"America is no longer a Christian nation," said a keynote speaker at a conference I attended recently, as he elaborated on our country's moral bankruptcy.

"America is the best country in the world today," some people assert.

"We've got to get back to our Christian roots!" says another faction of the church.

"America oppresses the world and is full of self-absorbed people," still other Christians claim.

I've heard many opinions on the state of our country. I am amazed by how different they are. The range of opinions is wide, even among Christians. I listen to one person tell me about our nation's hopeless state of depravity, then turn around and hear someone else sing America's praises and insinuate that the U.S. is God's chosen country.

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Impact the world. Support global missions. Disciple teenagers. That's what I wanted to do when I moved to Germany to serve as a Resident Assistant at Black Forest Academy, a boarding school for missionaries' kids. The big picture goals on the school's recruiting brochure were resplendent, noble – almost intoxicating. And they were accurate.

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"Can I help?" asked my small cousin, Katie, as I pulled chocolate chips, flour, butter, and other ingredients from their respective places in the kitchen.

"Okay." I knew it would take me longer to bake the cookies with the "assistance" of a seven-year-old, but I didn't mind. She watched me microwave the butter and begin to mix in the sugar before she asked for a turn with the wooden spoon. Gripping it with two hands, she stirred with great deliberation – but not great success. After a few minutes, she asked me to finish creaming the ingredients because her arms had grown tired. Gladly, I finished mixing and making under her watchful eye.

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