Gulf Coast Bible College - Clarion Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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The Breath of God refreshes and renews the life it blows upon. The love of the life, once directed toward self is now sacrificial and directed toward God. Once a man' has been breathed upon, the change is seen, and the presence of God is clearly evident to all around. It is with deep admiration and love that we, the year- book staff, dedicate the 1980 edition of the Clarion to a man whom God has breathed upon DR. KENNETH IONES

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The unifying theme of the whole Bible is God's search for a holy people to live for Him because of their love. The Old Testament begins by showing how sin destroyed love for God, and how God began, step by step, to teach the people, through the descendants of Abraham, to serve God in perfect love, which is hol- iness. Through Moses, God gave laws which show how holy people should live. The kingdom taught that God is truly our King, and the prophets taught the jus- tice and love of God. Then Christ Iesus, God Himself, demonstrated God's love, died and rose again, to show us the ultimate love of God. He made it possible for us to die to sin, and love God with the perfect love which is the essence of holiness. This love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit fRom. 5:51, and is the fruit of the Spirit fGal. 5:22J. Thus God succeeded in his search for people who would let Him make them holy by giving His love to them. Holiness is godly love for God and for all mankind. Dr. Kenneth Iones n-Sl --1-Y

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HOLINESS! SHALL BE OUR WATCHWORDN are the words from a song written in the early days of the Church of God for called-out people. The uniqueness of the Church of God laid in their promulgation of the doctrinal cornerstone of hol- iness and unity. Gulf-Coast Bible College still wants to maintain that emphasis, because the desires of God for us are still holiness and unity. His will is unchangeable. How does GBC keep the idea of personal holiness in the forefront of our doctrinal stand? We believe in a Holy God who can communicate and infuse His Holiness through His Holy Spirit into a believer. Secondly, the study of the Scriptures themselves should enhance the life of holiness, because The Word sanctifies us through its washing of our lives. Since the Scripture given by God is holy fset apart and purej, then it must ever profit us in the life of holiness. The Word of God is sound not only for orthodox doctrine, but it still reproves and instructs in personal holiness. In Christ twhere holiness aboundsl, Iohn W. Conley President To be holy in a moral sense is to be whole, entire, complete. In ordinary use, it is synonymous with godliness and purity. Iesus declared that love for God is the first commandment. From such a genuine love would flow love for others, described by our Lord as thy neighbor as thyself, The apostle Iohn emphasizes this truth in saying, lf we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.'Uohn us Uohn 4:12l. Since the word holy and its derivatives occur at least 120 times in their application to men and things, the term holy should be very important in Christian usage. Unfortunately, it is a neglected theme. The bishop of a major denomination recently remarked that if the members of his church were afraid of sin as much as they are of holiness, the church would be a lot more effective. True! Iesus stressed the centrality of holiness in a different way, saying, Every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice salted with salt fMark 91491. Both salt and fire are purifying ele- ments. Christians are to have a purifying influence among men. The fire of the Holy Spirit con- tinually purges and purifies believers who are obedient and yielded to God's will. My prayer of GBC is that this cardinal truth shall ever dominate the doctrine and deportment of all who go through its halls of learning. Max. R. Gaulke, President Emeritus Since Bible is our middle name, if we have the audacity to be a Bible college, HOLINESS MUST BE OUR MODE OF LIFE AND OUR WATCHWORD IN SERVICE. Holiness has been a much misunderstood word. To some it represents rigidity, narrowness, and austerity. In actuality it represents wholeness. Wholeness of body, mind, and spirit is God's perfect will for every person. From its beginning, Gulf-Coast Bible College has had the objective of preparing leaders for the church who have knowledge of the Scriptures, who are prepared to perform the tasks of their cho- sen vocation, and who exhibit the quality of life which God expects of chosen servants. One whom God would use must be a vessel unto honor or an instrument for noble purpose, made holy, use- ful to the Master and prepared to do any good work UI Tim. 2:21b NIVJ. Practical holiness involves separation. In accepting Christ one is separated unto God and belongs to Him in a special sense. We are reminded that we are not our own for we are bought with a price tl Cor. 6:19b, 205. As this truth is realized, one will present himself in a decisive act to God, avoid being conformed to this world. fRom. 12:1, 21 and separate himself from everything that contami- nates body and spirit III Cor. 7:1 NIVJ. Practical holiness involves righteousness. To be, that is the issue. Christianity is to be demon- strated in daily life. Long after sermons, teaching, and advice are forgotten, the kind of persons we have been will be remembered. Let us follow after honesty, integrity, truthfulness, sexual purity, humility, self-control, and compassion and consideration of others. If we do this our holiness will remind others of Iesus. . Dr. Walter M. Doty Vice President For Academic Affairs A 1 I i 1