Whatever the Storm

 

Psalm 89:9 (NRSVue) - You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

I do not live near the sea.

But this verse reminded me of a painting I saw as a child.

It was a seascape that depicted a storm.

The dark and ominous clouds made a perfect contrast to the lightning.

Huge waves formed by the turbulent wends were depicted in the background.

As they made their way to shore, they grew.

In the foreground, they crashed mightily upon the rocky shore.

This painting frightened me as a child.

Just thinking about it still makes me feel uneasy.

Just one gallon of water weighs more than 8 pounds (almost 4 kg).

As such, a large wave wields considerable power,

In Matthew 8, Jesus and His disciples travel by boat.

Jesus falls asleep.

A storm arises and the waves send water into the boat.

The disciples grow afraid.

In desperation, they wake Jesus!

Matthew 8:26 (NRSVue) - And [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm.

These are excellent reminders for us.

Life often becomes turbulent.

Adverse circumstances in life arise and multiply.

We might even feel like they are going to overwhelm us.

We can almost hear Christ say to us: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”

Christ has the power to conquer any storm, even those unrelated to the weather.

Christ was in the boat with His disciples when the storm came upon them.

He is also with us when adverse circumstances assail us.

He has the power to calm these storms as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 16, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 23, 2026

A Christmas Package

 

Isaiah 53:5 (NRSVue) - But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Christmas is upon us.

So why would I be opening with this verse from Isaiah?

After all, Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time.

It is supposed to be a celebration.

It is supposed to be about the birth of a child.

It is supposed to be about shepherds and angels.

It is supposed to be about glad tidings and peace on earth.

So why exactly would I open with that verse?

Perhaps I should explain.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

Christmas is about the moment when God reached down to us.

And God reached down in a most remarkable way.

But the birth of Christ is merely the beginning of the account.

Scripture also tells us about the life Jesus led.

It tells us how he reached out to those whom society ignored.

It also tells us what would ultimately befall the child whose birth we celebrate.

It tells of those who plotted against Him.

It tells of the one who betrayed Him.

It tells of the one who denied Him.

And it tells us of the price He paid.

Importantly, it tells us why.

Romans 8:32 (NRSVue) - He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else?

Yes, we should celebrate the birth of Christ.

But that is just the beginning of the story.

Fortunately for us, His death is not the end of the story.

For if we look beyond the cross, we will see an empty tomb.

So, celebrate the birth of Christ!

Just make certain you celebrate his entire life and resurrection.

Celebrate the fact that God reached down to us in such a remarkable way!

 

Christmas Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 2, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 9, 2026

Love Should Not Be Fleeting

 

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NRSVue) - Let all that you do be done in love.

I received a Christmas card this week that contained this verse.

I recalled a theme that I return to often during this time of year.

As I write this, city squares, homes, and businesses have been decorated for Christmas.

Although these decorations are beautiful reminders of the season, they will be taken down in a few short weeks.

They will be carefully packed away in boxes.

They will then be relegated to attics and storerooms.

There, they will be ignored.

In no time, they will be forgotten for much of the year.

This is unfortunate.

In a sense, hearts are the same way.

During this time of year, we tend to be more loving.

We tend to be more generous.

Perhaps we will be even more forgiving.

But once Christmas is over, we will put these things aside.

Like the decorations, they will be stowed away for another year.

This is most unfortunate.

To expound on Paul’s words, we should do everything in love… always!

The Christ whom we celebrate taught us this in His word and His actions.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

It is about how God reached down to us through Jesus,

1 John 4:19 (NRSVue) - We love because he first loved us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 19, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 26, 2025

Surprise Someone

Surprises are something we tend to enjoy.

This is especially true during the Christmas season.

For example, we might get that perfect gift from someone special.

We might even wonder how they knew just what gift to give us that would be so perfect.

Christmas itself is full of surprises.

When an angel told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, she was greatly surprised.  

When Joseph found out Mary was with child, he was certainly surprised.

He was again surprised when, in a dream, an angel told him to trust Mary and to name the child Jesus.

When simple shepherds were told of His birth by an angel and a host from heaven, they were totally surprised.

When the wise men saw the star heralding His birth, they were surprised and set out to worship Him.

When Herod heard the news, he too was surprised and tried to trick the wise men into revealing His location.

When the wise men failed to return to him, he was surprised once more.

But the surprises did not end there.

Many expected the Messiah to be a military leader or a political figure with great influence.

Instead, God surprised them with a baby born to humble parents in a stable.

The surprises continued later in His life.

People were surprised at His miracles – the healing of the sick and the raising of the dead.

The price He paid for our salvation was surprising as well.

The Son of God willingly laid down His life for all sinners for all time.

Another surprise awaited on the third day when the tomb was found empty.

The Christmas account is full of surprises.

The life of Jesus and all He did was just as surprising.

Even the end of his earthly journey had surprises to offer.

Christmas is just the beginning of a story that is full of surprises.

But Christmas is just that - the beginning.

It is the perfect gift from Someone special!

It is God’s perfect gift to us; a gift He wants us to share with others.

John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

So, why not surprise someone and share the Good News?

After all, is there a better time than Christmas in which to share?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 20, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 27, 2019

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

The Gift of Hope

As I write this, Christmas is but a few days away.

Over the years the celebration of Christmas has grown.

This is particularly true from a secular point of view.

At times it appears that the secular celebration of Christmas has overtaken the spiritual.

I plan to celebrate Christmas with church services and gatherings with family and friends.

We observe Christmas as a time when God became man and dwelt among us.

In the rather short time Jesus walked among us He did many things.

He healed the sick.

He raised the dead.

He did many other things as well.

We call these things signs and miracles.

They say to the world that Jesus is exactly who He is; the Son of God.

Christmas is a celebration of the beginning of that journey.

While celebrations like Christmas grow in popularity others see a decline.

This is especially true when it comes to Easter which is only weeks away.

I think it is safe to say that far more people celebrate Christmas than observe Easter.

This is unfortunate.

We must never forget that His earthly journey had an end as well as a beginning.

It was a journey that led to a cross and an empty tomb beyond it.

That first Christmas, God gave man a very special gift

He gave us His Son.

At the end of that journey, God gave man another gift.

He gave us the gift of hope.

1 Peter 1:3-6 (NET) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

I hope you are able to celebrate Christmas with church and family and friends.

I also hope you can stick around for the rest of the story.

For therein lies real hope for us all.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Praise and Courage

Psalm 145:4 (NET) - One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts!

This Psalm of praise is a reminder.

First, it is a reminder that we should praise God.

Second, it is a reminder that each generation shares its praise with the next.

As we continue our journey through Advent we are also reminded of God’s greatest deed and mightiest act.

God was merciful to a fallen and disobedient world.

It is remarkable that His mightiest act came about through the innocence of one special child.

A child born to humble and obedient parents in an obscure village.

A child whose earthly journey began in a manger and ended on a cross.

While He lived among us He did remarkable things.

He also gave those closest to Him the power to do some remarkable things as well.

The book of Acts reminds us how a new generation was shown the way.

Acts 5:13-14 (NET) - None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women.

Those who witnessed these acts became believers.

They also held the apostles in high esteem.

Even so, scripture reminds us that they did not dare join them.

Although many generations have passed, we are not that much different.

We believe.

We may even have a great deal of respect for the apostles and those who followed in their footsteps.

But do we have the courage to join them?

Perhaps the Psalmist did more than praise God.

Perhaps he gave us some insight on how we can find that courage.

Psalm 145:5-7 (NET) - I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds! They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts! I will declare your great deeds! They will talk about the fame of your great kindness, and sing about your justice.

I wish you a blessed Christmas and, together, let us pray for peace in the coming year

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 6, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, January 13, 2017

Say It Like You Mean It

I went to the post office to buy some stamps.

There were several people ahead of me in line each with packages to ship.

With each transaction, a receipt was printed.

Each time the clerk pointed to a spot on the receipt and said to the customer, “Here is your tracking number.”

When my turn came, I requested my stamps and paid for them.

A receipt was printed for me as well.

The clerk paused before handing it to me.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“I don’t see your tracking number,” she stated.

As my transaction was a purchase, there was no tracking number.

Knowing how busy she is this time of year I thought she could use a laugh.

“That’s okay,” I replied, “I’ll try to remember where I put them.”

We shared the laugh and I departed.

As humorous as this event was, it did force me to think about how much of the season becomes routine.

Routines are things we do automatically.

They require little thought.

They are comfortable.

Even wishing someone “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas” can become automatic.

As we continue our journey through Advent, perhaps we should turn the autopilot off.

We should consider just why it is that Christmas makes us merry and happy.

Christmas celebrates the birth of a baby born to humble parents in an obscure village.

A baby who was born in a stable instead of a palace.

Even the first to hear the news were but simple shepherds, not the rich and powerful.

This is how He came into the world.

This was His first step in His journey among us.

It was a journey that began in a stable and ended at a cross.

How could this possibly make us merry or happy?

There is no simple, easy cookie cutter answer.

The fact that He took this journey willingly for our benefit is part of it.

The fact that this was the only way to make us right with God is another.

The fact that this is a reminder that He is coming again is the best reason of all.

We celebrate Christmas because it was the defining moment when God reached down to a fallen world.

And He did so in the most remarkable way.

Luke 2:10-11 (NET) - But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

Go ahead and say “Merry Christmas!”

Just make certain that you mean it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 16, 2016.

I will be back here on Friday, December 23, 2016

Heaven Came Down

There will be a full moon this Christmas.

This is a bit of a rare event.

The last time there was a full moon on Christmas was in 1977.

As I thought about this, I considered the influence the moon has on our planet.

Because we have a moon, the wobble in the earth’s axis is minimized.

Without the moon, this wobble would be considerably more dramatic.

There would be no seasons as we currently know them.

Earth’s climate would undergo radical and continual change,

The moon, along with the sun, influences the tides.

The moon has even more influence on the tides than the sun because it is so much closer to the earth.

We don’t always see the moon.

Several times a year, we experience what we call a new moon.

We cannot see it at all because of the shadow of the earth.

At other times, cloud cover obscures our view of the moon.

What is important to remember is that the moon continues to have a profound influence on the earth whether we see it or not.

A similar thing can be said of Jesus.

We set aside Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

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.

Our lives were forever changed.

That first Christmas was not the day we reached up to God.

That first Christmas was the day God reached down to us.

Jesus has a profound influence on our lives.

That influence continues to exist even during the times we fail to see Him.

There are times when the events of the world try to hide Him in the shadows.

There are times when we attempt to obscure our own ability to see Him.

What is important to remember is that Jesus continues to have a profound influence on our lives whether we see Him or not.

Some say that Christmas is a time for children.

There is a grain of truth in what they say, but they are missing the bigger picture.

John 1:12 (NET) - But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children

I wish you a blessed Christmas!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 1, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 8, 2016

Don’t Limit Christmas to One Day

I chose to write this the very moment that Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day.

While Christmas is always special, I feel especially blessed this Christmas.

God continues to surround me with wonderful people who both love me and encourage me.

Some of these people I see daily in the workplace.

Some I see weekly in the Sunday school class I teach and the church in which I worship.

With the assistance of technology and social media I am surrounded by still more.

Many of these people I will never be fortunate enough to meet face to face in this world.

It is both comforting and amazing to think that I will be able to do so in the next.

It is comforting in the sense that heaven is a reality in which no one will be a stranger.

It is amazing in the sense this is only possible because of the One whose birth we celebrate at this time of year.

This sense of amazement is multiplied when one really contemplates the significance of that birth.

That is one of the things that truly separates Christianity from all other religions.

Christianity is not about how a fallen man attempts to reach up to God.

Christianity is about how God reached down to a fallen man through Jesus Christ.

It is about how God planned for our salvation from the very beginning.

The Son of God had to be born into this fallen world.

He then had to live among us.

He had to be subjected to hunger, thirst and temptation.

He had to be subjected to ridicule and rejection.

He had to be subjected to abandonment, torture and, yes, even death.

Yet never once did He sin.

Always, He forgave.

During His time among us, He taught us how to live.

He taught that it was important that we have a good relationship with God.

He also emphasized that it was important for us to have a good relationship with others.

In the coming days, we will take down all of the decorations we put up for Christmas.

We will pack them into boxes and relegate them to attics and storage rooms to lie all but forgotten for another year.

Please, let us not do that with Jesus.

Let us continue to celebrate all that He continues to be each and every day of the year.

Let us do that as we reach out to a world that chooses to live in darkness rather than step into His light.

Let us forge now the relationships that will last throughout eternity.

John 3:17 (NET) – For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 2, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 9, 2014

More Than One Kind of Messenger

Luke 1:31 (KJV) - And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 

As our journey through Advent continues, I reflected on this verse.

This was one of four verses I selected for this season.

I selected this verse because God sent the angel to Mary to tell her that she would bear the Son who would save mankind.

The angel even told her the name chosen for Him, Jesus.

As I reflected on this I remembered that Mary’s initial reaction to the angel was one of fear.

Luke 1:30 (KJV) – And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.

After Jesus is born, an angel announces His birth to shepherds.

It was neither the rich nor the powerful who first learned of His birth.

The first to learn of it were simple and humble shepherds.

Like Mary, their initial reaction was one of fear.

Luke 2:9 (KJV) - And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

The angel tells them not to fear because he brings wonderful news for all people everywhere.

Luke 2:11 (KJV) – for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

A “multitude of the heavenly host” then appeared before them praising God.

What an awesome sight this must have been.

What wonderful news they received.

Scripture tells us that after the angels departed the shepherds responded by going to Bethlehem to see firsthand what they were told about.

Angels have been used by God as messengers.

God wants us to be messengers as well.

Isn’t now an excellent time to share the Good News with those we know?

Shouldn’t we help them break down the walls of fear and doubt?

Shouldn’t we be willing to show them real hope?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The  Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 19, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 26, 2014

Preparing for Advent

The dictionary defines the word advent as “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.”

Advent has its roots in the Latin word adventus which means “coming”.

The Season of Advent in the Christian calendar includes the four Sundays preceding Christmas and this Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent.

Though we celebrate the earthly birth of Christ on December 25, Advent marks the time in which we prepare our hearts for that day.

As there are four Sundays in Advent prior to Christmas, I thought I would select four passages of Scripture to help me in preparing my heart.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah’s words preceded Christ by centuries.

This reminds me that God’s promise is true and that He provided for our salvation through Christ who came to live among us.

Luke 1:31 (KJV) - And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, JESUS.

These were the angel’s words to Mary.

God sent the angel to Mary to tell her that she would bear the Son who saves mankind.

He even told her the name chosen for Him, Jesus.

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) - Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

This reminds me that men anticipated His arrival and understood the appropriate response was to seek Him out and worship Him.

Matthew 3:17 (KJV) - And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This reminds me that God Himself told the world that this was indeed His Son and that He loved Him.

These are the verses that I have chosen for myself for this Season of Advent to help me prepare my heart to celebrate His birth.

They will serve to remind me that His coming into the world was foretold by the prophets and ordained by God.

They will remind me to seek Him out and worship Him.

They will remind me that there can be absolutely no doubt as to who Jesus is.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The  Other Brother Jim

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

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

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.

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.

No Vacancy

Christmas is over and New Year’s Day is almost upon us.

The stores have now cleared the shelves of all the decorations, lights, cards, wreaths and anything else Christmas related.

Now these items have been relegated to bargain bins where their prices will drop in stages until they are all sold.

They have been displaced by candy, cards, flowers, gifts and other items associated with Valentine’s Day.

It is as if the merchants are telling us in a not so subtle way that there simply is no room for Christmas anymore.

This brought to my mind a particular verse from Luke.

Luke 2:7 (NET) - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I once heard a minister on television say something that I will always remember.

He referred to Easter and Christmas as ‘the annual pilgrimages’ which brought a laugh from his congregation.

I’ve always held that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.

Speaking in very broad terms, some do seem to make a big fuss about Jesus once or twice a year but not nearly as much the remainder of the year.

Now that Christmas is over, we go back to our routines.

Our time away from work and school is over and the demands on our time and resources begin to pile up.

Little by little things begin to creep in and place demands on our attention.

We may start by thinking about things like bills that need to be paid and taxes that never go away.

The well being of family and friends are an ever present concern.

Our profession, or our education, then make huge demands of us.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

You see, some have made room for Jesus in the inn that is their heart over Christmas.

That is a good thing.

But now that Christmas is over, some will become preoccupied by these other things.

Little by little, they will allow these things to occupy more and more space in their hearts.

The room they have created for Him will grow smaller with each passing day.

Eventually, like the inn in Luke, there will no longer be any room left for Him.

Just like the Christmas merchandise that now resides in bargain bins, they will set Him aside until next Christmas, or perhaps Easter.

What a pity that is.

Especially when you consider all that He has done for us.

Each of us probably knows at least one person who has made room in their heart for Jesus this Christmas.

Why not help them keep room in their heart for Him.

Here is a great place to start.

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, January 4, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.

Some Things Never Change

Someone once said that the only constant in the universe is change.

I am forced to agree with that, at least to a point.

I recently drove past the location where my father’s place of business once stood.

My father died several decades ago and where his business once stood there is now an empty lot.

My father repaired televisions and radios but even those forms of communication have changed.

Vacuum tubes have been replaced by transistors and computer chips.

When televisions break down today, people are far more inclined to replace them.

I remember when televisions were considered furniture and came in wooden cabinets in various finishes.

Televisions that had 25 inch screens once required two strong men just to move them.

Now, a flat panel television of equal screen size can easily be handled by one individual.

I grew up in an era where there were only three local channels to choose from.

Now, I have hundreds of channels at my disposal but sadly only a few offer something worth my time to watch.

Speaking of change, I noticed that the number of Christmas cards I mailed out this year is much smaller than it once was.

Many of the friends and relatives I once mailed Christmas cards to in years past have passed away and so the number of cards diminishes at an almost alarming rate.

Change even impacts the church I continue to attend.

Photographs of our former pastors as well as our current pastor line one wall in the narthex of our church.

I have been privileged to know three of these men of God personally.

Each has been an inspiration but each performed his work for the Lord in his unique way.

Yes, change is an inevitable part of life and I will no doubt witness still more change while I inhabit this world.

Yet, there are some constants in this world that I can count on.

The first is that Jesus never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 (NET) - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!

The second is that the love of Jesus never changes.

Ephesians 5:2 (NET) - and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

In a world where change appears to be constant, my Christmas wish for us is that we remember Jesus and His love for us will never change.

Nothing in the universe can ever change this.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 30,, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 6, 2011.
Schedule subject to change.

Really Celebrating Christmas

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."

The Christmas Program our church presented was a resounding success.

I am not just saying that because I was in it.

My performance, if one were to venture to call it that, was hardly a performance.

Anna, an extremely talented lady in my church family, writes the Christmas Program for us every year.

Her theme this year was "What Christmas Is" as opposed to what it is not.

Each scene opened with what Christmas "is not", be it expensive gifts or fancy meals or other such things that are really not necessary to truly celebrate Christmas.

My role was to let each scene develop and then enter stage left and more or less set the record straight.

As I was portraying myself delivering dialog that I personally agreed with, I could hardly consider that acting.

To quote my last line...

"Christmas is the Holy celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and we should include our Savior in our celebration. And He loves even the simplest expression of our love and commitment."

Thank you, Anna.

I could not have written it any better than that.

We tend to get so carried away with our celebrations that we tend to let the preparations crowd out the real reason for celebrating in the first place. Namely, Jesus Himself.

John 1:12-13 (NET) - But to all who have received Him - those who believe in His Name - He has given the right to become God’s children - children not born by human desire, or a husband’s decision, but by God.

Jesus is God’s gift of mercy to us.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus because we would be totally lost without Him.

We can include a variety of activities in our celebrations, even church Christmas programs, as long as those activities do not distract us from the real reason for celebration.

Bearing that in mind, I wish you and yours a merry and blessed Christmas which includes our Savior!


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 23,, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 30, 2011.
Schedule subject to change.

Acting the Part

Philippians 4:13 (NET) - I can do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Thanksgiving Day is now a memory and now we now find ourselves preparing for Christmas.

There is a photograph being shared on the Internet of two houses side by side.

The house on the left is decorated for Christmas with many strings of colorful lights that obviously took its owners days of preparation.

The house on the right has only a single strand of white lights adorning it that spells out the word "DITTO".

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, I admit that I lean more to the house on the right.

That is especially true for me this year.

Just when I thought I could not fit much more on my plate, I now find myself rehearsing for a role in the Christmas program that my church will present.

I am not an actor by any stretch of the imagination, but I must admit that I am actually looking forward to this having read the script.

I look forward to it for several reasons.

First, the program has a really good message.

Second, it will give me the opportunity to work with my church’s young people.

I am really impressed by our young people and the adults that supervise and teach them.

I admit that this is taking me well outside my comfort zone.

God seems to have been doing that for me a great deal over the course of the last few years.

Notice that I said that He has been "doing that for me" instead of "doing that to me".

Sometimes it almost feels like God is doing things to us when He takes us out of our comfort zones.

In reality, He does these things for us allowing us to grow spiritually.

So, there is yet a third reason why I am looking forward to this.

I may not know all the reasons why God is giving me this opportunity.

There is one thing I do know...

As the verse I opened with states, He will be there with me through it all.


Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 9, 2011.

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 16, 2011.

Schedule subject to change.

An Unforgettable Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time.

For me, the two most difficult times in my life occurred around my birthday and around Christmas.

I was my parents' only surviving child.

Father died many years ago and was laid to rest on my nineteenth birthday.

Birthdays seemed less special after that.

Mother was forty years old when I was born and because of the differences in our ages, I became her primary caregiver making sure she had everything she needed before I went to work each day.

She suffered from severe arthritis, but was otherwise in good health and mentally sharp as Christmas drew near a few years ago. In fact, we talked about our plans for Christmas during the last conversation we were to have.

Then suddenly, mere days before Christmas, she became critically ill and, as her only surviving child, the decision to take her off life support fell squarely on me.

If you have never had to make such a decision, I hope that you never have to. It is without doubt one of the most gut wrenching decisions that has to be made and knowing that it is the right thing to do is of little comfort.

If you have had to make that decision, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

I knew I could not make this decision alone.

I leaned harder on God that day than I ever leaned on Him before.

Looking back, I honestly believe that He wanted me to lean on Him.

God used those circumstances to both tear me down and then rebuild me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Though this was the most difficult decision I had ever faced, the difficulties continued.

I then began handling the arrangements for her services.

I had to call family and friends and break the news to them (most thought I was calling to wish them "Merry Christmas").

Some had already left town for the holidays and sadly a few did not find out until they returned.

When her funeral ended, I was absolutely exhausted.

That night, I slept the kind of sleep that my physical body had been craving for days.

When I awoke the next morning, the realization of what had transpired over the prior days was immediate.

There was also something else. There was also a deep sense of peace within me.

John 14:27 (KJV) - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I also felt His message in my heart...

"I just got you through the most difficult days of your lifetime. I will get you through others. All you need do is trust Me."

I will never forget what that felt like.

I also have no trouble sharing that with others.

In the years that have followed, I can honestly and confidently say that He has transformed my life.

I serve Him now in ways that I could neither have foreseen nor imagined.

One more thing...

In spite of the loss, I still love Christmas and celebrating the birth of my Savior.

Certainly, there are moments that are still painful.

There's that one song I hear during the holidays that always gets to me.

There's also that one Christmas movie that I can't through without tears.

Last year, it was a particular aroma coming from my host's kitchen that did it.

These and other things remind me of the special relationship I had with Mother.

Yet, I know that it is okay for me to miss her.

As a believer, I know I can still love her.

In the end, love is what Christmas is all about.

It is not about how we try to reach up to God.

Rather, Christmas is about how God loved us so much that He reached down to us through Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 (KJV) - For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


In loving memory of "Mom" Pokorny (as she was known by many) I wish you a Merry Christmas,













Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, December 17, 2010.

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

I'll be back here on Friday, December 24, 2010.