Wisdom and Patience

 

Jonah 4:4 (GNT) - The Lord answered, “What right do you have to be angry?”

God called Jonah.

But Jonah resisted the Lord from the beginning and tried to run away.

Eventually, he gave in and obeyed the Lord.

He went to Nineveh and proclaimed the Lord’s message of their pending destruction.

Everyone, including the King, heard the message.

Filled with fear, the King issued a proclamation.

All were ordered to fast, pray, and give up their sinful ways.

The people of Nineveh obeyed.

God then relented and spared the city.

Jonah did not understand God’s ways and grew very bitter.

In fact, he became quite angry at God.

He even dared to tell God that he knew this would happen.

But God had a question for Jonah.

“What right do you have to be angry?”

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, gave them sound instruction in bearing each other’s burdens.

Galatians 6:1 (GNT) - My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too.

As we journey through this world, we will see God at work through us and through others.

But, like Jonah and the Christians in Galatia, we will not always comprehend His ways.

What then?

Will we become angry with God like Jonah did and lash out at Him?

Or will we perhaps ignore Paul’s warning and allow ourselves to be tempted like those we try to reach?

One thing is certain.

We will not always understand God’s methods.

Scripture reminds us that His ways are not our ways.

And because of that, we should indeed consider ourselves fortunate.

While others found us impossible to love, God still loved us.

When others considered us forever lost, God reached down to us and saved us.

So, what do we do when we find it difficult to understand God’s ways.

We pray for wisdom and patience.

We do not have to understand God’s ways to be faithful servants.

But if we ask for wisdom and patience, God will provide.

Only then do we become His effective servants in a confusing world.

John 3:16-17 (GNT) - For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 4, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, November 11, 2022

Creator and Created

 

Jeremiah 10:12 (NET) - The Lord is the one who by his power made the earth. He is the one who by his wisdom established the world. And by his understanding he spread out the skies.

Recently, our young people led our worship service.

One of the points they stressed was from the creation account from Genesis.

It was an excellent reminder that everything and everyone is a creation of God.

God is the creator.

Everything else is what He created.

The prophet Jeremiah understood this.

Jeremiah stresses that all that we know was created by God through His power and wisdom.

Paul touches on this topic in his letter to the Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:3 (NET) - By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

Like Jeremiah, Paul reminds us that all of creation happened at God’s command.

But Paul goes on to state that it is by faith that we understand this.

We understand that the visible creation resulted from a Creator whom we do not see.

But, through faith, we can catch glimpses of God in the world around us.

But to do so, we must also have patience and allow ourselves periods of reflection.

Faith combined with patience allows us to catch glimpses of God in the world He created.

Faith combined with periods of reflection allows us to glimpse God in others.

Perhaps that is what makes “reflection” so important.

For it may also allow others to catch a glimpse of God when they look at us.

God has created an amazing universe for us to live in.

We have an obligation to be its caretakers.

But that means caring for others as well.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 17, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, December 24, 2021

 

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

 

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

Priorities in a Hectic World

Matthew 6:33 (NET) - But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Now that Fall has arrived where I live more than the weather has changed.

My drive home often takes place at dusk.

It seems that drivers want to go faster and take more risks once the sun has gone down.

Part of it must be psychological.

Perhaps the oncoming darkness reminds drivers that there are few hours left in the day.

As a result, they rush about in an attempt to get things done.

Yet when it comes to spiritual matters, broadly speaking, I think many of us lack a similar sense of urgency.

To be honest, not one of us knows how much time we have remaining to us.

Some of us may have years or even decades.

Others have mere days or perhaps hours.

Yet we seem to rush about placing more emphasis on the here and the now rather than the eternal.

We stay busy but accomplish little.

We are bombarded with information, but do we really learn?

Scripture reminds us to seek the Kingdom of God first.

We tend to lose sight of this in a world that gets more hectic with each passing day

So, pause.

Take a breath.

Reassess your priorities.

God not only wants to be first in our lives, he expects this.

When we place God first, a wonderful thing happens,

He helps us prioritize everything else!

Luke 12:34 (NET) - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 5, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, October 12, 2018

Two Kinds of Followers

In the fourth chapter of the book of Matthew we read about those who followed Jesus.

In verses 18 through 22 we read first of Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew.

Fishermen by trade, they were busy casting their nets when Jesus came upon them.

Matthew 4:19-20 (NET) - He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.”  They left their nets immediately and followed him.

Moving further along Jesus encounters two more brothers who were also fishermen.

Matthew 4:21-22 (NET) - Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Shortly afterward we read of His healing ministry.

Jesus went through all Galilee and taught in the synagogues.

He preached the gospel of the kingdom and cured all manner of diseases and afflictions.

Word of this healing ministry spread throughout the land.

As a result, people brought to Jesus many who suffered.

Scripture tells us that Jesus healed these people.

It also tells us that others followed him.

Matthew 4:25 (NET) - And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.

So, this chapter tells us of two kinds of followers.

First, there were those who were called by Jesus.

Simon, Andrew, James and John not only followed, they followed immediately.

James and John even left their father in response to His call.

Second, there were the crowds that followed because of what Jesus said and did.

Some followed because of His teaching.

Some because of the healing they either witnessed or received.

There is a significant difference between these groups of followers.

The first group was called.

The second group was not.

That first group remained relatively small, but they responded immediately.

The second and larger group grew over the course of time.

Many of us hear His call to us today in one form or another.

I wish that I could tell you that my response was immediate, but I cannot.

I can say that I am grateful for both His patience and persistence with me.

In fact, I could tell you about others with whom He was patient and persistent.

Eventually, we came around as well.

If you have not as yet responded to His call, it is not too late to do so.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 19, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, January 26, 2018

Pride and Destruction

Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

This verse about King Uzziah is extremely cautionary.

It tells us that he disobeyed the Lord.

It also reminds us that it was his pride that destroyed him.

Azariah and the eighty other priests confronted him.

The king was warned that it was not proper for him to offer incense.

This was the responsibility of the priests - the descendants of Aaron.

They were consecrated for this duty.

2 Chronicles 26:19 (NET) - Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the LORD’s temple near the incense altar.

God’s judgment was both swift and severe.

Scripture tells us that at this the priests rushed the king away.

It also tells us that King Uzziah was in a hurry to leave as well.

This king’s pride had far reaching consequences.

2 Chronicles 26:21 (NET) - King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the LORD’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

The disease did not leave the king when he departed.

It stayed with him until the day he died.

It could be said that he lost everything.

He lost his palace.

He lost his kingdom.

He even lost the right to live among other people.

Perhaps it would be a good reminder to return to that cautionary verse once more.

2 Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

King Uzziah disobeyed the Lord.

But it was his pride that destroyed him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 3, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, March 10, 2017

Who's the Boss?

Teaching an adult Sunday school class is a passion of mine.

We always end class with a prayer before I dismiss my students.

A handful of students usually linger for a while either to visit or continue the discussion.

God had surprise for me at the end of class Sunday.

One of my students has a young granddaughter who is a treasure.

The moment class ended she charged into the room and ran straight to her grandfather.

He took her in his arms and the little girl began chatting away.

I busied myself putting our books and materials away.

I was unaware the child was observing me until she spoke to me.

“Excuse me,” she politely said to get my attention.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Are you the boss?” she asked quite sincerely.

It was all I could do not to laugh.

Working with adults is one thing,

Working with children is quite another.

I thought about how best to answer such a question from a child.

Luke chapter 22 came to mind.

In this chapter, a dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them should be regarded as the greatest.

Jesus reminded them how the kings of the Gentiles and others in authority perceive themselves.

He then reminded them how they are to proceed.

Luke 22:26 (NET) - Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.

Bearing this in mind I responded.

“No. I’m not the boss,” I said, “but I love what I do.”

She thought about that.

“I think everybody loves what they do,” she stated.

I told her that one day I would like to work for her.

I find it more than interesting that the child’s question came just two days before a national election.

In a nation already experiencing division, the results of this election are proving even more polarizing.

One thing easily overlooked is the fact that it is God who is ultimately in charge.

Romans 13:1 (NET) - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

The results of every election will find some people elated and others disappointed.

Imagine if we could ask our elected officials, “Are you the boss?”

How nice it would be if they would recall Luke 22 and state, “No. I’m not the boss, but I love what I do.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 18, 2016.

I will be back here on Friday, November 25, 2016

Worry and Strife

People tend to worry.

We even tend to worry about things over which we have little or no control

We worry about the economy.

We worry about the outcome of elections.

We worry about war and the threat of terrorism.

Worry in and of itself accomplishes nothing.

Just worrying about the economy will not bring about prosperity.

Just worrying about an election will not guarantee your candidate will win.

Just worrying about a war or threat of terrorism will not bring about peace.

When you get down to it, worrying does only one thing.

In fact, it does it pretty effectively.

Worrying does help us to forget that God is in control.

Many things are not in our control, but scripture reminds us that Someone is always in control.

In matters of the economy, it reminds us of the widow who willingly gave her last two coins.

Mark 21:44 (NET) - For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.

In matters of elections, it reminds us that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

1 Timothy 6:15 (NET) - whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.

What about the lack of peace?

Scripture even has a reminder for us there.

John 14:27 (NET) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

We would do well to remember these things when worry knocks on our door.

Whatever comes our way, scripture reminds us we do not face it alone.

Exodus 14:14 (NET) - The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.

Worry, after all, is just a form of strife and scripture has a reminder for us there as well.

Psalm 46:10 (NET) - He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!

I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 20, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 27, 2016

The Grand Illusion

People, as a rule, are stubborn.

I should know, because I am a person and I tend to be stubborn.

When it comes to life, we like to believe that we are in control.

But this belief is merely a self-imposed illusion.

The proof lies in the outcome of the plans that we make.

Sometimes, things work out the way we plan.

Often times, they do not.

That is some pretty compelling evidence.

If we were in complete control of our lives, shouldn’t everything work out the way we plan?

If we are not in control, then that leaves us with two possibilities.

Either no one is in control or someone else is.

If no one is in control then the entire system should break down.

Granted, the world has its share of problems.

There are wars, poverty, disease, ignorance and a host of other problems.

Despite all of these things, life goes on.

That leaves us with one option.

Someone is in control.

That raises the question of exactly who is in control.

There is only one possible answer.

God is in control.

Even the community of science gives us some glimpses of that.

The speed of light is a constant.

The acceleration due to gravity is another.

The list goes on.

As I said at the outset, I am stubborn.

Even as a Christian, I liked to think I was in control of my life.

Eventually, I learned to let go of the wheel.

Once I did that two things happened.

First, I discovered that I was actually able to enjoy the ride even more.

Second, I asked myself why I had not let go sooner.

Proverbs 19:21 (NET) – There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 13, 2014

Diamonds in the Rough

Diamonds are formed by a combination of intense heat and pressure.

Along with its rarity, a diamond’s cut, when made by an expert cutter, increases its value tremendously.

Before the expert makes his first cut, he will study the diamond, look inside it, and determine exactly where he will make his cuts.

In essence, what he is doing is determining what part of the diamond will stay and what parts will not.

After the cuts are made the facets of the stone that remain are polished and the diamond’s true inner value can finally be seen.

Something remarkably similar takes place in people.

While we can easily underestimate the value of a person, God sees the true value hidden within.

When God sent Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse as king, Samuel noticed Eliab and was certain that God would choose him.

But God did not choose Eliab.

God reminded Samuel, “People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,”

God sees the internal beauty then transforms lives.

He expertly chips away any excesses that interfere with the relationship between Himself and the believer.

He does away with self-destructive behaviors.

He removes bad habits.

He discards old prejudices.

As the excesses are removed, God polishes the believer.

The life of the believer is thus transformed into something completely unrecognizable from what it was before.

Scripture reminds us that nothing is impossible for God.

We must therefore never, under any circumstances, say that someone is beyond hope,

To do so discourages them.

Not only that, it also attempts to place limits on God who has none.

Isaiah 64:8 (NET) – Yet, LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay and You are the potter; we are all the product of Your labor.

It is important to remember that all believers were at one time diamonds in the rough.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 13, 2014

Listening Versus Hearing

The account of Samuel in the third chapter of 1 Samuel is one I always love to revisit.

In this chapter, the Lord calls out to the young Samuel.

Samuel hears the call but mistakes it for that of his master Eli.

Samuel runs to Eli and says, “Here I am, for you called me.”

Eli tells Samuel that he did not call him and then tells him to go back and lie down.

Eli does.

A second time, the Lord calls out to Samuel.

Samuel returns to Eli and says, “Here I am, for you called me.”

Again, Eli tells Samuel that he did not call him and instructs him to go back and lie down.

Again, Samuel does as he is told,

A third time the Lord calls out to Samuel.

Samuel gets up a third time and goes to Eli and exclaims, “Here I am for you called me!”

I find it interesting that scripture includes an exclamation point at the end of Samuel’s third statement to Eli.

Apparently, Samuel was quite emphatic about his belief that Eli had called him and he obviously wanted to make his feelings known.

At this, Eli realizes that Someone has indeed been calling Samuel and that Someone was none other than the Lord Himself.

Eli tells Samuel to go back and lie down again.

He adds that the next time Samuel hears the call he should say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel returned as he was told.

Then, something remarkable happened.

1 Samuel 3:10 (NET) – Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as He had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!”

The Lord then revealed to Samuel what He intended to do.

The Lord called out to Samuel in an audible voice three times and each time Samuel mistook the call for someone else.

The young Samuel heard, but was he really listening?

The Lord still communicates to us but often in more subtle ways.

So subtle, in fact, that we may easily mistake the call ourselves.

Eli told Samuel to reply, “Speak, for your servant is listening,”

Perhaps the best place for us to begin is to put aside the things which distract us.

Then we can truly listen.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 16, 2014.

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 23, 2014

One Now at a Time

The events of the last week reminded me of one of my mother's favorite songs.

Many times I would hear her either singing or humming One Day At a Time.

There is a tremendous amount of wisdom in those words.

When you get down to it, life is best lived that way.

As human beings, we go about our lives traveling along a perceived time line.

Speaking along such a line, we divide time into three components.

The first component of time is the past.

The past is not only confined to our lives but includes everything that preceded it.

All of recorded history lies in the past.

The past is something from which we should be able to learn yet human beings have a tendency to repeat mistakes.

We repeat not only our mistakes but those of previous generations as well.

The second component is the present.

This is the most fleeting component of all.

Try saying the word "Now".

By the time you have finished saying this tiny word, the moment in which you said it has already slipped into the past.

That leaves us with the third and final component, what we call the future.

As human beings, we have little idea what lies in store for us in this mysterious realm.

We may plan for certain events.

We even fill our calendars with appointments and special events.

We even make long term plans for ourselves.

But, in the final analysis, we cannot say with absolute certainty what will occur in the future.

To further complicate matters, we do not just how each appointment, event or plan will ultimately turn out if they do manage to materialize on time.

Will we like the outcome?

Or, will we dislike it maybe to the point of wishing it had never occurred?

We simply will not know until the moment unfolds.

There is something we can count on.

God is not confined to the time line to which we have attached our lives.

He is outside time.

It may be difficult for us to comprehend, but God is already in tomorrow.

God is with us now, but He is also awaiting us in the tomorrow in which we have yet to see.

Whatever tomorrow brings, God already knows about it and will see us through it.

That is something in which we can take great comfort.

We cannot change the past.

We can only imagine the future.

All we truly have is the ever fleeting "now".

So, take one "now" at a time and use it in a way that glorifies Him.

Romans 15:5-6 (NET) - Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 15, 2014.
I’All be back here on Friday, August 8, 2014

Prayer Revisited

I recently had the privilege of leading two adult classes on the topic of prayer.

Prior to leading those classes I posted a blog on my other site entitled Teach Us to Pray.

There I cited the examples Jesus gave us on the proper approach to God in prayer as well as the model He gave us which we now lovingly refer to as The Lord's Prayer.

In this post I thought would expand on the topic of prayer based not only on the curriculum but also from feedback I received from those in attendance.

To begin with, I still maintain my position that prayer is much more than "praying big" to God whose power is limitless.

Prayer remains one of the best means we have of strengthening our relationship with God and not merely a means by which we receive things we request.

Please do not misunderstand me.

I think it is a wonderful thing to pray for others especially when they are ill, coping with loss or dealing with difficult situations.

If we are faced with similar issues, then we should take them to God in prayer as the old hymn reminds us.

But we also need to exercise good judgment when it comes to praying for ourselves.

By that I mean that we really need to understand what is motivating us to pray for ourselves.

When it come to praying for things we really need to exercise caution.

Let's take praying to God for a new church building or for the expansion of an existing one as an example.

On the surface, this seems benign but even in this case we need to examine our motives.

If our motivation is to edify the body and we need more room to accommodate more people then I think we are on good footing.

If our motivation is merely to have a nicer and more beautiful structure then perhaps we should take time to think things over before approaching God.

Granted, I am painting with an extremely broad brush, but this is merely for the sake of example.

That said, let us examine the results of prayer.

For example let us say that there are two people and each has a close family member who is extremely ill.

Let us also say that each prayed for the healing of his family member.

Let us also assume that the first family member was healed but the second died.

Can we conclude that the second person did not pray as hard as the first, or that the right prayer was not said?

Can we conclude that the first person had more faith than the second?

The answer to all these questions is "No".

God has a plan and understands it completely, whereas we cannot.

Though each of the two prayers was answered in a different way, the relationships between each of those praying and God were strengthened.

And the prayers should not end there.

The second should pray for comfort, peace and understanding.

The first should pray with gratitude.

Thus the relationships between those praying and God continues to be strengthened.

It must be stated that too often it is the prayer of gratitude that is overlooked.

These are but a few thoughts on prayer, so I invite you to read Hebrews chapter 11 in its entirety to put things in a proper perspective.

Bear in mind the last two verses.

Hebrews 11:39-40 (NIV) - These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

This brings up a final point.

Some prayers are not answered right away.

Some might not even be answered in our lifetime.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 20, 2014.
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 27, 2014

What Now?

Another Christmas Day has come and gone but I thought there was one thing that required a bit more reflection.

This Christmas, like those that preceded it, had its share of detractors.

As time has gone by, these detractors have become both more numerous and more vocal.

Some insisted on alternative and meaningless names like Winter Holiday.

Some demanded that government institutions ban decorations that have distinct Christian themes.

This year. there was even contention over a manger scene on city hall property.

When detractors are asked why they object to Christian themes two reasons usually top the list.

Probably the most common reason cited is the canned response “separation of church and state.”

This response however has been very much taken out of context.

When the United States was still in its infancy, the Founding Fathers (another term currently in disfavor) made it very clear that the government would not establish a national religion.

Citizens would be free to choose how they would believe.

They could even choose not to believe if that is what they sincerely desired.

Therefore, separation of church and state was not intended to be a line drawn in the sand with faith on one side and government on the other.

It was simply a guarantee to citizens that a particular denomination would not be forcibly imposed upon them.

Another reason commonly cited is that Christian symbols might make some people uncomfortable.

I find this line of reasoning flawed at best.

As a Christian, I know that some choose to believe differently than I do.

Their choice is simply that. It is their choice.

As a Christian I am supposed to tell others about Jesus but I cannot force them to believe in Him,

I cannot force my belief on others. No one can.

At the end of the day, they remain free to say, “No”.

When they do say “Yes” to Jesus it is because of a change He brings about.

I dare mot take any credit for that.

Likewise, a person of another religion cannot force his or her belief on me.

Therefore, symbols of other religions do not make me uncomfortable.

That said, I do believe some individuals will feel genuine discomfort which, in and of itself, is a good thing.

Discomfort is a wonderful motivation for change.

If I place my hand too near an open flame I will feel discomfort in that hand.

That discomfort will motivate me to change the location of my hand before it sustains serious or permanent damage.

A person who feels genuine discomfort in the presence of a religious symbol, be it Christian or otherwise, feels uncomfortable for a reason.

That discomfort should motivate that person to seek out the reason for it.

It could be racism.

It could be intolerance.

It could be a an emptiness longing to be filled.

It could be something completely different.

Whatever it is, it is an indication that individual needs to incorporate an effective change and the sooner the better.

But Christmas Day has passed and soon all the decorations and symbols will taken down and put in storage for another year.

Why discuss such things now?

People should be able to tell Christians by the way we live and treat others each and every day not just during the Christmas season.

If they cannot, then it as if we have effectively removed the decorations of His love from our hearts and placed them in cold storage as well.

This would be extremely sad because this is would be a choice that we made and not one that was imposed upon us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 3, 2014.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 10, 2014.

Relationships

What is being a Christian all about?

It’s about relationships.

It’s about having a relationship with God.

But, there’s a wrinkle.

God is perfect, Holy and righteous.

We are not.

Even if I had the capacity to review every day of my life and single out what I considered to be my very best day, a closer examination would reveal that somewhere during the course of that day, I came up short.

Likely more than once.

Maybe I said or did something I should not have.

Perhaps I neglected to say or do something I should have.

So, how do we as fallible human beings have a relationship with God?

We do so by having a relationship with Jesus.

We have that relationship with Jesus by realizing that we have a desperate all consuming need for salvation.

We have that relationship when we recognize that He came and dwelt among us for a time.

He did so and experienced many of the same things that you and I experience.

Pain, loneliness, hunger, cold, the hatred of others toward Him and so forth.

He experienced all these things and so much more but there is one huge difference.

Jesus never committed a single sin.

That is why He was the perfect atonement for our sin.

Jesus bridges the gap that would otherwise separate us from God.

Then there is the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit.

This is perhaps the most mysterious and least understood relationship we have due to the nature of the Holy Spirit.

So, how does one know that he has a relationship with the third person of the Trinity?

I confess that when it comes to this relationship it is of such a nature that it is hard for me to put into words.

I can give you examples of what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.

He convicts us of our sin and leads us to recognize Jesus as our Savior.

He then assures us of that salvation.

He helps us recognize and understand the truth.

He transforms our lives in unique and surprising ways.

If someone had described my life today to me years ago, I would simply not have believed them.

But these changes were not my idea nor were they part of any planning on my part.

They occurred because of the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, there is one other set of relationships.

The relationships we have with others.

Jesus referred to these others as "our neighbor".

Being human, we quickly find that these prove to be the most challenging of all.

We are to love our neighbor even when our neighbor refuses to love us in return.

We are to forgive our neighbor even when they are unaware that they have wronged us.

We are to forgive them, even if they refuse to forgive us.

We are not to pass judgment on them even if they choose to judge us.

Sound difficult?

In a way, it is.

But as we establish and then improve upon these relationships, our lives become the richer for them.

Before closing, I want you to think about what you consider your most worthwhile accomplishment in life.

Now ask yourself the following question.

Do you consider it worthwhile because it was easy or because it was difficult?

Until we meet again.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, November 22, 2013.

No Shutdown Here

Psalm 62:8 (NET) - Trust in Him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)

I am really grateful to God for the sense of humor He gave me.

It really helps when the times are uncertain,

Take current events, for example.

Political parties in the government could not reach an agreement.

The result was a government shutdown.

Services were disrupted.

Each side pointed their finger at the other and it was the people, not the politicians, who were caught in the middle.

When Sunday came along I found myself extremely busy at church well before Sunday School began.

I was asked to arrive early and open up the church.

I turned on the lights and the air conditioning.

I turned on the coffee maker so that the water had sufficient time to get warm.

I took a telephone call from a member asking me to take some things out of our refrigerator,

Being World Communion Sunday, I assisted our Communion Stewards by helping them carry items into the Sanctuary.

I found a friend and asked him to help me reposition the Communion table.

I made the coffee.

Chairs had been removed from my classroom so I had to replace them.

I was slated to lead our Senior Assembly and was about to go over my notes one final time when I was asked to do some troubleshooting on the church’s computer.

When all these things were done I had about one minute left before the Assembly began.

That's when a humorous thought hit me, so I logged onto Facebook via my mobile and checked in from the church.

I did so with the phrase "No shutdown here" and then turned off my mobile.

The sense of humor He gave me helps me get through my day and hopefully allows me to help others get through theirs as well.

It also reminds me that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.

That bit about the shutdown is a good example.

The church does not ever shut down.

That is because God does not shut down.

God is actively involved in our lives and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week even on holidays.

He can be reached at any time of the day or night regardless of the situation.

You don’t need appointment.

He is there whenever you need Him.

He is there even if you just want to talk to Him.

In fact, that is an excellent way to develop a relationship with God.

People, even those in government, can and will let you down.

God will never let you down.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 25, 2013.

Citizen's Arrest

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NET) - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

I enjoy old movies and old television programs.

One of the old television programs in syndication that I still enjoy is The Andy Griffith Show.

I vividly remember the characters, some of the story lines and even some of the dialog.

One of my favorite episodes involves the characters Gomer Pyle, who was portrayed by Jim Nabors, and Deputy Barney Fife, who was portrayed by Don Knotts.

In that particular episode, a great deal of tension arises because first one and then the other makes an illegal U-turn on one of the streets of Mayberry.

Gomer makes the first illegal U-turn and Deputy Fife proceeds to write him a ticket.

Gomer pleads with Barney not to write him the ticket, but Barney is determined to uphold the letter of the law and writes him the ticket anyway.

Barney then gets back into his patrol car and makes the same illegal U-turn to go back to the Sheriff’s Office.

Gomer sees Barney do the very same thing for which he was cited.

He starts yelling, "Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest!" and chases Barney on foot.

The townspeople gather around. Barney gets out of the patrol car and wants to know just what Gomer is yelling about.

Gomer then declares that he saw Barney make an illegal U-turn and adds that as a citizen of the United  States in the town of Mayberry he  hereby arrests Barney.

The crowd cheers. Gomer and Barney begin arguing. The crowd around them grows ever larger.

Sheriff Andy Taylor, hears the commotion and seeing the growing crowd goes to investigate.

Not wanting the situation to further escalate, he takes Deputy Fife aside and instructs Barney to write himself a ticket.

There is, of course, much more to the story and many of you are likely familiar with it.

What then, you may well ask, does all this have to do with matters of faith?

A great deal.

In these days of social media, it is all too easy for Christians to criticize those that are not especially as relationships are first established.

As a Christian, I utilize social media to stay in touch with friends.

I also utilize it to make new friends and share my faith.

As a follower of Christ, I very much want to be a good ambassador for Him.

I want to bring others to Him so that they too can obtain the salvation made possible by Grace alone.

Yet, sometimes in our zeal and enthusiasm it becomes all too easy for us to become very critical of others especially where social media is concerned.

When we become critical and jump on every imperfection, many who have not yet come to know the Faith stop seeing us as ambassadors.

They begin to see us merely as characters , like Gomer, who love nothing more than running around shouting "Citizen’s arrest!" at the top of our lungs. As a result, we end up actually driving others farther away from Him.

I am not saying that we should lower our standards by "liking" and "sharing" things which we feel are inappropriate.

I would never suggest anything of the sort.

What I am saying is that we should follow the example that Christ set for us.

Jesus saved his harshest criticisms for the religious leaders and teachers of the law.

Matthew 23:15 (NET) - "Woe to you experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and see to make one convert, and when you get one you make him twice the child of hell as yourselves!"

It is important to remember that these same leaders accused Jesus of eating with tax collectors and sinners.

Do you remember how Jesus responded?

Mark 2:17 (NET) - When Jesus heard this he said to them, "Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

How did Jesus deal with sinners?

In the eighth chapter of John, the Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman "who had been caught committing adultery."

They remind Jesus that the law demands that she be stoned to death. They then ask, "What then do you say?"

John 8:7 (NET) - When they persisted in asking Him, He stood up straight and replied, "Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her."

One by one, they walked away until only Jesus and the woman remained.

He asked her if anyone condemned her.

John 8 11 (NET) - She replied, "No one Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."

What a marvelous example Jesus set for us.

He set many more as well.

Jesus did not criticize the thief on the cross.

Instead, Jesus offered him pardon and the gift of eternal life.

Social media can be like a spiritual minefield for the believer.

It is also full of opportunities for us to share our faith if we follow His example.

Having faith is a wonderful thing, but Paul reminds us that we must treat others with love.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The  Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 19, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 26, 2013.

The Importance of Patience

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET) - Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

I consider myself a patient man.

Lately, circumstances beyond my control have been trying my patience.

I won’t bore you with details because that might be misinterpreted as complaining.

Being human, I cannot help but wonder why so many things seem to have gone awry.

I can speculate and come up with dozens of potential reasons as to why it appears as if my patience is being tested.

In the end, speculations are all they will remain.

What is important is the one thing I can control.

How I respond.

Just how will I respond?

Will I get angry?

Will I choose to give up?

Will I act without thinking?

Not one of these options is good.

These options are not ‘responses’.

They are ‘reactions’.

If I allow myself to get angry, I will be allowing the situations to get the best of me.

If I allow myself to give up, I will be admitting defeat.

If I allow to myself act without thinking, I could very possibly take a complicated situation and make it even worse.

So how am I to respond?

I cannot put it more eloquently than one of my favorite old hymns did.

Take It to the Lord in Prayer.

That is my first step.

I must then make myself open to His leading.

Once His leading is revealed, I must be willing to follow His leading.

Finally, I must continue to be patient.

I must remind myself that things happen according to God’s timetable, not mine.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NET) - God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

I must be patient with God.

Speaking as a sinner, I know that He has been more than patient with me.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 25, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 9, 2011.
Schedule subject to change.