Jesus’ language in this week’s reading is strong. I love it. Have never thought of Jesus as a “wimp”. It seems that the strength of his message is intended to get our attention. It is often said that the word “fear” as it appears in the Bible is misunderstood. We’re told that fear is really a synonym for awe. While that may be true, maybe we should think of fear in both ways. Our life in God transcends any other life experience. Our relationship with God should take precedence over any worldly relationships, including family,friends, work, etc. Nothing is more important.