�Paul Massey col copy

Bad

Links?

Other glitches?

Notify Webmaster

Dear Father Paul ...

Dear Father Paul: Why doesn't the church do more to help people in disasters?

The recent hurricanes come to mind. - Carl, Fayetteville.

Dear Carl: The church does provide an enormous amount of humanitarian aid

during disasters all over the world, including the recent U.S. hurricanes.

You just don't see or hear much about it in most of the secular media, which

promotes "government assistance." Don't get me wrong, we should

appreciate and be glad for ALL help that gets delivered from whatever source. I

know the people in Florida are. When your home is destroyed, you just need

help, period, and you don't particularly care where it comes from.

The fine work of the Southern Baptist Convention comes to mind as an excellent

example of the church in action. They sent hundreds of trucks full of supplies

and thousands of volunteers into the hurricane ravaged areas. The Catholic

Charities, Salvation Army and the United Methodist Committee on Relief also

do a great job to name just a few. Yes, we ARE our brother's keeper!

Dear Father Paul: My son and his wife fight all of the time. He is my only

child and I am a widow. I am so afraid that they are going to split and

I'll never get to see my little grandson who brings me much joy. - Betty,

Fayetteville.

Dear Betty: I know this is an agonizing time for you and you probably feel

so helpless. Encourage (don't nag) them to seek marriage counseling. I'm

partial to Christian counseling myself, and if you'll send me a note, I'll

send you some names of counselors in the area. Be supportive and not judgemental.

Stay out of the fights and don't take sides no matter how much you are tempted

to do so. Urge them to start attending a vibrant, Bible-believing church

and get involved there. Most of all pray. God will move wonderously in answer

to the prayers of a Godly mom for her children. Trust Him to make everything

right in this relationship. He is bigger than this problem.

Dear Father Paul: A guy with a "Trust Jesus" bumper sticker on

the back of his car made an obscene gesture at me in traffic yesterday. How's

that for "Christian" behavior? - Chris, Fayetteville.

Dear Chris: That's simple. The Christian car owner probably loaned his car

to one of his non-christian friends for the day ... just kidding. Your driver

was just doing what comes naturally to all of us Chris, me included: namely,

sinning. The only difference between Christians and non-christians is that

we are forgiven when we believe in and receive Christ then call out to him

every day for the times we fell short of the mark. I John 1:8-9 are wonderful

promises in this regard.

[Father Paul Massey is vicar of Church Of The Holy Cross, which meets Saturday

evenings at 6 p.m. at Fayetteville's Historic Train Depot. Send your questions

to "Dear Father Paul" at [email protected] or P.O. Box 510,

Fayetteville, GA 30214.]