Divided individuals, family discord, broken friendships and damaged relationships have been part of the human experience for ages, much like the biblical story of Cain and Abel, who quarreled over their sacrifices to the Lord. Unfortunately, division, disagreement, disparity and conflict are common in our lives. While conflict is inevitable, how we respond to it is a choice. Our reactions to conflict are shaped by the actions we decide to take.

To some distressed individuals enduring significant opposition to their new way of living, Peter offered these words of comfort: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous” (I Peter 3:12). This conveys a reassuring message that God is always watching over those who strive to do what is right. This is the core message of Peter's first letter to Christians trying to live out their faith in a merciless Roman Empire. His letter was meant to encourage them in the face of suffering and to challenge them to continue doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

Rumble strips, also known as audible road markings or alert strips, are traffic markers used on highways across America for several decades. These side markers along the direction of travel are safety mechanisms to alert traveling drivers when they are drifting off their desired path. When a vehicle’s tires come across these small corrugated or raised bumps in the road, it creates a tactile vibration and audible noise that not only alerts the driver but wakes up every person in the car and greatly increases heart rate in a matter of milliseconds.

In 1986, Jake Garn a Republican United States Senator from Utah, did the unthinkable: he volitionally gave away a part of his body to someone else. Ok, it wasn’t just to anybody, but it’s still an amazing thing considering that 78% of Americans say they would be an organ donor, yet only 13% sign the dotted line. Senator Garn’s daughter, Susan, was suffering from progressive kidney failure due to aggressive diabetes and was in desperate need of a kidney. Without hesitation, her father stepped up and at the age of 55, he gave her one of his.

The Book of Ruth is a cameo story of love, devotion, redemption and grace set in the dark context of the days of the Judges. Bible readers know that Ruth was a Moabite who forsakes her Pagan heritage to cling to the God of Israel. Her reward was a new husband (Boaz) and a son (Obed), and the eventual privileged position as great-grandmother to a king (David).