Chosen?

Enough is enough.

During his inauguration address President Donald Trump recalled the assassination attempt during the campaign.  He has often referred to it as a “divine intervention” and “mandate” from the Most High—namely, God.  He proclaimed, “I felt then, and I believe even more so now, that my life was saved by God to make America great again.”  He believes—or at least acts like he believes—that God has chosen him to make America great again.  In this mission he doubled down that his administration “will not forget our country, we will forget our Constitution and we will not forget our God.”

 

The Orange One is now a god-fearing person on a mission for God.  Near brushes with death can do that to a person.  It can change them.  Or maybe his campaign team saw it as an opportunity for exploitation.  People love a good “brink of death” story that involves religious overtones.  Especially the evangelical.  Whatever the case, he’s been working it ever since—he is the “chosen”.

 

Somehow, I must have missed the memo.  You know the one . . . the one declaring him the salvation of the nation and its citizens. It seems all of the evangelicals got it.  All his MAGA supporters got it. I must have missed the cut.  Being a fair-minded person of faith, I want to give him the benefit of doubt whether I got the memo or not.  A faithful version of the Orange One would be a remarkable upgrade over the previous one from 2017-2021.

 

I really do . . . I really do want to believe him.  At the same time, I am reminded that “words are cheap” and “action speaks volumes”.  Sadly, “the Donald” fails at both as God’s emissary—as God’s chosen.  Neither his words or actions live up to his supposedly divine calling or the promises he made at what many believe was his coronation.  So far there hasn’t been a whole lot of the “divine mission” displayed.

 

It started with the ironic during his oath to the office of the president.  Traditionally the swearing in takes place with the president-elect placing a hand over a Bible (or other religious or symbolic book) while taking the oath.  Trump did not.  Nope . . . with one arm raised, the other hung down by his side.  It was just danglingly there despite the fact that his wife held two Bibles—the family Bible and the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his swearing in.

 

For a person called by God to save the nation, one would have thought he’d have no qualms about swearing on a stack of Bibles.  Someone suggested that he was afraid that they would burst into flames or that he would be struck by lightning.  I mean the guy has a remarkable track record.  Maybe he had a brain fart . . . after all he is the oldest person ever to be sworn in as president at 78 years old.  He forgot.  Old people do that.  Maybe, subconsciously, it was a tribute to old Joe.  Whatever the reason, this person of faith missed a public opportunity to show his faith and affirm God’s touch upon his life . . . after all, he said he was the “Chosen”.  People noticed.

 

Come on, we know he is a person of faith.  He told us he was.  He has his own Bible which anyone can buy for the low price of $59/99 or four monthly payments of $25.00.  As Trump proclaims it is “the best” . . . “the finest” . . . “better than any other Bible”.  Probably because it comes in the King Donald—oops, I mean the King James Version—and comes with the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance . . . plus a copy of the handwritten words to the chorus of Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA.  It is a Bible that Jesus himself would be proud to own.

 

He could have sworn the oath on a stack of those Bibles that he is selling.  There are plenty to go around as they are sitting in a warehouse in China where they are published.  If you are interested in getting your own copy you had better do it soon before the Orange One slaps the 60% tariff on China.  If you wait too long, it could end up costing you another $36.00.  That’s the American way!

 

Still . . . I want to take him as a person of his word.  Give him a chance (again).  He said, “I felt then, and I believe even more so now, that my life was saved by God to make America great again . . . we will not forget our country, we will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God.”  So far, his words ring hollow.

 

The day after the coronation, the king—I mean, president—and his entourage attended worship at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  There he heard a sermon that challenged him to honor his position as God’s “Chosen One” by loving others as Jesus did.  Episcopal Bishop, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde called for the Orange One to serve the presidency with honor, mercy, compassion, empathy, respect, and love for the people . . . the “people in our country who are scared” of all the rhetoric spewing from his mouth.  Needless to say, “the Donald” was not pleased . . . angry might be a better word.  Really angry.

 

 In true Trumpian fashion he fumed in the early morning hours on his Truth Social platform: “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical left hard one Trump hater.  She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way.”  He proclaimed the service “wasn’t too exciting”, “uninspiring”, “nasty in tone, and not very compelling or smart.”  He finished his diatribe by writing, “She is not very good at her job!  She and her church owe the public an apology!”

 

In common terms, Trump was pissed.  No apology came.  The bishop was preaching the Gospel.  It just was not the Gospel of Trump.  It was the Gospel of Jesus.  That’s what the gospel is supposed to do . . . confront personal sin, challenge societal norms, and call people to radical change.  Essentially it forces people to examine their lives and consider a new way of living and relating. This can be unsettling for some.  Apparently, it was for “the Donald”.  The gospel as shared by the bishop not only stepped on his toes . . . it stomped on his toes . . . and he didn’t like it.  Being a person of deep thought, compassion, and faith as God’s “Chosen One”, the bishop really irked the Orange One.  The Gospel challenges even those who are “chosen”.  Maybe he needs to figure out why words of truth angered him so much.

 

Actions speak louder than words.

 

“Remember the Constitution . . .”  In less than one week in the office, the “Chosen One” has blatantly run roughshod over the Constitution.  In total disregard for the 14^th Amendment he has denounced and rescinded birthright citizenship through an Executive Order.  One of his cronies has proposed a new constitutional amendment to allow Trump for be president a third term.  He has asked all federal employees to be snitches and turn in any of their co-workers for speaking about DEI (Diversity-Equity-Inclusion) despite their right to.  This shows so much respect for the Constitution and all that it stands for.  He has also trampled on laws created to protect the rights of citizens—declared the end for a diverse equitable society that includes all people—ripped hard earned rights from the people.  Yup, he really cares for the people of the United States—NOT!

 

He has forgotten our country . . . our Constitution . . . God.

 

The words that he speaks are far from the actions he takes.  In less than a week he has forgotten all of his promises he said he would do as the one chosen by God to save our nation.

 

I really thought my patience for “the Donald” would last longer than five days, but it is hard to ignore the slaughter of our great nation and what it stands for.  I really tried . . . but . . . I can’t do it.  The constant onslaught is killing me . . . practically driving me to drink.  I don’t think there is enough alcohol to do the trick.  I’ve been taught to give people a chance.  People can change . . . so I have been told.  The Orange One has blown those premises out of the water.  God knows I have tried.

 

Donald Trump is not God’s “Chosen One” in any way.  Just look at what he has inflicted upon our nation and its people . . . upon God’s children . . . in less than a week.  Where is the example of the one sent to show “the way”?  Where is Jesus in all of this?  I don’t see him in Donald Trump.  Trump didn’t read the memo that I never received.  I do not care what he says.  His words are the opposite of his actions.  His actions suck.  The god that Donald Trump serves is created in his own image.  If that is the case and we chose to follow him blindly according to the Gospel of Trump . . . then shame on us.  God, help us all.

 

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15. NIV)

 

Let us serve the Holy and love one another.  That is the way.

 

Either Way . . . Jesus Wins

 

Come the national championship for college football . . . Jesus wins!  Jesus wins because he placed bets on both teams—the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Buckeyes of Ohio State University.  Jesus can’t lose.  Whoever wins, Jesus wins.

The starting quarterbacks for both teams have proclaimed their presence in the title game to be solely the result of Jesus’ holy intervention.  Notre Dame’s quarterback Riley Leonard argues that the national championship is the work of divine choosing.  Leonard told reporters: “We’re the two main teams to just publicly display our faith the most.  I truly believe that Jesus was looking over both our shoulders throughout the season and put these two teams on a pedestal for a reason.”

 

Yup—Notre Dame and Ohio State.  Those are Jesus’ picks this year.  The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had a school in the running—Texas Christian University but did not make the cut.  The Methodist team—Southern Methodist University—got left out in the dust.  The Baptist could not get it done with Baylor University.  The Mormons struck out with Brigham Young University.  Boston College—another Catholic entry didn’t show up.  Apparently, these fine schools need to crank up their faith if they want to play for the national championship.  Oh, ye of little faith!

 

I can see Notre Dame’s argument.  They do have “Touchdown Jesus”.  Surely you have heard of “Touchdown Jesus”.  It is a 134-foot mural of Jesus giving the signal for “touchdown” that can be seen from the Notre Dame stadium.  It appears to be “watching” the games from over the northern scoreboard.  Many millions believe that Jesus’ presence has some influence over the team’s performance.  Built in 1964 and titled "The Word of Life”, the team only lost one home game in the next three years (Apparently Jesus was on vacation when they lost.) including their first victory over Michigan State in ten years.  The Jesus factor was and is in play for the Fighting Irish.  Of course, at the same time the mural was built the university hired one of the greatest college football coaches of all time—Ara Parseghian.  Surely this College Hall of Fame coach—two-time national champion while at Notre Dame—coaching had nothing to do with it.  It was Jesus . . . it is the divine touch of Jesus leading the way.  Come on . . . “Touchdown Jesus”!  Who can compete against that?

 

Ohio State Buckeyes . . . I’m not sure how they got into the picture.  It’s not a religious school.  It is a public land-grant university—one of the largest in the United States.  It chooses no religious affiliation and is open to all the players in the realm of religion.  It is a smorgasbord of faiths thrown together from left to right.  Not quite sure they showed up on Jesus’ radar.  Whatever the case, the Buckeye quarterback is giving Jesus the credit for success.  It was Jesus’ choice.

 

Athletes and celebrities are always giving Jesus credit for their success here and there.  I remember one winner of some award show famously stating, “God damn!  Thank you, Jesus!”  I’m not sure it was heartfelt, but it was a great mixture of the profane and gratitude. These people do it all the time . . . they “cross” themselves before shooting a free throw or scoring a touchdown . . . they point heavenward . . . they kneel.  They give credit where credit is due.  All the winners do . . . after all, Jesus chooses them.

 

How come we never hear the “losers” thanking Jesus?  As you know there can only be one winner.  You never see an interview with the lose in which they bemoan the fact that Jesus turned and abandoned them in the “big game”.  Wait!  Jesus doesn’t abandon the faithful . . . or does he?  Ask the faithful on the losing team . . . the ones who were certain that Jesus had gotten them this far . . . and then . . . disappeared.  When the final score is recorded at the end of the Notre Dame/Ohio State with one of them being proclaimed national champion, ask the two quarterbacks.  If Jesus got both teams to the championship game—why did Jesus pick one team over the other to win?  Did he flip a coin?  Throw a dart?

 

I guess it doesn’t matter . . . Jesus wins no matter who is leading when the game is over.  The victors will proclaim “thanks” to the divine for making them champions.  On the other side of the field, they will be wondering . . .

 

It has been said that in war both sides plea their side to the divine . . . both sides pray for God’s deliverance . . . both sides put their faith in the divine.  Both sides want God’s intervention for their side and cause.  Want God to make them the victor.  Yet only one side can win.  As we have seen throughout history the victor hasn’t always been the one doing God’s will.  What happens to those on the losing side who prayed for Go’s touch for their side?  I guess they didn’t pray hard enough.

 

Will it be Jesus’ desire that Notre Dame win?  Will it be his will that Ohio State win?  Rumor has it that his father is big Fighting Irish fan.  Personally, I don’t think Jesus will have anything to do with whoever wins the game.  It is a game.  It is not “life or death”.  Far from it.  The team that plays the best, makes the least mistakes, gets a few breaks, and scores the most points will win.  That is the way that it has always been no matter how many players on each team believe Jesus got them there.

 

It is just a game.

 

In the end what is important is how the game is played.  That’s life . . . how the game is played.  Was there respect?  Was there compassion?  Was there justice and fairness?  Was there love?  That is what Jesus roots for—relationships.  To love one another.  To build up one another.  To want the best.  To be the best that we can as family because we are all family—all connected—the divine and holy recognizes the divine and holy in others.  That is what Jesus cares about . . . what would make Jesus throw up his arms . . . TOUCHDOWN!  That is what makes us winners.