CANDID CLASSIC
Sophomore Ooimnd Comp gives his sister. Heiien. o big hug
before ieoviag tor Mexico this summer. Ooimadioft from
Moutreot with other studeuts te do their internships os m
port of the Christion Ministries degree progrom.
WORDS FROM WOODS
ELAINE WIEDMAN
The Reverand James P, Wood, a Montreal Graduate,
spoke this past week In Gaither Chapel, highlighting
Spiritual Emphasis Week with a five part lecture
series.
Wood, after graduating from Montreal, continued his
studies at Gordon College and graduated from there in
1975. Later, In 1979, he graduated from Conwell
Theological Seminary, Since then Rev. Wood has
served churches In New England and is presently pastor
of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church In Atlanta. He is
married and has 3 sons.
In his first lecture concerning happpiness, I was
struck by the accounts Rev. Wood gave of various
individuals who seemed to have it all yet were not
happy. In particular, I recall Wood's story of the man
with $ 16 million, who worried about losing $3 million,
lost It all and suffered a nervous breakdown. There
was also the millionaire who was on the brink of
divorce because his wife wanted to quit her job, buy a
house and have children but he objected— he was
afraid of going broke. Here are people who had it all,
yet they are not happy. Wood then relayed a story
about Nelson Rockefeller who probably said it best
when someone asked him, "How much does it lake to
make a person happy," he replied, "Just a little bit
more." It Is true, Man, no matter how much he has,
always wants more: another car, more money, more
clothes, a better stereo etc. Somehow he thinks
material possessions will bring him happiness.
As Rev. Wood commented, we so often gel caught up
in materialism that we forget Matthew 6:19-33 where
Christ tells us oaL to lay up treasures on earth but to
seek first the kingdom of Heaven, Try as we might we
will never find anything that will fill our Inner
emptiness, except Christ, Only by allowing him into
our lives can we ever begin to find happiness in our
lives. Too much emphasis today Is placed on the things
of this earth Instead of on things above.
Wood's 2nd lecture, "What Are You Going to do About
it?" left one with much to think about. In this lecture,
the Reverend spoke of standing up for our morals. If we
think abortions are wrong. If we think the starvation of
millions of people Is wrong, if we oppose Individuals
trying to destroy our religious freedom. Wood
challenged, "What are you Iwc] going to do about It?" 1
had to stop and think how often we speak against this,
that and the other thing but don't really do anything
about that which we criticise or oppose, I recall the
words of a friend some years ago who said, "Stand for
something, lest you fall for anything." Those words
have had an influence on my life, 1 challenge the
reader not just to think or talk about something but to
dfi something, I sometimes think the world's condition
today Is due to the apathy of its people. It Is as Jim
Wood commented, "There are enough people here today
to change the world. The question Is not what we
believe, but what are we qoinq to do about It?"
"Rated R" was the title of the third lecture. In this.
Wood laid down some good advice to follow for "the
best possible sex life." He stated that God made sex;
He designed it as an expression of love between a man
and a woman who are married to each other. He also
remarked that abstaining from sex before marriage is
necessary In order to build a good foundation of trust In
a relationship. In addition, individuals need to stand up
to temptation and say "no" to it.
Wednesday evening's lecture, titled "Who Are You?"
centered on the unseen spiritual realm. Here Wood
emphasized believing In the unseen spiritual realm, the
necessity of making a spiritual commitment and the
sufficiency of God's provision. His main point was that
we need to make a commitment to Christ In order to
defend ourselves against the "Enemy." For God
promises; "Greater is He that is in you than he that is
In the world." I had to think to myself, "It's so easy to
say yes' to Christ but how many of us don't do It; how
often do we think we can get through life without him?"
Yet we wonder why we often end up In trouble. God is
always there, all we have to do Is reach for him.
In his final lecture, "What Will You do When the
Storms Come?" Wood emphasised building the
foundation of one's life In Christ In order to be
prepared for the "storms" of life. He echoed some of
the promises of the New Testament. "My grace Is
sufficient for thee." "When I am weak then I am
strong." "If God is for us who can be against us?" I
had to think about my own life and upbringing. The firm
Christian foundation I had to draw upon both in good
times and bad Is something I will always be grateful
for.
Jin WOOD. PASTOR. MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH
ALETHIA STAFF:
Dr. Rich Gray
Advisor
Nancy Nichols
Editor
REPORTERS:
Tracy Aiken
Stephanie Bowsman
Mindy Clinard
Marc Duarte
Greg Howard
Renee Jenkins
Scott Russo
Garrett Stanfield
Kim Thompson
James Waldroupe
Elaine Weidman
Drew Boren
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME I
David Geiger & William Hu SUBMISSIONS IN THE ALETHIA
BOX- FRONT OFFICE OF GAITHER.
THE EDITOR WOULD LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO WILLIAM
HU. GREG HOWARD. ALI MARTIN. TRACEY AIKEN. DREW BOREN.
NANCY BOYEA. AND DR. GRAY FOR THEIR HELP IN A PINCH. THANKSI