I am on your website quite a bit. You always have some very insightful answers. I am having a difficult time at the moment, my cousin was murdered over the weekend and I am having such a difficult time coming to terms with this. She was only 35 years old and she was strangled by her boyfriend after they argued. He then hid her under her bed for two or three days. I trust in God’s plan but am having a difficult time accepting this. I know this is probably not the place to be bringing up this topic but I need to know how I can come to terms with such a horrific death of a young woman.

Re: “A Question We’ve All Asked”

“The Book of Job is an example of the difference between Union and Fellowship. Job’s righteousness made him proud, a sin in God’s eyes. When Satan asked to torment him, God had to agree in spite of the fact that Job was one of the most righteous men on Earth, because he hadn’t confessed his sin. As long as Job relied on his own righteousness he was vulnerable to attack, and none of his complaints could change that, even though he remained a child of God. When he confessed, God put a stop to the torment and restored him. The lesson Job learned through his ordeal (and that we’re supposed to learn as well according to Romans 15:4) is that when we justify ourselves, we condemn God. Whenever we start thinking that we don’t deserve something bad that’s happening to us, we in effect accuse God of being unjust. It’s part of our human nature to look outside of ourselves for the blame, but it delays our reconciliation with God.”

It is a really good article but I am confused with the part that I have copied above.

I don’t see where Job did anything as of a sin when God let Satan put him through these trials and test. When I read the first part of Job it says that Job was blameless and upright and later when Satan use the first attack in verse 22 it says Job did not sin or accuse God of wrong. I see later in the story where Job may have gotten into self righteousness but as for that being the reason for the attack in the first place I see that is not the case. Can you show me where you see that this was what transpired to start the attacks on Job?

Could you please explain to me the simplicity of “Breaking of Bread” of the early church compare to the diversity of modern denominations? Of what I understand, it is a get together on the first day of the week, Saturday evening or Sunday morning. How did the first church actually kept Jesus’ commandment? Did Jesus command us to make this remembrance a ceremony or simply sharing our faith in a pot luck about Christianity?

Where does the Bible say the Father, Son & the Holy Ghost is one person?

I’ve read different views and commentaries on the Book of Life plus Scripture and some of it sounds kind of “predestinationalist”.

In the Old Testament, people talked about “blotting out of names from the book that God had written. Is this the same as the “Lamb’s Book of Life”?

A passage in Rev. 13:8 NASB refers to those who’s name has not been written from the foundation of the World in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. I think it means the book of the Lamb who has been slain from the foundation of the world.

Anyway, would you comment on the “Book of Life”, when the names are there, whose they are, how they get there, do you have to be an overcomer to stay there? etc.

Where should a church be drawing the line in the use of visual arts in Christian worship?

Our worship director indicated that he is going to be bringing more visual arts into worship so that there are additional means for the range of worshipers to express themselves in worship since some make connections visually. He thinks our church is too focused on head knowledge and not enough on expressive worship.

When we came to Christ, we were thrilled to have a church where the Word of God of God and the Holy Spirit were the focus. One concern is whether the Word will be de-emphasized in any way through this move to the visual or the senses.

I don’t want to be overly dogmatic because I love expressive worship. I know we are cautioned about visual representations in worship through the second commandment. But honestly, I don’t know where the line should be drawn in this area. What are your thoughts?

I am a totally born again, sold out to God Christian. I know in my heart that Jesus is coming back soon. I dream about being able to boldly witness to the many people that God puts on my heart but when the time comes I just lose courage. So what I do is pray for their salvation instead. I am so discouraged about this. I do not want to stand before the Lord and have Him say that since I was ashamed of Him, he is ashamed of me. I would appreciate your counsel and prayers about this.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Brother. Your site is such a blessing to me.

My question is can we have an impact on someone’s salvation through our prayers? I have always believed that we could, after all, Jesus said to ask anything in His name and it will be done, it’s certainly in His will and two or more have prayed and claimed it. I just read your response to “Can we save the dead” and now I am wondering if my prayers will help.

I have two daughters, neither of whom are believers. I have spoken in depth with my oldest and she just doesn’t “buy into” Jesus. I pray that they will come to know the Lord before the Rapture. I admit that I am not always a great example to them, I am impatient and do other sins that I ask God to forgive me of. The problem is they don’t see that I am forgiven and redeemed at the cross – they only see me as an imperfect person. But, all this aside I am a loving, frustrated mother.

How will we recognize our loved ones in heaven? Will they have the same facial looks that they had on earth? I know that they are spirits but I am a bit confused on this topic. We have spoken about this topic at work and no one really knows the answer!

Re: the word “might”. This word is used in some versions of the Bible as in,’that through Him we MIGHT be saved.’ There are many other examples, i.e. ‘that we MIGHT become the Sons of God’, etc. What is the exact meaning in these instances of the use of this word? Many believers that I know think that it God is saying that these are not solid promises because might, to them, means ‘MAYBE, or it’s possible, but that it is not a sure thing. How to explain??