Ultimately, tragedy on earth can only be understood rightly from the perspective of heaven.

We have a master who deserves radical sacrifice.

We have an incomprehensibly great God!

I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what was radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable.

We act, though, not under a utopian illusion that you or I or anyone or everyone together can rid this world of pain and suffering. That responsibility belongs to the resurrected Christ, and he will do it when he returns. But until that day, we do with an undivided heart whatever God calls us to do.

God involves us in his mission not because he needs us but because he loves us.

Somewhere along the way we have subtly and tragically taken the costly command of Christ to go, baptize, and teach all nations and mutated it into a comfortable call for Christians to come, be baptized, and listen in one location.