On Target Need a straight answer? Pastor Josue Sanchez and counselor Charmaine Matthews are the authors of Guide's advice column, "On Target: God-centered Advice for Your Tough Problems." Look below to read some of the questions they have answered in past issues of Guide.

On Target Archive Questions

• I’m 14, and I think I’m old enough to make my own decisions about what TV shows I want to watch and what kind of music to listen to. My parents don’t agree with me. Who’s right?

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• My parents think my computer games are too violent, but I can’t find any fun games that don’t have violence. Any suggestions? >>



• How could God let all those innocent people die in the Indian Ocean tsunamis? Does He not care, or what? >>



• My Christian friend says his family isn’t interested in Adventism because they want to “live under grace and not law.” What is he talking about? >>



• Why does church have to be so boring? >>



• For some reason my dad and my aunt (his sister) don't seem to get along at all. Is there anything I can do to change things? >>



• I have two reports due on the same day. What should I do? >>



• Should we be vegans? >>



• Does Israel play any part in Jesus' second coming? >>



• I have a bigger sister that I can't get along with. I've tried! How do I get along with her? >>



• I have no friends. All the other boys do stuff I wouldn't do. What should I do to make friends or feel better? >>




• Should we listen to rap music?

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• How old is the earth?

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• I keep falling into temptation. I ask God for forgiveness, but I keep doing the same thing again. I want to stop. Help!

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• There is this girl I like in my class, and I don’t know if she likes me. What should I do?

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• What should I do when I am blamed for something I didn’t do and my parents don’t believe me when I tell them I didn’t do it?

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• What should I say to explain to my Lutheran friend how Seventh-day Adventists are different from other main religions?

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• How do you be nice to a guy when he is so annoying that you want to punch him?

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• I see that all my favorite bands, like My Chemical Romance and The Used, paint their nails black. Many of my friends at school do, too, and I’ve tried it before. (We use markers.) But my parents won’t let me do it anymore! Is there any satanic background or something?

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• I am only 10 pounds overweight, but when I look in the mirror, I look w-a-a-y-y bigger than that. Sometimes I get really self-conscious. What should I do?

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• I am working really hard to keep my mind on Jesus during the Sabbath, but my friends are always talking about what they are going to do when the Sabbath is over—going to the mall, movies, and stuff like that. What can I do in those situations?

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• What do you do when you have a crush on a guy and you can’t get over it no matter how hard you try?

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• My parents have been divorced for about nine years, and they hate each other. I’m caught in the middle. What should I do?

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• When my friend and I play games, and I win, she cries or gets mad at me. Sometimes she cheats to make sure I don’t win. Plus she steals my stuff! I don’t want her to come over, but she has to because her older sister comes to hang out with my older sister. Help, please!

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• I’m a total workaholic! I have to do so many things that I don’t have time to study my Bible. Right now I’m typing this question while doing homework! I don’t want to quit any of my clubs, and the rest of my stuff is mandatory. What should I do?

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• Should we follow all that the Bible tells us to do, or not? Somewhere in the Bible I read that we should not wear clothes made from two different materials, and another place it says that women should keep their heads covered. Why don’t we do those things today?

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• My dad is always saying “Do your Bible study,” when he isn’t even acting like a role model. I wish he’d stop nagging. He actually makes me less motivated to go to church and study the Bible! What should I do?

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• I have been feeling sad for almost a year. I don’t know why this is happening. Any advice?

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• I have a HUGE test coming up soon. What are some ways to stay cool and not stress before a test?

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• I think I’m old enough to do things without an adult around, but my parents are strict. They never let me do things on my own. Help!

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• I have an acne problem on my face, and I want it to clear up now! What can I do?

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