There's a pretty big difference between being a fan of something and actually letting it shape your life. Fans can know all the stats, wear the shirt, show up regularly, and have very strong opinions from the comfort of their favorite chair. Following is difference. Following costs something. That distinction gets a little uncomfortable when we bring it into our faith. It's possible to know a lot about Jesus, attend church, agree with what he taught, and still keep him at a c

There's a strange thing about joy: the harder we try to arrange life around ourselves, the harder joy can be to find. We want things to go our way. We want enough money, enough time, enough recognition, enough comfort, and preferably for everyone around us to cooperate with the plan. None of that sounds particularly outrageous. Most of the time, it just sounds like being a normal human. But somewhere along the way, "What do I nee?" can quietly become the question running ever