This week with the Rev Kevin Logan, Vicar of Christ Church, Accrington

STUNNED silence -- casualties too horrific to contemplate.

Soon, emotional waves ripple then rage across the mental replays of those TV pictures -- horror, revulsion, anger, anxiety...

Finally comes the yearning to snatch back control and that in our blame culture means finding a culprit.

Yet, somehow, this disaster is of such magnitude that we are almost swept beyond the human cause. The cry goes up: What about God?

If he's there; if he's so almighty, and loving, why doesn't he do a better job?

Why no Supergod swooping down on errant planes, evil terrorists and towering infernos? why doesn't he act?

The short answer is - he has. But the final act is pending.

He has cared and guided and even limited evil since creation's first moment.

Once, 2,000 years ago, he actually entered history in the flesh in a terrifying but successful rescue act involving his death and resurrection.

But the final act will be even more staggering, and America's tragedy will be as nothing in comparison.

The earth will make way for a new heaven and earth.

Only in this final act will a loving God swoop to our rescue.

And, at that time, the cause of most human suffering - our freedom of choice - will bow before the King of Kings.

Presently, we enjoy freedom to love, to cherish and to be happy with him.

Alternatively there is freedom to create our own gods who rubber stamp our appetites for killing and maiming.

But the final choice will be God's. He will chose according to how we have made our choices.

For those who chose him, there will be no more tears, no more tragedies, no more human hell.

For them there will be heaven.