Biola University - Biolan Yearbook (La Mirada, CA)

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144. Seniors 160. Performance 212. Lifestyle 254. Index 285. Conclusion The Biolan Volume Fifty-Two 1985 Biola University 13800 Biola Avenue La Mirada, California 90639 Published yearly by the Associated Students of Biola University Printed by: Herff Jones Yearbooks Marceline, Missouri Senior portraits and undergraduates photography taken by: Edwards Photography El Toro, California Cover and Title Page photography by: Animals Animals ®Ray Richardson

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TTieBIOLAN Table of Contents Biolan Staff Editor-in-Chief — Todd R. Myatt Associate Editor — Luke Tai Copy and Classes Editor — Mark Bardwell Photography and Spiritual Editor — Bruce Erickson Academic Editors — Nanette Friesen Barbara Stegman Leadership Editor — Wanda Cronkite Performance Editors — Sheri Myatt Yasmin Adhiambo Carolyn Eide Lifestyle Editors — Marinelle Banez Paolo Narciso Art Director — Karen Gardea Photography Staff Photography Director — Tom Jackson Photography Staff — Tim Adams Eva Bowers Gwen Shaw Publications Faculty Adviser — Dean Young Technical Adviser — Robert Williams Publications Chairman — Mark Salo Business Manager — Carol Hansord Advertising Director — Jim Stofer Chimes Editor — Glenn Whipp 2. Dedication 6. Visions 16. Spiritual 28. Academics 84. Leadership 106. Classes

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EXCELLENCE: Can man excel without God? The self-made man, the self-made woman — images especially popular to the subculture of today ' s American soci- ety. Our modern-day society proclaims this self-made, rugged individualism as its role model. People who possess these qualities are portrayed for us as being successful and they must be imitated if one wants to achieve in this society. They often appear in movies. From Dirty Harry and James Bond to E.T., the idea runs through. Even Saturday morning car- toon heroes are seen as self-reliant individ- ualists that bow to no man or thing. Reach- ing down deep within themselves, they find that inner strength that allows them to overcome any and all situations. The self-made image is very much a catalyst that drives men and women to climb whatever ladder they are on. All striving for excellence and moving up- wards. Certainly this view of life has a touch of humanism in it. However, this do-it-yourself mentality to achieve excellence does possess a prag- matically positive side to it. Beauty can be achieved through people who are driven to excellence. By being individualistic and by taking pride in their work, these people push themselves forward. With the added incentive of a gain of wealth or fame, these individuals have also established quite a good living. It is true that the work of their hands has benefited mankind in many areas but is this driven type of life really good? King Saul can be likened to a driven man. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants and he will destroy anything that will threaten his livelihood. This way of thinking, however, also has its negative fallouts because it becomes very easy to leave God out of the picture. Life has a tremendous void when the presence and the supernatural influence of God is left out. Sometimes this is hard to accept . One of our Lord s hard sayings ' in the Gospels is the phrase found in John 15:5. Without Me, He said, you can do nothing. Another translation reads, apart from Me, you can do nothing; hard words for self-made and self-reliant Human excellence, apart from God, is like the fabled flower which, ac- cording to the Rabbis, Eve plucked when passing out of paradise; sev- ered from its native root it is only the touching memorial of a lost Eden — sad while charming and beautiful, but dead. — Stanford individuals to swallow. Also, in John fifteen, our Lord said, I am the vine and you are the branches. The symbolism is clear. A rose snipped from its life giving stem will die. Eternal human life apart from God will die in eternal hell. So our temporal life on earth is dead without God because it amounts to nothing in the end. Only that which is done for Christ will last. Being apart from God has severe conse- quences in eternity. But it seems that we are not as concerned with being apart from Him while on earth. The concept of total dependence in God has a difficult time impacting us in the twentieth century. Especially those of us who are constantly bombarded with the self-reliant image. This is especially evi- dent in our prayer life: praying when all else fails. As with all other issues concerning the Christian life, there needs to be balance. Yes the Bible does teach that we are to lean on the arms of God and trust and rely on Him. But does this mean that we are to turn off our brains, talents, and physical abilities? Our Lord commanded us to depend on Him t hrough the illustration of the vine and then turned around and endowed each one of us with unique abilities. What is the meaning. We must deal with this paradox, as Dr. Dave Black would say. In his keynote address at Biola ' s 1984 Torrey Memorial Conference, Dr. Howard Hendricks concluded, When I try, I fail. But when I trust. He succeeds. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit is that particular aspect of our supernatural Christian life which Dr. Hendricks empha- sized. To allow Christ to live through us is the key. On one hand, we are branches totally dependent on Christ our vine. On the other hand, we work and use our natural abilities to His glory by bearing fruit. Trying to keep our Christian life balanced from all sides will be a continuous activity the rest of our lives.