Dear Abby: I’d like to go back to church, but…

Dear Abby I m a twice-divorced woman who has no children I was raised by two deeply religious parents now deceased who attended church every Sunday and took me along I regularly attended church until years ago At that time my dad was dying and I was dating a man I often had brunch and spent time with on Sundays That man and I broke up years ago I ve not long ago started thinking I should start back to church I went once about six weeks ago but haven t returned I keep finding excuses not to go such as I can t get up early enough on Sunday morning or I like spending time at home with my cats or I m too tired after working all week etc I keep wondering how much of my guilt over not going is because of how I was raised or if it s just that I think I should go Is it a sin not to go to church I ve never stopped believing in God I pray and read the Bible occasionally and I read a daily devotion every morning This has me so confused Please advise Out of Church in Tennessee Dear Out People attend religious services for various reasons Particular do it because it s how they were brought up or because they enjoy the sense of public and the sermon Others do it because they want to be seen Several churches have strict doctrine while others are not bound to rigid dogma In particular denominations it may be considered a sin not to go However I don t think you should force yourself to attend a religious arrangement for any reason other than you think you need it If you believe in God and read a daily devotion every morning it may be enough for you Dear Abby I have been divorced from Joanna for years but we remained friends and have two children I met my girlfriend Debbie years ago but seven years went by before we dated Debbie is years younger than I She longed kids and I did not so she moved on with another man After a couple years of living alone and after the death of Joanna s boyfriend I allowed Joanna to rent a bedroom in my house I needed the money A limited years later Debbie and I ended up back together Debbie craved to move in so she did Now that we have all lived together for a couple years the only complication we have is Debbie s attitude about Joanna who happens to be very pleasant Joanna keeps to herself in her room Debbie also has a bad attitude when my kids visit She makes them feel uncomfortable I love Debbie but she is making a simple life tough for no good reason What do you advise One of Three in California Dear One Tell Debbie that Joanna is renting a room in your house because you NEED THE MONEY Tell her that you don t like the fact that she makes your kids feel uncomfortable when they visit Unless she can manage an immediate -degree attitude adjustment she has to leave Set a date and then stick to it Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren also known as Jeanne Phillips and was founded by her mother Pauline Phillips Contact Dear Abby at www DearAbby com or P O Box Los Angeles CA