When I pray I almost always pray in my mind and not aloud. Is it necessary to pray aloud and does it make any difference? Also should you pray on your knees when praying? Is there any scripture to support any of this? I would like to be most effective when praying and should think it’s how sincere you are and what you’re praying for that counts.

A friend of mine posed a question about how they used to keep track of the years. We read that Adam was over 900 years old when he died. How did those keeping track of the years know this? I know in Genesis it says that the sun and the moon and the stars were there for signs and such…is this how they kept track of everyone’s number of years?

One of your posts said that in preparing for tough times ahead, that we shouldn’t “horde” things, and that storing up food or supplies to last a year or two isn’t putting our trust in God. Since we see what we think is coming, shouldn’t we take these things as a warning to start “squirreling” away somethings for when times get worse? After all, Joseph was smart and helped Pharaoh store food for when the famine hit. If we make no preparations at all, isn’t that just asking to be enslaved even more when we see many signs in front of us that our economy is about to collapse?

I know there are several verses that talk about not being friends with people who are unbelievers or who are living in sinful lifestyles. I have acquaintances that I spend short periods of time with occasionally who definitely live in ways completely opposite of how I would ever live. Some are homosexual and some are sexually promiscuous. But, when hard times hit, I am the one they always call and I point them to the truth of the scriptures and encourage them to change how they live. So, my question is, am I not permitted to be acquaintances with such people according to scripture?

What is the full story about good works? I know Paul says in Romans 3, “there is none that doeth good”. I’ve also heard preachers talk how our works are as “filthy rags” before God. I know good works are completely out of the salvation equation, but was a little confused about how their can be good works if there is “none that doeth good”, and they are like “filthy rags”.

Would the archangel Michael be considered a “Perfect” being without blemish etc. and if so, could he have paid the penalty for our sins if he had come down in human form and lived a sinless, blameless life. This is of course what the Jehovah Witnesses believe. I do not believe that the Bible teaches this but I am curious as to your thoughts.

I believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins and I accept his Grace. I have been baptized and praise Him everyday. I try to be a good person, but know I am still a sinner. I am confused about the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. I am unable to do so. What does this mean?

John 14:2 (In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you) has puzzled me ever since I became a Christian in 2002. I asked my favorite Sunday School teacher the meaning of this scripture, and he said it had to do with permanence. But that still doesn’t explain Jesus’ reference to “many rooms” (or “mansions” in some translations). What are these rooms?

I have failed miserably over the years as a Christian. As Jesus said Anyone who wants to follow Him must deny himself and pick up his cross. I know I do not measure up. Maybe here and there I’ve really tried to do the Lord’s will but then I fail again. I used to work as an Lpn in a hospital. I’m disabled now. I didn’t confront my co workers and ask them did they know Jesus as their Savior because I didn’t want to make waves. Is this being ashamed of the Lord? If it is, will He tell me to depart from Him? I more then anything want to be like Jesus now. But now I am house bound. I only see my husband and son. I have just made an effort to start a web site telling people that God’s gift of Salvation is Free because this Lordship Salvation disturbs me terribly. I want other Christians to realize that our salvation is a free gift and can’t be earned by anything we do but I am still terribly afraid I haven’t denied myself enough. I haven’t picked up my cross when I should have. I am very upset and all I can do is beg the Lord’s forgiveness for being such a poor witness during my life as a Christian. Please let me know what you think about what I’ve written and thank you again for your help.

I’ve told my daughter, who is 15, that Satan has access to God right now, and has to ask to do things to people…siting the book of Job, where he asked God if he could test him. Is that correct? Then my daughter asked “Why would God ever say yes to him, to allow him to do bad things to people?” That stumps me. Can you help?