This Is How It Started

Just over a year ago, my friend Jason told me he was going to run for public office.

This surprised me because Jason had never run for anything in his life (except maybe late to a meeting). His reason for running was admirable. He said, “I’m tired of this guy always running unopposed. Even if I lose, I’ll still have achieved my goal.”

That stayed with me. Because deep down, I had my own dream I’d been running from: writing a book.

The thought of actually doing it was terrifying. Who wants to hear what I have to say? What if it’s no good? What if people laugh? But Jason’s courage reminded me what’s worse, trying and failing or not trying at all?

So I did. I sat down at my desk, and through fear, self-doubt, and a whole lot of coffee, I started writing. And I told myself: Even if no one reads it, I’ll still have done what I set out to do. Now, less than a year later, my first book $h!t Jesus Says: Reclaiming Love in the Kingdom of Heaven is published. It’s a written invitation to remember the dangerous, beautiful simplicity of Jesus’ message: love.

I’m not just sharing this to promote my book, which is available here. No, I’m telling you this because Jesus calls us out of our comfort zones. To risk loving the way he loves—boldly, foolishly, without guarantee of “success.” Not even rejection stopped him from stepping out in love.

Just as Jason showed me, the Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t come through playing it safe. It comes when we dare. When we risk. When we love.

So whatever your “book” is—write it.

Whatever your “campaign” is—run it.

Whatever love looks like in your world—live it.

Because even if the world doesn’t applaud, you’ll have done what Jesus asked: you’ll have loved.