I’ve been teaching now for almost 15 years.

Nothing I’ve taught has ever reached out and grabbed people like YOUR SECRET NAME.

Last week in Indiana, while teaching a 3 hour counseling class at Grace, I set up a camera in a room.

I invited people to share on camera anything they wanted to regarding their Given Names or Secret Names.

I didn’t think anyone would be so bold.

At the end of the night I discovered that 4 people did.

Here is one of the videos.

I’m honored by the courage of this beautiful lady willing to share.

If you have the courage, I invite you to follow her lead, and make your own YouTube video.

First watch the Secret Name video and then identify the names you’ve been called.

Next shoot me an email with the YouTube url.

On the new Secret Name website we have a section called “Secret Stories.”

We’ll include your video as it will help others gain clarity discovering their own Secret Name.

The Secret Name test is nearly complete and we’re about to flip the switch.

Get ready.

I had a blast sharing YOUR SECRET NAME with some sweet people in Indiana over the last day and a half.

Gabe Taviano and I went back to Grace College and Seminary & The Brethren Church District Pastors gathering.

God had some amazing outcomes in mind.

YOUR SECRET NAME just made it on YouTube (below) and Amazon.

Homesick for a place you’ve never been.

Fumbling your way back to the One who made you.

A quote from YOUR SECRET NAME book and video.

17 days until the launch.

See you on the other side.

You excited to discover YOUR SECRET NAME?

“Secrets, Secrets, they’re not fun.”

“Secrets, Secrets, hurt someone.”

My brother, sisters, and I used to chant this little phrase as kids.

It was more of a joke than anything.

Forgive me, but it seemed as a relevant intro. for this post.

I wanted to let you “in” regarding 6 secrets about YOUR SECRET NAME.

1. 30 white stones hit the US mail service today. If you receive one, like Ben, post the pic, link to YOUR SECRET NAME, and you might just be glad you did.
2. I’ll be headed to Indiana next week in order to speak to 25 pastors. That evening I’ve arranged a special sneak peek SECRET NAME meeting for a select group of leaders. If you’re local, if you’re reading this, consider yourself invited.
3. 3 interviews about YOUR SECRET NAME hit the podcast world this week. I share a number of big secrets related to the project.
4. If you grab 5 or more of your friends to gather on the evening of 3.15.10 for YOUR SECRET NAME online  launch party I might just somehow get a pizza delivered to your door in your state. Keep reading the blog for more details this week.
5. The schedule of the party will make its way to the blog within the next 10 days.  You’ll want to sink your teeth into these details as it will payoff with big prizes.
6. Besides getting 10 more free chances to win the Apple iPad (and other great prizes) by inviting  some of your friends, (details at the bottom “COOL EXTRAS”), in the next 10 days I’ll let you in on 1 other way to get 10 more chances.

Am I believable?

Great question.

Tough question

I’ve come to realize lately that the answer to this question is the essence of excellent leadership.

If you wouldn’t follow yourself then you’ve got some major leadership gaps.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you might not be believable:

1. You lack courage.
2. You lack self-discipline.
3. You lack competence.
4. You lack trust.
5. You don’t know who you are.

Ironically, all of these gaps are addressed in the new book, YOUR SECRET NAME.

My firm belief is that most leaders don’t know who they are. And if they’re honest, they’re deathly afraid of their followers discovering this truth.

So my question for you is:

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

If not, are you ready to take a journey with me and discover YOUR SECRET NAME?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Revelation 2:17

The beginning of a book is kind of like the beginning of a movie.

It’s really important.

For setting the tone and setting the mood.

It’s more about feel than it’s about thought.

My guess is that the beginning of your favorite movie was critical.

However, my guess is also that many of you can’t remember the way it starts.

Brilliant.

The story drew you in as if you’d been there all along.

You remember the movie itself, but perhaps not the beginning.

The opening did what it was intended to do.

It wooed you into the story and you became part of it and you dwelled within it as if you’d lived there all along. 

You and the movie became one, and for a moment in time, that story was your reality.

My hope is that the beginning of YOUR SECRET NAME, sets the mood and the tone.

Here is the opening line and then the song from which it was taken.

Like I said months ago, this book is different for me, very different.

Over the next few months I will end up giving you the entire introduction and first chapter.

Brace yourself.

And now we’re grown-up orphans
That never knew their names.
—Goo Goo Dolls

Hundreds of you have made your RSVP to the party.

Smart move.

There’s still plenty of room.

The  smart people are now entered to win a Apple iPad from the generous people at MinisterSearch. Not to mention some other loot as well:

• 1 Catalyst West Ticket (in Orange County, California) from Catalyst
• 1 Catalyst One Day Ticket (in Chicago, Illinois) from Catalyst
• 1 Whiteboard Session Ticket (Virginia Beach) from Ben Arment
• $5000 off your church’s next Managed Staff Search with MinisterSearch
• 4 Lit Conference Tickets (Knoxville, Tennessee) from Chris Stephens
• 3 one hour consulting sessions with David Lyons, Chief Staffing Officer of MinisterSearch
• 5 Copies of Killing Cockroaches from Tony Morgan
• 5 Copies of Picking Dandelions from Sarah Cunningham
• 3 Copies of Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife from Marla Taviano
• 3 Months of Mentoring (Accountability Level) from Successful Christian Women
• 2 Copies of Changing your World One Diaper at a Time from Marla Taviano
• 5 Copies of So you Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom from Jill Hart
• Dramatized NIV Audio Bible from Zondervan
• NOOMA Group Collection 001: 001-004 from Rob Bell and Zondervan
• NOOMA Group Collection 002: 005-008: from Rob Bell and Zondervan
• Archaeological Study Bible: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture from Zondervan
• The Bible Experience: A Dramatic Audio Bible Performed by Today’s Biggest Stars: from Zondervan
• NIV Stewardship Study Bible from Zondervan
• Drops Like Stars from Rob Bell and Zondervan

About a dozen people have been able to see a sneak peek of Your Secret Name video (produced by Josh Franer, music “Stay” by Robbie Seay Band.)

I’ve heard reports of “how it touched you and led you to tears.”

Sixty of you have been praying and fasting since November 1, in order that God would use this project to free people.

Props to those who have caught the vision and invited all your friends with a few easy clicks. As a thank you, we’ve put your name in the prize box 10 extra times. For other who want to, just  send me an email, subject line “10 extra chances” after you do.) We want your friends to discover their secret names too. 

Others of you have taken advantage of my offer to link back to your website or blog or facebook by posting a link to YOUR SECRET NAME or by posting the super sweet widget see below. (BTW – The offer still stands for those who want to link.) I appreciate it:

• Michael Hammer
• Ben Wright
• Gabe Taviano
• Moderate Minds
• Rick Apperson
• Sam Gamgee
• Albert Ramirez
• Eddie Broussard

Over 300 people have already secured an RSVP for the YOUR SECRET NAME Online Launch Party.

Why not?

It’s free and besides an Apple iPad you can win over $6000 in prizes, not to mention discovering Your Secret Name.

Just added to the prize list…a ticket to Ben Arment’s Whiteboard Session.

Personally, as a communicator, I love whiteboards.

For me they represent creativity and potential.

Pending you win the ticket, in Ben’s own words, here’s what you can expect at the conference: 

I developed the Whiteboard Sessions as a way to talk about strategy in the church. The Gospel takes all, but even the Apostle Paul was strategic about the work of ministry. Whiteboard has a simple formula…

One Day.
8 Influential Leaders.
30 Minutes Each.

Hope you win. Don’t forget to tell your friends about Whiteboard and Your Secret Name.

Want to help get the word out about Your Secret Name Online Launch Party?

If you do, I’ll shoot some traffic your way.

Post this event on your blog, website, or facebook, and I’ll post a link to your site via my blog (once you do send me an email with subject line “please link” and include your correct link).

Copy and Paste this code for use on a webpage:<div style="width: 250px;"><iframe name="countdown" id="mgframe" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/countdown-widget?eid=565106248" width="250" height="460" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" ></iframe><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/r/ecount"><img src="http://www.eventbrite.com/s.gif" alt="Events" border="0"/></a></div> <p>

The sweet people at MinisterSearch want you to discover YOUR SECRET NAME so much they put some dollars behind their desire.

RSVP for the Free SECRET NAME Online Launch Party and you’re immediately automatically registered to win the new Apple iPad (A $500 value – Thanks MinisterSearch) and many other prizes.

After you RSVP with one simple click invite your entire address book and get extra chances to win.

We want you to stuff the ballot box so we’re giving you one extra chance per every 10 friends you invite.

More details here.