“My mother remarried last year and now we have what’s supposed to be a blended family — four kids from my stepfather and me — but it’s not working. I don’t think my stepfather likes me, and I don’t get along with his children. I want to run away. I’m 14. Do you have any advice?”
“I know I’ve been stupid, but some months ago I got romantically involved with a woman at work, and now I don’t know how to get out of it. I know it’ll destroy my marriage (and maybe my job) if anyone finds out, but if I break things off, she’ll probably tell. How did I get into this?”
“How powerful is the devil? When I look at the world situation today, I can’t help but think that Satan must be stronger than God, at least for the time being. Is this true?”
“Why did God put us here? I know this seems like a simple question, but sometimes I wonder if my life has any purpose to it, or if I’m just here to have a good time. What do you think?”
“Suddenly I’m facing something I know might kill me (cancer) and I don’t think I can take it. How can I get through this? You’ll probably tell me to turn to God, but I’ve never had anything to do with God and I know it’s too late.”
“Our father was very selfish and unloving, and my sisters and I haven’t had anything to do with him since he walked out on our mother (although he’s tried several times to get in touch with us). I know the Bible says we should honor our parents, but why should we do anything for him? He never did anything for us.”
“Recently, our teacher asked us to write an essay on what we wanted to do in life, and I didn’t know what to say. What would you have said you wanted to be when you were my age (I’m in eighth grade)? ”
“My wife and I are separated for about the fifth time. Always before this, I’ve begged her to take me back, and she has. But this time she says she’s fed up with me and is filing for divorce. Is this happening because God is mad at me?”
“My business is probably going to collapse because I unwisely took in a partner who ended up cheating me. He doesn’t deny it, but he says that since I’m a Christian I should forgive him instead of taking him to court. Is he right?”
“Is there really such a thing as a death bed conversion? My uncle was a very selfish person who had no use for God, but two days before he died, our pastor supposedly led him to Christ. Did God really forgive him? I have a hard time believing it.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with stretching the truth once in a while, do you? I’m a salesman, and if I didn’t tell a few little “white lies” occasionally I’d probably not be very successful. Besides that, everyone lies occasionally, don’t they?”
“My wife and I really love each other, but we’ve been fighting a lot recently, and it’s almost always about money. I admit I get carried away sometimes and buy things we don’t really need, but I don’t see why she gets so upset. Do you have any suggestions?”