The Contest is Over! We drew 3 random numbers (b/c 2 of them had only one name)  from random.org: 65 & 5 & 7 (see random number images below)

Winners are: @eyewitnessphoto, @danalynbyers, @JKeith198, @rhettburns

CONGRATULATIONS! THANKS FOR PLAYING!

Love,
catalyst

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We have 4 free copies of Mentor Like Jesus from Regi Campbell.

Regi has been successfully mentoring men for several years and has seen his efforts grow exponentially. In his book, Regi shares 11 principles he's learned from his years of experience for creating a fruitful and effective mentoring program.

Although Regi's didn't have churches in mind when he started mentoring, churches in the Atlanta area have picked-up his program and found it to be a powerful tool for discipling believers.

Andy Stanley says of this book "I'm sure you've seen a dozen or more curricula designed to help individuals become better at a variety of things. Mentor Like Jesus is not a curriculum. It's not a program. I'm tempted to call it the beginning of a movement. ... I've had the opportunity to watch Mentor Like Jesus take shape over time. What began as an idea has now evolved into a well-thought-through, transferable, multiplication strategy. I've seen the results firsthand."

Win Mentor Like Jesus! Post your twitter name in the comments below, and the twitter name of the person that reffered you to this post. Make sure you follow @CatalystLeader to win.

Friday at 5pm PST, I will 2 random comments below and give away 4 books!

GO!

According to a recent study from The Barna Group, 22% of self-described "Christians" strongly agreed that Jesus sinned when He lived on Earth.

Additionaly, 40% strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” And 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.”

Where is this unorthodox, unbiblical understanding of theology coming from? Why do these people call themselves Christians? Is this a problem?

Apparently the understanding of what it means to be "Christian" has become amazingly dilluted and confused. I sometimes wonder if it would'nt be easier to start over with the same biblical beliefs, but a new brand name, like "Jesusian" or "Loveist."

A little known fact: the Patagonian Toothfish was very unpopular in America until it changed it's name to "Chilean Sea Bass" and consequently is so popular that it's being illegally overfished.

Church Tech Matters.com has some interesting church tech suggestions in their post "5 Cool Things to Try this Weekend at Your Church!"

This includes ideas such as using UStream.tv to live stream your worship services on your website, and using microblogging to make available the sermon notes for your congregation.

I love the heart of @LosWhit! He's honest, obedient, compassionate, innovative, cares for the lost. He endeavors to evaluate what he's doing and to always improve. Here's part of a recent blog post he wrote:

I wonder.
I wonder how many people, if we actually asked them, keep coming back to our churches because of our stellar Sunday productions.
I wonder if we ask the right people.
I wonder if we stopped, for a while, if people would keep coming.
I wonder if we turned off the lights and pulled the band if more people would come or go.
I wonder if we flipped the teaching time and music time, if it would matter.
I wonder if first time visitors are more concerned with what happens outside the auditorium than what happens inside it.
I wonder if the things we’ve rebelled against are the exact things we’ve become.
I wonder if church buildings will ever be used more than 2% a week.
I wonder if there has been more energy put into our Easter weekend services than our neighbors on the left and right.

Go here to read the whole thing...

Are you evaluating what you're doing and trying to improve?

if so, what have you improved this last year?