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

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

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

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

Where to Turn

With Thanksgiving on our doorstep, I wanted to write about gratitude.

I will, but in a slightly more roundabout way.

Recently, I had to travel to someone’s home and retrieve a piece of equipment.

I was given the address and a phone number.

This person lived in a remote area.

It was so remote that even technology like map websites and GPS were only helpful to a point.

I traveled out to this area and turned onto the road on which this person lived.

The first thing I noticed were that the house numbers made little sense.

I could have traveled up and down this road for hours and perhaps not found this individual.

I pulled off the road and did the only thing I could and telephoned this person.

He understood my confusion and told me what to look for as I completed the final leg of my journey.

With these instructions I found the residence and retrieved the device.

The journey back was much easier as I simply reversed my course until I reached the highway.

Faith is a little like that.

Sometimes we waver in our faith.

For example, we might find it hard to do certain things like love or forgive.

Knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is a bit like being lost.

When this happens, the sooner we get our bearings straight the better.

The great news is we do not have to go about it alone

It is often as easy as making a telephone call.

One way is to turn to scripture for guidance.

Hebrews 4:12 (NET) - For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.

We can also turn to our Christian family and friends.

Proverbs 27:17 (NET) - As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

These methods and others can point us back to the right path when we have lost our way.

C.S. Lewis put it this way: “Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.”

We all find ourselves on the wrong path from time to time.

Fortunately, God provides us many ways to help us to find our way back to the right path.

That is truly something for which to give thanks!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 6, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 13, 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

The Prodigal's Brother

Most, if not all of us, are familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

This parable can be found in Matthew 15 beginning in verse 11.

In it, the younger of two sons asks his father for his share of the inheritance.

The father (though still living) complies and the son takes his newfound wealth and moves to a distant country.

In no time at all, the young man spends all he inherited.

A short time later, the country falls victim to famine.

Hungry and broke, he hires himself out to a citizen of that country.

This citizen gives the young man the job of feeding his pigs.

The young man is so desperate, he even desires to eat the pods he is feeding the pigs.

In no time, the young man comes to his senses.

He decides to return home, confess his errors to his father and ask to be hired on as a hand.

When the father sees his son returning in the distance, he feels compassion and joy.

He runs out to meet his son, throws his arms around him and kisses him.

Matthew 15:21 (NIV) - The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

The father calls to his servants and asks them to bring his son a fine robe, a ring and sandals.

He then orders that the fatted calf be slaughtered for a celebration.

Matthew 15:24 (NIV) - For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The man’s other son hears the noise of celebration.

He calls a servant and asks what all the commotion is about.

The servant tells him of his brother’s return and all his father is doing to celebrate it.

The brother grows angry and refuses to go.

His father goes out to him and pleads with him.

But this merely fuels the brother’s anger.

Matthew 15:29-30 (NIV) - But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

The father then explains his actions.

Matthew 15:31-32 (NIV) - “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

One lesson we can take from this is that God will welcome back the truly repentant… no matter their past.

Yet how many Christians in today’s world find themselves siding with the angry brother?

Perhaps even defending his “right” to be angry.

That is something we should not do.

Worshipping God in what we say and do is something we should do, but it does not entitle us to anything “extra”.

It certainly does not entitle us to judge others.

And if someone with a repentant heart returns to God, we should not become angry at God’s joy.

After all, God was just as happy when we came to our senses as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 6, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 13, 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

Don't Give Up

Everyone gets tired.

Even people who serve the Lord.

In fact, burnout is a problem pastors face.

Even those of us who serve the Lord in other ways can find ourselves running on fumes.

Let’s face it, serving the Lord can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, scripture helps remind us not to give up.

Jesus reminds us we must push forward.

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.”

Paul reminds us in one of his letters that we must press onward.

He even tells us what we can expect if we do.

Galatians 6:9 (NET) - So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

Paul has another reminder for us,

Philippians 3:14 (NET) - with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps Paul’s best advice comes in the next chapter.

In it, he reminds us that we are not in it alone.

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

I lovingly refer to this as my “go to” verse whenever I find myself struggling.

Paul also puts it another way.

Colossians 1:29 (NET) - Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

Yes, serving the Lord can be difficult at times.

But we must never give up or give in!

We must persevere!

We must remember the Lord is with us.

If we do, in the end we can say what Paul said.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NET) - I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!

Then the Lord may have something to say to us.

Jesus gave us a foretaste of it in one of His parables.

Matthew 25:21 (NIV) - “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 7, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 14, 2019

That's Not My Job

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

I recall the time when I first started working there.

I was new and learning.

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

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

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

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

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

I understood two things even back then.

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

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

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

Second, we were created to help one another.

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

This applies to the workplace as well.

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

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

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

In Christ, we have the best teacher of all.

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Do Not Grow Weary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But they did not teach me with words only.

Their instruction also included examples.

They taught me to hold the door open for others.

They taught me to compliment others.

They provided many other examples as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More importantly, I must do as Jesus instructed.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

One Master

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I think this applies to most people.

Does that mean we should select only one to love?

Quite the contrary.

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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

Be a Pilgrim

“Be a pilgrim and not a settler.”

These were the words spoken by Dr. Thomas Fudge when I heard speak in November 2015.

Those words come back to me time and again as I journey through life as a Christian.

His point was a simple one.

As Christians, we have two choices set before us each day.

We can choose to continue our journey, learn and grow.

Or, we can choose to settle down right where we are.

Settling certainly offers a sense of relief and a sense of comfort.

But settling also means stagnation.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way: “Cheap grace has served as an inoculation, or more accurately, a vaccination. We have gotten just enough of Jesus to prevent us from catching the real thing.”

That is why we should choose to remain pilgrims.

We should choose to keep moving forward - to learn, serve and grow more every day.

To become more like Christ every day.

To be a pilgrim and not a settler.

But be forewarned.

A pilgrim’s journey is not always an easy one.

Each day can bring challenges as well as opportunities.

It can even be outright dangerous at times.

Some of the most faithful have met quite sudden and very painful ends.

This must not dissuade us.

After all, there is one thing that every faithful pilgrim can count on.

A pilgrim never really travels alone.

Joshua 1:9 (NET) - I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”

So, choose to be a pilgrim and not a settler.

Who knows, we might meet each other again along the way.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Change

I recently had another birthday.

For some reason, people like to make a fuss about another completed lap around the sun.

As I thought about this particular birthday, I reflected upon change.

It almost goes without saying that I have changed a great deal over the years.

That is as it should be.

Change is a natural part of our physical existence.

It should also be a vital part of our spiritual existence as well.

Paul understood that and tried to explain this to the believers in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NET) - When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.

This is a large part of what growing as a Christian means.

From the time we are young until the time we die we must change.

We must grow.

We must become more like Jesus.

Paul tried to explain this to the Corinthians as well.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NET) - Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Effective change means we should become more and more like Christ.

For human beings, change is a process.

A process that continues day by day throughout our lives.

We should be more like Christ today than we were yesterday.

We should be more like Christ tomorrow than we are today.

We are fortunate.

While change is a process for us, it is not so for Christ.

Christ never changes.

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

Christ is our standard.

We might not achieve that standard tomorrow.

But, we should find ourselves a step closer.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I will be back here on Friday, March 23, 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

Rolling Up Your Sleeves

It never ceases to amaze me how communications get mixed up.

I recently had some work done in several rooms that would require professionals.

It also required that everything be moved out of the rooms before work could commence.

My understanding was that I would be responsible for moving anything fragile.

It was also my understanding that everything else would be moved by the workmen.

I began packing away fragile items days before and moved them out of harm’s way.

Following that, I began boxing up all the other things that would have be moved around until all the work was completed.

Assuming work would begin in the living room, I moved these boxes out as first.

This left some furniture and my bookshelves.

On the morning scheduled there was a knock on my door.

I opened the door and there stood a workman with his tools and the other essentials he needed.

I welcomed him in.

I waited at the open door expecting at least one more person to help him move the heavier items.

I was puzzled when no one else followed.

I turned to the workman who was about half my age.

“Where is your help?”, I asked.

I was surprised when he stated he was alone and was prepared to move these items himself.

I had several options.

I could have allowed him to move these items himself.

I could also have called his employer and demanded he send over some help.

I chose a different path.

Although easily twice his age, I offered to help him move these remaining items.

At first, he refused my help.

I was persistent and together we moved these items out.

He was then able to set about his work more quickly.

By midafternoon, his work in the living room was complete.

We then moved the heavier items back.

He even offered to help with some of the boxes.

I declined because I saw just how physically demanding his work was.

As he left, he assured me that two workmen would be sent out the following day to finish work in the other rooms.

Is there a point to all this?

I have a number of things in my residence that can help identify me as a Christian.

The way I treat others can either prove or disprove that.

Hebrews 6:10 (NET) - For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

A Three-Minute Start

A number of nations celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

The dates range from early October to late November.

Days of Thanksgiving in America date to its colonial period.

They were proclaimed by church leaders, governors and even the Continental Congress.

In each case a Day of Thanksgiving was set aside to give thanks to God.

It was President George Washington who proclaimed that Americans should set aside November 26, 1789 as a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God."

From then on. the observance of Thanksgiving varied from state to state.

On October 3, 1863, while America was still in the middle of its Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving should be observed on the final Thursday in November.

Lincoln’s proclamation concluded with the following: “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

Because of the Civil War, those in opposition to Lincoln refused to adopt the date he proclaimed until the 1870’s.

In the late 1930’s President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving Day be observed on the fourth Thursday in November.

In 1941, a joint resolution of Congress officially recognized the date change and it was signed into law by Roosevelt.

From its very beginnings throughout the course of its history, Thanksgiving Day is about giving thanks to God in all circumstances.

Unfortunately, with each passing year, we push God further away from the concept of Thanksgiving.

We find more and more ways to distract ourselves from its original intent.

The day after Thanksgiving has now become the biggest shopping day of the year.

Many stores are now opting to remain open on Thanksgiving Day.

I believe it is not too late to return the day to its original purpose.

I recall a story told by a Vietnam veteran of his experiences on one particular Thanksgiving Day.

He and his fellow soldiers had been consuming rations for a very long time.

When Thanksgiving Day arrived, helicopters flew in and brought he and his fellow soldiers a traditional and hot Thanksgiving meal.

But that was not what made the day special.

A satellite telephone unit the size of a bus had also been flown in and set up.

With it, he and rest of the men were each allowed to make a three-minute phone call home.

Some waited in line for over 8 hours just for the opportunity to make their three-minute call.

That three-minute call home meant everything to this man and the others.

Perhaps we can start there.

Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven.

Perhaps we could start with a three-minute prayer to God thanking Him and ask Him to help us better put things in perspective.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NET) - Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 1, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, December 8, 2017