Is the Bible relevant to your life today? Though written thousands of years ago, its wisdom and advice is amazingly up-to-date. Consider what it says about these modern issues:

Dadlessness: Forty percent of American young people live in homes without their father. God says we can come to Him—He is a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and He encourages the Church to be a supportive family to the fatherless and widows (James 1:27).

Peer pressure: In a recent poll on the drug habits of British young people, 22 percent said they tried drugs because of peer pressure (www.teachernet.gov.uk). The Bible has advice about choosing friends carefully, the effects of controlled substances and not following the mistakes of others (Proverbs 4:14-15; 12:26; 14:7; 20:1; 23:20-21, 29-35; 27:12).

Sex: The vast majority of teenagers who have had sex, 72 percent of girls and 55 percent of boys, admit regret over early sexual activity (www.cwfa.org/brochures/cwa_abstinence_brochure.pdf). The Bible teaches the blessings of saving sex for marriage and warns of the allure of illicit sex (Song of Solomon 2:7; Proverbs 4:23; 5:3-23; 6:24-35; Hebrews 13:4).

Big decisions: Facing choices of college and career? How can you achieve success? Consider these verses: Proverbs 3:5-6; 15:22; 18:17; 21:5; 22:29.

Stress: One third of U.S. teens say they feel stressed out on a daily basis, reports Reuters Health. What can you do when the worries and pressures are mounting? Check out Matthew 6:25-34; 11:28-30; Hebrews 13:5-6; and 1 Peter 5:6-7.

These few verses are only a starting point. To find more on these and other subjects, do a search on the VerticalThought.org Web site. Also, the book of Proverbs is full of relevant advice. You can find a subject index for Proverbs at www.ucg.org/brp/pdf/brp0611.pdf.