Cornerstone

Hebrews 11:23‑29 (24)

A story in Today in the Word, July 13, 1993, relates that “During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?”

“Who said that?” roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.” “

All people face these decisions.  Will you stand for what is right or will you do what is convenient or conventional?  Will you turn from strong influencers when their desire goes contrary to your standard of ethics?  We all have to make decisions that people will question.  We all have to make decisions that people may never understand. In the end our destiny and our unsullied relationship with God is what really matters.

Once to Every Man

Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth or falsehood
For the good or evil side.

But to every man there openeth
A high way and a low
And every man decideth
Which way his soul shall go.

-          James Russell Lowell

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Acts 24:24‑27 (27)

Peer pressure is defined by Dictionary.com as social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.  It exists for all ages.  By itself it is neither negative or positive.  In study after study of adolescents, however, peer pressure is connected to at-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, truancy, drug use, sexual activity, fighting, shoplifting, and daredevil stunts.  Peer pressure may cause one person to strive to achieve excellence in the work place while it will bring another to embezzle funds from their company or become involved in an illicit affair with a co-worker.  White collar, blue collar, clergy collar, or dirty collar, it makes no difference. People are influenced by others.  We all have choices to make.  Whether you are Pontius Pilate, Felix, or Miss. California Carrie PreJean you will face pressure from friend and foe to make decisions for which you alone will be responsible.  Knowing that we are vulnerable because of the opinions of significant people it underscores the importance of the careful choice of influencers in our lives.  Proverbs 12:26 says that, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

by Dr. Gayle Woods