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Dear Father Paul

Dear Father Paul: Our sixteen year-old daughter is giving my husband and I extreme grief over our insistance that she accompany us to church. She says that she is "old enough to make up her own mind about religion" and she just isn't interested. Any thoughts? Mary (no city)

Dear Mary: Stick to your guns! Worshipping together as a family is very important. Someday your daughter WILL be old enough to make up her own mind, but she is not there yet. As-long-as she is living with mom and dad, she should abide by your wishes unless they are unreasonable...and going with the family to church is not an unreasonable request.

Her "making up her own mind" sounds like a perfectly reasonable arguement, but if she became very seriously ill and "made up her mind" not to seek medical help, you'd insist and see to it that she went to the doctor...right? This same principle applies here.Your daughter is simply doing what all of us did at her age...pushing against the boundaries and pulling on the leash. It'll help for you to extend her the grace to decide some things on her own.

Dear Father Paul: The season of Lent has just begun. Our denomination does not recognize Lent. What is Lent and why is it important? Charlene, Fayetteville.

Dear Charlene: The word Lent comes from the Middle English word "Lente" which means springtime. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this past Wednesday) and lasts for the forty days (not counting Sundays) until Easter.

In the early church, baptism and penance were key Lenten themes. During Lent, candidates prepared for baptism which was done only on Easter. People also did public penance for serious sins. In later years, the emphasis gradually shifted to private penance. Lent became a time of forgiveness and reconciliation for those who acknowledged their sinfulness. During the Middle Ages strict fasts, for instance not eating any meat or other favorite foods, were obligatory for Christians. Today, the emphasis on Lent has shifted to prayer, meditation and reflection on the true meaning of the soon coming Easter. Fasting is still practiced by many and is very worthwhile, so long as one is not giving up spinach, etc. (just kidding). Many people make special commitments to God during Lent, do special good deeds, give alms, spend more time in prayer and studying the Bible. Basically, Lent is a time for us to slow down from our extremely busy and hectic lives and reflect on God and what he has done for us. Not a bad idea, don't you think?

Dear Father Paul: When do you think Jesus will return? Ellen, Fayetteville.

Dear Ellen: Jesus said that even he does not know the exact day of his return, only the Father in heaven knows when Jesus will return to the earth in triumph.The Bible does teach, however, that we CAN know the "season" of Jesus' return. Many scholars believe strongly (and I agree) that we are now literally in the season of his return. One good way to know for sure how you stand with God is to ask yourself this question: "am I eager to see Jesus return?"

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