Cornerstone

Psalm 119:1-8 (2)

In this little town the speed limit was 25 mph EVERYWHERE! I was SO frustrated. Things had not gone well that morning. It was cold. My son didn’t want to get out of bed. We soon found that it had sleeted during the night. Ice covered my windshield. Then the car wouldn’t start. A jump start to the battery took more time. Ahead were slick roads, heavy traffic and 15 miles to the school

Traffic was moving at about 22 3/8 mph! If I hurried my son would not be tardy. Finally there was no one in front of me. We were 2 mile from school I had 2 minutes. I stepped on the accelerator.

Then I saw him. He was headed toward me. I glanced at my speedometer. I was driving at 35 mph. We met and passed. In my rearview mirror I watched him make a u-turn. His lights came on. As I pulled into the school parking lot, ON TIME, the city patrolman pulled in behind me.

I accomplished what I wanted to do. It seemed right at the time. Others would not have faulted me. Yet, I had to pay a fine. So it is with God=’s Word. It is our guide to a productive, happy life with Jesus. When we violate its precepts we must pay the consequences.

Dr. Gayle Woods

2 Kings 5:20-27 (27)

Does the accumulation of money actually lead to happiness? Greed can cause you to become something you did not think possible. James Patterson and Peter Kim in “The Day America Told the Truth” told of a poll which asked the question, “What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?” Two-thirds of those in America who were polled agreed to at least one of the following items. Some agreed to several of the items.

Would abandon their entire family (25%)
Would abandon their church (25%)
Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
Would leave their spouses (16%)
Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
Would kill a stranger (7%)
Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

This poll uncovers an alarming reality. Greed rules the hearts of many people. Moral values are easily set aside when there is the potential for extravagant gain. And yet greed only offers dissatisfaction because you can never attain everything you may desire. Kennon Sheldon, a psychologist at the University of Missouri at Columbia said, “We consistently find that people who say money is most important to them are (the unhappiest).” Greed causes people to make poor choices which lead to self destruction.

Col. 4:1-6

A man was caught in a turbulent flood waters. He prayed, “Lord, save me!”. Shortly after his prayer, a boat paddled towards him. He was urged to get in. “No thank-you”, said the man, “The Lord is going to save me”. An hour later, a motor boat came by. Again he was urged to get in. “No thank-you”, said the man, “The Lord is going to save me”. The flood waters continued to rise. The rescue efforts were significantly hampered. At this point, the man was clinging to the roof-top of his flooded house. A helicopter hovered overhead and lowered a ladder. “Don’t worry about me,” He yelled, “The Lord is going to save me”. A short time later the exhausted man gave up and sank under the surface to drown.

As the man stood before God, he asked Him, “Lord, I trusted in You. Why didn’t You save me?”. “Save you?”, replied God, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What else did you expect?”.
God is always at work. He is an active God. The problem lies with our spiritual eyesight, our small capacity for faith, and our lack courage to obey. Paul realized the need to pray for opportunities and for boldness to take advantage of those opportunities for ministry and witness. So should we.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Luke 16:10-13 (10)

Who is Mr. Church of God (Holiness)? In my opinion that title should be given to Dr. I. C. Holland. He has served the Lord in the Church of God (Holiness) from an early age and he has served well. Even while attending the University of Missouri as a young man he was active in the ministry. The desire to preach the Word and pastor the people of God continued to be a love and a burden to him. And yet this ministry was not exclusive. He became very active at Kansas City College and Bible School. He served as Professor, Academic Dean, Vice President, President and finally as Board Member. He is interested in the mission of the church abroad. He has served on the World Mission Board for many years and has traveled to represent the work on numerous foreign fields. This barely scratches the surface of his official involvement in the Church of God (Holiness). In addition, the people saw his interest in their lives as he demonstrated his outstanding memory. Names of people previously met on one occasion accompanied by remembrances of personal interest caused many to stand in awe. As Chairman of the General Convention he served with dignity, wisdom and poise. The list continues seemingly without end regarding one who took Romans 12:1 literally and gave himself to Jesus Christ in unselfish and tireless labor.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Proverbs 3:5, 6 (6)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

This “if-then” statement has provides a promise that has been an instruction and an encouragement to many Christians.

If – you trust God completely and always

If – you don’t rely on your own ingenuity or abilities at all, and

If – you recognize that without God you are an absolute Zero,

Then – He will be your guide through life.

The Eads Bridge in St. Louis was designed by James B. Eads and was completed in 1874.  At that time it was the longest arch bridge in the world.  It was 6,442 feet long and was constructed with the use of ribbed steel arch spans.  This was the first time this method had ever been used on major bridge project. The people did not trust the structure to be safe.

Therefore on June 14, 1874, John Robinson led an elephant across the new bridge.   It was believed that elephants would instinctively refuse to walk on unsafe structures. Two weeks later, James Eads sent 14 trains across the bridge at the same time.

The bridge that had not been trusted became a common means of passage from Missouri to Illinois across the Mississippi river.  Believers in like manner may have difficulty trusting in God.  We may cling to our old methods of trusting in our faulty intelligence and our weak efforts.  Until we can instinctively learn to trust in Him, and lean on Him for guidance in life naturally, we will continue to stumble from one failure to another.

Dr. Gayle Woods