Turn on a cable news show or pick up any newsmagazine, and you get the impression that Christian America is on its last legs. The once dominant faith is now facing rapidly declining church attendance, waning political influence, and an abysmal public perception. More than 76 percent of Americans self-identify as Christians, but many today are ashamed to carry the label.

While many Christians are bemoaning their faith's decline, Gabe Lyons is optimistic that Christianity's best days are yet to come. In the wake of the stunning research from his 2007 bestselling book, UnChristian, which revealed the growing disenchantment among young generations of Christians, Lyons has witnessed the beginnings of a new iteration of the faith. Marked by Lyons's brutal honesty and unvarying generosity, The Next Christians exposes a whole movement of Christians whom he calls "Restorers"—Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Orthodox, Pentecostals, Catholics, and others—who desire to be a force for restoration even as they proclaim the Christian Gospel. They want the label "Christian" to mean something good, intelligent, authentic, and beautiful.

The next generation of Christians, Lyons argues, embodies six revolutionary characteristics:

When Christians incorporate these characteristics throughout the fabric of their lives, a fresh yet orthodox way of being Christian springs forth. The death of yesterday becomes the birth of a great tomorrow. The end of an era becomes a beautiful new beginning. In this way, the end of Christian America becomes good news for Christians.

In The Next Christians, Lyons disarms readers by speaking as a candid observer rather than a cultural crusader. Where other people shout, Lyons speaks in a measured tone, offering helpful analysis of our current reality while casting a vision for how to be a Christian in a world disenchanted with the faith. Both a celebration and a reckoning, The Next Christians combines current-day models and relevant research with stories of a new generation of Christian leaders. If you are worried by what you see transpiring around you, this book will take you on a surprising social exploration in hopes that you too will restore confidence in your faith.

For more information, go to www.nextchristians.com.

This is a guest blog post from the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

From Christianity Today to Catalyst, the biblical call to "defend the cause of the fatherless" (Isaiah 1:17) is on hearts and minds of Christians in a way not seen in generations. A core trait of the early church is rising again as a priority. A recent New York Times article affirmed the same, describing, "...Evangelical Christian churches, which have increasingly taken up orphan care as a tenet of their faith..." That line wasn't a compliment or analysis, just a fact.

One measure of this groundswell is the national Orphan Sunday campaign. It's a grassroots effort built around locally-led activities in churches that highlight God's heart for the orphan and Christian response in adoption, foster care and global orphan care initiatives. Last year's inaugural Orphan Sunday campaign saw more than 1,500 churches participate. That number should top 2,000 churches in 2010 during the November 7th weekend.

The hub Orphan Sunday website provides free support materials, downloadable posters, event ideas and more at www.orphansunday.org. But each event is as unique as its organizer, from prayer gatherings and sermons on God's heart for the orphan to student-led fundraisers and foster family recruiting. Ultimately, local event organizers see Orphan Sunday as an chance to grow awareness and action for orphans in their church and beyond.

This year, Orphan Sunday weekend also will include the student-focused simulcast concert "Live from Colorado Springs!" featuring the Desperation Band and other artists. Churches will also be able to build events around a new Orphan Sunday DVD created by the "Cry of the Orphan" partners featuring music and reflections from Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Shultz, Francis Chan and others. 

More than 75 national organizations have joined forces in the Christian Alliance for Orphans to promote the 2010 campaign, from small nonprofits to household names like Bethany Christian Services, Buckner, Show Hope and Family Life.

"Orphan Sunday calls the Church to make the Gospel visible," said Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. "When Christians open their hearts and homes in adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry, we mirror the God who did the same for us."

This week we're praying for the Atlanta Catalyst Conference. Thousands of pastors & Christian leaders will be in Atlanta next week. These leaders represent hundreds of thousands of Christians as each one is leading & influencing anywhere from 10 to 10,000 believers in their churches. Therefore we are praying that God would do such a great work in our hearts at the conference that the ripples are felt across His Church in America. Join with us in praying that God will renew minds & transform lives at Catalyst.

Join the Catalyst Prayer Team

We're asking God to...
- renew our minds with truth
- transform our hearts by His Spirit
- break strongholds in our lives
- teach us how to lead & better follow & obey Him
- inspire & encourage & refresh us
- give us revelations
- give us vision for another year

I am always bothered by the person who continually just talks about themselves. The person who thinks that the world literally revolves around them. The person who constantly is worried about how things will affect them personally. They pretend to be interested in others, but really are only concerned with furthering their career or pushing their agenda.

It’s Not about You. Really. It’s Not.

So here are a few thoughts on combating the “You” paradigm:

1. Be Selfless. Being Selfless is Biblical. It’s Jesus focused, and Jesus centered. And it’s a lifestyle. You can’t just turn the selfless button on and off. You have to embrace it fully.

2. Fight against pride constantly. Pride is a Killer. It’s a collaboration killer. It will corrupt a team. And it will corrupt your own leadership growth. It is deadly when given the chance to flourish. Many times, pride is induced not by leaders, but more by those around them who feel a burden to make their leader so elevated that they end up furthering the problem instead of helping squelch it.

3. Be generous. This is a great way to combat your tendency to think that you own it, and everything is about you. Especially with money or possessions. When you sense in your life a strong pull towards hoarding, just intentionally be more generous than normal.

4. Honest friends. A crucial component in fighting the “You” paradigm. Surround yourself with friends who will be brutally honest, and will tell you when you are being selfish and too “you” focused. Us is way better than me or you.

Catalyst East 2010 will kickoff in exactly 14 days...2 WEEKS FROM TODAY! 

Our team is tirelessly working through final details with speakers, coordinating last minute logistics with artists, planning new and exciting experience moments for 13,000+ leaders, organizing operation details for all of it, and trying to remember to eat and sleep in the process.  :)  These two weeks traditionally turn into some of the craziest and most memorable weeks of the year - chaos, stress, fun, adrenaline, and anticipation!

But one thing we conintue to learn in ALL of this is that our efforts are entirely in vain if they operate independent of God and His heart for the church.  For some reason the Lord continues to allow Catalyst to have influence with leaders around the world, and in humble recognition of His sovereign favor we want to approach Catalyst East with an attitude of reverence and prayer.

Will you join us?

Will you pray with our team during the next 14 days...and throughout the Catalyst experience?

If would like to join our Catalyst Prayer Team please respond in the following two (2) ways:

1. email me, lv.hanson@catalystspace.com, so I can send you a detailed list of specific areas we are praying through...
2. AND leave a comment below with something that you would like to pray for right now...

It's an honor to join you in this journey...we can't wait to see what the Lord will do as we gather together with available and teachable hearts.

See you in two weeks!

LV