The Best Advocate

Isaiah 57 begins with Israel’s idolatry.

The chapter concludes with God’s mercy and grace.

God will not stay angry, and He will not hold a grudge.

Isaiah 57:16a (NRSVue) - For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry,

In the second chapter of 1 John, we learn that we have an advocate.

1 John 2:1 (NRSVue) – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,

As Christians, we should not intentionally sin.

As human beings, we are prone to sin even when it is unintentional.

That is why it is comforting to have an advocate.

According to Merriam-Webster, an advocate is a person who publicly supports a cause or represents another person in a legal setting.

The Apostles’ Creed tells us that Jesus “is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

It is comforting to know that when we mess up, Christ is our advocate to The Father.

This is further proof of God’s mercy and grace.

He gave us The Son to intercede on our behalf.

And it is also proof that we should forgive others.

Jesus teaches us this in the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:12 (NRSVue) - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

 

Sharing the Faith

 

Psalm 105:1 (NRSVue) - O give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; make known his deeds among the peoples.

Psalm 105 is a Psalm about God’s faithfulness to Israel.

The psalmist stresses the need to thank God.

He also stresses the need to make the deeds of God known.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul shares that Salvation is for all,

This requires faith.

Paul then shares the source of that faith.

Romans 10:17 (NRSVue) - So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

So, what is the point of all this?

Mainly, it is that we need to share our faith with others.

We need to make the Lord’s deeds known to those around us.

We must share the words and example of Christ with them as well.

As we near the end of our journey through Lent, we should feel extraordinarily blessed!

Ironically, we often hesitate in sharing our praise with those we encounter.

Let us take the words of the psalmist and Paul to heart.

May we see each encounter as an opportunity to share our faith.

May each meeting prompt us to praise God and make His deeds known.

May each contact remind us to share the words and example of Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, April 5, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, April 12, 2024

In the Shadow of His Wings

Psalm 63:7 (NRSVue) - for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

Psalm 63 is a Psalm of David of a time when he was in the wilderness.

He thinks upon his relationship with God.

In doing so, he remembers God’s reassurance and embrace.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul discusses life in the spirit.

Paul reminds his readers of their relationship with God.

And because of that relationship, they can withstand any opposing force.

Romans 8:31 (NRSVue) - What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

What about us and the world we live in?

We sometimes feel beset by challenges.

We are bombarded by information.

But how much of what we are told can we believe?

Most, if not all, media outlets have an agenda.

Politicians make statements hoping it will either gain them office or keep it.

In terms of health care, one organization says something another vehemently disagrees with.

And the list goes on.

We can take heart in the messages of the Psalmist and Paul.

We can find rest in the embrace of God.

We too can find refuge in the shadow of His wings.

It does not matter where life takes us.

It does not matter what challenges we face.

God is there for us.

Moreover, He loves us.

As we continue through the season of Lent, we are reminded that God proved this.

God proved His love and care when He allowed His Son to die for us.

The price has been paid.

We have been made right with God.

And as we journey through life, we do not journey alone.

And God’s presence is more than a match for anything the world can throw at us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, March 15, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, March 22, 2024

Love, Not Fear

 

Haggai 2:5 (NRSVue) - according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.

The prophet reminded the people that they were covenant people.

He also reminded them not to fear.

In John 16, Jesus spoke to the disciples.

Jesus reminded them that their grief would turn to joy,

He also reminded them not to fear.

John 16:33 (NIV) - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I teach an adult class.

One of the things we examine in that class is history and how it relates to the present.

History is full of misery, heartache, and bloodshed.

Much of this has been brought about by fear.

We are taught to fear those who are different from us.

We are taught to fear those whose practices are different than our own.

Sadly, we are even taught to fear those who worship differently than we worship.

It has not gotten any easier,

The media divides us along different lines.

It tries to teach us to fear others.

Yet Scripture tells us repeatedly not to fear.

Instead, we should allow God to make us bold in all things.

We do not need to fear because Christ has overcome the world.

As I remind my adult students…

I do not have to agree with everyone.

I do not have to adopt their practices or customs.

But Scripture is remarkably clear on one thing.

I must love my neighbor.

I must even love the neighbor who disagrees with me and refuses to love me in return.

Yes, Scripture reminds us repeatedly not to fear.

And focusing on love is an excellent means of overcoming fear.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, March 1, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, March 8, 2024

Vindication

 

Isaiah 50:8 (NRSVue) - he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand in court together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

Isaiah spoke of humiliation,

He also spoke of vindication.

Christ was familiar with both humiliation and vindication.

In John 8, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus.

They claimed to have caught her committing adultery.

To trap Jesus, they reminded Him that the law demanded she be stoned.

Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground with His finger.

Scripture does not tell us what He wrote.

But what He wrote had an impact.

Those who attempted to trap Him left.

In time, only Jesus and the woman remained.

John 8:10-11 (NRSVue) - Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Christ extended his grace and mercy to the woman.

Isaiah understood that God would also offer His grace and mercy.

People will let us down.

But the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the source from which goodness springs.

They see us for who we really are.

And, despite our flaws, they extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness to us.

They give us another chance even when people are unwilling to forgive.

They even give us another chance when we are unwilling to forgive ourselves.

Then we, like the woman who stood before Jesus, should make the most of that second chance.

We too should go our way and not sin again.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 16, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, February 23, 2024

The Only Real Choice

 

1 Kings 18:21 (NRSVue) - Elijah then came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word.

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal.

Of course, he knew that God would triumph over those who followed false gods.

But before the contest took place, Elijah spoke those words to the people.

He knew the people had drifted from God.

These words were a caution that you cannot serve God and false gods.

In Matthew 6, Christ taught the disciples how to pray.

He also gave them cautionary instructions.

One of these concerned serving two masters, namely God and wealth.

Matthew 6:24 (NRSVue) - “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

God is, and always has been, supreme.

He expects to be first in our lives.

Moreover, He commanded this.

Exodus 20:2-4 (NRSVue) - “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.”

The simple fact is that anytime we place anyone or anything above God, we practice idolatry.

We rob God of His rightful place in our lives.

When that happens, God asks us to choose.

Choice is a part of life.

But correctly choosing Who has priority is crucial.

It requires commitment.

It requires loyalty.

People and things constantly vie for our attention and affection.

But we must choose to put God first.

Fortunately, God helps us choose wisely when we make ourselves open and available to Him.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 2, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, February 9, 2024

The Light of His Love

Isaiah 60:3 (NRSVue) - Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

In this chapter, the prophet speaks of the gathering of the people. 

After a period of darkness, the Lord would arise and dispel it.

The author of Revelation also writes of the Lord and the dispelling of darkness.

He first writes of a new heaven and a new earth.

He then writes of the new Jerusalem.

It will have no need of man-made nor artificial light.

In fact, it will not even need the sun nor the moon to provide its light.

The light of the Lord will illuminate it!

Revelation 21:23-24 (NRSVue) - And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

The headlines of today paint a dark and gloomy picture of our world.

But we have no need to fear this darkness.

The light of the Lord is more than capable of overcoming it!

His light can penetrate even the darkest corners of our world.

His light can even penetrate the darkest corners of our hearts.

With His help, we can walk in that light.

We benefit from his grace and mercy.

We bask in the light of His love for us and all of humanity.

And, if we but make ourselves available to Him, we can reflect that light to those around us.

Then they too can bask in the light of His love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 19, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, January 26, 2024

He Is Waiting

 

Psalm 51:17 (NET) - The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

God is both just and forgiving.

But the Psalmist reminds us that God requires two things from us first.

One of these is humility.

But what exactly is humility?

In basic terms it means recognizing that the world does not revolve around us.

Our individual importance is less than what we would care to admit.

We are certainly not more important than God.

Nor are we more important than those God places in our path.

The other thing God requires for forgiveness is repentance.

God does not just want to hear the words.

God wants to feel how deeply we regret our transgression.

Jesus explains this in his parable about the prodigal son.

In it, a young man demands his share of the inheritance before his father dies.

He then squanders his new riches.

Reduced to poverty, he takes a job feeding another man’s pigs.

He finds himself desiring the food on which the pigs were feeding.

The son returns home and begs his father’s forgiveness.

Luke 15:21 (NET) - Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

How beautifully Jesus illustrates both humility and repentance in these words.

In the parable, the father then showers his son with affection.

Jesus reminds us that God is waiting for us.

He is waiting for us to approach in humility and repentance.

God desires to both welcome us back and shower His affection and mercy upon us.

God is omniscient, so He already knows our misdeeds.

He just wants us to admit them to Him.

Perhaps He wants us to admit them to ourselves in the process.

We stumble daily.

Even in our broken state, He is waiting to welcome us back.

He is waiting to show us both His compassion and His forgiveness.

For this we should be grateful.

We should also be willing to forgive others as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 19, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, November 26, 2021

With Open Arms

 

Isaiah 30:18 (NET) - For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed 

The heading from this translation’s text is a great reminder.

It states that the Lord will not abandon his people.

This verse reminds us that the Lord is ready and waiting.

He is ready and waiting to show his mercy and compassion.

But what is God waiting for?

In truth, He is waiting for us.

He is waiting for us to return to Him.

Perhaps the best example of this is in a parable of Jesus.

Specifically, the parable of the Prodigal Son.

In this parable, a young man demands his share of the inheritance before his father dies.

Having received the money, the son traveled to a distant land.

He quickly spent his inheritance and then found himself in the middle of a famine.

He then took a job feeding another man’s pigs.

In desperation, he found himself longing for the food he was feeding the pigs.

The son then decided to return home and throw himself upon his father’s mercy.

He felt unworthy to be called his father’s son.

He would be happy just to be employed as a hired hand.

But Jesus tells us that something wonderful happened.

Luke 15:20 (NET) - So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.

The man’s father had been waiting for him to return.

He rushed out to greet his son and showered him with affection.

Jesus paints us a perfect picture of God waiting for us.

Waiting for us to return to Him.

God wishes to welcome us back and shower us with His affection and mercy.

Such is His grace.

So, what are we waiting for?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 5, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, November 12, 2021

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

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

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

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

An Empty Package

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

You try to remember what the occasion might be.

Nothing comes to mind.

You try to remember what you did to earn it.

Again, nothing comes to mind.

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

Still, nothing comes to mind.

You decide to read the note attached.

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

At a loss, you open the gift.

You discover the package is completely empty.

How would you react?

Would you be confused?

Would you be upset?

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

Jesus had been tried, convicted and executed.

He was then buried in a borrowed tomb.

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

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

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

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

The disciples were then informed.

Although in hiding, two came to see for themselves.

Afterward, one of the women remained.

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

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

The disciples had gone back into hiding.

Mary was still upset

All involved were confused.

Not one of them realized that this was a gift.

It was the most precious gift imaginable.

It was a gift that was neither earned nor deserved.

It was a gift that completely changed everything forever!

Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be.

Jesus did exactly what He promised to do.

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

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

A Symbol

Symbols – We encounter them every day.

Some help us get around language barriers.

Male and female symbols above bathroom doors are a good example.

Some help direct us.

Arrows on road signs are a good example.

They warn us about sharp turns ahead or advise us which exit to take.

Some companies have created their own symbols called logos.

They use these to promote their products or services.

One symbol in the world does all these things and more.

It is instantly recognizable when we lay eyes on it.

That symbol is the cross.

It does all the things mentioned before.

If we see a cross on a church, we instantly know that the people who gather there follow Christ.

We know this even if they speak a different language than we do,

The cross can help direct us.

When we find ourselves lost in our daily struggles, the cross reminds us to turn to Jesus.

The cross is even a bit like a logo.

The sight of it reminds us of all the things Jesus did and continues to do for us.

In that respect, it is unlike any other logo we might see a company use.

It also reminds us of His rejection, suffering and death.

No company in the world would use a symbol for its logo if it reminded people of that.

But, the cross also reminds us of some wonderful things as well.

The cross reminds us of the unfailing love that Jesus has for us.

After all, He willingly laid down His life for us on the cross.

John 15:13 (NET) - No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends.

The cross is also a symbol of hope.

It reminds us that death is not the end.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NET) - For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures

Yes, the cross is the most powerful of all symbols.

When we gaze upon it, we may feel one or many emotions.

We might feel love or joy or hope… or we might even feel uncomfortable.

Some might even look upon it with hatred.

The one thing we can never do with the cross… is ignore it.

Romans 6:23 (NET) - For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 15, 2019.

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

Which Do You Save?

I really enjoy those moments when the material we study opens up dialog in the classroom.

That is especially true when my students’ discussion turns to how the material applies to today.

A recent discussion we were having made me recall a philosophical question I once encountered.

I altered the premise somewhat to better suit today’s circumstances and offered a hypothetical situation.

It goes as follows:

You are walking down the street one evening.

As you do, you near a museum that has on display a very famous work of art on loan to it.

Without warning, the museum erupts into flame.

You rush in and see this work of art along with an unconscious terrorist who started the blaze.

In a split second, you realize that you only have time to rescue one.

Which of the two do you save?

Do you save the priceless work of art on loan?

Or, do you save the terrorist who not only started the fire but likely hates both you and your beliefs?

One school of thought dictates that you save the work of art.

Its reasoning is that the work is priceless and worth more than the one who wanted it destroyed.

From a Christian perspective, there really is no choice.

You must save the individual regardless of how he feels about you or the things you value.

The work of art, although valuable, is an object.

The other is a human being.

Like yourself, he is made in the image of God and has the potential for change.

Whether that change comes about is between him and God.

But, for as long as we draw breath, there remains hope.

We are each capable of saving someone physically.

Only the Lord is capable of saving someone spiritually.

Our task is to love others, not judge them.

Romans 12:18-19 (NET) - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

If the change does happen, the ensuing testimony will be powerful.

We may not be able to change hearts, but God certainly can.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NET) - I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I will be back here on Friday, March 8, 2019

Christmas Presence

I had reason to believe that something that occurred would upset a friend of mine.

At my earliest opportunity I checked in on this friend.

My suspicions were confirmed.

After a brief conversation, I determined my friend was not ready to talk about it.

I told this friend that I know that no one likes to be upset.

Before I left, I reminded this friend that they could reach out to me any time they desired.

I prayed for this friend.

I checked in on my friend every day or so.

I could tell my friend was feeling better about things but still had some distance to go.

My friend still did not wish to discuss matters.

I restated to them that I would continue to be there for them.

Once again, I prayed for my friend.

This process went on for a while.

My friend is now feeling much better.

They also know two things.

They know that I will be there for them.

They know that I will pray for them.

There are times when simply knowing someone is there can make a real difference.

We do not have to have to pry into what the other person considers personal.

We do not even have to offer advice.

We just need to make our presence known and pray.

My friend thanked me for being available.

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

All this caused me to reflect on the Christmas season.

It is the season in which we celebrate the way Christ made his presence known to humanity.

His presence came about in a new and totally unexpected way.

His presence is still felt today.

Hebrews 9:24 (NET) - For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

Christ is always there for us.

Shouldn’t we be there for each other?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 21, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, December 28, 2018

The Original Black Friday

I always look forward to Thanksgiving Day.

Not only is it a great time for personal reflection, it also means spending time with family and friends.

It is also a rather ironic time.

One day, we gather around the table and share with each other reasons why we are grateful.

The next day, many of us will hit the stores the moment the doors open to shop for material thongs.

In fact, the day after Thanksgiving Day has turned into the busiest shopping day of the year.

It even has earned its own name – Black Friday.

The shopping frenzy continues into Saturday which has earned its own title, that of Small Business Saturday.

Even the following Monday has claimed its own title – Cyber Monday.

Human beings are a funny lot.

One day we say we are grateful, the next days are about continued consuming of more and more and more.

As for me, I plan to avoid all the stores this weekend.

I even stocked up on necessities the week before so as not to get caught up in the madness.

What is most ironic is that the very best gift we can receive cannot be found in any store anywhere.

It was a gift first given about 2,000 years ago.

It was given on a Friday as well.

In some respects, on the blackest Friday of them all.

It was the day Jesus gave His all for all.

Mark 15:33 (NET) - Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

His gift that day is still available to us today.

All we need to do is accept it.

Romans 6:23 (NET) - For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is certainly something for which to give thanks,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Escape Plan

I had the privilege of listening to a speaker Sunday afternoon.

He spoke of how he and his family escaped from an oppressive regime several decades ago.

He spoke of obstacles such as barbed wire, watch towers and armed guards with dogs.

When he finished describing these and other deterrents he added one important point.

These deterrents were not meant to keep people from entering.

They were put in place expressly to keep people from leaving.

The regime was determined to hang on to its population no matter how the people felt about it.

It was willing to use even the most extreme measures to accomplish this.

Satan can be compared to that regime.

He does not want any within his grasp to escape either.

He does not use things like barbed wire and armed guards.

Rather, he relies on temptation to both capture people and keep them ensnared.

He even tried this with Jesus Christ.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus went into the desert and fasted for forty days.

There, Satan tried to tempt Jesus.

Jesus resisted all of Satan’s temptations.

Human beings are not as resilient.

Any of us can find ourselves tempted to the point of becoming and remaining captive.

But God has provided us with a way out.

An escape plan that will work.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NET) -  No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 3, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, August 10, 2018