With Kindness

 

Proverbs 11:17 (NET) - A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.

The temperature here has been over 100 degrees for many days.

A very old cat recently found a relatively cool spot near my door behind a bush.

One day, I opened the door to check my mail and I startled the poor old feline.

It stood up, arched its back and hissed at me in a very menacing way.

To be honest, I was more than a bit startled myself.

But rather than chase the animal away, I spoke to it in a soothing voice.

This ritual repeated itself day after day.

I would open the door and, as expected, the cat would bare its teeth and hiss at me.

I continued speaking to it in a soothing voice.

Days later, my small act of kindness was rewarded.

Now, the old cat looks at me and just goes back to sleep.

Scripture reminds us to be kind… to others.

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

We are also to be kind to those less fortunate than ourselves,

Proverbs 14:31 (NET) - The one who oppresses the poor has insulted his Creator, but whoever honors him shows favor to the needy.

Christ stressed this point as well.

Matthew 25:40 (NET) - And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

If you think about it, it really costs nothing to be kind.

The more you practice kindness, the easier it becomes.

Even being kind to the smallest of God’s creation becomes part of our character.

The world in which we now live needs kindness, perhaps now more than ever.

Many are frightened by violence and the pandemic.

Many have lost loved ones.

So, be kind.

The seeds we choose to plant today will bear fruit tomorrow.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 21, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 28, 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

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

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

In His Steps

Easter is rapidly approaching.

I recall a pastor once referring to Easter and Christmas as the annual pilgrimages.

This was his humorous way of stating that you would see some people in church on these days only.

This got me thinking about pilgrimages.

Each year, many people travel to the Holy Land as a way of feeling closer to Jesus.

Many, in fact, do so around Easter in order to retrace the steps Jesus took on the way to the cross.

Matthew 23:33 (NET) - They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”)

I can understand the desire to feel closer to Jesus.

And, if people have both the means and the desire to make this trip, I would not stand in their way.

But the fact is that we do not have to travel to the Holy Land to follow His steps.

Jesus taught by example.

He reached out to others.

Sometimes He did so to large groups of people.

Sometimes He reached out to small numbers.

Quite often He simply reached out to individuals.

We each have within us the power to do the same.

We can volunteer our time to various causes.

We can help those less fortunate than ourselves.

We can even begin by simply talking to people.

That’s what Jesus did for the woman at the well.

When she came to the well, Jesus began by asking her for water.

This surprised the woman.

John 4:9 (NET) So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you—a Jew—ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)

The conversation they had changed the woman’s life forever.

As a Christian, I know that Jesus will return some day.

When Jesus returns all will be put right.

But until that day arrives, there is plenty of work for us in the here and now.

Work to make lives better.

We can even do so one person at a time.

What better way to begin than by talking to others like Jesus did?

Even those who might appear to have little in common with us.

In these ways, we can all follow His steps without even travelling abroad.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 6, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 13, 2020

Choose Not to Remember

I like questions.

In most cases they remind me how much I do not know

As such they force me to dig deeper into God’s word.

I recently had such a question posed to me.

Does God forgive and forget?

After considering the question carefully, I had to turn this into two questions.

Does God forgive?

Scripture makes it very plain that God does indeed forgive.

Daniel 9:9 (NET) - Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

There are other examples from the Old Testament.

Micah 7:18 (NET) - Who is a God like you? Who forgives sin and pardons the rebellion of those who remain among his people? Who does not stay angry forever, but delights in showing loyal love?

I think my favorite examples come from the Psalmist and Isaiah.

Psalm 103:12 (NET) - As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.

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.

Forgiveness is possible through His Son.

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NET) - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

All of which is well and good.

But, what about the second part of the question?

Does God forget?

God is omniscient.

God is all knowing.

To me, forgetting is a human weakness.

We can forget everything from appointments to birthdays and anniversaries.

We even forget the promises we make.

That is why I have a difficult time saying that God could forget.

Fortunately, Scripture provides the better alternative.

Isaiah 43:25 (NET) - I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember.

It is the best of everything.

God forgives and chooses not to remember our sins anymore.

He chooses never to hold our past against us.

Shouldn’t we try to do the same with others.

Colossians 3:13 (NET) - 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 https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 21, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 28, 2020

How We Are Known

On Sunday morning it was my privilege to lead our Senior Assembly.

This gathering takes place prior to Sunday School.

After leading this assembly, I began gathering my materials.

A small child entered the Sanctuary.

I asked her what she was doing there.

She told me that her class needed my help.

It turned out that there was a technical issue with their DVD player.

I told her I would be there just as soon as possible.

She then said something that took me by surprise.

She reminded me that I was their “tech guy”.

Although I found this quite amusing at the time, I suppressed the urge to laugh.

Even at her young age, this child understood one of my roles.

She also understood I could be relied upon in technical matters.

I corrected the problem and went on to teach my class.

That’s the way life is,

People tend to know us based on what we do.

My class thinks of me as a teacher.

My employers think of me as an employee.

My coworkers, like this child, think of me as their tech guy, and so on.

But God sees us differently.

Because of Jesus, He sees us all as His children,

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

Moreover, He sees us as wanted, adopted children,

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.”

This relationship is underscored later.

Romans 8:29 (NET) - because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

People may identify us by what we do.

But God does not view us that way.

Thanks to Jesus, we have a special relationship with God.

In the meantime, we still need to use our gifts to help one another out.

John Amos Comenius once said that the mind was a great gift from God and to use it properly was an act of worship.

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.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Don't Pack Everything Away

Things begin to change the day after Christmas.

Some people begin the process of taking down the decorations and lights.

Some cities begin recycling Christmas trees.

Within a week or two one would be hard pressed to find any sign that Christmas had occurred at all.

Because of my work schedule, I went to the store today.

Christmas items were being sold at a fraction of their retail value prior to Christmas.

By Friday, these items will be replaced with items for Valentine’s Day.

Broadly speaking even attitudes quickly sour.

People grow impatient with returns and standing in line.

It is ironic.

We invest time and energy preparing for Christmas.

We might have even grown more cheerful, giving and patient.

Then, beginning on the 26^th, we quickly begin abandoning the reminders of the season.

These will be boxed up and relegated to attics and storerooms.

Once there, they will quickly be forgotten until the next Christmas season approaches.

I suppose that is human nature.

But we dare not do this with Christ.

His influence should be evident in our lives throughout the year.

We are not perfect, but through Him we are being perfected.

Philippians 1:6 (NET) - For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is my prayer for the New Year that those we encounter continue to see His influence in us.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Surprise Someone

Surprises are something we tend to enjoy.

This is especially true during the Christmas season.

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

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

Christmas itself is full of surprises.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the surprises did not end there.

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

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

The surprises continued later in His life.

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

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

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

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

The Christmas account is full of surprises.

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

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

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

But Christmas is just that - the beginning.

It is the perfect gift from Someone special!

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

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

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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

Memories and Relationships

I discovered that one of my father’s favorite TV shows was available on DVD.

My father left this world almost forty years ago.

Watching these old episodes again brought back some great memories of long ago.

I remember some things very clearly.

I recall being a very small boy at the time.

I remember my father sitting in his favorite chair just before the program started.

I also remember that I always stopped playing.

Then, I would sit on the floor right next to my father.

I did this because I wanted to feel close to him.

I recall how we exchanged glances.

I also remember how my father would smile at me.

Then the program would start.

I recall sitting very quietly for the next hour so as not to disturb him.

I’ll admit I found the program’s opening theme and graphics a bit frightening.

One look toward my father’s confident face and that would quickly dispel any fears.

I did not get much out of the program back then.

Its premise was far beyond my grasp.

It did however allow me the opportunity to spend some time with my father.

These memories make me think of my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Often, it is enough for me just to sit quietly in His presence.

To feel a special closeness and to feel loved in return.

And when the world seems chaotic a look toward Him makes all my fears vanish.

No matter how old I grow; He always considers me His child.

Hebrews 11:6 (NET) - Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 15, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 22, 2019

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

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

Stopping the Wheel

I love each of my students.

I really enjoy their questions.

One of my students once hypothetically asked: “If I see something wrong in the church, should I report it?”

I replied, “You have a moral obligation to report it!”

I then said to the rest of the class, “That applies to all of us.”

I then added, “Just make sure it is something important and not about the color of the carpet or paint.”

Another asked, how do we know if it is important?

I responded that we should turn to scripture for guidance.

The student who asked the initial question then asked another.

“Whom should I tell?”

I suggested myself, an elder or the pastor… it should be someone in authority.

Scripture is clear on doing the right thing.

James 4:17 (NET) - So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.

Even the wisdom of the Old Testament sheds light on this.

Proverbs 21:3 (NET) - To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

I love the way Isaiah put it.

Isaiah 1:17 (NET) - Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

I thought of these things as I prepared to teach a course about Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer put it this way: “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

It is not enough for Christians simply to aid those wounded by injustice.

The church, and those within it, have a moral obligation to do whatever is necessary to stop it!

I am happy to report that my inquisitive student has had nothing negative to report about my church.

That said, there is certainly a great deal of injustice in the world.

No matter where we live, we do not have to look very far to find it.

Perhaps it is time we all pick up a spoke and follow Bonhoeffer’s advice.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 20, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, September 27, 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

Give Him Your Mind

Since childhood, people have told me many times that God wants our hearts.

I will not dispute that.

But the truth is, God wants more than that.

In simplest terms, God wants all of us.

That means he wants our minds as well.

Here, we certainly must be careful.

Scripture offers both praises and warnings about wisdom.

The warnings, however, also tend to be about the dangers of pride.

We must never for a moment think we are wiser than God.

All told, God gave us a heart.

He expects us to use it.

He also gave us a mind.

He expects us to use that as well!

In our daily affairs we should use our intellect as well as our heart.

This applies to our relationship with God.

It also applies to our relationship with our fellow man.

Jesus alluded to this in his two-fold answer to an expert in religious law.

This man asked Jesus which of the commandments was the greatest.

Matthew 22:37-40 (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. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Christ tells us plainly that our minds play a role in loving God.

He also understood that if we kept these two commandments, we would in effect keep them all.

There is one more verse I wish to share with you.

It comes from the parable of the talents.

Luke 12:48 (NET) - But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. 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.

Give God your heart.

Make certain you give Him your mind as well.

C. S. Lewis said, "He [Christ] told us to be not only 'as harmless as doves,' but also 'as wise as serpents.' He wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head.”

John Amos Comenius 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.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 5, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 12, 2019