A Note from Doug DeVos, Editor-in-chief
What do you believe?
I know my answer. I believe in God. I believe in the family. I believe in unlimited potential and human dignity. I believe in America. And I believe in the principles that my parents passed on to me and my siblings. Those principles are as timeless today as they were when my Dad, Rich, wrote a bestselling book about them in 1975—Believe!.
Fifty years later, it’s time to re-introduce those principles to Americans. To inspire a new generation with the values and ideals that are essential to personal success—and national survival.
That’s the purpose of The Believe! Journal.
This is a platform to share the time-tested beliefs that have been proven to work for anyone, anywhere, at any time. Here, we’ll dive into what those beliefs are, why they matter, and how you can apply them in your own life to find more meaning and fulfillment than you ever imagined.
Practically, this journal will feature regular reflections from some incredible people I’ve met over the years. And every few months, I’ll pose a question that our contributors will answer, based on their own experiences and expertise. They’ll give inspiring and actionable insights that you won’t want to miss.
For this first issue, the question is simple: What is America?
I chose this question because Independence Day is the perfect opportunity to dwell on what our country stands for and where it’s headed. We’re also exactly one year away from the 250th birthday of America. And as we prepare for the next Independence Day, we need to turn to our country’s timeless principles to tackle the challenges of our time. Our country faces serious problems, and we need innovative and principled solutions to get America back on track.
So, who’s answering this question, and what do they believe? I’m glad you asked…
Dr. Keri Ingraham is an education expert. She argues that America is creative because our people have incredible potential—but we need to unleash that potential through better education.
Luke Burgis is an entrepreneur-turned-author who knows what you want and why you want it. He relates a powerful personal story that shows why he thinks America is fundamentally good.
Joshua Steinman is a former Navy officer and National Security official. He says that America is the country’s founding spirit, which is closer to the present than you may think.
Dr. Anthony Bradley is an expert on religious and human flourishing. His answer: America is fathers. We need strong ones, because without them, our country will crumble.
Aaron Renn is a Renaissance man whose understanding of modern society is extraordinary. He says that while there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic about our country, we still shouldn’t bet against America. Everyone who’s ever made that bet has lost.
And—this one’s a bit different—the Library of Celaeno is an anonymous author who says that to understand America, you need to understand a little-known Methodist missionary named Peter Cartwright.
You’re going to find some strong opinions, but that’s the point. Freedom of thought and speech are very important. They help us find the path forward as individuals and as a nation. And speaking of strong opinions, here’s my answer to the question of “what is America.”
America is a land of proven principles. They’re articulated in the Declaration of Independence and secured by the Constitution: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The better we’ve applied these principles, the more we’ve empowered people and unleashed opportunity and prosperity for the benefit of all.
But America is also much more than our principles. America is a land of faith. Faith gave rise to our country—we were founded by Christian dissidents. Faith has sustained our people through our darkest days. And faith is still essential to our future. If America slides into unbelief, we’ll see less respect for human dignity, less generosity and creativity, and less optimism and opportunity. America needs faith—and Americans need to remember our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
Like I said, this is a place for strong opinions and foundational beliefs. And that includes yours. You can comment on everything you read here. Please do—America needs your beliefs, too.
As we get this Journal underway, I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you find that it’s not just worthwhile, but worth applying in your own life.
If you want more, I urge you to listen to some of the podcasts I’ve recorded with inspiring national and local leaders over the past three years.
You may also be interested to know that our family is republishing Dad’s bestselling book, Believe!, in preparation for America’s 250th birthday. I updated it with new thoughts that frame Dad’s original words. You can pre-order it here.
Thanks for being here. Thanks in advance for coming back. And most of all, thank you for considering the timeless principles that America needs, now more than ever.
Doug DeVos
