God uses sorrowful tragedy to set the stage for surprising triumph-whether in this life or the life to come.

I couldn't really jet off to the States on a whim and a prayer.

It is impossible to be a follower of Christ while denying, disregarding, discrediting, and disbelieving the words of Christ.

This extremely shocking and utterly revolutionary call is the essence of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: we are not called to simply believe certain points or observe certain practices, but ultimately to cling to the person of Christ as life itself.

In direct contradiciton to the American dream, God actually delights in exalting our inability.

Jesus is no longer one to be accepted or invited in but one who is infinitely worthy of our immediate and total surrender.

When we consider the promises of Christ, risking everything we are and everything we have for His sake is no longer a matter of sacrifice. It's just common sense.