Trifles make perfection and perfection is no trifle.  

Michelangelo

There's a story told of three men who were applying for a school bus driver's position. The route was over a dangerous mountain pass with several difficult switchbacks. The first man was asked how close he could get to the edge without going over the side. He allowed that he could probably get within a foot. The second applicant proudly proclaimed that with his skill he could get within six inches. The third man just shook his head and said, "You guys are crazy! We are driving children! I'm staying as far away from the edge as possible." Guess who got the job? Who would you hire if he were driving your kids?

While this illustration is just a story, the point is very real. Many people go through life trying to see how close they can get to the edge without going over the cliff. The fact is that God has called us to a lifetime of service. If we are faithful to Him, though we make many mistakes along life's way, we will be with Him forever.

The reason we can say this with confidence is not because we are perfect, but because God is faithful. Still we need to remember that while He knows we cannot be perfect, He does insist that we make every effort to stay as close to the mark as possible.

An important issue for each one to settle in his own life is this: Will we just serve God in any old way that suits us and call it perfection, or will we truly aim for perfection? The reason that we have even heard of Michelangelo is that he sought perfection in his work by paying close attention to detail. As a result, he was able to accomplish the remarkable.

How about us? Can we seek anything less than perfection in our service to the Master? Do we think that He will accept anything less? Would you?

Aim for perfection...    

II Corinthians 13:11

A house divided against itself cannot stand. 

Abraham Lincoln

On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous, "House Divided" speech. He was later to say that he was looking for a familiar phrase to get his point across on the dangers of a divided nation. The one he turned to for that familiar phrase was our Lord. Lincoln was warned by friends that his speech was too radical, but he insisted it was the right thing, so he did it.

Clearly, Lincoln presided over one of the most divisive and tumultuous eras of U.S. history. I believe, when we look at our nation today, that we are looking at a time comparable to that period. We have politicians who are skilled at division, not in uniting, and they are very good at what they do. One cannot turn on the T.V. or radio without hearing some outrageous remark, and they have their desired effect because we are outraged. But, have we ever stopped to wonder if, in fact, this is the motivation of many of our politicians? Have we ever wondered that perhaps it is in their best interest to continually divide rather than unite?

Perhaps it is time for courageous men and women to once again step forward and take a firm stand for what is decent and right, if for no other reason that it is decent and right. Perhaps it is time to stop looking to the short-sighted, self-interests of the day, and start looking at what is right in the eyes of God.

I am convinced that it was because of the firm Christian principles that our founders stood for that allowed this nation to become great. It is when we return to the bedrock of our faith - of loving the Lord with all of our heart and of loving our neighbors as ourselves, that we return to greatness. This is true for the individual, it is true for the family, it is true for the church, and it is certainly true for the nation. The only question is whether or not we will allow the skilled manipulators in the political realm to sway us more than our righteous God in the heavenly realm. It may seem that time is running out, but it is never too late to do the right thing.

Every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  

Matthew 12:25, NKJV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 

John,  an apostle of Jesus

Have you been watching the news of late? It seems that it's filled with nothing but strife and hatred and killing. Such is the world apart from Christ. One of the things that I appreciate the most about genuine Christianity is the peace that it brings in the communities that practice it. This is not to say that evil men have not hijacked Christianity for self serving purposes, nor is it to deny the words of Jesus when He pointed out that it would bring strife among those who rejected His teaching. But the Christian will seek the good of his fellow man, and this brings peace when practiced among a community of believers.

This is one of the things I love the most about living in a small town where the majority of its people honestly believe that Jesus is the Son of God. It shows in every facet of every activity - from the way people do business to the way people care for their neighbors to the way the schools are run. At our particular school, we have a superintendent with a PhD. His wife is also highly accomplished, yet it is nothing unusual to see these two cleaning up the stands after a ballgame. They have the heart of a servant.

Our two principals are sincerely focused on the well being of their students - this shows in just about everything they do. Our teachers are some of the most incredible individuals that I have ever been around - most could work for higher salaries elsewhere, but they like the atmosphere of their small town.  Our secretaries actually run the school, but are kind enough to let the administrators think that they are in charge. Their real talents lie in the loving way that they treat our children. The maintenance people have been here for years and are family - not mere custodians. The man who oversees much of the school property coincidentally went to college on a track scholarship. Not coincidentally, he took the first girl's track team to State in many years. But his real asset is that he, like nearly everyone else at school and in this town, loves Christ.

There are four different houses of worship here, but the reason for our not worshiping together is not due to animosity, but to a different understanding of the Word. We still gather together at ball games and concerts and picnics and awards assemblies, just to be with one another and to cheer one another along. All of these things come from being in a community where nearly every person believes not only in God, but in Jesus as well. We don't make the news much, but I think that the blessings that stem from such Christian living is worthy of note.

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. 

Luke 11:28, NIV

Read the Bible as much as you can.

Pray as much as you can.

Worship with the church as often as you can.

This advice seems too simple to be heralded as "advice for a lifetime" but it is simple only in the aspect that it is easy to understand. It is anything but simple from the standpoint that it will require a total commitment to God. It also requires a return to the basics, which is important because religion has become so complicated, convoluted and partisan that many people have become discouraged and have given up on the most important area of their life - their service to God.

Here is why this simple concept works: If you read the Bible as much as you can, you begin to find out what God wants you to do. While there are difficult passages, the old myth that no one can really understand the Bible is ridiculous. If you can tell your children not to lie and expect them to know exactly what you mean, then the Creator of the universe can tell us not to lie and expect us to understand.

Concerning prayer, what could be better than to have a constant line of communication with God? Since we have it, we should use it! Use it to thank Him for everything, for requesting help for others and for seeking guidance.

As for worship, everyone wants to know where to worship. Just read your Bible and find the one closest to the church you see described. You've been given a mind - use it! We must settle for ourselves whether we will believe what we believe because of where we worship, or if we will worship where we worship because of what we believe. In short, the worthwhile life we seek will come down to this:

 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment."

Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38, NIV