Dear Sam, I am kind of confused by someone I know who comes across as quiet and weak. But I’m beginning to realize how controlling she is because she is “teaching” me to be very careful about what I say and what I would like from our friendship. She gets hurt […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam; I have always had a fascination with astronomy. And so, I am curious about what the Christmas star could have been. A comet, maybe? An exploding star? Wondering about the star.   Dear Star of Wonder; You are not alone in this wondering. The Star of Bethlehem has intrigued astronomers, theologians and Christian […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, A friend of mine said that as a Christian I should not have a Christmas tree because it has pagan beginnings. It may have been used in satan worship. What do I do? Throw out the tree and all its decorations? Now that I think about it, what does […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I've had a very bad experience and I'm feeling sad and mad and hopeless. Does this mean I've lost my faith?      -In Big Trouble- Dear Troubled, It depends on the who and what of your faith. It is possible to believe in God and then to put your […] [READ MORE]

Dear SAM- A weekly column in the Pembroke Daily Observer newspaper. Dear Sam, my mother, again and still must have her way, her opinions, her expectations met or else she gets cold and hard and sets a horrible tone. When I got back from my brother's wedding (one my mother highly […] [READ MORE]

Inside the Issue or Dear Sam...our semi-weekly article in the Pembroke Daily Observer newspaper... Dear Sam, This year I want to reject materialism and just worship God's gift of Jesus. I'm considering buying no gifts for family, but maybe give to charity in their names. I'm hoping they will be influenced by […] [READ MORE]

Inside the Issue or Dear Sam...our semi-weekly article in the Pembroke Daily Observer newspaper... Dear Sam, As a Christian I see a lot of sin being accepted and acted on as completely normal and preferable. Sometimes I say or do something to indicate my opposition, but that doesn't really change anything. Im […] [READ MORE]

Inside the Issue or Dear Sam...our semi-weekly article in the Pembroke Observer newspaper... Dear Sam, when I became a Christian I was under the impression that believing in Jesus as my Saviour would be all I need. When I hear that I am a sinner I feel falsely and unfairly accused […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I had an “aha” moment when I became aware that my cousin, whom I had thought weak and unable, was actually strong-arming me with her pretended “sensitivity”. I was always careful around her, not realizing how expert she was at manipulating me into agreeing with her, doing things […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, why is it so hard to let go of past hopes and hurts? I know it's over and done with but my mind keeps reviewing it as if I could go back and redo it, which I can't. What can I do to control my thoughts?Haunted Dear Haunted […] [READ MORE]

Inside the Issue or Dear Sam...our semi-weekly article in the Pembroke Observer newspaper... Dear Sam, I just realized that whenever I'm with this particular person I get really nasty to him. I'm not normally like that, so I walk away feeling really guilty and confused. What could I do to change […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I used to be so confident and spontaneous, but now I'm worried and distressed about everything. There's really nothing wrong in my life, it's just that I feel such dread about the future. Do you think all the bad news in the world is affecting me? The funny […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, Someone recently said something about there being a difference between sin and evil. It got me thinking, and it sounds right, but I don't know how you'd know the difference if you saw it. Is it just a matter of how bad the bad is, or is there […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I have a friend that I enjoy being with, but mostly it's on her terms. She cancels out, she's very picky about what to do, she's too weak to do untried, unexpected things. I guess she's needy, but at the same time very controlling. I know if I […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, How is it possible for me to have a conflicting relationship with absolutely everyone! I never noticed it before, but no matter what is going on, no one can understand what I'm talking about, and I can never get what they are saying. I wonder whether I have […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I'm really disappointed in myself because there are so many things that I don't understand and can't do. I watch other people be smart and capable and I feel so dumb. I thought God would help me, but he doesn't. My son is constantly criticizing me for getting […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I've recently moved and joined a new congregation. Culture shock! In my old church no one expected anything more than that we would come, but here people act like we are going to get involved in activities and Bible study. I'm not sure how invested I want to […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I have a coworker that I usually eat lunch with. She knows that I am a Christian and is always asking me questions about Jesus and the Bible. I try to answer her questions well, but I end up either sounding like I don't know what I'm talking about […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, Here it is, Lent, and after a life-time in the church I still don't understand the “blood of Jesus”. When I used to ask, no one said anything that made sense to me. I'm sick of being in the dark. If someone can't explain it to me, I […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, Many years ago I dismissed the whole religion-church thing because I had a pastor who was really mean. I tried to ask real questions about God and he threw me out of the class. I never forgave him. Recently I've realized that he will die soon and what […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I have a friend who always pushes me to complain. She asks leading questions about problems in my marriage, at work or whatever we are talking about. I usually try to stay optimistic, and if there are problems I'm choosy about who I confide in. I'm afraid to […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, My wife died after a lengthy illness, and now I'm friends with a woman who has asked me some surprising questions. She wanted to know what mistakes I made with my family, and what I have learned in life. Honestly, I never made mistakes with my family. I was […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, I just can't believe the nerve of some people! My friend heard about some plans for a trip I wanted to take, planned the very same trip, and asked the other friend I was going to ask. Now the two of them are going, I'm left out and have […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, In your last column you said “not every response to us has to do with us”. It was like a light going on. I've always assumed that if someone ignores me or hurts me in some way that it must be because I deserved it. But I often could […] [READ MORE]

Dear Sam, My neighbor had always been pleasant, but suddenly he is really curt and cold. I'm assuming that I've done something to annoy him, but for the life of me I can't imagine what it is. It's so bad that I even want to move. What should I do? -Confused- Dear Confused I'm […] [READ MORE]