BillLaMorey.com

Off to the Purpose Driven Community Gathering

I'm heading off to CA today for this "stealth conference."

In the words of Nelson Searcy, "Growing churches are led by growing leaders." So I'm really looking forward to this time of being, stretched, challenged and encouraged. As a pastor, you don't get to sit and experience church like everyone else each Sunday...a lot flows out. So its nice to have occasional opportunities like this to be poured back into.

Plus, I'm looking forward to checking out California; I've never been. Technically, I was there on a flight layover, but  that doesn't really count! So I'm excited to check out "the Promised Land" as some of my friends have referred to it.

My StrengthsFinder results

In conjunction with beginning the "Living Your Strengths" book, I just took Gallup's StrengthsFinder test (each book in the series comes with a free code to take the online test). According to them my top 5 signature themes (in order) are:

• Strategic
• Input
• Intellection
• Futuristic
• Command

Download bills_signature_themes.pdf if you wish to check out the descriptions of these. Hmmm...I am now contemplating how accurate this is. Well, I guess I'll need to read the book and discover more of what I apparently am and am not! 

Bible Challenge Forum

For those taking the Bible Challenge with us, Sheldon has set up an online forum via Yahoo where we can discuss what we're learning, ask questions, post observations, encourage one another, etc.

You're welcome to join us; Click here if you wish to participate.

The Bible Challenge

One of the habits that our church developed (or reinforced) during "The 40 Days of Purpose" campaign was a daily devotional time of 10-15 minutes. Not wanting to waste a newly developed habit (especially since we just stressed the importance of reading the bible in our "Good Book" series), we challenged everyone to continue their daily reading time by reading the Bible. So this Sunday we distributed a plan to read through the Bible or through the New Testament in 1 year. Many took the challenge and began the Bible Challenge this past Sunday.
If you'd like to join us, here are the plans (you can easily catch up on the past few days over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend)!

Here they are:
Download bible_challenge.pdf
Download nt_challenge.pdf

I'm moving to OHIO

As Calvary Fellowship grows so does the number of tasks, meetings and expectations. I've realized that in many ways that I am unable to accomplish all I need to the way things presently are...thus I'm moving to OHIO. Relax...not the geographical state, but the mental state. Maybe you've heard the old adage OHIO: Only Handle It Once. That is the alternative to picking things up, examining them, getting overwhelmed, putting them down, picking them up later, forgetting about them, remembering them at the last minute, and then...well, you get the picture.

So keep me in prayer. In order to keep up the pace I've got to create greater time-management systems and structure in my life. We all get 24 hours in a day, but it seems like some people get so much more accomplished than others. And the Bible tells us to redeem the time. So, my goal is to maximize my effectiveness in life by implementing a better system of deciding what I will do, what I won't do, and when I will do what I need to do. How will I accomplish this? Stay tuned...

Unpacking

Catalyst ended yesterday and I'm still unpacking. Not my luggage (I'm still in GA) or the mountain of free samples, brochures and promo items, but I'm still unpacking the fountain of input I have received the over the past few days.

Rather than give a summation of the conference or a recap of what each speaker said, I hope to share how I was personally moved by everything, AND what I am going to do about it...but I have to finish unpacking first.

Let me just say for now, If you were unable to attend, I encourage you to do yourself a favor and get the CDs or DVDs. It was a great year for Catalyst!

Influences and Habits

My friend Dan Orama who planted a church almost one year ago in Lonnnggg Island sent me an e-mail yesterday that posed two questions to me. I figured they were blog-worthy as I'd love to hear some other responses on them:

1. What 3-5 books have made the greatest impact on your leadership?

• "Spiritual Leadership" by Oswald Sanders.  I read this classic as I took over the reigns of Calvary House (a residential discipleship ministry for men with substance abuse problems) while on staff at Calvary Fort Lauderdale. I knew I needed help, and this book made a huge impact on me
• "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels. I started this book as I began as the Pastor of Administration at Calvary Fellowship (Miami Lakes). Bill is a voice you HAVE to listen to if you care about leadership in general, but especially in matters that pertain to the church
• "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell. Another classic. However, I do take one BIG exception with this book. Maxwell attributes Carter's downfall to the "Law of Timing" and I say it's clearly due to the 22nd Law of Leadership (not in the book) called the "Law of Incompetence!"
• The Bible. OK, I cheated since I just listed 66 books. But seriously, I can't even lead my own life without this book, nevermind anything else. The Bible constantly challenges me, and reshapes my thinking on EVERYTHING!

#2 What daily learning or self-improvement habits do you have?

The only 2 I can claim daily are prayer and reading the Bible. Here are a few I do weekly.

• Read a book (I'm not Bob Franquiz, I don't finish a book each week, but I am always in the process of reading one)
• Read blogs - Experience is the best teacher, but it shouldn't always be your own!
• Listen to Podcasts
• Read "trade" journals such as REV or Leadership Journal
• Go to church with my wife (since we are kind of too busy DOING church on Sunday mornings). We listen to a DVD of Andy Stanley or another favorite communicator and personal change
• Listen to other teachers -This is more from the technical standpoint to improve my own communication skills

Anyone else want to take a stab at it?