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During the summer, I'm very devoted to God and am comfortable leaving my life in his hands, praying before meals, and openly talking about him. But, when school comes back around, I do a 180. I stop being a "real" Christian, and my attitude changes, to the worst. I don't know if it's because of the people I hang out with, the life style I have, or something else. Any ideas on how to stay close to God?

Absolutely. The summer vacation "environment" is so different from the rest of the year (avoiding the obvious weather jokes), it's like two worlds. But the problem isn't really that, so much as what you're doing in it.

Every season, every day, try to put God first. And it doesn't have to be a formal thing; heck, a quick "Lord, help me focus on You" while you're sitting in the back of the schoolbus in the morning can help.

Now, obviously, I don't need to tell you about the importance of prayer or Bible-reading; you already know these things. I'm just trying to point out the simplicity of doing it. Scribbling a Bible verse on the inside of your notebook (NOT your textbook!) where you'll see it each day is good (though I admit, I'd have to change it once a week or so; "familiarity breeds contempt" and all that).

In my opinion (keeping in mind that I'm the epitome of anti-social), probably the most important non-spiritual thing you can do is tell others to take a flying leap. If you don't want to say even a few seconds' worth of grace at lunchtime because you're concerned about how others will react ... well, I'd have to ask who you're really worshipping. If you want to ... I don't know, you didn't give us many details, so I'm improvising a lot here ... oh, hang out with your friends and all of you get plastered to the gills, you need new friends. If your lifestyle is more important to you than God, well ... I don't think I need to finish that one.

Besides, how long does it take to say "Lord, thanks for the food; please protect me from the side-effects"? Heck, it only took me eight seconds to type it.

Now, I'm about to say something very mean. And understand now, I don't like to do that. I'm not trying to be mean; it's just a ... side-effect.

If you continue to hang out with your friends, telling us or yourself that your example is going to help them ... you're lying to us and yourself, and you're not very bright. That "oh, I can help them and still act the way I want" is a load of crap that people tell themselves to make themselves feel good about not doing a bloody thing. Besides, judging from the way you describe yourself, you're not mature enough as a Christian to hold firm in the way you need to if you're wanting to be of use to God in this way.

Okay, meanness is over now.

Xi was right; get new friends. Or be friendless; contrary to popular belief, it's quite possible to survive school with no friends. Me, if I had to choose between one friend (God) and fifty (normal people), I'd go with the One. He'll still be around after graduation, at least.

Now, I'm not going to say the blame is all on your friends, nor am I going to say it's all on you. I don't even like the word "blame". I'm saying the power to change this is all on you. And you've already started! You came to us, total strangers, for help and advice -- and presumably prayer. So you obviously know there's a problem, and you want to change things.

So ... do it in small steps. Keep talking with people around here. Say a three-second prayer before you eat the mystery meat. Ask God for guidance while you're walking between classes. Tell your friends Saturday night you're going to church Sunday morn, so you need to get to bed early (blame it on your family wink ). Heck, plug some Bible verses into your Ipod, or set your cell phone to play "Joyful Joyful". Buy a T-shirt that references God in some way, 'cause if you can wear that in public, you've just boosted your confidence.

I hear a lot of people talk about how hard it is to be a Christian. This is just me, but I became a Christian halfway through high school, and for me it was easier being a Christian than being unsaved. I actually survived high school, and that was a miracle right there. College was even easier, since I made some Christian friends. It can be done, girl; it can be done.

All you have to do ... is do it. Try, and even when you fail, keep trying. Don't make it an emotional thing, so that any failure drives you to despair for three days; just say, "I goofed, but with God's help, I can still get this right!" and keep going.

My church would tell you that you need to die to your flesh. If your left hand causes you to sin, cut it off.