We have heard the cliché, “never give up, never surrender.” Many actors, even political leaders used this sentence to encourage and stir up the hearts of the followers in the midst of trying times. Many scientists, in their journey towards the success of an invention or discovery, also applied this principle. In the midst of battle against the alien enemy, when the probability of winning is thin and low, Commander Taggart in the film Galaxy Quest uttered these words when one of the crew said that the only option is to surrender. Winston Churchill, in the midst of the World War II, when Britain is in the brink of defeat against the Nazi ruler, gave his encouraging speeches for his fellow people not to give up and continue to fight that inspired his countrymen until they achieved victory. “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” These were his words showing much perseverance including the famous quote, “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Our scientists and inventors of the old, having the determination and keeping the eyes on the goal, never gave up until they have discovered great things or have created something wonderful that until now, we are benefiting from. Remember Thomas Alva Edison who was credited for the commercial incandescent light bulb? We can only imagine how many light bulbs were created and tested just to create the best combination. We can only imagine how many times he failed until he was able to succeed.
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Perseverance is a continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. The road to success is never easy especially in the presence of obstacles, humps, traffic jam, and even detour along the way. Though we can stop or give up, this will never make our situation better. We will just be trapped in the circumstance and worse, can no longer move on. Perseverance does not concern what speed you are taking to arrive at your destination. It is more concerned on how you would continue moving when something would stop you along the way. Failures sometimes pull us down and triggers us to stop. We take it as a mistake and would not want to be put in the same position, thus we stop. B.F Skinner, an American Psychologist said, “A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.” A Japanese proverb says, “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” This is similar to Confucius words, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
 
Like one traveling to a journey, how can we persevere? One, press on toward the goal. It is always helpful to remind ourselves the ultimate goal we want to achieve so that we can look for solutions when problem arise. We fix our eyes on the destination. Second, make sure you are motivated – that you have the necessary fuel to keep going. What motivates you? Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Having the right heart set and mindset will give us the proper motivation to achieve our goal. Third, keep on going and do not be disheartened when there are obstacles, trials, or even failures. Treat these as lessons to learn from, and experience to grow from. Every lesson will help us mature from glory to glory, strength to strength. Fourth, when we reach our destination and have reached our goal, give honor to whom honor is due. Give thanks, give love, give. Do not take the glory for yourself but take the lessons and experiences so that you have something to use in the next journey.

In challenging situations, never give up and choose to continue, persevere. Hold on to our Maker as God promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. For after all, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.”

​Most of those who have gone or toured around the world commented that nations that are more progressive observe the value of discipline, where the citizens and residents observe the laws and abide with existing policies. While there are clear systems or rules governing the conduct of the people, the value system of the people also plays a critical role in strengthening discipline.
 
However, sometimes there are people who would have negative connotations about discipline, as it is associated with punishment for wrong actions, corrective measures, or enforcing penalties to exact obedience to rules and regulations. But others would view it as an essential element to establish order and attain success. Hence, developing and strengthening the value of discipline is vital in nation building. The lack of it will compromise the initiatives to establish peace and order as well as promote sustainable development.
 
In reality, discipline comes with short-term pain but with long-term gain, as it has been said that all discipline seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it. Yielding to the process of discipline may not sit well in a culture where quick-fix mentality and instant gratification prevail for such condition encourages the use of different means, whether lawful or not, to get and do what they want.
 
As we contemplate on the value of discipline this week, let us reflect our personal take or how we perceive the role of discipline in fulfilling the mandate of our respective offices. Also, explore how are we contributing in observing discipline at home, at work and in the community. Have we done something that does or does not promote or model discipline?
 
It is not too late yet. We can start to embrace and manifest discipline today. It does not require a grand gesture as a famous quotation states, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny”. It can start with a single thought that will become part of your language and translated in your day-to-day actions.  When done consistently and accurately, it becomes part of you. Make discipline our new operating system towards progress.

It is believed that courage is the most admirable among the human virtues. Possibly because of the huge impact courage creates and not all people have the same degree or level of it. Courage is closely related to bravery. However, the two have differences in essence. It is said that “Courage involves the presence of fear, while bravery never acknowledges any fear or hesitations. Courage entails a cause, most commonly love, passion, compassion, and concern. Bravery maintains its essence even without a cause.”
 
 In the Scripture, Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of a great nation in Israel. He is to lead and bring the Israelite people to a place called Canaan or “The Promised Land.” Despite Joshua’s  skills and experiences, unavoidably, he would go through discouraging and fearful circumstances in which he might fret. Therefore, God said to him: “This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Like Joshua, each one of us has assignments - in our homes, in the government, or in our workplaces to carry out and carry through. We do such out of love, passion, compassion, and concern. It also entails courage to do whatever is necessary and move towards success because fear and discouraging people and circumstances would cross our path, one way or another. Nevertheless, the God who entrusted us with the assignment would make us strong and courageous as we carry it out for His glory and the good of His people.
 
Each time we want to accomplish a noble aspiration, we have to exercise courage. Courage to defeat the odds, courage to overcome the fear and failure we might come across, and courage to push through until we reach or achieve such a noteworthy cause. We are men and women of courage not because of our education, position, skills, and experiences but because the Lord our God is with us as we commit and submit to Him.
 
Finally, as we continue with our lives and service that is full of challenges, surprises, and blessings, let us be guided by these words of a former atheist Kirk Cameron, “faith in God... produces character; character will produce courage, courage to face the challenges of the day.” Each challenge, whether great or small, is surmountable because of our God-endowed courage, and for the Lord is with us. Let us be strong and courageous in life and service!
 
 

At 08:43 AM Philippine Standard Time (PST) of 27 July 2022 (Wednesday), a major magnitude (Mw) 7.0 earthquake shook the provinces in northwestern Luzon and adjacent areas including Metro Manila. It stirred fear and grief to those who felt the shaking and brought us to our knees for our safety and for those who were severely stricken by this calamity - praying that no more aftershocks will happen. In times like these, when our faith is being shaken by uncertainties and tragedies around us, most of us recognizes the importance of having Someone who is superior and all powerful. Someone who is able to save and protect us, greater than the strongest and firmest people, equipment, gadgets, structures and the like. These facts shall bring us to our knees and will allow us to utter prayers towards Him who saves.

For those who felt and were stricken by the earthquake, it was a moment of fear, anxiety and grief. It was a moment that no one ever desires to be in. It is a dark situation where we suffer in all or some aspects of our lives. We face a lot of seasons in our lives and we can’t deny the fact that we, in one way or the other, face dark moments that we can’t run away from. We need to face it head on. Some of us tried to avoid it by relying on our own strength and ability but found ourselves failing and has worsened the situation. Failures that deepens our longing for solutions, interventions, protection, favors and answers. We get desperate that leads us to the last resort --- on our knees.

Through prayer, we align our hearts with the fact that we can’t do it on our own. It brings us to humility and we recognize His existence. It is where we distinguish that He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent (All-powerful) and Omniscient (All-knowing).

 The One whom we call on when we pray is an Omnipresent, ever-present, Father. He will never miss a moment in our lives. He sees us every second, everywhere and anywhere - may it be rejoicing or grief. He sees even that things that we don’t let others see, may it be hidden tears, even hidden sins, all the secrets we have, He sees everything. He knows what we feel and who we are. He sees us and cares for us.   Knowing He is everywhere reminds us that we have an ever-present help in times of need. By praying we acknowledge His presence over our lives that we are convinced that He understands and that He is with us.

The one whom we call on when we pray is also an Omnipotent, All-powerful, Father. It is where we recognize that He is mighty to save.  Nothing is too hard for Him. We might feel that we can’t fix our situation but He is able. Through prayer we feel secure knowing that Someone who never sleeps and slumbers, is able to save and deliver us from anything.

The one whom we call on when we pray is not only Omnipresent, Omnipotent but also an Omniscient, All-Knowing, Father.  David Jeremiah, an Author, said in one of his write up on Prayer that the truth is that in His infinite love and wisdom, God always knows what to give us in answer to our prayers. Prayer does not always change our situation, but it should always change us. In prayer, we bring our anxieties to an all-wise, all-loving and all-sovereign God, and we ask Him why these things have happened and how we can cope. His answer never changes: This world and its answers will never be enough. Only He is enough.
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Knowing that He is always with us, in joy or in pain, we pray. Knowing He is mighty, in uncertainty, we all the more pray. Knowing that His ways and plans are higher than ours, we get on our knees and pray. Prayer is a lifestyle that brings us to a peace that no one could ever bring us in whatever season we are in.