JULY 13, 2023

 "If trusting God and finding joy in your work means you go 0'fer with 3 strikeouts...then you needed to go 0'fer with 3 strikeouts."

PSALM 10-12

1Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.2Everyone lies to their neighbor;they flatter with their lipsbut harbor deception in their hearts.(12:1-2)

ACTS 17:16-34

24“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’^b As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’^c

29“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

JOURNAL 

As Good as it Gets I love this movie. I don't know if it's just the tragic human stories juxtaposed with the crass sayings of Melvin (Jack Nicholson), or the fact that there exists such raw truth in the reality that life is hard and anything but "noodle salad". 

The Bible is also full of this reality. To consider my life in comparison I realize the truth of how precious and blessed I really am. Just simply because I have a brain, a functioning body, friends, family and community. The stark reality is that today...is as good as it gets. I have no idea what tomorrow will be...nor should I get consumed by it. But today...today is a gift. To miss this is to miss life, to miss God, to miss everything that matters. 

It also means that the world is a tough place and will always be a tough place. Deal with it...it isn't heaven...in fact we are to bring the spirit of Heaven to earth. We are to bring goodness into the raw, chaotic, unforgiving world. Today is "as good as it gets".  If I am blessed to be here tomorrow...the same will be true. 

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

MATTHEW 5:4-12