The New Normal

A recent news article was revealing in its details and its timeline. We are discussing the case of Commander, Joe Biden's dog who was finally expelled from the White House after over more than two dozen attacks on White House staffers. This incident is not unlike many other occurrences in the Biden's administration. For instance, for months we have been assured that Commander was not a threat to others, as Biden's spokespersons pretended that everything was normal, when it was in fact, abnormal. 

This is, however, the least of the pretending currently being cast as normal in the Biden White House. Whether we are analyzing Biden's mental capacity, or bringing light to Biden's previous promise to serve only one-term, the communication from the Biden administration is breathtaking in their pronouncement that the abnormal is truly the normal. 

And yet, the American people have not been fooled. Over 73% of Democrats agree that Biden is too old to serve another term as president. And I think most of us can agree that there is nothing normal about the fact that we, as Americans, are being forced to choose between two grouchy old men, both way past their prime, and perhaps even past their abilities to be effective leaders of the United States of America.

Political Figures in the Past

It might seem, to our modern day perspectives, that we are facing an unparalleled dearth of choices in our presidential candidates for our upcoming election. But in the sense of fair play, let's examine a few not so shining examples of political candidate's in our nation's history. For instance, Richard M Johnson, who was President Martin van Buren's vice-president.

Johnson captured the nation’s attention after he killed Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the Battle of Thames in 1813 (he later campaigned for vice president on this achievement with the campaign slogan “Rumpsey Dumpsey,  Colonel Johnson Killed Tecumseh”). The country’s adoration did not last. Later dubbed “the most vulgar man of all vulgar men” by a Senate aide, Johnson scandalized his colleagues by taking one of his slaves as his common-law wife; as a result, he barely garnered enough support to serve in Martin van Buren’s administration. Also while in office, he proposed an expedition to the North Pole so Americans could drill to the center of the Earth, believing the planet was hollow (his resolution was defeated). 

Seeing God Clearly . . .

 

Blessed

When I used to work in the retail world, grand openings were always a big deal. There were weeks of preparation to make sure that everything was clean, stocked and all the employees were properly trained. There were giveaways, local celebrities, special deals, spotless aisles, sparkling and plentiful employees, in other words, everything was designed to make an incredible first impression.

In the book of Matthew, we see the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, his grand reveal so to speak, as he addresses a crowd at the Sermon on the Mount. And the first words that He uses when addressing the many people gathered on the hillside was "Blessed."

Not a command. Not even a calling to perform a duty of some sort, and definitely not a condemnation of choices, but the word Jesus chose was "Blessed".

What I find interesting also is the group of people that Jesus addressed, these were not the type of people that you would ideally want to gather for your grand opening event. Most of these people were desperate, they were not affluent, they were not men and women of great power and influence, they were poor physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

So what did Jesus say to this group of people? He started off with the first four beatitudes which consist of blessings for those who were in need. And the next four beatitudes addressed those who help those people in need.