It was a few days before Christmas about 25 years ago.
I stopped at the local mall after work to do a little Christmas shopping.
After checking out a few stores I decided to get something to drink.
I made my way to the second floor where there was a common dining area surrounded by several restaurants.
One counter and had only one customer so I got in line behind her.
A young lady in her teens manned the counter and was in the process on waiting on this customer.
This customer was digging through her purse looking for change.
It was obvious from the sound of her grumbling that was having little success.
That’s when it happened!
In an attempt to ease the tension the young lady behind the counter innocently asked, "Having a bad day?"
The woman immediately stopped looking through her purse, glared at the young lady and asked (quite loudly), "What did you just ask me?"
The young lady behind the counter then received a verbal lashing that caused her to turn several shades of pale.
The customer then demanded to see the manager.
At this point, I picked up on two things.
First, the young employee was worried that she was about to lose her job.
Second, the customer indeed had a bad day and was willing to vent her frustration at anyone who dared to get too close.
I wanted to say something to the irate customer but decided to see how the manager would handle this volatile situation.
The manager arrived and asked if there was a problem.
He then became the object of the woman’s wrath.
When the woman finished delivering her complaints, the manager told her that he encourages his employees to be friendly and he felt certain that no harm was intended.
At this the woman’s anger soared to new heights as she all but shouted, "I don’t believe what I am hearing!"
That’s when she made her mistake.
She turned and looked at me and barked, "Do you believe this?"
I looked her in the eye, smiled and asked calmly, "Having a bad day?"
Fortunately for me, looks cannot kill.
If they could, I would have just finished my last day on earth.
After glaring at me, she picked up her purse and stormed away without an additional word.
I looked at the manager who simply shook his head, laughed and returned to his office.
I stepped up the counter to place my order.
The young lady who had been extremely frightened only a moment ago gave me a smile and said, "Thank you!"
"Don’t worry about it." I said.
"You didn’t do anything wrong. She decided to take her frustrations out on you," I stated, "and that isn’t right."
I then placed my order for an iced tea which she paid for despite my protests.
Bad days.
We have all had them.
How do we deal with them?
As our journey through Lent continued, I thought about the kind of day Jesus had.
He was arrested.
His friends abandoned him.
He was mocked.
He was beaten.
He was made to carry His own cross.
He faced the cruelest form of execution - crucifixion.
As Jesus was crucified, He showed mercy to those who antagonized Him.
Luke 23:34 (NET) - But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." Then they threw dice to divide His clothes.
As Jesus endured this, a thief asked Jesus to remember him.
How did Jesus respond?
He showed him mercy as well!
Luke 23:43 (NET) - And Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Throughout this ordeal of pain and humiliation, the mercy, kindness and forgiveness Jesus showed remain without equal to this day.
As Easter draws ever nearer, we should be extremely grateful that His mercy, kindness and forgiveness are extended to us as well.
We should also take the time to ask ourselves a very important question.
If Jesus could forgive so very much under the most extreme of circumstances, shouldn’t we be willing to forgive others of so very little by comparison?
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 15, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
At the King's Table
(Author’s Note: I have personally learned a great deal from allegories through the years, and often use them when teaching my Sunday school class. As part of my journey through Lent, I felt moved to put one down in writing.)
As you walk into the great dining hall you are amazed.
The magnificent hall seems to go on forever.
For all you know it might, for you cannot see the end of it.
The table is equally spectacular.
It, too, seems to go on forever.
The end of it, like the hall, simply disappears from view.
"There is an empty seat over here," you hear someone say.
You look upon the speaker, one of a vast multitude seated at the table, as they point out an empty chair next to them.
You walk over, thank them, and take your seat.
You look up and down the table and spot some very familiar faces, but you seem to know everyone you can see somehow.
Before you can ask yourself how it is that you know everyone here, a plate is set before you.
You are amazed by the meal placed before you.
Others are already enjoying their meal.
The meal in front of you looks so inviting that you simply must taste it.
This is without doubt the best meal you have ever had.
In time, you and the others finish and you are overwhelmed by a new sensation.
Complete and total satisfaction.
Never before have you ever felt this satisfied.
As you are about to discuss this with the one who offered you your seat, you notice someone come into the hall.
As he nears, you realize two things.
First, this man is the head waiter.
Second, he carries with him the bill for the entire meal.
This is something you certainly had not counted on.
The waiter is getting uncomfortably close to you.
Discomfort turns to something akin to panic when he stops at your seat and places the bill alongside your now empty plate.
What to do?
You certainly could not afford such a meal for yourself. let alone everyone else in the great hall.
Soon, it appears that all eyes are on you.
As you try to think of a way to explain your inability to pay you realize that it is not you they are looking at.
They are looking behind you.
You turn in your seat and look up into the kindest face you have ever seen.
The individual with the kind face looks at you knowingly and smiles.
He reaches for the bill and that is when you see the nail scarred hand.
As He picks up the bill, you turn to face Him again.
You want to say something, but mere words are not enough.
He places His other hand reassuringly on your shoulder.
It, like the other, is nail scarred.
He smiles and says, "It’s okay. You see, My Father wanted Me to pay for everyone that you see here. That means He wanted me to pay for you too."
Words cannot express the gratitude you feel to this man with the kind face, the warm smile, and the nail scarred hands,
The seeds of this allegory were planted years ago when I read of David’s act of kindness to a crippled Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:13 (NET) - Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.
David performed this act of kindness for the sake of Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.
Mephibosheth was crippled by a fall as a child, yet David made sure he had a place at the king’s table.
We are crippled from a different kind of fall.
One that goes back to Eden.
As we continue on our journey through Lent, let us be mindful of the kindness Jesus showed us as He obeyed His Father’s will to the cross and beyond.
We cannot earn salvation.
Neither do we deserve it.
Someone had to pay the price we could never hope to pay.
As the hymn reminds us, "Jesus Paid It All!"
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
As you walk into the great dining hall you are amazed.
The magnificent hall seems to go on forever.
For all you know it might, for you cannot see the end of it.
The table is equally spectacular.
It, too, seems to go on forever.
The end of it, like the hall, simply disappears from view.
"There is an empty seat over here," you hear someone say.
You look upon the speaker, one of a vast multitude seated at the table, as they point out an empty chair next to them.
You walk over, thank them, and take your seat.
You look up and down the table and spot some very familiar faces, but you seem to know everyone you can see somehow.
Before you can ask yourself how it is that you know everyone here, a plate is set before you.
You are amazed by the meal placed before you.
Others are already enjoying their meal.
The meal in front of you looks so inviting that you simply must taste it.
This is without doubt the best meal you have ever had.
In time, you and the others finish and you are overwhelmed by a new sensation.
Complete and total satisfaction.
Never before have you ever felt this satisfied.
As you are about to discuss this with the one who offered you your seat, you notice someone come into the hall.
As he nears, you realize two things.
First, this man is the head waiter.
Second, he carries with him the bill for the entire meal.
This is something you certainly had not counted on.
The waiter is getting uncomfortably close to you.
Discomfort turns to something akin to panic when he stops at your seat and places the bill alongside your now empty plate.
What to do?
You certainly could not afford such a meal for yourself. let alone everyone else in the great hall.
Soon, it appears that all eyes are on you.
As you try to think of a way to explain your inability to pay you realize that it is not you they are looking at.
They are looking behind you.
You turn in your seat and look up into the kindest face you have ever seen.
The individual with the kind face looks at you knowingly and smiles.
He reaches for the bill and that is when you see the nail scarred hand.
As He picks up the bill, you turn to face Him again.
You want to say something, but mere words are not enough.
He places His other hand reassuringly on your shoulder.
It, like the other, is nail scarred.
He smiles and says, "It’s okay. You see, My Father wanted Me to pay for everyone that you see here. That means He wanted me to pay for you too."
Words cannot express the gratitude you feel to this man with the kind face, the warm smile, and the nail scarred hands,
The seeds of this allegory were planted years ago when I read of David’s act of kindness to a crippled Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:13 (NET) - Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.
David performed this act of kindness for the sake of Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.
Mephibosheth was crippled by a fall as a child, yet David made sure he had a place at the king’s table.
We are crippled from a different kind of fall.
One that goes back to Eden.
As we continue on our journey through Lent, let us be mindful of the kindness Jesus showed us as He obeyed His Father’s will to the cross and beyond.
We cannot earn salvation.
Neither do we deserve it.
Someone had to pay the price we could never hope to pay.
As the hymn reminds us, "Jesus Paid It All!"
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thoughts of Home
A few weekends ago, I was in my old neighborhood.
As I drove through it, I noticed thick black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
Authorities redirected traffic so I was not able to get too near the source, but it was obvious that either a house or a business was going up in flames.
The winds were high that day, so I knew that there was not much hope in saving the structure.
As traffic was being diverted from the scene, I offered up a prayer for both the safety of the occupants and the firefighters.
About a week later, I found myself in the area again, and decided to drive past the site where the inferno took place.
A very strange feeling overtook me when I saw the remains of that house.
It was not just any house.
That house was my boyhood home.
I spent my first and most formative years in that house.
Although that was several decades ago, a flood of very vivid memories returned to me.
I remembered the floral wallpaper in the living room.
I remembered how the floor in that room leaned just enough so I could stack all but one of my wooden blocks.
Try as I might, I could never get that final block in its place on top of the stack.
Time and again the tower I created would tip over with that final block and come crashing to the floor (I was a rather persistent child).
I remembered the old black and white television in the corner that picked up the only three channels that were available.
I remembered the huge sink in which Mother or sometimes my grandmother would bathe me when I was very, very small.
I remembered the sandbox Father built for me on the back porch.
I remembered the large dining room table where my parents and I would share a meal and play games.
I remembered my bedroom where my parents taught me how to pray at the close of my day.
Then there was my favorite memory of all.
On one of those very rare occasions that it snowed, I remember Mother opening all of the curtains in the dining room for me.
As this was my first snowfall, she did this just for me so that I could watch the snow as it gently fell blanketing everything in white.
I remembered staring out of each one of those windows in turn completely mesmerized by that sight.
These were but some of my memories from that home all those decades ago.
All that physically remains now is the badly charred frame of what was a very old house.
But, there still remains something of a wonderful home forever preserved in some very old and very precious memories.
Memories that I will carry with me always.
There is indeed a difference between a house and a home.
A house is a but structure designed to provide shelter.
A home is where you live... really live.
As I considered that, scripture came to mind.
A house, like any other possession is temporary.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NET) - "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."
A house, even that which we consider home, is a necessity while we are here, but our real home awaits us in heaven.
Philippians 3:20 (NET) - But our citizenship is in heaven - and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,...
Unlike the houses we live in here, our home in heaven will be permanent.
It will be moth proof, rust proof and yes, even fire proof.
I guess some old sayings have at least some truth in them.
Home is where the heart is.
We just need to make certain that our hearts are in the right place.
Jesus can help us with that if we will but let him.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
As I drove through it, I noticed thick black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
Authorities redirected traffic so I was not able to get too near the source, but it was obvious that either a house or a business was going up in flames.
The winds were high that day, so I knew that there was not much hope in saving the structure.
As traffic was being diverted from the scene, I offered up a prayer for both the safety of the occupants and the firefighters.
About a week later, I found myself in the area again, and decided to drive past the site where the inferno took place.
A very strange feeling overtook me when I saw the remains of that house.
It was not just any house.
That house was my boyhood home.
I spent my first and most formative years in that house.
Although that was several decades ago, a flood of very vivid memories returned to me.
I remembered the floral wallpaper in the living room.
I remembered how the floor in that room leaned just enough so I could stack all but one of my wooden blocks.
Try as I might, I could never get that final block in its place on top of the stack.
Time and again the tower I created would tip over with that final block and come crashing to the floor (I was a rather persistent child).
I remembered the old black and white television in the corner that picked up the only three channels that were available.
I remembered the huge sink in which Mother or sometimes my grandmother would bathe me when I was very, very small.
I remembered the sandbox Father built for me on the back porch.
I remembered the large dining room table where my parents and I would share a meal and play games.
I remembered my bedroom where my parents taught me how to pray at the close of my day.
Then there was my favorite memory of all.
On one of those very rare occasions that it snowed, I remember Mother opening all of the curtains in the dining room for me.
As this was my first snowfall, she did this just for me so that I could watch the snow as it gently fell blanketing everything in white.
I remembered staring out of each one of those windows in turn completely mesmerized by that sight.
These were but some of my memories from that home all those decades ago.
All that physically remains now is the badly charred frame of what was a very old house.
But, there still remains something of a wonderful home forever preserved in some very old and very precious memories.
Memories that I will carry with me always.
There is indeed a difference between a house and a home.
A house is a but structure designed to provide shelter.
A home is where you live... really live.
As I considered that, scripture came to mind.
A house, like any other possession is temporary.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NET) - "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."
A house, even that which we consider home, is a necessity while we are here, but our real home awaits us in heaven.
Philippians 3:20 (NET) - But our citizenship is in heaven - and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,...
Unlike the houses we live in here, our home in heaven will be permanent.
It will be moth proof, rust proof and yes, even fire proof.
I guess some old sayings have at least some truth in them.
Home is where the heart is.
We just need to make certain that our hearts are in the right place.
Jesus can help us with that if we will but let him.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
My Funeral for Sam
My friend Sam passed away last week.
Sam was not given a funeral, so the following is my feeble attempt at providing him with one...
We are gathered here today to give glory to God and to pay our final respects to Sam.
No obituary was printed for Sam, so I had to draw on things I have learned from our friendship of over twenty years.
Sam held several jobs in his lifetime but he was an artist at heart.
To the best of my knowledge, he never made any serious money with his paintings, but perhaps that is just as well.
If Sam had managed to make money this way, he would have likely concluded that his art had become too commercial and probably would have abandoned it for another art form.
I showed someone a portrait Sam had painted of Jesus and they remarked that it was a "little scruffy looking."
Artistically speaking, that made some sense to me.
You see, every culture tends to depict Jesus in art in terms of their own culture.
In African art, Jesus is often depicted as African.
In Asian art, He is often depicted as Asian.
I have a portrait of Jesus that was painted by a European artist that depicts Him with flowing blonde hair and blue eyes.
In this portrait Jesus looks quite European.
I think Sam was simply transferring some of his own "scruffiness" into the painting.
Honestly, I don’t think Jesus took any offense.
Sam enjoyed history.
His favorite TV program was The Antiques Roadshow and he was also extremely interested in Nikola Tesla.
Sam read everything about Tesla that he could get his hands on.
Sam was always researching different things and would talk to me about everything from canyons in Mexico to the Antikythera mechanism found in an Aegean shipwreck.
Sam kept a notepad in his pocket.
If something came up in conversation that interested him, he would jot it down and research it later.
Sam attended several churches in his lifetime including the one I attend.
I think his curiosity fueled his desire to experience firsthand how different denominations choose to worship God.
Sam and I had many, many conversations over coffee and we disagreed about a great many things.
It is said that there are two things you should never discuss, namely, religion and politics.
Yet we discussed both.
And, since we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, we found a great many things to disagree about.
I can honestly say that we never once allowed a disagreement of any magnitude to get in the way of a perfectly good friendship.
Sam understood my fondness for music.
It was Sam that introduced me to the music of an Australian country singer by the name of Slim Dusty.
To this day, I never tire of listening to Slim singing ‘Waltzing Matilda‘.
I will always be grateful to Sam for that.
Similarly, I will always be grateful to God for the friendship He gave me with Sam.
Sadly, at the end, I honestly do not believe that Sam had many friends and even fewer good friends.
More than a few severed ties with him altogether for one reason or another along the way.
Sam was not perfect.
Then again, neither are we.
If you seriously think about it, a lifetime of rejections must have caused Sam to feel a great deal of personal pain.
I can only imagine what that amount of rejection must have felt like.
Jesus did not have to imagine anything of the sort.
He knew firsthand what it was like to have people turn on Him.
One day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the victorious cry of an ecstatic crowd.
Matthew 21:9 (NET) - The crowds that went ahead of Him and those following kept shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna In the Highest!"
A short time later, an angry mob turned on Jesus.
Matthew 27:22-23 (NET) - Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" He asked . "Why? What wrong has He done?" But they shouted more insistently, "Crucify Him!"
I have often wondered how many people were part of both the jubilant crowd one day and the angry mob the next.
Jesus knew exactly how it felt to have one of His own turn against Him.
Matthew 26:48 (NET) - Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest Him!"
And it happened just that way!
Jesus also knew personally what it felt like to have friends abandon Him.
Jesus told Peter there would come a time when he would deny Him.
Matthew 26:34 (NET) - Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Again, it happened just that way!
Yes Sam, in that regard, you were indeed in excellent company.
You see, your Savior knew just how you felt.
Now, that same Savior welcomes you home.
Lord, my prayer today is that You help us recognize that there are many Sam’s in the world.
Encourage us to accept them just as they are.
After all, that is just the way that You accept us.
For those of you that attended this "service" and stayed until the end, I offer my sincerest gratitude.
Sam was created in God’s image.
Sam mattered to God.
Sam mattered to me.
Funerals are for the living, bur everyone has a story.
In the end, doesn’t everyone deserve to have at least some of that story told?
It should not matter how many or how few decide to attend.
If it were possible for us to combine our voices in a closing hymn right now, I would ask that we sing "Just as I Am" before we part company.
One final and very personal note,,,
One of the last things Sam ever said to me was, "I can’t wait until you become a preacher."
Well Sam, this is about as close as I can get.
You deserved better.
This was the best I could provide.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 8, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Sam was not given a funeral, so the following is my feeble attempt at providing him with one...
We are gathered here today to give glory to God and to pay our final respects to Sam.
No obituary was printed for Sam, so I had to draw on things I have learned from our friendship of over twenty years.
Sam held several jobs in his lifetime but he was an artist at heart.
To the best of my knowledge, he never made any serious money with his paintings, but perhaps that is just as well.
If Sam had managed to make money this way, he would have likely concluded that his art had become too commercial and probably would have abandoned it for another art form.
I showed someone a portrait Sam had painted of Jesus and they remarked that it was a "little scruffy looking."
Artistically speaking, that made some sense to me.
You see, every culture tends to depict Jesus in art in terms of their own culture.
In African art, Jesus is often depicted as African.
In Asian art, He is often depicted as Asian.
I have a portrait of Jesus that was painted by a European artist that depicts Him with flowing blonde hair and blue eyes.
In this portrait Jesus looks quite European.
I think Sam was simply transferring some of his own "scruffiness" into the painting.
Honestly, I don’t think Jesus took any offense.
Sam enjoyed history.
His favorite TV program was The Antiques Roadshow and he was also extremely interested in Nikola Tesla.
Sam read everything about Tesla that he could get his hands on.
Sam was always researching different things and would talk to me about everything from canyons in Mexico to the Antikythera mechanism found in an Aegean shipwreck.
Sam kept a notepad in his pocket.
If something came up in conversation that interested him, he would jot it down and research it later.
Sam attended several churches in his lifetime including the one I attend.
I think his curiosity fueled his desire to experience firsthand how different denominations choose to worship God.
Sam and I had many, many conversations over coffee and we disagreed about a great many things.
It is said that there are two things you should never discuss, namely, religion and politics.
Yet we discussed both.
And, since we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, we found a great many things to disagree about.
I can honestly say that we never once allowed a disagreement of any magnitude to get in the way of a perfectly good friendship.
Sam understood my fondness for music.
It was Sam that introduced me to the music of an Australian country singer by the name of Slim Dusty.
To this day, I never tire of listening to Slim singing ‘Waltzing Matilda‘.
I will always be grateful to Sam for that.
Similarly, I will always be grateful to God for the friendship He gave me with Sam.
Sadly, at the end, I honestly do not believe that Sam had many friends and even fewer good friends.
More than a few severed ties with him altogether for one reason or another along the way.
Sam was not perfect.
Then again, neither are we.
If you seriously think about it, a lifetime of rejections must have caused Sam to feel a great deal of personal pain.
I can only imagine what that amount of rejection must have felt like.
Jesus did not have to imagine anything of the sort.
He knew firsthand what it was like to have people turn on Him.
One day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the victorious cry of an ecstatic crowd.
Matthew 21:9 (NET) - The crowds that went ahead of Him and those following kept shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna In the Highest!"
A short time later, an angry mob turned on Jesus.
Matthew 27:22-23 (NET) - Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" He asked . "Why? What wrong has He done?" But they shouted more insistently, "Crucify Him!"
I have often wondered how many people were part of both the jubilant crowd one day and the angry mob the next.
Jesus knew exactly how it felt to have one of His own turn against Him.
Matthew 26:48 (NET) - Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest Him!"
And it happened just that way!
Jesus also knew personally what it felt like to have friends abandon Him.
Jesus told Peter there would come a time when he would deny Him.
Matthew 26:34 (NET) - Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Again, it happened just that way!
Yes Sam, in that regard, you were indeed in excellent company.
You see, your Savior knew just how you felt.
Now, that same Savior welcomes you home.
Lord, my prayer today is that You help us recognize that there are many Sam’s in the world.
Encourage us to accept them just as they are.
After all, that is just the way that You accept us.
For those of you that attended this "service" and stayed until the end, I offer my sincerest gratitude.
Sam was created in God’s image.
Sam mattered to God.
Sam mattered to me.
Funerals are for the living, bur everyone has a story.
In the end, doesn’t everyone deserve to have at least some of that story told?
It should not matter how many or how few decide to attend.
If it were possible for us to combine our voices in a closing hymn right now, I would ask that we sing "Just as I Am" before we part company.
One final and very personal note,,,
One of the last things Sam ever said to me was, "I can’t wait until you become a preacher."
Well Sam, this is about as close as I can get.
You deserved better.
This was the best I could provide.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 1, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 8, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Act of Listening
By the time I arrived at the restaurant for coffee with friends most had already arrived.
I got my coffee and joined them.
There was a football game on television but I had far more interest in spending time with my friends than I did in the teams that were playing.
After several minutes of conversation, someone wondered what the score was.
I pulled out my phone and launched an app that told me both the score and the time remaining in the game.
I relayed this information to my friends.
Seated at a nearby table was a boy in his teens who asked me to repeat this information.
I told him but I was almost certain he heard me the correctly the first time.
Time went by and one by one my friends began to leave as they still had things to do.
Several times the young man at the other table tried to join into the conversation with limited success.
One of my friends had yet to arrive.
As the last of my friends left, I opted to get a refill of coffee and give him a few more minutes before I left.
Suddenly, without invitation, the young man gathered up his belongings and sat down at my table.
It did not take me very long to discover that this young man had special needs.
Although physically in his late teens, his intellect lagged several years behind.
To say that he took up the lion’s share of the conversation is an understatement.
I listened to everything he told me.
He told me a great deal.
He told me about his favorite sports teams.
He told me about his favorite athletes.
He told me all about a movie he had just seen.
As he finished telling me about the movie, a family member of his came in and walked up to our table.
The family member asked if he was ready to leave and he said that he was.
That is when he did something that took me by complete surprise.
He said to the family member, "This is my friend…", and his voice trailed off.
He looked at me inquisitively and asked, "What did you say your name was?"
Truthfully speaking, I had not.
Introductions were never made.
I smiled and offered him a handshake and said, "My name is Jim."
He shook my hand and told me his name.
He then turned back to his family member and said, "This is my friend, Jim."
I shook hands with that person and with that, they left.
As I sat there, alone with my coffee, I thought about his choice of words.
"This is my friend."
In a matter of minutes, I had achieved the status of friend.
Why?
I was a friend simply because I was willing to listen.
He did not have questions that needed answers,
He did not any advice.
He did not ask for help of any kind.
He merely had a great deal to say and what he needed was a friend who was simply willing to listen.
In the end, I was glad to be that kind of friend.
It made me think about the kind of relationship I have with God.
God is all knowing and all powerful.
He knows what I am going to say to Him even before I say it.
Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Yet He still wants me to have a relationship with Him.
He still wants to listen to me as I tell Him everything that is on my mind.
He proved this with a tremendous gesture the moment His only Son died on the cross.
Mark 15:37-38 (NET) - But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. And the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.
Thanks to Jesus, there is no longer a barrier between us.
The way has been made clear for everyone, and that makes Him the greatest listener there is.
I could not ask for a better friend than that.
If you have something on your mind, talk to Him.
He wants to hear all about it.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 25, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
I got my coffee and joined them.
There was a football game on television but I had far more interest in spending time with my friends than I did in the teams that were playing.
After several minutes of conversation, someone wondered what the score was.
I pulled out my phone and launched an app that told me both the score and the time remaining in the game.
I relayed this information to my friends.
Seated at a nearby table was a boy in his teens who asked me to repeat this information.
I told him but I was almost certain he heard me the correctly the first time.
Time went by and one by one my friends began to leave as they still had things to do.
Several times the young man at the other table tried to join into the conversation with limited success.
One of my friends had yet to arrive.
As the last of my friends left, I opted to get a refill of coffee and give him a few more minutes before I left.
Suddenly, without invitation, the young man gathered up his belongings and sat down at my table.
It did not take me very long to discover that this young man had special needs.
Although physically in his late teens, his intellect lagged several years behind.
To say that he took up the lion’s share of the conversation is an understatement.
I listened to everything he told me.
He told me a great deal.
He told me about his favorite sports teams.
He told me about his favorite athletes.
He told me all about a movie he had just seen.
As he finished telling me about the movie, a family member of his came in and walked up to our table.
The family member asked if he was ready to leave and he said that he was.
That is when he did something that took me by complete surprise.
He said to the family member, "This is my friend…", and his voice trailed off.
He looked at me inquisitively and asked, "What did you say your name was?"
Truthfully speaking, I had not.
Introductions were never made.
I smiled and offered him a handshake and said, "My name is Jim."
He shook my hand and told me his name.
He then turned back to his family member and said, "This is my friend, Jim."
I shook hands with that person and with that, they left.
As I sat there, alone with my coffee, I thought about his choice of words.
"This is my friend."
In a matter of minutes, I had achieved the status of friend.
Why?
I was a friend simply because I was willing to listen.
He did not have questions that needed answers,
He did not any advice.
He did not ask for help of any kind.
He merely had a great deal to say and what he needed was a friend who was simply willing to listen.
In the end, I was glad to be that kind of friend.
It made me think about the kind of relationship I have with God.
God is all knowing and all powerful.
He knows what I am going to say to Him even before I say it.
Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Yet He still wants me to have a relationship with Him.
He still wants to listen to me as I tell Him everything that is on my mind.
He proved this with a tremendous gesture the moment His only Son died on the cross.
Mark 15:37-38 (NET) - But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. And the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.
Thanks to Jesus, there is no longer a barrier between us.
The way has been made clear for everyone, and that makes Him the greatest listener there is.
I could not ask for a better friend than that.
If you have something on your mind, talk to Him.
He wants to hear all about it.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 18, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 25, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
No Vacancy
Christmas is over and New Year’s Day is almost upon us.
The stores have now cleared the shelves of all the decorations, lights, cards, wreaths and anything else Christmas related.
Now these items have been relegated to bargain bins where their prices will drop in stages until they are all sold.
They have been displaced by candy, cards, flowers, gifts and other items associated with Valentine’s Day.
It is as if the merchants are telling us in a not so subtle way that there simply is no room for Christmas anymore.
This brought to my mind a particular verse from Luke.
Luke 2:7 (NET) - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
I once heard a minister on television say something that I will always remember.
He referred to Easter and Christmas as ‘the annual pilgrimages’ which brought a laugh from his congregation.
I’ve always held that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.
Speaking in very broad terms, some do seem to make a big fuss about Jesus once or twice a year but not nearly as much the remainder of the year.
Now that Christmas is over, we go back to our routines.
Our time away from work and school is over and the demands on our time and resources begin to pile up.
Little by little things begin to creep in and place demands on our attention.
We may start by thinking about things like bills that need to be paid and taxes that never go away.
The well being of family and friends are an ever present concern.
Our profession, or our education, then make huge demands of us.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
You see, some have made room for Jesus in the inn that is their heart over Christmas.
That is a good thing.
But now that Christmas is over, some will become preoccupied by these other things.
Little by little, they will allow these things to occupy more and more space in their hearts.
The room they have created for Him will grow smaller with each passing day.
Eventually, like the inn in Luke, there will no longer be any room left for Him.
Just like the Christmas merchandise that now resides in bargain bins, they will set Him aside until next Christmas, or perhaps Easter.
What a pity that is.
Especially when you consider all that He has done for us.
Each of us probably knows at least one person who has made room in their heart for Jesus this Christmas.
Why not help them keep room in their heart for Him.
Here is a great place to start.
Romans 10:9 (NET) - because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 4, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
The stores have now cleared the shelves of all the decorations, lights, cards, wreaths and anything else Christmas related.
Now these items have been relegated to bargain bins where their prices will drop in stages until they are all sold.
They have been displaced by candy, cards, flowers, gifts and other items associated with Valentine’s Day.
It is as if the merchants are telling us in a not so subtle way that there simply is no room for Christmas anymore.
This brought to my mind a particular verse from Luke.
Luke 2:7 (NET) - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
I once heard a minister on television say something that I will always remember.
He referred to Easter and Christmas as ‘the annual pilgrimages’ which brought a laugh from his congregation.
I’ve always held that in every bit of humor there is at least a grain of truth.
Speaking in very broad terms, some do seem to make a big fuss about Jesus once or twice a year but not nearly as much the remainder of the year.
Now that Christmas is over, we go back to our routines.
Our time away from work and school is over and the demands on our time and resources begin to pile up.
Little by little things begin to creep in and place demands on our attention.
We may start by thinking about things like bills that need to be paid and taxes that never go away.
The well being of family and friends are an ever present concern.
Our profession, or our education, then make huge demands of us.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
You see, some have made room for Jesus in the inn that is their heart over Christmas.
That is a good thing.
But now that Christmas is over, some will become preoccupied by these other things.
Little by little, they will allow these things to occupy more and more space in their hearts.
The room they have created for Him will grow smaller with each passing day.
Eventually, like the inn in Luke, there will no longer be any room left for Him.
Just like the Christmas merchandise that now resides in bargain bins, they will set Him aside until next Christmas, or perhaps Easter.
What a pity that is.
Especially when you consider all that He has done for us.
Each of us probably knows at least one person who has made room in their heart for Jesus this Christmas.
Why not help them keep room in their heart for Him.
Here is a great place to start.
Romans 10:9 (NET) - because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 4, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Signs by the Road
Most of the driving I do is on the highway.
Recently, two more highway alert signs have been put up along my commute.
These signs provide several important services.
On days when there are no traffic problems to speak of, they provide information as a public service.
As the holidays approach one such message warns drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving.
A warning those attending parties should take to heart.
When work on the highway is scheduled, these signs inform drivers of the dates and times such work is to take place and that delays can be expected.
This allows drivers the opportunity to leave earlier than normal or perhaps plan an alternate route.
When accidents occur, these signs warn of lane closures and instruct drivers to merge either left or right depending on the situation.
This not only assists in traffic flow, it also helps keep emergency workers safe.
It is evident that these signs are an excellent means of getting information to drivers in order to make their commutes safer.
Sometimes, these signs broadcast messages seeking the public’s involvement when individuals are missing.
When a child is missing an "Amber Alert" is issued and these signs provide drivers with descriptions of the child and other useful information such as the color, make and model of the vehicle in which they still may be traveling.
When a senior citizen goes missing, a "Silver Alert" message is broadcast via these signs with similar information posted.
In such cases, these signs are an excellent means of getting the public involved in the search.
This can greatly assist law enforcement by providing them with extra eyes on major roadways.
These signs are an excellent use of technology.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had something at our disposal like these alert signs to help us out in other parts of our busy lives.
As a matter of fact, we do have something at hand that provides us with information, assistance and much more.
Scripture.
When things appear to be going well for us, scripture is useful for reflection.
When life gets hectic and seems to get out of hand, scripture can help us focus.
When we find ourselves straying from the one true path, scripture helps us return to the straight and narrow way.
When those we know and love are spiritually lost, scripture can help us reach out to them and lead them to Jesus.
Hebrews 4:12 (NET) - The word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NET) - Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Scripture is always there for us.
It is available in a book we probably have on our shelves right now..
It can be found in hotel room night stands.
It is available on line.
It is even available for the mobile devices we carry with us everywhere anyway.
Its availability is practically unlimited.
This is a marvelous provision from God!
Make the most of it.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 21, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 28, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Recently, two more highway alert signs have been put up along my commute.
These signs provide several important services.
On days when there are no traffic problems to speak of, they provide information as a public service.
As the holidays approach one such message warns drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving.
A warning those attending parties should take to heart.
When work on the highway is scheduled, these signs inform drivers of the dates and times such work is to take place and that delays can be expected.
This allows drivers the opportunity to leave earlier than normal or perhaps plan an alternate route.
When accidents occur, these signs warn of lane closures and instruct drivers to merge either left or right depending on the situation.
This not only assists in traffic flow, it also helps keep emergency workers safe.
It is evident that these signs are an excellent means of getting information to drivers in order to make their commutes safer.
Sometimes, these signs broadcast messages seeking the public’s involvement when individuals are missing.
When a child is missing an "Amber Alert" is issued and these signs provide drivers with descriptions of the child and other useful information such as the color, make and model of the vehicle in which they still may be traveling.
When a senior citizen goes missing, a "Silver Alert" message is broadcast via these signs with similar information posted.
In such cases, these signs are an excellent means of getting the public involved in the search.
This can greatly assist law enforcement by providing them with extra eyes on major roadways.
These signs are an excellent use of technology.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had something at our disposal like these alert signs to help us out in other parts of our busy lives.
As a matter of fact, we do have something at hand that provides us with information, assistance and much more.
Scripture.
When things appear to be going well for us, scripture is useful for reflection.
When life gets hectic and seems to get out of hand, scripture can help us focus.
When we find ourselves straying from the one true path, scripture helps us return to the straight and narrow way.
When those we know and love are spiritually lost, scripture can help us reach out to them and lead them to Jesus.
Hebrews 4:12 (NET) - The word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NET) - Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Scripture is always there for us.
It is available in a book we probably have on our shelves right now..
It can be found in hotel room night stands.
It is available on line.
It is even available for the mobile devices we carry with us everywhere anyway.
Its availability is practically unlimited.
This is a marvelous provision from God!
Make the most of it.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 21, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 28, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
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