As we near Easter, I was struck by a particular passage from the book of Matthew.
Matthew 27:50-52 (NET) - Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up His Spirit. Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split apart. And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.
There are three events that took place upon the death of Jesus that were spectacular in nature, but one struck me as being the most spectacular of the three.
It wasn’t the opening of the tombs and the raising of the saints, although this was a remarkable event.
It wasn’t the shaking of the earth and the splitting apart of the rocks. Earthquakes in and of themselves can be remarkable but the timing of this particular earthquake is nothing short of amazing.
As remarkable as these two events were, I find the tearing of the temple curtain to be the most remarkable of all.
The curtain was a separator. It is what separated God from the people and the people from God.
God is both perfectly Holy and perfectly righteous.
People are neither.
There was no way that a fallen human being could be in the direct presence of God,
The existence of the curtain precedes the temple as it was part of the tabernacle design which God commanded Moses to follow.
Exodus 26:33 (NET) - You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
Only the high priest was allowed to go behind the curtain centuries after the purpose of the curtain was defined by God.
Hebrews 9:7 (NET) - But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
Luke 1:8-10 (NET) - Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.
It is clear that the temple curtain played a significant role. Its purpose was not merely decorative but served to keep separate a Holy God from a fallen people.
Please notice that the passage of scripture I opened with contains the words "Just then".
The very moment Jesus died... He died for us.
At that very moment the curtain, which separated us from God, was torn in two from top to bottom.
It was a barrier no more.
Mankind was no longer separated from God because of the price Jesus paid on the cross.
God’s gracious and merciful gift of salvation was made possible not because of anything we had done.
It was made possible through Jesus.
Why not express your gratitude to them both right now.
After all... there is absolutely nothing standing in your way.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, May 6, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, May 13, 2011.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Big Deal
I had a new experience Sunday.
We celebrated Holy Communion in my church.
The celebration of Communion is certainly not new to me, but this time, I was to be called upon to help serve it.
I knew this day was coming and was more than a little nervous about it.
Please understand that I am a man who seldom finds himself in a state of worry.
I know that Scripture reminds us time and again to "fear not", so I try to approach life confidently and normally succeed in the attempt.
Yet there was something about being on the serving side of this equation for the first time that caused me more than a fair amount of apprehension.
I confided my concerns to a few friends and colleagues.
There was a recurring response I received that caused me perhaps even more distress than the thought of serving for the first time.
That response usually began with "Don’t worry about it", and ended with "It’s no big deal."
To avoid being judgmental, I will assume that such a response was merely an attempt to ease my concerns and that those who gave me such a response did not mean to be taken literally.
I say this because it really is a big deal.
In fact, the sharing of Communion is one of the most important parts of the Christian experience.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NET) - and after He had given thanks he broke it and said, "This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, He also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this every time you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Clearly, the elements are important in what they represent.
Yet, it goes far beyond that.
1 Corinthians 11:28 (NET) - A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup.
Scripture reminds us to examine ourselves first before we partake of this meal.
It therefore stands to reason that those who serve this meal must do likewise.
That is why the response "it’s no big deal" bothered me to the degree that it did.
Obviously, it still does.
By the way, with God’s help, the role I filled in this service transpired without incident.
Having now served in this capacity, I doubt that I will be as apprehensive when called upon next time.
But, it will still be "a big deal".
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, April 8, 2011 and April 15, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, April 22, 2011.
We celebrated Holy Communion in my church.
The celebration of Communion is certainly not new to me, but this time, I was to be called upon to help serve it.
I knew this day was coming and was more than a little nervous about it.
Please understand that I am a man who seldom finds himself in a state of worry.
I know that Scripture reminds us time and again to "fear not", so I try to approach life confidently and normally succeed in the attempt.
Yet there was something about being on the serving side of this equation for the first time that caused me more than a fair amount of apprehension.
I confided my concerns to a few friends and colleagues.
There was a recurring response I received that caused me perhaps even more distress than the thought of serving for the first time.
That response usually began with "Don’t worry about it", and ended with "It’s no big deal."
To avoid being judgmental, I will assume that such a response was merely an attempt to ease my concerns and that those who gave me such a response did not mean to be taken literally.
I say this because it really is a big deal.
In fact, the sharing of Communion is one of the most important parts of the Christian experience.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NET) - and after He had given thanks he broke it and said, "This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, He also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this every time you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Clearly, the elements are important in what they represent.
Yet, it goes far beyond that.
1 Corinthians 11:28 (NET) - A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup.
Scripture reminds us to examine ourselves first before we partake of this meal.
It therefore stands to reason that those who serve this meal must do likewise.
That is why the response "it’s no big deal" bothered me to the degree that it did.
Obviously, it still does.
By the way, with God’s help, the role I filled in this service transpired without incident.
Having now served in this capacity, I doubt that I will be as apprehensive when called upon next time.
But, it will still be "a big deal".
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, April 8, 2011 and April 15, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, April 22, 2011.
Friday, March 11, 2011
On the Face of It
Some people are really good with names and faces.
I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.
Try as I might, it takes me a while to associate new names with new faces.
A few years ago I had an encounter with an older gentleman who was good with names and faces. Really good.
A new store had opened up along my daily commute about fifteen miles from where I live,
I stopped there on my way home one evening to pick up a few items and to check out then new store.
I said hello to the greeter on duty as he handed me my shopping cart and then proceeded to do my shopping.
I did not purchase very much so I determined there was no need for me to take my shopping cart outside.
I would simply leave the cart with the greeter on my way out.
As I prepared to exit the store, I noticed that the greeter I originally encountered was no longer on duty and another had taken his place.
I removed my bags and handed the now empty cart to the greeter and said, "Thank you. See you next time."
I was about half way to the door when the man said rather loudly, "Hey!"
I stopped and turned to face him.
He said, "You’re a Pokorny. Aren’t you?"
"Yes," I replied as I wondered how it was that he knew my last name.
He then named my parents and asked if he was correct.
I told him that he was indeed correct.
He then identified me by my first name and asked that was correct.
I replied that he was and asked how it was that he knew this about me.
He told me that he used to live in the town I still call home.
He then told me the year that he moved away and that he remembered my parents and me.
I was amazed.
This man had not seen me in decades!
The last time he saw me was when I was a child less than ten years of age.
Suddenly, decades later, he spotted a middle aged man with a full beard among a crowd of people filing out past him and was able to make a connection between the man I am today with the child that I once was!
We talked for a few more minutes about how much time had gone by and how much things have changed.
That incident still amazes me to this day.
As impressive as this man’s ability was, there is one whose ability surpasses even this.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The LORD said to me, "Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."
Luke 12: 6-7 (NET) - Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
There are about six billion of us currently alive.
Billions have preceded us.
An untold number are yet to come.
Yet God knows each of us individually.
Now that’s impressive!
Why not take a moment now and get to know Him better.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 18, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 25, 2011.
I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.
Try as I might, it takes me a while to associate new names with new faces.
A few years ago I had an encounter with an older gentleman who was good with names and faces. Really good.
A new store had opened up along my daily commute about fifteen miles from where I live,
I stopped there on my way home one evening to pick up a few items and to check out then new store.
I said hello to the greeter on duty as he handed me my shopping cart and then proceeded to do my shopping.
I did not purchase very much so I determined there was no need for me to take my shopping cart outside.
I would simply leave the cart with the greeter on my way out.
As I prepared to exit the store, I noticed that the greeter I originally encountered was no longer on duty and another had taken his place.
I removed my bags and handed the now empty cart to the greeter and said, "Thank you. See you next time."
I was about half way to the door when the man said rather loudly, "Hey!"
I stopped and turned to face him.
He said, "You’re a Pokorny. Aren’t you?"
"Yes," I replied as I wondered how it was that he knew my last name.
He then named my parents and asked if he was correct.
I told him that he was indeed correct.
He then identified me by my first name and asked that was correct.
I replied that he was and asked how it was that he knew this about me.
He told me that he used to live in the town I still call home.
He then told me the year that he moved away and that he remembered my parents and me.
I was amazed.
This man had not seen me in decades!
The last time he saw me was when I was a child less than ten years of age.
Suddenly, decades later, he spotted a middle aged man with a full beard among a crowd of people filing out past him and was able to make a connection between the man I am today with the child that I once was!
We talked for a few more minutes about how much time had gone by and how much things have changed.
That incident still amazes me to this day.
As impressive as this man’s ability was, there is one whose ability surpasses even this.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The LORD said to me, "Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."
Luke 12: 6-7 (NET) - Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
There are about six billion of us currently alive.
Billions have preceded us.
An untold number are yet to come.
Yet God knows each of us individually.
Now that’s impressive!
Why not take a moment now and get to know Him better.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 18, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 25, 2011.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Will You Accept A Long Distance Call?
There is a series of photographs along one wall In the narthex of my church.
These are photographs of the pastors my church has been fortunate to have had since we opened our doors in the late nineteenth century.
Their names and the years they have served are clearly displayed.
I have looked over these photographs and there is something special about them (and I'm not just referring to the facial hair early on).
What is special to me is to see the continuity in my church from its beginning especially when the church itself has undergone big changes in its history.
One of the biggest changes my church has undergone has been in the language used during the worship service.
The first pastor had to accommodate a congregation of Czech immigrants to Texas who spoke Czech either exclusively or primarily.
As time went by an English service was incorporated and it eventually became the primary service.
Later on, the Czech service was eliminated altogether.
The photographs also remind me that I have only known three of these pastors personally.
From my personal experiences with them, I know that their styles of preaching were as different as their personalities.
I am fairly certain that held true for their predecessors.
Yet, God called each of these pastors to the ministry and each answered the call and brought the gifts they were given by God.
The call to ministry is not God's only call.
God gives us talents and abilities suited for His call to our service.
Romans 12:6-8 (NET) - And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is in service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is in exhortation, he must exhort; If it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; If it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
God gives each of us gifts to be used for His glory and this passage of scripture reminds us that those gifts "must" be put to the proper use.
There are some who incorrectly assume that God would not use them for one reason or another.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Paul once persecuted the early church.
Acts 9:1-2 (NET) - Meanwhile Saul still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Paul's life was never the same after he answered the call he received.
Some of the most powerful testimonies come from those whose lives were transformed when they responded to His call.
If you have not yet made yourself available to His call, I encourage you to do so.
Your life as you know it will never be the same.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, March 11, 2011.
These are photographs of the pastors my church has been fortunate to have had since we opened our doors in the late nineteenth century.
Their names and the years they have served are clearly displayed.
I have looked over these photographs and there is something special about them (and I'm not just referring to the facial hair early on).
What is special to me is to see the continuity in my church from its beginning especially when the church itself has undergone big changes in its history.
One of the biggest changes my church has undergone has been in the language used during the worship service.
The first pastor had to accommodate a congregation of Czech immigrants to Texas who spoke Czech either exclusively or primarily.
As time went by an English service was incorporated and it eventually became the primary service.
Later on, the Czech service was eliminated altogether.
The photographs also remind me that I have only known three of these pastors personally.
From my personal experiences with them, I know that their styles of preaching were as different as their personalities.
I am fairly certain that held true for their predecessors.
Yet, God called each of these pastors to the ministry and each answered the call and brought the gifts they were given by God.
The call to ministry is not God's only call.
God gives us talents and abilities suited for His call to our service.
Romans 12:6-8 (NET) - And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is in service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is in exhortation, he must exhort; If it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; If it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
God gives each of us gifts to be used for His glory and this passage of scripture reminds us that those gifts "must" be put to the proper use.
There are some who incorrectly assume that God would not use them for one reason or another.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Paul once persecuted the early church.
Acts 9:1-2 (NET) - Meanwhile Saul still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Paul's life was never the same after he answered the call he received.
Some of the most powerful testimonies come from those whose lives were transformed when they responded to His call.
If you have not yet made yourself available to His call, I encourage you to do so.
Your life as you know it will never be the same.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, March 11, 2011.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Complain, Complain, Complain
Exodus 16:3 (NET) - The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this desert to kill this whole assembly with hunger!”
There is an old saying that says silence is golden. Sometimes, I am inclined to agree.
As the resident computer geek for my company, silence means everything is functioning as it should.
Whenever we lose internet access, email, printing or other capabilities, it seems everyone is more than willing to “remind” me of it.
In that regard, I can somewhat relate to Moses.
God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and instructed him to delver His people from bondage.
Moses gave God reasons why He should choose someone else, yet God remained resolute in His choice.
With Aaron by his side, Moses returned to Egypt and confronted Pharaoh.
Pharaoh made the people’s lives even more difficult.
The people complained to Moses and Aaron.
Exodus 5:21 (NET) - and they said to them, “May the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants, so that you have given them an excuse to kill us!”
After the last plague on Egypt, a broken Pharaoh let God’s people go.
Moses led the people out of Egypt and eventually they made their way to the Red Sea where they saw Pharaoh’s forces closing in on them.
Once again, Moses withstood the people’s complaints.
Exodus 14:12 (NET) - “Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so we can serve the Egyptians. Because it is better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’”
With God’s help, Moses parted the Red Sea for the people to escape.
Later on, it was thirst which fueled the people’s complaints.
Exodus 17:3 (NET) - But the people were very thirsty there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, “Why in the world did you bring us out of Egypt - to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”
Moses listened to the people complain.
Then came that fateful day as Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain.
With Aaron’s help, they created a golden calf as an idol and worshiped it.
God was outraged and planned to destroy His people and start anew with Moses.
Exodus 32:10 (NET) - “So now leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I will make from you a great nation.”
Time and again, Moses listened to the people complain.
Yet at this critical juncture, Moses interceded for the people.
Exodus 32:13 (NET) - “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.’”
In spite of all the complaining Moses was subjected to, he interceded for the people and God relented.
When you think about it, people are still prone to complaining.
God, in His grace and mercy, provided for our salvation through Jesus Christ.
Christ interceded for us by means of the cross.
Yet, when things do not go our way our response is often to complain.
God, who has been more than generous to us, hears every one of our complaints.
Still, we have someone who intercedes for us.
Romans 8:34 (NET) - Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who is also interceding for us.
Through it all, Christ continues to intercede for us.
And He does so without complaint.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, February 18, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 25, 2011.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Where Does the Time Go
James 4:14 (KJV) - Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little time and then vanisheth away.
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Saturday afternoon, I did something that I rarely do. I went to the movies.
Normally, I see movies when they come to television or watch them on DVD.
There were several reasons why I actually went to see this movie.
First, it was a western and I really enjoy that genre. They just don't make enough anymore to suit me.
Second, portions of the movie were filmed in the town of Granger, Texas about ten minutes from where I call home. I have several friends who live there and I saw first hand how a portion of that town was made to look like "the Old West" during filming.
Third, it was a remake of a John Wayne classic and I wanted to see if a modern day actor could portray the character as well as "The Duke" did back in 1969.
I enjoyed the movie and as the credits rolled my thoughts returned to why I wanted to see it in the first place.
It was one of the better westerns I recalled seeing lately and I hoped its success might inspire others to create more.
As far as the location was concerned, I felt they had successfully transported the town of Granger back in time. I even managed to recognize a few of the buildings.
As for the actor in the lead role, I felt he successfully recreated the role played by John Wayne back in 1969.
1969. Wow! Had it really been forty two years since that movie was made?
Please don't get me wrong, I am quite comfortable with my age and am grateful to God for every year He sees fit to give me. But as I walked away from my seat, I found it difficult to believe that four decades of my life had passed that quickly and that put me in mind of my opening passage of scripture which bears repeating.
James 4:14 (KJV) - Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little time and then vanisheth away.
I realized just how true that is.
Those four decades were indeed like a mist that had all too quickly vanished away.
While this was sinking in, I made my way to the exit, opened the door and stepped outside.
Before releasing the door and letting it close, I looked over my shoulder to make sure there was no one behind me.
Upon glancing backward I saw two elderly ladies engaged in conversation making their way to the door.
They proceeded slowly because one relied upon a cane for support.
She reminded me a great deal of my mother who relied on a cane to get around later in life.
As I held the door open and waited patiently, I recalled how blessed I was as Mother and I had a wonderfully close relationship.
As they walked, I wondered at the number of years they had seen. I surmised that they would agree that the decades they had witnessed had likewise passed all too quickly.
It was only when they arrived at the door that they looked up from their conversation and realized I had been standing there waiting for them.
The first stepped through and apologized for making me wait and I assured her that no apology was necessary.
The second, the one who reminded me so much of my own mother, then stepped through and thanked me.
She added, "I can tell that your mother did an excellent job in raising a polite young man."
"Thank you," I replied, "You have no idea just how much you brightened my day!"
And that is what put me in mind of the Proverb that I opened with...
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Holding a door open for a lady is indeed a courtesy both my parents taught me at a young age and, as the scripture says, I have never departed from it.
Time goes by all too quickly, and there is nothing we can do about that.
Yet the way we treat others has a quality that can be truly timeless.
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, February 4, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, February 11, 2011.
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Saturday afternoon, I did something that I rarely do. I went to the movies.
Normally, I see movies when they come to television or watch them on DVD.
There were several reasons why I actually went to see this movie.
First, it was a western and I really enjoy that genre. They just don't make enough anymore to suit me.
Second, portions of the movie were filmed in the town of Granger, Texas about ten minutes from where I call home. I have several friends who live there and I saw first hand how a portion of that town was made to look like "the Old West" during filming.
Third, it was a remake of a John Wayne classic and I wanted to see if a modern day actor could portray the character as well as "The Duke" did back in 1969.
I enjoyed the movie and as the credits rolled my thoughts returned to why I wanted to see it in the first place.
It was one of the better westerns I recalled seeing lately and I hoped its success might inspire others to create more.
As far as the location was concerned, I felt they had successfully transported the town of Granger back in time. I even managed to recognize a few of the buildings.
As for the actor in the lead role, I felt he successfully recreated the role played by John Wayne back in 1969.
1969. Wow! Had it really been forty two years since that movie was made?
Please don't get me wrong, I am quite comfortable with my age and am grateful to God for every year He sees fit to give me. But as I walked away from my seat, I found it difficult to believe that four decades of my life had passed that quickly and that put me in mind of my opening passage of scripture which bears repeating.
James 4:14 (KJV) - Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little time and then vanisheth away.
I realized just how true that is.
Those four decades were indeed like a mist that had all too quickly vanished away.
While this was sinking in, I made my way to the exit, opened the door and stepped outside.
Before releasing the door and letting it close, I looked over my shoulder to make sure there was no one behind me.
Upon glancing backward I saw two elderly ladies engaged in conversation making their way to the door.
They proceeded slowly because one relied upon a cane for support.
She reminded me a great deal of my mother who relied on a cane to get around later in life.
As I held the door open and waited patiently, I recalled how blessed I was as Mother and I had a wonderfully close relationship.
As they walked, I wondered at the number of years they had seen. I surmised that they would agree that the decades they had witnessed had likewise passed all too quickly.
It was only when they arrived at the door that they looked up from their conversation and realized I had been standing there waiting for them.
The first stepped through and apologized for making me wait and I assured her that no apology was necessary.
The second, the one who reminded me so much of my own mother, then stepped through and thanked me.
She added, "I can tell that your mother did an excellent job in raising a polite young man."
"Thank you," I replied, "You have no idea just how much you brightened my day!"
And that is what put me in mind of the Proverb that I opened with...
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Holding a door open for a lady is indeed a courtesy both my parents taught me at a young age and, as the scripture says, I have never departed from it.
Time goes by all too quickly, and there is nothing we can do about that.
Yet the way we treat others has a quality that can be truly timeless.
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, February 4, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, February 11, 2011.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Breathing Easier
The weather forecast for Sunday called for a combination of rain and cold. While many found this forecast undesirable I found myself praying that this time the forecasters had gotten it right.
I suffer from an allergy to cedar pollen and during the work week I had been feeling terrible.
According to an earlier newscast, we had just experienced the second highest cedar pollen count on record. I certainly did not have to hear that report to know that the cedar count was high.
The week for me largely consisted of watery and itchy eyes accompanied by coughing and sneezing.
To add insult to injury, even my closest friends felt it necessary to remind me that I both looked and sounded terrible.
Sunday, I was to be installed as an Elder in my church and I really wanted to be there. But, as the day approached, my condition worsened.
Throughout the day Saturday I prayed for the rain that was predicted by the weather forecast that night.
When evening came, I was exhausted but found it difficult to fall asleep due to my symptoms.
It was a faint noise that woke me up after only an hour or two of sleep. Not being fully awake, I wondered what it was. A few seconds later, I realized what it was.
Rain!
I turned on the television to view the radar and beheld a beautiful sight.
This was no passing shower. Almost the entire state was experiencing rain to one degree or another.
I thanked God for this blessing and went back to sleep.
When the alarm clock woke me up Sunday morning, I heard the rain still softly falling outside.
Throughout the night, as the rain fell, countless pollen grains were being washed from the air and my symptoms had dramatically improved.
By the time I left for church, the rain had decreased to a light drizzle and I got through the installation ceremony without so much as a sneeze.
Later that day, as I thanked God once again for this blessing, I also reflected on the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.
Just as the rain washed the air clean of airborne irritants, so the blood of Jesus washes away all of our sins.
Romans 5:8-9 (KJV) - But God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) - In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;"
Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]."
It is through the blood of Jesus that we have eternal life.
And that really makes me breathe a whole lot easier.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, January 21, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, January 28, 2011.
I suffer from an allergy to cedar pollen and during the work week I had been feeling terrible.
According to an earlier newscast, we had just experienced the second highest cedar pollen count on record. I certainly did not have to hear that report to know that the cedar count was high.
The week for me largely consisted of watery and itchy eyes accompanied by coughing and sneezing.
To add insult to injury, even my closest friends felt it necessary to remind me that I both looked and sounded terrible.
Sunday, I was to be installed as an Elder in my church and I really wanted to be there. But, as the day approached, my condition worsened.
Throughout the day Saturday I prayed for the rain that was predicted by the weather forecast that night.
When evening came, I was exhausted but found it difficult to fall asleep due to my symptoms.
It was a faint noise that woke me up after only an hour or two of sleep. Not being fully awake, I wondered what it was. A few seconds later, I realized what it was.
Rain!
I turned on the television to view the radar and beheld a beautiful sight.
This was no passing shower. Almost the entire state was experiencing rain to one degree or another.
I thanked God for this blessing and went back to sleep.
When the alarm clock woke me up Sunday morning, I heard the rain still softly falling outside.
Throughout the night, as the rain fell, countless pollen grains were being washed from the air and my symptoms had dramatically improved.
By the time I left for church, the rain had decreased to a light drizzle and I got through the installation ceremony without so much as a sneeze.
Later that day, as I thanked God once again for this blessing, I also reflected on the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.
Just as the rain washed the air clean of airborne irritants, so the blood of Jesus washes away all of our sins.
Romans 5:8-9 (KJV) - But God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) - In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;"
Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]."
It is through the blood of Jesus that we have eternal life.
And that really makes me breathe a whole lot easier.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, January 21, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, January 28, 2011.
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