- Glory to God in the Highest (published: Tabor Voice, Nov-Dec 2002; Divine Light, Dec 2003)
- Living in the Will of God (published: Tabor Voice, Jan-Feb 2003)
- What we should do this Lent (published: The Examiner, March 2003)
- Lost your reputation? Rejoice! (published: Divine Light, July 2004)
- The Potter & His Clay - A Spiritual Analogy
- Death on an Easter Sunday
- How Jesus saved us from the fire next door
- God isn't deaf
- Get on a Barnabus trip
- A Year Older and a lot less Wise (Part 1 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- He sang to me (Part 2 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- The Value of Intercession (Part 3 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- Do you want a FREE GIFT that can never be taken from you?! (Dec 2003 / Jan 2004)
- Love is in the air... (February 2004)
- Was it worth it all? (March 2004)
- I Confess... (April 2004)
- The Beautiful Blessing of Christian Fellowship! (May 2004)
- Power Evangelize! (June 2004)
- 'Best Friends' till the end (July 2004)
- Family Matters (August 2004)
- Do you know WHY you believe? (September 2004)
- You're going to be let down (October 2004)
- Praying with the Holy Pope (November 2004)
- Hang in there (December 2004) (published: Divine Light, Jan 2005)
- Just like that. And you're gone (January 2005)
- The Divine Lover of My Soul (February 2005)
- Is it ever "too late" to do right? (March 2005)
- To Emmaus, or back again? The choice is yours! (April 2005) (published:Divine Truth, April 2007)
- Bear Much Fruit (May 2005) (published: Divine Light, July 2005)
- Holiness and the Heart of Love (June 2005)
- Spiritual Boot Camp (July 2005)
- Abundant Life! (August 2005)
- Unanswered Prayers? (September 2005)
- Trust in the Lord! (October 2005)
- Persevere! (December 2005)
- New Resolutions this New Year (January 2006)
- 'Having it All' = Having Jesus (February 2006)
- He Understands (April 2006)
- My Invisible Tattoo (September 2006)
- Cardinal Justin Rigali ~ "Glorify God in Your Body" (October 2006)
- A Fattened Calf for me (December 2006)
- How to come out of a Spiritual Downward Spiral - Part 1 (January 2007)
- Jesus is Alive. Need Proof? ( October 2007)
- Biblical Catholics (November 2007)
- Religion or Spirituality? (September 2008)
- Lessons from the strange race between the Tortoise and the Hare (October 2008)
- How to react when Spiritual Leaders fall / backslide: (November 2008)
February 2006
'Having it All' = Having Jesus
This month opened with every newspaper in India headlining the suicide of television actress/model Kuljeet Randhawa.
Kuljeet had made it big in Indian television with lead roles in several serials. She was beautiful. She had money, fame & popularity. At the tender age of 30, Kuljeet had achieved what the world terms "success".
When ex-Miss India/model/actress Nafisa Joseph committed suicide in the same manner two years ago, people asked the same question they're asking now -
"Why would she, who had it all, do this?"
Media and society - indeed, the world in general - teaches us that beauty, wealth, fame & popularity are to be sought after - 'If we gain these, then we will be happy'
The Bible offers us very different answers on how to be happy.
For starters, it doesn't condemn all the things of the world. These things (like money, beauty, fame etc) can be enjoyed by man and in fact will be given to man by God if we seek first His kingdom.
The problem is that we buy into the lies of the world that we can achieve happiness without God, if we have these things. The truth is that without God, we will never be happy.
The Bible tells us in John 15 that apart from Jesus we can do nothing, we have nothing.
It is only in knowing the one true trinitarian God - Father, Son & Spirit -that we will truly be happy.
Knowing God will enable us to use the things the world has to offer rightly and hence derive happiness from them.
For example; for those with God, money can be used for the welfare of others besides self & the result is true happiness. For those without God, no amount of money satisfies, the result is a greed for 'more'.
I wish to say at this point, that I cannot (nor should anyone) judge Kuljeet or Nafisa; judging them would be a sin even if I knew them personally, which I did't.
I only use their premature deaths as an example to drive home the fact that there is more to happiness than what the world tells us.
There is a hymn which states:
I could wish you joy and peace.
To last a whole life long.
I could wish you sunshine.
Or a cheerful little song
Or wish you all the happiness.
That this life could bring.
But I wish You Jesus, more than anything.
I could wish you leaves of gold.
And may your path be smooth.
I could wish you treasures.
Or that all your dreams come true.
And I could wish you paradise.
That every day be spring.
But I wish You Jesus, more than anything.
'Cause when I wish you Jesus,
I've wished you everything.
My wish and prayer for everyone who reads this, as well as everyone who seeks happiness is:
"May you have Jesus, because apart from Him we have nothing and in Him alone you will have everything". Amen.
Be happy and be blessed in Jesus,
February 2006
