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

I got a call on Friday from a man in tears.

He was a complete stranger.

He wanted to talk to a pastor.

His only question was:

Does God love me?

He doubted whether or not he was saved.

It all centered on his addiction to pornography.

Because of his disobedience, he couldn’t understand how the Father could still love him as his child.

I reflected upon my own son and even though he disobeys me, I still love him.

He doesn’t lose his position as “son” based on his perfomance.

This morning I will give this message to my church.

The audio (podcast) should be up around 2 PM ET.

May you rest as your realize that – HE DOES LOVE YOU.

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>

I am / am not patient.

I am / am not kind.

I am / am not jealous.

I do/ do not brag.

I am/ am not arrogant.

I am / am not rude.

I do / do not seek its own.

I am  / am not easily angered.

I do / do not keep a record of wrongs.

I do / do not rejoice in unrighteousness.

I do / do not rejoice in truth.

Did you pass the test?

(Taken from my sermon outline for Sunday. Title = He loves me? He loves me not?)

Are you a “bad” lover?

Discover Your Secret Name.

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.

3.15.2010

The day you’ll get full access to the anticipated video, sample chapter, & a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

More than that you’ll have the ability to take the Secret Name test which will shed light on God’s Secret Name for you.

RSVP now to save your spot at the Free Online Launch Party.

Tell your friends by sharing the event via facebook, twitter, etc. (Click this link for easy share buttons).

Let the countdown begin.

New prizes will be listed regularly.

For starters how about a trip to California or Chicago thanks to Catalyst?

* You must RSVP in order to be eligible to win over $6,000 worth of prizes.

Get ready.

Everything will change.