My wife Debbie and I have always strived to be followers of Jesus who take big risks and love at all costs.  On paper this concept and way of life seems effortless and within reach, after all, we can do all things through Jesus who gives us the strength needed, right?  Well, the part about the strength and being within reach is right, but the part about effortlessness isn't exactly accurate.  You see there is a massive difference between learning the lessons (that we must learn in order to grow) and living out those lessons.  
You know how when you go to church on a Sunday and you hear a great word being preached or taught and you sit there and gulp your way through the hour or so, feeling a bit hot under the collar and completely convicted on the inside (as if the guy or girl is speaking straight to your soul)?  Whether you realize it or not, something has been planted inside of you.  You have been exposed to a truth that ignorance can no longer claim the rights to.  This truth is becoming a lesson and this lesson is either going to be learned or it is going to be lived, the choice is yours.  
When I was a younger man I picked up my young family from Southern California and I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend a bible school.  I was exposed to principles of faith on a daily basis.  My wife and I were both learning all about trusting God and what faith can actually do for us in our lives.  The lessons that we were learning were essentially building us up on the inside and at times we felt pretty invincible because we were learning just how much God was on our side, providing for us.  We learned and learned and learned, but it wasn't until we started to actually live (apply) the faith principles that the lessons became our reality.  Like the time that we were driving home during one of our breaks and we ran out of money for gas, the gauge was on empty and the only thing we had was the concept of faith and trust (which essentially go hand in hand).  Debbie and I asked God to supernaturally fill our tank so that we could make it home to California and we lived that lesson in a very real and tangible way.  This is the difference between living a lesson and just learning it, action and trust and belief like no other.  Oh and by the way... we made it home to California without a single drop of natural gas in our tank :)
The bottom line is that this God stuff isn't just a good idea... it is NECESSARY in this crazy roller coaster called life.  Going to church and learning new methods & concepts straight out of the bible, isn't just a great community effort... it is a NECESSARY element if we want to have authority and power in our every day lives.  This God stuff is REAL and it takes more than just learning this stuff... it takes us living it out & putting it to the test every day.  Selah & I dare you to LIVE IT!!