Answers

Read thoughtful responses to a wide assortment of questions from Billy Graham’s My Answer column and other resources.

My wife and I are worried about her aunt. She's been giving money to someone who gave her a hard luck story that we know isn't true.

My wife and I are worried about her aunt, who is getting very forgetful. The other day, we found out she's been giving money to someone who gave her a hard luck story that we know isn't true, and he's just taking advantage of her. Should we just stay out of it, although we're now her closest relatives? We aren't greedy, but we'd hate to see him steal her money.

Our teenaged niece has been saying her life isn't worth living, but her parents say she's just going through a phase. Are they right?

How seriously should you take it when someone says she's decided her life isn't worth living? Our teenaged niece has been saying this recently, but her parents say she's just going through a phase and we ought to ignore her. Are they right?

I still love my ex-girlfriend, and now she and her husband have moved only a couple of miles away. Would it be wrong for me to get in touch with her privately?

A year ago, my girlfriend dropped me and married someone else, and it was a real shock. The problem is, I still love her, and now she and her husband have moved only a couple of miles away. Would it be wrong for me to get in touch with her privately and try to see her occasionally?

One of my two sons never had much to do with me after my husband and I divorced, and after his father died he cut off all contact.

One of my two sons never had much to do with me after my husband and I divorced, and after his father died he cut off all contact. I don't even know where he is. With Christmas approaching, I'd give anything just to get a card from him, but I know I won't. What did I do wrong?

I wanted to buy my nephew (who is 16) a nice Bible for Christmas this year. What would you recommend?

I wanted to buy my nephew (who is 16) a nice Bible for Christmas this year, but I just got confused when I got to the bookstore and saw all the different versions, and ended up not getting one. What would you recommend I do, if anything?

I've always been extremely shy. I became a Christian a couple of years ago, but I can't face going to church.

I've always been extremely shy, and I try to avoid people I don't know. I became a Christian a couple of years ago, but I can't face going to church. I know you'll say I ought to start going, but I can't help how I feel, can I?

The doctor says I'm living on borrowed time (because of my heart). I don't think God just wants me to sit around until I die, does He?

The doctor says I'm living on borrowed time (because of my heart), and I guess he's right. I'm a Christian and I know I'll go to heaven when I die, but what should I do in the meantime? I don't think God just wants me to sit around and do nothing until I die, does He?

I'm in my 40s now and I know I've made a mess of my life with drugs, but is it too late for me to get back on track?

I grew up in a Christian home and even went to a Christian school, but I threw it all overboard when I began experimenting with drugs. I'm in my 40s now and I know I've made a mess of my life, but is it too late for me to get back on track?

Who is stronger in your opinion, God or Satan? I suppose you'll say God, but I wonder about that, because the devil sure has a lot of control over my life.

Who is stronger in your opinion, God or Satan? I suppose you'll say God, but I wonder about that, because the devil sure has a lot of control over my life. Whenever I try to do better, he stops me every time.

Our son says he can't see anything wrong with living with his girlfriend. What would you say to him?

Our son says he can't see anything wrong with living with his girlfriend, which is what he's planning to do. He says they'll probably get married some day, but living together has become so common that he doesn't think we ought to get upset. What would you say to him?

Somewhere I heard that in God's eyes it isn't enough for us to be sorry for our sins. Is this true?

Somewhere I heard that in God's eyes it isn't enough for us to be sorry for our sins. Is this true? I certainly hope God has forgiven my sins, but this makes me wonder. Maybe you can explain it to me.

What is Advent? Billy Graham responds

We moved last year and got involved in a new church that's more formal in its worship than our old church. Now they are preparing for what they call the "advent" season, and I'm too embarrassed to admit my ignorance and ask someone what it is. Maybe you can explain it to me.