Good, Better, Best

The quote was on the back of a T-shirt, three rows in front of me at a baseball game. “Good, better, best…never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is your best” but it was attributed to Tim Duncan, a professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan was not born until 1976. So what’s the problem, you ask? The problem I was having with Duncan was related to the fact that on my first school day at Miss Baker’s Little Kindergarten in Paris, Texas, my mother saw me out of the front door by reminding me of that quote, and that was a long time before 1976. A little research informed me that Tim Duncan said the quote came from his mother who made him memorize it and say it every night before his bedtime. A little more research informed me that the actual quote, “Good better, best, never let it rest until the good is better, and the better is best” came from St. Jerome, a Catholic priest, born in 347 A.D. and best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), as well as his extensive writings. Not sure where Jerome got the idea for the quote, unless it was from the author of Hebrews who wrote, “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). Wherever it started, it is a worthy goal. So this week, let’s work on making our good, better and our better, best.

Join with me also this week in interceding for the following global concerns:
• Wednesday, May 9th, is Victory Day across much of the former Soviet Union. Check this map, http://g.co/maps/geqjw for prayer requests.
• Thank God for major answers to long-time prayers for new church starts in White Rock, BC, Canada and Victoria, on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
• Thanks God for an open door into the schools of Olsberg, Germany and pray for Wendell as he enters those doors.
• Pray for the New Day Church and Orphanage in Zambia.