No excuses, no explanations!

My Dad used to tell me, "Son, if you want to succeed you've got to pay attention to the pennies and the mice!" It's a homespun phrase of farming origin. The mice are little creatures but they can consume an amazing amount of grain, eating the farmer's profit. The phrase taught a principle that a life well-lived begins with the details, with paying attention to excellence around the small things. By way of illustration, I know that leading a church well does not start when I walk to the pulpit for the most public part of my work. It begins with personal disciplines of prayer, study, and good work habits. Creating a culture of excellence in our church not only involves the Sunday sermon; it extends to the little things nobody sees - like keeping church finances in order, picking up the trash left in the parking lot, and replacing burnt out light bulbs.

Tony Dungy, a committed Believer and an NFL coach who has led the Tampa Bucs and the Indianapolis Colts to championship levels, recently published a book, Quiet Strength. (Tyndale, 2007 ) He tells his teams that when they fail to win there are 'no excuses, no explanations.' The solution is to go back to work to get it right. He writes about the philosophy he instills in his team, "Champions know it is all important. The little things coaches are asking of you really do matter..... You can always find excuses for not doing exactly what you're supposed to do, but that is exactly what creates a losing environment."

I can name many people of lesser innate abilities who reach greater success than those with great talent. Why? Because those blessed with the brains, or the good looks, or the brawn - often let down on the hard work of preparation because they over-estimates their advantages. The guy with less education or less physical advantages knows that he has to prepare and perform at a consistently higher level to get the win. Winners function with focus, paying attention to the daily disciplines that build strength and character. When they win, they celebrate then go back to work. When they lose, there are 'no excuses, no explanations.'

Spiritually, I know that same principles work! Ask my adult children why they are active Believers today and one of the things they'll mention was that they were trained, from birth all the way through high school, to give church meetings on Sundays the first priority of life. They were never allowed to skip worship; not because of late nights, work, or sports. That discipline taught them that being a Christian required choices and self-denial. "Oh. come on, Jerry. We both know that being a Believer starts in the heart with faith." Yes, you are right, but the choices we make matter, too. For example, church attendance is a tangible way to say to God, the world, and ourselves - "God is Number One, not a god who serves my convenience." Choosing to be in corporate worship is one way to reinforce a much greater principle- Put God first. Yet, many Believers, because they think they are stronger than they are, will have a hit or miss church attendance pattern, allowing almost any activity to take priority on Sunday morning. They miss out on the encouragement of the Body, never experience the joy and camaraderie of true ministry, because of their inconsistency.

The principle applies to all the spiritual disciplines. A consistent prayer life is a cornerstone to spiritual strength. Getting up just 15 minutes earlier to allow for a focused time to converse with God can make a huge difference, but for many prayer becomes a reaction that occurs in crisis instead of a purposed meeting that allows God to lead and guide. Some think that because they don't have a red-hot conversation with God everyday (nor do I, by the way) they assume they can let it go today, and tomorrow, and . . . in time, intimacy with the Lord is lost. Regular reading of the Word, and study with a group, gives a person access to the wisdom of God and foundational principles for life. Yet, for many Believers, Bible study is non-existent, replaced by a 'devotional' reading of a few lines, robbing that person of the wisdom of the Word.

Are you thinking like a winner, doing what it takes to shape your life with principles that lead to excellence? Or, are you cutting corners, letting the little things go, and letting your life slide into destruction, one small choice at a time? At the end of his life, Paul reflected on a life well-lived. He served the Lord faithfully in spite of hardships. He kept his eyes on the goal, never giving in to the temptation to 'go easy.' About mid-way through his ministry life, he wrote of the pursuit of excellence. "Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT)

As a result of living this way, years later he was able to sum up his life and express his hope with these words, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)

Success - on the football field, in the realm of business, in your marriage, in raising your children; yes even in becoming a mature, fruitful Christian - starts with a commitment to excellence, even in the small things. So, "pay attention to the pennies and the mice!"