Ask A Children's Pastor

Why do we not get along with our siblings?

2011-01-17T13:55:00.000-05:00

"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?

2011-01-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-01-03T16:23:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-01-02T13:20:00.000-05:00

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!

Some girls in my class are picking on me. What should I do?

2010-12-31T09:12:00.000-05:00

[27] “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. [29] To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. (Luke 6:27-29 ESV

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Some girls in my class are picking on me. What should I do?
from Kali

Dear Kali,

I am sorry that you are bring picked on. I was too when I was your age. I know it is hard to obey these verses, but it really is what God wants us to do. He wants us to love, do good and bless the people who treat us poorly. To obey God means that you will look for ways at your school that you can show kindness to those who are picking on you. Hold a door for them, pick up something they drop, compliment them or speak kindly to them. These are all ways you could obey.

I encourage you to get help from your teacher or parents if you need it. They don't want you to be picked on, and they might be able to help. Your teacher is especially helpful because she can possibly address what she observes and help the girls see that their behavior is wrong. Hopefully the girls will stop and you can all be friends. But even if they don't, remember to do what is right yourself.

Thanks for writing, Kali

What is your middle name?

2010-12-30T16:16:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. mayor,
What is your middle name?

It's 'Charles.'

Thanks For Writing!

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

2010-12-29T16:29:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Yes I do. I have two brothers. I am the oldest. Brad is two years younger than me, and Jeff is seven years younger than me.

Thanks For Writing

Should I tell my friends that there is no Santa?

2010-12-28T11:52:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
I know Santa is not real, but some of my friends at church do not know this yet and believe that Santa brings us presents. How should I handle this if one of my friends asks me about Santa. Some parents say I shouldn't ruin it for their kids. How should I handle this?

This is a tough question, isn't it. You want to be honest about what you believe, but you want to be sensitive to your friend. Here are the two things I think you should do:

First, I don't think you should go around trying to convince your friends that there is no Santa. You don't need to even bring it up. I remember one time I was teaching grades 4 and 5. It was the middle of Summer, and as an illustration, I brought up Santa. I got an angry phone call on Monday. I won't tell you about the call, but from that time on, I decided that I would not bring up the topic of Santa with children. I bring it up with parents, but not with children. Occasionally a child will ask me, but I don't bring it up and I don't think you need to either.

On the other hand, you said that your friend asked you about Santa. When that happens, I think it is fine for you as a child to be honest with your friend and tell them what you think. Don't make a big deal about it, but tell the truth simply. Your friend asked you your opinion because she wanted to know. It is fine for you to give your opinion when asked. If your friend gets mad or wants to argue about it, don't do it. Don't get into an argument. Just say, "You asked my opinion and I told you."Then move on to another topic if you can.

I hope this helps. Write again any time!

Thanks For Asking!

Does God forgive sin?

2010-12-27T16:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Does God forgive sin?
from Ellie

Dear Ellie,

Yes, the good (and important) news is that he does. There are many places in Scripture that teaches this. For example, read the beginning of Mark chapter 2. Jesus forgives a mans sins in that passage. It actually causes quite a stir because some in the crowd did not believe he was God, and they knew that only God can forgive sin.

The most popular verse on forgiveness is 1John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The children of God stand forgiven before God. We are not perfect and we continue to sin. When we do, we ask God to forgive us and he does.

So Ellie, your sins can be forgiven and if you don't understand this or if you want to talk about what it means to be a child of God, please talk to me or an adult who knows what the Bible says about sin, salvation and forgiveness.

Thanks For Writing.

If God knows what's in the future, does he know what he is going to do in the future?

2010-12-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
If God knows what's in the future, does he know what he is going to do in the future?

Yes, actually he does. When we talked about God being "Omniscient" or all-knowing, that definitely includes the future, and it definitely includes his own actions. When you read the Bible, many of the prophesies you find there include God telling us in advance what he is going to do. For example, God told his people in advance that He would send his Son, Jesus to earth. And he did. God has also told us some things that he still plans to do in the future. He told us that some day, Jesus will return, he will gather his people and he will punish his enemies.

So yes, God does know what he is going to do, and in some instances, he has told us.

Thanks For Writing!

For national money day, will you give us money?

2010-12-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
For national money day, will you give us money?

Backstory: If you are reading this but are not familiar with Colonial Corners, each day begins with a countdown video and each countdown video informs the citizens what holiday it is that day. There is a holiday for every day of the year.

I am not really sure that there is a national money day. It seems to me that most Americans celebrate money every day. However, if there is a national money day, and you can figure out when it is, then yes, I will give all of the citizens who come that day some money. (And when I say "some," I encourage you to think in terms of cents, not dollars.)

Thanks For Writing!

Can kids suggest songs to sing in Colonial Corners?

2010-12-20T15:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Can kids suggest songs to sing in Colonial Corners?

Well, sure. I won't guarantee that we will sing them all, but if the song is appropriate and we can fit it in, I would love to receive your suggestions. Just go ahead and drop them in the mailbox!

Thanks for writing!

Can you put an afro on the mailbox?

2010-12-17T12:59:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr, Mayor,
Can you put an afro on the mailbox?

Yes I can, but I wont. I will admit that I do need to repaint the mailbox. Currently, the mailbox depicts my hair as being a bit too thick and brown. It should be thin and, well, grey. But an afro? I don't think so.

Now, when I was in Middle School, I wore my hair thick and bushy. It was not technically an afro but it was close. I don't have a picture of it. Here is the closest I could find, although I wore it thicker than this:

And for those who have not seen it, here is the Mr. mayor's Mail mailbox. As you can see, the mail goes in my mouth.

My brother always wins stuff. I feel jealous. What should I do?

2010-12-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
My brother always wins stuff. I feel jealous. What should I do?

Well, I'll just tell you right up front that jealousy is wrong. Your brother is going to be better at some things than you are, and you are going to be better at some things than he is. That is OK. We are not supposed to focus on comparing ourselves to each other. God made us all different.

God tells us in Romans 12:15 that we should "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." In other words, you should be happy for your brother when he does something great and worthy of celebrating. You should be sad along with your brother when something hurts him and makes him sad. The problem with jealousy is that it causes you to do the opposite. Jealousy makes you be sad when he is happy and happy when he is sad.

So, when your brother wins stuff, be happy for him. Rejoice with your brother when he is rejoicing!

Thanks for writing!

What is your favorite animal? Mine is the deer.

2010-12-10T20:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor, what is your favorite animal? Mine is the deer. I like to hunt them. Yummy!

Well, I have always been partial to the platypus, but I don't hunt then or think they are yummy. I just think they are super cool!

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

What is your favorite subject in school? Mine is health.

2010-12-08T16:14:00.000-05:00

What is your favorite subject in school? Mine is health.
Kayla

Well, Kayla, I am really glad that you think I am in school so thank you for that. Back when I was in school, I always enjoyed math classes. Now I enjoy studying history, but I do that on my own.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

When I tell my grandpa about Jesus. He just said he's in good hands. What should I do?

2010-12-06T20:09:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. Mayor, when I went to Florida last year to visit my grandparents, I told my grandpa about Jesus. He just said he's in good hands. What should I do? Help me!

Thank you for being concerned for your Grandpa. God wants us to share the good news of the Gospel with others, and your family is the best place to start doing that. If the 'good hands' your Grandpa is talking about are the hands of Jesus, that is great. But if you are not sure he is saved, you will want to take every opportunity to help him. I have three suggestions for you.

First, whenever you are with your Grandpa, make sure you consistently live as an example of a true Christian. Demonstrate love for others, obedience to your parents, and joy in your disposition. In other words, help him see the Gospel in your life.

Second, tell your Grandpa the Gospel message when you have opportunity. Don't be rude or pushy, but if he will listen to you, tell him what God says about salvation and faith in Christ. I have a great booklet I can give you that will help you present the Gospel in a clear way. Ask me next time you see me.

Last, pray for your Grandpa every day. Pray that God will save him, and that he will place his faith in Christ.

If you are doing those three things, you are doing what God want regarding your Grandpa.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

A lot of people in my class use God's name in vain. What should I do?

2010-11-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Pastor Scott,

A lot of people in my class use God's name in vain. They also say the word "awesome" when they are not talking about God. My friend keeps saying "Only God is awesome." I agree with her, but I don't say anything. What should I do? Continue to be quiet or tell them?

When it comes to people taking the Lords name in vain, I would encourage you to stand up for God when you have opportunity. It might be something as simple as asking your friends not to do it when you hear them. Some may respond to you and stop. Some may not. But I do think it would be good for you to stand up for God when people take his name and in vain. You could say something like "I love God, and I would appreciate it if you would not talk about him that way."

I'm not sure that I agree with your friend about the word awesome however. That's not something that I would make a big deal about or even mention. I think people use the word awesome to refer to things that they like or things that they think are really great. People are not using the word awesome to describe something that they think is God. They're not using it as a substitute for God. And I don't see it being connected to taking God's name in vain.

So, speak up for God's name and honor, but don't speak up for the word awesome.

Hope that helps!

Pastor Scott

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

How did Ananias die?

2010-11-19T13:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Pastor Scott
How did Ananias die?
Signed, "A Troubled Person"

Well, you have good reason to be troubled because the story of Ananias is a sobering reminder that God takes sin very seriously. The short answer to your question is that God killed Ananias.

He and his wife, Sapphira, sold some land and gave the money to the church. The problem was that they lied about it. They told Peter that they gave the entire value of the land when in fact they gave a portion of the value and kept some for themselves. They lied. God allowed Peter to know the truth so Peter asked Ananias: "Why is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?" Peter pointed out that Ananias was in control of the money and could give or keep it as he saw fit, but that he had withheld it from Peter and lied about it. Peter told Ananias that he had not only lied to Peter, but also to God. Ananias died on the spot. Later Sapphira came in and told the same lie. She also died.

The lesson is not that of you tell a lie, you will die. God could do that, but most often He does not. However, we should learn from this story that God takes obedience, and specifically honesty, very seriously.

So, Troubled Person, tell the truth!

Thank you for writing to me,
Pastor Scott

Why didn't God just destroy Lucifer when He kicked him out of heaven?

2010-11-10T14:26:00.001-05:00

Dear Pastor Scott?
Why didn't God just destroy Lucifer when He kicked him out of heaven? Was it because God wanted us to have a choice to follow who we wanted?
Micaiah

Dear Micaiah,

I think there are a few reasons, but you certainly did hit on one of them. God could destroy Satan any time. Satan has actually already been defeated. But God allows him to survive and you are right - we have a choice between following Christ or following ourselves & Satan. God wants us to have that choice. Both Satan and God say 'follow me' and each day, we choose who to listen to.

But Micaiah, please remember - if Satan were destroyed today, people could still choose to rebel against God. People could still choose themselves over God. Satan certainly wants us to rebel, and he encourages us to rebel. But he does not make us rebel. When we choose Satan's way over God's way, it is still our choice. Satan's existence does not create the choice, he just makes it harder to choose correctly. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a choice between obedience and rebellion before Satan ever spoke to Eve. As soon as God told Adam that eating from a certain tree was forbidden, a choice existed. Satan helped them choose poorly, but Satan did not create the choice.

So yes, God wants us to have a choice. But we need to remember that we are responsible for the choices we make. Satan is our enemy, but Satan is not an excuse for our poor choices.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

Can we get a disco ball?

2010-11-10T14:25:00.001-05:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Can we get a disco ball?

Well, I don't really know how to answer you. What would we do with it? You're not suggesting that we would actually disco in Colonial Corners are you?

I'll tell you what. If you bring in a disco ball, we will hang it up and use it for something. How does that sound?

Thank you for writing,
Pastor Scott

Does God have a best friend?

2010-11-09T20:11:00.001-05:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Does God have a best friend?
Joy

Dear Joy,
What a great question. My answer is that He has lots of friends, and he loves them all 'best.' Jesus defines the greatest love as the kind that would cause someone to die for someone else - and that is what he did for us. Then in the next verse, He calls us His friend. So, all of God's children are friends of Jesus, but He doesn't love some of us more than others. We are all His best friend.

Here is a passage from John 15:

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

So, Joy, yes He does! He has many!

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

How many parts of God were there in heaven when Jesus was on earth?

2010-10-27T16:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

How many parts of God were there in heaven when Jesus was on earth?

Signed, "A Citizen"

Dear Citizen,

The Trinity can be very difficult to understand, can't it? Remember that God does not exist in three parts. God exists in three persons. If God existed in three parts, then we would need to say that taken together, they make up God and separately each one is only partially God. However, each member of the Trinity is fully God. God the Father is fully God, God the Holy Spirit is fully God, and God the Son is fully God. When Jesus was on earth, it's not as if a part of God was no longer in heaven. God was in heaven, and God was on earth.

So the direct answer to your question is all. All of God was in heaven, and all of God was on earth.

I appreciate your question! You will spend the rest of your life pondering concepts like the Trinity and never get to the point where you fully comprehend it all. But keep thinking and asking!

Best Regards,

Pastor Scott

Why aren't parables true?

2010-10-26T13:04:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Why aren't parables true?
Sincerely, Lauren

Dear Lauren,

Parables are stories that help make a point. Jesus often told parables to help teach or illustrate a truth. For example, Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep to teach us that God lovingly and carefully seeks and saves the lost.

I think understand what you are asking - the events of a parable may not have really happened. In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus is not necessarily thinking about a real shepherd who lost a real sheep, and left the remaining 99 to go find the lost one. It could be that Jesus made up the illustration to teach a lesson. However, parables are true in the sense that Jesus actually told the story. Parables are true in the sense that the lesson of the parable is true.

So you are correct - parables don't necessarily refer to events that actually happened. We are supposed to read a parable and learn the lesson Jesus is trying to teach. The story itself is not what is most important. The lesson for you to learn is what is most important.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

Were there dinosaurs on the Ark?

2010-10-25T10:53:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Were there dinosaurs on the Ark?

What I can tell you is that if dinosaurs were alive at the time of the flood, then they were on the Ark with Noah and his family. At least two of every animal that was alive at the time of the flood went on to the Ark.

My personal opinion is that there probably were dinosaurs on the Ark but the Bible does not tell us. I think that the flood is the likely cause of many of the fossils we find today, including dinosaur fossils.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

Why does God say we are to forgive 70x7 times? That is only 490.

2010-10-24T20:38:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Why does God say we are to forgive 70x7 times? That is only 490. That's not very much.

490 may not seem like much, but if someone has done something to you 490 times, and you need to forgive them 490 times, it will seem like a lot.

However I want you to realize that God did not design this to be a math problem. God does not want you to keep count. What God means is that there is no limit to our forgiveness. We don't get to 490 and stop. His point is that we keep forgiving.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

Are parables the only way God demonstrates things?

2010-10-22T11:52:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Are parables the only way God demonstrates things?

No, the word of God has several forms of literature which God uses to demonstrate or illustrate truth. There are poems, songs, stories, sermons, and much more. So no, parables are not the only way that God demonstrates or illustrates truth.

Thank you for asking,
Pastor Scott

When we die, do we go to heaven right away?

2010-10-21T12:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
When we die, do we go to heaven right away?

Heaven is the eternal home for true believers. Scripture indicates that there is a time in the future when God will usher his people into their eternal home. We do know that when we die, we will be with Jesus. When Jesus and a newly converted thief died on the same day, Jesus promised that man that they would be together that very day in a place called Paradise. When we die, we see Jesus right away and we are in a wonderful place. But Paradise is not our final home. We will enter that sometime in the future after God judges the world.

I know that the end times can be confusing. The important thing to remember is that in the end, God wins and He takes care of his children.

Thank you for asking.
Pastor Scott

What do the New Testament and Old Testament mean?

2010-10-20T18:46:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What do the New Testament and Old Testament mean? Why not just one big thing?

Well, it is appropriate to think of the Old Testament and New Testament as one book called the Bible. All of it together presents God's plan for the salvation for man. However, you are correct that the Bible is presented in two parts, and the break between them centers on Jesus. The Old Testament looks forward to Jesus the Messiah, and the cross. The New Testament looks back to Jesus and the cross. The Bible as a whole is God's revelation to us, and we should read and study all of it.

Thank you for your question.

Pastor Scott

Do we have to forgive animals?

2010-10-16T20:19:00.001-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Do we have to forgive animals?
Renee

Dear Renee,

I don't think I have ever thought of this before. Certainly, animals do things that hurt people or make them angry. A dog might bite you. A larger dog might hurt your smaller dog. In the wild and sometimes in captivity, animals eat other animals.

However, I don't think that forgiveness is the way we respond to animals. When an animal bites or eats another animal, it is only doing what animals do. It is fine for us to prevent animals from hurting us or other animals. It is fine to train pets not to bite or hurt people or animals. But when an animal does what animals do, we don't think of them as sinning or in need of forgiveness. We do need to respond in some way - either doing something to the animal or not. But the animal did not sin in the way a person does, so we don't forgive like we would if a person wronged us.

If you have a more specific question about something that happened with an animal, let me know.

Thanks for asking me this.

Pastor Scott

Is it a sin to work on Sunday?

2010-10-07T16:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Is it a sin to work on Sunday?

My answer is no, it is not. But I want to say a little bit more about it.

I believe that the pattern God has set is for people to have regular time off from work for refreshment, and to enjoy the goodness of God. In the Old Testament, God established a pattern of work and rest according to the week. He tells His people to rest one day in seven. If working on Sunday means that a person is working every day, that is not good. If working on Sunday means taking another day off for rest and refreshment, then I think that is OK.

The tricky part of your question involves the importance of church. In Hebrews, there are people who have developed a pattern of not attending when the church assembles. The author tells them to make sure they don't fall into that habit. (Hebrews 10:24-25) In other words, God wants us to gather with the church for worship and study of the Word. At my church, we meet on Sunday. A person who works every Sunday would have a harder time maintaining his relationship with the church. Some churches have services on Saturday and Sunday which might make it easier for that person.

So, no, I don't believe it is a sin to work on Sunday. Many people have changing schedules and have to rotate by working on Sunday. For example, I am very glad that the police force stays active on Sundays. However, if a person has a job that consistently and habitually keeps him from church, I would encourage him to consider looking for a position that allows him to attend church. Attending church is very important and should not be neglected.

Thanks for writing! I hope this helps.

Did dinosaurs exist during the time of Jesus Christ, and why?

2010-10-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

Hi! Did dinosaurs exist during the time of Jesus Christ, and why?

I will just go ahead and tell you that I really don't know when the last dinosaur died. There are people who think that some of the legends of knights going out to slay dragons could, at least in some cases, be true. If that is the case, then there would have been at least some types of dragons around while Jesus was on earth. That would not mean that all of the creatures we know as dinosaurs were around, but it is possible that some forms of dragons were around.

So, my answer is that I don't know, but it is possible that some types of "dinosaur like" creatures were running around in parts of the earth while Jesus was here.

What do you think?

If Joshua didn't believe in God, would he have won so many battles and why?

2010-10-04T14:02:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
If Joshua didn't believe in God, would he have won so many battles and why?
From, A Roman Soldier

Hello. I hope things are fine there in Italy. I didn't know that Rome still had it's own army but I am glad to hear from you.

The answer is no, I don't believe he would have. It was God who was driving the enemies out of the land, and it was tied directly to the faith of His people. The times when we see them fail in battle are times when they lacked faith or acted in disobedience. Israel dwelling safely in the land was based on their faith and obedience to God.

What is 2squared + (3squared + -6) - (0.7 * √0.6) + -6 * (-5 * 6) ?

2010-10-04T13:41:00.005-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What is 2² + (3² + -6) - (0.7 * √0.6) + -6 * (-5 * 6) ?

First of all, while I am going to help you this time, you really need to do your math problems on your own. The reason your teacher wants to see your work is because with math, going through the process of figuring it out is part of the learning process. So, don't send me your math problems any more.

186.46 (rounded)

Here is how you do it:
2² + (3² + -6) - (0.7 * √0.6) + -6 * (-5 * 6) =
4 + (9 + -6) - ( .54 ) + -6 * ( -30 ) =
4 + ( 3 ) - ( .54 ) + 180 =
186.46

When was Job's test? What year was it?

2010-10-01T09:55:00.000-04:00

Mr. Mayor,
When was Job's test? What year was it?
Emma

Well, Emma, I don't know. The Bible does not tell us specifically, and there is nothing in any of the genealogies that helps us calculate it. I can help you with a range though. It seems that Job was after the flood, because Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, refers to the flood. It also seems that Job was before Moses. Job lived back when people lived a very long time - he lived well into his 200's.

Generally, you should think of Job as after the flood and before Moses. When you read in your Bible about Abraham, that is probably close to the time of Job.

I am curious to know why you asked this question so write to me and let me know!

Thanks Emma.

What do you think of Justin Case?

2010-10-01T09:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What do you think of Justin Case?
P.S. I want the truth.

Well, first of all, I want you to know that I always try to tell the truth. As for what I think of Justin Case: I think he's great. Justin Case is one of my best friends. I've attached a picture of him and I together for you to see. Obviously that is Justin on the left, and me on the right. We are at the library together, which is one of our favorite things to do.

Do people who have no religion go to heaven?

2010-09-30T14:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Do people who have no religion go to heaven?
Will

Dear Will,

The determining factor in a person going to heaven is faith in Jesus Christ. There is no salvation apart from belief in the Gospel of Jesus as presented in the Bible. Therefore, only a religion that is based on the Bible, and centered on Jesus will lead people to God and salvation. If by "no religion" you mean a person without faith in Jesus, or a person who has his faith in something other than Jesus, then no, that person is not saved and will not enter heaven.

It is a hard but clear truth - there is no way to God (heaven) except through Jesus.

Thanks for writing Will.

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

2010-09-30T13:45:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What does it mean to fear the Lord? I always get confused.
Signed, A Rising 6th Grader

Great Question! It is probably confusing for many people, not just kids.

First, I think you should keep in mind that fearing the Lord is different, depending on if you are saved or unsaved. For the unsaved, they should fear and tremble at the thought of God's eternal judgement upon them. The unsaved should be truly scared of what God has in store for them. For believers, the fear of the Lord is our reverence and awe of God.

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV)

Reverence and awe is the attitude of the believer toward God. I have heard people define the fear of the Lord as “respect.” Respect is part of our attitude toward God, but there is more to it then that. We know how much God despises sin and we fear his judgement of sin. As believers, we are not subject to God's eternal wrath. However, during this life on earth, we are subject to God's discipline for our sin. That should be a fearful thing for us, and motivate us to live rightly. Have you ever feared your parents discipline when you did something wrong? That same feeling should be true regarding God's discipline.

So, the fear of the Lord does not mean "scared of the Lord." As Christians, we have no reason to be scared of God. Even His discipline is done in love and done to help us. Our eternal relationship with God is secure. We fear God in the sense that we have reverence and awe for him. We recognize his greatness and sovereignty and so we submit to Him and obey Him in all ways.

How can I help my unsaved friend? She doesn't listen when I tell her the Gospel.

2010-09-29T15:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
A girl on my street doesn't go to church. How should I help her when she doesn't listen when I tell her the Gospel? I've been praying for her and her family because she is in bad times. Tell me some options!
Thanks,
Abigail

Dear Abigail,

You have two main responsibilities when it comes to your unsaved friend. First, you should pray that God will save her. Second, you should share and show her the Gospel. You share the Gospel when you have the opportunity, and you show her the Gospel as you demonstrate Christ's love for her. Since your friend is in bad times, you probably have many opportunities to show the kindness of Christ to her. And, since your friend does not listen to you right now, showing her the Gospel is what you need to focus on. Maybe your love for her will open her up to listening to you. That would be a specific prayer request.

Abaigail, I appreciate your concern for your friend, and your desire to do more, but if you are doing these things, you are doing what God requires. Pray for your friend and love you friend as Christ loves her. Keep on doing those things for as long as you have the opportunity.

Thanks for writing!

I was close to God, so why did he let Papa die?

2010-09-28T15:57:00.002-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Sometimes it feels like God is picking on me. He let a very close relative die. He made Papa suffer nine months of cancer and chemo before he died. I was close to God, so why did he let that happen?
Signed, 
?

Thank you very much for writing. I am very sorry for your loss, and for the pain you feel in your heart over losing someone so special to you.

I want you to know and always remember a couple of things. First of all, your grandfather did not die because God was picking on you. God is not angry with you. He is not trying to be mean to you. Your Papa's death is not God trying to discipline you. God loves you. We live in a world that is different from how God created it. The world is under a curse because of Adam's rebellion against God. Things like cancer and death are now part of our reality. When your Papa got sick, you did the right thing by praying for him and asking God to heal him. God chose to heal your Papa by deciding it was time for him to be in heaven with God. That type of answer is painful for us since we cannot see or talk with that person like we always had, so we usually don’t like this answer. However, God wants you to continue to trust that He loves you and wants the best for you. The path for your Grandpa was a difficult one, but God walked through it with him, and God wants you to trust Him.

The second thing for you to remember is that being close to God does not eliminate pain and suffering in our lives. Throughout the history of the church there have been believers who have suffered greatly despite their relationship with God and often because of their relationship with God. In other words, as Christians, we can and should expect times of suffering. We trust in Jesus, even in times of difficulty and suffering. We remember that He loves us and that He suffered for us by dying on the cross. Your Papa's death is not based on you being close to God. God wants you to be close to Him, but you must remember that pain and sorrow will still be part of your life here on earth. Your relationship with God will help you through those times, but not keep you from those times.

Again, I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that you will find comfort in Christ as you continue to trust Him.

Sincerely,

Pastor Scott

Are we perfect in heaven?

2010-09-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Are we perfect in heaven?

Yes. All of the imperfections we experience are the result of sin, and the curse upon the earth because of sin. Everything from disease and death, to sickness and skin problems are the result of the curse. The Bible tells us that in heaven, there is nothing that will be cursed. So yes, you will be perfect.

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (Revelation 22:3 ESV)

Is Justin Case really married?

2010-09-25T09:02:00.000-04:00

Mr. Mayor,
Is Justin Case really married? Because she looks too young!
Signed, 5th Grader

Dear Mr. Grader,

I think you are confused. Justin Wredberg is married but Justin Case is not. I am sure the new Mrs. Wredberg will be thrilled to learn that you think she looks too young. But I assure you, she is old enough to be married, and I had the honor of speaking at their wedding.

Best Regards,
Mr. Mayor

[For those of you who are not in Colonial Corners, Justin Case is one of the town characters. He works for WCCY News, the local news station in Colonial Corners. Justin Case has a twin brother named Justin Wredberg.]

Are babies who die, babies in heaven?

2010-09-24T08:43:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Are babies who die, babies in heaven, no matter what their family is like? Signed, Drew

Hi Drew! I'm glad to hear from you. I think you are asking me if babies who die will look like babies forever in heaven, and I think the answer is no. We know from the Bible that believers will get a new and perfect body.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)

That body will be mature, and lacking nothing. Just like there won't be people with old and tired bodies who need to use walkers to get around, there also won't be be people with very young bodies that need to crawl because they can't yet walk. Our spirit will be given new bodies that will be perfectly suited for our eternal life in heaven.

Drew, I'm sorry but I don't know what you were getting at by saying 'no matter what their family is like.' Please write back if I have not answered your question properly.

Thanks, Drew

Does the devil know the rapture is going to happen?

2010-09-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Does the devil know the rapture is going to happen?
Kiley

Dear Kiley,

It is hard to say exactly what Satan does or does not know about future events like the rapture. I think the best way to think about it would be that Satan knows the parts of the future that God has revealed. In other words, I think that Satan knows what the Bible says. It is probably safe to assume that Satan knows any future events that are recorded in the Bible.

Thanks for writing, Kiley.

When the rapture comes, will people who do not believe in God die immediately?

2010-09-23T10:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
When the rapture comes, will people who do not believe in God, will they die immediately?
J.E.S.

Thanks for writing to me, J.E.S.

There will be a day when Jesus will return to gather His church. However, that event alone does not result in instant death for every one else. God will judge all those who have rejected Him. However, the rapture itself is not that judgement. So no, unbelievers will not die immediately as a result of the rapture.

If global warming came now, what would happen?

2010-09-22T08:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
If global warming came now, what would happen?
Jessica

Well, Jessica, I'm not sure I am the best person to speak on global warming. From what I gather, scientists are concerned about polar ice melting, which would put more water into the seas, which would raise the sea levels, which would result in higher shore lines. Basically, there would be places that are now land which would be under water. There are a lot of people who live near water who would have to move to higher ground. (There may be other concerns, but that is what comes to my mind.)

Jessica, what you need to know about global warming, or any environmental issue for that matter, is that the earth is the Lord's. God is in charge of what happens to the earth. It belongs to Him.

The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (Psalm 24:1-2 ESV)

We also know that God told us that it was our job to rule over and care for the earth.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 ESV)

When you think about issues like global warming, recognize that we should do our best to care for the earth as God would want us to, but, don't be scared or worried. This planet belongs to God, and He will see to it that it survives as long as He wants it to.

Thanks for writing Jessica.

I play with my brother for a long time, but he keeps asking. What should I do?

2010-09-21T14:47:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

My brother is always asking me to play with him for a long time but he just asks me again. I don't want to be mean and tell him no. What should I do?

Well, I think it is great that you play with your brother. My guess is that you are very fun to be around so your brother wants to keep going when you are ready to stop. I'm going to suggest that you speak with your parents about this. I think it is OK for you to have some time alone to read or do other things. It is also OK for you to play with friends. But it is also important for siblings to spend time together and have fun together. Ask your parents to help you find the right balance between playing with your brother and doing other things.

One practical idea might be to let him know right at the beginning how much time you have to play with him. For example, you might tell him, "I can play with you for 45 minutes." Then you could set an alarm. That way it is not a surprise to him when the time is up. He still might want to play longer, but he will know that you kept your promise and played for the time you had.

Thanks for being kind to your brother! That is just what God wants you to do!

Best Regards,
Pastor Scott

Did [Judas] go to heaven or hell?

2010-09-20T10:22:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
The Bible says that a soldier killed himself when he saw that he killed Jesus. Did he go to heaven or hell?

Thanks for writing. I'm going to help you a little bit with your question. The Bible tells us that when Jesus came back to life, the soldiers guarding the tomb "became like dead men" which means they fainted. But they did not die that day, and they did not kill themselves.

I think you are asking about Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas was paid by the religious leaders to turn Jesus over. He later tried to return the money. The Chief Priests wanted nothing to do with it anymore, so Judas threw the money into the temple, and then he went out and killed himself.
And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5 ESV)
I don't think Judas will be in heaven. Even though he was associated with Jesus for a period of time, he demonstrated himself to be opposed to Jesus.

The interesting thing about your question, though, is that it is possible that one of the Roman soldiers will be in heaven. We can't know his heart, but as Jesus dies, the centurion in charge makes a true declaration of Jesus identity. Look at this verse:
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39 ESV)
So, Judas, not the soldier, is the one who killed himself, and I don't think Judas will be in heaven.

Thanks for your question!

How do I know when I am saved?

2010-09-18T12:55:00.003-04:00

How do I know when I am saved? Please explain as easily as you can! Thank you so much!
Sincerely, Abbigail
P.S. Have a terrific day!

Thanks, Abbigail. I hope you have a terrific day as well!

I want you to know that it is good for you to be thinking about your faith and salvation. The Apostle Paul encourages us to examine our faith regularly, and to especially examine our salvation. We should not live in fear of losing our salvation, but we also don't want to think that we are saved if we never really were. So it is a good thing that you are thinking about your salvation.

I would like to try to give you some very practical things to consider as you are seeking to know that you are really saved. A man named Wayne Grudem wrote a book called, "Systematic Theology." It is not a book you would want to read at your age. But on pages 803-806 he gives three helpful questions for you, and for all Christians, to ask themselves.

Number 1: Do I have present trust in Christ for salvation? In other words, do you still believe the Gospel? If you continue to believe the Gospel, and you continue to have your faith completely in Jesus as your only hope of salvation, that is evidence that you are saved.

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:14 ESV)

Number 2: Is there evidence of the Holy Spirit working in your heart? God tells us that when He saves us, He gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Bible also tells us that when the Holy Spirit is working in a person, there will be "fruit" or results. As you consider your life and heart, can you see the Holy Spirit at work? Are you growing in love? Are you gaining more self-control? Are you developing patience? Those are all ways of knowing that God is in you, and working in you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Number 3: Do I see a long-term pattern of growth in my Christian life? Salvation does not necessarily mean that your behavior will change instantly. But over time, all Believers grow and develop as they become more and more like Jesus. So can you look over a period of months and years and see growth? Are there areas where you find you are sinning less frequently? Are there areas where you are obeying more easily?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)

So, Abbigail, it is good for you to think about this but not to let it cause you worry or fear. Use it as a time to evaluate yourself and look for evidence that you are saved. I encourage you to take these questions and ask your parents and others who know you well what they think about your life. They might be able to point out to you some areas where you have changed and grown that you have forgotten about. Most of all, continue to trust Jesus, believe the Gospel and allow God to work in your life - changing you into a woman of God.

Thanks for writing, Abbigail! Write again any time!

If we pray for courage, does God gives us the chance to be courageous?

2010-09-17T09:05:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Once I heard this: “If we pray for courage, God gives us the chance to be courageous. If we pray for faith, God gives us a chance to be faithful.” Is this true?
Signed, a Student in Colonial Corners.

P.S. I'm in fifth grade and I'll miss Colonial Corners. Thanks for a wonderful fourth and fifth great year.

Well, thank you for your compliment. It was great to have you as a student, and I wish you well in Middle School.

You know what? I've heard the same thing said to me before regarding courage and faith. I have also heard it said about patience - that if you want more patience, God will give you a chance to be patient.

I wouldn't say that it's true in the sense that it is a promise or a guarantee, but I would say it is generally true. Those are areas of life that are grown and strengthened by practice. The only way to practice is to have something to practice on. Without the opportunity to practice and test our courage, faith or patience, we won't grow. So yes, I think in all three of those areas, if you pray for God to strengthen you, He will do it, and the way he does it is by giving you opportunities to be obedient in those areas.

Thanks for writing, please write back if you have anymore questions.

God said He loved everyone so does He love the Devil?

2010-09-16T12:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
God said He loved everyone so does He love the Devil?

I think this is the first time anyone has asked me this. The Bible does not have many specific references describing the relationship between God and Satan except to emphasize that God rules over Satan, and Satan is the object of God's wrath.

God hates sin, and the Devil is the very representation of sin-the embodiment of rejecting God. I believe that the best way to think about the relationship between God and Satan would be to use the word 'hate.' God hates evil, he does not love evil. Satan is more than a creature who does evil things. Satan actually IS evil and he is the object of God's eternal wrath.

My answer is no, He doesn't.

Keep On Asking,
Pastor Scott

Why did God let Adam and Eve sin?

2010-09-15T10:44:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Why did God let Adam and Eve sin?

I like your question because it reveals your understanding that God is sovereign - that He does whatever He pleases. When God created us, He gave us the ability to choose between sin and obedience. He gave Adam and Eve that ability, and he gave you and me that ability. We can choose to reject God’s way or to trust in God’s way. The decision Adam and Eve faced in the garden is a decision we face over and over in life - trust God and obey His will, or trust a lie and disobey God's will.

So, God let Adam and Eve sin because he wanted them to have the ability to choose right from wrong, rather than forcing them to do right.

Good question and I'm glad you asked it!

My friend has mood swings a lot and I don’t know what to do! Help!

2010-09-14T10:51:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
My friend has mood swings a lot and I don’t know what to do! Help!

First of all, I want to thank you for your concern. God wants us to love, help and care for each other, and your concern reflects your desire to help your friend.

I can't tell you specifically what your friend needs. Your friend certainly needs your love and encouragement. Your friend might also need some specific help from a caring adult. In the Bible, Paul tells us that people won't always respond to the same kind of help. When people are struggling with issues in their life, they need different things. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul says, for example, that those who are lazy need a warning, those who are timid need encouragement and those who are weak need help. I don't know your friend and don't know what he/she needs. However, Paul in that same verse tells us something we can do for everyone! Paul tells us that no matter what a person needs, we should be patient with them. For you, I ask you to continue to love your friend, pray for your friend and be patient with your friend. If you have an opportunity, you can also encourage your friend to ask his/her parents for help in this area.

Thanks for writing to me, and thanks for being a good friend!

Who won yesterday's contest?

2010-09-14T08:02:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Emily who was the first person to reply with the correct answer to yesterday's question. I asked kids to tell me which animal is specifically mentioned in relationship to heaven, and Emily said "horses." That is correct. There are at least two times when horses are mentioned regarding heaven. One is in 2Kings when Elijah gets a ride up to heaven on a horse-drawn chariot. The other times are in Revelation when we have the image of riders on horses.

Thanks Emily. Since I know you you are, look for me on Sunday and I will give you your new Bible.

What animals go to heaven?

2010-09-13T12:53:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
What animals go to heaven? 

Thanks for asking this question. I often get asked a question related to animals and heaven, but I think this is the first time someone actually asked me "what animals." I want to answer your question in two ways.

First, I do think that when God creates a "New Heaven" and a "New Earth," there will be animals in the "New Earth." However, you asked me which animals "go to heaven" and I'm not sure that is the best way to think about it. Instead of thinking about specific animals on earth going to heaven, I think it is better to think in terms of God creating and placing new animals in the "New Earth."

As for the specific animals, I am going to throw it back to you. I can only think of one animal that is specifically identified in connection to heaven. I think the "New Earth" will have lots of different kinds of animals. But there is one animal in the Bible that is mentioned in heaven. The first kid to tell me what it is gets a new ESV Children's Bible! You must be in grade 5 or below. With your parents' help, send the answer in an email to colonialkids@gmail.com. The first person to send the correct answer gets the new Bible.

Thanks for writing!

How can God love everyone if he hates liars?

2010-09-11T08:05:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
How can God love everyone if he hates liars?

 
It is true that God hates “a false witness that speaks lies” (Prov. 6:16-19). And, it is true that we read of God’s love for sinners (Romans 5:8). God demonstrates his love for liars by sending His Son to die for that sin, and offering forgiveness and eternal life through the Gospel. When God is rejected by people through their sinful actions, though he remains patient, he hates their sin. Eventually, if a man persists in sin, constantly rejecting God, God will not be patient anymore (Romans 2:1-5). He will pour out his wrath on sin because he must – a holy God cannot let sin go unpunished.

The purpose of God’s love is to reconcile us to Him - to cause us to believe in Him and have a proper relationship with Him. When someone rejects God's offer of love, God will be patient. But, eventually his patience will end. Someday, God will pour out his wrath on sinners who have rejected his love. You could almost think of it as if God's love will give way to his wrath.

For those of us who believe the Gospel, we can be thankful that God's anger over our sin, lies or any other sin, was poured out on His Son, Jesus, instead of us. His hatred for our sin was just as real, but Someone else took the punishment so that we would not have to.

Thank you for asking such a great question!

My brother K**** is weird.

2010-09-10T13:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
My brother K**** is weird.

I can't really tell what your question is. Did you just want me to know? Even though you didn't ask me, I'll tell you what I think.

First, God made him. God took great care to knit him together. And, because of that, he is fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 says: “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; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 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.”

Second, look who Jesus reached out to when he was on the earth. I am not sure how you would define 'normal' but Jesus was often going to people who the rest of society rejected. He cared for those who were different and those who were outcasts. If we are to follow the example of Jesus, we will show love to the ones we think are ‘normal’ and the ones we think are ‘weird’ – even K****.

If you had a specific question, please write back. Otherwise, go do something fun with your brother!

If Adam and Eve didn’t sin, would the world still sin?

2010-09-09T09:33:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
If Adam and Eve didn’t sin, would the world still sin? 
(Unsigned)

I think you have a great question and I understand why you would ask it. Romans 5:12 tells us that ‘through one man sin entered the world.’ That one man was Adam. Since Adam sinned, all of us are born sinners.

As to whether or not the world would sin, I’m pretty convinced we would. I know I would. God created Adam and Eve without sin, but they, as their sin made clear, were not like God. They did what I believe the rest of us would have done in the garden – they chose their way over God’s. I have no reason to believe that I would have done any better than Adam. It makes me grateful that God loves me, and that even before He created the world, He had a plan in place to rescue me from sin.

Thanks for your question!

Why isn’t our religion like any other religion?

2010-09-08T08:11:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Why isn’t our religion like any other religion?
Will 

Dear Will,

While there are some areas where Christianity is like some other religions, you are correct that there are differences. The list could be long, based on what religions you use for comparison. Here are three general comments.

First, we have a living Savior. God became flesh and bone and his name is Jesus. Jesus did not just die. He died and rose again and is living today. I don't know of any other religion that has a Savior who walked on Earth, died and rose again.

Second, we have God’s Word to us. We believe the Bible to be true, and we live by it. Other religions have what they consider sacred writings. Some believe the Bible is God's Word but would add other things too it. We Believe the Bible is the only true Word of God.

Finally, Will, we believe there is only one way to God. That is through faith in Jesus Christ. Some religions say that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. The Bible tells us differently.

So, there are a few things. If you have friends who are not Christian, you could probably have a conversation with them about what they believe and come up with some differences yourself. If you do that, let me know what they are.

Thanks for writing!

Is the devil scared of God?

2010-09-07T12:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Is the devil scared of God?
From a girl.

Dear "Girl,"

If the devil is not scared of God, he sure should be! We don’t have a passage that specifically says the devil is scared of God. One that comes close would be James 2:19. In that verse, James says that the demons believe in God and that belief causes them to tremble.

The devil certainly knows that God is all-powerful. For example, he had to come to God and ask permission to inflict Job. He could not do that on his own, and he knew he couldn't do it without God's permission. I think the devil probably knows what fate awaits him, but he has deceived himself and others into thinking that he is a rival to God. The devil is no match for God no matter what he thinks.

Thanks for writing!

Did God know that Adam and Eve would eat from the tree of good and evil?

2010-09-06T14:08:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Did God know that the serpent would make Adam and Eve eat from the tree of good and evil?
(Unsigned

You ask a very good question, but I am going to change it just slightly. The serpent (Satan) did not “make” Adam and Eve eat from the tree. They choose to eat from the tree. Satan certainly encouraged them to disobey God, but ultimately, Adam and Eve rebelled because they wanted to.

And, yes, God did know that Adam and Eve would sin. We talk sometimes of the omniscience of God. This doctrine teaches us that God knows all things. Nothing ever happens as a surprise to God. He knows everything in the future just as well as He knows the past. He knew what Adam and Eve would choose.

Keep On Asking,
Pastor Scott

Do you like pie?

2010-09-05T17:22:00.001-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Do you like pie?

Thanks for taking a personal interest in me. When I was your age, I did not want birthday cakes. I wanted pie on my birthday and my mom would usually comply. I love pie. If you plan on baking me one, my favorite is apple!

Best Regards,
Pastor Scott

Do babies go to heaven?

2010-09-05T17:16:00.001-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Do babies go to heaven?
Josh

Hi Josh. Thanks for asking me this. This is a question kids ask me often. Yes, I believe babies do go to heaven if they die.

It is important for you to know, though, that babies don't go to heaven because they are innocent or have 'earned' it. Salvation is by grace through faith. However, in the case of babies who die, who clearly cannot recognize their sin and repent of it, God graciously allows these babies into heaven.

There is not a verse that tells us this. The reason I believe babies go to heaven is because King David believed it. In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan delivers the news to David that his own baby will die. The baby lives for seven days. Throughout those seven days, David weeps, fasts and prays for the baby to live. After seven days, the baby dies. David stops fasting and weeping. When asked why, David responds, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

David believed that he would see his baby again in heaven and I base my answer on what King David thought.

Why did God create Satan?

2010-09-04T16:33:00.001-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,
Since God knew the future, why did He create Satan?
From Emily

Hi Emily. I am going to give you the short answer. I have several more questions to answer along these same lines, and taken together, they will help you even more. First, you are correct that God did create Satan, as he created all things. God created a world in which he would be most glorified. Before this world began, before time existed, God knew all that would happen. He knew Satan would rebel. He knew we would sin. But God planned for Christ to die so that we could be saved (Isaiah 53:10; 2 Timothy 1:9). In God’s infinite wisdom, this was the world that would most lift high his name and accomplish his purposes.

I'll have more to say when I get to some future questions. For now, remember that everything God does is for His own glory, even if we don't understand it. That means God is even glorified by the existence of Satan.

Thanks for writing!

Do you like my hit album?

2010-09-03T11:11:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Do u like my hit album?

Justin Bieber

Ok, very funny. Trying to fool me, are you? I am pretty sure this is a trick. I don't think Justin Bieber really wrote this. If he had, I would have replied with two comments:
1. Justin, "you" has three letters, not one.
2. I have never heard any of your music, so I can't say whether I like it or not. Send me a complementary CD and I will review it.

But since Justin likely did not write to me, I'll just ignore this question alltogether.

Will Jonah go to heaven?

2010-09-03T10:56:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,

Will Jonah go to heaven?

Great question. You are probably asking because the book of Jonah does not end well for him. God commanded Jonah to go and preach in Ninevah but Jonah did not want to do that. He tried to escape and you know the story of what happened at sea. Finally he did end up in Ninevah, he did preach to the people and they responded in repentance. God withheld his judgement and this is where we see a dark side of Jonah. As the book ends, we see him pouting and complaining because God has shown compassion to the people of Ninevah. Jonah wanted them punished and God gave them mercy instead.

However, Jonah was a prophet of God who had the task of sharing the message of God’s Word with others. Though it’s possible that Jonah was not a true child of God, it seems unlikely to me. More likely, God is recording Jonah’s bad attitude about the gospel going to Ninevah as a reminder to us that no one people is more or less worthy of God’s compassion. Jonah was a sinner just like us, and God wants to teach us something by showing us that aspect of Jonah's life.

I believe that we will see Jonah in heaven.

Thanks for asking!

How could Adam name all the animals?

2010-09-02T13:46:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

How could Adam name all the animals because there are thousands?

Hey, that is a really good question. If you think it is impossible for Adam to have named all the animals in one day, it might cause you to doubt what God's Word says. I'm really glad you asked!

Here are a some thoughts that might help you.

First, we know that God helped Adam with this task. Adam did not have to walk around and try to find the various animals. God brought the animals to Adam for him to name. If the animals were walking past Adam, like a parade of sorts, he would be able to name quite a few in a very short time. (Genesis 2:19)

Second, we know that the animals Adam named were "livestock, birds and beasts of the field." Adam did not need to name the fish or anything that lives in water. He did not have to name any bugs. (Genesis 2:20) When you realize that the animals were limited to those three groups, it really brings the number down.

Third, you probably know that animals fall into categories. For example, there are many different breeds of dogs. Adam did not need to say things like, "That is a Poodle. That is a Beagle." He would have just named the broad category - "That is a dog."

Finally, I pulled out my calculator and did some math. Do you think Adam could say one animal name every 5 seconds? Try saying 5 animal names. How long did it take you? Not very long right? If Adam could name one animal every 5 seconds, he could name 5760 animals in one 8-hour day. I don't think he had to name that many (that would have been a tiring day!), but he could have.

So, my friend, what might seem impossible for Adam to accomplish really isn't. You can trust God's Word is true. If God said something happened, you can know that it really did!

I hope that helps. Be sure to let me know if you have another question.

Was Joshua a general?

2010-09-02T10:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Pastor Scott,

Was Joshua a general?

Though the Bible never refers to Joshua as a general, he does function in a similar role. After the death of Moses, Joshua was entrusted by God with the leadership of the nation of Israel. Joshua was responsible to follow God’s orders in leading the people. He definitely had military leadership responsibilities. So yes, Joshua spent part of his time doing the duties of a general and and I think it is fine for you to think of him that way.

Does hard rock go to hell?

2010-09-01T14:48:00.000-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Does hard rock go to hell because my dad likes that music? You are invited for dinner with him.

Thanks for the dinner invitation. Tell your dad that I like ribs.

I have a couple of thoughts about your question. First, it is not really correct to think of music going to hell. We do know there is singing in heaven, but my guess is that is not "earthly" music that goes there. I tend to think that heaven has it's own music. Although we don't know, I think there is probably no music in hell at all. But if there is, I doubt that it is because music got sent there.

I think what you were really asking is whether or not there is music that pleases God and music that displeases God. That is a great question. The Bible doesn’t give us a list of what music is good and what music is bad. What the Bible does do, though, is give us principles that should guide what we listen to, what we watch, and generally all that we do. Take this verse for example:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
(Philippians 4:8 ESV)

Paul gives us a filter that helps us decide what we expose ourselves to. It would apply to music, movies, television, video games - just about everything that we take into our brain through our eyes and ears. Your job is to ask yourself: "Is this true? Is this honorable? Is this just? Is this pure? Is this lovely? Is this commendable, excellent and praiseworthy?" If the answer is “yes” to all of it, then you can do it. If the answer is "no" to any of them, the safe and wise choice is to stay away. But remember, when we do the evaluation, we need to use God's standards. In other words, we ask, "Would God consider this lovely?" We don't ask, "Would my friends at school consider this lovely?" So, yes, God does have an opinion on music and He has given us a tool to evaluate the music we listen to. Be faithful to apply Philippians 4:8 to your listening habits, and it will help you please God in that area.

I hope that is helpful! Be sure and let me know if you have another question.

Does The Garden Of Eden Exist?

2010-08-31T14:32:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Is the garden of Eden still standing?

Noah

First off, Noah, congratulations on asking the first question to be posted here. I hope it will be one of many.

No, you would not be able to go on an exploration and find the Garden of Eden. It was a real place, and Adam and Eve really lived there. However, later in the book of Genesis we learn of a global flood that would have completely changed the landscape of the earth. It may have been destroyed sometime before the flood, but if not, the flood probably destroyed the garden.

Thanks for asking Noah!