She was found in her hotel room, dead of an apparent drug overdose. Anna Nicole Smith's death was for days featured in the news as a tragedy because she was so young and famous.

No doubt during her short life many other women had envied her beauty, fame and apparent success. Now she is gone. Her fans mourn while the pundits discuss conspiracy theories and suspicious circumstances.

Celebrities, especially of the entertainment world, are much more likely to live short lives than the average person. The average age at death for Americans is 75.8 years. Incredibly, the average age of death of rock stars is 36.9 years (World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1997, p. 973).

Common causes of death for such stars include drug overdose, suicide, auto/cycle/airplane crashes, heart attack (sometimes the result of drug use), and miscellaneous medical reasons—sometimes drug related. The list of celebrities who died early is pages long. The pleasure-seeking lifestyle of so many celebrities obviously increases their chances for an early demise. Both Elvis Presley and John Lennon achieved the highest pinnacle of celebrity status in the 1960's. Presley died at age 42. Lennon was murdered at age 40.

It has been observed that modern America is a celebrity worshipping society. Celebrities are frequently featured in magazines and seen on television. Teenagers know all about them.

Apparently, we just can't get enough of them but why? While standing in a check-out line recently, I perused the covers of the magazines on display that are all about celebrities.

Virtually all of the headlines were about stars seeking rehabilitation, attempting suicides, having children outside of marriage, breaking up as couples and immediately dating other celebrities or dealing with personal tragedies and their consequences.

As a pastor with thirty years experience, my observation is that these people live dysfunctional and unfulfilled lives, and are in need of some rules and guidance on how to live.

Yet most of us still want to be celebrities—don't we?

The most successful new television show this decade is "American Idol"—a show that provides an opportunity to average American youth to become famous by singing.

When "Idol" tryouts were held in Seattle this past year, over 6,000 people stood in line for hours or days just to get their chance to become a celebrity! The scene was repeated in every city where tryouts were held.

A celebrity is someone admired by other people. They are often fawned over and given special treatment wherever they go. They have been described as living in rarified air because their lives are so different than that of the average person.

Should we seek the admiration of others? Will receiving the admiration of others make us happy and fulfilled?

The answer that should be obvious is, No! But why not? The reason is that far too many celebrities sacrifice everything else in their lives just to achieve fame. The real key to happiness in this present life is found in successful relationships—the bond and the love between a husband and wife, between parents and children—and being a part of accomplishments that are larger than ourselves.

When seeking to become a celebrity is just about glorifying the self, real happiness and satisfaction in life quickly become illusions. Substance abuse, failed relationships, and early demise are some of the outward indications of inward pain and emptiness. As the book of Proverbs warns, "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners" (Proverbs 1:19).

Our Creator provides us a book that cautions us about seeking the praise of men. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ soundly censures those who do things merely to be noticed and admired by others. Even more plainly, He makes it clear that in many circumstances, "What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). Praise from others can be both shallow and temporary.

Our Creator's Holy Scriptures plainly tell us how to achieve real happiness and fulfillment in our lives. As God's Owner's Manual for all human beings, they reveal how to develop life-long relationships with Him and others.

Good relationships and close bonding with others along with engaging ourselves in noble tasks larger and more important than any one person are the real keys to happiness and a fulfilled life. Even some entertainment celebrities have discovered this to be true.

I would like to offer you two free publications that can help you understand how to apply these important principles to your life. Just request, download or read online our free booklets, Making Life Work and The Ten Commandments.