“I’m from another country and am visiting some of my relatives here who are in graduate school. I asked them what your festival on July 4 means, but they were not sure. Does it have something to do with your Christian religion?”
“I’ve been asked to teach the junior high class in our church beginning this fall, but I’m really reluctant to do it. I don’t feel qualified, and anyway, that’s a hard age to deal with. Would it be wrong for me to turn down this request? ”
“I know you tell people to go to church, and I started going a few months ago hoping to find some new friends. But no one even speaks to me and I just feel like an outsider. Why should I bother?”
“I know God expects us to love everybody, but how can you love people who aren’t very loveable? Many in our extended family are coming to our house for the Fourth of July, and I dread it, to be honest. Some of them are simply obnoxious.”
“My husband struggled with cancer for almost five years, and when he died a few months ago I thought I was prepared for it. But I guess I wasn’t, because it’s really been painful. I know he’s in heaven, but why am I having such a hard time? Is something wrong with me?”
“Our church’s new budget includes a fairly large amount of money for our missionaries. But are missionaries even needed today? It seems to me that we can reach the world much more cheaply and efficiently through the Internet. Why isn’t anyone doing this?”
“Why do some people get their feelings hurt so easily? I deeply love my wife, but I dread going out to social events or even church, because sometimes someone will say something she thinks is directed at her (although it isn’t), and she gets upset. How can I help her?”
“What does the devil look like? I know he’s often pictured in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork and all that, but if he actually appeared to us I’m not sure we’d recognize him. What do you think?”
“My brother is running away from God as hard as he can, and I don’t know what to do. We grew up in a fairly religious home, but we’ve gone our separate ways and I’m afraid he’s going to destroy himself. I’ve tried praying for him, but it hasn’t done any good.”
“If something is legal, then that ought to make it OK in the eyes of God, shouldn’t it? It looks like our state is going to legalize marijuana next year, so what’s wrong with enjoying it once in a while, even now? ”
“Maybe I’ll become a Christian someday, but first I want to have as much fun as possible. What’s wrong with that? I’m still young, and once I decide to settle down I can begin following Jesus.”
“I’m a single mom, and my last child left home for college last year. Since then, all I’ve done is waste time — sitting around watching television all day and things like that. I know I’m just bored, but how do I fight it?”