The Book and its Topic
Jesus Drives Me Crazy! By Leonard Sweet describes a new kind of life. The kind of life that someone will experience if they start seriously following Jesus.
It is a crazy life. A NUTS life.
Dr. Sweet writes, “There is the world according to NUTS… where NUTS is an acronym for Never Underestimate The Spirit. The wisdom of Jesus is a NUTSwisdom.”
So, if this review seems a little crazy, I have a good excuse.
Leonard Sweet takes four words, and claims that they represent the wisdom of Jesus. These four words are Be There With All. Each of these gets some special treatment in the book. A whole chapter to be precise…As you read, and your understanding of this simple phrase increases beyond where you thought possible, you will get a new, enhanced outlook on your mission and the love you need to offer to this broken world. Len shares his unmatched insights, made on some remarkable research and quite literally takes the fire in your heart up a few degrees.
BookDisciple Power Quote
This one might just shock you. It is right at the core of being a crazy disciple that works according to the NUTS wisdom of Jesus. Here goes...
“Jesus put it like this: Care for the poor, or go to hell.” – Jesus Drives Me Crazy! p.119.
Okay, today I’m going to cheat, and do something I normally wouldn’t do. To celebrate the NUTS wisdom inside me, here is a second power quote, one that provides more details on the book’s message:
“The essence of a NUTS discipleship that can turn the world right-side up is found in the profound simplicity of four words: Be There With All. The talismanic quality of these four less-is-more words becomes more apparent with every passing prayer.These four simple words are enough to fill a life. They are enough to live day by day. They are enough to die for at any moment. Master these four words, Be There With All, and your discipleship will be righteous, your church will become a commons where normies can gather, and your life will be transformed into an incarnational, relational nutscape overnight . Plus, you’ll drive the world crazy.” – Jesus Drives Me Crazy! p. 33 (bold formatting mine).
So, how does it read?
Did I mention that Leonard Sweet is more intelligent than I am? Not!? Well, I meant to...
Less than a week before writing this review, I met the man. I am still very excited about this, I just had to tell you. I attended Len’s first ever African Advance at Tanda Tula game lodge in the Timbavati region of the the Greater Kruger National Park.
Dr. Leonard Sweet. Fancy that... Not someone every boy in Africa gets to meet!
Two things stood out profoundly when speaking to Len. He is a genius (I also felt more aware of the fact that I am not, while in his presence).
The second thing? We’ll get to that in the next section. Let’s get back to the point here...
Jesus Drives Me Crazy! is a thin book at 138 pages. It isn’t a pushover though. Bring some brainpower, because you will be made to think hard about the simple truths of being a follower of Jesus.
I am not as sharp (or as well versed in English) as this legendary Jesus tracker, so for me there were patches of tough going. But, I have made it through the book convinced that it will be solidly in my top five books for many years, and even more convinced that I want and need to read it again.
There is just so much in there.
What did this book mean to me personally?
Sometimes I try and show my love for my neighbors through some act of kindness or some kind words. Other times, I donate money to alleviate a need. Real love, according to the NUTS wisdom, is even more demanding. It is to ‘Be There With All’ and then to ‘Never Underestimate The Spirit’.
By just being with other people in good relationships, we can be all God needs us to be, and achieve his purposes by relying on the Spirit to spontaneously guide us in such situations.
When I met Len Sweet I realised that he is one of the most approachable icons in God’s mission (out of those I have met personally). He truly realizes the power of being there with all, and is willing to give a piece of himself, and his precious time, to help someone who is where he might have many, many moons ago.
Why do I tell you this? Because I often wonder how many authors live the message they preach in their books. In Leonard Sweet I have met at least one that does. He lives the life described in Jesus Drives Me Crazy!
Len, thank you for the inspiration and love! Keep up the good work.
Conclusion
I want to wish all future books well. They will struggle to topple the importance of the message of Jesus Drives Me Crazy! in my mind. As Len says, it is worth dying for, and actually worth living for.
Sweet takes a simple yet profound statement, dissects it and builds it up as only he can, and then sends you away with a sense of awe and a conviction to try even harder in God’s mission.
I have two words for you – read it.
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