Chapter 4 of my 2nd Book, "7 Steps To Turn Your Failure to Succes." A Christmas season special, the nativity of Christ you never heard of before.

Chapter 4 Mission, Purpose-Driven

Have you had a defining moment in your life wherein you thoroughly think about what your mission in life is? What is your divine purpose? “Divine Purpose” not just purpose. Meaning you’re not only doing this for a worldly or temporal sense of purpose but in preparation for your eternal existence. Have you consciously asked yourself what drives your motives, your passion? What stirs your mind, makes you happy, and sad, what angers you, and boils your blood? Why do you exist?

I know these questions are hard to answer. And I agree with you, there is no easy answer to these types of thought-provoking questions. I have always watched Ms. Universe's pageant with my wife, Mao, especially the question-and-answer portion for the top 5 finalists. And I can relate this mission, purpose question to that of the questions being asked to the contestants because literally, their beauty will not be enough for them to win the most prestigious beauty pageant in all the universe. They will need more than just talent and vital statistics to win the most coveted “Miss Universe Crown.”

As we all know, there’s much significance and greater meaning to every contestant than just winning and wearing the crown. Winning the crown will be a dream come true for them but that is just the icing on the cake, the tip of the iceberg. I believe in my interpretation and perception, I believe that the reason why they joined Miss Universe isn’t for the Crown itself.? Instead, it’s for what the Crown represents. The mission and purpose go beyond just winning the crown perse. But living out and representing to the universe what that crown is for. That is where the glorious accomplishment of their mission and soulful fulfillment of their purpose lies beneath. That is what the value of the crown is all about.

I am saying this because, for the longest time of my existence, I thought that I needed to work to earn money. In fact, as a child, I have dreamed of becoming rich. To become successful, to have this, to have that. To buy many things, to travel the world, and to be happy. And I believe we all do, right? And there is nothing wrong with that. If you’re like that, oh boy! I am telling you. You are normal just like everybody else. That is part of our human desires and tendencies to survive and thrive. Everybody wants financial stability because it is somehow connected or tied to the idea of “time freedom.” Wherein, our social norms dictate that if you have more money, you can buy all the things you want and do more things in life. But that’s not always true.?

There are many things that money cannot buy, and those are more important things that make us complete like health. You can buy medicine when you get sick but you need to discipline yourself to be healthy. Of course, as we age, our bodies will eventually deteriorate but that’s another side of the story. But one should have good eating habits and manage stress to have optimal health and aged gracefully. Discipline is something money cannot buy. Many of the diseases are not caused by a virus like Covid-19. Often time it is caused by undisciplined eating habits. Or as doctors referred to as lifestyle diseases.?

I remember the most important piece of advice I got as a budging entrepreneur that circulated the internet from Steve Jobs when he knew that his time was about to end. “At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death,” he added. “You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you —?but you cannot rent someone to carry the disease for you. One can find material things, but there is one thing that cannot be found when it is lost — life.”? “Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you’re flying first class or economy class — if the plane crashes, you crash with it.” Well, If that didn’t move you to not miss the point. I don’t know then what will move you. That statement is so profound, coming from a person whom they said that “dented the universe” more than any Miss Universe winner, is something to think about.

Here's another one that money cannot buy. “Love,” yes, you can buy sex for a temporary feel-good sensation, like buying a meat product in the meat section of a grocery store or the market. But love? Oh no, you can’t. You need to love yourself first and love others so you can be loveable. How about respect? Can you buy respect? Certainly not, it is earned and it is the highest form of leadership. Let’s say “peace of mind.” Can you buy peace of mind? The answer is a resounding “NO.” You can buy sleeping pills, or any pill for your every illness. But the peace of mind comes from stillness and calmness and fulfillment, not an achievement. From a worry-free, anxious-free, and guilt-free relaxed mind. Yes, you can do many things with money, you can do whatever you want in life. But maybe, it’s not the life that will make you love your life.?

No wonder we see many people who have lots of money, are famous, and powerful yet are still depressed, stressed, and unhappy. They seemed to live with dual personalities, they wore masks all the time. Just recently, we all heard about the tragic ending of the former Miss America Cheslie Kryst, who according to the news, jumped off from a building in New York. A really saddening news for my wife and me, because my beautiful wife, Mao, used to join beauty pageants and won a few when she was in college. That’s why we always watch Miss Universe and that’s why I love the song “Price Tag by Jessie J.” That is where the proverbial word “It’s not about the money” explains everything to us. Besides, the best things in life are free. It’s been provided even before we were even created. Just imagine if humans were made before the universe or the earth in particular, where would you live? And imagine if we came first before the air, the water, the plants, and the animals. How can you even breathe? You can’t even see a thing. And you’ll die easily of starvation. Why did you ask? What are you going to eat, and you’ll be just floating in space? I mean those are all self-explanatory. I tell you that because there was a time when I did not seem to understand why we were created on the sixth day. That’s why I truly love and appreciate the chronology of God’s step-by-step “Creation.” Of course, He is GOD. He knows His purpose. And knows what He’s doing. But the one completely FREE thing, is to belong to a FAMILY. As we all know and often, water, air, and even solar power are not free anymore.????

As my mentor Darren Hardy said. “We don’t work for money, we only work for what money can provide for our family, our mission, our purpose.” But very few really get this, until the time you come to your senses and know who you truly are. You will be trapped in the “rat race” and will go circling and circling working for money. Here’s the Good News! There is a way out. You must have that “I AM STATEMENT” and focus on becoming that person capable of accomplishing your goals, and mission, and fulfilling your purpose in life. That is why my I am statement is “I am Mr. Significant.” Not because I am a VIP or something, but to constantly remind myself to be really careful and selective of all the inputs I put in my mind. As I have shared many times before, that I have filled my mind with polluted materials printed and otherwise, and just to be honest and true to you my dear readers. I think I have collected the greatest number of pornographic materials anyone can have. I can even win in the genie's book of record. if there’s a contest like that. Frankly speaking, I shall never go back to living an insignificant life, I shall never waste any day and any single of my temporary life here on earth.?

What we input into our minds becomes our thought and that becomes our expectation and that expectation will dictate our mind into doing the things that will create that expectation and ultimately it will become our RESULT. It will become who we are, the very person we created. The well-loved person or the most disgusting one. And it’s all up to us. We are free to choose, the life that we want to live. That is the foundation and belief that has been proven to be true by the many thought leaders, philosophers, and great teachers who ever lived that, “what you think about comes about,” it’s what the great Napoleon Hill is telling us in one of the best books ever written in our human history. “Think and Grow Rich.” And other books like “The Magic of Thinking Big, As the Man Thinketh”, Jumpstart Your Thinking, Purpose Driven Life. and many others. Of course, the Holy Bible is an exemption.

If you’d asked me those questions 10 years ago. I have no answers for that. But now, I can answer you while staring straight into your eyes without blinking, and with a confident voice coming from my heart without hesitation without stuttering. My answer will be “To contribute to positive change and use my success so that others may be successful as well. To live a life that matters and a life of significance.” My mission is ‘contribution’ and my purpose is ‘significance’. I am super crystal clear about why am I here on Earth. In this temporary life. That is where the foundation of our training company “Masterminds Institute Training and Development Services, Incorporated.” was built upon. www.mastemindsinstitute.com?

That mindset of helping and empowering and adding value to people to grow and impact their lives. Again, as mentor Darren said repeatedly in his training “be a mission with a company and not a company with a mission.” I hope you are seeing how profound the difference between the two. The first step towards change is awareness knowing what your heart's burning desires are. The second is accepting the responsibility and the third is taking relentless and consistent positive actions. You don’t wait for things to happen, you make things happen.

I have realized why it was hard for me to answer questions like that before. It was obviously because I didn’t have any mission or purpose. Thinking about my mission and purpose back then was an alien thing. I had no idea, I frankly didn’t care to have one nor did I have a plan, which we just talked about in the last chapter.

All those years and time spent working for money was failing me. It was the root cause of all my failures… I will never win in that mindset because there was not a single mission to fight and win and die for and a purpose to fulfill, to begin with. I was consumed by temporal desires. I have little to no idea that I am becoming like a mercenary. And as we all know “mercenaries don’t win wars. Only soldiers do.” Mercenaries work only for the money, soldiers work for the mission.

Speaking of soldiers… There was this funny but quite serious thing that happened to my wife and me when we were at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). After we visited our dear couple friends Argie and Stephanie Roaquin. They are both Filipino nurses living in the United States although they have been there for a long time. They still lived by the values and cultures of a true Filipino especially when it comes to hospitality. We stayed in their huge beautiful home. They took care of us; we ate in a fancy restaurant. They brought us and toured us to some of the most beautiful places in the Bay Area. Sam’s Port, Golden Gate Bridge, and the crooked street we had a very memorable moment with them. After several days of staying with them, all things must come to an end. They brought us to the airport and said our goodbyes. While we were waiting to be boarded, my wife went to the restroom as I walked in amazement at how beautiful and huge San Francisco Airport was. After a while, I had forgotten our baggage and left it alone. Everything happened so fast that suddenly two tall soldiers in full metal combat gear were standing right in front of our pieces of baggage. As I came back to the spot where we left our baggage.?

Then, one of the soldiers asked me this question. “Is this yours, sir?” My heart was beating fast. I was nervous, very nervous. I thought I would be scolded or will be brought to the interrogation room like in the movies for leaving our baggage unattended. Good thing my wife arrived at the scene and she helped me explain to the soldiers that it’s ours. But still, it was my fault, good thing it did not create panic or else we could have been also in danger haha. Looking back now, it was an incident that taught me a very important lesson. Never leave nor neglect the things that matter to me the most. The things that we hold dear in our hearts. The things we will fight for, live for, and die for. As the great Martin Luther King said. “If you haven’t found something worth dying for, you’re not fit to live.”

So why did those two soldiers appear so fast to secure the area? They were so quick to respond and to act. Because they know their mission, and they exist for this purpose “to protect and to serve” a true hero. As Joseph Campbell defines it. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself,” an excerpt from my journey log book Hero’s Journey.??

Again, they are clear on their mission. To protect and to serve. I think all soldiers know their mission. What a contented and fulfilled life we will all have if we are clear on our mission. Now I appreciate the PA or public announcement or paging announcement every time we are in the Airport in the US. It goes something like this. “Calling all, military, servicemen, and former soldiers we have a special lounge for you.” They do that to honor the sacrifice and hardship the soldiers are going through just to serve and live out their mission. Not only soldiers, by the way, but those men and women in uniform and most especially those who can’t wear uniform but serve and go above and beyond their call of duty. It can be me and it can be you. We are all capable of becoming a hero to someone and somebody. That’s how impactful to know our mission is. We can be a hero because a hero is just an ordinary person with an extraordinary heart to serve and protect.

How I miss traveling to the US. The last time we were there was January 2020 before this lockdown and travel restriction was strictly implemented. And I can vividly recall it as if it was just yesterday. Good thing travel restrictions are easing up and we are excited to attend another leadership convention this May 19 to 21 in Las Vegas. This will be our second time there.?

“So, your mission if you chose to accept…” That’s a famously recorded message to Tom Cruise from the five-part movie Mission Impossible before and every mission he accomplished or before his new mission starts. Seriously speaking, I believe that every Christian’s mission should be, to enter our own Jerusalem and start our journey until we fulfill our divine purpose there. But not literally, to go to Jerusalem, it will be a great experience though if you can go and travel to Jerusalem. But the Jerusalem I am driving at here is just a “metaphor.” But have you asked yourself about the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem? We know the story, right? Everyone is excited to welcome and see and meet this man who hails from Nazareth although he was just an average Joe because he came from a family of carpenters. Nevertheless, some are pumped up even offering and laying down their cloaks to form some sort of Red-Carpet entrance like in Hollywood where the nominees are going to “Oscar Awards.” Some are even going crazy waving palm leaves as if Jesus is a “Rockstar” and “Superstar” though He is nothing compared to what the people at that time were thinking about him, or have thought of his true identity. To them he was a doctor, a preacher, a leader, and the future King of Jerusalem, that’s how famous He is, and the charisma of Jesus was overwhelming… Jesus was even fussed about this when he asked his apostles “Who do people say that I am…?”

Again, as we all know, the moment that Jesus took the first step into Jerusalem is also the moment of his death. But the intriguing part and the thing that His disciples don’t seem to understand was this. Jesus is explicitly telling His disciples that He must suffer greatly and be ridiculed by scribes, and the Pharisees and be killed. And in three days He will rise to death, to the point that Peter exclaimed that he will not let that happen to his Master, his beloved Teacher. In point, it was Peter who answered correctly the question that Jesus asked them. “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are Christ, the son of the living God.” Because Jesus knew what his Mission and Purpose were. He has no intention of backing out from that mission to fulfill his purpose. Because that is what the Father has given Him, even if it takes His life. He offered his life so that we can have “Eternal Life.” My question to you is this? If you were in the shoes of Jesus, would you enter Jerusalem and suffer unimaginable pain and humiliation before being killed just to accomplish your mission and fulfill your purpose? I can help you figure out the answer. I know your answer. You will not read this far if your answer is a “NO.” Provided that you are driven by your mission and purpose. Your answer to my question will always be a resounding YES! And I honor you for that. Many people who have come before us have done the same thing. Like, Jesus they have made the greatest sacrifice.???

Of the five purposes Rick Warren enumerated in his book “The Purpose Driven Life” which as of the moment I am on Day 36 as of this writing. The one that resonated with me the most is purpose No. 5 and that is; to tell others about Him. And writing a book is my small contribution to sharing in Christ’s Great Commission. “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize then in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” Matt. 28:19-20

If you take at what the bible says in the story of the nativity of baby Jesus Christ in?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14?

and in – Luke 2:10-12

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”?

Everything that happened even before Jesus was born is all about His Mission and how He was so Purpose-Driven to make it happen. So describe the Naviity of the birth of Jesus Christ here is a little story for you my dear readers that we’ve already been told countless times before. The story comes right after Joseph and Mary had rejected and were denied a place to bear their child by the people living there.?

In the quiet town of Bethlehem, nestled beneath the vast expanse of a star-studded sky, a divine moment unfolded that would change the course of human history. It was a night like no other, pregnant with anticipation, as the world held its breath in the presence of something extraordinary and holy.

In a humble stable, a young couple, Joseph and Mary, found refuge amongst the animals. The air was filled with a sense of sacredness, and the soft glow of a single lantern cast a warm light on the faces of the expectant parents. Mary, with a countenance of grace and serenity, cradled in her arms the promised child—the Son of God.

The heavens themselves seemed to pause in reverence, as a brilliant star hung low in the night sky, casting its luminous rays upon the stable. Wise men from distant lands, guided by the celestial light we often refer to this as the “North Star”, embarked on a journey of faith and discovery. These magi, their hearts aflame with the pursuit of divine wisdom, followed the star with unwavering determination.

In the quiet stillness of that sacred space, the newborn baby, Jesus, lay in a humble manger. The Son of God, wrapped in swaddling clothes, brought a message of divinity to a world marred by human frailty. His very presence radiated hope—a beacon that transcended the limitations of earthly existence.

Angelic voices whispered in the air, proclaiming tidings of great joy to shepherds watching their flocks in the fields. These humble keepers of sheep, often overlooked in the grand tapestry of society, became the recipients of heavenly news. The message they received transcended the mundane and embraced the extraordinary—the Savior had been born.

As the three Magi made their way to the stable, guided by the ethereal chorus, they found Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Christ child. In the presence of divinity, the shepherds understood the magnitude of the moment. Love enveloped the stable like a warm, comforting blanket, dispelling the cold of the night and the darkness of the world.

The Nativity of Jesus Christ was not just a historical event but a profound revelation—an embodiment of God's love for humanity. In the vulnerability of a newborn baby, God chose to enter the world, bridging the gap between the divine and the human. The manger became a symbol of humility and the stable a sanctuary for the sacred.

The message echoed through the ages—hope, love, and divinity were born that night. It resonated in the hearts of those who witnessed the miracle and rippled through time, reaching every corner of the earth. The Nativity remains a testament to the enduring power of love—a love that transcends boundaries heals wounds, and brings light to the darkest corners of the human soul.

As the stars continued to twinkle overhead, they bore witness to the eternal significance of that holy night. The Nativity of Jesus Christ stood as a beacon of hope, an affirmation of divine love, and an invitation to embrace the transformative power of the sacred in the midst of our earthly journey.