For every SECRET NAME book you preorder* on Amazon you get 10 extra chances to win from the prize list.  Once you place your order just forward me your Amazon receipt with an email (info “at” yoursecretname.com {replace “at” with @ symbol}, used to fight spam) subject line “Book Order.”

We’re actually letting you stuff the ballot box. Besides we want all your friends to discover their Secret Names too. 

* Pre-order Price Guarantee! Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

Check out the prize list below.

Grand Prizes

• Apple iPad from the generous people at MinisterSearch
• 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

Sweet Prizes

• 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
• 1 Free Online Seminary Course (Audit $250 value) from Ashland Theological Seminary
• 3 Copies of Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife from Marla Taviano
• 5 Subscriptions to Rethink Monthly from Bo Lane
• 5 Copies of Faithbook of Jesus from Renee Johnson (Devo Diva)
•  1 hour of consulting with AspireOne from marketing genius Dawn Nicole Baldwin
• 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
• 5 Copies of Peppermint-Filled Pinatas from Eric Bryant
• 5 Subscriptions of Collide Magazine from Scott McClellan 
• 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: Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History & Culture from Zondervan
• The Bible Experience: Dramatic Audio Bible by Today’s Biggest Stars: from Zondervan
• NIV Stewardship Study Bible from Zondervan
• Drops Like Stars from Rob Bell and Zondervan
• Gift Pack (including hoodie) from John Ward of  Pray Dream Go and GBIM
• 5 Copies of The Wounding Embrace from Brett Ullman

1. Go here to watch Your Secret Name video.
2. If it speaks to your heart, then click the SHARE button at the bottom of the video (to the right of “favorites”).
3. Choose your preferred social media (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.) in order to share the video with your friends and family (or embed it in your blog).

That’s it. Simple, hey?

I’ve already heard from many people , people who love God or hate God, or cut, or are depressed. They’ve shared that the video has helped them take one step closer to freedom in Jesus.

Hope to see you on the launch 3.15.10. RSVP here if you haven’t. Gabe just finished designing the Secret Name test today. We have developed many tools for your journey.

Thanks for your help!

The video below as well for your convenience.

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’m excited for several reasons.

Not only is the subject matter intriguing, but his chosen genre of literature is long overdue.

Lewis and Tolkein made their dent.

Our generation needs more writers who tackle allegory.

Check out Joe below.

I’m looking forward to diving into his book.

In this work of allegorical fantasy, author Joe Boyd takes us on a pilgrimage to a land of two kingdoms, but only one true King. An ancient land, where children never grow old. A living land, where foundations grow in trees and rivers sing and breathe. But also a dying land, where the darkness of a false prince threatens to swallow everything in its shadow.

Enter the adventure with Tommy, a child of the Great King, as he and his friends accept the challenge to live as grown men and women in the Lower Kingdom—where hope is hidden, vision is clouded, and pride twists truth into a beautiful yet deadly deception.

Hence the title of my sermon on Sunday.

Bittersweet.

The sermon in a sentence?

The pleasure, price, and pattern of sin.

Comes from 1 Corinthians 5.

Turns out Paul is just as ticked at the church that tolerates the guy sleeping with his step-mom, as he is the immoral guy.

Why?

Their tolerance of his sin is reflective of their own sin.

Crazy thought hey?

A sermon on sin.

See you Sunday or on the Podcast.

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.

I arrived at the Cleveland clinic with mixed feelings.

I was told my mentor and friend was very sick.

A little over a month ago I sat in my office talking and laughing with David Plaster,  lead pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus,  and former Vice President of Grace College and Theological Seminary. He agreed to ordain me this Spring. A few weeks later he was in the hospital with a life-threatening disease. His loving family is sharing daily updates with us on this site.  

I had already prepared myself for the worst. Anyone who knows Dave is familiar with his incredibly sharp intellect. He taught me and my fellow classmates most of what we know when it comes to theology. Standing at his bedside yesterday Dave couldn’t say or do much.

Still, I was touched by the strength of his family. I felt it natural to tell them of Dave’s investment in me at a very dark time in my life. In fact, he is very instrumental as to where I am today. Although Dave couldn’t talk, as I told my stories he cried.

I prayed for he and the family and he cried some more. I told him the whole city of Columbus was praying for him.  

His supportive wife fed him his lunch and he even drank the unpleasant drink the nurses provided him. I’ll tell you though- he let us know it tasted nasty.

The whole way back I thought about how Dave has mattered to me:

• 1998 – Dave heard I wanted to be a military chaplain with the CMA denomination and so he asked me to come to his office. He told me that I should be a Grace Brethren Chaplain and stay on for Seminary at Grace.
• 1998 - After I agreed (you can’t tell Dave no) he began to mentor me on a weekly basis.
• 1998 - Because I was going to be a military chaplain Dave told me I needed to do an M.Div. in counseling not an M.Div. in pastoral studies. Turns out it was a good choice because a year later I met my wife Kelly in marrigage and family counseling class.
• 1999 – Dave bought me my first NASB Bible as a college graduation present. (see pic)
• 1999 - Dave did some digging and found a pretty significant scholarship so that I could attend seminary and remain debt free.
• 1999 – Dave got me my first “pastor” job, an intern under his friend Galen Wiley at Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church.
• 1999 – Dave prepared me for my license exam as a pastor.
• 2000 - Dave baptized me (see pic).
• 2000 – Dave counseled me for marriage, cracked the code on how to do taxes as a pastor, and was involved in my wedding.
• 2000 – When I was senior pastor at Tiosa Brethren Church, Dave helped me do my first funeral when someone in my church died suddenly.
• 2000 – Dave filled my pulpit so I could go on my honeymoon.
•  2001 – Dave helped me prepare my flock at Tiosa for my transition to my new church (Grace Church).
• 2003 – Dave edited my first book using his theolgical grid.
• 2003 – Dave stayed at our house as he taught at the Grace Seminary site in Columbus. He couldn’t eat much of our food because we like sugar a whole bunch.
• 2005 – Dave agreed to be part of my Advisory Board for my Doctorate program.
• 2006 – Dave helped me defend my dissertation.
• 2008 – Dave began mentoring me again as he returned to Columbus while filling his new post as lead pastor.
• 2008 – Dave joined my monthly NCO small group and blessed us younger pastors with his wise counsel.
• 2009 – Dave and I co-taught a seminar at the Equip 09 conference.
• 2010 – Dave began to prepare me for ordination.

This September my new book YOUR SECRET NAME releases. In it I tell my story. Naturally, Dave Plaster, fills several pages including this one: 

 I started the first semester of graduate school apprehensively, knowing all too well the horror stories about the difficulty of the seminary’s counseling track. My mentor Dr. Plaster, who also served as the Vice President, encouraged this track because in his mind it would better prepare me to be a military chaplain. I followed his recommendation, but at the moment all it felt like was twice the work.

Under the seminary banner I had Greek and Hebrew classes to confound my brain, while under the counseling banner I had Addictive Disorders and Abnormal Psychology classes to challenge my soul.

Relatively new into the semester while sitting in one of my counseling classes I saw a stunning girl who not only took my breath away, but also my attention. She walked in extremely late—and extremely confidently—and I promptly tuned out the rest of the class, much more interested in her than the lecture.

Dave played a major role in me discovering MY SECRET NAME. Amidst my bout with depression and self-injury, when a professor failed me from a counseling class for my confession of cutting, Dave stepped in and overruled his decision. At a time when hardly anyone believed in me Dave stepped forward and defended me.

I’ve dedicated each of my books to a loved one. My first one ( The Journey Towards Relevance) to Kelly. My next one (Called) to Keegan. My 3rd one (The Fine Line) to Isabel. And my upcoming one (Your Secret Name) to Addison.

Yesterday I told my mentor and friend I was going to jointly dedicate Your Secret Name to him as well. I did tell him though that Addison looks much more beautiful than him. 

He laughed and then he cried. 

We are praying for you and your family Dave.

God knows when he needs you more than we do. 

(Keep track of Dave here)

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?

New name. (The Recovering Pharisee died)

New intro. (Thanks Emily, Daniel Rudd and Stock 20)

New tools.  (So you don’t event have to download it.)

Simply click this link and you can listen in a player.

Or go to the iTunes page if you prefer.

I’ll warn you. There are a few secrets in the 50th episode. 

Hence, the episode title = 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.