“I've always tried to do my best and live by the Bible's statement that “God helps those who help themselves” because I want to go to heaven when I die. But recently a friend said she thinks this may not be what the Bible means by this statement. Is she right?”
“My husband is really getting forgetful (we're both in our late 70s) but he refuses to admit it and won't even think about seeing a doctor. The situation is getting harder and harder for me to handle, but I don't know what to do. What would you suggest?”
“I admit that not seeing my three children after I divorced and moved away didn't bother me much. But over 20 years have passed and now they're married and having children, and suddenly I'd love to reconnect with them. But they're still angry and don't want anything to do with me. Is this a hopeless situation?”
“Like lots of people I left God behind when I went to college, but almost 20 years have gone by and I'm beginning to wonder if I made the right decision. But none of my friends have any interest in God, and I'm afraid they'll drop me if I start going to church. Can you see my problem?”
“Our son is planning to enlist in the military in a few months. I know we're supposed to believe God will take care of him, but right now we've got a bad case of nerves and our fears are a lot stronger than our faith. How can we get over this?”
“Those psychologists I watch on TV say we need to have a healthy self-image but they never say how to get one — at least not in a way that helps me. I admit I get down on myself and blame myself for everything, but what good would it do for me to just tell myself I'm not so bad after all?”
“In my view, religion is only for weak people who can't stand on their own two feet. Life isn't easy, but it's useless to lean on some imaginary “God” for help. We have to fight our own battles and can only depend on ourselves. I don't have any use for religion.”
“What did Jesus mean when He said we shouldn’t judge other people? I’ve a hard time with this, because I’m a businessman, and if I didn’t judge whether or not someone I was doing business with could be trusted, I’d be broke in a matter of months.”
“Did you read about those scientists who think they've uncovered the image of Jesus from what might have been His burial cloth? Maybe now we'll know what He looked like. Or do we already know?”
“I’m completing my first year in college, and I’ve given up my faith in God. The only thing religion has done for the human race is cause war and conflict. How do you explain that, if religion is true?”
“My father has always been a very strong, independent person, and I think that's why he never felt any need for God or Jesus. But now he's got terminal cancer, and I'm very worried about his spiritual condition. Should I say something to him? I don't want to alienate him or make him mad.”
“My father called the other day for the first time in over 10 years. He says he feels bad over the way he treated us and wants to reconnect, but how do I know he’s telling the truth? He’s always been a very manipulative person. It’s hard to forget how he walked out on Mom and left us on our own.”