Be Holy!

“…as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

The above exhortation by our first Pope (1 Pet 1:15,16) is the exhortation with which I wish to begin my letter to you this month. We, in the Western India region – Pune, Goa, Mumbai -, have just been treated by the Holy Spirit (thank you, Lord) to a spirit-filled visit by Steve Ray, passionately challenging us to love Christ and His Church, founded upon Peter the rock (Mt 16:18) and reminding us of the primacy of Peter and his successors… and the need to love and obey them.

And here is St Peter, in 1Pet 1:15-16, reminding us of our calling… to be holy. We began 2011 by reminding and recommitting ourselves to our sanctification – our City, our community, our families, ourselves. This month too we continue to pray that our lives be built on the rock. As we focus our prayer on ‘building’ on the rock, we also pray this month for the property / housing aspect of our brethren in Mumbai – those homeless and those harassed by land-grabbers, corruption, etc.

So many of our community are losing their sleep, peace, health, time and money in property-related matters; daily in court, often fighting cases against their own ‘blood’. May they seek first the kingdom of the Price of Peace. In our endeavour for holiness, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us to “Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14). May we strive to build our lives on Jesus Christ the rock (1 Cor 10:4).

February is known, especially by the young, as the month of Valentine’s Day. Let us make full use of this month to fall once again in love with Jesus and His Word. Let us this month celebrate VD – not Valentine’s Day, but Verbum Domini, the recently published post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation (note, we began this letter with an exhortation to holiness by our first Pope and the same theme continues by our present one), on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.

Let each of us, to the best extent possible, get hold of a copy of this wonderful ‘love letter’ by our Holy Father and fall more in love with The Word of the Lord (Verbum Domini). The Word of God assures us that “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Mt 7:24) May we build the foundation of our families, our careers and our ministries on the rock of the Word of God.

Verbum Domini (#85) specifically refers to marriage and families and states that “the word of God is at the very origin of marriage (Gen 2:24 & Mt 19:4-8)”. It continues, “The great mystery of marriage is the source of the essential responsibility of parents towards their children… Spouses, through a love which is faithful, reciprocal and fruitful, are the first to proclaim God’s word to their children. To this end the Synod urged that every household have its Bible, to be kept in a worthy place and used for reading and prayer.” We pray especially this month for families, even with small kids, to build their relationships on the Word, by re-discovering, sharing and praying the Word, through a variety of traditional as well as creative methods, including lectio divina, imaginative prayer, skits etc.

I conclude with the same words that Pope Benedict XVI concludes Verbum Domini “May every day of our lives be shaped by a renewed encounter with Christ”.

A poem by American ex-Judge Roy Moore

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has since been stripped of his judgeship. We leave you to open your mind & let God’s Spirit speak to you & convict you through his poem:

America, the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims’ pride;
I’m glad they’ll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God’s love
and a need to always pray

We’ve kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We’ve voted in a government
that’s rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God’s not
angry, that our land’s a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He’ll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don’t - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee..

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

The Story behind “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?” Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears.

Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their s avings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created a character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.

Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn’t end there either.

Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.”

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad In fact, being different can be a blessing.

The fact checking website Truth or Fiction.com, verifies the above story as being the truth!

The popular Christmas story of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” was written by Robert L. May in 1939. According to editorial reviews at both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobel web sites, the book was written at the request of May’s employer, Montgomery Ward & Co. for a give away promotion, That year Montgomery Wards department stores distributed 2,400,000 copies of the book .

Various biographies on the internet confirm that May had a wife, Evelyn, who died in 1938 and say that he created the character of Rudolf to bring hope and comfort to his grieving daughter, Barbara.

The story of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer has been released world wide in twenty-five languages.

In 1949 Johnny Marks, May’s brother-in-law, adapted the story to music and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer was immortalized by singing cowboy star, Gene Autry (see cover in picture above). Over two million copies of the recording sold.

Five Lessons About How To Treat People

– Author Unknown

1. First Important Lesson - “Know The Cleaning Lady”

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson - “Pickup In The Rain”

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”

3. Third Important Lesson - “Remember Those Who Serve”

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “50¢,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

plain vanilla ice cream”Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “35¢!” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. Fourth Important Lesson - “The Obstacles In Our Path”

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”

5. Fifth Important Lesson - “Giving When It Counts”

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

Young boy donates blood. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The intent of these five lessons is to inspire us to be more considerate when opportunities present themselves. Like many novels and movies, even if a story is not entirely true, it doesn’t diminish the moral of the message. Thank you for your consideration in sharing the uplifting spirit of this thought-provoking collection.

Making Pancakes

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes.

He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn’t know how the stove worked.

Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically, he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door.

Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

That’s how God deals with us.

We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do.

That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.

But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to ‘make pancakes’ for God or for others. Sooner or later, we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried.

~ Author Unknown

Liar, liar, designer pants on fire

Getting married in Bombay society - and I suspect most societies in urban India - is nothing short of a grand production. Nia Vardalos should have thanked God for her big fat Greek wedding, which is nothing compared to our over-the-top, ridiculously ostentatious weddings.

There are a *great* many things to be thankful for in our weddings - like the many family and friends who genuinely wish the couple well - but sadly a few things also mar the blessed occasion.

I have been shocked to hear the questions my family and I have been asked - right from which vendors we are using, to how much we are paying for *everything* - not because people are genuinely interested to find out details for their own functions - but just to boast that *they* have sourced better vendors, or they are spending (or have spent) much more on their weddings!

This horrible, petty, competitiveness that exists - consciously or not - is not only for weddings, but also for routine parties.

Something I’ve noticed more and more of late, is the way so many people lie about the designers they wear or about the amount of money they have spent on clothes or jewelery.

What’s even sadder than hearing someone lie about which designer has made the sari they’re wearing / which designers they buy their clothes from / which jeweler is their best friend / how much they’ve spent on something when you haven’t asked - is the fact that almost *everyone* knows that these same people are lying. How horrible it is to have a friend look at your face and lie to you so easily!

It’s so sad that these are the same people who’ll tell you that another is lying about the designer they’re supposed to be wearing and about how much they paid for the thing!

While growing up, my dad & mum often told my sister & me that people who lie, get caught in their lies. That you can never remember lies you’ve told and you’ll eventually be caught out. Dad often reminded us of the saying that “you can lie to some people all the time, all people some of the time, but not to all people, all the time”.

All very good reasons to tell the truth.

But besides not getting caught, there’s one more reason to tell the truth.

This is because JESUS is the Truth.  So when we tell the truth, we emulate Jesus!

And sadly, the opposite is also true - when we lie, we emulate the devil.

This is not just my opinion (or my parents), but from the Bible.

We read in John 8:44

“You belong to your father, the devil … He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies”

What strong words! Our father — the devil??! God forbid.

And yet, we lie, daily, so naturally. To people’s faces. And after that we attend Mass, we go to prayer meetings, we raise our hands and “worship” the Lord.

Revelation 21:8 tells us very clearly

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

I do not write this from a righteous point of view. I have to admit that I too find myself struggling to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on a daily basis. Especially since society accepts “white lies” (there is no such thing before God!) as a-ok!

However we need to be conscious of whether we are telling the TRUTH in everything.

We have to be conscious about WHY we lie:

• to save our reputations?
• to impress people?
• to show off that we’re better than other people?
• “just because”?

Are any of these reasons good enough to lose eternal life for?

I challenge you to NOT LIE for 24 HOURS. Just start with one single day. Consciously monitor if your “my dog ate my homework” attitude has seeped into your adult life at work or in society.

It’s more difficult a challenge than you would think. I know - I’ve tried it and failed. But the trick is, when we fail, to confess with an honestly contrite heart - and then to try again.

Truth shouldn’t only be the Best policy - it should be our Only one.

Padre Pio on How to Conduct Oneself during Holy Mass

The following is a letter from St. Padre Pio with instructions on a certain Annita on Conduct during Holy Mass. We can all learn a lot from the same! 1st edition (English version), Fr. Alessio Parente, O.F.M. Cap., Editor; Edizioni Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, 1994, Translated by Geraldine Nolan, pp. 88-92

Beloved daughter of Jesus,

May Jesus and our Mother always smile on your soul, obtaining for it, from Her most holy Son, all the heavenly charisms!

I am writing to you for two reasons: to answer some more questions from your last letter, and to wish you a very happy names-day in the most sweet Jesus, full of all the most special heavenly graces. Oh! If Jesus granted my prayers for you or, better still, if only my prayers were worthy of being granted by Jesus! However, I increase them a hundredfold for your consolation and salvation, begging Jesus to grant them, not for me but through the heart of his paternal goodness and infinite mercy.

In order to avoid irreverence and imperfections in the house of God, in church — which the Divine Master calls the “house of prayer” — I exhort you in the Lord to practice the following:

Enter the church in silence and with great respect, considering yourself unworthy to appear before the Lord’s Majesty. Among other pious considerations, remember that our soul is the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and his angels.

Let us blush for having given access to the devil and his snares many times (with his enticements to the world, his pomp, his calling to the flesh) by not being able to keep our hearts pure and our bodies chaste; for having allowed our enemies to insinuate themselves into our hearts, thus desecrating the temple of God which we became through holy Baptism.

Then take Holy Water and make the Sign of the Cross carefully and slowly.

As soon as you are before God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect. Once you have found your place, kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him along with those of others. Speak to Him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart, and give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.

When assisting at Holy Mass and the sacred functions, be very composed when standing up, kneeling down, and sitting, and carry out every religious act with the greatest devotion. Be modest in your glances; don’t turn your head here and there to see who enters and leaves. Don’t laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and also out of respect for those who are near you. Try not to speak to anybody, except when charity or strict necessity requests this.

If you pray with others, say the words of the prayer distinctly, observe the pauses well, and never hurry.

In short, behave in such a way that all present are edified by it and, through you, are urged to glorify and love the heavenly Father.

On leaving the church, you should be recollected and calm. Firstly take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; ask his forgiveness for the shortcomings committed in his Divine presence and do not leave him without asking for and having received his paternal blessing.

Once you are outside the church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be. Above all, be extremely modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals the affections of the heart.

Nothing represents an object more faithfully or clearly than a mirror. In the same way, nothing more widely represents the good or bad qualities of a soul than the greater or lesser regulation of the exterior, as when one appears more or less modest.

You must be modest in speech, modest in laughter, modest in your bearing, modest in walking. All this must be practiced, not out of vanity in order to display one’s self, nor out of hypocrisy in order to appear to be good to the eyes of others, but rather, for the internal virtue of modesty, which regulates the external workings of the body.

Therefore, be humble of heart, circumspect in words, prudent in your resolutions. Always be sparing in your speech, assiduous in good reading, attentive in your work, modest in your conversation.

Don’t be disgusting to anybody but be benevolent towards all and respectful towards your elders. May any sinister glance be far from you, may no daring word escape your lips, may you never carry out any immodest or somewhat free action; never a rather free action or a petulant tone of voice.

In short let your whole exterior be a vivid image of the composure of your soul.

Always keep the modesty of the Divine Master before your eyes, as an example; this Master who, according to the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians, placing the modesty of Jesus Christ on an equal footing with meekness, which was his one particular virtue and almost his characteristic: “Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ” [Douay-Rheims, 2 Corinthians 10:1], and according to such a perfect model reform all your external operations, which should be faithful reflections revealing the affections of your interior.

Never forget this Divine model, Annita. Try to see a certain lovable majesty in His Presence, a certain pleasant authority in his manner of speaking, a certain pleasant dignity in walking, in contemplating, speaking, conversing; a certain sweet serenity of face.

Imagine that extremely composed and sweet expression with which he drew the crowds, making them leave cities and castles, leading them to the mountains, the forests, to the solitude and deserted beaches of the sea, totally forgetting food, drink and their domestic duties.

Thus let us try to imitate, as far as we possibly can, such modest and dignified actions. And let us do our utmost to be, as far as possible, similar to him on this earth, in order that we might be more perfect and more similar to him for the whole of eternity in the heavenly Jerusalem.

I end here as I am unable to continue, recommending that you never forget me before Jesus, especially during these days of extreme affliction for me. I expect the same charity from the excellent Francesca to whom you will have the kindness to give, in my name, assurances of my extreme interest in seeing her grow always more in Divine love. I hope she will do me the charity of making a novena of Communions for my intentions.

Don’t worry if you are unable to answer my letter for the moment. I know everything so don’t worry.

I take my leave of you in the holy kiss of the Lord. I am always your servant.

Fra Pio, Capuchin

Former Bangkok Prostitute testifies

This is the deliverance story of a slum dweller from Bangkok, who was delivered from abuse, polygamy, prostitution, guilt, abortion & suicidal thoughts. Compiled by Vachiravan Vanlaeiad. Her name is omitted here for the sake of privacy.

I was born in a Bangkok slum. As far as I can remember, my father had constantly abused my mother, both physically and verbally. My father was a low ranking military man and my mother a dressmaker and food vendor. We were very poor. To make matters worse, my father had a minor wife, depriving us of his financial support.

Since the very beginning, I had developed the feeling of extreme hatred towards my father. He had also disliked me, resulting in regularly kicking me in the face. My feeling of utter dislike had been increasing as time went by. I tried my very best to avoid him: hiding under the bed, etc., and was very glad every time he went to visit his minor wife. As a result, I was condemned by my mother that I was an ungrateful daughter, that I would never have a better life, and that hell was surely the most suitable place for me in the afterlife.

I had led a very hard life since childhood. My mother woke me up at 4 am. in the mornings to help her prepare and sell food to students at the slum school (Prateep Ungsongtham Hata’s Learning Center). Every time following my parents’ quarrel, my mother always expressed her anger, distress, and resentment by beating me up, sometimes to the point of drawing blood. This would make me hate my father more as well as feel very sorry for my mother.

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Joel Osteen’s ‘Become a Better You’

Back Cover:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU CAN BE BETTER!

“God is preparing you for greater things. He’s going to take you further than you thought was possible, so don’t be surprised when He asks you to think better of yourself and to act accordingly” - Joel Osteen

In this, his second book, Pastor Joel Osteen highlights 7 key principles designed to improve and better our lives, viz:

* Keep pressing forward
* Be positive toward yourself
* Develop better relationships
* Form better habits
* Embrace the place where you are
* Develop your inner life
* Stay passionate about life

It is a great tool for all those who want to better themselves in any way big or small. It is about accepting that while God will do His bit to make us grow, we also have a part to play in improving ourselves.

Written in the same easy & simple way that Pastor Joel Osteen preaches (in fact if you’ve heard him enough, it’s almost like reading transcribed sermons of his) it is nevertheless filled with great truths that if practiced, can change your life.

Most of it wasn’t new to me (and won’t be to most people who read self help books) but it not only served as a great reminder of these points, but was filled with real life examples & stories which drove his points home excellently.

This is not a book you can’t live without, but I’m sure you’ll love it anyway.

3 Christian Fiction Book Reviews

These three books I read had common authors, all of them written by Deborah Bedford & two of them co-authored by Joyce Meyer, so I decided to review them together. Another thing I think they all had in common, is that they’ll make for good gifts - especially for people who’re not “into” the whole Christian scene & you’re trying to reach out to.

Deborah Bedford’s ‘When You Believe’ had an excellent plot that moved at quite a fast pace - It’s a story about a teacher Lydia Porter, who for professional reasons has kept her engagement to a fellow teacher, Charlie Stains, a secret. Right in the beginning of the book, a student confides in her, that Staines has sexually molested her. The book follows Porter’s subsequent conflict about doing “the right thing” and what exactly that entails.

‘The Penny’ by Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bedford - sees Meyer (author of over 70 Christian non fiction books) foray into Christian fiction. The protagonist of the book is a sexually abused African American girl living in the racially charged mid-1950s America - and how a simple chance action (of her stoping to pick up a penny dropped on a sidewalk) set a whole new set of things in motion. The book is well written & the plot well developed. Definitely worth reading.

Any Minute by Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bedford - The plot had the potential to be a good read - a story of a workaholic woman’s near-death experience, which brings her to appreciate the actual good things of life. It is a tad slow in the first half  (I found myself wishing the protagonist had her near-death experience already & was done with it!) though it picks up pace a little afterwards. Not as good as the first two books reviewed here - but could be gift option to a workaholic family member or colleague, otherwise worth the miss.

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