Why do we not get along with our siblings?

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Psalm 133:1 ESV)

Dear Mr. Mayor?
Why do we not get along with our siblings?
From Your Citizens

Well Citizens, I think one reason is the amount of time you spend with them. The more time you spend with someone, the more you get to know them. You see all of their strengths and weaknesses. You know what they like and what irritates them. Because of that, your siblings can bring you great joy, and they can cause you great pain. Therefore, you need to be extra alert to guarding your heart and actions when relating to your family. Resist the temptation to fight and quarrel with your siblings. Instead, be diligent to treat them with love, respect and admiration. Seek to do them good, and never to hurt or harm them.

Thanks for writing!

Did Pilot go to heaven or hell because he didn't want to kill Jesus and had the power to stop it?

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Did Pilot go to heaven or hell because he didn't want to kill Jesus and had the power to stop it?

That is a great question. There is a sense in which you are correct. It does seem as if Pilot was reluctant to kill Jesus and did so because of the pressure he was under. There is also a sense in which he had the power to stop it, but only in a limited, "human perspective" sense. Jesus had to die on a cross. It was God's plan and it had to happen, so really, there was nothing that was going to stop it from happening.

But to your specific question, I need to clarify something for you. Why does a person go to heaven or hell? The determination is made based on whether a person is saved or unsaved. It is based on whether or not a person has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. I believe that is true for all people, including Pilot. In other words, I don't believe Pilot's standing before God is based only on what he did or did not do on the day Jesus died. Pilot's actions reflect his heart. Therefore, we have no reason to believe that Pilot is in heaven, and my guess is that he is not. However, it is not because of what he did that day, but because he did not put his faith in God.

Thank You For Writing!

What should you do when your little sister is yelling at you?

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What should you do when your little sister is yelling at you?

Wow. I sure hope that does not happen often. God wants brothers and sisters to get along.

I'll tell you first off that what you DON'T do is yell back, or treat your sister unkind in any way. Instead, you treat her with kindness - even when she is yelling and being mean. You should try to talk to her and ask her to stop. If that does not work, you might just need to walk away and find something else to do, or get an adult to help you. Ultimately, your parents are in charge of your sister so it is their job to train her how to treat people. That is not your job so don't become bossy, or mean yourself. Be kind and loving, and get help when you need it.

Thanks For Writing!

Why is Mr. Mayor's Mail so important?

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Why is Mr. Mayor's Mail so important?

Well, many times, the citizens of Colonial Corners have some very good questions. Things that they have wondered about, or questions that come up during the sermon. This is a chance for you to ask those questions, and get my best shot at an answer.

And look - you just got your question answered. See how easy that was? Be sure and write again if you have another question.

Thanks For Writing!