I believe that your spirit gets reincarnated. After my grandfather died, my grandma was driving to the grocery store and found a dog on the side of the road. She took him in, and he absolutely loves her. He smiles just like my grandpa, too. He also sleeps next to my grandma on the same side of the bed that my grandpa did.

Back to hell. If you don’t believe in a place, how can you go there? Imagine someone says she doesn’t think there’s a place called New York. Then she’s not going there! In her mind it doesn’t exist! Hell is a Christian belief. So if I’m not a Christian, and I don’t believe in hell, how am I gonna get there?

Would Jesus really want us to suffer? No! Jesus was a good man. He loved us all. So what’s up?

Angry

Dear Angry:
I wish you were here so I could take you out for a Coke in the Brio Bug and we could really talk. This tiny space isn’t adequate to answer your question, but I’ll give you some things to consider, OK?

I’m glad your grandmother is happy with the dog she found, but really . . . almost any lost dog would be glad to be found, cared for and loved. Domestic animals respond to positive attention, so please don’t assume simply because he’s doing what a dog would do that he’s your grandfather. The Bible clearly tells us that there’s no such thing as reincarnation: “A man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

After you die, you won’t come back as a dog, cat, cow or another person. You’ll spend eternity with Christ in heaven, or you’ll be separated from Him throughout eternity in hell.

Simply choosing not to believe in hell doesn’t mean it’s not real or that you won’t go there. I can choose to believe New York doesn’t exist, but let’s say I win tickets to a Broadway show. Even though I board a plane not believing there’s a New York, if I’m going to a Broadway show, I’m going to actually fly to New York whether I believe it exists or not.

We aren’t the ones who decide what reality is. God determines that. You can choose to believe whatever you wish, but that won’t change or determine reality. You can believe that gravity doesn’t exist, but if you jump off of a 10-story building, reality will prove your belief wrong.

Last, you ask, “Would Jesus want us to suffer?” Jesus loves us more than we can comprehend, but He does allow suffering. He suffered more than we can imagine when He died for our sins. He calls us to follow Him to the cross . . . and, yes, that will involve some suffering. Here’s something to think about: If you don’t want to love and serve Christ during this life, why would you want to love and serve Him throughout eternity?

Dear Susie:
A few years ago my father passed away. My mother just got remarried, and she wants me to call him Dad. I love him, but I’m just not ready for that. What do I do?

Confused Daughter

Dear Confused:
I understand your hesitation. Please have a face-to-face with your mom and explain that you love your stepdad and that you’re willing to eventually call him “Dad,” but you’re just not there yet. Ask if she can allow you to work through this process in your own timing. Explain that you’re still grieving the death of your father, and while you will move on with your life, you simply need more time before you begin calling the new man of the house “Dad.”

Dear Susie:
I’m scared. There’s a lot of talk going around that Christ’s return will happen soon. Some of the stuff that will happen is horrible to hear. I worry about my friends, family and myself. I know I shouldn’t be this stressed; I should be at peace with Jesus’ returning, but I can’t help but be fearful. I don’t want my family being left behind. They’re Christians, but they don’t always act like it. Any advice?

Frightened

Dear Frightened:
It’s normal to be apprehensive about the unknown. As Christians, we know we’ll spend eternity with Christ in heaven, but we still have questions about what heaven will be like and the whole concept of forever.

Don’t confuse normal apprehension with fear. If you’ve asked Christ to forgive your sins and you have a relationship with Him, you’re a Christian and will get to live in heaven eternally. Satan would love to toss doubts your way. He wants you to question your Christianity, to fear the future and to dread the end of the world.

But check this out: “We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us” (1 John 4:18, The Living Bible).

Theologians have varying beliefs concerning the end times. Some believe Christians will be Raptured before the Tribulation; others don’t believe in a Rapture at all. The issue is to make sure you’re right with God.