Reading is key to staying in the know and being on the edge of what's next. The Catalyst staff is currently reading and recommends: 1) Freakonomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 2) The Spark, Lyn Heward and John U. Bacon 3) The Rise of the Creative Class, by Richard Florida and 4) The Ten Faces of Innovation, by Tom Kelley and Jonathan Littman. Tell us about what you are reading right now?

We are currently wrapping up production on the next Catalyst GroupZine. Like Volume 1, this issue takes readers through the elements of the Catalyst Leader; however this time we explore them more deeply through the filter of culture. Doing ministry is not just about performing a service for a churched people, or communicating the Gospel to the non-churched people - it's about becoming an organic part of the culture itself. Life is multi-dimensional; therefore, the Great Commission can only be fulfilled as we are fully engaged in all dimensions of people?s lives. Featuring the insights of leading voices, The Culture Issue brings together a unique collection of resources from Andy Stanley, Donald Miller, Lauren F. Winner, Eugene Peterson, Shane Claiborne, and others. Look for the pre-release at the Catalyst Conference in October.

What is going on in the minds of 13-25 year-olds? We came across this fascinating interview with Kathleen Gasperini, the co-founder and senior vice president of Label Networks, and Guy Kawasaki, CEO of garage.com and former chief evangelist for Apple Computer, that discusses current trends among young people. Click here to view the whole conversation. Kathleen's research provides insight into the influence of the next generation on the world. How does your organization appreciate and serve the current youth culture? How does/can the church learn from these ideas to speak into the lives of young people?