My church is so cool!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

- Romans 8:28

I am a member of a really cool church. 

Why do I say that?

Because our pastor is not afraid to answer questions, honestly, truthfully and sometimes brutally if necessary.

Last week our pastoral staff gave us the opportunity to write down questions we had and they would be answered this week. 

We also had the opportunity to submit questions anonymously via test (WHOA! Technology!!)

Yesterday morning, during what is normally sermon time, our lead pastor answered some of these questions. 

Let me tell you that he did not have the opportunity to see most of these questions in advance.

Yet he answered them based on Bible truths, and I believe he answered them from his heart.

Some of the questions people submitted were:

How do I convince someone that feels like God has turned against them that He is still there and He wants them back?

Why is forgiveness so hard?

How do I continue to move forward in faith when God continues to be quiet?

Why does God allow suffering?

How are we supposed to handle difficult times when it feels like no one is there?

Why is church so important if God doesn’t live in a building?

Why is it taking America so long to figure out we are all created equal?

Why has God not come back yet?

What do you and the Bible say about suicide?

How do we balance church with school or other activities?

Describe how things can be better for people who are a part of a church.

Hearing him answer these questions yesterday made me really think about what it is that I do here.

This email, this blog, this “daily bread” that I send. . .

Some days they are long, some days they are short.

Some days they are heart wrenching and some days they make me smile.

I think that I will spend some time sharing our pastor’s answers to some of these questions over the next few days.

I am surely blessed to have great leaders in my life, and I count our church as one of those leaders.

And our church, like every one of us, would be so much less without God.

 Have a blessed day!