“I hadn't seen my four children in over 15 years, until last weekend. (The reason was a nasty custody battle after a bitter divorce.) I'd always prayed we'd reconnect somehow because I still loved them and missed them, but last weekend they made it clear they don't want anything more to do with me. Is this a hopeless situation?”
“I am very fearful about going out in public, and although my psychiatrist has me on a new medicine that helps me some, I still can’t face being in crowds. Is God going to punish me for not going to church? I feel guilty because I know I should, but I just can’t help it.”
“Some people in my church want to nominate me to run for our governing board. But to be truthful I'm not a very committed church member, and I'm not sure I ought to have that kind of responsibility. One man told me they need my business skills, but is this a good enough reason for me to run?”
“My parents never had anything to do with God, and I've always been the same way. But a few months ago, I accepted Jesus into my life through a Christian friend, and now I'm getting involved in his church. They want me to be baptized before I join, but I don't understand why I need to do this.”
“How do you know when you ought to help someone and when it would be better to make them stand on their own two feet? Our son (who's 34) moved in with us after losing his job, and now he doesn't even look for work because he has it so easy living with us. Would it be better to make him move?”
“We've been married just two years, and already we're over our heads in debt. The problem is that my husband just can't seem to stop spending money, especially when he sees something he wants. But he refuses to face this, and says everything will work out. I'm about to give up.”
“What is a saint, in your opinion? I grew up thinking only a very few people were entitled to be called saints, but a friend of mine says every Christian is a saint. How can that be, when most of us aren’t exactly pure?”
“I know Jesus said to love people, but how can you love someone who has really hurt you? My father walked out on us after abusing Mom and us for years, and whenever I think of him I get angry. I don’t ever want to see him again.”
“Why is it so hard for some people to apologize after they've done something wrong? My uncle will bend over backwards to be nice to people that he knows he's hurt, but things would be so much better if he'd just say he's sorry and ask them to forgive him.”
“What does the Bible mean by "original sin"? Our preacher talks about original sin sometimes, and I'm not sure I know what he means or why it's important. Where does the Bible talk about it?”
“A friend of mine says the Bible is very negative toward women, and this is why society has oppressed women throughout history. Is this true?”
“I'm in my 70s and almost completely crippled with arthritis. I know this is God's punishment for all the years I ignored Him. Is there anything I can do to make up for all those lost years? I wish I hadn't lived the way I did. It wasn't worth it.”