Some years ago I asked (another Christian ministry) Why God, in his foreknowledge, had set up Adam and Eve for failure if he knew the terrible misery it would cause for generations of their descendants, including the descendant named Jesus? They replied that God knew it would be necessary for them to first obtain knowledge of good and evil in order to appreciate the goodness of God and life with him. Having known only perfection since the day of their creation, they had nothing with which to contrast it and were therefore blind to its blessing. What do you think?

Recently I asked for prayers for my daughter and myself as we are both due to have surgery in a few months. I did so on a message board that I get on when talking to my friends. Not long after I wrote the prayer request one of my friends messaged me back and told me they would keep us in their prayers and told me to check out (a currently popular self help book). Have you seen the movie or read the book? What is your opinion and how should I address this person?

I know that there are different versions of fasting: some where people are allowed to eat after 3 pm, some after sunset, some can eat meat, some only chicken, some no meat at all, etc. With all the variations on fasting that are out there, I want to know if it is clear how Jesus fasted? I’ve been told that He couldn’t have done it on water alone for 40 days because his digestion tract would be so severely damaged afterward. I would greatly appreciate your insight into this!

We recently changed churches, for reasons not that important, now the church is not talking to us. The other day we ran into the pastor he was rather upset with us and told us of all the mistakes we made in leaving his church. Is this a Biblical thing? Where does the Bible tell us we have to come to the pastor and tell him we selected another church to attend. I thought that as the church we were all united in the same work.

There’s something I have been puzzling about. Let’s say there are two good Christian friends. They both dabble in witchcraft and read their horoscopes every day. Then God tells one of them to stop doing that because he doesn’t like it. So the first person changes his lifestyle, but the second one never hears from God. They remain friends, despite the change. Now why does this happen? Why does God call one person and ignore many others who are doing the same thing? If the activity is displeasing wouldn’t he tell ALL of them to stop?

From a different angle – if you’re Christian and you believe Jesus died to save you, and OSAS is true, why does God call you out of doing certain things? Because if your behavior had no bearing on being saved, then you could go around doing witchcraft or whatever and it would be okay, wouldn’t it? I’m really confused. Please help.

May the Lord continue to bless you in this unique and wonderful ministry He has given you! I have a question about Luke 2:13-14. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” In passages like this we see the heavenly host ‘praising God’. A minister once said that if you check the scriptures, we never read that the angels are singing. He believed that only humans actually sing, not angels. Any thoughts on this statement?

Re: Giving in Secret. I know of a couple who have faithfully given sacrificially towards supporting numerous missionaries for many years. On a few select occasions, they have tried to encourage others to embrace the joy of generous giving to get the Gospel out and in doing so, referred to what they have learned and in the process, some reference to what they do was made. Would this be a case of losing heavenly reward?

I love your site and have found it very helpful, however, I have a question. I am a born-again Christian and I believe in OSAS, but lately, I’ve been having a very difficult time accepting it for me. I understand that Jesus died for all of our sins, and all those who believe in him will be saved and that salvation can come only through faith. But at the same time, I often feel as if my own personal sins will somehow leave me exempt from that. No matter how much evidence I read I just can’t seem to accept the fact that I am saved, and still feel as though I need to earn it and that if I commit sins I will somehow forfeit my salvation.

Lately, I have been reading comments on Facebook regarding whether or not a soul goes to heaven after the death of the body. They use the fact that there were no commas in the original writing of scriptures. Therefore, when Jesus told the thief on the cross next to him, he would be in Paradise with him it didn’t mean he would be with there with him on that very same day. If you move the comma it says, “I tell you the truth today, you shall be with me in Paradise.” These people use this argument to prove their belief that no one is in heaven yet. Is it possible that the comma was put in the wrong place?

Can you help me understand an apparent discrepancy in the four different accounts of when the Lord had dinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee? I’m not sure if the same event is being recorded all four times because in one case the woman washes the Lord’s feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair. In other accounts she pours the expensive ointment on his head.