Saturday, December 24, 2005

Christmas Week


This week I've had an up and down battle with focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus has to be the focus of Christmas ask my friend Kevin Wright. Without Jesus why bother? But as a waitor it makes it hard to focus on Jesus when you can barely afford Christmas presents. Now lets be honest it's tough to my mom or dad a nice Christmas gift, thanking them for all they have done for me, when people tip a $1.15 on a $68 check. And you know the $2.13 an hour just doesn't give me that empugh to put my best foot forward while Christmas shopping.

Sorry that was a bit of a tipping rant that i've been wanting to get out for a while. But I did get my report card this week. Now this was my hardest semester and I was probably underserving of the grades I got, but I did work very hard! I've never been known as a great student nor do I feel like i'm the smartest person at IWU infact being called a heritic by Dr. Bounds (many times in Theology I, II, and Christology) just shows I have some work to do on my theology as well. But this semester all A's and B's. This is exciting for me because I don't do this. It's been since high school since i've been able to do this. So thank you all for who prayed for me over the semester, just so you know it helped!!!

"And so this is Christmas..." a day away and the hope is building for little kids to see Santa or at least the effects of Santa coming to their house. Shot i'm looking forward to see what Santa is going to bring me. But for just a moment, if you can, take this moment and lets read the Christmas story together. and just reflect on what Jesus gave up so that we may have life. Without Christmas as Kevin said (you can still read it it's up above) why even bother? Praise God for Christmas! Read with me:
LUKE 2:4-20
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

posted by Micah Dormann @ 8:43 AM 0 comments

Thursday, December 15, 2005

I'll Be Home for Christmas


Although this may not really be what I drove last night it sure does seem like that's what it looked like! Last night during the long one hour drive I enjoyed driving through a steady snow shower. I love driving in the snow it makes driving a little more challenging! In fact it's almost this little battle between you and the slick roads. My goal not to crash.

It's funny though I wish that I put that much serisousness in my spritial life. I'm just thinking this as I right. I can't help but view myself like Edmond from the Cronicles of Narnia. I feel like there are many times where I'm the traitor in the group (the body of Christ). Even more so when I'm home. At IWU it's a lot easier to stay with Jesus at school than at home. First full day at home and I feel like a traitor already. Now to be honest with myself that is a very humbling thought. To know that I've hurt the heart of the Father since i've been home.
So what? Ok good Micah messed up...why should it matter? I'm making a decleration and a challenge for Christmas: Be Careful How You Drive! Driving in the snow we know is slick and it takes more time and more of our concetration to keep from Crashing! SO this Christmas season, I'm writing this out maybe not for you to take and apply but mostly for me, to your time, concentrate on the goal of Jesus. Interact with the very person that left heaven, giving up his rights so that we may have Life, eternal Life, with God. So My friends Be Careful How You Drive, and focus on Jesus.

posted by Micah Dormann @ 12:23 PM 0 comments

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Winter


So, it's cold out...Actually very cold out...When I went to church this and when I got to my car I had to scrape like an inch of ice of the window. Now I don't really like this aspect of winter. Don't get me wrong I love winter, I love snow, I love almost everything about winter except the work that it involves. Ok in the winter you have to drive slower, you have to work harder such as shovel the drive way, and scrape ice of your windsheild. I leadership is like this to. It's got it's great moments in it. We get to see our plans work out, we get to see people fall in love with Jesus. We get to have a blast with those who are working with us. We get to grow and learn new exciting ideas. But there is that other part of leadership that most people don't see. The part that noone likes to do just like shoveling snow, or scraping windows we have things in leadership that are like that. Look at discipline issues. I hate repromanding people, I hate doing the work that I'm not good at but there are just times I have to do it. Dr. Whitesel talks about in his class we need to hire people who are good at the things we're not, but what if we can't? what if we dont' have the resources? For those who are already in ministry what do you do with those skills you aren't great at? do you have people helping you? For those who aren't yet in ministry, what are skills your bad at? What do you see being the biggest leadership struggle for you? How can you prepare yourself for it?
P.S. On a lighter note: i love christmas, and thanks for all those who are Standing firm in the faith and that are preparing the way for those of us to come!

posted by Micah Dormann @ 5:24 PM 3 comments