Counting the Cost-Comparing the Choices

So many want to just say a prayer and "BOOM!" you are in...  Jesus said, "... anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." -Luke 14:27-33 (NIV)OR 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  -Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)AND Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  -John 14:6 (NIV)I love Johnny Hart's BC comic strips.  Recently someone gave me a book to look through called "I Did It His Way".  It is a compilation of Johnny Hart's comics that are spiritual in nature.   I find them humorous and yet pointed.  It made me realize that this was a man that counted the cost and willingly laid the truth out there for all to see - knowing that he may get ousted from the local papers but in all actuality, it solidified his career and showed his integrity to stand by what he believed - He did not worry about the consequences since He trusted in His God to use his talents to make the Word of God known in an attractive manner.  It is good stuff.  "Prayer is allowing God to have His will in your life on HIS terms." - Johnny Hart (1931-2007)