Core Values -- Excellence

husband or wife, religious leader, politician] That will never happen with God. He is worthy of our love and devotion, worthy of our worship, worthy of our labor. He is worthy of late nights and early mornings. He is worth making sacrifices for. He is worthy giving things up for.
o Illustration: Winston Churchill’s first speech to the house of commons three days after becoming prime minister, at the beginning of World War II
§ "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy?
§ I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
§ You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for."
§ Even more than Great Britain, God is worthy of our blood, toil, tears, and sweat. He is worthy of our best efforts, our highest achievement. He is worthy of excellence. There are many causes to which you could devote your time and effort. Small causes, large causes.
· Collecting stamps. Rebuilding old cars. Practicing medicine or law. Climbing Mount Everest. Building a business. Running for public office. Raising a family. Keeping your lawn well-manicured. Lowering your golf handicap. Tutoring disabled children. Reading Tom Clancy novels. Staying physically fit. Finding a cure for cancer. Finding new galaxies. Finding rare Beanie Babies.
· Some of these causes are more worthy than others. But there is only one cause that is worthy of every ounce of work, devotion, labor, sacrifice, suffering, dedication - only one cause that is worth giving our lives for every day. And that cause is serving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Mount Everest will crumble. The galaxies will burn out.
· Empires, such as the British Empire that Churchill fought to preserve, will rise and fall. Beanie Babies will go the way of cabbage patch dolls and pet rocks. Your body will fall apart. But God and His Kingdom are eternal. And those who serve Him will be eternal with Him.

· The excellence difference:
o Example: visiting a rich family member who is unprepared for your visit vs. visiting a poor relation who has gone all out to provide the best that they have. Which one loves you more?
o "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." -- Proverbs 15:17 (NIV)
o Social norm of reciprocity – you give to others what is given to you
§ Christmas gifts
§ Greetings

· Excellence is commanded from us:
o Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord
o Ecc. 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

· Mediocrity (the opposite of excellence) makes Jesus sick:
o Rev. 3:15-16 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about