One of the most special moments in recent baseball memory occurred September 6, 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's 1939 record of 2,130 consecutive games played-an amazing feat. The documentaries on Cal's life reveal the personal side behind the daily grind, the years of no excuses and conditioning. They also give us a subtle reminder that people (sports writers) count just about everything--all aspects of competition become categories for success and failure.

On May 30, 1982, Cal started that first game of his (current) streak and probably wasn't counting down to 2,130. In fact, it took a few years before most writers publicized the count, and 14 seasons to break the record. Would Cal have been a failure had he sat out a game? Of course not. Would he be as famous? Probably a standout, but not as famous. He also holds another amazing record, setting a single-season record in 1990 for fielding percentage by a shortstop with a .996 mark--committing only three errors in 680 chances.

However, without the stats on his streak, sports fans 50 years from now would not use him as a reference point for durability and sustained excellence.

Many of Babe Ruth's records established in the 1930s were goals for players through the current era-six decades. Hank Aaron finally broke Ruth's "magical" 714 home run mark in 1974. When Aaron retired after the 1976 season, he held many career batting records, including most home runs (755), total bases (6856), extra-base hits (1477), runs batted in (2297), and times at bat (12,364). Pete Rose, known as Charlie Hustle, set another record which also appears unbreakable. He had 4256 career hits, many of them from beating out ground balls in the infield.

Ripken, Aaron and Rose established "benchmarks"--standards for comparison and goals just like Ruth and Gehrig had posted. More importantly, the statistics reveal durability, mastery of skills, and a commitment to the game.

Oftentimes, an athlete will sign an autograph with a "personal record" beside his or her name, usually abbreviated "PR . . ." A few years ago one of my students was working a California track meet while simultaneously completing study cards for my Ancient History course. While grading the cards a few days later I chuckled when running across a note from long jump phenom, Mike Powell. It was followed by "31.00 WR."

In April of 1992, I watched one of the world's finest athletes, David Johnson, score his PR in the decathlon. He was touted throughout the world in the $20 million media blitz, the "Dave and Dan" Reebok commercials, as one of the two contenders for "The World's Greatest Athletes." And rightfully so. His 8,727 points on a smog-alert day at the Mt. SAC Relays would have beaten Czechoslovakia's Robert Zmelik for the gold medal in Barcelona. During David's great meet (which was actually held at Azusa Pacific University), he competed with such grace that 9,000 points certainly appeared within reach.

During the second day of his competition, our mutual friend and his coach, Dr. Terry Franson, became noticeably aware of the magical moment. The "record" became the talk of the meet and community. As nightfall seemed to threaten the completion of the event, several of us pulled our cars around and used the headlights for impromptu stadium lighting. Dave had a shot at the world record. However, as the smog thickened, darkness fell, and humidity rose, the grueling events began to take effect on all the participants. His best event, the javelin, was next to last and proved mediocre. The final event, the 1500 K, took its toll. There, in the headlights, I'll long remember the conclusion of a remarkable two-day performance as my friend doubled over coughing out the pollution.

The biggest lesson was tied to the statistic--he never beat this total. Going into the Barcelona games he broke his foot, cracking the navicular bone in two places. The night it happened was equally as memorable. His silhouette alongside that of his buddy and coach, sitting on a sideline bench, again, as night fell on the same track at Azusa Pacific where he had his PR. No joking. No talking. Dreams of winning gold were dashed. He would keep his injury a secret and somehow manage to win the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics--perhaps one of the most under-covered stories of any Olympics. He will often sign 8,727 beside his autograph.

David kept a WR in mind during every meet, like Aaron, Rose and Ripken. Currently, Mark McGwire is constantly reminded of Hack Wilson's 1930 record of 190 RBIs. Statistics serve as reference points and help us to measure certain feats, ours and others.

The Bible is filled with statistics that reveal God's glory and amazing feats by His followers through the ages. He created the universe in "six" days (Genesis 1-2). Samson, the strongest man in any historical record, killed "one thousand" of his enemies in one battle with the jawbone of a donkey, and "three thousand" when he destroyed one of their pagan temples (Judges 15-16). Methuselah lived 969 years (Genesis 5: 27). Jesus fed "five thousand" men with only "five" loaves and "two" fishes. He performed other miracles which were measured, e.g., he told his disciples to cast the net on the opposite side of the boat and they immediately caught "153 large fish" (John 21: 11).

The Apostle Paul realized the usefulness of athletic images in communicating truth and appealed several times to the competitive spirit of people, the "counting" side.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No. I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize I Corinthians 9: 24-27.

St. Paul reminds us here that there is one PR that is more important than any other. When Paul disclosed his eminent death, he declared that "the time has come for my departure,"

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith 2 Timothy 4: 7.

The challenge for all of us is to look at the human story (and oftentimes--the divine twist) behind athletic records. You can read about the divine presence in the life of Orel Hershiser in his 1989 autobiography, Out of the Blue. Dave Johnson's story is detailed in his biography, Aim High. One of the more compelling stories is represented in the 1942 movie, Pride of the Yankees--the story of Lou Gehrig who died at 38 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which later became known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

More importantly, the story of Jesus is recorded by four different first-century writers in their books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and supported by various other books by the Apostle Paul and other first-century writers. The "statistics" serve as reference points in comparing the life of Christ to various religious pretenders. They also help us to chart a moral and fulfilling course for our own race.

The record of one accomplishment that will never be broken is found in these "gospel" accounts, or "good news" books on Jesus' life-on the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead! (Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6; John 20.) And the Apostle Paul makes several references to this most important record in human events, highlighting the promise of eternal life--". . . just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" Romans 6:4.