Breaking curses – nationally and athletically
For a long time, Christian leaders have said there is a curse on our land due to the blood spilled from Native Americans. Whether or not this curse is an actual supernatural issue, the ramifications of what have been done are horrible and have deserved deeper scrutiny.
This past weekend a massive gathering occurred in Washington D.C. to tackle this issue head-on. Over 1000 Native people gathered to release forgiveness and love toward the United States of America. As a result, some prophetic leaders believe this was one of the most significant things to happen in our nation all year.
On a different note . . . for a long time, sports fans have talked about a different curse. A curse that hangs over the Chicago Cubs, preventing them from winning a World Series (the last time they won was 1908, before the Titanic, before radio and TV were invented, before space travel, and before computers). It is a curse that has to do with a billy goat.
This past week, both issues hit a head when the Cubs finally entered the World Series in over 60 years with a fresh shot at winning. They are playing the Cleveland “Indians.”
Now to some, this connection between the Cubs and Native American history may sound a little over-the-top or perhaps silly. A sports curse may also feel totally inappropriate in relation to a true history of injustice. (And for many readers, the idea of a curse is ridiculous to begin with, whether it’s rooted in something as innocent as baseball or as poignant as American history).
But regardless, “curses” and superstition can still reign in people’s minds, even if it’s just a placebo effect. And regardless of its effect, forgiveness and healing of the heart is a powerful and needed thing. And sometimes physical events can testify of spiritual realities.
There is spiritual statement being made this past week that healing, forgiveness, and hope is being restored. And though hope for Chicago fans is a beautiful thing, this article is more about a greater hope for Native people and their restoration as God-appointed gate-keepers and stewards of the land.
Oprah and the pastor of Hillsong NYC
Recently, the pastor of one of America’s fasting growing churches – Hillsong NYC – met with Oprah Winfrey on her weekly show “Super Soul Sunday” to discuss a number of issues related to God and spirituality.
Since the show’s airing, the response from Christians has been quite entertaining. While Oprah clearly asks Carl “who is Jesus” and he clearly responds: “Jesus is God. He is the sacrifice, He is the atonement, He is the “way in,” He is salvation . . .Jesus is everything…” Christians have still managed to get upset that Carl wasn’t more forthright with Oprah.
But despite any religious criticism, the conversation was great and focused largely on the difference between spirituality and religion. At one point, Oprah expressed her experience of seeing a church split and people being unable to come together in love. She noted how they had a “split orientation” of saying one thing but doing another.
The conversation is rich with insight and inspiration, especially for people who are on a journey of discovering (or re-discovering) God. Here are a few quotes from Pastor Carl Lentz:
“You can fake a religion, but you can’t fake a relationship”
“Church sometimes is the barrier to God when it is supposed to be a conduit.”
“The Gospel doesn’t need to be made trendy. It’s just the power of God!”
To watch the full episode, click here.
Professors’ goals in teaching evolutionary theory
A first-of-its-kind study in Arizona has looked at how professors in higher institutions approach the subject of evolution and what their ultimate goals are in teaching it. Surprisingly, the results from this scientific study have shown that a majority of professors are not looking to make students fully accept evolutionary theory. Instead, their goal is to simply teach the theory in order to help them understand it. This non-religious study reflected a major shift in the culture’s sensitivity toward issues of faith and spirituality, especially amongst the student population. The report also showed a deeper understanding that a person’s faith does not need to be negated by the mechanics of biology.
The beating heart of a dead star
Astronomers have discovered what they are describing as the “beating heart” of a long-dead star. The object being described is the remnant of a star that is 6,500 light years from earth, which once exploded as a supernova. Its “heartbeat” is described as “rapid-fire, light-house like pulses of energy” being rhythmically emitted from the core of the star’s exploded remains.
The core or “heart” is made up a density that is “one hundred billion times stronger than steel.” (Now just pause and think about that for a moment… Think of the strength of steel and then multiply that two. Think of the immense strength of steel that has been doubled. Then just imagine doubling that strength again.. THEN imagine you keep doing that…and you keep doing it for a long time. In fact, if you were add another layer of reinforced steel every second, it would take over 3000 years to get to the strength of that star’s core! Imagine the strength of steel after 3000 years of reinforcing it. You would’ve had to have started 1000 years before Christ was born and then kept doing it every second all throughout medieval, modern, and postmodern history to get it to be as strong as that star.)
All of this is a beautiful picture of the crucified Christ. He was beaten and crushed but yet in the aftermath of His death, the eternal heart of God was revealed. A heart that is still beating in love for us. A love that is stronger than death and way stronger than steel.