James Russell Lowell wrote:
“Life is a leaf of paper white
Whereon each of us may write
A line or two, and then comes night.
Greatly Begin! Though you have time
but for a line, be that sublime -
Not failure, but low aim is crime.”

When the apostle Paul asks the Corinthians to help the mother Church of Jerusalem he makes his appeal on the foundation of excellence. “Just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for one another — see that you also excel in the grace of giving.” I would like to talk about striving for excellence for a few moments today.

What I love most about this congregation is your commitment to the best. Whether we are talking about buildings or business, ministry or missions, community or fellowship, there i…