BillLaMorey.com

I'm thankful for...

During this weekend's message I issued a challenge to help us learn to be content. It was based on the idea that (contrary to most marketing) it is not accumulation (of things we think we want or need), but appreciation (for what we already have) that leads to contentment. The challenge was for each of us to put our wishlists (things we desire and tend to focus on) on hold and create a new list this week; a "gratitude list."

Here is the start of my list of things I'm thankful for:

• God (who always seems to have a more abundant supply of grace and mercy than my plentiful supply of sin & stupidity)
• My wife Rebecca (She is far more than I deserve; I recommend that you marry someone above your class too if at all possible)
• My daughters Emily and Lily (they make me laugh daily and teach me so much)
• My new daughter who I will meet on March 13th (or around that time)
• The people in our church (I know every pastor says they have the best congregation, but they're all wrong apparently...)
• My extended family (wish I could see you more!)
• My friends (got to see this one and this one in NYC at a conference last week)
• My job (I LOVE what I do!)
• The home warranty we signed up for 2 months ago (2 nights ago  a pipe burst that flooded our kitchen and sent potato peels overflowing out of our bathroom upstairs...the warranty covered a repair that would have cost 3-years of payments for the warranty!)

I could go on and on...but what are you thankful for?!?

Happy New Year

We all want to have a Happy New Year. Most of us are reflecting on the past year to learn the lessons from behind as we we look forward and plan for what's ahead. We'll make goals, resolutions, vows, promises, etc. That's all good and necessary, but as I sought to write something meaningful today, I was just brought back to a simple profound truth written in the bible a few thousand years ago (it's the memory verse for our church this week):

"Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord;" (Lamentations 3:40, NKJV)

It may seem weird to write about having a happy new year from a book called lamentations, but here is the point. The word blessed in the bible means happy. If we want to be truly happy people we need to be blessed people. If we want to be blessed people, we need to be obedient people (Deut. 28:1-2). If want to be obedient people, we need to follow the instructions of Lamentations 3:40.

So, having said that, Happy New Year!

Calvary House

Calvary House is the ministry God used to literally save my life. After the 3rd attempt, I finally graduated successfully in 1995. 4 & 1/2 years later I returned as the Director (the inmates were truly running the asylum) in which capacity I served for the next 3 years. So, it is no overstatement to say that this ministry will always have a huge place in my heart!

Yesterday, I caught wind that Calvary House was doing an outreach to the needy neighborhood that  the ministry is located in. (One of the keys to the success of the ministry is to break selfishness by moving the residents from passively receiving ministry to actively ministering to others [come to think of it, most Christians in general could benefit from going through Calvary House!]).

The event was amazing. Men in the ministry and volunteers from Calvary Ft. Lauderdale gave away food, drinks and almost 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to all the locals. They also shared a gospel presentation and many prayed to receive Christ.

It is a good feeling when you know that you left an organization better than you found it (by God's grace I believe that was the case with my tenure). But it is also a good feeling to know that the guy that came after you has taken the organization from where you left it, to an all new place of excellence. Such is the case with John Ramseur; he is doing an amazing job with this amazing ministry!

There is so much more I want to say, but this post is too long already. So if you want to catch a small flavor of what this ministry is all about, watch this powerful video that Calvary Ft. Lauderdale put together to showcase Calvary House.

Reinventing Myself

Rebecca and I were in Naples yesterday and we had the opportunity to check out an outlet mega-mall called Miromar. While there I spent some time in Wilson's Leather working on a new look for myself. I actually think it works well for me, but I am not certain how it would play out in new England. What do you think?

Bible Action Figures

Have you heard about the latest bible action figures going on sale at Wal-Mart?

I'm really not sure how I feel about them. I'm not opposed to them per se, but I just don't understand the full rationale for replacing regular toys with them. "Daddy, did you get me Optimus Prime for my birthday?" "No son, but I did get you this David doll...and he transformed from a lowly shepherd to the king of Israel!"

We certainly can't claim that the bible toys are less violent. What does the packaging read? For Goliath?: "A giant of a toy equipped with a talking feature to taunt the Israelis and removable head and carrying case for your David figure to carry after his defeat." For Samson?: "This holy muscle man comes with a jawbone to smite Philistine armies and gougeable eyes?"

I know, as a father it will be tough when my children get older and want to play with the latest bizarre McFarlane action figure (maybe famous world dictators by then?). I have always LOVED action figures, particularly the Mego figures from the 70s...but I'm still processing how I feel about these.

Maybe it's difficult for me because of past negative associations. In my darkened days I used to frequent Christian bookstores with Brian Warner (aka Marilyn Manson) to scoop up Jesus figures which were then converted to Charles Manson figures...yes, I've repented!

Momentary summary: I guess these would make a fine addition to a child's toy collection, but not the sole component (unless perhaps Mego manufactured them).

God lookin' out!

I've been meaning to join the local Chamber of Commerce for some time now. This afternoon, I finally decided to head over and sign up (perhaps 2 years too late, but who's counting?). Anyway, the woman who helped me told me how lucky I was because today was the last day before the annual business guides are sent off for proofing and printing, thus Calvary Fellowship can be in the guide this fall instead of fall 2008 (which would have happened if I went tomorrow). I smiled because I knew luck was not the force behind the promptings for me to head down there today.

Sometimes its the little things that make you smile!

Happy (Belated) Samuel Huntington Day!

People who discover my middle named always ask the same question..."Why?"

My middle name is Huntington and it was given as a reminder of my lineage to Samuel Huntington. Who is he? Well, he signed the Declaration of Independence and he was the first real president of the U.S. in a manner of speaking.

Anyway, thanks to Governor Rell, he is finally getting some props! Anyone have a fife and drum I can borrow?

7 Years

7/15/07 -7 years ago this day I married Rebecca; the love of my life. Let's face it, I hit the jackpot!

You can feel safe allowing your children to read my blog

Apparently my blog is rated G:

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:               

• dead (1x)

I read about this rating system from Dan Kimball, whose blog is rated R.

Find out your rating here.

7/7/7

Well this unique date of 7/7/7 is here today (777 representing the # of God and the Trinity). In honor of this special day, I'd like to give props to the band that brought awareness of 777 to me by posting this video of them in their heyday (yes, there was a time when this was VERY cool!).

btw: Over 20 years ago I caught a Stryper bible at one of their shows (yeah, I know you're envious).