Paul Washer: Be a Man
Saturday, October 24, 2009
No Longer a Blogger
Please from now on put this in your favs http://gospeltotheperishing.com/ click and say adios to this site. Oh also, my email is gospeltotheperishing@gmail.com
Good night!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Keith Daniel from Cape Town
On the week of September 26-27 was Texas Revival Series II. First Baptist Church of Justin, Texas featured Keith Daniel from Cape Town, Africa, Mike Gendron from Dallas Texas, Randall Easter from Briar Texas, Mack Thomlinson from Denton Texas.
Becaause of the TRS conference Keith Daniel needed a place to stay. Jon Speed called me to ask if I would put him up during the conference and provide transportation. Ok I’m not exactly the most diplomatic person you would ever meet but, I try to be as gracious as possible. So here is Jon calling me to ask if I would keep one of the worlds most influential evangelists, a person who is obviously chosen by God to speak for Him, who’s uncomproming message has caused thousands to fall under the conviction of sin, Keith Daniel at our house! Uh? Um, well, I had to think and pray about it for at least 2 seconds. Ok maybe I had to ask my wife if she had anything scheduled for that weekend but, Im thinking whatever it is, cancel cancel cancel oh please cancel. Praise God Jon asked me and not some other important celebrity preacher. Ok, enough background.
Friday night, my gracious wife and I left in plenty of time to pick up Keith at DFW airport by 8pm Friday. I had to welcome him dressed in my boots and hat, after all the conference name is Texas Revival isn’t it? We passed through the parking gate where I gave the man a gospel tract, he said he was a coptic christian, what? We get to the terminal and waited for a while. Finally we see people coming through the revolving door. Yep it’s the flight on which we were waiting. After seeing almost everyone pass by we didn’t see Keith. After a long pause we finally see him bolting out of the corridor from the plane. He doesn’t even get close to the revolving doors and veers to the right! Uh oh, my wife looked at me and I at her, At this point we can’t get his attention because he is behind the security glass. He dutifully disappears around a corner.
What to do? I take off going the same way but with no way of contacting him, I don’t think he has a celly. After walking a ways I turn back. My wife has not seen him yet, so we just wait at the glass. Finally after about 6 minutes he reappears. He goes through the doors and we said howdy. He explained that he didn’t know where to go. Ok I’m no rocket heart surgeon but I would think you would just follow the crowd no?
Come to think of it Keith is into evangelism not airports. We get his bags and pack them into the Sierra (my cowboy car) to head off to the sun that had already set.
We get home and settled in and basically chatted for a few minutes then said goodnight.
The next morning, he made some tea with lots of milk in it, (why)? I guess it’s like putting milk in coffee (why)? The world would be boring if it clicked around me. So we chatted awhile until he excused himself to the room to study.
We ate at about 1:00pm. We had a dish that most people look at and judge it before they taste it. Almost anyone that has eaten this dish called poppy seed chicken that my wife makes has always dipped into seconds and thirds. The taste is delightful. Keith had and loved the dish. He had salad and dinner rolls with an amazing amount of butter on the rolls with jelly. I would like to say that maybe just a tiny bit in a way that my wife helped him preach the fire from God he delivered that night by feeding his belly.
His time to speak wouldn’t be until 6:30pm. From the morning to the very last minute to leave he was preparing for the sermon. At the last minute we take off for the church. He politely asked that my wife and I don’t talk to him or each other on the way to the church. He was still needing time to think through the things he had to say that night. I praise God he brings up men that “I can say I fall way short of the mark“. His whole sermon was nothing but scripture memorized in a way to to bring out a message. Did you catch what I said? The whole sermon was nothing but memorized scripture!!! Over 100 memorized verses!
After the meeting was over there were many that wanted to talk to him. He was very kind and gracious to answer questions and pray with people. The first night came and went without fuss. The next day, Sunday would be a decisive blow to a church body who had not know preaching from the likes of Keith.
We had some light dinner and chatted some more and bid goodnight.
Sunday morning came quickly for all of us. My wife went to our church with my son and I took Keith to the main Sunday morning service at Justin Baptist. I think we arrived at about 10:15. Keith likes to stay in the back until they are ready for him. Keith likes the great hymns of the past but, he doesn’t like drums added. The plain sound of a voice is what he likes. The sermon was of the same material but not the same message. More scripture was memorized for the Sunday morning sermon. Keith has a voice that has the sound of authority. When you put the authority of the Word with the thundering voice Keith has, and the amount of preparation he devotes to one sermon, what you get is a congregation that will be divided instantly. JBC was not impressed. JBC loves the watered down gospel of the devil. They proved it by how many came back to hear Keith in the night service. From a full gymnasium/”worship center of 300 plus people to maybe 100 at night. It was even less than the 100 because most of the people that came back didn’t attend that church. I know there are Christians attending there but have you ever heard of the narrow gate?
Keith preached his heart out to just a few of us that night with the same results, many people wanting to talk and pray with him after the sermon. Even though Keith is in his 60’s many young adults follow what he is doing and pray for his ministry. About an hour after the service we left the church and officially closed down the Texas Revival Series II Conference. It was well attended by outsiders, (those that don’t attend JBC), with impressions that will last a lifetime.
We had one last dinner with Keith and we had the Speeds come over to get to know him a little better. The night of fellowship was soothing to me. How grateful I was to be able by the hand of God to have friends over for food and fellowship. I was glad that Jon finally had some time with Keith. Keith had a monumental influence in Jon’s life which of course spread out to his wife and kids.
Keith was to leave Monday morning, Jon was to pick him up. I had to go to my mundane job wishing that one day I could work full time in ministry.
Things for memories sake: Keith said that any desert is called “pudding” in Cape town Saturday morning I went to get my Bible for the counter to read and it was not there. I asked my wife, she had no clue. I reluctantly pulled out a Kjames version to read with my coffee. A little later Keith came out with my Bible and his bath robe. I said, “oh you solved the mystery of my Bible” he says to me in his British accent, “oh sorry for that, I wanted to look at what these Bibles had in them”. It was my MacArthur Bible he was holding. I told him it was ok and that I pulled out my KJames to read. Keith said, “Isn’t that good my brother, my trip here wasn’t wasted if I could say I had a part in getting you back to the King James Bible”
Keith will not commit to Reformed theology or Aminian theology. I say he is more Reformed. He will preach a reformed message but only refers to men in the “Weslyan camp to make a point. His message is reformed but his references are Weslyan. Does that make sense. I was treated to his humorous side when I found out that his next stop was in Springfield Mo. I told him he would like it there because there were a lot of Weslyans in Springfield. “They like drums”. He smiled and said it must be a good city.
Again, I thank my Lord for allowing me a peek into a no compromising life of the evangelist Keith Daniel. I didn’t get any pictures of him and my family but his memory is etched on my mind.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Caught in the Act Sunday Sodomy
This weekend though brought my attention not only to those false converts above but also the sodomites who claim Christ for themselves. Sunday was not quite right. Jon and I took off to the LGBT parade. The LGBT initials stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual. Thos terms are all a perversion from the normal perversion of normal sinners. Whatever normal is, it's not any of those terms.
We met up with some other Christians who love to witness and hold up signs. I don't like the signage thing unless you have to be in a place where you can't talk to anyone. Only then will I hold up a sign, a very specific sign. I don't even know what kind of sign it would be.
We get there about 2 oclock, just in time to set up. We changed up the place to do open air and decided to get right in their kitchen. We were within 50 feet of the master of ceremony. We were open airing right down their throat! One lady decided she was going to complain to the cops about ruining the parade. The cops came by, she complained, the told her we had the right to be there and couldn't tell us to move. Jon and I looked at each other and grinned. I turned it up and open aired!
Jon did his turn then mine then his then mine. Sodomites across the street heard clearly as well as those 5 feet from us. We did open air throughout the whole parade. The sods on the floats would stare at us as though they could not believe what they were seeing and hearing (hearing for sure).
As I started saying these folks will be caught in the act and probably literally. They claim to attend church they claim to have a relation with God and claim many other christian things. In the end they will claim Lord Lord, didn't we...Mat 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Mat 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.
Jon and I talked to Thomas a church going sinner. The church he attends is not a church that is Christ's bride but is under Christ's wrath. It is a full tilt church of perversion.
Thomas was very cordial to us and listened to what we had to say. He learned he was a liar, thief and what jolted him into reality was that murder was pinned on him to by our Lord. Pray for Thomas. Jon had a conversation with the manager of the local hang out of sods on the parade route. He claimed a lot of things but in the end he was in the same position as the rich man. He needs to give up the things he wants to keep. I think his name was TJ.
Going to the parade was worth pulling our ox out of the ditch.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Blanketing the Truck Stop
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. In Genesis Eve said to God, serpent beguiled me, and I did eat, Genesis; Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field. The word serpent could (ὄφις) be used as someone with sharp vision or sight. Paul speaking to the Roman church said it another way, "I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil". I would say that in the way our Lord phrased it, we need to know at least a surface knowledge of who we might come into conversation with on the street. If you look at the way Paul phrased it, he not only confirmed what our Lord said but also pushed it further. Further, meaning (my thinking), don't waste your time reading articles about cults, atheists, Catholics or whatever it may be. I think to waste your time means to use "too much" time so that there is very little left to use on the Word of God, and prayer. If I had one hour to prepare myself for witnessing, I would use maybe, possibly, ten minutes tops to learn of the cult I might have dealings. I would rather use most of my time preparing my mind by the standard set be my Lord, His Word! His Word is Truth, theirs isn't, His Word separates bone and marrow, soul and spirit, theirs doesn't, His Word prevails long after the conversation, theirs doesn't, His Word commands all men to repent, theirs can't. His Word starts with righteousness and victory, theirs starts with dead men's thoughts. As soon as you know that the person no matter who it may be is dead in all things related to Christ, it becomes no contest.
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil... Knowing because we are wise as serpents but not a serpent itself because Christ said Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise...
Friday, September 11, 2009
Fire Pit Truck or Saleem, Fire Pit Truck or Saleem
Mar 4:5
"Other {seed} fell on the rocky {ground} where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friends in Christ are Gold to the Soul
Phl 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...
Jhn 9:31
"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.
Jhn 9:32
"Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.
The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
Luk 18:13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Blood Tracts
1Cr 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Now read my truck stop update above this blog
please. Our Lord is working there too.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Truck Stop Newbie
I told Jeff I would be stopping at the truck I pointed to because I noticed the trucker looking at us. I told Jeff the plan and he went on. The first guy I talked to lasted 40 minutes. By the time I caught up with Jeff, he was talking with a trucker. The trucker was inside his cab, Jeff looking in. Instead of going over there I took off to other trucks. I found a guy who probably, maybe, possibly wanted to shrink and die once he started to listen to me.
He was established with his family in a Presbyterian church in SC somewhere. I asked him after I chit chatted if he knew the Gospel. He didn't. I told him that I didn't know his heart and to allow me to explain it to him. He said ok. As soon as I asked him about the dreaded 7th commandment his whole complexion changed. He started out as someone sure about himself then turned to slumped shoulders and looking down a bit. The 7th hit him hard, especially telling him that not only is the act of the 7th wrong but the looking and the pattern of induldging in those things of pictures. Not sure though that my judgment is right but it can't be far off.
Again after getting to know the man better than most would and taling to him in far more candid language than most, I begin unpacking the love of the Saviour Jesus Christ. Under His pain and suffering we can approach the throne of God if we repent turn to Him forsake all that we know and do now to follow Him. Leave no drop of sin behind to meddle in your relationship with Him because Christ left no drop of His precious blood for you.
I left the man after about 30 minutes of conversation to meet up with Jeff. Jeff was still talking with the same man. I think Jeff should have watched the travel channel before leaving his house becuase he was being led down these things called rabbit trails. Rabbit trails lead to one place only, exhaustion. Poor Jeff, he talked to a hard one.
Great words from Christ:
10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Catching up
Sunday, August 9, 2009
THREE HOURS of THE GOSPEL in a TRUCK
Emmit was sitting in a patio chair outside his rig. I approached him with my tract to say here you go Im giving these gospel tracts away. Emmit hesitated (great start) after looking at the tract when I asked him if he went to church anywhere. Not as much as he would like was his answer. After a few more questions leading into the gospel, I asked what he knew about God. He says something like, do you know God has 99 attibutes...
Emmit took off like a missle as though he knew what he was talking about, he didn't. After surrounding my argument with "trying to be righteous is like taking a gun without a scope and hitting an aspirin 1000 yards away". I asked Emmit if he could accomplish that. No he nodded.
Emmit understood after 20 minutes what a sinner he was and that if God were to come today he would be going to hell. He also understood the importance of repentence, trust in Christ alone for his sins to be expiated. Emmit thanked me, so off to another truck I went.
I helped a guy park his rig by hand signals. Drivers can do a good job on their own but parking can be easier if someone spots the driver's trailer end for him to make sure he parks between the trucks without hitting them. After 5 minutes of parking I felt like I "earned the right" (Joke, ha ha) to talk to Tim. I don't earn anything, Christ earned everything by creating everything, things seen and not seen He created all things. Christ gave me the right to talk to whomever I want about the gospel. Tim was a heavy set man, big, large man, oh very big man. I held up my tract for him to take so he took it. I found out he used to attend church but not anymore. In short Tim said he was a "backslider" *&&*(^, sorry that was me choking up a huge one after I spelled backslider.
- What do say now
- Can't let it get away
- He's a friendly fellow
- I can't hurt his feelings can I?
- I need to stay relevant
- ENOUGH
Nevertheless, the gospel has teeth and Tim must not hear only squishy mushy things. He must hear the full counsel of the gospel. I told him there was no such thing as backsliding out of being a Christian. Christ saves to the uttermost. All that the Father has given His Son, He loses none of them. Christ doesn't redeem then unredeem, save then unsave, make just then make unjust. If He did that He would have to collect all His blood He lost on the cross. No way. Backsliding is nothing but false conversion or no conversion.
Tim was nice enough he said not to kick me off his truck. So in the end I left Tim in an uncomfortable state of agitation. He still shook my hand and said thank you. Tim knows the gospel now.
Let me skip over Gary the dog walker and a false baptist convert and Ernesta (cool name) a true false convert. Her conscience bothered her enough that she thought her paperwork was more important all of a sudden. Skip too, John and Misty. Although they claimed to be christians I asked if they were married, "not yet" was the answer to the adultery question. They sleep in the same truck spend all day together, eat together, not a good wholesome situation.
I came to the truck of Charlie and Marissa Ybarra a real married couple that didn't claim christianity. After holding up my tract to Charlie he rolled down his window to take it with a little snarl in his attitude. Praise God for Snarly people. He took the tract, I started asking if he went to church, and did he know what was on the other side after he died. After about 5 minutes of talking he asked if I would like to come in. Sure, I said. Picture this, the cab full of cigarettes, stink, rosary beads on the mirror, a strip club ad on his shirt, he was tatooed from head to whatever, a red light for a calming mood. I found out his wife, Marissa was listening to me while I was outside. So there I sit in the drivers seat, Charlie in the passenger seat, and Marissa in the back bed type of seat. Did I say it stunk? Cigarette smoke. I must say though, they never lit one up while I was in there.
I arrived at the truckstop about 7:30 pm, talked to Gary and Ernesta for about 30 minutes total. So about 8 pm I arrived at the truck of Charlie and Marissa. It was almost 11pm before I saw the clock after getting into my truck to go home. Folks, that's about 3 hours inside the cab of a truck talking to Charlie and Marissa about the gospel. Charlie had questions about his rosary beads, his tatoos, his uncle who lived like satan through the week and like an angel on Sunday. Both Charlie and Marissa were listening to everything I said about the commandments, the cross, repentance, turning from their way to Christ's way, a changed heart from a heart of stone, living for Christ alone. I told them that no priest had the power to forgive sins only Christ alone.
Before leaving, Charlie said he thought he was ready to "recieve Christ". I told him I really appreciated the attitude he had about the things I told him. But getting saved is up to Christ alone. I told him I could not tell him that he was saved or that he was not saved. I told him to get a bible (I usually have an extra one but didn't this time) and read 1 John. In there are the birth marks of a Christian, to read this several times. It's a short book. If Christ is speaking to your heart right now then the words of Christ will make sense. I told Charlie, Christ would open his eyes, ears, mind to understand His words. I said please beg him for mercy so that He would show himself to you and Marissa. He would save you if you plead with Him.
Praise God, Charlie was not even going to open his window to me at first. He cussed at me telling his wife, who the bleep is this? I didn't hear it, he told me as I was leaving he had said it. I'm just an ambassador of Jesus Christ who used to be dung. Now am useful for His kingdom.
1Cr 2:4
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Spritual Discernment
Are you a discerning Christian? Look at the video I put of C. Peter Wagner (founder of Global harvest Ministries). Can you find at least 20 false teachings that would be listed in the scriptures under the heading of "another gospel"?
Can you connect the dots of the cult leader, Peter Wagner? Try Alaska for one connection, try California for another, does the name Ensign or Church on the Way spark any memories.
I dare you to do a search for this man Wagner. If you have any concern that you might be connected to the wrong church, beliefs, or doctrines, then you might want to start packing your bible in you bible cover with your little color pencils and leave now.
If I have more time for more info, I will do part a part 2.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Armando still in Bonds and Chains
Meet Armando, the only trucker to allow me into the cab. He lives in Minnesota he says to stay away from "friends". He has the right idea, if your friends cause you to stumble into temptation and sin. My question is, can you call them "friends"? I wouldn't, no no no I wouldn't.
Pro 18:24
A man of {too many} friends {comes} to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
But I held up my famous tract for Armando to take it. He looked at me with odd strange looks as I would if I were him. He rolls down the window and I told him I was a minister of the Lord and I am handing out Gospel tracts. "Here take it, it's yours" I said. Armando took it. I knew he didn't know too much English but enough to talk to him. After asking him if he gets to go to church anywhere he said back at home. I asked the all to familiar question, becuase I'm interested in talking points, what church do you attend? It was an Assemblies of God, one that had Spanish services. I said, oh. So we talked an little before he invited me into his truck (air condition). I told him, "Armando let's have a Bible study, ok? I took him to Matthew 5 about adultery, then the mighty 7th commandment, that's you Armando isn't it? Then I took him back to Matthew 5 about murder and then to the mighty 6th commandment. Then I took him to Revelation 21:6 wher all murderers and liars go if they pass from this life to the next without Christ. Then I led him to the cross, the sweet cross where sins are slain, and chains removed, eyes opened, and ears hear. Justification was on the plate for our Bible study.
I wasn't concerned about time, so I took my time. The only phone to ring was mine, Byron calling me back from a couple trucks ago where a mexican didn't understand enough.
After about 30 minutes of talking to him I told him I had to go. He offered me some bottled water, it was gooood. My Lord does the hard work and I get water. His yoke is easy.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Week of July 4 2009 Fire Fire Fire
The photo to the right is what we saw at the lake. You see 2 cars on fire with the first responders just arriving at the same time we did. Some people think at least one or both cars had fireworks inside. Makes sense to me. Every 4th people gather at the lake and light it up.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Had
I thought it interesting that Paul said that he took every thought captive. Our Lord did one better, he took every step he ever took here on earth captive. I think He knew exactly how much time it would take Him to get to any destination. Yes I think so. He never willy nilly went somewhere just to go there. He always had a reason and a time to do it. He had no time to waste.
My thought includes the John 4:4 passage "and He [had to]...Christ had to do many things throughout His life on earth at the exact moment or He would have missed certain people in certain parts of the day or night to Proclaim Himself (the Gospel).
Here in this passage Christ [had] to meet an adultress Samaritan. He had to be at the Jacobs well at the same time she came from the city to get water. So the text says ...and He had...
Take a look at a partial definition from Strong's Greek.
had
Strong's Greek #1163
1163 [dei /die/] v. Third person singular active present of 1210; TDNT 2:21; TDNTA 140; GK 1256; 106 occurrences; AV translates as “must” 58 times, “ought” 31 times, “must needs” five times, “should” four times, it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper. 1c necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end.
All this to say one thing. I would pray that Christ would prick my conscience the same way. That I would have such a passion for souls, my mind would think in such a way as the "1c" definition.
I would also pray that one day He would grant me a way to teach people how to evangelize.
One more prayer, that He would allow me to work in full time ministry within evangelism.
My friend and brother in Christ Tom Sadowski two Thursdays ago came out with me. I could say Tom [had] wanted to come out with me. He had a long chat with a man who was lost as far as we could tell. Going to the truck stop is not a serene place to minister to the sinner. Although there are plenty of lost people it takes some ingnorance to minister there. I say ignorance in the sense of, one having to ingore the obvious.
The obvious would be to ignore the urine smell. When a driver has filled to capacity the "pee jug" he will pour it out on the pavement close to his truck. If the jug is not full then they might need to pee quickly after parking the truck. Next you need to ignore the smell of the deisel. Trucks are left running all night if they aren't using "Idleair". Also you need to ignore the noise. You'll get out of there with a scratchy throat after talking for a few hours. Then the thing you can't get away from is the heat. It gets hot everywhere, but it gets hotter there next to the trucks that are left running while the exhaust is in your face, oh, yes, you do breath the exhaust.
You can't be a Todd Friel type of man, you know, always worried about germs.
Last Thursady was a gorgeous day to breath in the odors, take in the noise, and best of all have predetermined by God conversations. Plenty of people to talk to including those who named His name and could not explain Him.
I hope I can get others to think the same way as our Lord "He had to go to Samaria.
I hope I can get myself to think the same way our Lord thought about His message to the lost.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Pilot Truck Stop Last Night with My Son
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Back from Fort Benning
Sunday, May 24, 2009
More Trucks More Conversations More Preaching
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Jeff Pittman in the Spotlight
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Allen and Calvin Two Truckers Two Fates
Mat 7:18
"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thinking on Women in Leadership
In case you might not know Golda Meir was the fourth prime minister of the State of Israel.
The Bible looks favorably on the competence of the Queen of Sheba and the legitimacy of her secular rule over her gentile nation (1 Kings 10:1-10). Such national leaders as Elizabeth I in England, Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Golda Meir in Israel are examples of competent women who have admirably led their respective nations. It’s interesting how the latter two were both given the nickname “Iron Lady,” indicating that their mettle was uncharacteristically strong for their gender. Steely firm toughness, an essential trait for effective ruling, is typically more pronounced in men (1 Corinthians 16:13). It’s interesting how David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, called Mrs. Meir “the only man in his cabinet.” [ii]
It is difficult to imagine a high-ranking female politician’s being able to conscientiously fulfill her priority obligations as a helpmeet to her husband and a mother to her children. Golda Meir broke off her political responsibilities for four years to stay at home and raise her two children. However, upon returning to public life, her enormous workload contributed to the collapse of her marriage in 1945.[iii]