Risky Business

The dictionary defines “risky” as “full of the possibility of danger, failure or loss.”

How true that is!

Type the word “risky” into a search engine and you will find pages devoted to the pandemic.

This is a good barometer as to the level of fear currently in the world.

Others, however, enjoy risk.

Some race motorcycles, some dive off cliffs and some climb huge rocks.

When asked why they do so, many of them admit to being “adrenaline junkies”.

They enjoy living on the edge where most of us would dare not tread.

But you do not have to partake in these activities or face a pandemic to be a risk taker.

Many take the biggest risk of all without realizing it.

They are the people who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

They are the biggest risk takers of all.

Many of them assume that this life is all that there is,

In their way of thinking, you are born, you live, you die… end of story.

But it is far from the end of the story.

Jesus had some cautionary words for those who live for this world only.

Mark 8:36 (NET) - For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?

Many put off seeking this relationship.

They rationalize this by thinking they have plenty of time in which to seek Him.

But unlike a timed sporting event, not one of us knows exactly how much time remains.

Unlike football, there is no two-minute warning.

The current pandemic bears that out.

Having a personal relationship with Jesus means knowing that it is not about us.

It is about Him.

This is a radical change in perspective.

Lives are changed and very important lessons are learned.

We learn the amount of time we have left is less important than what we choose to do with it.

We learn that we have nothing to fear; not even from the pandemic.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NET) - For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

But be forewarned.

A relationship with Christ does not guarantee a life of safety.

Many have paid with their lives simply by following Christ.

It will not always be easy.

Like Peter, you just might have to step out of the boat.

Matthew 14:37 (NET) - So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

A relationship with Jesus brings its own kinds of risk, but the rewards are worth it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 7, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 14, 2020

Promises, Promises

There are many passages of scripture which remind us that God keeps his promises.

Although true, it is important that we keep our promises as well.

We must keep our promises to God.

Matthew 5:33 (NET) - “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’

We must also keep our word when we make promises to others.

Numbers 20:2 (NET) - If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.

Probably the easiest promises to break begin with the words: “If there is anything that I can do…”

Such promises are easily made because we do not expect the other person to take us up on it.

If this is the case, it is better that we do not make the promise at all.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, friends I knew well began a new ministry,

I was in contact with one individual by email when it began.

I responded: “If there is anything that I can do…”

As communications continued, there was no mention of my offer to help.

Time went by as did the emails.

In time, I forgot about my offer.

Recently, I was contacted by another friend associated with this new ministry.

Early into our telephone conversation he expressed their need for assistance.

My words to my other friend echoed back to me: “If there is anything that I can do…”

The fact that the promise I made was to a different friend made no difference.

My promise was to that ministry.

That promise I will keep.

Matthew 5:37 (NET) - Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 17, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 24, 2020

There is Always Hope

Father’s Day was Sunday.

Although my father died almost forty years ago, my thoughts turned to him days before.

You see, I had to replace my broken television and my father repaired these for a living decades ago.

Now, these items and many others have become disposable.

We buy them.

We use them until they either break or a newer one comes along.

Then, we replace them.

It’s that way with many things today.

It has even been said that we live in a “disposable society”.

Sometimes, we might even look upon people as disposable.

Even some who claim to be Christians might look upon someone else as “beyond hope”.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

1 John 1:9 (NET) - But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

Even on our best day, we cannot save anyone.

But when we say that someone is beyond hope, we attempt to put limits on God.

God has no limits.

Matthew 19:25-26 (NET) - The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.”

People, unlike appliances, should never be considered disposable.

I thank God for the father he gave me.

I also thank Him for the time we had together.

My father taught me many things while he lived.

Although he is gone, I can still learn things indirectly four decades later.

One thing is certain.

I will always have God, my Heavenly Father.

Nothing on earth can change that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 3, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 10, 2020

What Do You Think?

Like many, I was saddened by the news of the recent passing of Ravi Zacharias.

There were many things I liked about listening to him.

I liked his voice.

I liked his message.

Most of all, I liked the fact that he always made me think.

That was really the heart of his mission: helping thinkers believe and helping believers think.

Not bad for someone who experienced an unsuccessful suicide attempt in his youth.

While the 17-year-old Zacharias recovered in the hospital, he turned to scripture.

There he found the risen Jesus and his life was never the same.

Neither were the countless lives of those touched by his ministry.

This put me in mind of another man who started out not believing in God.

As a young man, C. S. Lewis had given up on God.

God had certainly not given up on him.

God used his close literary friends to open both his heart and his mind.

His works of fiction like The Chronicles of Narnia and his works of non-fiction like Mere Christianity accomplished the same purpose.

Thinkers were helped to believe; believers were helped to think.

These men simply begin a list of people with a similar purpose.

It’s a funny thing.

From our youth we are told time and again that Jesus wants our hearts,

While true, it goes beyond that.

Jesus wants all of us.

That means He wants our minds as well.

He even said that loving God requires the mind and soul as well as the heart.

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

John Amos Comenius, whom I also admire, put it this way: “The mind is a great gift from God and to use it properly can be nothing less than an act of worship.”

The pandemic has made us miss out on a lot of things.

I think I miss teaching my Sunday school class most of all.

I always encouraged discussion concerning the materials we studied.

Those discussions helped develop the way we think, not just the way we feel.

In today’s world, we need to remember it’s important to ask, “What do you think?”

Zacharias and the others are gone.

I pray God will continue to raise up men who encourage us to use our minds as well as our hearts.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 5, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 12, 2020

Constants and Changes - Part 2

Those of you who follow my regular offerings here may notice this one is in a different format. This is intentional because of all that is going on around us. This piece is a continuation of my offering last week which can be accessed via the link at the bottom of the page,

COVID-19 continues to change our routines and even more changes are in store. As we try our best to cope, even more questions arise.

8. What is the Church? For many of us, our local churches play a significant role in our lives. By necessity, temporary suspensions of worship services including Sunday school, Bible studies, and outreaches are now a necessity. I will honestly say that this has impacted my life more than any other change. But there are two things we can immediately learn from this. First, the church is NOT the building. Second, the church is NOT simply a small group of people who gather on Sunday because they worship in the same way. The church is the entire body of believers worldwide with Christ as its head. The church is very much alive, and it is my prayer that it may blossom as never before when the current threat of COVID-19 subsides.

Ephesians 2:19-20 (NET) - So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

9. Has the Mission of the Church Changed? No. The mission of the church has not changed. The Great Commission remains unaltered. The world was in desperate need of hope before COVID-19 became a part of our vocabulary. That need is even more desperate now.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NET) - Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

10. Can We Pursue the Great Commission Right Now? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is a resounding “YES!” Congregations and individuals are meeting this challenge by spreading the word in new and creative ways. They are becoming more technologically adept. Pastors are delivering messages online. Individuals are turning to things like social media to share their faith with others. God is there to help us in these endeavors if we but turn to Him for guidance.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NET) - Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

11. What is Important? The importance of prayer cannot be overstated. This was true before COVID-19. It is true now. It will continue to be so as long as we dwell upon God’s earth.

Ephesians 6:18 (NET) - With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.

12. Can Any Good Come of This? YES! This answer should come as no surprise. But perhaps a reminder would be in order.

Romans 8:28 (NET) - And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

13. Is How We LIVE Important? The way we choose to live can speak volumes to those who do not know Christ or need to know Him better. A student of mine once stated: “We may be the closest thing to a Bible a person might encounter”. This is especially true as people choose to live in fear. Our love for God and for our fellow man should be plainly obvious to everyone right now. Especially those whose lives are governed by fear and suspicion. While others “look out for number one”, we should look up to God and out for our fellow man.

Matthew 5: 14-16 (NET) -  You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

14. Socially Distant? One of the consequences of COVID-19 is that we adopt “Social Distancing” to help reduce the spread of the virus. While we must (for now) adopt this for the good of all, my greatest concern is that it may have unintended consequences. Broadly speaking, we have already become socially distant from those less fortunate. Moreover, we have all witnessed how people immediately turn to their phones and devices rather than engage with those around them. Once the threat of COVID-19 subsides it might become even more tempting for us to remain socially distant. My prayer is that this period of isolation will make us hunger for more social interaction rather than less. Living in isolation is not what we were designed for.

John 10:10 (NET) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Our lives have changed in some radical ways. Certainly the most in living memory. This will pass! Things will get better! But until they do, let us remember how Jesus wants us to LIVE!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 3, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 10, 2020

All the Above

It has been an eventful week.

It has been full of people and events.

Some events were good.

Some were not so good.

A friend’s father passed away.

Another friend was due to be released from the hospital.

Some friends were able to help me out.

Some were not due to illness.

Some people asked for my help and were understanding.

Some demanded my help and were anything but understanding.

Some gave me clear instructions.

Others gave me instructions that weren’t so clear.

Someone broke into our facility and stole a piece of equipment,

This piece of equipment was used by our children.

I ordered materials for my class.

Some were delivered as expected,

Some got held up and I spent time on the phone sorting things out,

As you can see, some things went my way.

Some things did not go my way.

Some people were helpful and understanding.

Some people were not.

One got good medical news.

One did not.

One even took something used by children.

With everything tallied up, questions arise.

Who among these people needs my love and understanding?

Who among these people should I pray for?

I’ll admit this is a bit of a trick question, but I did give away the answer in the title.

All the people listed above I should love and try to understand.

All of them I should pray for.

This includes those that were difficult.

It even includes the one who stole from us.

Colossians 3:12-13 (NET) - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 1, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 8, 2019

The Seduction of Pride

I was recently asked to be one of several speakers at an upcoming event.

I agreed for two reasons.

First, I am familiar with the topic that interests the group.

Second, I was recommended to them by a close friend.

As the event was still weeks away, I turned my attention back to more pressing matters.

A few days later, the group requested my “bio” for the event.

Frankly, I never like submitting these.

Although organizers need them, I dislike them for two reasons.

In the first place, I do not like talking about myself.

In the second, it is easy to allow pride to take over.

Once pride takes over, we can easily overstate our importance.

Before I began, I thought about the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Jesus relates this parable in Luke 18.

He told it to some people who were convinced they were more righteous than others.

Luke 18:10-12 (NET) - “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

I was very glad I recalled this parable before I wrote my “bio” as it reminded me how not go about it.

The second part of this parable also proved very helpful.

Luke 18:13 (NET) - The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’

Keeping these verses in mind, I wrote my “bio”, keeping it to just a few simple lines and submitted it to the organizers.

I am glad that I took this approach.

Luke 18:14 (NET) - I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Pride, especially in one’s self, is extremely seductive.

It is easy to see why the ancients considered it one of the deadly sins.

It is so seductive that it can easily lead us to sin in other ways.

Most importantly, pride shifts our focus.

We shift our focus onto ourselves and away from God who rightfully deserves it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 2, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 9, 2019

Proof

The 50^th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing continues to be on my mind.

This is due in part because it is hard for me to believe 50 years of my life have elapsed since then.

But, there is more to it than that.

There are people who still refuse to believe this event took place.

Theories abound as to how this was all some elaborate hoax.

Although there is definite proof, some will never believe that man set foot on the moon in July 1969.

Faith is a bit like that.

Try as we might to share the Good News, some people will absolutely refuse to believe it is true.

Yet the evidence is all around us.

Romans 1:20 (NET) - For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

Christ gave his disciples specific instructions on what they were to do.

This is known as “The Great Commission” and can be found in the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 26:18-20 (NET) - Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Those instructions were not just for a handful of men who lived a long time ago.

They are for all believers for all time.

I once met and listened to a man who had a doctorate in theology.

He spoke about some of the most common questions he had been asked over the years.

One such question: How many people have you saved?

His reply: None. I am not Jesus!

Another question was: When were you saved?

His reply: At midday on a Friday about 2,000 years ago.

Faith is a matter of belief.

For those who find it, no amount of proof is necessary.

For those who do not, no amount of proof will ever be enough.

If that is the case, why should we take part in “The Great Commission” today?

I think the answer is a very simple one.

Because Jesus told us to do so.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 19, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 26, 2019

No Doubt

John 20:25 (NET) - The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”

The world is full of doubt.

We doubt the world will get better.

We doubt the economy will get better.

We doubt the news will get any better.

Many doubt the existence of God.

More doubt that Jesus was His Son.

The very same doubt His resurrection took place.

They are not alone.

A disciple named Thomas was told that the Lord was seen.

Thomas doubted.

He wanted proof.

He got the proof he wanted.

Eight days later the disciples gathered in a house.

The doors were locked.

Suddenly Jesus appeared beside them.

He wished them peace.

Then, He turned to Thomas.

John 20:27 (NET) - Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief but believe.”

Thomas no longer doubted.

In fact, He referred to Jesus as Lord.

John 20:29 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus really is the Son of God.

The same God who spoke the world into existence and called His work good.

God gave man free will.

It was mankind’s pride and disobedience that made a mess of things.

But the work of putting things right began with Jesus.

It is up to us to continue that work with the abilities He has given us.

Will the world ever be put completely right?

Yes, when Jesus returns all will be put right.

1 Peter 1:13 (NET) - Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

The work has already begun.

No doubt about it!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 3, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 10, 2019

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

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

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

Take Courage

Another week has gone by and another senseless tragedy has unfolded.

This one took place inside a church located in a small town only two hours away from me.

While the worship service was going on, a man armed with a rifle entered.

In all, 26 people were killed and still others were wounded.

Among the dead was the pastor’s 14 year old daughter.

Also killed was the visiting pastor.

There are so many people that need our prayers right now.

I pray for the surviving members of this church who are dealing with the kind of shock and anguish I cannot even begin to comprehend.

I pray for this small community where everyone knew at least one person who worshipped there.

I pray for others outside this community who might now be too afraid to go to church because of what happened.

I pray for other church leaders who now have to consider what steps they might take in light of this tragedy.

Of all my prayers, I find my prayers for this congregation’s pastor to be the most intense.

He is a man of God, but, he is a man.

He is a man coping with his own grief.

He is a man coping with his own loss.

He is a man coping with his own questions.

As he wrestles with these things and more, others are turning to him.

They are turning to him with their own difficult questions.

They are turning to him for guidance.

They are turning to him for hope.

He will likely lean on God more in the days to come than he has ever leaned on Him before.

God will be there for him.

God will be with the others as well.

One question that always arises is: “Why must bad happen?”

Jesus gave us the answer.

He also gave us hope.

John 16:33 (NET) - I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.

Together, let us pray together for shattered lives.

Together, let us pray for peace.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 17, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, November 24, 2017

Sincerity, or Truth

When given a choice between a more difficult path and an easier one, people often select the easier one.

We have even come up with a term for it: “Taking the path of least resistance”.

On the surface it would seem like there is nothing at all wrong with this.

After all, why put forth effort if someone else provides what seems to be an easier alternative?

That has been the case with the topic of salvation for centuries.

According to scripture, there is only one path to salvation.

Jesus Christ is that path.

In fact, He is the only path.

Yet people, some of whom are quite influential, try to tell us otherwise.

They tell us that there are many paths that lead to God.

They tell us that it really does not matter what we believe as long as we are sincere in our beliefs.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

What good is sincerity when one could be sincerely wrong?

What if someone offered me a glass that contained a clear, odorless and tasteless liquid?

I might sincerely believe that glass contained water and drink it.

What if it were not water, but instead a lethal poison?

The end result would be my death no matter how sincere my belief was.

Sincerity in one’s belief only matters if what one believes happens to be true.

The plain and simple truth is that Christ is the one and only path to salvation.

The fact that some choose not to believe this truth in no way diminishes it.

Some, especially those with influence, will counter that Christianity’s view is too narrow.

They may even say that they cannot accept a view that provides only one way to salvation.

Yet when you consider all the evils that man has committed throughout history, isn’t remarkable that God provided one way for us at all?

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NET) - For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 6, 2015.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 13, 2015