# thinkonthesethings.com ## Posts - [The Real Enemy](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-real-enemy/): I’m heading off to a local coffee and cinnamon roll establishment in a few minutes. A young man and I meet on Tuesday mornings to discuss things religious. We’re currently reading and discussing Paul Earnhart’s book Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution. The book explores Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It’s easy to read, hard to live. That’s true of the Bible, too. It’s been a hard week. An assassination of a young man—which should have been a wakeup call to the dangers of over-the-top political animosity—has, instead, increased the vitriol, tension, and hatred that characterizes our country. Name calling has... - [Embracing Shadows](https://thinkonthesethings.com/embracing-shadows/): The wounded soldier sat alone waiting in anticipation. He had recently returned home from the battle lines where the darkness of foxholes and trenches had been his only protection from the enemy’s concerted efforts to destroy him. He was thankful for being rescued, and he was anxious to see his beloved. When the door to his hospital room opened, shadows entered and danced on the wall opposite him. His heart raced. He stood. He stared. As the shapes became more distinct, he ran toward them excitedly. When the woman appeared, she saw her wounded husband embracing the shadows. She called... - ["If Only"](https://thinkonthesethings.com/if-only/): We have all said it. We have all heard it. Something in our lives is deficient. Some circumstance is less than ideal. Some resource is too scarce. Some action is too difficult. Some relationship is too awkward. “I would love to, if only…” I do not deny that we all have limits. No one can do everything all the time without missing opportunities. Yet, ironically, when we focus on our limitations, we often miss opportunities! If we wait until our budget is “just so” and the circumstance is “just right” and our understanding of Scripture is “finally there” (and the... - [Giving Thought to What You Put On](https://thinkonthesethings.com/giving-thought-to-what-you-put-on/): In His sermon on the mount, Jesus identified some things about which we don’t need to worry, including what we “put on” our bodies. Jesus stated that the body “is more than clothing” (Matt. 6:25). The King James Version of this text reads, “Take no thought…for your body, what ye shall put on.” While Jesus was teaching reliance on God for the necessities of life, perhaps some Christians literally “take no thought” to what they put on when preparing to take part in public worship. I am not calling for a return to a time when almost all men attended... - [What Will We Give to God?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/what-will-we-give-to-god/): “I need a gift for a sleeping newborn baby. DRUM SOLO!” say the memes poking fun at the “Little Drummer Boy” song. The boy didn’t think he had anything to give to the newborn King, so he gave the best he had—he played his drum for Him. Though not intended to be deeply theological, “Little Drummer Boy” speaks to something we struggle with more than the challenge of not disturbing a sleeping baby: What will we give to God? Is our best good enough? The question, “What will we give to God?” goes all the way back to the first... - [A Heart Like Jesus](https://thinkonthesethings.com/a-heart-like-jesus/): It’s all about the heart. Throughout the pages of the Bible – from Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden to the warnings given the seven churches of Asia – the message is repeated over and over: We and God are in a battle for our hearts. He wants them. We resist giving them. If someone were to ask me for a brief synopsis of the Word of God, I’d say it’s an amazing story about God’s work to rescue our hearts. No other subject gets more attention in the Bible than the state of human hearts. Someone once took... - [Don't Marry a Canaanite](https://thinkonthesethings.com/dont-marry-a-canaanite/): God cares deeply about whom His people marry. When Abraham commissioned his oldest household servant to find a mate for Isaac, he made him swear that he would not get a woman from the daughters of the Canaanites (Gen. 24:3). God then blessed the servant’s search and led him straight to Rebekah. The next generation broke family precedent, however. “When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite” (26:34). These family additions were not a blessing, for “they made life bitter for... - [Global Perspective](https://thinkonthesethings.com/global-perspective/): Jesus’ instructions to His apostles to “make disciples of all the nations” (Mt. 28:19) and be His witnesses “to the end of the earth” (Ac. 1:8) provides His followers with a global perspective that should temper our earthly connections and loyalties. Jesus’ kingdom, of which we all desire to be a part, is not defined or defended by geopolitical methods. Therefore, we are not Americans (or Canadians or any other nationalistic identities) who happen to be Christians. We are Christians sojourning in the various countries of this world. This is the perspective that all followers of Christ must have regardless... - [🎶 The True North Strong and Still Free 🎵](https://thinkonthesethings.com/%f0%9f%8e%b6-the-true-north-strong-and-still-free-%f0%9f%8e%b5/): I have preached for the East End church in Toronto, Canada, for eleven years and have preached on and off for an additional twelve years. The work in Canada, as in many places, has its challenges due to increased secularization and a general turn away from religion; but the work here is also very rewarding. The congregation in Toronto has almost doubled in size in the past five years due in large part to legal immigration and the hard work we have done evangelizing in the community. Our YouTube channel is watched by people around the world. We certainly will... - [THAT was Jesus!?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/that-was-jesus/): At the sheep and goat judgment in Matthew 25, the King divides them, welcoming the sheep to inherit the kingdom while telling the goats on His left, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:32-41). Jesus tells both groups that the division is based on their service to Him; but their service is different from how we usually think. It’s so radically different that both groups question it. Jesus tells the righteous that the reason for their entrance to His Father’s eternal kingdom is, “for I was hungry and you... - [Experiencing Ambivalence](https://thinkonthesethings.com/experiencing-ambivalence/): Ambivalence is defined as “the state of having mixed feelings about something.” It’s when we simultaneously have contradictory strong feelings about a situation or event. Many people confuse ambivalence with indifference. They’re not the same. To be indifferent is to show little or no concern about something. To be ambivalent is to care deeply – to have strong feelings about two conflicting things. Ambivalence is what parents feel when their child is dropped off for his first day of school. They feel both happiness as their son embarks on a journey of learning and education but feel sadness that those... - [A Servant of the Church](https://thinkonthesethings.com/a-servant-of-the-church/): The apostle Paul highly commended a Christian named Phoebe, referring to her as “a servant of the church in Cenchrea” (Rom. 16:1). His urging of the brethren in Rome to “receive her in the Lord” and to “assist her” (v. 2) suggests that she had some needs while away from home. While we don’t know the specifics of her needs, I want to emphasize what a blessing it was for Paul to describe her as a servant of her local congregation. This serves as a challenge for each of us to become actively involved in a local church so that... - [Scripturally Speaking: Immanuel](https://thinkonthesethings.com/scripturally-speaking-immanuel/): When Joseph, the carpenter betrothed to Mary, discovered his betrothed was pregnant, he “resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19). Before he could do so, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream informing him that Mary had not been promiscuous and that the child she bore was a fulfillment of what Isaiah the prophet had spoken, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew’s account specifies for us that Immanuel means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). When we read this literal meaning of Immanuel through twenty-first-century eyes,... - [You Wouldn't Have Liked John the Baptist If...](https://thinkonthesethings.com/you-wouldnt-have-liked-john-the-baptist-if/): If you struggle to listen to a preacher because of the way he dresses, you wouldn’t have liked John the Baptist. His clothing was rough and was neither stylish nor formal (Mt 3:4; 11:8). If you don’t like a preacher because of his awkward social habits, you wouldn’t have liked John the Baptist. He ate an odd diet of locusts and wild honey (Mt 3:4; Mk 1:6), “neither eating bread nor drinking wine” (Lk 7:33), and his disciples fasted often (Lk 5:33). If you don’t like the inconvenience of traveling to hear preaching, you wouldn’t have liked John the Baptist.... - [Do NOT Remove](https://thinkonthesethings.com/do-not-remove/): My car’s license plate renewal sticker came recently. As I was putting it on top of the other stickers from prior years, it reminded me that this sticker, once applied, cannot be removed without being ruined. I’m sure they designed it this way so that it couldn’t be stolen from one vehicle and put on a different one. Knowing this to be the case, I am more careful to put it on correctly. Matthew 19.3-6 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he... - ['I Pledge Allegiance to...'](https://thinkonthesethings.com/i-pledge-allegiance-to/): Loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, devotion, and allegiance are all synonyms which generally have positive connotations. Of course, whether these are actually admirable qualities is entirely dependent upon whether or not the object of the allegiance is itself good. For example, when a bride and groom make vows of fidelity to one another in the sight of God and men, people are often emotionally moved by the solemnity of the event and believe that such pledges can and should have major impact on their attitudes and behaviors as husband and wife. We take these pledges seriously. However, consider this pledge of allegiance.... - [I Guess This is My Life Now](https://thinkonthesethings.com/i-guess-this-is-my-life-now/): When I am feeling uncomfortable, I find it difficult to remember how it felt to be comfortable. Perhaps some examples from my own life will sound familiar to you. By day three of a head cold, I can no longer remember what it feels like to breathe through my nose. At this point, I am tempted to think, “I’m sure it was nice breathing through my nose, but I guess this is my life now.” When I am eating tortilla chips or popcorn, something gets stuck among my teeth and gums and no matter how skilled I am with toothpick... - [The Crisis of Disappointment](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-crisis-of-disappointment/): I heard a relationship counselor say that most married couples hit a point in their relationship that they called a “crisis of disappointment.” It is when a spouse sees the flaws of his/her partner that had been hidden by the fog of emotional love. If nothing is done, patience wears thin and fights ensue. “I didn’t think it would be this hard” and “I didn’t sign up for this” become passing thoughts. Intimacy struggles, eyes wander, suspicion arises, separation and divorce hover on the horizon. It occurred to me that this is a frequent scenario in the lives of Christians... - [The Sovereignty of God](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-sovereignty-of-god/): God is sovereign (i.e. supreme ruler). He is King of kings (1 Tim. 6:15). God can do what He wills to do because He is God, and all of His ways are perfect. God’s sovereignty is inherent as the Creator (e.g. Rom. 1:20; Rev. 4:11). I acknowledge it. I believe in it. I submit to it (imperfectly). I am not sovereign, and I am in no position to challenge His authority. Knowing that His ways are higher than mine, He is patient with my doubts and welcomes my laments about why things happen as they do in this life under... - [How's Your House?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/hows-your-house/): It appears that Jesus Christ never owned a house during His time here on earth. He said that He had no place of His own to lay His head (Lk. 9:58). However, Jesus did speak of a different kind of “house” that we should have: A secure house: He spoke of a house that remains secure even during storms because it is built upon a rock (Lk. 6:48). We wouldn’t consider building or buying a house that did not have a solid foundation. Of course, Jesus was referring to our need to build our lives upon faith in Him as... - [Sobering: How Blind We Humans Can Be!](https://thinkonthesethings.com/sobering-how-blind-we-humans-can-be/): Through the prophet Amos, God warned the northern kingdom of Israel that He was about to bring sure and certain judgment down on them! These were not good people. They were the kind of people who just couldn’t wait for the Sabbath to be over so they could get back to the business of cheating the helpless with dishonest scales and overpriced worthless wheat (Amos 8:4-6). To these ruthless and evil people, God said: “Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land…the Lord has sworn by the  pride of Jacob, ‘Indeed, I... - [Am I Walking in the Light?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/am-i-walking-in-the-light/): When you sin, do you approach the Father with a view of yourself as His enemy? Do you approach Him as one on the outside of fellowship with him? When a child of God sins, is he immediately and necessarily lost—cut out of fellowship with God? One does not have to be taught this in order to begin to relate to God in this way. If this does describe your understanding of sin in the life of a child of God, please stop reading this article and read 1John 1:1-2:6. Really. Please. Take your time. What John has to say... - [Where Do We Go From Here?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/where-do-we-go-from-here/): Life presents each of us with all kinds of challenges and choices. The metaphor of walking is used both in and out of Scripture to typify our lives and the events and things with which we will inevitably intersect during our earthly sojourn. As the philosopher of Ecclesiastes observed, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die … a time to weep, and a time to laugh … a time to keep, and a time to throw away … a time of war, and a... - [Sex and Sanctification](https://thinkonthesethings.com/sex-and-sanctification/): Although it is hard to establish accurately, it appears that, of those marrying today for the first time, only between 3% and 10% are virgins. The vast majority of singles are sexually active. Christians are not immune to sexual temptation, but they do have something special to use in the battle against sexual immorality. The CDC’s National Health Statistics Reports (2023) said that about 40% of never married teens (15-19) had sexual intercourse with someone of the opposite sex. However, the number increased to over 60% for ages 18-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr196.pdf). A 2015 survey reported that 90% of the population had... - [Politics As Usual](https://thinkonthesethings.com/politics-as-usual/): At its root, politics is simply the involvement of citizens in matters that impact their communities. The concept of “seeking the peace of the city” where one lives (Jer 29:7) aligns well with the overarching principle of loving one’s neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18). However, this does not imply that our concerns as followers of Jesus will align with those of the local citizens in the places where we find ourselves living. Similarly, the methods that saints use to promote the welfare of their communities will differ significantly from those of typical citizens. The motives of the citizens of this... - [Are You Better Off Today?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/are-you-better-off-today/): Spoiler Alert: THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS The pointed question “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” is widely regarded by political analysts as a key factor influencing the outcome of the recent U.S. presidential election. It was a question that the incumbent political party could not successfully combat; but due to prevailing economic conditions, it was easily answered by much of the electorate. This got me thinking about more important matters. Judging from responses to an article I wrote for the previous issue of Think, I have come to realize that our mailing list includes some individuals who no longer share the fellowship of brethren with whom they once worshiped. The fact... - [Scripturally Speaking: Christ](https://thinkonthesethings.com/scripturally-speaking-christ/): Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus is known by many titles (e.g. Lamb of God, Son of God, Lord, Savior, and Teacher); but when Jesus asked his disciples who they said he was, Peter’s famous response in Matthew 16:16 is this confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of God.” We call ourselves Christians, and we say Jesus is the Christ. It is a worthwhile endeavor to better understand exactly what it means to call Jesus “the Christ.” The Greek word Christ and its Hebrew equivalent Messiah both mean anointed. A brief survey... - ['Greetings!'](https://thinkonthesethings.com/greetings/): It is common courtesy in communication to extend greetings to those with whom we interact and even to those with whom we may only briefly intersect. It was typical of Paul in his letters to the churches and to individuals to have some opening and closing remarks which included some form of greeting. For example, at the close of his letter to Titus he wrote, “All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith” (Titus 3:15). To the churches in Rome, Paul closed his letter with an extensive list of greetings to specific brethren... - [Another Lesson from Mary, the Mother of Jesus](https://thinkonthesethings.com/another-lesson-from-mary-the-mother-of-jesus/): In a recent issue of this paper, there was an article entitled, “The Blessed Mary…a Lord’s Supper Talk.” The article pointed us to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a woman worthy of our admiration and praise, because of her unflinching faith as she quietly endured the heartbreaking event of her own child’s wrongful and brutal execution on a Roman cross. Mary was, indeed, an amazing woman. As I read that article, I remembered another occasion in the life of Mary that moves me to admire her even more. Do you remember the time Luke tells us about after the... - ['Do You Also Want to Go Away?'](https://thinkonthesethings.com/do-you-also-want-to-go-away/): Some people say that they are “deconstructing” their faith. What they mean is that they are questioning everything they have believed or been taught and rejecting either their own faith or the faith in which they have been brought up. Although this may seem novel to some people, it isn’t anything new. “Deconstruction” is simply going away from the Lord—and people have been doing that ever since people started coming to Him. I will not try to address all the reasons people give for going away from Jesus. Instead, I’d rather talk about the one reason (and a related one... - ['Do Not Forbid to Speak in Tongues'](https://thinkonthesethings.com/dont-forbid-to-speak-in-tongues/): Believing as firmly as I do in the Bible as the inspired word of God, and believing also that the gift of tongues has ceased, some might imagine that I cringe every time I read the admonition of Paul, ”do not forbid to speak in tongues” (1 Cor. 14:39). With the prominence given to “tongue speaking” in some religious circles today, I must ask myself if I am in violation of the scriptural admonition. I consider myself to be open minded enough that—were I to witness the same phenomenon as it was demonstrated in the first century church—I would change... - [Sleepy Sermons](https://thinkonthesethings.com/sleepy-sermons/): Not every sermon is a “masterpiece” of oratory that keeps the listeners on the edge of their seats. Some sermons may turn out to be quite boring and hard to follow. Add to a boring sermon a listener who is already weary, and you have a combination that may cause some to ”drop off” to sleep. I try not to be offended when someone falls asleep during one of my sermons. Sometimes I do not even blame them. I figure it is my job to keep them awake. However, I don’t accept responsibility for those who are already dozing before... - [Wilderness Warnings](https://thinkonthesethings.com/wilderness-warnings/): In general, throughout time, the gospel of Jesus Christ has not been well received. The Jews of Jesus’ day imagined themselves as being more receptive to God’s Word than were their forefathers, saying “If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets” (Matt. 23:30). Yet Jesus called them “serpents” who as “sons of those who murdered the prophets” would “fill up … the measure of [their] father’s guilt” by their own rejection of Him and those He would send to them (vv 31-34). After crucifying... - [Darkest Day](https://thinkonthesethings.com/darkest-day/): Many were excited to view the total solar eclipse that occurred this past spring.  A solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon where certain places along the “path of totality” will be completely dark in the middle of the day for just a few minutes. This is an infrequent but natural phenomenon that can be explained by the moon coming between the sun and the earth and casting its shadow on the earth. It is truly an odd sensation to have complete darkness in the middle of the day. “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple... - [No Green Bananas](https://thinkonthesethings.com/no-green-bananas/): I have a “friend” who occasionally suggests that I should not buy any green bananas. It’s his unoriginal way of reminding me that I am getting really old. Of course, the Scriptures do an adequate job of warning about the brevity and uncertainty of this earthly life. In Moses’ prayer-psalm we read, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10). It is good to consider the brevity of life. In... - [Lifted Up to Live](https://thinkonthesethings.com/lifted-up-to-live/): Late in their wilderness wanderings, the children of Israel again found themselves near the southern border of Canaan where they had been so many years before (cf. Num. 13:26; 14:45; 20:1; 21:3). Seeking permission from Edom to pass through its territory, Israel was denied passage (20:14-21). So, they “journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way” (21:4), no doubt because this took them in the opposite direction of the land of promise. Again they asked why God had... - [The Blessed Mary – A Lord's Supper Message](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-blessed-mary-a-lords-supper-message/): When the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary, he addressed her saying, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Lk. 1:28). Later, her cousin Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk. 1:42). Mary’s own inspired words in what is called “The Song of Mary” included “behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Lk. 1:48). Some take this blessing beyond its intent by worshiping Mary, but let us not go to the other extreme and fail to honor the mother... - [Advice to Beginners (Articles From the Days Gone By)](https://thinkonthesethings.com/advice-to-beginners/): This is not intended to be an arbitrary directive to young preachers, but based on 1) four-and-one-half decades of experience; 2) close observation of gospel work and workers for all these years; and (3) scriptural principles, it is hoped that these brief words may be received by young men or any others who are just now beginning regular gospel work. 1.  You are an idealist. Don’t apologize for this characteristic. You love God and his church and you want to do the very best work you can do in service to God and mankind. Your goals for yourself and for... - [Those Who Are With Us Are More Than Those Who Are With Them](https://thinkonthesethings.com/those-who-are-with-us-are-more-than-those-who-are-with-them/): Many stories in the Old Testament have become “favorites” because of the great faith shown by God’s people. Hebrews 11 is but a small sample of faith that produced heroes worthy of imitation. As a youth, one of my favorite stories was that of the three Hebrews who were willing to die a horrible death in a furnace of fire rather than bow to a false god. They did not bow; they did not bend; they did not burn. In my “senior” days, a story that has become a favorite is one that began—not about faith—but about fear and doubt.... - [Life-Cycles](https://thinkonthesethings.com/life-cycles/): The philosopher in Ecclesiastes observes, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted,” etc. (3:1,2). Likewise, the Hebrews author soberly writes that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (9:27). As we age, we become more acutely aware of the reality that we will not live in these failing bodies forever. Just as surely as babies continue to be born, more and more people we know depart... - [Responsibility to the Body](https://thinkonthesethings.com/responsibility-to-the-body/): Often, dissimilarity between people makes it difficult to interact without it feeling awkward and forced. When we interact with other Christians, we know that we have the most important thing in common – we are a part of the same body in Christ. But that is the “gimme” answer – simply knowing this does not make our relationships automatically natural or enjoyable. Having Jesus in common doesn’t make us similar to one another! After all, how similar is your eye to your foot? Your kidneys to your brain? Our relationships with one another are not based on us being like... - [Bored With Bread](https://thinkonthesethings.com/bored-with-bread/): One event that shows God’s grace in the wilderness and points to His ultimate grace in Jesus occurs in the context of some early complaining by Israel. Just one month after their exodus, the people craved the food they had eaten in Egypt and accused Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them with hunger. God responded by promising to “rain bread from heaven” (Ex. 16:1-4). This was not ordinary bread. It appeared on the ground as“a small round substance, as fine as frost” (v. 14) after the morning dew lifted. It was “like white coriander seed, and... - [The Relationship Between Grace, Faith & Works](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-relationship-between-grace-faith-works/): Salvation is one of the most fundamental topics that Christians can discuss. Understanding what the scriptures say about salvation will affect how we approach other parts of scripture and ultimately will determine whether or not we inherit eternal life with God in Heaven. As we look into the Bible to examine this topic, we need to be careful that we take an “all of scripture” approach lest we be guilty of either over-emphasizing or under-emphasizing an aspect of salvation and teach what is false. What, then, do the scriptures teach about salvation? To begin with, the scriptures teach that we... - [Learning from the Temptations of Christ](https://thinkonthesethings.com/learning-from-the-temptations-of-christ/): Three of the four gospel accounts refer to Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Mark’s gospel gives a very brief summary of this event, making it clear that this took place immediately after Jesus’ baptism when the voice from heaven declared, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11-12). Mark makes no mention of Jesus’ forty-day fast or any of the specific temptations—only that He “was tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him” (vs.13). The accounts by Matthew... - [Body-Shaming Jesus](https://thinkonthesethings.com/body-shaming-jesus/): Your body is imperfect, flawed, scarred, ugly, too ____ (something inadequate) and, therefore so are you! This is body-shaming: the act of humiliating someone because of some aspect of his/her body. Most people accept that body-shaming is harmful and needs to stop, but it still happens a lot to Jesus without apology. Unbelievers The prophecy in Isaiah 53:3-5 says that Jesus would be “despised and rejected by men” and is still true today. Jesus, the Head of the body (Co 1:18), is shamed as His name, that is above all names (Ph 2:9), is used as a mindless interjection and... - [Jesus: Born to Die](https://thinkonthesethings.com/jesus-born-to-die/): During the recent holiday season I took note of a few posts on social media from brethren who, while not trying to defend December 25 as the actual birthday of Jesus, are heartened that—at least for a brief time—more people are focused on Jesus, possibly leading to an opportunity for us to get them to consider the whole gospel of Jesus. While such opportunities may be available, we must be careful to not endorse untruth. Then there are a few who take it a step further, suggesting that there is no harm in arbitrarily choosing a date on which to... - [The Call to Extremes (Articles From the Days Gone By)](https://thinkonthesethings.com/the-call-to-extremes-articles-from-the-days-gone-by/): Throughout the ages God has always challenged the people who would come near to Him to extraordinary circumstances. He has never been content with the usual, the moderate, the ordinary. His commands and His promises have usually been quite extreme indeed. The command to Adam and Eve was extreme, especially when it is realized that the fruit of the forbidden tree was good to look upon and that all other fruit was acceptable. Why exclude that one tree alone? The requirement of Noah was certainly an extreme one, especially when we realize that he could have no conception of such... - [Using Our God-Given Abilities](https://thinkonthesethings.com/using-our-god-given-abilities/): In Matthew 24, Jesus is asked about the signs of the end of the age. Jesus then spoke for a long time of many different subjects, answering what the kingdom of heaven will be like in the end. One of those descriptions involved one master and three servants. In the parable of the talents, the master gave each servant a certain amount of money according to his ability. To one the master gave five talents, to another two, and to another one talent. There is some speculation over the value of this particular form of currency. From what I have... - [Deconstruction](https://thinkonthesethings.com/deconstruction/): Deconstruction is likely something you have heard of; but perhaps you are not certain you understand what is meant by it. Join the club! Originally, it was the idea of literally taking something apart, but in more modern times it has been used philosophically to refer to a process of challenging assumptions about what is true or real. In its more literal application, we can see that deconstruction could be important. In order to build something solid where something inferior already exists, it first requires some tearing down. The same could also be true of ideas or beliefs or practices.... - [A Time to Weep (Articles From the Days Gone By)](https://thinkonthesethings.com/a-time-to-weep-articles-from-the-days-gone-by/): My lifetime philosophy has been that Christianity is not a life of sadness but a life of gladness. In spite of all the sorrows and disappointments that come to every one of us, we have every reason to live a life of joy. Overcoming even deep grief, we “sorrow not as those who have no hope” (1 Thes. 4:13). The joy of which I write is not necessarily demonstrated by laughter. In fact, constant laughter, especially when there is nothing funny, may indicate frustration and insecurity. The happiness of which I write is characterized by serenity, contentment, peace of mind,... - [Do You Remember](https://thinkonthesethings.com/do-you-remember/): Memorials are erected in stone. Towers are built. Admonishing cries of “Remember!” and “Never forget!” are shouted so that the next generation will appreciate, learn, and be motivated. It is easy to forget and not appreciate what came before us and brought us to where we are, but we are foolish if we forget what God tells us to remember. After nearly forty years of wandering and complaining in the wilderness, the faithless generation of Israel which God had rescued from bondage in Egypt was virtually gone. Those who were teens and younger at the time of the Exodus were... - [Doing Good in God's Way](https://thinkonthesethings.com/doing-good-in-gods-way/): Saul, king of Israel, was preparing to go to war with the Philistines (1 Sam. 13). He had previously been instructed to go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel to come to offer a burnt offering and a peace offering and to tell the king what to do (1 Sam. 10:8). When Samuel did not show up within the expected time, Saul decided to make the offering himself (13:9). Saul had hardly finished the offering when Samuel showed up and asked, “What have you done?” (v.11). Saul explained that he feared the Philistines would come against him before he had... - [How Would You Like To Be Remembered?](https://thinkonthesethings.com/how-would-you-like-to-be-remembered/): It occurred to me how the guy must feel being known for the rest of human history as the “thief on the cross”—hanging naked on a cross; dying for your crimes as a robber; initially blaspheming and mocking Jesus; confessing Jesus as Lord; asking to be remembered by Jesus in His kingdom; given assurance by Jesus; praising God throughout eternity for His saving grace that is magnified in saving a “thief on the cross.” (Lk 23:39-43). God’s grace is amazing. I wondered how it would feel to be known for the rest of human history as the “Ethiopian eunuch”—enduring the... - [God Knows My Heart](https://thinkonthesethings.com/god-knows-my-heart/): I admit that at some point, I became fed up with hearing the phrase “God knows my heart.” Typically, I hear this used as an excuse for some sinful behavior – “I know that [whatever I just said/did] is wrong, but God knows my heart.” The idea being that, even though I know what I just did was wrong, God knows that deep down I’m a pretty good person – so I think he’ll overlook my sinful behavior. We may hear this said about profanity and inappropriate conversation, lewd clothing or behavior, angry outbursts at spouses and children, gossip about... ## Pages - [57-1](https://thinkonthesethings.com/57-1/): No posts found in the selected date range. “…He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” 3 JOHN 11 - [54-4](https://thinkonthesethings.com/54-4/): God Knows My Heart By NOAH DIESTELKAMP I admit that at some point, I became fed up with hearing the phrase “God knows my heart.” Typically, I hear this used as an excuse for some sinful behavior – “I know that [whatever I just said/did] is wrong, but God knows my heart.” The idea being that, even though I know what I just did was wrong, God knows that deep down I’m a pretty good person – so I think he’ll overlook my sinful behavior. We may hear this said about profanity and inappropriate conversation, lewd clothing or behavior, angry... - [55-1](https://thinkonthesethings.com/55-1/): Deconstruction By ANDY DIESTELKAMP Deconstruction is likely something you have heard of; but perhaps you are not certain you understand what is meant by it. Join the club! Originally, it was the idea of literally taking something apart, but in more modern times it has been used philosophically to refer to a process of challenging assumptions about what is true or real. In its more literal application, we can see that deconstruction could be important. In order to build something solid where something inferior already exists, it first requires some tearing down. The same could also be true of ideas... - [55-2](https://thinkonthesethings.com/55-2/): Learning from the Temptations of Christ By AL DIESTELKAMP Three of the four gospel accounts refer to Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Mark’s gospel gives a very brief summary of this event, making it clear that this took place immediately after Jesus’ baptism when the voice from heaven declared, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11-12). Mark makes no mention of Jesus’ forty-day fast or any of the specific temptations—only that He “was tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the... - [55-3](https://thinkonthesethings.com/55-3/): Those Who Are With Us Are More Than Those Who Are With Them By AL DIESTELKAMP Many stories in the Old Testament have become “favorites” because of the great faith shown by God’s people. Hebrews 11 is but a small sample of faith that produced heroes worthy of imitation. As a youth, one of my favorite stories was that of the three Hebrews who were willing to die a horrible death in a furnace of fire rather than bow to a false god. They did not bow; they did not bend; they did not burn. In my “senior” days, a... - [56-1](https://thinkonthesethings.com/56-1/): Scripturally Speaking: Christ By NOAH DIESTELKAMP Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus is known by many titles (e.g. Lamb of God, Son of God, Lord, Savior, and Teacher); but when Jesus asked his disciples who they said he was, Peter’s famous response in Matthew 16:16 is this confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of God.” We call ourselves Christians, and we say Jesus is the Christ. It is a worthwhile endeavor to better understand exactly what it means to call Jesus “the Christ.” The Greek word Christ and its Hebrew equivalent Messiah... - [55-4](https://thinkonthesethings.com/55-4/): Passing the Torch With this issue we complete 55 years of publishing Think. My father, Leslie Diestelkamp, served as editor for the first 20 years before handing it down to me. After serving 35 years as editor, the time has come for me to hand down this work to the third generation. Beginning with the next issue, my son Andy will assume the role of editor. As long as I’m able, I will continue to do the page layouts and handle the finances, including receiving voluntary donations. – Al Diestelkamp Wilderness Warnings By ANDY DIESTELKAMP In general, throughout time, the gospel... - [56-4](https://thinkonthesethings.com/56-4/): THAT was Jesus!? By DAVID DIESTELKAMP At the sheep and goat judgment in Matthew 25, the King divides them, welcoming the sheep to inherit the kingdom while telling the goats on His left, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:32-41). Jesus tells both groups that the division is based on their service to Him; but their service is different from how we usually think. It’s so radically different that both groups question it. Jesus tells the righteous that the reason for their entrance to His Father’s eternal kingdom is,... - [56-3](https://thinkonthesethings.com/56-3/): ‘I Pledge Allegiance to…’ By ANDY DIESTELKAMP Loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, devotion, and allegiance are all synonyms which generally have positive connotations. Of course, whether these are actually admirable qualities is entirely dependent upon whether or not the object of the allegiance is itself good. For example, when a bride and groom make vows of fidelity to one another in the sight of God and men, people are often emotionally moved by the solemnity of the event and believe that such pledges can and should have major impact on their attitudes and behaviors as husband and wife. We take these pledges... - [Back Issues Browse](https://thinkonthesethings.com/back-issues-browse/): Browse Back Issues This page has each archived issue of THINK linked individually with a table of contents. Click on the title of an issue to view all of its articles together. Click the title of an article to view just that article. To visit the searchable archive of back issues, click here. 2025 Back Issues October-November-December, 2025 | Vol. 56, No. 4 THAT was Jesus!? by David Diestelkamp 🎶 The True North Strong and Still Free 🎵 by Jeremy Diestelkamp Global Perspective by Andy Diestelkamp Don’t Marry a Canaanite by Nathan Combs A Heart Like Jesus by Matt Hennecke... - [56-2](https://thinkonthesethings.com/56-2/): Am I Walking in the Light? By MASON VENUSO When you sin, do you approach the Father with a view of yourself as His enemy? Do you approach Him as one on the outside of fellowship with him? When a child of God sins, is he immediately and necessarily lost—cut out of fellowship with God? One does not have to be taught this in order to begin to relate to God in this way. If this does describe your understanding of sin in the life of a child of God, please stop reading this article and read 1John 1:1-2:6. Really.... - [Contact Us](https://thinkonthesethings.com/contact-us/): Contact Us: Andy Diestelkamp Editor Email: andydiestelkamp@gmail.com Phone: (815)374-3717 Any physical correspondence may be sent to:323 E. Indiana Ave.Pontiac, IL 61764 About the Editor: Andy Diestelkamp has worked as a gospel preacher in Pontiac, Illinois since 1986, and currently serves as one of the elders of the congregation. He and his wife, Karen (Ellsworth) married in 1982 and are parents of five children: Jennifer (Combs), Adam, Emily (Venuso), Jessica, and Noah, who together have produced 18 grandchildren so far. Al Diestelkamp Editor-Emeritus Email: aldiestel@gmail.com Phone: (815) 785-0401 Any physical correspondence may be sent to:260 N. Aspen Drive,Cortland, IL 60112 About the Editor-Emeritus: Al... - [Back Issues Search](https://thinkonthesethings.com/back-issues-search/): Search Back Issues This page allows you to search all archived THINK articles by keywords and filter the results based on authors, years, and issues.  To visit the browsable archive of back issues, click here. - [Home](https://thinkonthesethings.com/): October-November-December, 2025 • Volume 56, No. 4 THAT was Jesus!? By DAVID DIESTELKAMP At the sheep and goat judgment in Matthew 25, the King divides them, welcoming the sheep to inherit the kingdom while telling the goats on His left, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:32-41). Jesus tells both groups that the division is based on their service to Him; but their service is different from how we usually think. It’s so radically different that both groups question it. Jesus tells the righteous that the reason for their... 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