CQQ #38: Why God Says No...?

Is "no" always a wrong answer?

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[WARNING: Before jumping to any conclusions, please read this entire blog entry for proper context.]

This blog entry is a continuation of a series of entries on the topic of prayer. If you haven't already, be sure to also check out last week's entry, "Prayer as a Convenience...?", and the week before, "Prayer as a Cop-Out...?".

Having said all that was said in the past two weeks, do I believe in the power of prayer? Absolutely! Do I believe that God will say yes to every prayer of petition? Not necessarily.

But if we're always told to send our prayers and petitions to God, why would God choose to say no to some of our prayers?

CQQ #37: Prayer as a Convenience...?

"Hey, can you get me a cheeseburger? I'll love you for a day."

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[WARNING: Before jumping to any conclusions, please read this entire blog entry for proper context.]

This blog entry is a follow-up to last week's entry, "Prayer as a Cop-Out...?".

While many people may be quick to pray and not get involved (when in their power to do so), the opposite extreme is also common: people not praying enough. Or, specifically, treating God as a "friend of convenience", a person who's only treated as a "friend" when someone wants something from them.

And I think many of us have been guilty of this before.

CQQ #36: Prayer as a Cop-Out...?

"Heavenly Father, I pray a cheeseburger falls into that homeless person's lap."

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[WARNING: Before jumping to any conclusions, please read this entire blog entry for proper context.]

A cop-out is an instance of avoiding a responsibility or commitment, typically with some poor excuse behind it.

For instance, you could say that Jonah "copped out" when he tried to flee to Tarshish to avoid his God-given task of delivering a prophetic warning to the city of Nineveh.

A number of people might treat prayer the same way. Many are quick to pray for others in need, yet so very few seem to actually care to get involved when it is in their power to do so. For instance, giving to the poor, donating to services, lending an ear to those having a bad day, or providing help of whatever kind to whoever is in need.

And I think we've all been guilty of this before.

CQQ #35: Women in the Bible...?

A shout-out to the ladies of faith!

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As of this blog post, today is International Women's Day, which celebrates the achievements of women and standing up for gender equality.

Learning this, I began to think about the achievements of women in the bible, something that I don't see talked about very often. We always talk about the men of faith. But what about the women of faith?

CQQ #34: Why Do We Suffer...?

Why do we have so much pain and suffering?

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Thank you, Farathriel, for suggesting this topic!

Long ago, the first humans (Adam and Eve) were created with the gift of freewill, the ability to make their own choices, for God did not want puppets (else their choices wouldn't be genuine). Those first humans had it all—a beautiful, peaceful paradise in the Garden of Eden. They could eat from any tree they wanted, all except one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were told that if they ate from that one tree, they would surely die. Yet, despite knowing this, Eve chose to believe the lies of the serpent (Satan) and doubt God's instruction, and she shared that tree's fruit with Adam, who could have stopped her but also chose to disobey.

CQQ #33: Church Denominations...?

Can church denominations bring glory to God?

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Thank you, Rob Moore, for suggesting this topic!

Supposedly the church is described as being one body and encouraged to glorify God in harmony and "with one voice" (Romans 15:5-6).

So why are there so many church denominations?

CQQ #32: Judging Others...?

OBJECTION! Your metaphorical gavel is unreasonably large.

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Thank you, HonnieBunnie007, for suggesting this topic!

When it comes to the topic of judging others, I often see two extremes: the side that says we shouldn't judge ever, and the side that's super quick to slam the gavel over a person's every move (with nearly every verdict being guilty).

Is there a right way to judge?

CQQ #31: Is Divorce Really Taboo...?

Is a broken marriage still a marriage?

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Incoming controversial topic. Tread carefully.

Some Christians feel trapped in unhappy marriages due to the stigma behind divorce. And when some churches turn a blind eye to serious marital problems—some leaning so strictly on the "divorce is never allowed because God hates divorce" side of the fence)—this can be understandably frustrating especially for those married to an abusive spouse.

But is all divorce really so taboo as those churches often treat it?

CQQ #30: Introverts in the Church...?

Feeling out-of-place in church?

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As a fellow introvert, I can understand the struggles of those trying to deal with a society that highly favors an extroverted mindset. Doubly challenging for the introverted Christ-follower, who's often told how to function in the church in a way that may go against their natural "programming"; they can be pressured to involve themselves in mission trips, tons of socializing, public speaking, large crowds, keeping up with many relationships, face-to-face sharing of the gospel, working directly with other people...

And yet, the way churches often function in today's world makes it seem like introverts are less important or not as useful. Such treatment can even cause them to experience false guilt or feel out-of-place in the church, unable to live up to such social standards.

Can a person be both an introvert and serve Christ to the fullest?

CQQ #29: Taming Toxic Thoughts...?

Do you struggle to tame the flood in your mind?

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Thank you, Michelle Fruth, for inspiring this topic!

As someone who is all too familiar with intrusive thoughts (and had also written a poem/song long ago describing such a struggle, which you can also check out here), I can relate. The battle of the mind can indeed be just as (if not greater) than a number of hurdles we may face outside of our heads. Mental/emotional wellness is especially vital, yet often misunderstood or not taken as seriously as it should be, especially when compared to physical issues.

So how can we tame those unwanted thoughts?

CQQ #28: New Year's Resolutions...?

A push in the right direction or a waste of time and energy?

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Happy New Year!

For those who don't know (or live someplace where this doesn't exist), New Year's resolutions is the common practice of setting any number of goals expected to be met throughout the brand new year. (It's basically an annual to-do list.) Some say they're beneficial while others say they do more harm than good.

Perhaps it's the pressure of commitment or the high expectations given to oneself that discourages some from making such plans. Or perhaps it's that reminder to push oneself toward positive changes that encourages others to stick to their plans.

Which side of the fence are you on?

CQQ #27: Cultural Influence and Pressure...?

Does culture shape your beliefs?

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Thank you, ohtacosforotakus, for suggesting this topic!

In some form or another, culture does seem to shape the way people think and approach life, whether we know it or not. Behavior, speech, eating habits, holidays, traditions, what is considered acceptable, what is considered profane... Even the way people perceive modesty may especially be influenced by culture (an older CQQ blog post that you can also check out here).

How much more does culture even influence the way we view bible scripture or perceive Christianity? It's much more common than we may think.

CQQ #26: To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo...?

A mark of faith?

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Thank you, Paul Ahnert and HonnieBunnie007, for suggesting this topic!

WARNING: This topic may be controversial. For all who read, please be civil and considerate of each others' thoughts and opinions. Thank you.

I believe that a number of people take scripture out of context when it comes to the subject of tattoos, a common passage to quote being Leviticus 19:28. We must be careful not to misinterpret scripture (a much, much historically older text) under our modern day lens. To avoid potential legalism, bear in mind that context is key.

CQQ #25 Supplementary Thoughts

Once saved always saved? (An extended commentary)

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This is my extended commentary on Curious Quill Question #25, which is on the topic of losing salvation. The following thoughts were shared on my Twitter page, but I decided to also make them available to read here:

"I wonder how many readers understood the point I was trying to make as I was sharing my personal thoughts in that blog article? It might not have been immediately obvious or made clear enough, but there was a reason why I referenced that Parable and how God looks at the heart...

CQQ #25: Lose Salvation...?

Once saved always saved?

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Thank you, Helen, for suggesting this topic!

As stated by Aslan (a literal depiction of the Lion of Judah) from C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series: "Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia."

Do we also apply this logic to our salvation in Christ? Can those who've accepted Christ as Lord and Savior ever lose their salvation?

CQQ #24: Thanks in Times of Trouble...?

Are troubles keeping you from being thankful?

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Thanksgiving week is here. But to not let it become overshadowed by Black Friday (a time when gratitude can often be replaced with greed and entitlement), it's a good time as any to remind ourselves what we're thankful for, and let that motivate our attitudes and choices.

It's okay to admit when you're feeling down. It's okay to acknowledge that things are not okay. We don't have to pretend. Being thankful is not about masking our pain but rather clinging onto hope despite our pain.

CQQ #23: Gossip and Rumors...?

When is it really our business to speak about others?

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Thank you, HonnieBunnie007, for suggesting this topic!

Many people have a fascination with mystery, from "juicy" secrets to unconfirmed theories. Many like to fantasize about the what-ifs and all the possibilities of the unknown. Some even find it exciting.

And then there's talking about other people...behind their backs. That's where there's great potential for pain and misunderstandings and broken trust.

CQQ #22: A White Lie...?

Would a white lie stain a white knight's armor?

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Many can agree that lying is bad. No one likes to be deliberately misled or have one's trust come into question. But what happens when a lie is told to better a situation in the long run? What if lying could save a life or keep the innocent from suffering? (Think superheroes, who keep their identities a secret, even if it means lying, to protect not only their personal lives but especially their loved ones from the danger of becoming a villain's targets.)

Some call this the "white lie", a lie that is supposedly minor, harmless, or possibly beneficial for the greater good.

But is it okay to lie for a good cause?

CQQ #21: Ouija Board...?

A not-so-innocent pastime for ages 8 and up?

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Since we're in the month of "all things spooky", I figured this topic would probably be expected at some point.

Some may find it baffling that, of all places, such a controversial device is being sold in today's world by Hasbro, a company known for selling children's toy products, including popular franchises as My Little Pony, Transformers, and Power Rangers. And the recommended age to use this "toy" is 8 and up. Cue the snarky comments and jokes comparing such to the legal drinking age of 21.

So, what is an ouija board?

CQQ #20: Foul Language...?

Are some words just too "bleeping" bad?

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"Are some words just inherently bad? Are we really just not allowed to say them?"

As a writer (and a graduated English major), I have to be constantly aware of the power of words and the instrument that is language. Every word naturally carries meaning; it's how we communicate ideas, imagery, emotions. Our word choice, even the first few words on a page, can make all the difference in engaging a reader's interest and getting our message across.

Socializing is no different.