America is suffering right now. Millions have been affected by the hurricanes this year, as well as millions of others struggling through the recession.

Fortunately, The Church is uniquely positioned and commissioned (TM) to help those who are suffering!

That's why Mission Year is partnering with other innovative leaders to mobilize The Church and meet some acute needs in Houston, this March 9-20th.

"Mission Year is bringing together the nation to come behind Hurricanes Gustav and Ike by gutting and building houses during the day and learning from chosen mentors each night. Topics will include serving the underserved, compassion, social justice, loneliness, multi-ethnicity, creation care, culture, consumerism and community. We will be partnering with the churches of Houston to do a small part in bringing restoration to the 4 million people influenced across Houston and Galveston. We are looking for groups to join us."

The list of leaders include:

• Leroy Barber President, Mission Year
• Jamie Tworkowski Founder, To Write Love on Her Arms
• Nikki Toyama-Szeto Program Director, Urbana
• Jarrett Stevens Leader, 7:22
• Chris Heuertz Exectutive Director, Word Made Flesh
• Shane Claiborne Founder, The Simple Way
• Chris Seay Pastor, Ecclesia
• Jeff Shinabarger Founder, Gift Card Giver

Find-out more details at OriginalCity.org

God may be using the difficult times we are experiencing now to draw people to Himself. Let's partner with Him and share His love with our broken nation.

I read the first chapter of Luke this morning looking for something new. I've practically memorized the second chapter, with the inn, the shepherds, the angels, and whatnot, but I'm trying to read the Bible as if for the first time. I'm looking for new thoughts and perspectives, and today it was how Mary responded to Gabriel's news of her pregnancy. Here's how it might have gone down for me:

Me: Super. So my parents are going to disown me. I'll have nowhere to live. The people in Nazareth will think Joseph and I have been doing the nasty this whole time. Joseph will think I've cheated on him. I'll never be able to go to the Temple again. In fact, I may not be able to go anywhere since I'll be killed as soon as the first person finds out I'm pregnant. And even if they don't kill me, I'll be ostracized for the rest of my life, living as a wanderer in the mountains. How am I going to feed and care for a baby while I'm living homeless in the mountains? It's not like I could explain this to people - who has ever heard of someone getting pregnant by the Holy Spirit? Who would believe me?

Mary: I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! [Luke 1:48, The Message]

Mary had a perspective that allowed her to immediately see beyond her own anxiety and go straight to the mind of God. Maybe that's where we should be - nestled so close to God's heart that fear can't even take hold. It doesn't have a chance next to His overwhelming sovereignty and love.

Tokbox.com is the new video chat/call/conference free video. Everyone's been twittering about it (see these twitter search results).

So we just created a tokbox account - www.tokbox.com/Catalyst

Let's have a video chat conference today at 12 Noon EST, 9am PST.

1. Go to tokbox.com right now and sign-up - it's the easiest sign-up ever, in the world. Ever. Seriously. (so do it).

2. be friends with us: Catalyst and we'll add you.

3. We'll do a conference call with everyone, or however this works, at Noon today. Topic: "Who are you? What are you doing?"

Our buddies over at The Plow, came-up with an AWESOMELY CREATIVE campaign to share Jesus over the Holiday.

Be a Catalyst Rebelutionary! Download the pdf, and hang these up around your hood.

See more details at HolidayBlood.com

I know you're creative too! What's your creative contribution?

After stating these opinions:

"1. Small Groups are a reaction from the local church to the lack of organic community within their walls.
2. The actual church “building” creates a limit as to how large the church can grow.
3. The actual church “building” dictates how most churches do ministry.
4. Most people who attend church do so with little if any of their true lives being shared.
5. Relational Depth can only be achieved my the willingness of the loudest person in the room to silence themselves.
...
I look at the above opinions on the American Church and see those issues not existing online."

Los Whit asks What would a focused church that exists solely online look like?

What do you think about those issues? What do you think about online church?