There are many times in our lives—and we never know when they will strike—when suddenly the wind gets up and the sea becomes rough. But if we listen, through the roar of the waves and the wind, we may hear the voice that says, ‘It is I—don’t be afraid.’ And if we are ready then to take Jesus on board, we may find ourselves, sooner than we expected, at the harbor where we will be calm and secure once more.

Basic human nature responds to aggression by fight or flight. Neither of these responses build community or have positive results. Jesus gives a third way to respond to aggressive behavior that provides the environment to both reduce violence in the aggressor and gives the victim an opportunity to respond with dignity and strength.

Words in Scripture have power to create. Truthful words create reality and trust. Lies create ruin and broken relationships and are from the evil one himself. Jesus’ mandate for believers is to become the kind of people whose yes is yes, and no is no.

First, it was anger, then lust, and now Jesus talks about divorce. We probably wouldn't have divorced if we had dealt with anger and lust. Divorce, however, is a reality going back to the time of Moses, and churches must grapple with how to prevent divorce and care for those in its wake.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. Humanity has taken these good gifts; instead of enjoying them, we have abused them. Sex is one such gift that we have turned into lust and Jesus says it turns the gift into a living hell. His solution is to cut off any avenue that opens our lives toward lust.