Bell has some great points here.  I particularly like his points about the work of the cross for us as well as in us.  This is definitely an important distinction, and many, many churches seem to ignore the second and fixate only on the first.  It leads to stunted spiritual maturity and a very inward-focused group of people.  When we allow the cross to work in us as well though, we can't help but allow the Spirit to turn us outward to share and to love others, instead of just focusing on how loved and fortunate we are.

I don't know if I'd agree literally with his statement on 108 about our purpose being to increase the shalom in the world.  Our purpose is to be the people of God, conformed increasingly to the image of Christ.  If we are doing this, and demonstrating it in the lives around us, then shalom in the world will increase.  I think getting too lofty in our goals for the world tends to short circuit our willingness and ability to be involved right here, right now.  It's like the people who, when repeatedly asked for help on behalf of a needy person, responded not with assistance, but with the excuse that a *lot* of people are in bad situations and need help, and so it's not right to focus so intensively on this one person.

Bell hits the nail on the head in wrapping up this section, focusing on the universal dimensions of the cross, how all of creation is being restored. This indeed should move our focus outwards, as he notes, so that the point is *not* me or us, it's God.  God is doing this awesome thing.  We are privileged to be caught up in it.  We are even permitted the honor of sharing in the process by loving others and sharing the joy we've found.  But it's God's gig, not ours.