Getting angry with your children wasn't wise, because they love you and have your best interests at heart. And someday you'll probably need their help, so why alienate them? The Bible rightly warns, "stirring up anger produces strife" (Proverbs 30:33).

But the real issue is your decision to move in with this male friend, and I certainly share your children's concern. I know many today think nothing of living together or ignoring traditional moral values. But God takes such values seriously, and He does so for a very good reason: He loves us and knows what can happen when we turn our backs on His moral standards.

After all, marriage is one of God's greatest gifts to the human race, and we treat it lightly at our peril -- no matter how young or old we are. Have you ever stopped to consider what impact your example may have on others, especially your grandchildren? It would be tragic if they end up taking marriage lightly and blaming you for their attitude. The Bible says, "Marriage should be honored by all" (Hebrews 13:4).

But your letter concerns me for another reason: It suggests your only concern is for your immediate happiness, without any concern for God and His will. Someday soon, however, you will enter eternity and stand before Him, and you aren't prepared for that day. But you can be, by repenting of your sins and giving your life to Jesus Christ -- beginning today.

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Today is Memorial Day in our nation, a day set aside to remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives to defend our freedoms. The Bible's words certainly apply to those we remember on this special day: "Give everyone what you owe him... if honor, then honor" (Romans 13:7).

May this day be a special time of encouragement and comfort to you, as you remember your son's devotion to his country and his sacrifice in its service. Almost nothing is harder than losing a son or daughter -- and I want to assure you that God knows the hurt and grief you bear. May you find special strength as you commit your sorrow into His hands.

May you also realize on this day that you are not alone, for others also are walking this same path. But may you especially realize that your son's death was not useless, and on this day we should thank God for all those who paid the ultimate price to defend our nation.

Your burden of grief is understandable, but may God's promises of comfort and peace ease your burden and give you hope for the future. After all, God knows what it is to lose a Son -- and yet because of Christ's sacrifice, we can have hope for eternal life as we put our faith and trust in Him. Put your life into His hands, for He alone could say, "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).

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I can assure you that the devil is real; he isn't an imaginary figure or just a symbol for evil. Evil is real, and so is Satan, for ultimately all evil can be traced back to him.

Why does the devil keep on fighting, in spite of the fact that the Bible says he's a defeated foe whose power will someday be destroyed? One reason is because he doesn't really believe what God says. In fact, the very first question in the Bible came from the devil, who denied what God had told Adam and Eve and declared instead that God had lied to them (see Genesis 3:1-4). Satan's very nature is to lie and distort the truth, and apparently he thinks God does the same. But he is wrong.

There may be another reason why the devil keeps fighting, and that is because he does gain victories. Whenever someone gives in to temptation, Satan has gained a victory. Whenever someone rejects Christ and turns their back on God, Satan has gained a victory. Don't let this be true in your life! Instead, make sure of your commitment to Christ by repenting of your sins and giving your life to Him today.

Satan, however, is a defeated foe, for someday God will intervene, all evil will be destroyed, and Christ will reign forever and ever. God's judgment is certain: "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

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No, this is not true, although it's been repeated so often and for so long that many people still believe it, and -- like your uncle -- have used it to justify their prejudice against people of other races.

Noah, the Bible tells us, had three sons, each of whom (after the great flood) would become the founder of a number of nations or peoples. One of the sons, Ham, became the founder of some groups that settled in Africa, although most of his descendants settled elsewhere, including Babylonia and Assyria in the Middle East. (You can read the list of the nations that came from Noah's sons in Genesis 10.)

Because of a specific shameful act that occurred after the great flood, Noah pronounced a curse or judgment on one of Ham's sons, a man by the name of Canaan. The judgment was that Canaan and his descendants would become servants or slaves to his brothers and their descendants, and over time, this actually happened. But the curse was not on Ham; it was only on his son, Canaan (see Genesis 9:25). Nor was Canaan the founder of any African nation or race; his descendants settled only in the Middle East.

Racial prejudice is sin in the eyes of God, and the Bible should never be used to defend it. God created the whole human race, and Jesus Christ died to redeem people from every race. Remember: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

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I hope you won't thoughtlessly throw this Bible away or sell it to someone with no connection to your family. It may not mean anything to you right now, but once it's gone, your descendants will have lost an important link to their heritage.

After all, you may not be a sentimental person about your family, but some of your children or grandchildren may be. Remember, too, that old family Bibles often contain information (usually in the front) about the family that you won't want to lose. If you aren't interested in keeping it, you might see if someone else in your extended family is.

It's possible, I know, for us to make too much of our family heritage; some people do, often in a prideful way. But we also can learn from those who've gone before us -- and I pray this will be the case with you. From what you say, your grandfather loved the Bible and read it every day -- and he did so, I'm sure, because he knew it is God's Word. Through it, we learn about God and the salvation He offers to us through Jesus Christ.

May you learn from his example, by committing yourself to Jesus Christ and building your life on His Word, the Bible. The Bible says, "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts" (Psalm 145:4).

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The most important thing you can do is seek God's will for your future, including His will about this job (or any other opportunities you may have). The Bible says, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:6).

After all, God knows all about you, and He loves you and wants what is best for you. He also knows all about this potential job and whether this report is true or if it's simply the grumbling of a discontented ex-employee. This is why I urge you to pray for God's guidance, asking Him to show you what His will is for your future.

Begin by committing your life to Jesus Christ, if you have never done so; it is the most important decision you will ever make. Then ask Him to give you wisdom about the job offer. Don't accept it just because the pay is good or because it's your only choice right now. God is able to open other doors, if this isn't the right job for you.

Above all, however, don't compromise your integrity or do things that are unethical or dishonest, no matter what job you take or how much pressure you get. At the time it may seem like the best thing to do, but God never rewards dishonesty. The Bible says, "No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Psalm 84:11).

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In reality, you've asked a spiritual question, because God is concerned about everything that concerns us, including our relationships with other people (including difficult ones). The Bible says, "God is with you in everything you do" (Genesis 21:22).

But your question also has a spiritual dimension to it because of what it indicates about your aunt. Her problem isn't simply that she talks too much; her real problem (I suspect) is that she's a very self-centered person, so wrapped up in herself that she isn't concerned about anyone else. Perhaps she's insecure and feels the need to impress others by constantly talking about herself; on the other hand, she may think she's better (and more fascinating) than anyone else. But the Bible says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment" (Romans 12:3).

Whatever the reason, her insensitivity and self-centeredness aren't pleasing to God (which is why this is a spiritual problem). Don't, therefore, think of her only as a problem, but pray for her and ask God to help her seek Christ's forgiveness and new life. Pray, too, that God may give you an opportunity to confront your aunt privately about this; she may not even realize what she's doing.

Ask God also to help you think of practical ways to keep her from being too disruptive. For example, give your aunt tasks to do; seat her with a different group at each meal; set aside times for everyone to share what's going on in their lives.

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By all means, don't ignore this family. It's tragic when people from other countries come here to study or work, and end up feeling no one cares about them or wants to be their friend.

Instead, do all you can to reach out to them and let them know you care and want to help them. In other words, the most important thing you can do is to be friendly! After all, if you were in their situation, wouldn't you feel lonely and want someone to be your friend? Remember Jesus' words in what we often call 'the Golden Rule': "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12).

What can you do? Begin by calling on them (perhaps with a little gift of food, or small toys for their children. Avoid, however, anything that might be misunderstood, such as food they wouldn't eat in their culture or toy weapons.). Offer to help them with transportation, or babysitting, or make suggestions about places to shop. Don't overwhelm them, but do ask God to help you be their friend.

In addition, ask God to help you reach out to them the same way He has reached out to us -- in love and understanding and compassion. Seek to understand their needs, and learn more about their country and its customs. Most of all, ask God to give you opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, both by your words and your example.

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Yes, it certainly is possible to become addicted to things other than drugs or alcohol. An addiction is something that almost consumes a person's time and energy, and that they can't break out of on their own.

Occasionally, I get letters from people who spend all their time on the Internet, or on constant exercise, gambling, pornography, or some other bad habit they don't seem to be able to break, although they usually know it's harmful and could even destroy them. Psychologists I've talked to say these activities can become just as addictive as a dangerous drug -- and as destructive. I'm not qualified to know when a bad habit crosses the line and becomes a true addiction, but I know it can happen.

I'm curious, however, why you've asked this question. Has some habit taken root in your life so deeply that you fear you can't break free? If so, face it honestly, and then ask God to help you overcome it. It won't be easy, and it may require the help of others, but don't let pride or anything else keep you from seeking help.

Whatever your situation, make it your goal to live for Christ and seek His will for your life. God loves you, and when we commit our lives to Christ, He comes to live within us and help us by His Holy Spirit. Make your commitment to Christ today. Then let the Psalmist's pledge become yours: "I will be careful to lead a blameless life.... I will walk in my house with blameless heart" (Psalm 101:2).

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I believe it is true, if we have committed our lives to Christ and have sought to walk with Him every day. And this certainly is God's plan for us, because (as the Bible says) He wants our spiritual lives to grow "in increasing measure" (2 Peter 1:8).

But this doesn't happen automatically, any more than a fruit tree will bear fruit if we never fertilize it or prune it or take care of it. Many Christians, I'm afraid, sincerely commit their lives to Jesus (perhaps when they are young) but then never grow in their faith, and they remain immature and ineffective. They seldom open their Bibles; they go to church only when it's convenient; they only pray if they get in a jam. But the Bible says, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

I often think of Peter, in the New Testament. He was one of Jesus' closest disciples -- and yet when Jesus was arrested Peter denied he even knew Him. His faith -- at best -- was unstable and weak. But look at him later! He was willing to die for Christ, and his letters as an old man reflect great spiritual maturity.

What made the difference? Simply this: Peter didn't stay still in his faith, but he deliberately grew in his faith as the years passed. Is this happening in your life, as you root your soul in the "soil" of God's Word, and prayer, and fellowship with other believers?

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