Dear Blabby

Dear Blabby;
I love my pastor and my "home church," but it has very few teens and almost no youth activities. So, instead of going to Sunday evening services with my folks, I've been going to Youth Group at another church about two blocks away. One of the ladies at church is upset with me about that. What do you think?
Tennessee Teen

Dear Teen;
I don't know all the details, but am proud you searched out some wholesome teens to hang with and a good program to be involved with. you might talk with your pastor and other church leaders about developing a Youth program, but if that's not doable right now, stay with the neighboring church. As for the "church lady," be respectful but try to help her understand that Jesus is not upset with you and you hope she can "put on the mind of Christ" and encourage you rather than condemn you.
Blabby

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Dear Blabby;
My sister has moved to an apartment across from ours, and from the very first day has been asking for help from me or my husband. Ever since her husband died she acts as if all the men in the family should help take care of her. It's becoming quite a bother. How can I get her to seek other solutions to her problems?
Bothered in Boise

Dear Bothered;
The Bible has quite a bit to say about widows. Why don't you go to http://biblegateway.com and do a keyword search on "widows" then read the instructions God gives about how to treat them.
Blabby

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Dear Blabby;
I have fallen in love with a man who is a recovering alcoholic. He has been "dry" for 12 years but still goes to AA meetings and works with others to fight their addiction. He also leads a small group on "Recovery" at our church.He has asked me to marry him, but I am afraid he may "fall off the wagon." They say once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. I DO love him; dare I trust that he'll stay "dry?"
Unsure in Utica

Dear Unsure;
Marriage, to anyone, is a big step. Yes, it's wise to look at all the angles, but if this fellow is truly saved and hasn't had a drink in 12 years, I'd say that's a fair record... Unless, of course, you think YOU might drive him to the bottle!
Blabby

Our Readers Write...

There is a silent truth in society that God has given me a mandate to bring to the fore-front of the church.  At the age of eight & twelve I was molested by a woman and only through the "Transformation of my Mind" Ephesians 4:23, do I stand up today proclaiming Jesus is Lord....and HIS name is above all names.  I just released a book "A Woman Touched Me, But God Healed Me".  I pray my story will minister to body of Christ the healing balm of Jesus.  Because if your mind is sick, your whole body tends to follow. 
Be Blessed
Co-Pastor Val ( Val Scarbrough  )
Charlotte, NC

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I have read the story you have posted about Stanford University many times from many places.  It's a huge bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul.  Unfortunately, it is entirely false and misrepresentative of the Stanford family.  The grossest Hollywoodization of the story is the statement that their son was accidentally killed.  He died of Typhoid fever just before he turned 16.  Please check your story with Stanford University's own published history, which is even more touching than the falsehood dramas you have posted.
Thank you,
Mariano Aguirre
 
P.S. The history of Stanford University. Here is the link to what is below.
http://www.stanford.edu/home/stanford/history/begin.html

Dear Mariano. Please forgive my delay.
I will publish your note and the link and as I do not want to contribute to misinformation. If I can find the page on my site that contains the erroneous info, I will delete it. I have over 4,000 pages.
Blessed to be in His service, iona

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Heartbeats" Focus"  : I thought that name would be a great one only because we often times forget one focus in our journey at times that we often time don't see what it is in life in seeing what's in front of us we literally loose track and our eyes and heart often times fails us. We look off in our visions and and we become wayward at times and often times have to come back and ask our precious Father to widen our eyes and heart to keep going in keeping him in our heart and set it a blaze in moving onward in him. We can be intimidated by those around us in our lives. We think we have it together when we looked at others along that journey and often times those that are being used greatly and we have wondered off, in seeing other ladies have great poise, grace, wisdom and very contentment showing in their lives.

All we need to do is "Focus on reading our scriptures to the church, encouraging believers, and teaching them"  (1Tim.4:13 N.L.T.) Our scriptures are our mainstay in all kinds of sources of teaching and encouragement. If we all keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ so we all can live such a beautiful life and have a better world to live in No! matter what state this world is in today. So let's keep our heartbeat "Focus" on that goal, and of which God has everything for us in this life. God takes away all that's blurred in our visions in total commitment and cultivating our outlook in one being  and having contentment. That's "HEARTBEATS "FOCUS"
Catherine C

Dear Catherine,
You were probably reading an archived issue of the webzine when we were looking for a name. I like your style and the FOCUS of your HEART!
iona

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Iona,
The January issue was great! I read every page, spreading them out over the month. I hope you are able to keep them coming. I know you are essentially a one-woman-show. LOL

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If my browser broke and I had to stay on just one site, this would be it!

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I"m a guy but I still get a whole lot out of your site. I also notice you accept submissions from men. That's pretty neat!

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Hi,
I was so happy to come across your link. Great site.
Beth

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I left this one up because it may be of help to others:
I have a complaint: Although the writing is fine and I enjoy the e-zine, the pages load too slowly. You probably lose a lot of visitors because of this lag.

Dear Hurried Friend;
There's an easy solution for those in a hurry... just disable images on your browser.
Iona

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