Why are Christians always saying that God’s love is “unconditional”? I’ve become increasingly alarmed and distressed over the liberal use of this term. If God’s love is unconditional, why did Uzzah get zapped for touching the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6)? What about Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)? If God’s love is unconditional, …
Family Q&A
Will I be reunited with my spouse in heaven?
Are “contemplative prayer” and other “spiritual disciplines” part of a “New Age” plot to subvert the church? Should I steer clear of these practices? My church recently launched a class in “spiritual formation.” I was excited when I learned of this opportunity because I’m hungry to know the Lord in a deeper, more personal way. …
How can we minister to my elderly aunt’s spiritual needs? She’s been a strong and dedicated Christian all her life. Now she’s living in a nursing facility and is frail, mentally weak, and increasingly withdrawn and uncommunicative. Do you have any practical suggestions?
How can I hold on to my faith in God when things go wrong? As a Christian, I know that I’m supposed to “give thanks in all things” and look to the Lord for my daily needs. Yet I’ve been through some devastating experiences over the past year. How can I be thankful and trust …
Is political revolution biblically justified? Recent events in the Middle East have raised this question in my mind. For the most part the evangelical Christian community seem to be sympathetic of these “revolutionary” movements, but I can’t help wondering whether the Bible supports this kind of activity. Isn’t it simply rebellion against the governing authorities? …
As a Christian, do I always have to make things right with someone I’ve offended? In Matthew 5:23 and 24 Jesus tells us to mend broken relationships before turning to God in worship or prayer. This verse has been weighing on my mind these past few days. I did something that may have been hurtful …
Do you think it’s wise to take a year off after graduating from high school? I’ve told my parents that I don’t want to enroll in college until next fall, but they have doubts about my plan. They’re concerned that I’ll lose momentum, and they’re also worried about my health insurance coverage. What do you …
How can we help ease the transition of moving our aging loved one into a full-time care facility? I’ve heard of something called “transfer trauma,” but I don’t know exactly what it is or how it’s likely to affect my mother. Can you give me some idea of what to expect?
What can I do to establish and maintain an effective relationship with my doctor? I’ve had some pretty lousy experiences in the past, but I’m having some health problems and I know I shouldn’t put off getting the attention I need. A friend just told me about a new doctor that I’m considering seeing. What …
What can I do when the task of caring for my aging parent leaves me feeling tired, discouraged, confused, and torn in several different directions all the time? I guess I didn’t realize it at first, but this is an exhausting job! I’m already burned out! How can I survive without losing my mind?
When health insurance is available to both spouses, is it wise for each to sign up for coverage?
How do we find the medical and social services we need in order to care effectively for my elderly father? He recently suffered a paralyzing stroke, so we’ve brought him home to live with us. Needless to say, we’re desperate for some outside assistance. Where should we look?
How can I handle worry? I’m a perfectionist, and I really struggle with this. I worry a great deal about everything in life, but especially about my children. Fears and anxieties about what could or might happen to them out in the world are a constant feature of my everyday life. You don’t have to …
What can I do to ensure my aging mom’s safety and security? She lives alone, and I worry that she’s becoming increasingly vulnerable to abuse from outsiders. How can I tell if she’s in any immediate danger?
Where do I turn for help with my spouse’s problem with substance abuse and drug addiction? It has had a devastating impact on our marriage and family, and I feel as if I’ve just about reached the end of my rope.
As a widow in my mid-sixties, should I pay off my home or invest the money my husband left me? What’s the very best use I can make of these funds?
What’s your opinion on teens getting involved in social networking and online chat rooms? I’ve read some of the teen conversations on the sites my daughter wants to visit, and they seem relatively harmless. But I’m still afraid of losing control over my child’s interactions with her peers. Should I be concerned?
How do we help our other kids thrive when we have to devote so much time and attention to our child with special needs? My husband and I have four kids ranging in age from eight years to two months. Our youngest son was born with Down syndrome, and as a family, we’re doing our …
How can I help my granddaughter who is struggling with her racial identity? She’s the child of an interracial marriage – her mother is white, her father black. Her parents have now divorced and her dad is no longer in the picture. On top of the many other problems that go along with being a …