other things that bothers me are the vast amounts of money that pour into the process.

One candidate amassed several million dollars to finance his campaign.

Despite his huge financing, his campaign failed to get him into office.

I try not to think of the millions of dollars more spent by others and the better uses society has for then.

So, now the elections are over and what exactly will we have?

We will have a blue House (a Democratic majority).

We will have a red Senate (a Republican majority).

How much in the way of actual progress can possibly emerge from this?

I still think about a divided nation in which each side is willing to demonize the other simply because they disagree.

Most importantly, I think about how Christ told us to love each other.

Yes, even those with whom we disagree politically.

It is okay if we disagree.

It is not okay for us to become disagreeable people in the process.

In two more years, we will find ourselves mired down in yet another election cycle.

In the meantime, there are some things we need to remember.

First, we must place our faith in the Lord; not politicians.

Second, the Lord is the source of real hope; not political parties.

Finally, we must find a way to love one another no matter how we decide to cast our votes.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET) - And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 16, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, November 23, 2018

That's Not My Job

I’ve been working for the same office for almost three decades now.

I recall the time when I first started working there.

I was new and learning.

I was assigned a task and worked at it until I reached an impasse.

I remember walking up to a female coworker and asking for her help.

She responded in a terse manner, “That’s not my job.”

Fortunately, I was able to find someone who helped me.

I made the decision there and then that I would never tell someone who needed my help, “That’s not my job”.

I understood two things even back then.

First of all, work is an activity God meant for mankind.

One of the tasks God gave Adam was to tend the Garden.

Genesis 2:15 (NET) - The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.

Second, we were created to help one another.

Galatians 6:2 (NET) - Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

This applies to the workplace as well.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”

There is truth in this but not always in the ways expected.

There are often times when a man (or in my earlier example, a woman) can remind us how NOT to treat others.

In Christ, we have the best teacher of all.

Christ not only told us to love one another, He demonstrated how as well.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NET) - Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 2, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, November 9, 2018

Truth Is Not Relative

Teaching an adult Sunday school class is one of my passions.

One of my goals is to challenge my students with material that requires them to think.

You see, God not only wants our hearts, he wants our minds as well.

Matthew 22:37-38 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

Teaching requires a great deal of learning on my part as well.

Most will define learning as the acquisition of new knowledge.

But, there is more to it than that.

It also means being willing to unlearn some things along the way.

The worlds of art, music and literature have ways of shaping our way of thinking.

A number of things we hold to be true as Christians have been shaped by these as well.

Even things that do not necessarily stand up to the test of Scripture.

One of the men I admire from history is Jan Hus who was martyred in 1415.

Hus said, “Therefore faithful Christian, seek the truth, listen to the truth, learn the truth, love the truth, speak the truth, adhere to truth and defend truth to the death.”

Hus understood that real truth was of God and therefore needed to be treated as such.

Hus continually sought the truth throughout his life.

He understood that “truth prevails.”

Or, at least it should.

I find it more than a bit disturbing that in today’s world, truth has been marginalized.

We have even found ways of making truth a relative concept.

We might, for example, say that what is true for one individual might not be true for another.

I wonder what Hus would have to say about that?

Hus knew that contradictory statements could not possibly both be the truth.

Hus even said that if shown a better truth, he would relinquish the one he held in favor of the superior.

Hus lived in constant search of the truth.

He was even willing to die defending it.

In today’s world, we tend to treat the truth lightly.

This is most unfortunate.

John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:31-32 (NET) - Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We do others a disservice when we allow the truth to be marginalized.

As Christians we have a moral obligation to defend the truth.

Of course, this will mean disagreeing with others from time to time.

That is fine as long as we remember we must love everyone including those with whom we disagree.

That means disagreeing without becoming disagreeable ourselves.

It means loving those who may choose not to love us in return… and that’s the truth.

Matthew 22:39-40 (NET) - The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 19, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, October 26, 2018

Priorities in a Hectic World

Matthew 6:33 (NET) - But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Now that Fall has arrived where I live more than the weather has changed.

My drive home often takes place at dusk.

It seems that drivers want to go faster and take more risks once the sun has gone down.

Part of it must be psychological.

Perhaps the oncoming darkness reminds drivers that there are few hours left in the day.

As a result, they rush about in an attempt to get things done.

Yet when it comes to spiritual matters, broadly speaking, I think many of us lack a similar sense of urgency.

To be honest, not one of us knows how much time we have remaining to us.

Some of us may have years or even decades.

Others have mere days or perhaps hours.

Yet we seem to rush about placing more emphasis on the here and the now rather than the eternal.

We stay busy but accomplish little.

We are bombarded with information, but do we really learn?

Scripture reminds us to seek the Kingdom of God first.

We tend to lose sight of this in a world that gets more hectic with each passing day

So, pause.

Take a breath.

Reassess your priorities.

God not only wants to be first in our lives, he expects this.

When we place God first, a wonderful thing happens,

He helps us prioritize everything else!

Luke 12:34 (NET) - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 5, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, October 12, 2018

Finishing the Race

Revelation 21:4 (NET) - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist anymore—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.

I have been a fan of auto racing for a very long time.

As with every sport, sometimes a story emerges that transcends the sport itself.

Weeks ago, one emerged that resonated within me and with fans all across America.

It was a story about an 11-year old boy diagnosed with leukemia.

This young man’s name was Caleb Hammond and he was a bigger fan than I could ever hope to be.

With treatments proving ineffective, it was decided that he would leave the hospital and live out his remaining days at home.

But Caleb did far more than that.

In August, Caleb was invited to Southern Iowa Speedway.

There, he learned that he would get to live his dream.

He would be able to race his own car on the track.

Later, he was able to take a ride in a Ferrari on a racetrack.

Shortly thereafter, the news broke that Caleb wanted racing stickers to adorn his coffin.

The racing community responded.

Drivers and teams sent boxes full of stickers to help fulfill Caleb’s final wish.

Caleb left this earthly life days ago.

With racing this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, several drivers honored Caleb with “Team Caleb” stickers on their cars.

When weather postponed the race until after Caleb’s death, the Speedway honored his memory with a moment of silence.

There are those who will say that Caleb lost his battle.

I prefer to think that he won it.

Death is an eventuality that all must face in the end.

I pray that when my time comes, I can face it with the courage of this 11-year old.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NET) - I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 21, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, September 28, 2018

Do Not Grow Weary

Matthew 7:12 (NET) - In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

As I get older, I find that the world is changing.

I was taught the above words by my parents when I was very young.

Other passages of scripture have different wording, but the meaning is the same.

Luke 6:31 (NET) - Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

The book of Galatians more closely resembles the wording found in Mark’s gospel.

Galatians 5:14 (NET) - For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

When I was young, we referred to this as the golden rule.

When my parents taught me this, their aim was to teach me love and kindness for others.

But they did not teach me with words only.

Their instruction also included examples.

They taught me to hold the door open for others.

They taught me to compliment others.

They provided many other examples as well.

To put it in the most basic of terms, what they taught me was to be kind.

They must have taught me well as I have done these things for a number of decades.

But now as I grow older, I see that the world is changing.

Holding the door open, especially for a lady, can now be considered sexist.

Even an innocent compliment meant to brighten someone’s day can easily be taken out of context.

Frankly, I never would have guessed when I was young that the world would have changed so much in my lifetime.

Be that as it may, I must continue to put into practice the lessons my parents instilled.

More importantly, I must do as Jesus instructed.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NET) - So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 7, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, September 14, 2018

One Master

Matthew 6:24 (NET) - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

These words have been on my mind a great deal lately.

They clearly indicate that each of us must make a choice between serving God or serving money.

But it’s the first part of the verse that I find myself reflecting on.

The part about trying to serve two masters and loving only one of them.

I think if you were to ask 100 people what my purpose is in this world, you would likely get 100 different answers.

It does not matter if you ask people at the corporate level or even people I work with in person daily.

It does not even matter if you ask people with whom I go to church.

I think everyone asked would define my role in a different way.

Their definition would likely revolve around what I specifically do for them.

I think this applies to most people.

Does that mean we should select only one to love?

Quite the contrary.

It means loving and helping everyone God has placed in our lives.

By doing that, we are ultimately serving God and God remains our one and only master.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 17, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, August 24, 2018

Escape Plan

I had the privilege of listening to a speaker Sunday afternoon.

He spoke of how he and his family escaped from an oppressive regime several decades ago.

He spoke of obstacles such as barbed wire, watch towers and armed guards with dogs.

When he finished describing these and other deterrents he added one important point.

These deterrents were not meant to keep people from entering.

They were put in place expressly to keep people from leaving.

The regime was determined to hang on to its population no matter how the people felt about it.

It was willing to use even the most extreme measures to accomplish this.

Satan can be compared to that regime.

He does not want any within his grasp to escape either.

He does not use things like barbed wire and armed guards.

Rather, he relies on temptation to both capture people and keep them ensnared.

He even tried this with Jesus Christ.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus went into the desert and fasted for forty days.

There, Satan tried to tempt Jesus.

Jesus resisted all of Satan’s temptations.

Human beings are not as resilient.

Any of us can find ourselves tempted to the point of becoming and remaining captive.

But God has provided us with a way out.

An escape plan that will work.

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 provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 3, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, August 10, 2018

No Plan B

We had a rather important meeting scheduled recently.

Moments before the meeting started, we had an equipment failure.

I quickly came up with a different option.

This was my Plan B.

One thing experience has taught me is preparedness.

I immediately formulated a third plan in case my second plan failed.

A short time later, it did.

I had to put my third plan into motion.

Having done that, I immediately formulated a fourth plan, just in case.

Fortunately, I did not have to put that fourth plan into action.

As human beings, we make both plans and backup plans.

Fortunately for us, God has a plan and He has no need of a backup plan.

Each of us is a part of His plan.

When God told Isaiah of his future as a prophet, Isaiah resisted.

God reminded Isaiah of His plan.

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

Jesus Christ Himself was part of the plan from the very beginning.

John1:1-3 (NET) - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

Even our salvation itself was part of the plan from the very beginning.

Ephesians 1:4 (NET) - For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

We are not here by accident or coincidence.

Each of us is a part of God’s plan.

A plan that has always been in place and cannot fail.

God requires no “Plan B”.

That is something we can all rely upon.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 20, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, July 27, 2018

Love Rather Than Fear

Not long ago there was a knock on my door.

I opened it and was quite surprised to find a group of children standing there.

Two of them I recognized as they live next door.

The others I did not know at all.

One thing that also caught my attention was the little girl who stood furthest away.

Unlike the other children, her expression was one of concern.

One of the children I knew well explained that they were playing and got their ball stuck in a tree.

I suppose one of the two who knew me thought. “Hey, we know somebody tall!”

So, the children escorted me to the tree in which the ball was stuck.

As we walked I noticed that the one little girl still looked concerned and kept well away.

When we arrived at the tree I spotted the ball.

As I reached for it, I asked one of the children if anything was wrong with the little girl.

I was informed that she was the one who threw the ball and got it stuck in the tree.

I was also told, “She’s afraid you are mad at her.”

My heart melted.

The moment my hand grabbed the ball the children began clamoring for it.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” I said as I tossed it to the frightened child who stood far away.

She caught it and her fear suddenly disappeared.

My reward was a beautiful smile.

Our relationship with God can be like that.

Whether we want to admit it or not, sometimes we fear God.

We think of Him as distant and unapproachable.

We convince ourselves that we should keep our distance from Him.

We might even convince ourselves that God will be very angry with us if we draw too near.

We think that He might be unforgiving.

How wrong we are.

If we only trust in God’s kindness, we should be willing to approach God and admit our misdeeds both to ourselves and Him.

Romans 2:4 (NET) - Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

We must count on God’s love for us.

That means others should be able to count on our love as well.

Even the smallest among us.

1 John 4:7-8 (NET) - Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 6, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, July 13, 2018

Rescued

This week our church hosted its annual Vacation Bible School.

Although primarily designed for children, we also provide a class for adults.

After all, education is important throughout our lives.

It was my pleasure and privilege to lead the adult class once again this year.

Months ago, I selected a personal favorite from my video library,

The Pilgrim’s Progress has always held a special place in my heart.

I have read Bunyan’s Christian allegory a number of times.

I have lost count as to the number of times I have watched the modern movie adaptation.

Every time I watch the movie or read the book, some particular element will resonate within me.

This time was no different.

What struck me this time was the fact that Jesus never turns anyone away.

When Christian, the main character, knocked at the gate he was admitted in.

The gatekeeper reminded him that no one is turned away no matter what their past sins may have been.

Evangelist, a major character, reminded Christian that every sin can be forgiven,

Then there was the character known as Hopeful.

Hopeful felt that his past sins were too great to be forgiven.

The words of Christ provided both comfort and forgiveness.

“Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”

Hopeful’s relief was apparent in his thoughts: “He was able to make the worst of sinners righteous before God.”

On the fourth evening, I formally dismissed my class of adults.

I went outdoors as I was curious to see what the children were learning.

I watched as a good friend of mine asked the children what happens when we “mess up”.

In a unified voice they shouted, “Jesus Rescues!”

He does indeed!

May we be as forgiving.

James 2:13 (NET) - For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 15, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, June 22, 2018

Connections

“Do you know who I am?!?”

Chances are we have had this question screamed at us at least one time.

This is especially true if our profession puts us in contact with the general public.

It happened to me long ago when I worked in a store.

I am certain it still goes on in retail today.

People in law enforcement get their share of this as well.

Someone will take take out their frustrations on us and yell, “Do you know who I am?!?”

They will likely follow this question with a reminder of some connection they have to some person of importance.

Someone whom they believe can threaten our livelihood.

But every coin has two sides.

What about those of us on the receiving end of such tirades?

We have some powerful connections as well.

Take our Father, for example.

Romans 8:14-15 (NET) - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”

What about our Brother?

He is important as well.

Romans 8:29-30 (NET) - And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

When it comes to connections, the world has none more powerful than these,

That said, we are reminded not to repay such treatment in kind.

Our connections are already aware of the situation we are in.

Psalm 33:13-15 (NET) - The Lord watches from heaven; he sees all people. From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth’s inhabitants. He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.

There is one thing that goes along with having such powerful connections.

They require us to forgive.

In the heat of the moment, this is not the easiest thing for us to do.

We must remember that we have already been forgiven.

Ephesians 4:31--32 (NET) - You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Forgiveness is not always easy for us.

It is likely the one thing that Christians struggle with most.

But we do not have to face the challenge alone.

There is an old hymn that reminds us to “take it to the Lord in prayer”.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 1, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, June 8, 2018

Thoughts on Resurrection

I am currently teaching a class on Heaven.

This also makes some discussion concerning resurrection a necessity.

People tend to struggle with the concept of resurrection and understandably so.

Some simply cannot understand how a lifeless and decayed body could possibly be resurrected.

A look at scripture can help us better understand this.

First, let’s examine what Jesus did for Lazarus.

The book of John tells us that Jesus loved Lazarus.

When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus.

Before Jesus arrived, Lazarus died and was buried.

In fact, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days when Jesus arrived.

Jesus ordered the stone covering the tomb to be removed and Martha objected.

John 11:39 (NET) - Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.”

The tomb was unsealed, and Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of it.

Lazarus emerged from the tomb and Jesus commanded that his wrappings be removed.

Lazarus was once again among the living.

The Old Testament also provides some insight into the concept of resurrection.

The Lord brought Ezekiel into a valley full of dry bones.

The Lord asked Ezekiel if the dry bones could live?

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to them.

Ezekiel 37:7--8 (NET) - So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied—I heard a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. As I watched, I saw tendons on them, then muscles appeared, and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath in them.

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy once more.

Ezekiel 37:10 (NET) - So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.

Lazarus had been entombed for four days.

The bones in Ezekiel’s valley had been dead far, far longer.

Scripture refers to these bones as “dry”.

This implies a state that goes even beyond death.

Is resurrection possible?

Absolutely!

God spoke the universe into being.

Even the tomb in which Jesus was laid was found empty.

God’s power is limitless.

1 Corinthians 15:42 (NET) - It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.

Death is no longer something to be feared.

If God can resurrect the dead, just imagine what He can do with the living.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 18, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, May 25, 2018

The Dark Alternative

I am preparing to teach a class in June on John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress.

This classic was published 340 years ago and has been translated in over 200 languages.

Bunyan populated his allegory with many characters including that of Apollyon.

This name can be found in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 9:11 (NET) - They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

In Bunyan’s classic, a mighty battle takes place between Apollyon and the main character, Christian.

A battle which Christian ultimately wins but only after a long and difficult struggle.

As I continued my preparations, it occurred to me that we do not hear much about Satan these days.

We might if the sermon is about Job.

Job 1:6-7 (NET) - Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”

Or, if the sermon is about Christ’s temptation.

Matthew 4:1 (NET) - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Other than these instances, we really don’t hear much about Satan these days.

We hear even less about Hell.

Times have certainly changed.

These days, we go out of our way not to make people feel uncomfortable.

But at what cost?

When we begin to care more for people’s feelings than we do for their eternal souls, we can do them a disservice.

Mentioning Satan or Hell, might make people feel uncomfortable.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

A little discomfort can be a great motivator for change.

Our focus should remain on the Trinity – The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

But one fact remains.

Many people today simply refuse to believe that Satan even exists.

That is perhaps the most powerful weapon in his arsenal.

We should emphasize the good and the positive.

But we must never forget for a moment that there is a dark alternative.

An alternative simply lying patiently in wait.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 4, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, May 11, 2018