Pastor to Pastor
Ask Roger
“Ask Roger” is a weekly feature with Dr. Roger Barrier. With thirty years of ministry experience as a pastor, counselor, consultant and conference speaker, Dr. Barrier is well-equipped to help with your questions about the Bible, Christian ethics, family relationships, and much more.
Recent Questions
Does Poop Smell in Heaven? How about before the Fall?
09/03/08
While I was getting my hair cut my hairdresser related to me a question one of her young children asked about whether or not poop smelled in Heaven. The next day I received the following email.
Dear Roger,
Remember the question T asked? Does poop smell in heaven? Well I told her I asked you and she squealed "MOM!! That was NOT my question! My question was did poop smell before the "Fall"?"
I'm still laughing....K
Dear K,
Isn’t it nice to have a precocious daughter who asks penetrating questions adults would never think to ask!
Like you, I was tempted to dismiss her question with an adult chuckle! But, upon further review, I realized that her question may well have theological and cosmological implications!
However, before we dive into an answer, may I first share a few common-sense thoughts about answering Tess’ present and future-childhood questions?
●Take her questions seriously! They are certainly serious to her!
●Tell her what you ...
Short and Sweet??? The One-Sentence Sermon
08/27/08
Hi Roger,I am intrigued with your "One-Sentence Sermon." I remember hearing about it but I was not there. I would like to hear the story and I'm sure others would too! Kathy
Dear Kathy,
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God,” said Jesus in Matthew 6:4. Anyone who desires to see and hear from God needs a pure spiritual heart.
Cultivating a pure heart involves not “grieving” God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. Few things impair our ability to hear His voice more than a heart soiled by sin.
Cultivating a pure heart also involves not “quenching” the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We quench the Holy Spirit when we say “no” to His inner voice. Few things mature enhance our ability to hear God more than saying “yes” to His promptings. Saying “no” causes our inner spirits to shrivel, shrink and darken.Most of us want a pure heart to see and hear God—at any price!For many years Julie and I opened our home every Saturday night ...
Are Migraines From Satan?
08/21/08
Dear Roger,
I am wondering what your perspective is on illness. I have chronic migraines and like many people, live in daily pain. When I attended Casas, some people in an ABF I joined blamed my illness on Satan and Generational Curses. Are all physical and mental illnesses caused by Satan or some kind of Curse? I grew up Mormon and this seemed to make them more sure that I was cursed in some way. Thanks.
Dear Sarah,
I grieve deeply for your misery. Few things are more debilitating than the onset and progression of a migraine headache attack. I have seen others suffer intently with this affliction. I am so sorry you have to endure them.
I know that migraines are highly disruptive. Ninety-one percent of migraine patients report functional impairment with their headaches. Fifty-one-percent report that work or school productivity is reduced by at least fifty-per-cent. Those statistics are compellingly gruesome.
I imagine that most people you encounter have little understanding of ...
Are Dogs Religious? Do Dogs Go To Heaven?
08/13/08
Dear Pastor Roger:Please allow me a request that is a bit off subject. For all us Casas’ folks who love dogs could you do us a favor. Would you write down your method for training your dogs. Thanks so much.Sincerely,Kenton
Dear Kenton,
Let me answer your initial question and then deal with two relevant questions you didn’t ask: “Can dogs be religious? and, Do dogs go to Heaven?”Julie and I love our dogs. I never knew they could become such an integral part of our lives. As you know in Psalm 23 David mentioned “Goodness” and “Mercy”. These are the names of the two sheep dogs who watch over God’s flock: “Surely, Goodness and Mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”Several years ago, Becky, our fourteen-year-old border collie, went to be with the Lord. After an appropriate time of grieving, we looked for another dog. Julie fell in love with a lovely Golden Retriever puppy we met in Oklahoma City. We flew home to Tucson with the puppy under Julie’s seat. Since I eventually wanted ...
Race and Skin Tones: Are They In The Bible?
08/09/08
QUESTION:
I was recently asked when people of skin tone other than white as an indicator of racial or ethnic affiliation first appeared in the Bible. Was it before the tower of Babel? Matt
ANSWER:Skin colors are a non issue in the Bible. Skin colors are also a non issue in the human genome. Of the 30,000 to 40,000 genes imbedded in human DNA, only a very few have anything to do with skin color. In fact, when we consider the incredible multiplicity of possibilities as genes turn on and off and act upon each other (homeotic genes) we are stuck by the infinitesimally small number of genes involved in producing skin color! Truly, skin color is only skin deep.All races are basically alike in mental, emotion and physical make up. Skin color is only cosmetic. Imagine all the pain, hurt and anguish that have come to mankind over things no more genetically important than blusher and eye shadow.As far as I know, varying skin colors are never expressly mentioned in the Bible. Inferences are ...
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