ONE STATEMENT, JUNE 1-30, 2025
"The truest sign of success is a good sleep - - unaided by medicine or alcohol, uncounted in hours or duration; but by resting your body and mind after doing your best everyday, playing fair and just, treating everyone with respect and kindness, honesty and humility, generosity and empathy. For in our moments of rest we pay tribute to our Creator who blessed rest in its daily and weekly forms, and who has given us His assurance of sustenance and provision, His guidance and care at all times."
"Each of us have our own burdens to carry. Nobody is
actually obliged to help us out, unless it is of their own volition. We cannot
compel others to make life easy and convenient for us; but that we ourselves
must strive to make this life better, and the world more beautiful, by
preparing ourselves for the bigger things to come. May we not feel a sense of
entitlement, and listen to those who genuinely care, not insisting that we are
always right, and not pressuring others to cater to our whims."
"Bad habits start small and simple, but grow
insidiously to overcome one's entire character. And they deserve mention, that
we may learn to avoid them, and not destroy ourselves, our reputation and
relationships in the process: cheating and cutting corners, laziness,
selfishness and envy, fear of missing out or being left out and left behind,
pride and pompousness, self-entitlement and inflated ego, bias and prejudice,
narrow-sightedness and narrow-mindedness. May we be people always open to
what's true, what's good, what's helpful in building our characters and that of
others."
"With all of life's distractions, may we remain focused
to our purpose: of making this life better for the next generation, of leaving
this world better and cleaner, healthier and more productive than what we have
come into. But if all else fails, at least let us be more truthful, humble,
circumspect, patient and persevering, self-reliant and trustworthy."
"It's unfortunate that there are many people who think
they know everything, that they know exactly how to know what they don't know,
that all they ever need and need to know are at their beck and call. But soon
life has a way of slapping us in the face back and forth, or sending us
crashing down, making us fall on our knees or flat on our faces. Soon we will
come to our comeuppance. But before that happens though, may we stay humble,
listen to what others say even if we're not really convinced, and not put
anyone's ideas down. For just as the Heavenly Father brought down great kings
of ancient civilizations, we can be sure He can do the same to people who have
grown too big for their breeches, people who have developed metaphorically a
'hydrocephalic attitude' towards their own capacities (unfortunately too, some
of them look physically like that, even if they were probably born normal and
healthy). And maybe then, instead of a tragic comeuppance, we will develop a
better character."
"The Holy Bible's record of God's interaction with the
Israelites gives us the perfect example of leadership -- one that doesn't
burden but un-burdens, one that does not seek for their own self-pleasure and
promotion but that of their people, one which is aware and in the moment and
goes the extra mile, so their people will see good sense, ethics and values,
manners and respectful behavior, which they emulate too."
"It's unfortunate that some of us believe we are always
right, we talk and relate to people and make commands and requests without
looking at who we are talking to, and being just overly entitled jerks wherever
we go because we think we always know what is best, being so-called 'smart' and
'technology-savvy'. But this is the height of pride--one which lacks respect
and consideration, devoid of empathy and circumspection, one whose perception
is closed to history, culture, norms, good manners and proper social behavior.
No, degrees or licenses, wealth and status, knowledge or talent, piousness and
religiosity do not put us far above others (in fact, quite the opposite).
Therefore, if we must be better ambassadors of the faith and hope we profess,
we must think many times and fast, what we say and do. Because every word and
act we manifest to the world could either glorify the One who gave us life and
skill, or bring shame and derision on us, in the minds and lasting impression
of other people."
It's unfortunate how the person you most dislike tends to be
the one you must minister to and serve most; and the one who people believe
have much knowledge, integrity and righteousness, who never hesitate to preach
and proselytize about life and faith in any moment tend to be the ones most
hungry of validation but are ever only successful in driving the well-meaning
individuals away."
"Being a bit mysterious defeats the boredom and
monotony from being so open and flaunting of every thought and act. People get
easily tired of such overbearing and predictable personalities, more so in
today's hyper-connected world. And just as we are not obligated to share every
little tidbit about our lives and feelings to the rest of the world, also our
Heavenly Father is as deep and beyond understanding for us all. It is simply
enough that we believe His love and promises, His grace and goodness, as these
are revealed every moment we take time to ponder on life and creation. And for
the rest of our days, each moment shines, as it reveals His consistent
provision, guidance, presence and glory in our lives."
"Thankfully, there is no 'basket case' with our God;
everyone has a chance to turn around and recover, make do and makeover. For
just as land around erupted volcanoes ultimately become fertile and rich after
the weathering of volcanic ash and rock, so too life's setbacks and adversities
-- given enough time and chance, with patience and perseverance -- will lead to
a life that's richer, more substantial, meaningful and beautiful."
"If only many of us could take after this cue, that our
Heavenly Father just wants us to be, without fanfare and the ceaseless grind of
trying to prove ourselves, His children whom He has provided for and delivered,
so much the better life would be for us too--the kind where we do not have to
prove to the rest of the world how great and worthy we are. Because we never
are great alone, nor can we or will ever produce greatness in someone else by
our own efforts, all by our strength and talent. It takes a community, even
with the slightest effort, to make this world a better place, and this life a
worthwhile journey."
"One thing common between the over-confident and the
insecure--they are both off from the right path: where humility demands we give
due thanks and acknowledgement to our God for everyday that He gives us to
live, every chance to experience how good He is, and every challenge and
opportunity to use His gifts in making this world a better place for all. May
we therefore spend our days in the right track, standing firm in faith,
persevering in the great journey in our own appointed lanes, while making sure
we inspire and encourage others to stay on the course too."
"People say there should be no problem when they flaunt
beauty, wealth and luxury, especially if they have earned it; for they insist
that is their right. True, but one must remember that in the natural order of
things in this imperfect world, one gets what one has precisely because someone
else has or was given or decided to go with less. Literally, one becomes a bit
richer when someone else goes poorer. One part cannot be great unless another
gets worse. And so higher order thinking demands sharing, rather than hoarding;
giving anonymously to the weaker and the less, rather than flaunting; working
hard and finding wisdom to enjoy it simply, rather than seizing whatever chance
we can get, with a mindset of 'winner-take-all'. For life, and eternity are not
a gamble, where the naive and greedy are only good for beginner's luck, but
only the most evil ones who run and manipulate the show will ultimately win. It
is a journey, the grandest 'Camino', where one starts with nothing, but can
only survive and endure through teaming up with others, through resilience and
fortitude, empathy and compassion, humility and patience, persistence and
hope."
"As always, we need to make a choice: whether we love
and serve to cater to our own ego and feelings of superiority and
self-righteousness, or to love and serve to promote the good of many and the
peace of all. But whatever we do, we always make an impact, either good or bad.
For as the Word has said, and as popularized in a fictional work--'all men must
die,' and therefore 'all men must serve.' May we then, to our twilight years,
live and serve for our Heavenly Father's kingdom will, and live worthy of His
cause."
"It isn't faith to just claim and do whatever we want
and trust everything to God; it is irresponsibility. True faith considers the
consequences of our actions, plans our moves, counts the cost and saves for it,
and prays and asks for His blessing in the good that we do--the kind that also
brings blessing, hope and inspiration to others, that doesn't become a burden
to anyone, that is sustainable for the long term, one in which we can use the
talents and gifts He has given, and from which we can gain wisdom to become
better."
"We all need new hearts; particularly one that does not
distort our Savior's words that said, 'one who is not with us is against us'.
For indeed, we are not always right, and might in fact be in the wrong; and
those who are not or no more with us have seen the error of our ways and are
just silently waiting for us to also see the light of day. We need new hearts,
to open our eyes to what is true, just and fair; to let us put ourselves in
other's shoes, to recognize and accept our limitations and capacities, to open
our hearts to the things that truly matter, that truly pleases our Heavenly
Father's heart, and aligns with His will for all of creation and
humanity."
"Lest we take away just what we feel would make us
special and superior from others, reading today's message does not put
glossolalia utterers nor polyglots above the rest of humanity. We learn instead
that without repentance and renewal, without making a significant impact in the
lives of the people we come in contact with everyday, makes us simply like
resounding gongs or clanging cymbals--repeatedly echoing sounds that only mean
something to us and not on others, rendering an attitude of hypocrisy and self-righteousness,
rather than a life blessed and enlightened by our Heavenly Father's presence
and love."
"To commune--with God and others--is not determined by
number or proximity, by the volume of sound or number of songs, by the flash of
refinements and attire, by the deliciousness and classiness of the food and
drink, by aesthetics and location, or even by the length of time: it's about
willingness and humility, contentment and thankfulness with whatever is served
and on hand, joy at their mere presence, graciousness and respect toward
everyone, and peace in knowing we are engaging in life's most important and
relevant moments."
"Our pain, challenges, setbacks and difficulties now
have the ultimate purpose of giving us some time to prepare, to receive the
greater things that are yet to come."
"It is always more blessed to give than to receive,
especially if the one giving is not under compulsion or coercion, nor
defrauded, sweet-talked, hoodwinked, intimidated, doomsday-prophesied, nor
threatened with hellfire and damnation, nor falsely made to believe that they
will not be blessed should they fail to give. For the first instance, where
there is willingness and wisdom, is where our Heavenly Father's grace and mercy
abound, where there is true blessing without burden. While the latter instances
where consent is clouded, is fraud, or theft, the fruit of the evil one, not of
God's Holy Spirit."
"No matter how we deny it, or wish things could get
better, it's undeniable that everyday, life gets more and more difficult,
causing a general feeling of existential crisis traversing across the
generations that still live today. But the good thing a believer has, is
faith--that if we persevere and make do with whatever little and little life
hands down to us in spite of greater and greater challenges, our Heavenly
Father abounds in mercy and grace, and wisdom. And it is these, that we can
pray and ask for, and strength for good measure; and in the process, grow to be
more like Him who gave His earthly life to bring us salvation, hope and
comfort."
"We are and always will be, works in progress... Not
there yet; still, doing our best with whatever we can, and with whatever our
God has given us... Which makes life all the more interesting and worth
living... For indeed, journeys are far better than destinations."
"Global peace within our lifetime may seem virtually
impossible; but with all our knowledge, technological savvy, wealth and
achievements, the very least we should strive to achieve individually should be
inner peace, a clear conscience, a heart content with the "bread" our
Creator blesses us with daily, emotionally and spiritually restful and
rejuvenating dayoffs--that do not "break the bank", exhaust and
overwhelm us physically and socially, nor lead us deeper into debt--and always,
a good night's sleep."
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