FAITH AND YOU

Terry Pluto writes about Religion and Faith Issues

Gripe, gripe, gripe. Can Americans go a whole day without complaining? Perhaps we should try. Full story »

Even Jesus' prayer that he would not have to go to the cross, was rejected. Everyone has prayers that are not answered in the ways we'd like, but something good can come from them. Full story »

"I am convinced there will be animals," said the Rev. Donna Barrett, pastor of Rockside Church in Independence. Full story »

Are we friends? Columnist Terry Pluto writes that virtual relationships are no substitute for the real thing. Full story »

Columnist Terry Pluto gets a glimpse of what heaven might be like. Full story »

A friend recently stopped by the cemetery where his 32-year-old daughter-in-law is buried. "This just isn't right," he said to himself, thinking about her death from cancer, leaving behind a 3-year-old son and a husband. "I know that God never gives us more than we can handle . . . " he told me, his voice trailing off. Actually, the... Full story »

Want to know what you really think is important? Ask yourself what you are willing to wait for. This revelation came from the Rev. Diana Swoope, pastor of Akron's Arlington Church of God. "Your true desire is shown by what you are willing to work and wait for over a long period of time," she said. Swoope loves roller coasters,... Full story »

"I know I shouldn't say this, but . . ." Have you ever said that? "You better believe it," said the Rev. Gary Chmura of Cleveland's Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. "And every time I said it, I regretted it." He paused. "I mean, every time," Chmura said. Same with me. Whenever I start a sentence with "I know... Full story »

Terry Pluto shares readers' responses to his column about keeping faith with God even in the darkest times. Full story »

A friend for whom my wife and I had been praying was seemingly clear of breast cancer. The news had been good for a few years. She and her husband are in their 30s, and they have three children under the age of 10. Answered prayers? Just this week, our friend was told that the cancer had roared back... Full story »

Paul Sartarelli is a pastor at The Chapel in Akron. A big part of his job is talking about God. But when someone close to him was dying, he couldn't quite do it. "I found it easier to discuss the Indians or the cancer," he said. "But not something of eternal significance. I had a hard time forgiving myself... Full story »

A good father wants to be a better father, and that's why I'm writing this column for Father's Day weekend. Obviously, we all should thank God for our father figures, biological or otherwise, for what they have done for us. And we should tell them what they mean to us. But I also think every dad is like the rest... Full story »

Dan just celebrated his fourth anniversary of sobriety. As we had breakfast a few days ago, he talked about the other three guys who were his roommates at the rehabilitation center. "They all wanted me to stay in touch with them," Dan said. "Within three weeks, they all had fallen off the wagon. All three!" Dan shook his head. He... Full story »

Just say, "I don't know." That's one lesson Knute Larson is leaving behind after 26 years as a pastor at The Chapel in Akron. The 68-year-old Larson is moving to Michigan, about an hour from Chicago, where he will teach at Moody Bible Institute and other area universities. Larson said people of faith too often try to explain what can't... Full story »

Last Sunday, the last place I wanted to be was church. I awoke with a headache that felt like Victor Martinez was using my skull for batting practice -- hacking at me with an axe. I was exhausted from a long week spent in a hospital and later, a hospice, helping a friend die. I would rather have chewed on... Full story »