Leaving the Past Behind

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

I enjoy listening to music.

A singer who had been in declining health died in early April.

The news of his passing moved those of us who enjoyed his music over the years

As the news spread, many of his peers came forward.

They spoke not only of his accomplishments but also the influence he had on their careers.

I was a bit amazed by the amount of respect he was shown.

He not only accomplished a great deal musically in his lifetime. he also overcame a rather troubled past.

His father died when he was young.

He tried his hand at a number of jobs.

He also found himself frequently in trouble with the law.

That trouble grew and he eventually found himself sentenced to doing hard time in an infamous prison.

He likely had more than his share of critics as a young man.

Many likely doubted that he had much of a future.

A few probably gave up on him altogether.

How surprised his critics would have been to see the amount of respect his peers paid to him in the end.

Our spiritual journeys are somewhat similar.

We are born sinful creatures.

As we make our journey through this world we realize how desperate is our need for salvation.

We also realize we have no way to redeem ourselves.

Others might look at us and mistakenly conclude that we do not have much of a future.

We might even start to believe this ourselves.

God, however, knows better.

God planned for our future, including our salvation, from the beginning.

God loves us and wants to save us.

Our past, no matter how stained, is of no consequence.

What matters is the present and how we respond to Him.

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

Speaking metaphorically, some of the people I see in heaven might surprise me.

If so, then a good many more will be surprised to see me there.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 6, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 13, 2016

Let's Make a Deal

There are some good things about social media.

Social media allows us to reconnect with people we may have lost touch with.

It also allows us to maintain connections with people we know.

It can also allow us to make brand new connections.

Social media can even allow us to share our faith.

Social media also presents us with a new set of problems.

Although we can renew connections or make new ones, social media can make these relationships superficial in nature.

That is because these types of connections require little effort on our part.

Even something seemingly good like sharing one’s faith can be problematic.

Scripture reminds us how important it is for us to share our faith.

Mark 16:15 (NET) - He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

This is far more than simply clicking on “like” or “share”.

Even some of the things that social media asks us to “share” are problematic.

Some, in fact, are not sound from a scriptural viewpoint.

Some promise that if you “share this today then God will bless you financially tomorrow.”

Some even try to blackmail us stating if you “scroll past this without sharing then you really do not love Jesus.”

At best these are attempts to apply human reasoning to God.

In John Chapter 9 the disciples tried to apply human reasoning to God.

Jesus saw a blind man.

His disciples assumed that it had to be either the man’s sin or his parents’ sin that caused his blindness.

Jesus corrected their thinking.

John 9:3 (NET) - Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.”

God chooses His blessings for us and those blessings are not dependent on what we choose to do.

This is especially true of “financial” blessings.

If you think about it, some of the most faithful people are not financially successful by the world’s standards.

Similarly, the amount of love we have for Jesus cannot determined by a picture on the web and whether we decide to share that picture or not.

In the end, social media is a tool.

It is a tool that can be used.

If we are not careful, it is a tool that can just as easily be misused.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 15, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 22, 2016

An Empty Container

There are currently at least two television programs that involve containers.

One is about storage lockers.

The other is about large shipping containers.

In both programs, the containers have been abandoned and their contents are auctioned off.

The highest bidder then claims the contents.

The participants in these auctions get some idea as to the contents.

The container is opened and the bidders are allowed a quick look inside,

They are not allowed to venture inside the container for a better look at all the contents.

From this cursory glance they then determine how much of their money they are willing to risk.

Often, labels on boxes or visible items provide clues as to the remaining contents which cannot be seen.

Imagine what were to happen if a container or locker were opened and there was absolutely nothing inside.

How much do you suppose bidders would consider paying for a container or locker that contained nothing?

A container in such a state would be worthless.

In contrast, we find ourselves on the verge of Easter.

This is the day Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

After His crucifixion, Jesus was removed from the cross and was laid in a tomb.

Three days later, the tomb was found empty.

Luke 24:1-3 (NET) - Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus had risen, just as He said He would.

This was proof that He in fact was just who He claimed to be.

Luke 24:6-7 (NET) - He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

That tomb… that container… was for all practical purposes empty.

When Peter arrived, he only found the strips of linen in which Jesus was buried.

Luke 24:6-12 (NET) - But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.

By contrast that tomb… that empty container… is quite valuable.

It is valuable because it is proof of Who it once contained.

His value is beyond measure.

He is not for sale; not even to the highest bidder.

He gave himself as a gift.

A gift which is available to everyone.

Come and see.

The tomb is empty!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 8, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 15, 2016

Epic Fail

Using today’s terminology, when someone makes a mistake it is sometimes referred to as a “fail”.

A mistake of grand proportion is sometimes referred to as an “epic fail”.

As our journey through the season of Lent continues, my thoughts once again turned to Jesus and the disciples who surrounded Him.

While Jesus never made a mistake, those around Him certainly did.

When it came to making mistakes, it seems that no one could make them like Peter.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples to travel ahead of Him by boat.

Later that evening the disciples see Jesus walking on the water toward them.

The disciples grow afraid even though Jesus tells them they have nothing to fear.

This is where Peter experiences a “fail”.

Matthew 14:28-31 (NET) - Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This is not the only time Peter failed.

In Chapter 17, Peter experiences another fail during the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Matthew 17:1-5 (NET) - Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!”

Peter would fail once again; but this time in a big way.

In Chapter 26, Jesus tells His disciples that when His time comes, all of them will fall away.

Peter claims that he will not fall away.

Matthew 26:33-34 (NET) - Peter said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

It happened just as Jesus said it would.

Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.

Matthew 26:73-75 (NET) - After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!” At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter realized that this truly was an “epic fail”.

Scripture tells us Peter failed time and again.

Yet scripture never once tells us that Jesus ever stopped loving Peter.

Peter was redeemed and his transformation was incredible.

Both his ministry and testimony were powerful.

As we journey through this world people will fail us.

We will also fail others.

Some of these failures might even be considered “epic fails”.

Despite our failures, even our “epic” ones, Jesus never for a moment stops loving us.

We must continue to love others even when they fail us.

If we are completely honest with ourselves, we know that we will certainly fail them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 25, 2016

A Source of Strength and Comfort

Philippians 4:13 (NET) - I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Every believer has at least one passage of scripture that is personally meaningful to them.

Philippians 4:13 has always been that kind of verse for me.

I have leaned on this verse through some very difficult times in my life.

At some point, I fondly began referring to it as my “go to” verse.

I have discovered that looking at this verse in this way is almost like having an insurance policy.

I find it a source of strength and comfort just knowing it is there.

Recently, I have discovered this verse to be inspirational in a different way.

As I grow older, I find that it is necessary for me to make some changes in my life.

These changes are necessary if I wish to maintain a level of quality in my life.

Human beings, myself included, tend to dislike change.

As I incorporate these changes, I reflect on this verse.

This reflection helps me make these changes permanent.

In the very near future I will be celebrating a birthday if that is God’s will for my life.

This birthday will be unique in that it will mark one more birthday than my father had.

It will also mark more than fifty more than my brother did as he died in childhood.

I consider every day to be a blessing from God and I am grateful for each of them.

As time goes by, I know there will be more changes necessary if I wish to serve Him effectively.

Whatever changes may come, Philippians 4:13 reminds me that I will be able to cope with them.

That is because I will be counting on His strength rather than my own.

It appears that I will be going to my “go to” verse more often.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 4, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 11, 2016

Criticism

The Super Bowl is over.

In spite of all the hype and emphasis placed on this game, it ended as all games usually end.

There was a winner and there was a loser.

That should be the end of it, yet something else reared its ugly head - criticism.

Criticism is one thing at which human beings seem to excel.

One player in particular seems to have garnered more than his share.

People criticized his performance.

People criticized him for his attitude after the game.

This bothers me in several ways.

First, a good many people will have forgotten that his team was even in this game a few years from now.

Second, the majority of his critics have never even played the game much less at his level

Third, there is the very real prospect that he is criticizing himself.

As others continue to criticize him this prospect becomes more certain.

Yes, human beings seem to excel at criticism.

Even people who claim to be Christians can be quite critical at times.

I recently read where the work of a Christian author has been criticized by his peers.

As we begin our journey through the season of Lent, I thought about Jesus and criticism.

People criticized Jesus throughout His ministry on earth.

Yet when Jesus encountered sinners, He did not criticize them.

He simply told them to sin no more.

Take the woman accused of adultery.

John 8:10-11 (NET) - Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Jesus reserved His criticism for the religious leaders and experts in the law.

In other words, He saved his criticism for those who were supposed to have known better.

Matthew 23:13 (NET) - “But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.”

And this is but one of the seven woes Jesus declared to them in this chapter.

As Christians, we need to be less critical of others.

Shouldn’t we know better?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 19, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 26, 2016

Why Sunday School?

It is difficult enough trying to get grown people to go to church these days.

It seems even more difficult to get them to even think of going to Sunday School,

Believe it or not, there are real benefits in attending an adult Sunday School class.

First of all, Sunday School is not just for children.

If a church has a Sunday School program for children it is very likely that it provides classes for adults.

Learning, after all, should be a lifelong experience.

Second, an adult Sunday School class is generally a small group.

Church should feel like family as we grow closer to those with whom we worship.

That being true, a small group like an adult Sunday School class begins to feel more like immediate family to those who attend.

This special sense of family is fostered simply by being a part of the group.

Another benefit of attending an adult Sunday School class is that you cannot help but learn more about the Bible.

Everyone in the class has passages of scripture that are important to them.

As the class studies together people will often share these passages of scripture with their fellow students.

At other times a student may recall a portion of scripture which the class then looks up in the Bible.

Another benefit of attending an adult Sunday School class is that each person is different,

Each brings his particular strengths that helps others.

Each also bring his weaknesses in order that they may be helped by those who are stronger.

Attending an adult Sunday School class also helps one get better at prayer.

When time in class is set aside for this purpose, students learn to pray more effectively.

They also raise specific people and circumstances up in prayer.

Their classmates then often pray for these people and circumstances outside the classroom as well.

In an adult Sunday School class, the students tend to become more involved individuals.

They may serve the church in other areas and quite often they have or develop ministries outside the church.

One thing I would recommend to any adult Sunday School class is that they take up an offering and prayerfully consider how to use those funds to benefit others.

Speaking from experience, you will be absolutely amazed by what God can do with a handful of dedicated people and a few dollars every week.

There is another great thing about being in a Sunday School class.

You really feel God’s presence there.

Scripture bears this out!

Matthew 18:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

These are merely some of the benefits of attending an adult Sunday School class.

There are many more.

There are even benefits to teaching such a class.

But those I will save for another time.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 5, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 12, 2016