While the Christian message (the gospel) is sometimes marketed by the church as a “wonderful” plan for your life, Jesus himself conveyed it with a somewhat less polished outlook.  Jesus spoke of it at carrying your cross, being ready to die, as labor, as persecution, and challenged any who wish to follow him to count the cost.  This week we’ll examine Jesus’ call to a difficult life and see how it’s the only path to becoming more than an acquaintance of the Christ.