Stephen Colbert likes to call the Fourth of July weekend, “exploding Christmas.” I’m not into fireworks too much anymore, but I do like ideas; and I especially like ideas that “explode” in our heads, ideas like freedom, independence, equality, life, grace and, most importantly, mercy. This July, we want to “go forth” and look at how our calling as citizens of heaven shapes our citizenship on earth. Let’s “go forth” by showing mercy and pursuing peace.