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Dear Father Paul

Dear Father Paul: You recently advised a man who was lonely to "join a church" where they would become part of a loving (spiritual) family. I did a couple of years ago and it was a disaster. I joined just as a church split was beginning. The pastor was fired and he took a lot of people with him and started another church. No thanks! — Brian, Riverdale.

Dear Brian: I am deeply sorry you had such a bad experience. I wish it didn't happen, but it sometimes does. The people in the church you mentioned lost sight of Jesus and what he prayed for the church in the gospel of John, Chapter 17: unity among believers. The people you mentioned wanted what "they" wanted, period. Its called sin, Brian, and you know what? We all do it, me included. One of the things that we at Church Of The Holy Cross (and lots of other churches) do every Sunday, that I really like, is get on our knees and confess our sins and then receive the assurance of forgiveness. It's great. I strongly urge you to give church another chance. Ninety-nine percent of the local churches in this area are wonderful houses of worship where you WILL find the kind of love and unity that Jesus taught.

Dear Father Paul: You recently used the word "fornication" in a column on pornography. What is fornication?— No Name.

Dear No Name: I guess it is possible in this biblically illiterate society for someone to honestly not know what fornication is. It comes from the Greek word "porneia" and broadly means all illicit sexual intercourse: i.e. sex between two partners neither of whom are married; only one of whom is married and in which both are married (to other people). The Bible calls fornication a sin.

Dear Father Paul: I have a friend who goes on "fasts." What is fasting all about?— Lester, Fayetteville.

Dear Lester: Fasting is abstaining from food, and is a biblically sound thing for a person to do, so long as it is not carried to extremes. It is NOT to be used to "get God's attention" or to get him to do a certain thing for you. When you fast for these reasons you are basically just going on a "diet." God is not manipulated! God, however, does often respond to our "true" fasting if we do it to get closer to him, seek his presence and his will in our lives. The best kind of fast is to spend the time you would have spent eating, praying and seeking God. Another benefit that I have personally experienced is that it helps bring our flesh under the subjection of our spirit and that's a really good and powerful thing. If we listen closely to God and walk closely with God he will often "call" us to a fast so that we can draw even more close to him. It is best to consult with your doctor before undertaking a lengthy fast.

Special to the precious relative who wrote me about "Laurel." Please contact me at 678-457-3050. I sincerely want to help, but your issues are far too involved for a short answer in the newspaper. I will not need to know your name.

The Church Of The Holy Cross will begin an eleven-week evening class on "Renewal Of The Mind...And Inner Healing" at our Fayetteville location on Tuesday, September 13th. It is free and is open to the community.It will be taught by myself and my wife, Dr. Judy Massey. No one will "hit on you" to join our church. E-mail me at the address below and I will e-mail you detailed information.

This Sunday's sermon topic at Church Of The Holy Cross is: "What's Precious To God."

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