What if it all was a lie?

1491 is a work of painstaking journalism, questioning everything that pop culture holds dear about ancient America.  It shatters myths and demonstrates that

- The Americas were far from sparsely populated, ready and waiting to be filled by white men.

- Squanto wasn’t selfless, he was a bit of a politician who had actually learned to plant seeds with dead fish while living as a slave in Europe.

- Bows and arrows were stronger, more deadly and more accurate than muskets

Along the way author Charles Mann makes a strong argument that America was more of a well-manicured garden, and the Amazon rainforest was an orchard. He demonstrates just how many people died from European disease.  He even takes a stab at the genesis of the American ideals of liberty.

1491 is an engaging read that will give you newfound respect the land we live it, and a vision of how to make it great again.

You can find 1491 in print, digital and audio.

It is not primarily an awareness of being commanded by God, but an awareness of the God who commands. The focus in kavanah shifts from the deed itself to its inner meaning, the goal being to find access to the sacred in the deed itself. It is finding the essence of the task, to partake of its inspiration, to be made equal to the task of fulfilling holy command’s. Abraham Heschel says that ‘kavanah is direction to God and requires the involvement and redirection of the whole person. It is the act of bringing together the scattered forces of the self; it means the participation of heart and soul, not only of will and mind.’”

Frost and Hirsch Shaping of Things to Come (in print and digital.)

Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling 

Read as part of the MAGL.

1. The U.S. Doesn’t Know What to do with Public Confessions of Faith
Best I can tell there are two reasons Tebow drove people crazy: (1) He made all the way to the play-offs, despite not being a very good NFL quarterback and (2) He constantly made public statements of faith.  It’s easy to see why this is a lethal combination.

However, this is where I praise Tim Tebow.  The statements he has continued to make (how many times can you say lordandsavior in one interview?) might not have been terribly out of character a few decades back.  In fact, they more likely would have gotten him labeled a “fine young American.”  Despite intense public ridicule, and no doubt  a lot of personal ridicule as well, he just keeps tebowing.

Here, Tebow demonstrates the most difficult reality of following Christ in the post-Christendom west.  Ridicule, and perhaps eventually outright persecution, is to be expected.  I have no doubt that Tebow has been encouraged to keep his faith private.  Tebow has continued his tebowing and thanking his lordandsavior at every opportunity.  He should be recognized for his obdurateness.

2. A Great Television Ad Does May Rally the Base, but Does It Further the Cause?
Tebow has had a polarizing effect on the football loving populace, to the point that those (such as myself) with only a passing interest in the sport, are familiar with his conduct.  He has succeeded in “rallying the base,” both focusing attention on the Broncos and causing many Christians to feel the need to speak out on his behalf.  People have chosen sides, and many Christians have expressed their pride in having a famous and outspoken athlete to root for.  Focus on the Family, a famously political parachurch organization even bought ad time during the playoffs to show cute kids reciting John 3:16.  This is fitting, not just because John 3:16 is the theme verse of football, but because Tim Tebow himself has served at little more than season long TV ad for the faith.

So, the question is, do TV ads further the cause of Christ, or only increase the extent to push people away from it?

This seems to be the critical question that American Christians have overlooked.  The conversation has primarily been based on the belief that Jesus would vote, and he would either vote democratic or republican.  But is this based in theology or patriotic tradition?

Jesus taught that his followers should subvert the military of their government by going above and beyond when the military enforced labor on them.  His primary sparring partners were Pharisees, Sadducees and the Sanhedrin whose offices were often both religious and political.  He referred to King Herod as a fox.  He questioned the authority of Pilate, and thereby, the Roman government.

For the next ten month the news, air waves, and social media feeds are going to be focused on the Presidential election.  Both sides will do everything they can to garner the affection of segments of the population, especially those with religious affiliation.  Conversations will take place at work, at bars, coffee shops and on-line.  People will expect you to pick a side.

The most important thing Christians can do this election year is decide what they trust in: is it the powers of government?  Business? Media? Military?  Themselves? Or is it in the kingdom of God?

And if the power is in the kingdom of God, how does that effect how we will live for the next 10 months?