Numbers

I went home today pretty happy that the results of my Annual Physical Exam are normal.

BUN, Creatinine, Total Cholesterol, Uric Acid, Hemoglobin, Hemoticrit and WBC Count all within the normal ranges. My HDL is high and my LDL is low which, by the way, I was told was a good thing.

While I was looking at the pieces of paper handed to me containing the results, I can't help but wonder, "So, is this all there is?"

I mean, is life simply about striking a balance between all these numbers? That's it?

Oftentimes, Christians do the same thing - keep numbers. From the seemingly trivial - number of verses memorized or chapters read every night to the big ones like percentage given as tithes or hours spent in prayer, or number of converts in a religious meeting.

It's funny but really, we have got to stop and ask ourselves the question. And hopefully realize together, that life is not merely about counting as much as living.

Jim Elliot had it nailed when he - in one of his journals in college - asked God not for a LONG life, but a FULL one. I believe we should ask just the same.

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Middleman

Have you ever had someone ask you to pray on their behalf? Well, I do get them a lot.

Growing up, people always think I have this special open communication line to the powers that be. But it was just recently when a friend asked me to pitch in a few good words for her, that I became aware of this fact.

Why do people do this? It's simply because we are obssessed with mediators.

I wonder why we can't simply take Christ at His word when He said, "it is finished"?

Is it because it's too hard to believe that we've been forgiven not because of what we did or are still capable of doing but inspite of us?

While all that needs to be done for the Father to be pleased with us is simply believe in the accomplished work of the Son, we think we can pitch in a few cute acts and catch His attention.

It sure is absurd. Looking back, I scratch my head to how preposterous my filthy briberies look in contrast to the full ransom Christ paid up there on the Cross.

We have got to learn that the veil was torn for a reason.

We all have direct access to the throne of grace. No further mediation needed.

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