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Today is the day! I wrote about this a few weeks ago, but now you can officially go to Amazon.com and pre-order Collaborate: Family + Church.

I’m excited that I’ve been able to be a part of this special project, but I’m more excited that I get to read what so many others have written on the topic! Go online today and pre-order your copy!

I had the unique opportunity late last year to contribute to a special project that combines the best of Family Ministry pioneers with little ol’ me.  It’s bizarre to see my name mixed in with the other pros on this book.  People like this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and even this guy!

Collaborate: Family + Church

Ministers Label publishes one book per year that has significant impact on ministry organizational leadership. Collaborate: Family + Church by Michael Chanley is the 2010 release.  However, Michael Chanley in his infinite collaborative genius, has done something unique this time around.  Michael grabbed a group of 33 quite different authors to be a part of it all.  And, that’s the kicker.  It’s quite an eclectic group of 33.  There are youth pastors, senior pastors, children’s pastors, and those that do a little bit of both.  We all contribute one chapter on different ways to engage the families in your church. I’m so looking forward to reading what everyone has added to this cool project!

Stay tuned for more details soon…

Become a fan of the Collaborate page on Facebook.

It will be available from Amazon for pre-release on March 8th, and will officially release on Monday, April 26th (the first day of the Orange conference).

UPDATE:

I want to bring attention to the first comment.  If you’d like a free copy, and are willing to do a chapter review then contact Henry at www.elementalcm.com sign up to be a part of the Collaborate + Blog Tour.

Happy Valentines to my Valentine.

I met my wife when I was 17 years old and she was just 15 years old.  This Valentines day will be our 17th Valentines together.  Some Valentines have been dynamite celebrations of our love.  Other Valentines have been spent cleaning up sick kids, and me bringing home Sonic Cherry Limeades.  But every Valentine’s Day for the last 17 years I have been with the one person I most want to be with.

Every. Single. Time.

At sometime in the first year of your first child’s life you will forget.  Trust me, it happened to me.  This kid, and the two that followed in the next few years have irrevocably changed my life.  There is no doubt that I am forever altered by them being here with me, but I still forget.

What will you forget?  You will forget how much you prayed for them to be here.  I know I did.  My wife and I had prayed for years that we would have children, and then that they would be healthy.  Then when we finally get what we’ve prayed for…we forgot.

I watched the following video on my iPhone while hanging out in the living room.  At the key moment when the entire video gets serious, my 6 year old and 4 year old come running into the living room squealing and throwing toys in laughter.  I could barely make out the audio, but I didn’t need to.  It helped me remember.

Check out www.ninetynineballoons.com for more information about Eliot.