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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 paulmassey@earthlink.net or P.O. Box 510, Fayetteville, GA 30214.]