Here is a Photo

Taken recently of the President of the U.S.A.

Mr. Joe Biden, by the Globe Newspaper, 

With Caption,

''Amplifying our own fears of Ageing''

MR.  BIDEN is Eighty- one years old, and feeling it.     Regardless of what any of us might think of him of a President, or as a man even,  he is worthy of our sympathy and compassion, as we watch and see his physical strength and faculties show signs of wear and tare.     It is one thing to say that maybe Mr. Biden is now ready to retire from Office, and another to make jokes about the way he stumbles about, and every time he forgets who he is talking to, or even the actual words he is trying to say.    You and I might end up experiencing similar changes as we age, and indeed might all in some measure have to face, the onset of Dementia, or some other related illness.      It is good to think about it, and take time to meditate on how we feel about the elderly, and just how they are catered for in our world society.

A FEW DAYS before I caught sight of the Photo put up  by Globe Newspaper, I had been viewing a number of United States Videos NEWS casts related to Mr. Biden's current state of mind and body.

Without exception the Presenters of these Programs used the anomalies of Mr.  Biden's apparent weakness in walking or mounting steps or stairways, together with his forgetfulness, and speech problems, as an occasion to sadistically ridicule and belittle the Man, and the President.  Is this right?  Would you or I like this be happening to US?

Does Joe Biden, or any man or woman deserve to end their labour on earth  as a laughing stock?   I do not believe it myself.    Where is our dignity and human value due to each one of us. BUT is there more to all of this than meets the eye?    He himself seems to feel 'fighting fit' and is either unaware of his occasional moments of 'lostness', 'muddle -headedness' or plain old age, or just stubbornly unwilling to admit he is not the man he was, and may put the Nation at risk.   Of course it is possible an effort to prove he is too old to cope with his Office as President is cashing in on his so called 'gaffs'.    Whatever the reality may be,  It is remains shameful to expose him to such blatant, and devilish amusement.

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IN THE BIBLE,  in the Old Testament, and the Book of OBADIAH verses 10-15 we are given an example, and council.     The Example is of the family;  a violent feud between Esau and Jacob, brothers.   Two brothers from separate groups or parts of the same nation.     And not just between two individuals but two whole groups of brethren that each party represented.      

I will not go into the reasons that contributed to their bitterness toward one another.   God was troubled by their conflict and attitude towards each other, and spoke through His Servant, OBADAIAH in the verses mentioned above.   God accuses ESAU and his people because they joyfully watched while Jacob and his people, attacked (v.11), without lifting a hand to help them.    God says to Esau and his brethren, first of all in verse 10 of Obadiah,  "Shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for 

ever .''   And He speaks further  and says  ''YOU SHOULD NOT..'' more specifically.

God says, via Obadiah, to ESAU - Esau, you should not have stood aside from helping you brethren, even though they were not from your side of the family.      If we understood this,  that all the nations of the world were joined together, each one related to the other - then war of all kind would cease world wide. Well there could be a better reason to seek for peace, that wrangle so bitterly all the time.

NONE of us should lift up our hand against another of our kind.     NONE of us should be willing to see one another hurting another without some effort to intervene to prevent it.

AGAIN -  YOU SHOULD NOT, have gloated over your brother's misfortune in the day he became a stranger to you (in the day he ceased to call you brother).

AGAIN - YOU SHOULD NOT,  have rejoiced over the sons of Juda in the day of their ruin, nor spoken arrogantly in the day of their distress.

AGAIN - YOU SHOULD NOT,  have entered the gate - house of your brethren (Jacob) in their day of calamity and ruin - YES, YOU SHOULD NOT have looked with delight on their misery, or sought after their possessions in the day of their calamity and ruin.

Surely  this is enough to emphasise to us all, how very responsible each of us are for the care and welfare of our neighbour, no matter who they are, what they may be guilty of, and without exception.

v.15 of Obadiah, adds an ominous warning to all who treat an individual human being with callous, and even brutal sadism.   He writes:-    "For the day of the Lord is near upon all nations.   As you have done, it shall be done to you; your dealings will return upon your own head.'' 

We are ALL brothers and sisters ?

We are ALL cut from the same genetic cloth; all have sprung from Adam and Eve, and in fact ARE 'FAMILY', though regretfully not in touch.

BUT Jesus, using the word 'NEIGHBOUR' suggests that we DO need to recognise a responsibility toward all mankind, even those we may tend to see as untouchble, or in some other way inferior, and unde-serving of our care and love. 

IN the Bible, the NEW Testament, and in LUKE 10v30-37., a certain Advocate had been asking questions, and having quoted the Law, ending with 'and you should love your neighbour as yourself' the man had asked the Question - 'then WHO is my neighbour.' and Jesus had replied with the Story that I briefly outline as follows:-                       ..... 

 

.A MAN was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he falls among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings, beat him up and left him for dead.   After a little while a certain priest was walking that way, and saw the man lying at the side of the road, and when he saw him, he crossed to the other side of the road, and passed on.    Later a LEVITE came upon the injured man,  and when he saw him, he also crossed to the other side of the road and passed on.     AND THEN a Samaritan (considered inferior by the Jews of that time) arrived at the scene, and saw man lying at the roadside, he stopped, and being moved with compassion, he went nearer to the man, and  dressed his wounds, pouring on oil and wine,(as an antiseptic, and healing balm), and then carried him to a nearby inn, and took care of him.   The next day, the good Samaritan took out two days wages (in worth\) and gave them to the Inn-keeper, saying ''Take care of him:  whatever more you spend, I myself will repay you when I return".     End story

.AND Jesus then asked the Advocate he was  talking with, " Which of these three was neighbour to man attacked by thieves?"      And the Advocate Replied "Why it was the one who showed him compassion and care!"    And JESUS said  - "YOU GO, and do the same.'

YES, it is the Truth.      We SHOULD love our neighbour as we love ourselves, for he is as we are, part and parcel of our humanity, related to us, part of ADAM's Family.     We are all brothers and sisters of each other.    AND, finally, in the Gospel of Matthew 7v12, Jesus is found saying ''Therefore, all things, whatever you would have men do to you, you so do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.''   

 

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John Green

(NB    ---     I also  from time to time send an UPDATE on matter concerning Testimony Faith Homes and School.    Currently this is send direct to E-Mail addresses of friends and family.   

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