Grandpa,
My daughter was born when I was just 18 years old. When she was 22, she married a man 11 years older than she. She died (not long ago). That means that my very handsome former son-in-law, who is now available, is only seven years my junior. He has never called me Mom or any other maternal title. It has always been (first name). We have always gotten along well and I have always found him to be attractive. Should I suggest that he and I begin a closer relationship? I don’t know how my other daughter might take to this situation: Because she always has had her differences with me. I have already lost one daughter to an accident. I don’t want to lose this one to a family feud.
Grandpa says: Are you putting me on? Or are you just creepy? This man is still your daughter’s widower! If he were your actual son, would you entertain such perverse fantasies?
Go take a cold shower. I am sending to you by E-mail the name and phone number of a good family therapist who has years of experience dealing with individuals who have impure sexual motivations for their actions. Call her post haste!
Grandpa,
Al-Kahf:109 tells us, “If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea surely would be consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted.” In light of Daniel 7, where the sea means multitudes of people, is the Quran teaching that the world will be judged before all have had an opportunity to be redeemed? Does this confirm Revelation 17:8 where we are told about the people “whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world”?
Grandpa says: Very Good Question! When God spoke to various prophets, He used metaphors, or word pictures, that the individual prophet could understand. We need to be sure we not make a metaphor salad by throwing all of them together. The “sea” of Daniel 7 does indeed refer to the sea that Daniel saw in the dream. In Al-Kahf:109, the metaphor is self-explaining; “If the sea were ink…”. Here the writing is discussing not prophecy, but the shear volume of what God has to tell us about His love for us, our responsibilities to God as well as to one another. God’s word is an outpouring of love and this quotation is expressing that very point.
Grandpa,
Once again, the city is using the red-light camera to pick my pocket. I made a right turn on a red light and got nailed. What is the use of being able to turn right on red if you first have to wait for so long before turning? It was the middle of the night, for crying out loud! There was no other traffic, so who am I hurting? This is all just a scam to get money out the John Q. Motorist!
Grandpa says: Don’t you just hate when you can’t even take an illogical victim stance without being told to grow up? Next time, stop before turning.
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, PO Box 123,
Aurora, IL 60507 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.