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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
A Wise Woman
You don’t have to read very far in the Bible to discover the wisdom often inherent in God’s creation, Woman. No, women are not infallible, but God knew “it is not good for the man to be alone,” Genesis 2:18, and He was right as always. The more you read the Bible the more you realize that God has given woman great influence, wisdom and power.
Radical feminism has charged the Bible with “sexism,” claiming that restrictions placed upon women in both Jewish and Christian societies have kept them from having their rightful place in civilized cultures.
However, historians and social scientists have said for years that the Bible is and has been the greatest source of support and strength for woman. There is no biblical reason for men and women to be in competition with each other. There is too much to be done today for us to allow competition to divert our attention from our task. While it is true that God gave man leadership in the home and the church, this denotes no inferiority in women. Someone must lead, we know that, and the responsibility for leadership was given to men.
The Bible narrative, added to our experience, illustrates the wisdom found in women, past and present. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:1:
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Perhaps this passage says more than we have realized. Is woman more willing to give the “soft answer” to a conflict than a man? If so, this may be where wise women in the Bible show their wisdom most clearly and most decisively.
Abigail: A Wise Woman
In 1 Samuel 25, David sent emissaries to a man named Nabal. We are informed of his “churlish,” ill-mannered behavior, and it is seen in his response to David’s men. Nabal’s wife, Abigail, seeing the danger into which Nabal was running headlong, used the wisdom so abundant in a woman. Strife was imminent, for Nabal [his name was a synonym for fool] had threatened violence against a man who would not countenance such behavior. Her gracious plea for her husband was not rejected, and David did not seek vengeance. How many men have made rash decisions or sought vengeance when, had they heeded a woman’s wisdom, they might have been spared much grief? David told Abigail,
“Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand,” 1 Samuel 25:33.
The Wise Woman of Abel
Another incident in David’s life involved the intervention of a wise woman. Joab, David’s commander, cornered the rebellious Sheba in the city of Abel of Bethmaachah. As he prepared to take the city by siege, the residents of the city were fearful for their lives. In the moments before the battle and the destruction began, a woman of the city called for Joab to hear her plea. She reminded Joab that her fellow-citizens were guiltless of Sheba’s rebellion, and asked:
“Thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” 2 Sam. 20:19
Joab’s military mind-set would have resulted in an entire city being ravaged just to end the rebellion of one man. A wise woman asked the question that caused Joab to take a second look at his plans.
The Lord’s church would be well served today if some wise women asked, “Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”
We still need women who will exhibit godly wisdom – every day!
Qualities of a Wise Woman
These women, and others who could be mentioned, have qualities of wisdom that are often overlooked:
- They are respectful, but they are not afraid to ask the hard questions. The wise women of the Bible did not try to usurp the authority of those in authority, but did not hesitate to speak up when prudent words and wise action were needed.
- They are willing to risk themselves for a great cause. Esther carried a heavy responsibility in representing God’s people. She risked death for approaching the king uninvited, but said, “If I perish, I perish,” Esther 4:16. Wisdom and courage walk hand in hand with a wise woman.
- They are willing to submit to the authority of God. No one is wise who has no respect for the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments,” Psalm 111:10. Anyone who rebels against God’s authority exhibits folly, not wisdom.
- They can see the real issues without distraction. Men often allow pride, ego, or a thirst for power to make them abandon common sense. The woman who came to Solomon seeking her baby’s life, 1 Kings 3, realized that she might win the argument but lose her baby. In her love for the child, she showed the purest form of wisdom.
The church has benefited from the wisdom of many a wise woman down through the years. Lemuel’s words written many centuries ago (Proverbs 31:10-31) describe the virtuous woman of that era as well as God’s woman for the 21st century. Praise God for every wise woman among us!
Carl B. Garner
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“As unto the bow the cord is, So unto the man is woman; Though she bends him, she obeys him; Though she draws him, yet she follows; Useless without the other.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“No wiser decision was ever made than when a man willingly listened to a woman.”
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STARBUCKS: A Habit Easily Broken
It has been two weeks since my last Starbucks coffee.
Admittedly, I am one of those who do not think twice about dropping $4 for a cup of coffee that costs less than $.50 to make. I am a self-proclaimed coffee house junkie and need that wonderful yuppie, intellectual “atmosphere” and freshly brewed aroma as much as the caffeine.
When I moved to D.C., right out of college, I encountered my first Starbucks drink, or should I say “experienced”? Growing up in a military family, I loved chain restaurants because of the sense of familiarity they offered in every new town we moved to. So, to be able to get the same type of specialty coffee-grande, iced, skim, sugar-free vanilla, latte—everywhere, was an addiction waiting to happen.
Fast forward four years, and about 800 lattes later – I’m a Starbucks addict!
When a report came out earlier this year showing that none of Starbucks’ charitable contributions went to conservative causes, I did not blink—I bought a latte. In D.C., when I walked by a liquor store with a big advertisement for Starbucks liquor, I kept walking, stopped in at Starbucks and bought a latte! When I was at work a couple weeks ago, reading an e-alert from our California organization (yes, latte in hand), I finally had a wake-up call.
The alert described the annual “gay” pride events which are scheduled in San Diego each year:
San Diego’s annual “Pride” events include dangerous “circuit” parties, a parade with sexual content and sponsors along the route, including one advertising ___ __ (omitted intentionally, jg), a festival with sexually oriented venues.
Okay, yes, that is all pretty disturbing, but daily, I read, write about, and edit papers dealing with the homosexual agenda, so I was not at all shocked that this was going on. I was a little upset when I read that Starbucks was a sponsor. I took a sip of my latte as I read on.
In addition, the “festival” includes a “Youth Hangout Space” and a “Children’s Garden.” Not only is there concern about young people being part of sexually oriented events and venues, but two members of San Diego’s Gay Pride organization’s volunteer staff have been exposed as registered sex offenders who committed sex crimes against children.
OK—Stop. Wait a Minute and Put That Cup of Coffee Down!
Not only is Starbucks sponsoring “Pride” week, but an event that places innocent children in the middle of sexually explicit materials.. and registered child molesters will be there running the show? If Starbucks is doing this knowingly, it is blatant irresponsibility, and if they are doing it unknowingly, it is irresponsible of them not to have done their homework. I started pacing back and forth, and all I could think was “Starbucks hates children.”
For the first time, I stepped away from my latte, faced my denial about this company and started to do some serious soul searching—I needed to find out what they really supported. Fortunately, I did not have to search very long because I have the Internet at my fingertips and one of the nation’s top experts, Robert Knight, just down the hall from me.
Less than 30 minutes of research revealed the following: Robert Knight told me that about 10 years ago, Starbucks started sponsoring these types of events, but backed off when conservatives started putting on the pressure. He explained that it is apparent they are slowly working their way back into the “gay” movement. Starbucks is listed on the Planned Parenthood website under this introduction:
The following companies all generously match employee donations to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. If your employer is on this list, then you can make your gift go as much as twice as far.
Seattle, Washington held “Gay Pride” events last month where, according to the newspaper, Seattle Post Intelligence Reporter: About 75 Starbucks employees will march in the parade and will wear T-shirts in rainbow colors with the word “PRIDE” on the front…A van from the coffee company will follow them. On Capitol Hill tomorrow, Starbucks employees at the company’s three stores there will pass out samples of Mint Mocha Chip Frappaccino.
The marketing director for Starbucks in Washington explained: “We’re committed to supporting things that matter to our employees and our customers.”
Several conservatives are upset already by Starbucks’ fairly new “The way I see it” campaign, which prints quotes from actors, artists, etc., on the outside of their paper cups. By visiting their website and reading some of the quotes, it is easy to see why there has been this big brouhaha — nearly all of them are liberal celebrities.
The list does go on, but in a nutshell—Starbucks has a corporate policy of supporting the homosexual agenda by sponsoring “Pride” events all over the country – events where children will be exposed to sexually explicit materials and pedophiles as well as the extremely liberal and pro-abortion Planned Parenthood.
(For confirmation, go to http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45694)
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