Whatever your thoughts on global warming, this video is interesting and makes us want to check-out 350.org. Something about it is compelling - is it the absence of words and heavy use of images? Is it the global community thing? Is it the use of a measurable goal? Is it the speed, or flashy graphics?

Why does it make me want to go to 350.org? Will I do anything once I get there?
Are there any applications for the Church? I wonder what Shane Hipps would say about this.

Happy 4th of July, you Catalysts! Enjoy the links of the week:

+ Mark Driscoll is using Text Messaging a lot more in their weekend services.

+ A new blog reader webapp with more tools and functionality! :: Regator

+ Matt :: the new multi-account twitter tweeter, built in 4 DAYS!

+ For artistic inspiration, check out the new glorius beauty from Graphic Exchange

+ And, for more inspiration, Behance has an absolutely amazing (and large) gallery of amazingness!

+ T R U S T T H E K D U :: interesting branding from this international design collective. See their "showcase"

Enjoy your day of Independance!
But don't forget that we're actually all dependant on each other, as members of the body:

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Eph. 4:16

In yesterday's NY Times, John Broder did a story on the efforts of Barack Obama to reach out to evangelical voters entitled "Obama Courting Evangelicals Once Loyal to Bush".

This story is on the crest of a wave of more stories from the media of Obama's outreach strategies to evangelicals.  The media is testing well placed assertions (more on this momentarily) that evangelicals, and particularly younger evangelicals, are open to Obama and his message.

Two key points to be aware of:

1.Obama's campaign has strategically hired evangelical political operatives with grass roots experience and is wisely embracing the role of faith in the public square while openly reaching out to evangelicals.

2.These operatives have effectively sold the media on the idea that Obama is winning and can win over large blocks of evangelical voters.

Here is my read: Don't believe the hype!

Today's evangelical voters can be grouped into 3 general categories:
Conservative, Progressive & Liberal.

The liberals will vote for Obama and the vast majority of conservatives will hold their nose and vote for McCain.  The progressives will be the block to watch and I predict that initially many will be and are attracted to Obama, but when they get to know his policies better, the majority will stay home as opposed to choosing the lesser of two evils.

Finally, here is the real story:
A large portion of conservative evangelicals have sold their soul to the Republican Party because of a "lesser of 2 evils" mentality and the temptation of access & influence.

Here is the good news - a growing number of younger evangelicals are focused on creating solutions to moral problems such as poverty & hunger, genocide, disease, human trafficking, creation care & human rights in addition to an ongoing commitment to the sanctity of human life and family values.

If this movement were to unify in non partisan action it could create a wave of real and sustainable change that would force the political parties & legislators to jump on board and thus dramatically change political action in this country.

What are your political concerns?

Ken Coleman is a political guru, the voice of the Catalyst Podcast and world renowned blogger at Life Is Sport

Check out these 2 new submissions for the Catalyst Conference Artists | Together Project! This project is a collaborative project, open to all artists that desire to share what they imagine, when they hear the word "together."  Here are the official guidelines, we are accepting submissions until September 1. To view other artist submissions click here.

Krista Colvin of Cove Church, submitted both of these paintings as an expression of what she imagines of the word together. Here is her explanation:

I did the first painting first with a Global mindset. It is a mixed media piece using acrylics, watercolors, newspaper, magazine, tissue paper, and a sharpie. The second piece is more of a community – togetherness thought. I took the green learning journey at “Q” where we spent a good bit of time walking around north central park. The man playing the bongo and the boy with the scooter were inspired by pictures that I took in the park and the rest just fell together. They do not have faces because it is more about wholeness than independence. It is a mixed media piece using acrylics, watercolors, newpaper, magazine, tissue paper and a sharpie.