Dear Roger, I have been through a bad divorce, and have no way to earn back my assets now at 64. Is it wrong to ask for a prenuptial agreement? – Donita Dear Donita, I grieve that you are 64 years old and have lost everything. I imagine that the upcoming retirement years look scary to you. I’m so sorry. A prenuptial agreement may well have protected you from losing all of your money. As you know, a marriage is a contract between two people. It’s all right to come to mutual agreement regarding its terms before getting married. Many marriages do succeed and last for a lifetime. Loving and committed people need no prenuptial agreement. But of course, we never know till later whether or not their love and commitment will stand the test of time. Some people feel that asking for a prenuptial agreement means that you’re not fully in love and committed to your soon to be husband or wife. I don’t believe that’s necessarily true. Others say that the prenuptial agreement takes all the romance out of the relationship. I guess that depends on the couple. It is not wrong to ask for a prenuptial agreement. In fact, consider that it may be one of the wisest decisions you’ll ever make. Let’s consider  several reasons why it’s good to make a prenuptial agreement: 1.  Consider protecting your children’s inheritance. A prenuptial agreement can protect the future inheritance of your children. Proverb 13:22 says,  A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children. One of the saddest things I ever saw was a 66-year-old widower with four adult children. Less than one year after his wife died, he remarried. Several children never even met the new wife. Two years later he died. His new wife got all the money. His children got nothing. Had he signed a prenuptial agreement he could’ve ensured that his children received their just inheritance. He could have left some to his new wife with the bulk of his money going to his children. He might even have had enough to give to his grandchildren! 2 Corinthians 12:14  says,  After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 2.  It is imperative that we make wise biblical decisions regarding our money. According to the  Bible  it is incumbent upon us to handle our money well. Refusing to sign a prenuptial agreement may one day “tie our hands” and we may find that our money is no longer in our control and instead being used by people in ways that we never intended. A fool and his money are soon parted. – Thomas Tusser Proverb 27:23-24 says,  Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever. We don’t traffic in flocks and herds today. If he were writing today Solomon would not say, “flocks and herds,” he’d talk about money, stocks, and investments. The point is that we are to know our resources and protect them carefully because they won’t last forever. You have been through a miserable divorce and apparently have lost your resources during the proceedings. Don’t ever let that happen to you again. 3. Protect your money from retirement disaster. Proverb 30:25 says,  Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. We are often told to put some savings for retirement aside from every paycheck. It breaks my heart when I see people withdraw money from their retirement accounts to use for some present needs. They never catch up financially. It is unwise to put your retirement funds at risk by failing to secure a prenuptial agreement. 4. “But we’re in love; our marriage will last forever!” It should. That’s God’s design. But who are we kidding here? From my research, about 50% of all first marriages end in divorce. The failure rate for second marriages approaches 78%. I suppose these statistics explain why so many younger and senior couples are eschewing marriage for cohabiting. What a shame! Don’t misunderstand me; a prenuptial agreement does not preclude the sharing of basic living expenses like the cost of food and rent, entertainment, furniture, vacations, etc. It’s quite all right to keep money in a joint checking account. Of course, there are times when disaster, loss of job, sickness, hurting children, and so forth demand that we use every last dollar for the sake of our spouse. God’s intention is one man and one woman for a lifetime “sharing everything” ( Genesis 2:18 ). It is a matter of prayer between you and God and your spouse-to-be. But when it comes to protecting your money for your future needs, or for your heirs, a prenuptial agreement takes out much of the risk and still allows you to control your hard-earned resources. Well, Donita, I hope some of these thoughts are helpful to you as you think about your future plan for the present. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, It seems like many people use the phrase, “Don’t judge me,” to justify any sort of behavior. In  Matthew 7:1-2  Jesus says, “Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” What does this mean? Sincerely, Lee Dear Lee, I believe that today’s eroding  culture  with no absolutes is developing into a society where people feel free to do anything they want with no consequences. Hence, we often hear “You have no right to judge me because I have the freedom to do anything that I want.” We need to remember that the framers of the American Constitution were clear in saying, “We have the freedom to do what is right.” The idea that we can do  anything we want  is foreign to the United States Constitution. We would expect a “don’t judge me” attitude from a humanistic, self–driven, uninhibited, and spiritually lost world of people who do not know Christ. Unfortunately, we often find the same sort of attitude from Christians. When that occurs, we have to make ‘judgment calls.’ For example, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently” ( Galatians 6:1 ) . We find here two judgment calls we must make. First, we have to choose which Christians are spiritually qualified to confront those in sin. Second, we must choose whether or not this person’s behavior is a sin. If you ever go to the Chicago airport you want to be certain to stop by Mrs. Paul’s Cookies. They are big, juicy, and filled with nuts, chocolate, fruit, and cinnamon. I try to stop there every time we fly through Chicago. I love this story: A woman passing through O’Hare airport bought a small package of Mrs. Paul’s cookies. A young man sat alone at a table for four. She asked if she could sit down; he graciously consented. She pulled out her newspaper and proceeded to read. Presently she heard the crinkle of paper. She peered over her newspaper to see the young man take a cookie out of the bag. She was incensed. So, she took a cookie and pulled the bag to her side of the table. Moments later the bag crinkled. The young man was at it again. She glared at him, pulled the bag back over to her side and took out another cookie for herself. She watched incredulously as he reached in the bag and withdrew the last cookie. She glared as he broke the last cookie, slid one half across the table; put the other half in his mouth. Angry, incensed and fuming, she proceeded to her gate and waited for her plane to board. Finally, it was time to get on. She opened her purse to retrieve her boarding pass, and there right on top was her bag of Mrs. Paul’s cookies. Lee, making accurate judgment calls is difficult. So many things get in the way. If we choose to enter into the judging arena, here are  eight truths about how Christians can do it right: 1. Jesus warns us not to live with a judgmental heart. However, when we must make a ‘judgment call,’ our work is not finished until we help with restoration. Understanding Jesus’ teaching of, “Don’t Judge,” needs all the verses from  Matthew 7:1-12 . Let me summarize Jesus’ teaching. Then we can more clearly understand and apply his teachings on judging. Don’t judge. Take beam out of your own eye—then you will be able to take twig out of your brother’s eye. Discriminate carefully who you can or can’t approach. Don’t cast pearls before pigs. Insight and compassion are essential. Ask, seek, and knock and the Father will give you what you need to help those stuck in the mud get cleaned up and on their way again. Follow the ‘Golden Rule’ to treat people as you would have them treat you. 2. Christians are primarily in the loving and need-meeting business—not the judging. Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  –  Matthew 7:1-2 This critical spirit reminds me of the conscientious wife who could never please her ultra-critical husband. At breakfast, if the eggs were scrambled, he wanted them poached. If they were poached, he wanted them scrambled. One morning, the wife had a stroke of genius. She poached one egg and scrambled the other. He peered at the plated and snorted, “You scrambled the wrong one.” A number of church surveys, including those by Barna.com, asked non-Christians why they didn’t go to church. The comments were alarming: For example, they said things like: “ Christians are those who are against this and that. They’re always protesting something.” 78% of those surveyed said that evangelical Christians are  “the most judgmental people in America.” Many lost people today are staying away from church in droves. Why? They feel more condemnation than compassion. The early Christians were known as the people who loved God and loved each other. Somewhere through the years we lost that reputation. Jesus is warning us of the sin of seeking out the worst instead of the best in others. I know some people who are always looking to find the worst in others.  3. The job of the Holy Spirit is to judge and convict. The job of a Christian is to love and meet needs. The Holy Spirit’s job is to judge and convict. Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment ( John 16:7-8 ). The Christian’s job is to love and meet needs. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins ( 1 Peter 4:8 1 Peter 4:8 ). We often get these two mixed up. The time has come to stop playing someone else’s Holy Spirit. 4. If we choose to enter the judging arena, we must first clean up our own lives. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  – Matthew 7:3-5 Christ is saying that in our condition we are quite incapable of condemning or judging anyone. We each need to fix our own eye before working on our brother’s eye. I remember the story of a woman who spent most of her life judging people as worthy for heaven or hell. When she died and went to heaven she was shocked to discover that no one expected her! Judging work is for the spiritually mature. 5. We approach people as “brothers and sisters” who need to be restored—not as targets who need to be condemned. This involves time and sacrifice on our part. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  –  Galatians 6:1-2 Who is our brother/sister? Someone with whom there is a relationship, and to whom there is a measure of accountability. The purpose is always remedial, to correct and restore. All of this flows out of a context of relationships. Can you imagine that shouting at people you have no relationship with might not do much good? Once upon a time I marched in a pro-life demonstration. We circled the abortion clinic calling the women who entered things like, “murderer” and “baby killer.” Some women turned away. Others hung their head in shame and still entered the office. Then, I bowed my head in shame. Paul said, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently ( Galatians 6:1-2 ).” I stepped out of line and decided that my energy needed to be more with the Crisis Pregnancy Center whose goals are to support, love, and care. Love stands by and gives solutions. Yes, the babies must be saved, but the mothers need redemption and salvation too. Am I willing to walk with them through the process of redemption? The ultimate goal of any discipline or criticism is to leave the person with the feeling that he has been helped, not condemned. 6. We discern receptivity. Not everyone is approachable. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces ( Matthew 7:6 )." This verse is easy to understand if you know that Jesus used a literary form called a chiasm The first phrase rhymes with the fourth phrase and the second phrase rhymes with the third phrase. I’ll write it out for you: “Do not give dogs what is sacred. If you do, they may turn and tear you to pieces. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet.” Will the person you’re approaching be receptive or not? Will they perhaps mock and make fun? Jesus may have been thinking of  Proverbs 9:7-8  when he said “Don’t judge.” Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. However the opposite is also true. Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.  –  Proverbs 9:7-8 7. Eventually we will seek God’s wisdom on how best to minister to brothers and sisters who have slipped off the track. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  –  Matthew 7:7-11 We usually look at these verses in such a selfish, personal perspective. Look again. They are in the context of getting good gifts so we can help meet the needs of others. God is showing us the heart of a Father for His kids. This is the heart we are to have in helping people who have messed up their lives. If all you are going to do is criticize then keep your mouth shut. If you are going to intercede and bear their burdens then figure out how to meet their needs and go help restore them. The right heart motivates us to intercede for these people. Could you imagine that taking the time to minister to real, deep-seated needs—instead of instantly wanting to judge people’s faults—might be what God calls  compassion? 8. We treat people as we would like to be treated. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  –  Matthew 7:12 Who likes to be yelled at? When you have messed up your life, who do you want to help you? Someone who criticizes you and tells you all the things you did wrong and leaves you feeling condemned and destroyed? Or, do you want someone who comes along side of you and puts their arm around you and helps you out of the mud? I think we know the answer to that. Well, Lee, if you’re already spiritually mature, judge well. If not, continue spiritual growth until you’re ready and able. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, So much of the world has been focused on what happens in the Middle East--especially in Iraq. Does the Bible have anything to say about Iraq? Sincerely, Stacy Dear Stacy, Yes, the Bible has a lot to say about Iraq and its impact on world events in the last days. In fact, the only city mentioned more times in the Bible than Babylon is Jerusalem. The History Of Babylon Is Intertwined With That Of Israel. 1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq (Genesis 2:10-14). 2. Adam and Eve were created in Iraq (Genesis 2: 10-14). 3. Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq (Genesis 3: 1). 4. Sin originated in Iraq (Genesis 3:1-6). 5. The first murder occurred in Iraq (Genesis 4:1-16). 6. Noah built the ark in Iraq (Genesis 6:1-24). 7. While living in Iraq, Nimrod, developed false religious systems that today circle the globe (Genesis 11:1-10). 8. The tower of Babel, which instigated the development of the many languages throughout the earth, was in Iraq (11:7-9). 9. The actual nation of Babylon, which destroyed Jerusalem and took many Jews into captivity in 603--586 BC is present day Iraq (Daniel 1:1-2). 10. The wise men were from Iraq (Matthew 2:1-2). 11. St. Peter most likely preached in Iraq (1 Peter 5:13). 12. Jonah preached to the lost people of Nineveh, that was located in Iraq (Jonah 1:1--4-11). 13. What started in Babylon (sin) will end in Babylon (destructive judgment). Revelation 18:8-10: Therefore in one day her (Babylon’s) plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' According to biblical prophecy, Babylon is destroyed just before the return of Christ. There is much discussion as to the nature of Babylon as portrayed in the book of Revelation. Some look at it as being symbolic of a political-spiritual-economic system that engulfs the world in the final days. Others consider Babylon to be secret code for the city of Rome. Some think of Babylon as being the physical, spiritual expression of Rome with New York City being the center of economic Babylon. I find that rather far-fetched. Then, others identify Babylon as the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope in particular. No matter how we interpret “Babylon”, the Bible makes it clear that the land of Babylon—not Rome, not the United States, not Germany, not Russia and not China-- will be a focal point of all prophecy in the last days. Literally, Babylon is portrayed in Revelation as an actual place built on the same foundation as ancient Babylon. Many wonder how this insignificant, out-of-the-way place, could be the Babylon revealed in Revelation. The answer may revolve around oil, the Antichrist, and Satan. Some are calculating that Iraq has larger oil reserves than Saudi Arabia. By 2030 Iraq could be the world’s leading oil producer. In the last days a Western coalition will defeat the Islamic nations and usher in 42 months of peace and security. At that point, the devastating events of the last three and half years of Great Tribulation will commence. There is no doubt that Islamic terrorists are doing all they can to secure nuclear weapons. We may be the generation that sees the rise and fall of “Babylon the Great”. So we watch what goes on with Iraq. It may give us a tip-off that the “Signs Of The Times” are underway. So, Stacy, I hope that some of these thoughts have stimulated your thinking about the relationship of Iraq and the Bible. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, I’ve been doing some studying about our right and left brains and I find it fascinating. I did not find much about the implications of spirituality and the two brains. Is it possible for you to integrate the two? I would appreciate that greatly. Sincerely, Rebecca Dear Rebecca, In 1981, Robert Wolcott Sperry won the Nobel Prize for deciphering the different anatomies, organizations and neurological activities of the left and right halves of our brains. I’d like to utilize some of Sperry’s work, some old teachings by Calvin Miller and some personal insights to answer your question. The left and right hemispheres are not the same. They are connected by the corpus callosum that consists of neurons connecting one side of the brain to the other. Women have more connections between the two halves than do men. This often makes women generalists who are more likely to use both halves of the brain together. On the other hand, men have fewer connectors. They are more likely to be lateralized on one side of the brain or the other. Interestingly enough, God designed it so that the left brain controls the right side of the body while the right brain controls the left side of the body. The Left Brain is more logical, verbal, mathematical, structured and rational. The Right Brain is more emotional, intuitive, creative, and thinks in pictures. With great oversimplification, we may say that men may tend to be more left-brained. Women may tend to be more right-brained. This is why many men are engineers. This is why many women are more likely to choose creative and/or artistic professions. Before GPS came into common use, men frequently navigated with maps. They followed the lines. Many women navigated by looking for landmarks like buildings, service stations and restaurants. Both brain hemispheres know reality; however, they know reality in very different ways. Many relationship problems in the church, or life in general, occur when a right-brain person tries to communicate with a left-brain person and both insist that their way is right. The right and left brains fight for dominance. One of the first split-brain patients was filmed doing a block arrangement test. The film shows the right hand (left brain) obviously in control. The left hand (right brain) is impatiently trying to help the right hand (left brain) do the work. The patient finally sits on his left hand (right brain) to keep it still. The Experimenter tells the patient to have both hands do the work and a battle ensues as both hands tear down the others’ work. The left brain is verbal and contains all of the words. The right brain is nonverbal and knows no words. The experimenter puts a spoon in the patient’s right hand (left brain) and immediately the split-brain person says, “spoon”. When the experimenter puts a spoon in the left hand (right brain) the patient says, "I know what it is... But I can’t think of the word.” The left brain makes plans for life. It decides what it wants to be and works to make it happen. The right brain has little input because of the left brain’s dominance. In an intriguing experiment, researchers were able to isolate the right brain in such a way that they could ask it a question! When asked what it would like to be, with incredible awkwardness, the right brain scratched out the words, “a race car driver.” The right brain plays ball much better than the left. The left brain thinks it plays better. Imagine throwing a ball on a windy day on a side-hill slope to a friend. The left brain can certainly figure out how to make that happen. Using algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus the left brain can calculate angles, vectors and velocities to get the ball into your friend’s hands. Unfortunately, by the time the left brain computes all of that information, the ball is miles away. The right brain pictures the wind, the slope, your friend’s speed and direction and throws the ball right to your friend. I was having physical therapy for my knees. The trainer had me jumping rope. I got caught in the rope several times. Then I got angry. I told my left brain to stop talking and I began to picture myself jumping cleanly. Immediately, I cleared the rope ten times in a row. Jesus used both brain hemispheres in perfect balance. Jesus used his left brain to explain the rules and regulations for living in the Kingdom. He gave the proper procedures for fasting and prayer. He explained what to do about adultery. He listed the Beatitudes and detailed each segment of the Lord ’s Prayer (Matthew 5-7). He gave explicit instructions on what to do if you and your brother are at odds with each other (Matthew 18:15-17). This is left brain activity. Jesus used his right brain to feed the 5000. In John 6:1-15, Jesus declared Himself to be the bread of life. When He finished His sermon, He proceeded to make bread. Who planted the grain? No one. Who turned the grain into flour? No one. Who lit the oven? No one. Who baked the bread? No one. Jesus just created the bread in His hands. While the disciples were passing out bread, Jesus was creating fresh fish right in his hands. Who fished for fish? No one. Who caught the fish? No one. This is right brain creativity. Understanding the work of the left and right brains can give us a better overall picture of Christianity and produce oneness and unity instead of anger and division. Let’s talk about the contrast between the right and left brain hemispheres and the implications for Christianity and spirituality. 1. THE LEFT BRAIN TAKES THINGS APART. THE RIGHT BRAIN LOOKS AT THE WHOLE. Salvation can only be understood and implemented when we use both sides of the brain. If we only use the parts, or if we use the whole without the parts, we will miss the Truth. We left-brained Evangelicals try to develop a formula for salvation. For example, if we follow the Roman Road we will be saved: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). If we confess our sin, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1 John 1:12). The left brain says, "I have believed the formula and I am saved!" The right brain asks, "What does your Christian life look like?" “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Left-brain people might say, “All Christ Followers should be able to relate the moment that they surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord.” Right-brained people might say, “I can’t say for certain, but I began to sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Over time I began to realize that I needed Christ as my Savior. So, one day, I invited Him into my heart. My life has never been the same." Normally, the Greek word "belief" (pisteuo) is followed by the Greek particle "in." (en). "Belief in" means to believe in something-like the teachings in a book.   However, in describing “belief in Jesus,” the New Testament writers break the rules of Greek grammar to follow the word “believe” with the particle “in.” “Eis,” in the English Bible, is also translated as “in”; however, a little study reveals that “into” means to believe in something so deeply that it changes your life! It’s one thing to “believe” in the teachings in a book. It’s quite another thing to believe “into” a book so deeply that it changes your life (Acts 16:31). It’s one thing to believe “in” Christ. However, it’s quite another thing to believe “into” Christ. The difference is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer meant by describing the difference between cheap grace and costly grace. Cheap grace doesn’t cost much and leads to Hell. Costly grace will cost us everything we have and leads to Heaven. 2. THE LEFT BRAIN THINKS IN WORDS. THE RIGHT BRAIN THINKS IN PICTURES AND SYMBOLS. Roman Catholics place the sacrificial altar in the middle of the building. It is a picture symbol of the death and burial of Christ. The priest taught from the side of the church so that the view of the table was unhindered. By doing so, experiencing the mass at a centered table is more important to them than the teaching and preaching. During the Protestant Reformation, the Eucharist table was moved to the side. The preaching and teaching took place in the center to show the importance of the Word of God. Teaching the Bible is left-brained. Experiencing the Lord’s table is right-brained. When we have a profound experience with Christ, we often describe it as being beyond words. Paul wrote in Romans 8:26 : “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” In the gospels, Jesus says, "I am the Door." "I am the Bread of Life." "He is describing a picture of who He is. The Book of Mark is written from a left-brain perspective. It is focused on the earthly activities of Jesus. The Book of John is written from a right-brain perspective. It is full of metaphors and mystery. Right brain poetry is really a collection of pictures which allow us to experience truth. Psalm 60:8 is a good example: "Moab is my wash pot, over Edom I have cast my shoe..." God intends to step all over Edom. This is why Jesus Christ taught in parables (Matthew 13:35). Jesus was strongly right-brained (in perfect balance with his left brain). Why does Jesus Christ tell these silly little stories? What do you do with the story of a woman sweeping the floor to look for a dime? Left-brain Pharisees say, "We have built a great religious system, and Jesus is telling little stories!" 3. THE LEFT BRAIN IS “EITHER-OR.” THE RIGHT BRAIN IS “BOTH-AND.” The left brain abhors paradox. The right brain treasures paradox. A paradox occurs when two things are polar opposites, both can’t be true, but they are. Jesus used a paradox when he said to the Pharisees: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again." To reconcile both opposites means that both can’t be true. But they are. This is sort of how God designed the world. Three Quarks make up a proton, except when they make a neutron. Light is a wave of energy, except when it is a particle. Think about Calvinism and Arminianism. In its base form, Calvinism proposes that God specifically elects those who will be saved, and if you’re not chosen, you can never be saved. They base their doctrine on verses like these: Romans 8:29: "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." 1 Peter 1:2: “…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. On the other hand, Armenians teach, “Whosoever will may come.” While Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God, Arminianism emphasizes the responsibility of man. These doctrines are much more complex than this, but this illustration is used in its simplest form. John 3:16: “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, for whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Wisdom is when we can hold both extremes together (the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man) in creative tension. Fortunately, one day God in heaven will explain what’s going on. There are seven mysteries described in the New Testament. This is one of them. These facts have great implications for church unity. As soon as someone doesn't say something our way, we tend to label them as heretics. "If you don't say it with this particular word or phrase, then you are not saved." “Either-Or” does not unite. It tends to divide. “Both-And” thinking builds bridges. 4. THE LEFT BRAIN IS ORDERED AND LOGICAL. THE RIGHT BRAIN IS CREATIVE. The left brain looks for causes and effects. The right brain looks for meanings and connections . In Luke 17:11-19, ten lepers came to Jesus for healing. Jesus told them to go to the Temple, and as they were on the way they were healed. The cause was Jesus; the effect was healing. Nine of them rejoiced at what happened. But there was another, a Samaritan, who looked for meaning and connection. He bowed down at Jesus’ feet and worshipped. He was healed like the others; that was left-brained. But he took it a step further in connecting himself to Christ. That was right brain. Right-brained people are often artists, prophets, visionaries. They know how to make connections. How do you understand life and eternity? How do you make sense of apocalyptic prophecy? These are right-brained mysteries of an inscrutable God. Creative people make connections with pictures in the right brain. Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist, was an artist. He was a poor mathematician who discovered relativity by picturing it in his mind. Mozart heard the melodies in his head: "How they got there, I don't know." He used to have his wife read to him while he composed: "I could hear the music in my head better that way." He was a genius who kept his left brain occupied so that his right brain could work without interference. The left brain is the source of order. The right brain is the source of creativity. 5. THE RIGHT BRAIN TAKES US INTO THE REALM OF THE SPIRIT. 1 Corinthians 14:15: “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind”. Personally, I have a list of things that I pray for daily. When I hear of prayer needs, I lift up a prayer. There are people and situations that lead me to pray. This is praying in my mind. On the other hand, there are times when I quiet my mind in order to better listen for God to speak. I then respond to those promptings. This is praying in the spirit. “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.” “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 The Left Brain has difficulty connecting with the spiritual world. The Left Brain is effective in the external world, like tests in school, how to balance a checkbook, how to plan budgets, how to buy and drive a car, how to manage promotions by succeeding in a busy office, how to buy groceries for dinner, how to succeed at a job and how to memorize and study Bible verses. On and on goes the list of left brain activities that are effective in the external world. Most Christians don't know how to be spiritual. What we do know is how to be religious. We easily get caught up in a religious system. We’ve been fed a large dose of religion and not much spirituality. But, if we want to succeed in the internal world, if we want to enjoy God and know him intimately, we had best develop our right brain. Meditation is the key to developing our right brain. We begin by quieting our mind. Anyone can follow David’s advice in Psalm 131:1-2: “My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child that is quieted at its mother’s breast, like a child that is quieted is my soul.” Here’s what meditation might look like: Quieting our left brain with its intrusive thoughts (“centering down”) Reciting again and again a biblical truth to settle our minds. A good example is: “Jesus Christ is Lord” (this was the cry of the first-century Christians when they refused to say, “Caesar is Lord.” Sitting quietly and waiting for God to speak Thinking about God’s great character and creative powers; Contemplating on a Bible verse or passage like, “The Lord is my shepherd.” (Imagine that you are one of Jesus’ sheep as you look up at your shepherd. Is this a beautiful experience or what!) Imagining a Bible type story (like how did the last Israelite feel as he raced for the far shore of the Red Sea as the Egyptians thundered behind him?) Meditate on the lessons you learn here. Don’t be in a hurry. “God never reveals the deep things of the spirit to the Christian who just stopped by for a little chat. Like Christ, we need story-tellers, visionaries and prophets to lead us on to God. We need prophets who understand the soul. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29). Left Brain is teaching. Right Brain is prophecy. Paul says prophecy is the most important gift; but most prophets have been burned at the stake.  For thousands of years there has been no room for prophets in the church.  If you didn't speak the party line, you were kicked out. How left-brained we have become...intolerant of mystery...Yet God is wholly mystery. We cannot control this God. We can’t put Him in our catechetical boxes. We can only approach Him in humble prayer and adoration.  And let Him be Yahweh. We use left-brained words to lead us into the realm of the right brain where we can begin to experience the mystery of God. Rebecca, I hope this helps. Let me know what you think. Sincerely, Roger

Dear Roger,  I’m thinking about getting married. Can you give me some guidelines that may help me know that I am marrying the right guy? Sincerely, Kate Dear Kate, To begin with, please remember that nobody is perfect. If we expect someone to live up to all of these considerations, no one would ever get married. As you peruse this list, three or four may “pop out” you. Keep an eye on these, most of the others are not worth worrying about. They may well take care of themselves. Here are some people we ought to consider twice before marrying:  1. A Non-Christian This first one is obvious.  “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”  ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 ). How can a person give Christian love to their spouse when they are not a Christian?   “Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her”  ( Ephesians 5:20-33 ). 2. Someone with a Different Religious Background Can you imagine two building contractors trying to build the same house with two different sets of plans? Living with the same spiritual plans promotes harmony and success. Living on different religious perspectives can promote chaos. I see this often when a wife or husband wants to go to one type of church while the other wants a different one. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”  ( Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ). 3. One Who Has Been Divorced... … unless you know exactly what happened, why it happened, and you feel that the personal issues are rectified. “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God, “and I hate a man beating his wife”  ( Malachi 2:16  (RSV alternate rendering). Paul provides a checklist of “pop up” list of things that are important to consider: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, violence, abuse and filthy language ( Colossians 3:5-10 ). A bank teller told me that on the second night of her honeymoon her husband actually hit her. She gathered her clothes, walked out the door, and never looked back. 4. Those with Personality Disorders Persons with personality disorders seldom make good marriage material. However, that does not mean that it is not  possible . People with Narcissistic Personality Disorders are self-absorbed to the exclusion of all others. They “suck the life” out of all who befriend them. People with Borderline (or Emotionally Unstable) Personality Disorders struggle with impulsive actions, rapidly shifting moods, and chaotic relationships. People with Antisocial Personality Disorders have no sense of right and wrong. They can do dastardly things to the people associated with them without feeling remorse. People with Histrionic Personality Disorders are incredibly emotional and attention seeking. Their “roller coaster” up and down lives wear down the people around them. They seek to control through emotional manipulation. People with Paranoid Personality Disorders often interpret the actions of others as deliberately threatening or demeaning. People with Avoidant Personality Disorders are hypersensitive to rejection. They are timid, fear criticism, and tend to avoid activities that involve interpersonal contact. People with Dependent Personality Disorders want others to make decisions for them. They require excessive reassurance and are easily hurt by criticism or disapproval. People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders are perfectionists who are never satisfied with their achievements. They struggle inordinately with decision-making and seldom complete tasks. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”  ( Romans 8:5-6 ). 5. Those Who Grew Up in a Dysfunctional Family This can be a blessing or a curse. All families are dysfunctional to one degree or another. Some dysfunctions, handled well, can build great character. The same dysfunction in the life of another may bring heartache and despair. David’s family was intensely dysfunctional. He ruined every child he ever had. His children lived in a world of incest, rape, murder, deceit, shame, and rebellion. He never took time to love and discipline his children. On the other hand, Joseph grew up in an extremely dysfunctional family. Eight of his brothers hated him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Nevertheless, he used that background to become second in command to Pharaoh. 6. An Angry Person The problem with an angry person is basically two-fold. First, you might be in their line of fire. Second, they may bury their anger and then express it in all sorts of unhealthy ways. Third, Some people have been drastically hurt. This person then experiences a double hurt because nobody cares. I call them “emotional rocks.” “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” ( Ephesians 4:26 ). 7. A Selfish Person “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”  (Proverb 11:25). “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” (Proverb 28-22). The key here is “self.” Selfishness ruins relationships. Self manifests in three dangerous forms. First, selfish people take from others. Second, self-reliant people are independent and they think that don’t need others: “I can take care of myself; and, if you were just a better person, you’d take care of your own needs, too.” It’s tough to live with a self-reliant person. Third, some people struggle with self-condemnation. They don’t feel worthy to be the kind of person that blesses others. Instead of utilizing their God-given personality, they hide it. Please remember, nobody is perfect. If we expect someone to live up to all of these considerations, no one would ever get married. Pick out your three or four and have a great marriage. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, Our small group is reading through the New Testament together. I never realized how much of the Gospels was devoted to the subject of demons. I got to thinking that we hardly ever hear any sermons in church on demons. Yet, the New Testament writers warned us about them again and again and again and how dangerous they are, Why don’t pastors and churches preach and teach more on demons? Sincerely, Karen Dear Karen, Let me be frank and share with you just a few reasons why most churches, teachers and preachers seldom, if ever, deal with the issue of the reality and work of demonic spirits today. 1. Satan has hidden himself well (2 Corinthians 11:14). 2. Many are ignorant (unaware) of what Satan’s schemes and tactics look like (2 Corinthians 2:11). 3. Many are afraid of what the people might think (John 12:42-43). 4. They are spiritual children and thus ill-equipped for spiritual battle. Overcoming the Devil is a “must-learn” skill in the process of spiritual growth (1 John 2:12-14). 5. Most fail to recognize the John 10:10 Enemy. 6. Many have been trapped by Satan into doing his will (2 Corinthians 11:3-4; and 2 Timothy 2:24-26). 7. They are careless (2 Corinthians 11:2). 8. They are trapped in perpetual sin (Ephesians 4:27). 9. Most don’t know what to do or how to help those who are experiencing a Satanic attack (Matthew 17:15; and James 4:7). 10. They do not believe that demons exist or that they were a first century problem and not an issue for today (1 Peter 5:8). I pastored a small, rural church during my college years. Richard, one of the fine Christian men in our church, suffered a massive heart attack and was in a coma. On Thursday, Julie and I went to the hospital to encourage his wife, Jane. Because it was lunchtime, we offered to sit with her husband while she took a break. Richard was unconscious and unable to communicate, so Julie and I chatted together and then decided to pray for him. About five minutes into our prayer, Richard uttered strangely, “Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh.” Startled, I looked at Julie; she looked at me. We both knew 1 John 4:2-3: “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, …” “Roger” Julie whispered, “Did he say, ‘Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh’?” “I think so!” “Do you think he has a demonic spirit of antichrist?” “I don’t know.” Just that morning in my “Life and Teachings of Christ” class, the professor taught about Jesus’ encounter with the Gadarene demoniac. I looked at Julie and said, “Dr. Flanders said that whenever Jesus confronted a demon, He first found out the demon’s name. If this is a demon, let’s pray for it to reveal its name.” We had no idea what we were doing! We held hands, bowed our heads, touched his shoulders, and prayed, “If this is a demonic spirit, we demand in the name of Jesus Christ, by the blood of Jesus Christ, that you reveal your name!” Our comatose friend moved his lips to pronounce the words, “My name is Clarissus.” “Clarissus?!?” We knew that his name was Richard! Julie started to cry; I froze in shock. She took a deep breath and asked, “What do we do now?” “I don’t know! The dismissal bell rang before Dr. Flanders finished the lecture. All I know is that Jesus cast that demon out into some pigs! Should we pray for the demon to come out?” We resumed positions and prayed . . . nothing happened. After a while, his wife returned. “Well, how’d it go?” she asked. I looked at Julie; she looked at me. “Fine,” I lied. Julie and I were in the parking lot when Jane ran out of the hospital lobby, yelling, “What happened in there? What happened in there?” I looked at Julie; she looked at me. “Um . . . nothing . . . we just prayed for Richard.” “Well,” she said, “he has this big smile on his face. Something happened in there!” About ten o’clock that night, Richard regained consciousness, opened his eyes and said to Jane, “I had the strangest dream. I was climbing up the steps to Heaven, and when I got to the gate, Peter said, ‘You can’t come in now.’ So, I climbed back down the steps. I guess this means that God has some special things left for me to do.” Ten minutes later, Richard had another massive coronary. I buried him three days later. Questions spun widely around in my mind as we laid him to rest. The answers that I wanted were buried with him. Battles with Satan and his forces are seldom overt. Most Christians will never have an encounter like the one we had with Clarissus. Most spiritual battles are internal struggles that are won through consistent discipleship and by utilizing the biblical tools God has placed at our disposal. Some spiritual children say, “I want to be a spiritual father/mother, but I don’t believe in that spiritual warfare kind of stuff.” They do not understand. Defeating the Evil One in spiritual hand-to hand combat is part of the process. We can’t go on to maturity without success in this area. Spiritual young men and women understand the strategies and tactics of Spiritual Warfare. They know how to beat Satan at his own game. Spiritual children on the other hand are often duped into thinking that either the world of demonic spiritual forces doesn’t exist or that they have so little interaction with our lives that they can be summarily dismissed. Subtle attacks often go undiagnosed and unrecognized for years. I have seen people rarely consider that their depression, despair, envy, anger, bitterness, jealousy, lust, deceit or pride may have a spiritual warfare component.  It is sad to watch pastors struggle with their churches, or with their families, or in their personal lives, and never consider that Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy the abundant living that God has in store for every Christian (John 10:10). The Bible constantly warns Christians to beware of Satanic attack and harm: John 17:15; Acts 13:10; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; (1 Peter 5:8); 1 Timothy 3:7 and 4:1; and 2 Timothy 3:13). Satan’s tools include lying (John 8:32, 44), anger (Ephesians 4:26-27), an unforgiving spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-11), sin (Ephesians 2:1-2 and 1 John 3:8-10), accusations and insinuations (Revelation 12:10), temptation (1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5); contact with the occult (Deuteronomy 18:10-13), drug and alcohol abuse (Galatians 5:20) and blinding the eyes of unbelievers so that they struggle to understand and receive the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Neil Anderson of “Freedom in Christ ministries” has written numerous books on how to recognize Satan’s attacks and neutralize them. I’ve copied below one small section of his analysis of the personality and individuality of demonic spirits: “Luke 11:24-26 gives us a helpful view into the personality and individuality of evil spirits. Demons can exist outside or inside humans Demons are able to travel They are able to communicate Each one has a separate identity They are able to remember and make plans They are able to evaluate and make decisions They combine forces They vary in degrees of wickedness But, we need not fear Satan and his demons as long as we cling to God’s truth. As we walk in the light we need not fear the darkness.” Remember, “Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world.” Deception is one of Satan’s most insidious tools. In the contest between God and Satan over Job’s loyalties, poor Job never figured out that he was just a pawn in a spiritual battle. He never dreamed that all of his troubles were instigated and carried out by Satan and not by God. He was totally deceived (Job 1-2). Satan said to God: “Job only serves you because you have done so much for him. Lower the hedge you have put around him and let me have at him, and he will curse your name.” Then, in Job 1:12, “The LORD said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’” Satan proceeded to take away Job’s children, his servants, livestock and all of his possessions. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised" (Job 1:20-21). There is a sense in which God allowed Job’s sufferings, but Satan did the real dirty work while staying hidden in the shadows. Job never recognized the satanic side of the attack. Another bet ensued in Job 2:4-10 Job made a great declaration of faith during this second battle; nevertheless, he remained still deceived when it was over: Satan approached God and said: “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face. The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Note that his wife acted as Satan’s personal messenger.). He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" The truth is that Satan was the author and instigator of the trouble--not God. Job was deceived. He never figured out Satan’s part in the attacks. The book of Job has an unsatisfying conclusion. While he learned some neat truths about God’s omnipresence, Job was left dealing with a God he could hardly understand and a Satan he never discovered even existed. Paul, on the other hand, was not deceived about his thorn in the flesh. He knew clearly that it was a “messenger from Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Satan’s traps are everywhere. Paul noted in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 how easily Christians fall into them: But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. If Adam and Eve were deceived while they were still sinless, what makes us think we won’t be! Many doors lead into the occult world. In fact, in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God lays out His glossary of the occult: Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD...” Here is a list of some of the open doors into the occult world that I’ve seen Christians enter with sorrowful results: Inviting spirits to come into their minds (spirit guides) Attending spiritualist meetings Perpetual sin (Ephesians. 4:27: “Do not give the devil a foothold.”) Drugs and Alcohol (consuming to the point of losing rational control of the mind) Transference (Ceremonial passing of spirits from one generation to another) Dabbling in the Occult (Séances, Ouija boards) Believing Satanic lies (Revelation 12: Satan is the accuser of the brethren) Sexual abuse or unusual and/or debilitating trauma James 4:7 gives a simple formula for success. “Submit … to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Every area of our lives not in submission to the Holy Spirit is open to attack by a demonic spirit. Therefore, we are wise to submit every area of our lives to God. In my healing model, “submitting” to God involves three things: (1) confessing that the area is out of control and needs help (2) consciously yielding the area to God (3) considering myself dead, according to Romans 6, to the sin in that area If these three activities provide freedom, then I thank God that the problem was only a sin of the flesh. However, if the struggle persists, I consider that I may be experiencing a spiritual attack. The second half of James 4:7 then comes into play. "Resisting the devil" deals with the spiritual forces attacking my life. Michael said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9). We are not defenseless; we have all the authority and power of Christ to resist Satan’s onslaughts. Finding freedom in a spiritual battle involves five things: (1) Declaring that I have forsaken and confessed my sin to God so the forces of evil no longer have a foothold; (2) Renouncing the attacking forces (“In the name of Jesus Christ, depart and leave me alone. I rebuke you and your attacks against me.  I want nothing to do with you.”); (3) Asking for the filling of the Holy Spirit; (4) Imploring the Holy Spirit to build a hedge of protection around me from future attacks (If God can build a hedge around Job (Job 1:10), then He can build one around me. Also, I often ask Him not to lower my hedge like he lowered Job’s.  I figure it cannot hurt to ask!). (5) Putting on the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:10-17: the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the shoes of the gospel of peace; the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Got (Ephesians 6:13-18). (6) Understanding that spiritual warfare and/or demonic problems are always prayer projects. Prayer provides prior protection. Prayer provides offensive weapons to neutralize attacking spiritual forces. Prayer provides healing balm for recovery from inflicted spiritual wounds. Once upon a time, our counseling pastor and I conducted a denominational conference on spiritual warfare for thirty-five pastors. As the morning progressed, the looks of disbelief and hostility increased.  During the lunch break two Hispanic pastors who had driven up from Mexico approached us quietly:  "Don’t let these pastors get to you. We know what you are talking about.  In fact, we wondered how long it would take you Anglos to wake up to what we’ve been handling in Mexico for generations." Spiritual warfare must be in balance.  A church that is unable or unwilling to help people in these areas is as out of balance as the church that overemphasizes them to distraction.. The man from the utility company finished his work and said, "You're Roger Barrier, aren't you? I listen to your radio program every day. I thought my wife and I were both Christians.  She's having some problems; in fact, there are times when I wonder what's going on inside of her.  Do you believe in demons?" "Yes," I replied.  "Why don't we sit down in the kitchen and talk?" "Several months ago,” he began, “we went to a spiritualist church where we were encouraged to pray to receive spirit guides to help direct our lives.  I didn't pray for any; but my wife did.  She hasn't been the same since.  Sometimes, it's as if there’s a different person inside.  Her voice changes; her face contorts; she has an aversion to the things of God.  Our marriage is falling apart. She won't go back to our Christian church. It all came to a head last night!  While we were arguing, she walked into the hallway, turned slowly, and said with a sneer, 'Don't you know who we are?'  Her voice rose to a scream as she repeated, 'Don't you know who we are?  Don't you know who we are?'” He was shaking now.  “I think,” he said, “she is demon possessed like they talk about in the Bible. Can you help us?” “Yes.  I can.” Karen, my answer was rather long but I hope that it has been helpful. Why don’t you take a moment and savor the truth of Romans 16:20: “The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Sincerely, Roger

Dear Reader, In my “Ask Roger” role, you might be surprised by how many angelic/demonic, Jesus/Satan dreams that people share with me—about one of every 20 emails! The description of the dreams, as well as the dreamer, often sound strange. However, I’ve concluded that many dreamers are “normal” people who have simply experienced an unusual, confusing, or disturbing dream … you probably have too! Dreamers usually ask me to help interpret their dream. I always politely decline. After all, I’m not Joseph or Daniel or another prophet. You also need to know that I don’t believe that any of these dreams are supernatural in origin. But if we look in the right places, biblical insight and guidance are there to help. So let me share one of my most recent dream emails with you today. It’s rather long, but I think you’ll find it intriguing. By the way, I’ve cleaned up the grammar to make it more easily read. Hi Roger, I just had a weird dream about God taking me by the hand and sending me into a building to call out Satan, who was a priest preaching to people. When I opened my mouth to call out Satan, I was speaking words I didn’t—and still don’t understand. But when I spoke, everything around me was shaking. Then a priest joined me, scared as can be. I spoke to him in the same language I didn’t understand. I heard God telling me to observe and be quiet. God spoke to this priest while He cut off his feet calmly and then ask me to look to the sky. God instructed me to read Revelation. Then His voice became soft in the distance, and I heard him say, “Listen to the bells.” I woke up to the bell sound of my phone’s alarm. To be truthful I rarely dream, because I pray before I sleep and always ask God that I won’t dream about anything so that I can sleep peacefully. Can you perhaps tell me what this means? Regards, RBB Dear RBB, I’m sorry, but I cannot interpret your dream. Nevertheless, when I read your dream, I noticed several spiritual principles that may help. First, a Blessing Is in Store for All Who Long for the Second Coming. Your dream, in some ways, pictures the Second Coming. Perhaps that’s because it’s on your heart or in your thoughts … and that’s a positive thing in God’s eyes. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Thessalonians 4:8). Next, God Promises a Blessing to Those Who Read and Study the Book of Revelation. I would encourage you to dive into the Book of Revelation starting today. There are several excellent Bible Studies and Commentaries that would supplement your study. And I know that you will be blessed by the truth! “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:7) As Believers, We Have Authority over Satan. Your dream seems to show that you understand this principle and are not afraid to act according to it. That’s great, because I hope you cultivate that understanding, so that you recognize the acts of the Evil One and stand against them. “Be Still And Know That I Am God.” (Psalm 46:10) In the midst of Spiritual Battle, Watch out for Satanic Deception. Satan can be disguised with false religion and false teaching. After all, he is called the “angel of light.” Carefully watch, wait, and pray. Always. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3) It’s Always Good to Look to the Heavens for Help. When you encounter frightening, discouraging, or uncertain situations, I always turn first to heaven. That includes fervent prayer, setting my mind on heavenly things through memorizing Bible verses, and focusing on His work in my life. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) Pray Before Sleeping, and Ask The Holy Spirit to Protect Your Mind and Heart as You Sleep. It’s very easy to fill your mind with all kinds of worries, fears, and negative things before bed. Sometimes TV, social media, or other activities can get you worked up. I would recommend that you take a few minutes before bed to pray and read some Scripture. You will calm your mind and heart…and the Holy Spirit will protect you always. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?” (Job 1:9) “Commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” (Psalm 4:4) Dear Reader, when you think about it, maybe our dreams do have purpose … bringing our attention to Biblical truth. In fact, with a little rearranging, it might even become a devotional! Sincerely, Roger

Dear Roger, I have an inoperable brain tumor. The pain is increasing. I am on heavy pain medicines. It still hurts. I’ve read several articles on dealing with pain, done some study and used my coping mechanisms. They help a lot; however I would like your thoughts from a more spiritual setting to give me some peace. Can you help me? I’ve decided that the problem with pain is: that it hurts. Sincerely, Chris Dear Chris, I am so sorry for your pain. I am sorry that the tumor is inoperable; and I grieve for you over your suffering. I’ve had my share of pain. I have spent hours in the “devil’s grip” when my heart contracted so violently the strongest painkillers couldn’t dull the pain. I have ridden the “lightning” of a defibrillator at highest strength. I have been through multiple surgeries…I understand pain. So, I’ll give you my thoughts about the things that matter most to me when I’m in pain. I’ve always found the book of James to be helpful in handling the subject. FIRST, I REMIND MYSELF OF THE PURPOSE OF PAIN. James reiterates the purpose of pain succinctly in James 1:1-4: “Count it all joy when you fall into all kinds of trials and troubles, knowing that the trying of our faith has a design.” God ultimately intends to mold us into the image of Jesus. There is no growth apart from tension. Spiritual maturity comes quite slowly when all is well. God knows that the best climate for making us just like Jesus is the crucible of fire and testing. After all, Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered. If His sufferings were instrumental in His maturity, why should we think it might be different for us? "I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chattered all the way, But left me none the wiser , for all she had to say. I walked a mile with sorrow, and ne'er a word said she; But, oh, the things I learned from her when Sorrow walked with me." SECOND, I TRY TO FIND SOME JOY. Of course, no one can be happy for their pain. However, both James and Paul declare that we can experience joy, even when we are walking through our pain (read Philippians chapters 1-4). "Count it all joy" is an incredibly unnatural reaction! However, finding joy is supernatural…it is a gift from God’s heart to you and me just when we need it most (James 1:2-3). When difficulties come to an immature Christian, he or she evaluates the pain and often gets angry, or bitter, discouraged and they say something like, “I quit” or “I’ll never go to church again.” On the other hand, the mature Christian says, "The last time I had difficulty, I faced it and grew. I'll see what God can teach me now." This is joy! The fence has two sides. On God’s side the language is Praise! On the self-side the language is “Gripe and Complain.” One side is joy and the other is misery. One of my favorite authors, Pastor A.W. Tozer, wrote, “Suffering breeds compassion or bitterness. We must choose.” In the midst of pain, we have a decision to make. We must choose one side or the other. Unfortunately, too many Christians try to do both. Remember, the only trouble with straddling the fence is that it always hurts in the middle! (James 1:5-8). THIRD, I TRY TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH SUFFERING PEOPLE. I JUST HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THEM. Sometimes, we may feel like we are getting “picked on”, or that things aren’t fair, or that God doesn’t like us. Think about this: In our immediate family we have three cancer survivors, heart and nervous system issues, countless surgeries, serious immune disorders and brain issues. Your family is probably the same. God never promised that when we became Christians, all of our problems would be over. In fact, the Bible teaches just the opposite. Pain, problems, and trials are not optional. They are essential. Pain and suffering are not an elective course that we can take or leave. They are required if we want to become more like Jesus. FOURTH, I REMIND MYSELF THAT PAIN PRODUCES PATIENCE (JAMES 1:3-4). We all want patience; but few of us want the process. The process for developing patience is fiery trials and troubles. A student of Dr. Harry Ironside asked him to pray that he might have more patience. Dr. Ironside began to pray, "Lord, send him troubles.” The young student stopped Ironside in the middle of his prayer; “No! No! I didn’t say problems, I said patience.” Ironside again begin to pray: “Lord, send this young man some problems.” “No! No!” interrupted the young man. “I asked you to pray that I will have more patience.” Ironside replied, “Don’t you understand. Problems and troubles are what produce patience.” The Greek word for “patience” is "Hupomone". This is the ability to bear great pain while turning them into glory. We Christians are not without problems. Fortunately, we have the Problem Solver living within. Jesus can pour in the power and give us the grace to endure in the midst of our pain and suffering. FIFTH, GOD PROMISED THAT IF I ASK FOR WISDOM AS TO WHY I AM EXPERIENCING A PARTICULAR PAIN, HE WILL TELL ME (JAMES 1:5-9). James is saying, "Look, when we are in the midst of the troubles and we need wisdom as to how to handle it, ask God for wisdom and He will tell you what to do.” I have a list of the questions I ask God when I am struggling with a pain. Is this suffering designed to bring God glory? Is this suffering the result of a sin I have committed? Is this suffering to mature me to be more like Jesus? Is this sickness the result of the fallen world in which we live? Is this trial the result of some spiritual battle in the spirit realm? Is this suffering the result of following Christ? Is this suffering the result of doing good? Is this suffering intended to keep me from future sin? Is this suffering designed to increase my faith and dependence on God? SIXTH, I TRY NOT TO WASTE MY EXPERIENCE. How can we waste our experiences? We can run away from them. We can wallow in self-pity. We can get angry, bitter, depressed, or give up. We can waver back and forth trying to see whether or not we are committed to God and His plan, whatever it might entail. Nothing ever says that we must understand what God's purpose is in our lives. It simply sufficient to know that God has a purpose. That's where we must rest our case. We are not smart enough to know all that He's accomplishing. So it becomes a matter of trust. SEVENTH, IT'S OKAY TO ENDURE SOME PAIN WHEN WE’RE HEADING FOR KING TERRITORY (JAMES 1:9-11). Not until we come to the place where we can distinguish between the permanent and the perishability of things will our pain ever make sense. I watched as the house of one our church members burned to the ground. He lost it all. Standing on the sidewalk, he cursed God, the fire department, the firemen, the fire, the neighbors for not getting a garden hose to help. Of course, he used language that I can’t repeat. I watched his behavior, and I thought to myself, "What would I lose if that happened to my house?" If tomorrow I were to lose my personal possessions or my health, would I have anything left? The answer is, “Of course, I have something left. I have the treasures that I have laid up in heaven.” When I was a boy, I played a lot of checkers. I considered myself to be the champion checker player of our neighborhood. However, one of the older children on our block was said to be best. I reasoned that was only because he hadn't played me. One day he challenged me to a game. Before he could say another word, I was seated at one side of board setting up checkers. He said, "You go first." I thought, "Okay, I'll set the pattern to the game." We exchanged a few checkers. Pretty soon he fed me a checker and said, "Jump me." I jumped him. He fed me another checker, "Jump me." I jumped him. Another. This was even easier than I thought. To this day, I can still remember the smile on his face as he took a checker and went, plop, plop, plop, plop... "King me."  King me! He knocked every checker I had off of the board with one turn! No good checker player minds losing a few checkers when he or she is headed for King Territory. Here’s the best advice and comfort I could possibly give to you: “Count it all joy when you fall into all kinds of trials and troubles, knowing that the trying of our faith is designed to mature us to look just like Jesus!” Again, to you, Chris, I hope this is helpful. May God give you great grace for the days ahead as he molds us to be like Jesus. Sincerely, Roger

Dear Roger, I think I have been backsliding. I feel awful. How do I come back to God? Sincerely, Sad and Disappointed in Myself Dear Sad and Disappointed, The fact that you’re worried about backsliding means that you probably have. Please don’t take that too personally. Most Christians backslide at one time or other in their Christian life! I define “backsliding” as an interruption or step backward in our spiritual growth.  Personally, I believe that backsliding is the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament phrase, “Live in the spirit and not in the flesh (our sin nature).” Backsliding is serious business because the greatest sin in Christianity is the failure to grow up spiritually. When a baby with genetic problems can’t grow up, our hearts break. In the same way, when one of God’s spiritual babies refuses to grow up, his heart breaks. My wife and I once had a baby who couldn’t grow up. She was born at three pounds and died at 5 pounds. It was awful. Sadly, American churches today are filled with baby Christians who have chosen, for whatever reason, not to grow up. God’s design for all Christians is to mature spiritually from spiritual children, to spiritual young men and women, and on to spiritual mothers and fathers. (Read  1 John 2:12-14  to understand some the basic characteristics of each level). Let me explain backsliding in the context of normal spiritual growth.  Imagine a hand saw turned upside down with the teeth pointing upward. Now tilt up one side. The low side represents spiritual babies and children. Now, move upward about halfway along the upside down hand saw and we identify this area as spiritual young men and women. Finally, at the tilted up end of the saw we see spiritual mothers and fathers. This is the normal Christian life. As time passes God’s design is for us to grow upward in our spiritual maturity until we are able to guide the church and lead it as Christ intends. The saw teeth represent the ups and downs of the Christian life. As we follow the Holy Spirit we move up the saw. When we slide downward away from the Lordship of Christ, we are backing up in our Christian maturity. Unfortunately, we all have moments of living our way instead of Christ’s way. But overall, the general trend is to move upward in our spiritual growth. The number of upward steps far outweighs the number of downward steps. In backsliding, the saw begins to trend downward. Our spiritual lives are stymied. Spiritual growth stops and backsliding has commenced. The tragedy is that we don’t remain at the spiritual level where we stopped. We go into what James calls “retrograde motion” by which we turn from Christ and slide down the upturned saw blade. James calls these people “forget full hearers” because they actually begin to forget the lessons and the things that they have experienced in Christ ( James 1:22-25 ). When backsliders decide to return to Christ we find that they do not pick up where they left off. Instead, they have slid backwards and soon discover that they are less spiritual now than when they first began to slide. Some Christians slide down the saw faster than others. How quickly depends on how surrendered—or not—they are to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. What Backsliding Looks Like Backsliding looks like gratifying the desires of the flesh instead of living according to the Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5:19 ). Backsliding looks like  Galatians 5:19-20 :  “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Backsliding looks like still being a spiritual infant or child more than three years after receiving Christ as Savior and Lord ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-3  and  Hebrews 5:11-14 ). Backsliding looks like luke warmness to the things of Christ. It looks like intentional sins, guilt, and/or discipline and divine punishment In contrast, moving forward in our spiritual growth looks like the  fruit of the Spirit .  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”  ( Galatians 5:23-25 ). Backsliding is not the type of game we want to play with God. Backsliding has a high price! Backsliders always lose.  Please note that backsliding is not an unpardonable sin. Backsliding will not lead to hell because the grace of Christ forgives all of our sins at the cross: past, present and future. However, the Lord Jesus uses a variety of tools to make the life of the backslider absolutely miserable. “Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many”  ( Jeremiah 5:6 ). “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty”  ( Jeremiah 2:19 ). “‘You have rejected me,’ declares the Lord. ‘You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back’”  ( Jeremiah 15:6 ). Backsliding is not the end of the world. Jesus is waiting with outstretched arms to welcome us back.  “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God”  ( Ezekiel 37:23 ). “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate  (Luke 10:23-24). The cure for backsliding is to return to Christ as Lord. “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings”  ( Philippians 3:10 ). Follow Jesus’ model for renewing your love for Jesus. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place”  ( Revelation 2:4-5 ). Notice that Jesus’ model has three easy to remember parts. Remember  what it used to like; Repent  that it’s not that way; Repeat  the things you did when you were on fire for Jesus. Personally, I’ve found that formula to be utterly effective when I’m struggling with my love for Jesus. I hope this helps! Love, Roger

Dear Roger, I have studied Scriptures about angels in the Bible, but there doesn’t seem to be much information about how angels interact with us. How can we actually know that they are engaging with us? I’ve never seen an angel. How do we know that they are really there and caring for us? Sincerely, Caitlin Dear Caitlin, I’d like my answer to be interactive. At the end of each section I’ll share some 'exercise' suggestions as to how you might engage with angels to enrich your life and ministry. Both good (godly) angels and bad (demonic) angels exist. I will use the terms “godly angels” or “good angels” to refer to God’s angels who are dedicated to enhancing the kingdom of God on earth. These good angels minister and interact with Christians: Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? –  Hebrews 14:1 We will use the term, “demons” or “demonic” to refer to Satan’s bad angels. Demons are intent on destroying the kingdom of God on earth. Bad angels are working behind the scenes to influence the affairs of nations and wreak havoc in the lives of Christians. Many groups and cults claim to use angels for guidance, worship, revelation, sexual carousing, and spiritual secrets known only to the leaders. Beware that these may be masquerading demons. In one way or another they distort and confuse the gospel while twisting it into something it is not. Any angel who fails to follow the principles and teachings of the Bible is a demonic angel. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all...But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned –  Galatians 1:6-9 Good angels are responsible for delivering godly messages, providing care, and protecting God’s children. There’s no doubt that godly angels were active in our house the day that our three-year-old daughter was toddling toward our two-foot-deep-tile bathtub. I was at the back of our house when I heard Julie yell, “Roger get back here quickly!” Julie and I collided as we ran simultaneously down the hall. We got there just in time. Brie was already on the edge. I said to Julie, “I’m sure glad you called me to come quickly.” Julie replied, “I didn’t call you, you called me.” I’m so glad that Brianna’s guardian angel was on duty that afternoon. She got the protection. We got the message. An angelic messenger should be no surprise. In Greek the word “angel” means “messenger.” I’ve watched for angels ever since. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. –  Psalm 91:11-12  NIV Exercise: Meditate on the fact that angels are deeply involved with our safety, even if we can’t see them. Good angels are not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent, but they are really fast! Daniel chapter nine records Daniel’s prayer for forgiveness, mercy and God’s future dealings with Israel. As soon as Daniel began praying, the good angel Gabriel was dispatched from heaven to earth with the answer to Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel arrived just as Daniel was saying “amen.” The fact that it takes three minutes to read Daniel’s prayer from beginning to end means that Gabriel traveled for only three minutes to get from heaven to earth. That’s really fast! Is it a good angel or the Holy Spirit delivering a message to me? One of my friends asked me an intriguing question: “When something happens, how do we know if it’s the Holy Spirit communicating or an angel addressing us?” I’d never thought about that before. So, one Friday I was sitting in the grandstand of the Tucson Open golf tournament when I received this deep impression that I needed to go back to work at church. The impression was overwhelming. However, I’d arranged for time off and I had front-row seats. I had no intention of missing the action. So, I pushed the impression aside and continued enjoying the tournament. But, I was assaulted with an overwhelming impression to hurry back to church. Finally, I surrendered and returned to church. Rhonda screamed at me, “Where have you been?! We’ve been calling everywhere to find you. Your daughter’s been shot.” I raced to the hospital like a bullet shot from a gun. The drive-by shooting caught her in the back of the leg, missed the femoral artery and thus became a relatively “simple” fix. Was an angel delivering a message? Or, perhaps was it the Holy Spirit? I finally decided that it really didn’t matter. So I thanked both. Exercise: Think of a specific time when God warned you from a threatening situation. Consider that maybe an angel was involved. Why not give God a word of gratitude for guarding you? I pray often for the ministry and well-being of my Guardian Angel. Over the years, I’m often asked, “Does everyone have a guardian angel?” One thing Jesus said convinced me that we do. See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven. –  Matthew 18:10 I always appeal to a person’s guardian angel when I’m praying for someone in the hospital. I pray to “ Jehovah Rophe ,” the God who heals, and encourage the patient’s guardian angel to watch over them for a successful surgery with no problems or complications. Exercise: When you are praying over someone who is suffering, you can ask God to send comforting angels just like He did when Elijah was discouraged when running from wicked Queen Jezebel: Elijah said, “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.” –  1 Kings 19:4-9 . Spiritual wars continuously rage between godly angels and demons. While all the angels were originally created holy and without sin, there was a rebellion by Satan who sought to exalt himself above God. One-third of the angels joined with him in the rebellion ( Revelation 12:4 ;  Isaiah 14:12-14 ,  Ezekiel 28:15 Ezekiel 28:15 ). Fallen angels are called “demons.” Demonic angels disobeyed and fell from their holy position. Most of these battles are occurring in the spirit realm over the leadership of the various nations and over the souls of men and women. For example, the book of Daniel has numerous descriptions of the behind-the-scene battles between godly and angels and demonic spirits: Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me (Daniel), because I was detained there with the king of Persia...So the angel said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the Prince of Persia, and when I go, the Prince of Greece will come.  – Daniel 10:20-21 Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future for the vision concerns the time yet to come. – Daniel: 12-14 Some demonic spirits are territorial. Battles behind the scenes affect the affairs of countries based on the outcome of godly angelic and demonic battles. John wrote, “There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war” –  Revelation 12:7 Robert is one of my heroes. We met doing mission work in Korea. He had just come from a revival of preaching the gospel in northern India. The night before his preaching tour was to conclude, an anti-Christian-Indian-religious-splinter group had marked him for death. To run away would make a mockery of his Christian faith; so, he decided to stay and preach the gospel even if it cost him his life. The next morning Robert awakened as usual and sought out the tribal leader. Robert asked “Why didn’t you follow through?” To which he replied: “How could we, an army stood guard over you all night.” Exercise: Ask God to open your eyes to spiritual battles around you. Take your Bible and look up  Ephesians 6:10-17 . Memorize the tools God has given us to defeat and conquer the evil one. Use them daily. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. –  Ephesians 6:11-12 Please remember that Satan is not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent. Satan himself is most likely not blinding everyone’s eyes. That work is left for individual demons. Pray for both the Holy Spirit and for God’s angels who defeat the fallen angels against blinding unbelieving friends. Be ready. Don’t be around when angels administer God’s judgments. Now is the time to get ready for the Second Coming. You don’t want to be around when angels open the seals, blow the trumpets, pour out the bowls of wrath and unleash God’s judgment and devastation upon the earth ( Revelation 4-18 ). The only way to be sure you’ll avoid this devastation is to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. –  2 Peter 1:10 Exercise: Reconfirm that your commitment to Christ is safe and secure as you worship him as Lord and Savior. A myriad of angels render non-stop praise and worship to God. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” –  Revelation 5:11-12 Exercise: There’s no reason to wait until later to join with the angels and initiate your own time of worship and praise. Take a few moments to fall on your knees and give worship and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will enjoy it. As angels comforted Jesus, so shall we comfort him. In Gethsemane Jesus was in agony as he struggled to drink the cup of sacrificial death. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground –  Luke 22:44 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, stay here and keep watch –  Mark 14:34 Jesus was mourning. According to his own Beatitudes he needed someone to comfort him: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. –  Matthew 5:24 Three times he implored his apostles to watch and pray and three times they fell asleep. Do you see what’s happening here? Whose job was it to comfort Jesus? The disciples! They failed, so God had to send an angel to finish the job. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. –  Luke 22-43 Can you imagine that if you’d been there, you might want to put your arms around Jesus and comfort him? “Well” you say, “The disciples are the ones who should have put their arms around Jesus and comforted him. But, they didn’t and I wasn’t there. I can’t comfort Jesus?” Sure you can! Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come...take your inheritance...For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ –  Matthew 25:34-40 Exercise: Find someone in need and care for them. Well Caitlin, I hope this gives you some insight into what angels are doing for us now. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, I identify as asexual. An asexual person is a person who has no sexual feelings or desires for another person. Some asexuals can experience emotional attraction, but it isn’t sexual. Asexual people may choose to be asexual due to: spiritual reasons, sexual anxiety, or even a history of abuse (and other reasons). Some say that they have naturally been asexual all their lives, from birth (in this case, I fall into this category). Currently, I have decided that if I chose to get married, I prefer to marry an asexual man since we would be ‘sexually compatible.’ Although, I am very content living in singleness. What does the bible say about asexuality and singleness? Sue  Dear Sue, I want to assure you that God loves you deeply and has carefully created you. David penned these words in  Psalm 139:13-16 : “For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God also created specific genders in  Genesis 1:27 : “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” I can also promise you that if you have fully committed your life to Christ, He promises to give you right desires.  Psalm 37:4  teaches: “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” A cursory reading of this verse in  Psalm 37  might infer that God promises to give you everything you want. Instead, the promise emphasizes that God will give you  His desires when you delight in Him. I appreciate that you have studied asexuality and understand that some medical issues can cause a lack of sexual desire, such as hormonal imbalance, brain chemistry issues like depression, or side effects from medication. A good example of a congenital condition would be Asperger’s syndrome. One of the features of the Asperger’s syndrome is a difficulty connecting with social context, reading social cues, and interacting straightforwardly. In these cases, it make sense that one might still be confused about who they are and where they fit into the matrix of things. Abuse and trauma can affect sexuality and ability to form close commitments. Also, sexual abuse and other traumatic events can greatly affect us. Attachment Disorder begins in the most impressionable years of childhood and manifests itself over time into adulthood. The reason for this may be neglect by parents, separation from parents due to death or divorce, or physical or sexual abuse during childhood. Due to these circumstances, children may develop feelings of detachment, in that they fail to form long and lasting relationships and find trusting even their close ones difficult. I would encourage others who struggle with the issue of asexuality to consider consulting with a physician or psychologist to address any underlying issues that may be present. What about sexual attraction in committed relationships? Let’s address your question about sexual attraction and committed relationships. John Piper suggests that marriage is fundamentally based on commitment: “Sexual attraction doesn’t belong to the essence of marriage. The essence of marriage is the making and keeping of a covenant between a man and a woman to be husband and wife to each other as long as they both shall live. That is the essence of a marriage: covenant making, covenant keeping — to be a husband and a wife. And to be sure, that covenant includes the promise to give one’s self to the other in sexual relations. ( 1 Corinthians 7 ). The husband should give his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife her husband. But there is nothing in the Bible that mandates any particular degree of physical pleasure in that relationship. And there are two other reasons for this — why I don’t think sexual attraction or sexual pleasure is of the essence. One is cultural. Throughout most of history, I think, and in most cultures, marriages have been arranged by parents. Couples did not look around to see who made them sexually aroused. They accepted the cultural pattern, and this means that most marriages in history have not started based on a sense of sexual attraction. That had to come later, if it came at all. And those were real, essential marriages.” Dr. Chet Weld writes: Singleness and marriage present different issues.  If you choose to marry, you should have the same kind of pre-marital counseling that all singles should have before they get married.  Sex is one of at least 20-30 important issues that often come up in typical premarital and marital counseling. Marriage is hard enough even when two people are very well matched.  Sometimes extremely hard for what seems an ideal combination of people!  Therefore, if one person wants to have sex in marriage, my experience as a pastor causes me to think that the marriage would struggle unnecessarily if someone with a sex drive marries someone who has no interest in sex.  I have counseled enough married couples, as well, in which one partner no longer wants sex.  I’ve seen heartache and even divorce result between people that began the marriage seeming to be very well matched!  Many difficult issues besides sexual ones can cause problems.  So, why enter a marriage with what may automatically become a problem? Biblically, in marriage, “the two shall become one flesh.”  Sex is usually considered part of the marriage covenant. Other issues may occur such as, “What if your husband says he does not want children, but later decides he does?”  You’ve seen that happen before, too.  Your prospective husband might be more tempted to immorality than men are tempted – as a given - in this fallen world and declining culture. Remember, above all, that remaining single is also a gift and a calling. Paul teaches in  1 Corinthians 7  that there are great spiritual benefits to a life unencumbered by family responsibilities. A committed single person can be focused on ministry, free from worldly distractions and able to devote more time to worship and prayer. Finally, let me conclude with a quote from Jesus and from Paul. Jesus said in  Matthew 19:9-12 : “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.For there are eunuchs who have been born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.” Some are born without a need or desire for sex, some are made that way, and others may renounce marriage for spiritual reasons. Given the question, it is likely that Jesus was not talking solely about eunuchs here – but was rather using the concept of a eunuch to describe anyone who has been given the gift of celibacy, including those with no need or desire for sex. Indeed, some are born without a sex drive (asexual), some are made that way by men (renounce sex due to bad or traumatic experiences, or due to the lurid way in which sex is portrayed in present day society), and others have renounced marriage (and therefore sex) because of the kingdom of Heaven. Paul encourages us to  “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 3:22 . Paul and Jesus agreed that celibacy is to be treasured and that we should support and encourage those who choose this path, especially considering the sexual climate we live in today, in which virginity is seen as taboo and something to get rid of as soon as possible rather than something to be treasured and cherished. Thank you for your question, Kay. Remember, God created us to live in community. I encourage you to enjoy the fellowship and support of your church, family and friends! Sincerely, Roger Research sources: Reactive Attachment Disorder,  https://healthprep.com Rob Smith and John Piper,  www.desiringgod.org Celibacy,  http://celibrate.org

Dear Roger, I am seeking reassurance that I have not committed the unpardonable sin. I don't think I really believe that I've committed it, but I want to make sure, and at the very least, gain some insight on this topic. (Note: You should know that I have pretty bad OCD in a way that causes me to worry about things constantly, usually things that would be the worst case scenario. I'm hoping that writing to you will help me clear my head and make me feel a bit better.) My concern came to me last night after a long conversation with someone who at one point in his life claimed to be a Christian, but now claims not to be by choice. He knows that I am a Christian, and throughout the conversation I was telling him what I believed and why, as well as trying to help him sort through his doubts. At one point, he said that the feeling he felt when he was in church worshipping God as a Christian, and that convinced him that his faith was so real, was the same feeling he felt when he was convinced that he should move away from Christianity. He believes that when he was a Christian, that "feeling" he felt was the Holy Spirit, and therefore since he felt that same "feeling" luring him away from Christianity, he also attributed that to the Holy Spirit. He seemed convinced that these "feelings" were of the same origin. I told him that it would be against the character of the Holy Spirit to guide him away from Christianity, and therefore impossible, concluding that both of those "feelings" could not have been the Holy Spirit. I then laid out several possibilities: 1. He was never truly a Christian to begin with. Those "feelings" were of the same source, but neither of them was the Holy Spirit. I said to him: "If you weren't actually a Christian at that time, then that wasn't the Holy Spirit guiding you. As real as it felt, if you weren't a Christian that "feeling" would've had to have come by some other means, psychological or otherwise. So in that case, the two "feelings" could've been the same, since neither was the Holy Spirit." 2. He was actually a Christian at that time, and that "feeling" he felt then actually was the Holy Spirit, but the "feeling" that guided him away from Christianity was not the Holy Spirit, and he has mislabeled them as the same. The two "feelings" were not of the same source. 3. He was actually a Christian at that time, and the Holy Spirit was present in him, but the "feeling" had to have been a human feeling and not from the Holy Spirit if it truly was the same as the "feeling" that led him away from Christianity. My understanding of the unpardonable sin is that it was committed by the Pharisees when they attributed Jesus' miracles to the devil, therefore blaspheming the Holy Spirit. My worry is that I may have inadvertently done this when I told my friend that the feeling he felt guiding him as a Christian may not have been the Holy Spirit. Of course, as you've read, I mentioned this as one of several possibilities, with the ultimate goal of defending the Holy Spirit's character against his claims that It could have led him away from Jesus, but I still said it. What if that "feeling" he felt when he was a Christian was the Holy Spirit at work and I've attributed it to something else? Am I guilty of the unpardonable sin? I really hope to hear from you soon Thanks, Anonymous Dear Anonymous, First, I am sorry for your OCD. I also struggle with it. It is no fun. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can be debilitating. Fortunately, I have only a touch of it; however, I can get focused on the most insignificant things. I can stand for twenty minutes deciding which toothbrush to buy. If there were only model I could be paying the cashier and out of the store in a minute. But, I can’t. I know you understand. On the other hand, I have discovered many good things about OCD. For example, it takes me several days of packing to prepare for an out-of-town trip. Julie can get packed in less than an hour. I never forget anything. Julie forgets any number of things! Now, let me say that I agree totally with your reasoning about your friend and whether or not his “feeling” was from God in each of the cases you postulated. The Holy Spirit would never do the things your friend wants to attribute to Him. I recognize that your fear of having committed the unpardonable sin is a frightening you and you are over-obsessing about having committed it. So, let me set your mind immediately at ease. You have not committed the unpardonable sin. By definition, a Christian cannot ever commit the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin occurs when the Holy Spirit tells someone that they need Jesus as their Savior—and instead of receiving Christ (John 1:12), they reject Him and His message. In essence, they are calling the Holy Spirit a liar: “You are wrong. I don’t need to trust Jesus as my Savior.” This is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit! By the way, the unpardonable sin can only be finally committed at the moment of death. While still alive, everyone has an opportunity to come to Christ and find pardon. Once we die without Christ we are no longer pardonable. Simply stated, the unpardonable sin is dying without a Savior. In John 16:8-11 Jesus taught the Disciples that the Holy Spirit has three-main jobs related to leading people to a saving experience with Christ: “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” Rejecting Jesus after experiencing the convicting testimony of the Holy Spirit is the only sin God can never forgive. All other sins can be forgiven; but, not this one (unpardonable), because God has provided no other way of salvation except by receiving Christ (John 16:16-18). Now, let’s talk about faith and feelings. Arguing whether or not your friend’s feelings are right or wrong is easily settled. The fact is that being a Christian is never based on feelings. Sometimes, we might “feel” like we are Christians, and sometimes we may not—especially when we feel guilty for some sin we’ve recently committed)! Faith in Christ is a “cold-blooded” decision of the will to believe in the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross and in His bodily resurrection. Faith is never based on Feelings. Faith is based on the Facts of the Word of God. The proper order is Faith based on the Word of God will result in the proper Feelings. If your friend is not committed to receiving the gift of forgiveness of sins and following Christ at any price, then, he is not a Christian—no matter how he feels. Jesus taught us that the test of real Christianity is not how we start, but how we finish (Matthew 13:3-9 and 13:18-23). True Christians never turn their backs on Christ. The one exception is what Jeremiah described as “backsliding.” This term describes a Christian who slides away in sin but soon repents and returns to fellowship with Christ. The fact that your friend turned away and no longer follows Christ says to me that there is a very good chance that he was never a Christian in the first place. Well, Anonymous. I hope my words are both reassuring and helpful to you as you enjoy your security in Christ—and as you may or may not interact with your friend in the future. Now that we have settled your concerns, let’s both go wash our hands—just kidding! Seriously, I suggest that you refuse to OCD your concerns about committing the unpardonable sin. You have more important things to focus on than that! Love, Roger