Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004

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Dear Father Paul: I heard that your church, The Church Of The Holy Cross, is moving from a Saturday evening service to a traditional Sunday morning service. Is that true? Jacob, Fayetteville.

Dear Jacob: Yes. Our sponsoring church, Christ The King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Sharpsburg, is graciously allowing me to devote my Sundays to growing our mission congregation in Fayetteville, The Church Of The Holy Cross. Fayetteville is a fantastic community. We are really happy to establish a church where there are so many wonderful people.

We will hold our first Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 2 at the Fayette County YMCA, 215 Huiet Road (first road to the left, just past the hospital going west on Hwy. 54). We are a very friendly new church and are especially welcoming people who may have been away from church for a long time or who have never attended church. Our worship style is contemporary. I hope to see you Jan. 2, Jacob. More information is available at www.chccec.org.

Dear Father Paul: I love reading your column every week. I do not live in Fayette County so I read it on The Citizen's Web page. I recently lost my childhood pet cat. I prayed for him while he was ill, and hope to see him again in heaven. What does the Bible say about an afterlife for animals? — Brokenhearted, Georgia.

Dear Brokenhearted: I am so sorry for your loss. I have lost several pets over the years. It is heartbreaking.

The Bible teaches that man is unique in God's creation, compared to His animal creation. Only of man does the Bible say, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ..." Genesis 1:26. Animals are mentioned in the Bible, but always in terms of their subservience to man. Man is unique in that he (alone among God's creation) has been given an eternal spirit.

A common Hebrew word translated "life" (soul) in the Bible is nephesh. Nephesh is used in Genesis 1: 20, 30 and 19: 17 to mean life for both men and animals. As used in these verses it means life, as the opposite of death; life meaning breath, animation and awareness. Both men and animals have this kind of life. However, that part of man (alone) which lives forever is his spirit, and animals do not possess an eternal spirit. See Matthew 25:46.

The fact that animals do not possess an eternal spirit and thus do not go to heaven, does not in any way detract from their value as companions to man. Pets can and do become an important part of the lives of millions. Also, because of God's charge to man to rule over the animals, it behooves man to protect and not abuse animals.

Dear Father Paul: I'm really ticked off at the fact that one of our national retailers has told the Salvation Army that they can no longer solicit gifts for the poor outside their stores at Christmas. Another large national retailer has taken the word "Christmas" out of all of their ads and TV spots. I understand that their employees have even been told not to wish shoppers a "Merry Christmas." This is being done in the name of "diversity," but if you ask me it is political correctness run amok.— Patsy, Fayetteville.

Dear Patsy: I agree, and it is really sad. On the other hand, this is America, and these retailers have a perfect right to run their businesses as they choose. Fortunately, I (still) have the right to conduct my business as I choose as well, and I have made the choice to no longer do business with these retailers.

Father Massey will answer your questions. Write him at paulmassey@earthlink.net or P. O. Box 510, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.