Jesus - cynic, sage, political radical, Son of God, prophet, enlighten guru, rabbi, Savior of the World, the list could go on. The question I have this morning is this - Is Jesus Smart? When one lists "the smartest people who have lived" it is a good bet that Jesus would not make the top 100 on most people's list - even those who are devoted to him as his followers. Why is this? Should a man who began a movement two thousand years ago, which continues to this day, which is growing, which encompasses two thirds of the world's people, be considered a man of no intellect? Let's think for a moment the impact of our own lives on others. What will this world be like two thousand years from now because of your life? Or even the lives of those we consider great and influential today - Clinton, Chirac, Annan, Bush, Putin, Elvis, or Shrek. What will there legacy be on the world of tomorrow? Perhaps a few will be mentioned in some annals of human affairs, but will there be a devoted following of billions? As much as I want my own life to count, to see something wonderful and good come from my own short existence on earth, I realize that it will be nothing to compare with that of Jesus. So, what do we make of this Jesus? I think I must agree that he must have been smart. In fact, I think I would agree, that he is the smartest who ever lived. And through in the fact that he claimed and demonstrated himself to be God incarnate seals the deal for me. I will learn from Jesus and only watch Shrek on DVD.

Props to philosopher Dallas Willard for thinking about and reminding us about the smartness of the man from Nazareth.

Out

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INVERSION The act of being turned inside out or upside down

To become a disciple of Jesus is to accept now that inversion of human distinctions that will sooner or later be forced upon everyone by the irresistible reality of his kingdom. How must we think of him to see the inversion from our present viewpoint? We must, simply, accept that he is the best and smartest man who ever lived in this world, that he is even now "the prince of the kings of the earth" (Rev 1:5). Then we heartily join his cosmic conspiracy to overcome evil with good.
— Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

A hope and prayer to see a generation turned upside down to be made rightside up. A depth of understanding, a breadth of love, a well of compassion, availability for service. May this be said of us.

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July 24th was a great day rolled up into a great weekend. Kasey and I had the privilege (I always mispell that word) of doing a couple's challenge to two young people at their wedding this past weekend. One of the guys who was involved with our ministry at Va Tech for five years married a great girl - the cultural event in Louisa Kentucky this summer. The weekend was a great time to get away with my own bride for some great time in the car, some good down time away from our girls, and to serve together encouraging this young couple as they start their journey togehter. I was very proud of these two in the way they planned their wedding. It was extremely well done, but not excessive. It was nice for all the guests, but yet humble. There was a gentle and real spirit about the whole weekend - and the Lord was greatly honored. Nothing gives me more hope about the future than to see young people deeply comitted to the Lord and one another. I think they have gifts from God that will help them be on the positive side of marriage statistics.

It was an honor to be a part of this wedding - a rich sense of satisfaction seeing the fruit of our ministry in a fine young man.

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The first followers of Jesus of Nazareth had an interesting question to ask of their teacher. In Luke 11:1 we find a few men asking of Jesus "Lord, teach us to pray". What prompted the question is of great interest to me as I seek to go spend time in prayer today amidst many a hurried distraction.

First we notice in this particular instance Jesus himself had been off for a time of prayer himself. Upon his completion of this time the question arose "Lord teach us to pray. The disciples were prompted to desire prayer as they saw their leader in the practice of prayer with his Heavenly Father. An interesting ending to their petition is also found in the Luke passage. "Lord, teach us to pray as John has taught his disciples." The followers of Jesus had seen something in the followers of John the Baptist - they were people of prayer and were following the pattern and instruction of their leader.

I know myself that when I am around a people of prayer and certainly leaders that pray, my heart too is quickened with a desire to commune with God in that inner sanctum of prayer. Today, my life is full of wonderful things. Two little ones up and going this morning, a wonderful wife and friend, a head splitting with ideas for a new ministry, yet I find my heart asking the same question of my teacher and leader. "Jesus, today, this day, teach me to pray."

• Father, hallowed be your name. Lord, may I fear and reverence you today - for the glorious name that represents to us your beautiful essence and character.
• Your kingdom come. Lord, let me desire your kingdom, your rule, your mastery of my life and your world. May I be filled with a hope of your coming and a desire to lead others in a kingdom way
• Give us each day our daily bread - Lord, as I am living in a land of abundance, where the streams of your blessing overflow, let me live a life of daily dependence on your grace and goodness. Let us not forsake our God in the land of plenty, and be willing and joyful in sharing what we have.
• and forgive us our sins, Lord, let me not become near-sighted and blind, never forgetting your gracious forgiveness of my many sins
• for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Lord, let the roots of bitterness depart from my heart and let me forgive others as you have forgiven me
  
• And lead us not into temptation - Lord, keep me close to you so that temptation will be discarded when it arrives, keep my feet from the path of the wicked.

Oh Lord, let me say to my soul today - Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Nehemiah 9:5

Out...

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Had a great time jogging this morning listening to one of the top evangelical hip-hop groups newest record. During one of the tracks (Forever) I had a funny thought. The lyrics of this rap song are expressing the same Christian sentiment about this world as the great theologian and philosopher of the early church, St. Augustine of Hippo.

If, then, we be asked what the city of God has to say upon these points, and, in the first place, what its opinion regarding the supreme good and evil is, it will reply that life eternal is the supreme good, death eternal the supreme evil, and that to obtain the one and escape the other we must live rightly.

Augustine wrote at length on that which is considered the supreme good of mankind. His conclusion was that this life's pleasures, be it food, friends, health, sexual pleasure, etc. all can be lost against one's will. If our highest happiness were to be found in the things of this life, man is doomed to misery and indeed will live without hope. Augustine therefore deduced that the Summum bonum must be that which can be both loved and possessed without being taken from one against his will. In other words, to Augustine, the greatest good for us is not in this life but with God in the next. You may read some for yourself from his classic work, The City of God -Augustine, City of God Book XIX

Now, The Cross Movement has some similar advice for modern, urban ears.

So if I'm hit by a car, or taken out by disease, you ain't got enough bullets in your gun Man, please, We're gonna live forever! ...I'm not living for this life, cause I'm living for the next one, I'm living for the next one!
Forever, Holy Culture, Cross Movement Records, 2003.

So, if man would find joy, happiness, and the supreme good of his own soul, he would be wise to look to that which is eternal and not rife with transience. As the apostle reminds us:

2 Cor 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

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