Thank you again for your wonderful website. I have been reading your teachings for over a year now, and telling everyone I know about you. I hope I am not overstepping a line when I refer to you as my Bible teacher. I am wondering how you interpret “gathered together in my name”? When two or more Christians get together, is Jesus with them even if they only get together for lunch or something? Or do they specifically have to come together to worship Him or pray for spiritual insight, for Jesus to be there?

The reason I ask this is because I am taking piano lessons for the purpose of praising the Lord. My piano teacher is a Christian also and she knows why I want to learn. We are working so that eventually I will be able to praise the Lord through music, but we are not specifically worshiping Him or seeking guidance. Though the Holy Spirit is already sealed within our hearts, would I be reading to much into the scripture if I thought Jesus was there with us?

I was wondering. Could the person who offers the sacrifices in the temple when it is rebuilt in Ezekiel 40-48 be the anti-Christ? I know that the Holy Spirit lives in me and I just can’t see the Lord having anyone sacrifice animals. I surely wont be sacrificing animals, to me it would be an abomination.

Earlier this week you answered a question about whether or not Jesus may have suffered in Hell during his visit there. Scripture tells us, and as you said, “When He went to the side for the unsaved, it was to preach to them, not suffer with them.”

Why do you think Jesus was preaching to the unsaved? Was there a chance for them to experience some form of redemption, or do you think Jesus was explaining to them why they deserved to be on the wrong side of the chasm?

Thank you for a wonderful website. I especially like how your explanations are simple and direct, using scripture in its plain meaning. God indeed “means what he says and says what he means”.

My question is about the creation of the universe. Since you seem to believe in a “Gap theory” from your writings, such as the article “Honest to God”, I wonder if you have heard of the “decay of light speed theory” and its relationship to the age of the universe and creation? If correct, it seems to fit much better with the plain text reading of the creation account. No need to insert a “gap” between verse 2 and 3. Also the theory seems to answer many of the anomalies that we are seeing in the field of astronomy even today. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks again for your wonderful work!

First of all I thank you for your ministry. I appreciate all the biblically sound articles and answers.

My question may sound off the path of the questions you normally answer. The other night in a Wednesday night church service a man brought his girlfriend to the service. She had never been there before. The woman was so drunk that she could barely walk and she was stumbling and tripping all over the sanctuary. During worship shortly after the service began she left the church and went and sat in her car honking the horn. She would honk the horn for a few minutes, then stop, then start again.

My first thoughts were to pray for her which I did during the service. I also thought that it was good for her to have least come for a few minutes. Then a few days later I just thought this was not right, that she should not of been in church so drunk she never would of remembered a thing. I don’t want to seem un-compassionate or hard hearted but I am not sure if this is respectful to our Lord to have someone carrying on like she did. I would greatly respect your opinion.

What if we’ve let the anger toward the one that has hurt us go, but we can’t let go of the shame we feel because of what the person had done? I have forgiven the one that hurt me as a child, but I have a difficult time forgiving myself and I feel shameful for “allowing” it to happen and for allowing it to carry on into a time in my life where I knew it was wrong. I’ve prayed about this often, but I can’t seem to overcome this shame and I struggle with it often. It really irritates me and I believe the answer is that I’m just letting Satan take joy out of my life through the shame. How do we let go of the shame? It’s easier said than done.

I think it is fair to say that all of us have buried memories and thoughts we would like to keep buried. Now, what if you’ve already taken them and given it to God? If those memories suddenly flood back because of an argument or event, is that God “doing something” with those memories for say, discipline to bring us closer to Him? I read in your post “The Lord’s Discipline” that discipline does not increase our fear but increases our love. But does the process include making us angry and hurtful?

In Hebrews 12:6 it reads, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines”. My question is how does God discipline believers? Can we know when He is disciplining us?

Is it scriptural for a pastor to keep someone from participating in the Lord’s Supper because of their behavior or sins?

Also, when someone goes through biblical discipline in my church, and then leaves, the pastor speaks to the person’s new pastor about their previous behavior and sins.  This is a covenant in my church, and I cannot find these things in the bible. I am bothered by them.

I have a friend who is very involved in a church that teaches through faith “You will be wealthy.” My friend thinks if she has enough faith God will supply her family with everything they need. Please show me scriptures that show God really wants people to work for a living. My friend and her husband have not worked in years and the work that they have had in the past is all self-employed. They cannot support their kids, but will not listen to either friend or family. They are in their forties, so this is not just being “young and dumb.”