The fact that many people are going to hell each day keeps me awake at night, and I cannot stop thinking about it.  Can I have some answers?

Sincerely,
Empathetic

Dear Empathetic,

No one has thought more about those perishing in hell than God has.  God thought about it so much He sent His own Son to try and save us from hell (Jhn 3:16).  God doesn’t desire anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9).

Take comfort in the fact that God won’t make any mistakes on the Day of Judgment, and no one will accidentally end up in heaven or hell.  He is compassionate, loving, and ready to show mercy (Ps. 86:5).  If someone goes to hell, it is because the most faithful and loving Being in existence judged properly.

     What do you do when you have hurt someone and have said you’re sorry, but they didn't accept your apology?

Sincerely,
Penitent

Dear Penitent,

You accept that is where they are at and leave it be.  We are told to do everything we can to be at peace with others (Rom 12:18), but peace depends upon the actions of both parties.  You should still continue to pursue peace with this individual, but you can only do what you can do (Heb 12:14).

Jesus teaches us humility and not to be prideful.  How can our co-workers respect us if we practice this?  How can I not be labeled a “pushover” or the "whipping boy" if I practice this?  I am asking from a supervisor’s point of view.

Sincerely,
Having The Oversight

Dear Having The Oversight,

Humility is not the same as being a pushover, and pride is not equal to strength.  Humility means that you aren’t arrogant or that you have any unrealistic view of your own importance.  Jesus was humble, and yet He also drove out the moneychangers from the temple (Jhn 2:15) and railed against the evil of the Pharisees (Matt 23:13-15).  The humble man improves himself and serves others with respect and dignity… just like Jesus did.  Jesus led with humility, and therefore, when He put His foot down, people knew it was important.

Does the Bible ever say we're made in God's physical form, or could He mean we're made in the likeness of Him via emotions, not physical… love, hate, anger, jealousy, revenge, etc.?  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Want To Be Like Him

Dear Want To Be Like Him,

We are made in God’s image – but it is our spirit that is crafted in His image, not our bodies.  Jhn 4:24 says that God is spiritual, not physical.  God existed long before the physical world ever did (Gen 1:1).  Our spirits are fashioned after our Heavenly Father, and long after our bodies decay, our spirits will live on.

     My girlfriend’s mother’s best friend claims she has a gift from God and can see the future.  She does not like me and tells me and my girl’s family that I am going to hurt her and that I will lose her because of that... does this sound at all possible?  And if so, where in the Bible does it say anything about when you are saved that God will grant you unnatural abilities?  Because this is what she claims.

Sincerely,
Not A Bad Boyfriend

Dear Not A Bad Boyfriend,

Eccl. 8:7-8 says that mankind doesn’t have the ability to tell the future – it is a mystery to us.  There have been times that God gave prophets the ability to speak of the future, but the times of prophecies and visions are over.

Miraculous gifts were given to the first century church because they did not have the complete Bible as we do.  Miracles were a confirmation that those preaching were sent by God (Mk 16:20); they were how God bore witness that these men were His servants (Heb 2:2-4).  These miracles were necessary at that time, but now that the perfect Word of God has been completed, they are no longer needed (1 Cor 13:8-10).  We have all the prophecies of God written down, all the divine knowledge is in God’s Word, and the Bible is translated into every major language on the planet.

Your girlfriend’s mother’s best friend is either consciously or subconsciously deceiving herself and others – she can’t see the future, and she has no supernatural gifts.