Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV)

COUNCIL FOR THE RESTORATION OF FILIPINO VALUES (CRFV)

Civil Service Commission Accredited Learning and Development Institute

"We believe that the values of Love of God, Stewardship of Resources, Sanctity of Marriage, Truthfulness, Selfless Love, Respect for Authority, need to be enhanced among the government officials and employees to enable them to have the moral strength to resist the temptations of corruption by living Godly lives."

WEEKLY VALUE FOCUS

WEEK 19: RELIABILITY

Life is the most precious gift of God to us and we are only stewards of it. What we do to our own lives and to the lives of other people will be accounted for.

Everyone’s life is composed of the physical body, soul and spirit. These three areas are intertwined. Whatever happens to one of them will surely affect the two others. To become good stewards of life, the integrity of these three must be kept intact. Therefore, we do not only care for our physical health but must also consider the soundness of our soul - the mind, will and emotion, and the soundness of our spirit.

Respect for life does not only include the commandment “Thou shall not kill”. It also refers to respecting all its aspects - the body, the soul and the spirit. Anything that causes harm to its aspects can be regarded as a consequence of disrespect. We may be aware of what hurts the physical body but we may not be aware of hurting people’s mind, emotion or spirit that can bring death upon them. We must know that death does not only happen to the physical body – there can also be death in the soul and in the spirit.

One powerful weapon that can bring life or death to a person in the aspect of soul and spirit are WORDS. We can encourage and heal people through words; we can attack and crush people through words. That is why we must be careful of the words that will come out of our mouths for God accounts them. We have to choose whether to release words that give life or words that bring death. Remember, whatever we sow, we will also reap in the same degree or in 30, 60 or 100.

Respect life by valuing people and caring for their welfare. Respect life by sharing what you have to others who are in need. Respect life by preserving and multiplying the resources we have for the future generations. Respect life by valuing your life with the food you eat and whatever you intake, and by living it in a manner worthy of honor. Say “No!” to any form of violence or killings. Say “No!” to anything that corrupts our body, soul and spirit. After all, we have one life to live and once it is taken from us, it cannot be given back.

ACTION PLAN

Evaluate the words coming out from your mouth in the past. Resolve to refrain from thinking and saying negative words. Think and speak positive words to yourself and to others more often.
Care for the physical body through proper diet and regular exercise. Do not be entangled with substance abuse or sickening activities.
Enhance and strengthen your spirituality through constant prayer and meditation.
In all, give thanks to God for the gift of life he has given us. Nurture, cultivate and develop it.

DECLARATION

We choose to be reliable persons. Whatever we say, we will do; whatever we promise, we will fulfill; whatever we have started, we will finish. We understand that there are people who rely on our words and actions. We shall be conscious not to fail them. We will guard our actions and decisions. We will be watchful with our lifestyle and we will not let anyone lose their hope on us. We stand on our ground and remain strong until the fulfillment of what we have said or promised. So, help us God.

PRAYER

Lord, we believe that if ever You want to do something here on earth, You will do it through us. This is the reason why You have chosen and called us for such a time as this. It is to fulfill Your plans and purposes through us. You are counting on us. Therefore, oh God, help us perform Your call in our lives. We do not want to fail You. With Your strength and might, we can do it. Help us stay strong and consistent. We shall finish by Your grace for whatever good works that You have begun in us, You will be faithful enough to fulfill them. Amen.

Luke 16:10 NIV

SUPPLEMENTARY INPUT

Life is sacred! This is the premise of why human life has to be respected. On Dave Wernli’s words sacred means “entitled to and worthy of reverence and respect, highly valuable and important.”

Indeed, life is the most precious gift given to man for the sole purpose of God’s glorification and pleasure. The reason murderers deserved the death penalty, as stated in the scriptures, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man,” was the supreme value of human life. Subsequently, to destroy human life is to attack the very image of God.
The worst of a person emerges and desecrate someone’s precious life once he is devoid of the proper perspective on the sanctity of human life. One of the reasons behind Adolf Hitler’s annihilation of the 6 million Jewish people through the gas chambers is on the belief in the superiority of the Aryan race (the Germans) and the Jews inferiority to such extent that they were almost non-human in his eyes. The German Nazi leader felt that he would be doing the world a favor by eradicating the Jewish race. As such genocide was committed out of the idea that a certain people’s life is worth living while others are mere scumbags of the world.
On the other hand, it is not only by manslaughter that we disrespect human life. The Scripture says “if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘you good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell”. Here, the anger mentioned includes a wish to damage or destroy the person we are angry at what might be our colleague, sibling, parent, or child. Moreover, calling them a fool is closely related to anger and represents a destructive attack on the person’s character and identity.
To respect life, first, is to value our life. We have to live to the fullest through devoting our life to God as his instrument for his glory. Saint Paul urges us to do as such, “offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” Second, we have to value others by treating them with dignity no matter who they are as doing it to the Lord. As mentioned, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. Third, never give up! We have to persevere when life seems to be troublesome and call on the author of life for strength and wisdom to carry on this life. God has promised, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me”. At last, to respect life is to honor God, the giver, and taker of it.

References:
Genesis 9:6
Matthew 5:22
Romans 12:1
Matthew 25:40
Psalm 50:15

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CRFV Highlights

We are part of a generation of "BREED WITHOUT GREED". A radical opposition to corruption; Godly seeds in the Land who have chosen to make a difference; standing up against all forms of wickedness and winning by righteousness!

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CRFV was recently appointed as the implementing Civil Society Organization of the Values Restoration Program (Civil Service Commission Announcement No. 40 s. 2013) empowering the organization to deliver its advocacy to all Constitutional Bodies, Departments, Bureaus and National Government Agencies (NGAs); Local Government Units (LGUs); Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with original charters; and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

There is a nationwide launching and discussion of a common value each week.

The Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) is a non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to the effort in transforming the Filipino public servant and the local government leadership to subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Values that shall provide our nation, the Philippines, with righteous, incorruptible, and sincere service towards a graft free society through the help and guidance of the word of GOD consistent to the exemplary life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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