Our world is being shaken today. We are well into the time that Jesus spoke of, when people hear of wars and rumors of wars, when nations rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms. In all of these things Christians should not be surprised; rather, we should expect such things to happen for they are prophesied in Scripture. Yet we should also be confident that nothing shall ever separate us from the love of Christ. Many people are concerned today and fearful of terrorism. But none of these things change the nature of the love of God for us, or his involvement in the world. He is our help and strength. We do not need to live in fear. But bad things do happen to us. God allows such things to happen in order to shake us loose of those things that are inferior - to show us what things are shakable and what are permanent. This world is passing away, and God's intention is to turn our hearts to him and to the eternal reality of his kingdom and his love.