“One of my relatives got very upset at me when I told him the other day that I didn’t vote in the last election because I thought it was a waste of time. I admit I’m cynical about politics and politicians, but he said I have a God-given responsibility to vote. Is he right?”
“Is it ever possible to go back and straighten out something you've done that was wrong? I got involved with another woman a few years ago and left my family for her, but now she's left me and I realize it was all a big mistake. My former wife has remarried, and now I'm in the dumps.”
“I know people write you from time to time asking where God came from, but I've always been curious about something else: Where did Satan come from? Has he always existed, just like God has? Or does the Bible give some other explanation?”
“Our divorce finally went through a few months ago, and all my friends say I ought to be delighted since my ex-husband was very abusive and irresponsible. Instead, I find myself very depressed, which doesn't make any sense. Why do I feel this way?”
“I admit I've always been afraid of God, even as a child. I know you talk a lot about a loving God, but I just can't get over my fear that He'll punish me if I do anything wrong. I'd like to think God loves me but I can't.”
“Recently, I read a book that said most of the world's problems have been caused by religion—problems like war, injustice, intolerance and so forth. The author went on to say that the only logical solution is to do away with religion and become atheists. How would you answer someone like this?”
“Our daughter has just one semester left in college, and I can tell she's beginning to panic because she doesn't have any idea what she's going to do after graduation. She'll be home over the holidays, but how can I cheer her up and help her get over her anxiety?”
“If you could make just one New Year's resolution for the coming year, what would it be? I used to make a long list of New Year's resolutions every year, but I only got discouraged because I never kept them so I've decided to concentrate on just one this year.”
“Our son has had a lot of problems in his marriage, and recently he's been drinking far too much. He even got arrested the other day for drunk driving. But when we try to talk with him he just gets angry and tells us to mind our own business. Is there anything we can do to help him?”
“Is it true that Jesus said we will always have poverty in the world? What did He mean by that? Does this mean we shouldn't even try to help people who are poor? I thought Christians were supposed to help people in need.”
“I'm 10 years old and I want to believe in God, but how can I believe in something I can't see?”
“I wish I could help my nephew. He was severely injured in a car accident a few years ago and ended up with some serious disabilities. But his real problem is his attitude. He's bitter and angry at God for doing this to him, and sometimes he even says he wishes he'd died.”