NEVER do anything simply because it feels good or because it has brought fame orpopularity to others.

Never do anything because of peer pressure.All these reasons are transient and can neither endure nor inspire you in the long run. Find a cause around your actions. Do

not marry without a why.

Never take up a job without asking yourself why. Make no commitments without knowing why. If you cannot find a compelling reason and a purpose bigger than yourself and your mundane concerns, do not venture.

Reading some of Apostle Paul's epistles in the Bible, one would think he had a deathwish. Several times, he expressed his preference for dying and going to be with the Lord, but he felt compelled to stay in the world because of a strong burden to preach the gospel and to serve people. No wonder he endured the harshest of persecutions and he was still able to say, "None of these things move me"!He even referred to his lifethreatening travails as "light afflictions"! When he felt that the purpose of his staying alive had been

sufficiently fulfilled, he bold ly declared, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, now I am ready to go!' (my paraphrase). Waoh!

When his brothers challenged his resolve to confront Goliath, David simply asked them, "Is there not a cause?" He brought down in a matter of minutes, a giant that

had threatened the entire Israeli national army for 40 days! A man on a mission is like an unstoppable missile. Having chosen to embrace purpose, you must go ahead to choose

the values that will govern your actions. Covey calls this the choice of principles. When you sacrifice rinc· les on the altar of convenience, you have simply signed

on for the rat race. At the end of the race, even if you do win, you remain a rat!

A life of purpose is necessarily a life of discipline. Discipline without purpose is

needless punishment. If you discipline your children without letting them know wh y, they may grow up resenting you. Conversely, if you always give them valuebased reasons for the reproof, they can endure the pains of the punishment no matter how severe, and in the long run, will grow to love you for it!

Values are the compass of discipline. The outcomes you get in life are direct! y proportional to the core values that drive the input. Values are the drivers of character.

When your life is governed by the core values of dependability, integrity, respect or others, transparency and compassion, you may suffer short-term reversals in a world that believes in cutting corners, but long after the rat competitors would

have run out of gas, you will still be going strong.

As crooked as many people are, everyone still wants someone to trust. It is the only reason a robber would steal someone e lse's money and look for a bank to keep it in.

According to David Cottrell, 'We will forget and forgive any judgment error that you make, but integrity mis takes are forever."

Don't spend your life thinking about your reputation which is nothing, but what  people think about you. Develop your character and the reputation will take care

of itself.

Character is developed in the crucible of life experiences. How do you respond to issues and people when you are under pressure?

Accord' to Helen Keller, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened; vision cleared; ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Wayne Dyer underscores it well when he said, "What comes out of you when you are squeezed is what is inside you." Purpose not guided by principles is sure to derail. Every destination demands corresponding discipline. Values-based discipline is to the man/woman of purpose what the rail is to the train. As rails remind the train that it was not designed to run on the highway, values help you to define boundaries. With boundaries, you are able to tell yourself that you cannot do certain things that oth ers do, not necessarily because they are evil or s inful, but because they are not relevant to your life's pursuit. That something is lawful does not make it expedient for you.

My favourite definition of discipline was given by Myles Munroe in his book The Burden Of Freedom as decisions dictated by predetermin ed destination ... continued

Postscript

We were in Ado Eldti on Thursday November 24th for the presentation of 500 pillows to the state government for onward distribution to public hospitals in the state. Our team was received by the Executive Governor of Eldti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and some members of his cabinet. Thanks to all who have given to support this.

We are short of the projected 500 pillows for the next state by 150 pillows. We have achieved 1,650 and still counting. With God and your help, it is doable! To participate, send an sms to 08033306083 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!