*****Die Once Only (A Warning)

         Do you realize that we are all on our way to judgment? Each of us has two lives to live, but one or two deaths to undergo. The two lives are our life on earth and our afterlife. As for the death(s), those who are saved will experience only one death upon leaving the earth, but those who are not saved will die once more for all eternity. 

**Part-Time Lord**

        We Christians often live a double life—we behave like Christians at church on Sunday and are ourselves again until the following Sunday. That is, we put Christ in the back of our mind most of the time, making him a part-time Lord. This is far from being good, for he is to be the only one for us to live for every second of the day. I may sound harsh, but if he is not No. 1 in your life, the consequences will be a lot harsher. 

***Why We Need Christ

        Since we have inherited the original sin, we tend to sin. Then we are capable of doing good too, although sometimes that requires a bit of effort. If sinning is like sliding downhill, doing good is more like walking up a mild slope. What we need to do is to have Christ step in to liberate us from sin so that we'll be able to do good at all times. This ensures that we'll inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Christ Our Shining Example

        Christ is the perfect shining example for us to follow. He carried out the will of the Father to the letter with the greatest humility, never complained and did not stop until the task is accomplished. Our tasks given by the Lord are nothing compared to what Christ had to perform. Let him inspire us to do what we are supposed to do in the same spirit to show that we are with him all the way. And we'll also be glorified by the Father in the end. 

**Worse than Heart Disease

         Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the whole world, so we all want to keep my heart healthy. Then a defiled heart is even worse, for it can kill you for all eternity. Know that sin is what defiles the heart. So let's keep our hearts pure and clean before we worry about any heart disease.

**Good Reminder and Advice*

        We have only one short lifetime to learn what the Lord wants us to know—how to gain eternal life. So make good use of your time on earth.

**Irresistible Love

        God's love is irresistible. Happy is the one who would let himself be totally crushed by this love. 

***Love That Surpasses Knowledge

        In today's first reading from Ephesians 3, Paul prays that his brothers and sisters will know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. God's love for us is indeed boundless. If we truly realize that, we would stop judging anyone and abandon ourselves completely to the Lord right away. 

**A Great Joy Realized*

        It is knowing that I can instantly communicate with my God directly at any time.

***Natural Consequences

        The more you trust in Christ, the deeper he draws you in to him. The deeper you enter him, the more fulfilled and satisfied you feel. So trust leads to fulfillment and great satisfaction.

**How to Possess God:

You let him possess you first.

*Principle of Living*

        In whatever we do, we do it for the Lord's sake and not care about what anyone else thinks.

***Get God Right

         We may know Christ but still misconceive him. I at one time thought that he might forbid me to ever consider buying a new car or that he would want me to go to Africa to serve him as a missionary or that he's going to punish me for having committed a very minor sin. There are many other such instances. Now that I've known the Lord well enough, I can say unequivocally that such fears I'd had were all self-generated. God is ever so gentle that he'd never force anything on us, for he respects our free will. Besides, he knows us thoroughly and will only lead us to things that suit us at the right time. The notion that God somehow is going to control us is totally false and unfounded. Get to know the Lord first and you'll see that he only wants to free us from sin and us to be happy.

**Be Prepared or to Be Shocked

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus asked his disciples to remain vigilant and faithful always, for no one knows the day and the hour of his next coming. My thoughts are that if you are fully prepared and always act in accord with God's will, you need not be concerned about his coming at all. But if you are not ready, believing that he is not coming soon, and start to slack off, then you'll be in for a big unexpected shock!

***Life on Earth Only Temporary

        Gasoline prices have gone way up. I believe California here has the highest gas prices in the whole nation. Everything else has become more expansive. Life has become harder for all. At the same time, evil seems to have spiraled out of control. There's the great concern that another world war may break out. People in general are worried and feeling depressed. It came to me today that all these things will pass, and before long I'll be returning to God the Father. So I am just going to trust totally in God and let nothing bother me. 

***Your Way or God's Way (Formula for Peace)

        If you do not know or follow the Lord God, you do not have inner peace. That is because you always want things turn out the way you want and that just does not happen. Once you know the Lord and follow him, you would always want things turn out his way. With yourself out of the way, you now enjoy peace.

**Empowering Your Prayer

        You can always say your prayer quickly without thinking much about it. But to make sure that the Lord hears you and will act, you must not rush, but say every word from your very heart and mean it. If you take God seriously, he will surely take you seriously.        

**From Death to Life*

        Today is Memorial of St. Ignatius. The first reading came from Ephesians 2. I totally agree with what Paul wrote that we used to be dead in our transgressions and sins, following the age of the world and living in the desires of our flesh. I still remember those day before I knew Christ. Then Christ changed everything. God brought me to life and saved me. Knowing his love and great mercy has made all the difference.