Focus

So tomorrow I'm heading up to Camp of the Master for our churches youth group yearly camp weekend. This will be my 10th year there, speaking all but twice. Our theme this year is 'The 2008 Olympiad' to go along with this years summer Olympics in Beijing, China. I will be speaking about various 'spiritual disciplines' that we as believers must have in order to more effectively 'run the race' that Our Father has laid out for us.

The first, and most important, 'spiritual discipline' we will look at will be 'focus.' I do not doubt that many Buddhist's monks, Islamic clerics, Tribal Witchdoctors, Jewish Rabbis and Hindu Brahmins are very disciplined in their spiritual fields. Many of them meditate, pray, read and/or study their sacred writings, fast, teach, care, and discipline themselves for the sake of their god, their religion, or their ideas. The weakness or strength of these practices lies not in the practice itself. Rather, the strength or weakness lies in the focus of the mind, the heart, and the soul during each discipline. It would be extremely difficult to walk in the light if one's meditations were on darkness. If you focus on evil, where will you drift. A person paddling a kayak learns very quickly the importance of focus. If you look on way or the other, pretty soon you are way off course. Focus is also the reason you'll often hear on our church bus, "Micah, watch the road!"

In I Cor. 9:24-27 Paul talks about running, but not as with out aim and boxing, but not as with not as beating the air. If one wants to train correctly, focus is important. If you want to run a sub 3 hour marathon, you have to train with that in mind. You can't just run when you feel like it, whenever you feel like it. If you want to win the gold at the Olympics in the marathon you have to focus even more. It must almost become your singular focus. If you want to be the heavy weight champion of the world, you must watch what you eat. You must run, lift, jump and hit. You must learn to lay blows on the body bag with power not just a lazy jab into the air. A few years ago, Carrie Tollefson from Dawson MN was training for the Olympics in Athens Greece. In her runner's log, published in the paper, she spoke often of her training schedule. She trained twice a day! None of this go out for a run in the morning or evening and call it good enough stuff. She had grueling workouts twice a day. That's focus and it's the same kind of focus we need in our 'spiritual disciplines.' If we want the prize, we must focus correctly.

So, I'm ready to compete. I'm ready to focus my heart, my mind, my soul. I'm ready for the training. I'm ready to discipline myself. What should be my focus? Should I focus on world peace? What about the security of my homeland? Should my mind rest upon the teachings of Joseph Smith or Buddha? Should I empty my mind and seek a mystical enlightenment? The answer to each of these is of course no. We are told by the author of Hebrews, in 5 simple words, what the object of our focus should be. In Hebrews 12:2 he states, "fix our eyes on Jesus." Jesus is our focus. He is the author of our faith as well as its protector. Can we, without the vine, accomplish anything, let alone press on for the prize? He, because of the joy set before Him (His goal?) endured the cross, looking down upon the shame and sat down at the right hand of God because He accomplished the goal. The author of Hebrews has already told us in Chapter 3 verse 1 to consider Jesus and now he tells us again in 12:3. Jesus, endured this hostility, and the mere focusing upon Jesus and what He has done for us, on our behalf, should quicken us and strengthen us for the race. Is this fixing our eyes on Jesus, this focus not the same as waiting upon the Lord?

Scripture is replete with the motivation for Godly living, i.e. the Gospel. Titus 3:8 tells us the motivation to do good works comes from a confident (and I would say constant) proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel. If we forget the Gospel, if we forget what our Savior has done for us, if we fail to remember from what we were saved and the cost it took to get us home, then we will often forget to train with purpose if we even train at all.

Don't run with out aim. Don't box by beating the air. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race with endurance. Get rid of the sin that trips you up. Cast of the baggage that's slowing you down and run. Run with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. FOCUS! Spiritual Discipline #1

Let your vote send a message!

A GRAND IDEA (in my opinion)
I hope everyone reading this understands the electoral college, at least a little bit, you know the people (electors) that we elect to represent us and select the president. Its not exactly democratic, in that he/she with the most general public votes wins. Anyway, let me explain what happened in MN last presidential election cycle. George Bush one the Presidency 286 to 252 according to the electoral college. 10 of those votes for John Kerry came from MN. MN only has 10 electoral votes to give and John Kerry got all 100% of them even though he only had 51.1% of the vote. George Bush received 0% of MN's 10 electoral votes even though he received 47.6 percent of the public vote. (There were about 100,000 votes between the two).

One could say that all of those who voted for George Bush 'wasted' their vote because none of their votes counted in the end. George Bush didn't stand a chance of winning MN. As a matter of fact, one could say that every presidential, general election vote for a republican in the last 50 years (except for the roughly 900,000 cast in 1972 for Richard Nixon because he carried the the state that year) was a 'wasted' vote.

(Side note -- Let me clear that I don't believe there is such a thing as a wasted vote. Every vote counts for something, its just not always counted for in the electoral college. I also strongly support the electoral college because it is just one more way in which the constitution limits power and authority by providing for checks and balances between the populace and the states.)

So, now on to 2008. Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain have clear differences on some issues yet similarities on others. I'm not writing to address those issues, their strengths, weaknesses, differences, nor similarities. The purpose of this writing is to address the ever leftward march of the Republican Party and the opportunity to send a clear message in your presidential vote with out it effecting the overall results. Please hear me out.

Current MN polls show Mr. Obama leading in MN anywhere from 8 to 15 percent. The 'chances' of John McCain winning MN are slim to none. Therefore, it seems apparent that 100% of the 10 electoral votes granted to MN will be alloted to Obama. That means that those who would vote Republican in the Presidential election this fall (in MN) could use their vote strategically to send the message to the National Republican Committee and Party and say,

"HEY, our vote matters! We're tired of you assuming that we have to vote Republican because your our best shot. You adhere to the constitution and our platform and stop this pandering to the left for votes or risk loosing us as a voting block."

There are two other viable parties (on the right) that have a nationwide presence. The first and most well known is the Libertarian Party and the second is the Constitutional Party. Each of these one could say are more Republican than the Republicans and actually made up primarily of former Republicans. Watch the polls this fall. If it's clear that McCain doesn't stand a chance in your state, vote your conscience, for the candidate that is most in line with your thinking about government, liberty, justice, and the constitution, no matter what party they belong to. Or you could write in someones name even. The point being, that Republicans could no longer take your vote for granted.

"Always vote for principle,
though you may vote alone,
and you may cherish the sweetest reflection
that your vote is never lost."
John Quincy Adams

Thanks for considering my 'GRAND' idea. Hope you see the logic in it. It makes a lot of sense to me.

Some important reading

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

and now for some less important reading. (micah's meanderings)
Ecc. says there is a time for war and a time for peace. Jesus said to give to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's. Paul spoke of Governments baring the sword for a reason. In II Kings (I believe) we learn of the crimes committed by the head of a state - taking what was not rightfully their own (actually we can see that in David as well). I was talking the other day with an acquaintance of mine about the need for Christians to me more involved in political discussion and debate, not merely voting republican. And although he agreed with the later statement, he disagreed quite strongly with the first. He believed our political problems were the result of unsaved and corrupt politicians and our responsibility was to proclaim the Gospel, not debate politics. Now I would agree that we have a very many corrupt individual 'working for us' in DC and many state capitols AND that our primary responsibility is to teach that which is of first importance, the gospel as the power of God for those who believe, through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. However, i would say that to neglect to teach our churches and children the whole of scripture would be a disservice to our proclamation of the Gospel. How is an individual, saved and growing in God's grace, and called into public political service to act or govern? How am a I as a private citizen to give Caesar his due if i don't know what is his and what is God's? When is it the time for peace talks and when is it a time to shun peace talks and wage war? These are all important questions that the Bible answers. Let us be students of the whole counsel of God because He is involved in all the affairs of men.

Jus Ad Bellum (Part 4)

As you can probably tell by the title, this is my fourth entry about the Justice of War. The last post primarily dealt with the spheres of authority and how some nations view it as within their realm of authority to exercise control or dominion over other countries. The objection I often get to this is that Saddam was a terrible man, did great evil to his people and meant for great evil in the area and the world. In this post, I would like to offer further clarification of MY OPINION (which I happen to believe is based on scripture)

I liken the above scenario with Saddam to a more domestic situation (and objectors tend to agree with this likening). Lets us suppose my neighbor and his wife have not been getting along. Then let us further suppose that I see bruises on her face someday and she confides to me that she has been beaten by her husband. What moral authority do I have in this situation? Do I have the moral authority to stop it and keep it from happening again? If so, what measures are appropriate? Do I have the moral authority to punish the man?

Scripture clearly teaches that we are to care for the oppressed and to help them and love them. As a neighbor, I have a moral (and probably legal) obligation to see that this situation is rectified, that the woman is protected, the man is punished, and that it the situation does not repeat itself. Justice demands it and justice must be served. BUT, Justice will only be served justly. If I attempt to serve justice in an unjust manner, then justice will be demanded for me.

If I went into the man's house and gave him bruises in the same way and manner he gave them to his wife, that would be clearly wrong. Why? Paul tells us in Romans, that God has given the sword (and perhaps we can also add the whip) not to men as individuals, but to those who govern. The governing authorities must intervene in the lives of their 'subjects' to protect and punish as is their responsibility. God has granted that authority to the state/nation/governor. It is my responsibility to assist them and notify them and even to hold them accountable.

Now, how does this relate to sovereign nation/states? When a dictator or regime or political system of a nation/state commits wrong or evil upon its own citizenry, what is the responsibility of the neighboring states/nations (in our small world, its an easy case to say all nations neighbor each other)? In the domestic situation described in the previous paragraphs, the neighbor had the responsibility to care for the oppressed and assist her in her plight. The neighbor also had the responsibility of entrusting the matter to the governing authorities. So also in this case. The difference, however, is that the governing authority here is the One who is sovereign over all creation, the One who establishes nations and their boundaries and their governing authorities. The neighboring countries must offer shelter to the oppressed and then entrust the matter to the vengeance of God.

Let me conclude with this small note. When the authorities of a sovereign nation commit a crime against another nation or its citizenry, then it is the responsibility of the victimized nation to retaliate and punish and perhaps even conquer the guilty country. The extent of the punishment must be fair and proportional, worth the money and lives/blood spent, and must be carried out by the proper channels of authority. This however is another subject for another time (known as Jus In Bello as opposed to Jus Ad Bellum).

The point of this post, and the previous, was to show from a biblical perspective the unjustness of the current doctrine of foreign policy of the United States, i.e. that of intervening in the internal affairs of other nations. It is not about the justness of the current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. We did not go to those countries, as some claim, to settle their own injustices, nor would it be right for us to have done so. Our reason for going to Iraq was altogether different, but I disagree with that reason also and will blog about it another time.

Busy

I've been planning on blogging for quite some time now about several different things and finally have the time and can't remember what i was going to say :S

i guess i'm getting old. I will share some exciting news. The Driscolls are now debt free. I paid off the house Monday! :) Now where going to use all that extra money to fix the house we own.

I am also excited about starting to get back into shape. I went running for the first time in 7 or 8 months yesterday. I believe that to be the longest 'no run' spell of my life. I ran two miles in 14:31. i'm happy with it, but i'm sore today. i over stretched and strained a back muscle. another hint at the old thing.

Also, i should be receiving my new (to me) road bike in the next hour or so. hope to get into shape on that thing as well.

This has been an unusual 2 weeks for me. i met with my dad about two weeks ago and we talked and he gave me this simple little prayer that i believe God has been answering positively in my life. That is, "Jesus, help me to live out the fruit of the Spirit who lives in me with the fruit of 'self'-control. needless to say, its been a much better two weeks as far as my self discipline has gone. i've been reading some history, theology, and/or missiology almost everyday and my prayer time has been more intimate and growing as well.

So that's my life lately. Had a great Good Friday/Easter weekend with my church family and my extended (in-laws) family. Driving track bus often and planning for an olympic themed Camp of the Master this year.

i hope i can blog more later
Micah

The Blah Blog

Yesterday, i got hit with a bug that took me out. today, its still hanging around but i think i got it licked. My wife says she's been feeling some of the effects of this for the past couple of days as well. Enoch has seen the most damage from it, actually loosing his breakfast Tuesday AM. Hopefully we're all finishing up with it now. JT has a wrestling tourney tomorrow and i hope he's well enough to go. He missed the last one because he was sick with a cold and there is only one more yet this year. Soo.... i feel blah, hence the title of this post.

article viii

Article VIII of the EFCA statement of faith states that we believe "that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. Here is the first draft of my ordination/licensing paper about this point.

The word church has several meanings in the English language. On the other hand, in scripture there is only one meaning, that is ‘called out ones for the purpose of assembling.’ The use of this word sometimes is different in its scope, but not in its meaning. In the larger sense of the word, church refers to the body of believers in Jesus Christ, not subject to a particular location (Matt. 16:18, Acts 9:31, Col. 1:24). The Church consists of all those that are born again (Tit. 3:5), being redeemed of God (Acts 20:28), saved from His wrath by their savior Jesus (Eph. 5:23). The True Church is all believers, everywhere. This understanding has often been called the true Church, the universal Church, the catholic Church, or the worldwide Church.

In scripture, there are several metaphors used to describe The Church, however, two are primary. The first it is the Body of Christ and the second is the Bride of Christ. The Church, as The Body, belongs to the Head, which is Christ. He, Christ, being the Head, has authority and control over the Body, His Church and the Body has its whole being through the Head (Eph. 4:16, 5:23-24). This is also true for The Church as The Bride of Christ. As the husband is the head of the wife, so Christ is the Head of the Church. He loved the Church and gave Himself up for her on the cross. The Church then is subject to Him as a wife is to her husband (Eph. 5:22-32).

The True Church is one with each other and with Christ. He, as the Head, has called us out from the darkness to assemble together in His marvelous light (I Pet. 2:9). The unity of the Church is spiritual (I Pet. 2:5), yet real, and only because of Him. There is only one body, one Spirit and one Lord. He prayed for this (John 17:22) and presumably still does (Rom. 8:34).

The True Church is central to God’s plan. It is the tool by which God has chosen to make known His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms (Eph. 3:10). It is the pillar and support of truth (I Tim. 3:15). In Colossians one, Paul lists attributes of the supremacy of Jesus Christ. One item in this list is that Jesus is head of the body, the church (Col. 1:18). The Church is the means by which God wants missionaries commissioned (Acts 13:1-14:28), leaders trained (II Tim. 2:2, Tit. 2:1-5), believers encouraged (Heb. 10:25), and instructed in sound doctrine (I Tim. 4:13, Tit. 1:9).

The early church was devoted to the apostles teaching (i.e. the scriptures, both old and new) and to fellowship (the sharing of material things as well as spiritual encouragement), to the breaking of bread (the celebration of the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer (Acts 2:42). The Church is God’s temple (I Cor. 3:16), consisting of individual living stones being built up into a spiritual house (I Pet. 2:5). Jesus said that God’s house should be called a house of prayer (Mark 11:17). As the church is central to God’s plan, prayer, scripture, fellowship and communion must be central to the Church.

Quote on authority

Government Authority Limited by God

"Because all things do not fall under the authority that God gave to government, it has limited powers and cannot interfere with those things which belong to the church, the family or the individual (I would add 'or other nations' here). A candidate who does not understand God's ultimate jurisdiction over government will tend to allow government to infringe upon the realms of the church, the family and even the individual, resulting in tyranny." Judge Roy Moore

Friendship

Recently, actually, just two days ago, i had one of my best friends for the last 9.5 years tell me he was through with me and never wanted to talk to me, see me, or hear from me again. I was completely shocked. I admit, I wasn't a very good friend lately and last time I spoke to him, it was kinda out of turn, but i didn't expect this. I apologized and said i wish i could take it back, but this friend reiterated that we were through.

This got me to thinking. I have had several other friends lose friends like this and now i understand a bit of what they are going through. Hopefully, that person will forgive me someday and we can continue our friendship. Meanwhile, i guess, i'll keep praying for that fried of mine, not so much that we'll be friends again (although i would love that) but that he will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He's a great guy, would give you the shirt of his back a thousand times and he's in a really rough time and place, and i didn't care enough for him during this time. I only occasionally left him notes and never wrote a letter. Not until this happened did i realize my mistake and how hard it was for this person right now. I talked to a family member who explained a lot and made me realize, that part of being a Christian, is not just loving the people in front of you, but also reaching out to those who are far and being disciplined in contacting them regularly. That's probably what the apostle Paul did with Timothy and Titus and in the rest of his letters. He maintained communication and kept encouraging them.

Father, help me to focus on You and not be so self oriented. May I love as You have loved. May the knowledge of Your Son Jesus overcome me and my friends.
Amen

Jus Ad Bellum (Part 3)

This is the third time i have addressed this subject this month I believe. But i have more information or scripture actually that i wish to put forward. You can find my first entry here and my second entry here.

One of the biggest objections I receive, and one of the most common misunderstandings of the doctrine of just war, is the idea of unjust dictators/regimes like Saddam Hussein or President Robert Mugabe or President Omar al-Bashir or Kim Jong-il and what moral responsibility we have as the United States (the most powerful nation on earth) to unseat them or cause regime change. (Notice, I didn't say the 'greatest' nation on earth, although there may be a case to make for this as a separate issue, but the most powerful, which is relatively undisputed).

I finally found some beneficial reading on this subject, not online, however, but on paper of all things, and from a great Bible teacher and scholar of the real sorts, the Rev. Dr. Ron Merryman.

The question about moral responsibility can really be brought back to the question of authority. The question would then be phrased, "Do we, the United States of America, have the authority to say who can govern other nations, what territory those nations can govern, and what system or style of government they can have? Can any nation dictate to any other nation these things?

The history of Israel in the Old Testament gives some background on this. First, we notice that in order for Israel to become a nation, God planned (not just allowed) for them to be subject in Egypt. He then also caused their own destruction by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. One does not have to read too carefully to realize that neither of these rulers where just or righteous, yet God used them to accomplish His purposes. From this we see that unjust rulers have their place, not that they are to be desired or sought after, but rather, God, in His sovereignty, appoints them for certain times, places and peoples to accomplish His purposes (2 Chronicles 36:20-21).

Did Nebuchadnezzar have the authority to take over the nation of Israel? Was his conquering and war with Israel just? The answer is no, but God used him to bring Israel to justice for neglecting the ordinances of God. This is where the real difficulty lies. Was it a just war or not? It brought justice to Israel, but through an unjust ruler/nation.

I believe the solution is fairly simple and easily discernible in scripture. Jesus said in Matthew 28 that all authority had been given to Him. He then delegates certain authorities to certain social spheres. For example, the family has the responsibility/authority for procreation and the up-bringing of children, their social, educational, spiritual, and physical formation. These areas of responsibility are often times usurped or re-delegated but nonetheless, belong to the family. Other areas of where authority is given are the church (I Tim 5:17), the individual (II Peter 1:6), and also the state or civil government (Romans 13).

These social institutions are limited in their authority because Jesus alone has been given all authority. When a nation starts to restrict a family on the education of their children, that nation is over stepping the bounds of its authority and the family can justly disobey (and face the consequences). It is unjust of the one autonomous institution to exercise power over another autonomous institution because by doing so, they are overstepping the bounds of their authority, which was given to them by God and did not originate with them.

An example of this would be if my neighbor came into my home and started saying i had to buy this car, and plant this tree, and paint my house this color, and pray this way. That neighbor is clearly overstepping the bounds of the authority God has given him of his own home by trying to do the same over mine. (One could address the idea of civil codes and laws here but that is not the point of this post). The same principle in the example above can be applied amongst sovereign nations. We as the US can not dictate to other nations their system of government, their boundaries, nor their leaders. We have tried to do this with money, calling it foreign aid, and guns, calling it a peace keeping mission. This is an arrogant position and an attempt at playing the part of God. It is not in our jurisdiction to tell the Iranians what to do and what not to do. We can talk to them. We can encourage them. We can trade with them. But we cannot boss them around like some playground bully and not expect retaliation. {As an aside, this is known in the political world as blowback. (Here is an excellent video describing that idea)}.

i think thats all for now, if anyone reads this and has comments for discussion, please post em.