WHO AM I?

“Who am I?”  That was the predominant cry of the 1960’s generation.  Young people of that time turned to and tuned into anything they could think of, such as drugs, sex and communal lifestyles to attempt to answer that question.  They found themselves participating in all kinds of religious activities to find “the answer of life” and seldom found what they were really searching for.  Why were they asking the question in the first place?  They did not know WHO they were.

A.W. Tozer shares a story about a time when he was waiting for a friend at City Hall and suddenly a well-dressed man sat next to him with a puzzled look.  Tozer asked the man, “Do we know each other?”

“No, I don’t think so,” the man replied.  After a quiet pause the man shared with Tozer that he could not remember anything except waking up and finding he had been robbed.  Moments later another well-dressed man approached the first man and with an excited tone called him by name.  Come to find out the confused man was the First Violinist of the Philharmonic giving performances in Toronto that week.  Even after the second man explained all this, the first man still did not remember who he was.

The amnesiac had received a bump to the head and was robbed.  Tozer made a correlation with this story and the fall of man; Adam and Eve had a fall and received a terrible bump.  They realized they no longer knew who they were or what their purpose for living was.  Ever since that time man has asked the question, “Who am I?”

Tozer went on to share that when “Adam and Eve decided that early morning that they had a right to put their own wills above the will of their Creator God, they lost their God-given identity.  They tried to shake the fog out of their minds but as they looked at each other, they realized they no longer knew the purpose of their existence; they no longer held that divine sense of what they were created to be and to do.”

Some of the 1960’s generation did find the answer to their search for who they were, and out of that revelation came the “Jesus People” movement.  People became believers and went hard after God, making Him their priority and sharing His love to all those around them.  Many people became believers due to this revival.

What about today?  Yes, people are still asking the question.  We try to put our own wills above the will of our Creator God when we strive for riches, security and social position.  We are still trying to tell others who we are.  If only we could grasp the divine sense of what we were created to be and to do.  I guess it comes down to this simple revelation; if you want to know who you are, ask your Creator!

Genesis 1:26 - We were created in His image

Isaiah 43:7 - We were created for His glory

Revelation 4:11 - We were created for His pleasure

Ephesians 4:24

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

RUTS

Has your spiritual journey become jerky or suddenly halted?  Do you feel like your daily routine has you stuck?  You may be in a rut.  Ruts can be avoided, but you have to keep watch for them.

For instance, consider dirt bike riding?  Often dirt roads and trails are riddled with ruts cut into them by winter and spring rains.  As you speed along you have to keep careful watch for ruts.  I have seen them up to half a foot deep and about 4-5 inches wide.  Imagine what would happen if you dropped your front wheel into the rut.  The bike stops and you do not!  More than just a few riders have taken a flying fall off their bikes when this happens.  Ouch!

How do you navigate a rut when riding a dirt bike?  If it is running down the middle of the road you ride to one side or the other.  If it changes direction and goes diagonally across your path (as ruts are prone to do) then you turn your bike at a right angle to the rut and cross being careful not to turn the bike again until the real wheel has cleared it.

We tend to be creatures of circumstance; do you agree?  The things that happen around us affect us.  We work, earn wages, eat, sleep, participate in recreational activities, go to church every week and generally exist in response to all these regular activities.  Does that remind you of something?  It reminds me of a rut!

So, I ask you again; has your spiritual journey become jerky or suddenly halted?  Have the storms of life created ruts in your trail with God?  Have you lost that divine sense of what He created you to be and do?  God remembers.  He is just waiting for you to reach up to Him so He can lift you out of the rut and speed you on your way to fulfill all He created you to be and do.  When He does this ask Him to show you where all the ruts are so you can avoid them in the future.

Could the answer be that simple?  Try God and see!

“Do not earnestly remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  (Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP)

PATRIOTISM - (In memory of 9/11)

Are you a patriot?  Webster’s Dictionary tells us that a patriot is “a person who loves his country”.    Commodore, Stephen Decatur Jr. (serving in the US Navy from 1798-1820) is credited with saying a phrase that has come to be known as the epitome of patriotism; “Our Country…may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!" 

I grew up in a family that was strong on being a patriot.  My father was a Chief Petty Officer and served in the U.S. Navy for over 23 years.  Growing up a “Navy Brat” made being a patriot a learned response.  I learned the words to our National Anthem when I was very young.  I loved reading and hearing about the history of my country.  Patriotism was and continues to be very real to me.

During the last few years of my Dad’s naval service he was stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana.  My Mom used to drive my brother and me to the movie theater on the base every Saturday.  We could watch two movies (back then they had “2^nd Features”), have a bag of popcorn and a soda for only $1.  One thing that sticks out in my mind about those times is that before the first movie started the theater would show a short film with the American Flag flying and the music of our National Anthem playing.  Everyone in the theater stood at attention and held their hand over their heart.  I remember how proud it felt to be an American.

U.S. Patriotism was moderate during World War I but much stronger during World War II.  Many people made deep sacrifices to support the war efforts.  I remember being taught that it was not as strong during the Korean War and I remember how it was weak it was during the Viet Nam War.  It seams to rise and wane depending on one thing; when the U.S. is directly attacked.  Does that make patriotism a “foul weather” friend?

During the Viet Nam War patriotism was at an all-time low as Americans searched for peace and recovery from the recession involvement in war usually brings.  There was a surge of patriotism when we entered the Gulf War, but only after President Bush promised that our fight there would not be another Viet Nam, and that we would send enough support to finish the job and then get out of there.  Patriotism diminished quite a bit throughout Clinton Administration as our military focus tended to be towards United Nations “peace-keeping” missions.  America wanted to think about itself and not deal with the “petty squabbles” around the world.

September 11, 2001 awakened Americans from a dreamy narcissism to a painful awareness of how Patriotism can surge into focus.  As we watched the destruction of three landmarks and the wreckage of one diverted jet with a totaling death of over three thousand Americans in a matter of a few hours we awakened to the fact that all of our military power and hi-tech advancements were not enough to protect us from the type of terrorism that other nations (like Israel) experienced on a regular basis.  Then we saw another phenomenon.  Patriotism swelled to great waves across our nation, much like when Pearl Harbor was attacked, yet strangely different.  This time we found our heroes not only in the military but in the people who survived the tragedy, in the people who gave their lives trying to save those who were dying as well as in those who tried to divert some terrorists from their goals at the cost of their own lives.  Hurt and anger prevailed.  People wanted the President to do something.  Patriotism grew again in response to something violent and foul, powered by our emotional response.

It is a shame that it takes “foul weather” to make patriotism strong.  Those of us who grew up “military brats” usually do not have a problem with patriotism.  We learned from an early age to salute the flag.  Saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school did not become a habit because we were taught that every time we did so we were proclaiming anew that we stood for our country and her freely dispensed liberty and justice.  We learned ALL the words to our National Anthem and sang them every time it was played standing at attention with our hands over our hearts.  We watched with pride as our fathers and mothers marched before us in parade dressed in sharp, clean, polished uniforms.  Patriotism comes easy to us because WE WERE RAISED WITH IT.  Is this why patriotism swells and wanes for most Americans?  Could it be that we no longer teach our children just what patriotism is?  It is a sorry legacy when a country only shows patriotism in result of and support of violence.

I leave you with this challenge:  Do YOU know our National Anthem, word for word, all FOUR verses?  Have you ever actually read the Constitution?  Do you know the story behind the Liberty Bell?  Do you know the real story of Paul Revere?  What about July 4^th?  Why do we call it Independence Day?  If we do not know these things then how will our children ever learn patriotism from us?  Take the time to learn, share and help us rebuild a nation of patriots.