In Sadness and in Consolation

 

Jeremiah 31 speaks about the return of the exiles.

Scripture specifies that it will be a joyous return.

Jeremiah 31:13b (NRSVue) - I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow.

Paul opens his second letter to Corinth with a greeting.

Immediately afterward, Paul writes about affliction and God’s role.

God is with us in our tribulation.

Equally, God is there in our consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:7 (NRSVue) - Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

God is compassionate.

He turns our sorrow and mourning into joy.

Yes, God accompanies us in our sadness.

We should also recognize that God will be with us in what lies beyond.

God will be there in our consolation.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 23, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, February 6, 2026

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

Personal Humility and Gratitude

 

In Isaiah, the prophet offers praise for deliverance.

He begins by acknowledging the wonderful things God has done.

Isaiah 25:1 (NRSVue) - Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul calls upon his readers to persevere.

Hebrews 10:23 (NRSVue) - Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

These are excellent reminders for me as I write this on Thanksgiving Day,

Overall, it has been a successful year for me.

But with success, it is all too easy to take all the credit.

It is easy to overlook the role God has played.

But I must never forget two important things.

All good things come from God, including success.

I also must remember that God planned this all along.

God is ever faithful.

Also, when things were not going so well, God was still there for me.

He never stopped loving me.

He always encouraged me.

He used the trying times to draw me closer to Him.

So, I have much to be thankful for.

But gratitude in and of itself is insufficient.

In reflection, I realize that something will be required of me.

Where I am on my journey is simply part of His bigger plan.

Admittedly, I do not fully comprehend that plan yet.

But I know He will reveal it to me according to His timing, not mine.

For the moment, I will acknowledge that my success this year comes directly from God.

I will also acknowledge that this is part of His plan rather than my effort.

I will also recognize His continual fidelity and His love.

Therefore, I approach God in humility and gratitude.

James 1:17 (NRSVue) - Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 5, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 12, 2025

Darkness into Light

 

Within Isaiah 42 is a hymn of praise.

The hymn refers to the blind and how God will turn their darkness into light.

Isaiah 42:16 (NRSVue) I will lead the blind by a road they do not know; by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.

In John 8, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world.

John 8:12 (NRSVue) - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

As I read these verses, they reminded me of my prayers.

While my prayers are not repetitive, there are two things that are common to most.

I ask God to light my path.

I ask God to guide my steps.

Even at my age, I know how easy it would be for me to stumble spiritually.

And I know that God’s presence can keep me upright if I rely on Him.

In my part of the world, it is Autumn.

As the days grow shorter, the slight chill in the air is a reminder that Winter is not far away.

That is why we find the light and warmth of the sun comforting.

Similarly, in our daily walk, we welcome God’s presence as He guides our steps.

We welcome the light of Jesus on the path upon which we travel.

We also reflect that light to those still living in darkness.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

His Love and His Blessing

 

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with God until dawn.

As dawn approached, Jacob insisted on a blessing.

Genesis 32:26 (NRSVue) Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

In Matthew 19, people bring their children to Jesus.

This did not please the disciples.

Matthew says they spoke sternly to the people.

Jesus, however, was far more kind.

He was more than willing to bless the children.

Matthew 19:14 (NRSVue) - but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

What about us?

Like a willful child, we often struggle with God,

Yet God is forgiving and blesses us despite our willfulness.

And when we need to feel loved and need blessing, we can approach the Lord.

Like those small children, He welcomes us into His presence and blesses us.

The Lord comforts us.

The Lord sustains us.

No matter where we are in our earthly journey, He is always there for us.

He is there for us when we are young.

He is even there for us when we are not so young.

So, where we are on our journey does not matter.

We can always count on His love and His blessing.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

A Window on the World

Self isolation and working from home are still in effect.

I recently rearranged things in my home office so I could sit closer to the window.

There is a great deal to be said for natural light.

Spiritually speaking, this move also provided some additional benefits.

The sounds that come through the window bring their own rewards.

For instance, there is a songbird that frequently visits a tree just outside my window.

The melody it provides puts me in mind of scripture.

Matthew 6:26 (NET) - Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?

In times like these. it is good to be reminded that we are valued.

This tiny winged miracle is certainly not the only reminder I receive from God.

As we are in the season of Spring, the sound of the gusting wind also serves as a reminder.

John 3:7-8 (NET) - Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Then, there is the occasional sound of children.

My neighbor has two little girls.

Their mother has apologized to me more than once for the noise they sometimes make.

Such apologies are never necessary.

The sound of children’s laughter and play reminds me that they are happy and healthy.

It also reminds me of my Savior’s words and His love for children.

Matthew 19:14 (NET) - But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Children are special to the Lord; therefore, they are special to me.

Yes, I am glad that I rearranged things.

The sounds I am exposed to are excellent reminders in this new state of normal.

Even the natural light plays its role.

While it is both lovely and inviting, its beauty pales in comparison to the light of Jesus.

John 8:12 (NET) - Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

We continue to live and work in new ways.

Things will improve as time goes by.

Yet the reminders of the Lord’s great love continue to surround us.

We just need to remain open to them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 15, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 22, 2020

The Little Things

I participated in a video chat the other day.

It was an informal session that allowed a few of us to stay connected during this pandemic.

A friend who participated shared an experience she had in the supermarket.

She picked up the last bag of flour on the shelf and placed it in her cart.

As she moved down that aisle another customer entered it.

This shopper was looking for flour as well, but the shelf was now barren.

My friend still had a bit of flour at home.

She offered the bag she selected to the other shopper.

The other shopper accepted it gratefully as they had none at home.

After sharing this experience, my friend added that this was “just a little thing”.

I pondered my friend’s words and actions as the chat continued.

My thoughts first turned to the account of Elijah and the widow from 1 Kings 17.

During a drought, Elijah encountered a widow gathering sticks and asked her for a drink of water.

As she left to get it, Elijah asked her for bread as well.

The widow replied that all she has left was a little flour and a little oil.

She added that she was out gathering sticks in order to make one final meal for her and her son.

Elijah instructed the woman to prepare him a small cake first,

Afterward, she could prepare something for herself and her son.

The woman did so and something amazing happened.

1 Kings 17:15-16 (NET) - She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, in keeping with the Lord’s message that he had spoken through Elijah.

I also thought about the time Jesus fed 5,000 with a boy’s lunch.

This is the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels.

Jesus had the crowd sit down,

He took the small barley loaves and the two fish.

He then gave thanks to God and began distributing the food.

Everyone ate until they had their fill.

John 6:12-13 (NET) - When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.

As I considered this, the video chat began winding down.

Just before it ended, I referred to my friend’s experience in the supermarket.

I stated that we should all be doing the “little things” especially at times like this.

God can take the “little things” we do and multiply them in ways we cannot even imagine.

Not one of us can do everything, but each of us can do something!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 1, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 8, 2020

Looking Forward

I recently watched a rather interesting television program.

It was about a man who found himself moving backward in time.

When the man woke up each morning, he discovered that he had moved backward another day in time.

After several such mornings, he learned that he would be able to prevent a personal tragedy.

He also learned that by doing so, he would reveal a crime he had committed earlier.

He then realized that he would have to pay for that crime once he put things right.

Granted, this is fiction.

But it caused me to recall a conversation with a friend whom I love like a brother.

We were discussing faith and ministries and how personally rewarding they were.

I was relatively new to one such ministry at the time.

My friend posed the question: “Don’t you wish you had started sooner?”

The obvious answer is of course, yes.

But unlike the man in the story, I cannot go back in time and do that.

The journey toward Easter reminds me I never have to look back.

None of us do.

Here is what the Old Testament prophet Isaiah said…

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NET) - “Don’t remember these earlier events; don’t recall these former events. Look, I am about to do something new. Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it? Yes, I will make a road in the wilderness and paths in the wastelands.

I like the way Paul put it in his letter to the Philippians…

Philippians 3:13-14 (NET) - Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

But no one put it better than Jesus.

Luke 9:62 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

There is no need for us to dwell on our past.

There is no need to be haunted by missed opportunities.

Not when we have so glorious a future thanks to Jesus.

Even this Holiest of seasons reminds of this.

True, we think of Jesus and all He endured for us.

But the journey did not end at a cross.

Not when there is a vacated tomb beyond it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 20, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 27, 2020

Speaking with God

Last weekend, my church had a its annual fundraiser.

A group of my friends called me over to where they had gathered.

I discovered a visitor with them who knew of our background.

She was hoping to find somebody to speak with in the Czech language.

For a good portion of our history, worship services were held in the Czech language.

This was done for the benefit of Czech settlers who arrived in the area.

In time, we transitioned from Czech to English.

I told our visitor that I was not as fluent as I once was, but I would certainly try my best.

I was glad I did.

Our conversation started off with the usual pleasantries.

We then proceeded to discuss our families.

I was delighted to learn that she knew my parents.

She even remembered me when I was a small boy.

We compared our family trees and discovered that we were related to each other.

As our conversation ended, I told her that I was glad I had the chance to speak with her.

She replied in kind.

She added that the number of people with whom she can speak with in Czech is declining.

Then she left.

This put me in mind of speaking with God and our relationship with Him.

Romans 12:12 (NET) - Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Whatever condition we find ourselves in, prayer is the primary means by which we speak to God.

As I spoke with our visitor, sometimes I struggled to find the right word or phrase.

Sometimes, it is difficult for us to find the right words when we speak with God.

At such times, the Spirit intercedes for us.

Romans 8:26 (NET) - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Discovering that I was related to our visitor reminded me of our special relationship with God.

Romans 8:15 (NET) - 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."

That is a very special relationship indeed.

That means we can speak with God at any time about anything.

This also means that He wants to hear from us – not just when we are in need.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NET) - Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 18, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 25, 2019

Say What?

I am wrapping up preparations for an upcoming speaking engagement.

I am always glad to speak on the history of my church whenever I am asked to do so.

In preparation, I am always struck by those who preceded me.

The amount of love they shared and the sacrifices they made were remarkable.

I am certain the same can be said by many other churches as well.

There are certain truths that emerge as one delves deep into church history.

The farther back you go, the more difficult life was for people and the pastors whom God entrusted to their care.

In many cases, the lives of believers hung under the shadow of persecution.

The mere act of worship, or worshipping in a different way, was sometimes done at tremendous risk.

In fact, wars took place because of differences in worship.

A pastor friend once told me, “There is nothing sadder than a religious war.”

I agree.

Beyond conflict, life itself was difficult.

Travel between communities that now takes hours once took days.

Communications that are now instantaneous was once practically nonexistent.

Life spans were shorter and there was no guarantee of survival from one season to the next.

Despite the difficulties, the church once played a pivotal role in the life of the community.

In the modern age, things are quite different.

Granted, there are still parts of the world where persecution of Christians is a reality.

But for the most part, we have been blessed with security, peace, safety, convenience and many other things.

Along with these blessings, complacency has settled it.

Broadly speaking, the church no longer plays the central role in the community it once did,

Perhaps that is why I enjoy speaking about the history of my church.

It forces me to remember people whose lives were far more difficult than mine.

By modern standards, they had very few conveniences.

Yet they gave freely of themselves.

This was especially true of those who answered God’s call and tended his flock on earth.

Whenever I think about such things, I recall the second part of Luke 12:48.

Luke 12:48b (NET) - From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

When we compare our lives with the lives of those who preceded us, we realize we have been blessed with much.

We must then ask ourselves honestly what we choose to do with those blessings.

Are we really doing what God requires of us?

I wonder what those who speak of church history in the future will say of us today.

Wouldn’t it be sad if they find little to say?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 11, 2019

An Empty Package

Imagine arriving home and discovering someone had left you a gift.

You try to remember what the occasion might be.

Nothing comes to mind.

You try to remember what you did to earn it.

Again, nothing comes to mind.

You even try to remember what you did to deserve a gift.

Still, nothing comes to mind.

You decide to read the note attached.

It is simply signed: “From the One Who Loves You the Most”.

At a loss, you open the gift.

You discover the package is completely empty.

How would you react?

Would you be confused?

Would you be upset?

This scenario might seem farfetched, but something similar happened about 2,000 years ago.

Jesus had been tried, convicted and executed.

He was then buried in a borrowed tomb.

Three days later a group of women who followed Jesus in life went there.

As they walked, they wondered who would open the tomb for them.

When they arrived, they found the tomb had been unsealed.

What is more, they discovered Jesus was no longer there.

The disciples were then informed.

Although in hiding, two came to see for themselves.

Afterward, one of the women remained.

John 20:11 (NET) - But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb.

At that instant, no one realized the magnitude of the moment.

The disciples had gone back into hiding.

Mary was still upset

All involved were confused.

Not one of them realized that this was a gift.

It was the most precious gift imaginable.

It was a gift that was neither earned nor deserved.

It was a gift that completely changed everything forever!

Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be.

Jesus did exactly what He promised to do.

Ephesians 2:8 (NET) - For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

When you think about it, the very best gift you and I ever received was discovered in an empty package.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 26, 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

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

By Example

I do not have children of my own, but I know they are special to Jesus.

Mark 10:13-16 (NET) - Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Because children are special to Him, they are special to me.

One thing that always makes me feel good is when children from my church recognize me in public.

The other day I stopped at a restaurant.

From where I was seated I could see a family at another table that attend my church.

The youngest child in that family is about two years of age.

At one point he started looking around and saw me.

He immediately got the attention of his parents and pointed me out.

I waved to them and they waved back.

What struck me was the response of the two-year old.

He knows so very little about me.

In his mind I am just the big, bearded man he sees every Sunday in church.

That scene kept replaying itself in my mind.

A few days later I stopped at a different restaurant to pick up a sandwich.

A teenager from my church recently started working there.

She smiled when I walked in and even took my order.

When my order was ready she handed it to me.

As I prepared to leave, she did not say goodbye.

She said, “See you in church!”

This also made me feel blessed.

The teenager knows a great deal more about me than does the two-year old.

She is far more aware of the duties I perform for the church than the child.

The one thing about me that each has learned from experience is that come Sunday they will see me in church.

All things considered, I cannot think of a better reputation to have among our young people.

Matthew 18:10 (NET) - See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

There are two primary means of education.

We can teach with words.

We can also teach by example.

We often teach adults with our words.

But it is the example we set for the young that teaches far more effectively.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Two Little Girls in the Snow

This is not the devotional I originally planned to post today.

Even at my age, God still finds ways to both surprise and inspire me.

Thursday evening found me at my church along with a number of my friends.

We were all busy working away getting things ready for Christmas.

As we were finishing up, someone noticed that it was actually snowing outside.

Of course, we all stepped outside to take a look.

You see, it rarely snows where I live and to have snow this early in the season is rare indeed.

We went back inside and finished what we had to do.

When it came time to leave, a few of us just stood out in the cold and admired the snow.

I carefully drove home trying not to let the weather distract me.

As I got ready to turn into my drive, I noticed two little girls running around.

They were paying more attention to the snow than to my car, so I entered my drive slowly.

Their mother called them over to her allowing me to safely park my car.

In no time, the two girls returned to their celebration of the snow.

I took a moment to speak to their mother.

As we spoke, I considered what God showed me.

He showed me the white snow, the watchful eye of a loving parent and the pure joy found only in children.

He was also reminding me of the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:18 (NET) - Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.

As we get deeper into the Christmas season I am reminded of the fulfilment of this prophecy.

God is our loving Father who calls us to Him to keep us safe from the world.

As we celebrate the birth of His Son, we should remember that it is Jesus who cleanses us from our sin.

Christ was the perfect sacrifice – the Lamb without blemish and without spot.

We no longer have to be stained like scarlet.

We can be made as white as snow.

Perhaps we can also take a lesson from these two little girls and their excitement.

Perhaps we should allow ourselves to get more excited about our salvation.

Perhaps that would make us more eager to share the Good News with others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 15, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, December 22, 2017

Triage

An interesting word that the English language has adopted is “triage”.

In a crisis where there are a number of wounded and dying, medical professionals will employ triage,

Triage decides each patient’s priority and order of treatment.

The goal is to maximize the number of survivors.

Even the best doctors and nurses can be limited by location, medicine, supplies and so on.

In extreme situations, such as wounds inflicted on the battlefield, a number of wounded may be deemed too far gone to help.

They are eliminated from the process in order to give someone else a better chance at life.

Sometimes we as Christians perform our own sort of triage when it comes to telling others about Jesus.

We might make the mistake of assuming someone is too far gone to help.

Without realizing it, we might be putting the emphasis on our individual limitations.

We sometimes forget that Jesus has no limitations.

I recall one man who got it right when it came to mission work.

His name was Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf.

In 1731, Zinzendorf met a converted slave.

This man desperately wanted someone to go to his homeland in the West Indies.

He wanted someone to preach the gospel to his brothers and sisters.

Zinzendorf raced to his home in Moravia and quickly found two volunteers for this assignment.

Zinzendorf’s community was not large numbering perhaps 600.

Yet his desire for mission work proved contagious.

In less than 20 years’ time, some 70 missionaries from this Moravian community were involved in missions around the world.

They found themselves in places like Greenland, Lapland, Georgia, Surinam, Africa's Guinea Coast, South Africa, Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, Algeria, the native North Americans, Ceylon, Romania, and Constantinople.

They succeeded where others failed.

They told others about Jesus.

Zinzendorf’s concept was a simple one but that is what made it so successful.

"According to him: “Missions, after all, is simply this: Every heart with Christ is a missionary, every heart without Christ is a mission field."

This simple truth remains unchanged today.

Every man, woman and child who knows Christ is a missionary.

Everyone who does not is a mission field.

Our mission field may be found in another part of the globe.

It can just as easily be found in our own communities.

Triage can sometimes be necessary in the world of medicine.

It is completely unnecessary in the spiritual world.

John 6:37 (NET) - Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 20, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, October 27, 2017