Is an unemployed husband and father really “worse than an unbeliever,” as Paul seems to infer in I Timothy 5:8? I’m having a hard time understanding this. I was laid off my job eight months ago, and since that time my family has been getting by on my wife’s income. Even when I was working …
Family Q&A
How can I know if I’ve been “chosen” for salvation? I was raised in the church by Christian parents, and I’ve always felt pretty comfortable with my faith. But I heard a pastor say that God elects or chooses certain people for salvation. Now I’m worried.
What would you say to a person who has been praying faithfully for the same thing for over five years and still hasn’t seen any change in the situation? I’m referring to myself, of course. How do I deal with this kind of disappointment? Does it reflect a lack of faith on my part? Some …
Isn’t Satan just a legendary figure – sort of a symbol of the evil in the world and in the human heart? I’m a fairly new Christian, and I can’t help feeling a little skeptical about some of the things I hear from other believers in this regard. What does the Bible really have to say …
Can you help me deal with a dad who is a very angry and abusive person? He’s never been physically violent, but he bad-mouths my mom, my sister, and me almost constantly. I’d move out if I was old enough, but I’m not. What can I do?
Why has God given teens such strong a sexual drive and no healthy, acceptable way to satisfy it? This just doesn’t seem fair. In Bible times people got married at a younger age. As a result, it was normal to have sex and start raising kids before you reached the age of 20. These days, …
Is it normal to be weighed down by negative emotions while caring for an aging loved one? When my dad had a stroke, my wife and I took him into our home because we thought it was the right thing to do. I guess I expected to feel good about myself for doing such an …
Would it be wrong for a Christian to go into business with an unbeliever? I’m thinking about doing so, but was wondering if it would be a case of being “unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14)?
What’s the wisest way to handle my finances during a period of recession? How do I plan ahead when there’s so much economic uncertainty? And how can I avoid setbacks in the future?
Should I get rid of my credit cards? They’re eating me alive. Some people tell me to cut them up, but I can’t because my job requires me to travel a lot. How can I hold on to them and overcome my debt problem at the same time?
When it comes to housing, what are some of the pros and cons of renting and buying? My wife and I have been married about four years. The subject of buying our own home has come up recently, but I’m not sure we’re prepared for that kind of financial commitment.
How can I help my aging father deal with his physical pain and discomfort? I’m his primary caregiver. He’s never been very communicative, and I have reasons for believing that he’s hurting a great deal more than he lets on. I’d like to help him manage that pain, but he’s not very cooperative when it …
What are some of the most common ways scam artists victimize the elderly? How can I protect my parents against this kind of abuse?
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 …
Should we be concerned about our oldest son’s abusive behavior towards his siblings and our household pets? We’re constantly getting on his case about hitting his younger siblings, and lately he’s also been hurting the cat and dog. I used to think he was just aggressive or hyperactive, but now I’m not so sure. Is …
Should a church youth group be social or spiritual in focus? We’re involved in a heated dispute about this at our church. There are two schools of thought. One group thinks that a high school youth group should be primarily spiritual in emphasis, focusing on Bible study, prayer, and outreach or service projects. The rest …
Does spanking teach kids to be violent? I have some serious reservations about the appropriateness and effectiveness of this type of discipline. If we spank our child, will this lead her to assume that violence is acceptable, or that it’s okay to hit others or even to hit us back?