Would you please address the proper order of prayer? I realize that there was a proper order (or to use the secular term “protocol”) that was observed in the Temple worship. Does a proper order also apply to our prayers? All during the day, I find myself just talking with either God or Jesus without much formality, very much like I talk with my best friends here on earth. Is this being disrespectful to who God and Jesus are? They are too important to me to ever be disrespectful to who they are and what they have done for me.

I read something today that upset me and I would like your opinion on it. I know that you have mentioned that we will all stand before the Bema Seat of Christ for rewards but this is what I read…

Everything I ever did will be analyzed and scrutinized openly by the Lord Jesus Christ. Every good thing. . . and every bad thing. I’ll be called on to give account of every word, every deed, every thought.

Now even as a Christian I ‘try’ to live as good as I can because I love the Lord but I have done things that I’m not proud of but I always ask for forgiveness and I asked the Lord to help me with my attitude about people and situations but I fail at times.

Question…Are not all my sins covered by the blood and if not why not? There is a chorus that says…When He (God) looks at me He sees not what I used to be but He sees Jesus.

It sounds like for most believers, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be an excruciating experience.

My sister and I were raised in a pentecostal church, although I am nondenominational at this time in my life. She is saved but has fallen out of fellowship with God for a while now. I am trying to get her back into fellowship and going to church again. Last Sunday they served communion and she refused to take it. I thought it had to do with her falling away, but she said it was because she was taught that if she wasn’t baptized (water baptism) then she should not take communion. I told her as long as she’s saved baptism isn’t required for communion, but she doesn’t agree. Who’s correct?

I have recently allowed two of my wife’s brothers to move in with us because they needed help. My wife is pregnant and is completely stressed by them. They have agreed to pay rent but have not done so in the last two months and on top of that I have come to find out that they are addicted to pain pills. They are not Christians and I continue to ask them to attend church with my family but they refuse. I know that I am supposed to serve but I no longer feel like I am serving but rather enabling them. please help.

I would like your ideas on Calvinism and Arminianism. I had someone ask me which I was, and I had never heard of Arminianism, so had to do a little research..I have heard of Calvinism but did not really get into it..I am not sure that I want to be labeled as either. I prefer to just be Christian.

My wife is a non-believer. She claims to be an atheist, but that is hardly possible because she is angry with God because of the hatred and injustice espoused by many who call themselves Christians. I pray that God will enlighten her and draw her to Christ but, to avoid conflict in the home, I fail in my duty to witness to her as much as I should. You and I have concurred that she is in God’s hands, and that all I can do, realistically, is to pray for her salvation.

Yet, I love her, and I fear for her eternal destiny. I keep thinking, what can I do? What can I say (as if there were some magical words I could say at just the “right time” that would suddenly awaken her)? I feel that God will hold me accountable if she is lost. I have grown weary and fail to pray as consistently as I should for her. What will Jesus say to me if she is lost because of my weak faith and my failure to pray as I should? How much am I to blame if that happens?

I would like to know what a mason is. I was told that when my father-in-law was a member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus that he was a member of a secret society. All his friends belong to the same clubs and all were Christians. I do not understand. People tell me he was a mason and that this was not Christian. Please explain. Thank you for your time and your web site. I have learned much from you.

I believe that have found several references in the new testament that indicate we as Christians are chosen by God to be born again Christians-not the other way around. Do you agree with this or am I way off base? Also, if I am correct I have read nothing in articles about this subject matter. Care to speculate why?

I think it’s interesting that in the Parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus said to the five foolish ones, “I never knew you”. In the Sheep and Goat judgment He says to the goats “depart from me” while in the Sermon on the Mount He says both: “I never knew you–depart from me”. Have you noticed that?

In your reply on “saved through evangelism” dated June 29th, 2010, you referred His will “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 6:40. OK, but here the point is DOING HIS WILL. If we are not doing His will we would not be in His kingdom . Matt. 7:21 says “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. “NOT EVERY ONE” this phrase is very important in this verse, some would make it and some would not. Those who say Lord, Lord and do His will as well would enter the heavenly kingdom and those who say only Lord, Lord would not.