Many movies today are inspired by true stories as every one of us has a story to tell. Some great movies which are some of my personal favorites include “American Gangster”, “The Great Debaters” and “Radio”. True stories do captive their readers or audiences with that mystical curiosity on the story itself.
As for my story in America, it is true but not very captivating. Looking at the counter of my days in US at 479 and still counting, that is indeed some quantifiable amount of time to tell a story although on some days of it, you may find me sleeping through half the hours of the day with the other half watching movies on DVDs. =)
Life is pretty much the same as before like when I first stepped into America, the state of Utah (UT) in particular for my initial six months of training for starting a new production FAB in Singapore. Having transferred to the main FAB in Lehi, UT, the only main difference is you will have to pay your own rent and drive your own car. Besides that, the lifestyle is still the same – an American lifestyle.
Having lived in the United States of America for about over a year now, I confessed that I am now very much connected to this country. I feel connected to Hollywood movies through the settings and places. Places like Grand Canyon, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Portland, OR, New York City, NY and many more are very familiar to me. Maybe having been personally been there myself, even though the places may be created digitically by Pixar, I can still recognized them and be connected. Co-workers of mine are saying, “Chee, guess you are Americanized now because you can understand our jokes.”
Used to know American simply as USA to me but now however, I am beginning to know this country more each day now. Her history since independence in July 4, 1776 and her culture interests me to find out more.
One interesting question was posed to a pastor, “Why do you think that America prosper as a country?” He answered, “It is because of the blessings of God.” I feel that is not just any modal or “the right” answer (because he is a pastor) but I believe that is just the truth.
As adapted from Wikipedia (History of religion in the United States) - Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled in the seventeenth century by men and women, who, in the face of European religious persecution, refused to compromise passionately-held religious convictions and fled Europe.
The Middle Atlantic colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, were conceived and established "as plantations of religion." Some settlers who arrived in these areas came for secular motives—"to catch fish" as one New Englander put it—but the great majority left Europe to worship in the way they believed to be correct. They supported the efforts of their leaders to create "a City upon a Hill" or a "holy experiment," whose success would prove that God's plan for churches could be successfully realized in the American wilderness. Even colonies like Virginia, which were planned as commercial ventures, were led by entrepreneurs who considered themselves "militant Protestants" and who worked diligently to promote the prosperity of the church.
America could be said to be formed by Protestants who wished to break away from the Catholics at that point in history because they felt the very need to worship God in the way they believed to be correct (Eph 3:8-9). I must say and because of this God blessed them. America started off as a great country which simply seeks to worship God and their early forefathers proudly printed, “In God We Trust” in the American currency.
Amazing, isn’t it?
However, I do agree (with the same pastor who answered the question posed) that America has became a country which often bragged about her glorifying past achievements but is degenerating in their worship of the only true God whom has blessed them.
It is sad but this is work of the sinful nature (lust of flesh) which wages war constantly against our spiritual self (the Spirit).
This week, I wanted to be revived by God for Him to do His Great work which He has started in me and to bring it upon completion. I attended a fellow co-worker’s church which offers mid-week worship / bible study on top of The Truth Project which is also held in the same church. In addition, I signed up for a fourteen week commitment in church for a Man’s bible study on Fridays at 6am to learn about The Man God uses. It is time for me to get even more serious with God.
I do not want to waste my life while waiting for Him to come in His glory to bring His children home. I want to be used by Christ in the place where He has placed me and shout with Paul:
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
- Acts 20:24
Pray with me. Amen.
