Too often we stage our lives and our churches like a home stager stages a house. Following Jesus is messy but we try to make it look like there is nothing to it. It is tempting to make everything look okay in order to attract people to Jesus. The only problem with this model is, reality will always rear its head no matter how hard we try to make everything look perfect.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-27 (NIV)