WHAT IS NORMAL???

Did you know the word "normal" isn't in the Kings James Bible? As most of yall know that is the only verison we use. It is used 19 time in the New Living Testament, 2 times in the American Standard Bible and 1 time in the English Standard Version.

So again I will ask you, WHAT IS NORMAL?

If God didn't see fit to record the word then why and who are we to set the standard for being "normal?"

'In behavior, normal refers to a lack of significant deviation from the average. The phrase "not normal" is often applied in a negative sense (asserting that someone or some situation is improper, sick, etc.). Abnormality varies greatly in how pleasant or unpleasant this is for other people; somebody may half-jokingly be called "pleasantly disturbed".

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "normal" as 'conforming to a standard'. This, although almost right, is not entirely correct. "A normal" is someone who conforms to the ideals of society and refuses to be individual. This can be for any number of reasons, ranging from the positive (genuine admiration for and acceptance of society's standard, for example) to the negative (fear of humiliation, fear of rejection, fear of being thought mad).

The French sociologist Emile Durkheim indicated in his Rules of Sociological Method that the most common behavior in a society is considered normal. People who do not go along are violating social norms and will invite a negative reaction from others in the society. For example, if most drivers speed five or ten MPH over the speed limit, and one is observing the speed limit, the legal driver is not behaving normally, and is likely to get sanctioned with headlights, the horn, or aggressive driving. However, non-conforming behavior is inevitable, and is punished in proportion to the offense the behavior generates in other people in society. Therefore, a range of social sanctions can be employed, from ill feelings and a negative assessment in response to violations of folkways (lowest-level rules), to anger and violence in response to violations of mores (mid-level rules), and formal fines, imprisonment, or execution for violations of laws (the most significant rules).

Children with special needs have always been part of society. In the past, some “special” education was provided to individual children on a one-on-one basis, such as Jean Marc Gaspard Itard’s work with Victor, the “wild child of Aveyron”. As formal education became established, welfare or religious groups for the care of children with special needs often became involved in their education. Government provision of special education services generally followed the work of voluntary groups.

Progress in Special Education saw a major reversal as the eugenics movement took hold in the mid-1960s. Under eugenics theory, it was irresponsible to care for and educate people with special needs as it would “weaken society”. Eventually, scientific approaches to studying disability, such as behaviourism, led to a new understanding of special education and the vision that all children could learn, no matter what diagnosis they were given.

Initially, special education was provided to children of school age – about six or seven. In the early 1970s, research into Early Childhood Intervention, which involved providing special education from birth or first diagnosis, showed that the earlier special education was provided, the better the outcome for the child and the entire family.

In the United States, this led to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA), which required all public schools in the United States to provide adequate services to any child who had a diagnosed learning disability. The EHA was renewed in 1986 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Special Education changed with Wolf Wolfensberger's theory of Normalisation - that all people with special needs have the right to lead "normal" lives, including being part of a family, attending a local school, and holding a job in the community. Inspired by this theory, the inclusive education movement fought for social improvement, centering on the improvement of schools. The movement desires to have schools which no longer provide "regular education" and "special education". Instead, schools would provide an inclusive education, and as a result, students would be able to learn together.

Special Education services in the United States now extend past school-age into adulthood with the Post Secondary Transition For High School Students with Disabilities program, as a better understanding of life-long learning has been gained. It includes school-based activities as well as family and community activities, and has become a major testing ground for better teaching for all children, not simply children with special needs.

Special Education has a different quality in different countries. The political, economic and social pressures in each country has led to a different form of Special Education, with different sets of policies and practices. (Wedipedi)'

Do not take other men's opinions or conduct as a rule for life, but that we wholly renounce this world, and set before us as our mark the will of God as is manifested and revealed to us in His word. This is the reason that there is no room left for reason, which the heathen philosophers place as a queen in a castle, nor for man's free will, which the popish scholars dream of, because the mind must be renewed; Eph 1:18:17Col 1:21

Of course, we knew that our government would be involved. We need to take heed, my friends, this is the world's standard's, not our Precious Heavenly Father. Are you normal? I sure ain't, at least by the world's standard. You can rest assured that I don't want to be their brand of normal. Why you may ask? Here is my answer:

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

What brought about this article? Another newspaper report on a child sent to me by my dear rECj.

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Which simply means to me, tryin to learn the will of God.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj