How many of you subscribe to e-zines? Do you have the time to read them? I, for one, have subscribed to several, yet don’t find much time to keep up with them. However, sometimes when I do read them, I find some real nuggets of information. For example today, I discovered two items that may also be of interest to you:

From Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, Page 1

In Europe, God Is (Not) Dead

Christian groups are growing, faith is more public.
Is supply-side economics the explanation?

By ANDREW HIGGINS
July 14, 2007; Page A1

Stockholm

Late last year, a Swedish hotel guest named Stefan Jansson grew upset when he found a Bible in his room. He fired off an email to the hotel chain, saying the presence of the Christian scriptures was “boring and stupefying.” This spring, the Scandic chain, Scandinavia’s biggest, ordered the New Testaments removed.

In a country where barely 3% of the population goes to church each week, the affair seemed just another step in Christian Europe’s long march toward secularism. Then something odd happened: A national furor erupted. . .

To read the whole article, go to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118434936941966055.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone.

I find the above article to be quite intriquing. For those of you who have gone to Europe to visit the emerging church, you’ll especially enjoy the article.

Another article that I found very interesting is on understanding how to introduce change in your congregation. Those of you with the gift of being a “prophet” may not always be received very well when you tell your church leaders what you “see”. The following article gives some very helpful tips for motivating people to change.

Leader’s Insight: Your Church’s DNA
Each church has unique make-up that’s essential to its life, health, and future.
by Kevin G. Ford, guest columnist

Aurora Advent Christian Church, located just outside of Chicago, was stuck. The church was dynamic in many ways. The leaders were talented and highly motivated, but as a unit, something was wrong.

The first things I noticed were the signs—in the office, in the gymnasium, on the doors to the bathroom. The place was plastered with “do not’s.”

• Do not bounce balls on the wall.
• Do not wear black-soled shoes.
• Do not leave the lights on.
• Do not sit here.

Each notice was signed: “The Trustees.”

The meetings I attended were formal, focused on procedure and rules. Yet everyone seemed so friendly, warm, and passionate about ministry. When I took a direct, left-brain approach and told leaders they were overly focused on the business of the church, it did not go well. . .

To read more of this article, go to:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln70723.html

I hope you enjoy these!

Jeff Glass

Oh, how I wish I had time to do more reading! I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit around alot. I learn better in seminar environments. Martin asked in a prior post what books I’m reading. Here’s a list of some of the books I’ve read and want to find time to read:

Living Your Strengths, Albert L. Winseman, Donald O. Clifton, and Curt Liesveld, Gallup Press, 2003-2004

Last week, I attended the faith-based Strength’s Coaching training at the Gallup headquarters in Omaha. It was one of the most energizing things I’ve done. I’ve been coaching people through my church now for 4 years in helping them understand their strengths for leadership and marriage (pre-marital counseling). This has been a good experience. Many young adults seem to like this approach to understanding how God has wired them much better than the traditional spiritual gifts approach. I’m recommending this book for the Annual Conference Bookstore.

If you’ve done the Gallup Strengths Finder survey, please let me know about your impressions!

The Relevant Church: A New vision for Communities of faith, Edited by Jennifer Ashley with Mike Bickle, et. al., Relevantbooks, 2005

This is a book with each chapter written by an emergent church pastor. It looks good. I picked it up at the National Pastor’s Convention.

Vital Signs: A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness, Dan R. Dick, Discipleship Resources, 2007 <just off the press!>

I attended a meeting at the Discipleship headquarters of the United Methodist Church this Spring. We were handed a copy of this book before it was sent-out to book stores. The author studied over 700 United Methodist congregations. From his study, he divides them into four categories: decaying, dystrophic, retrogressive and vital. I’ve not read the whole book, but it looks VERY interesting and helpful!

Web-Empower Your Church: unleashing the power of internet ministry, Mark M. Stephenson, Abingdon Press, 2006

For any of you who have websites or thinking of creating one, this is a MUST have! For more information about this book and the author go to http://webempoweredchurch.com/index.php?id=379. Here you’ll find a video-streaming presentation about the topic.

They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations, Dan Kimball, Zondervan, 2007

I like any book by Dan Kimball. More than any other emergent author, I like the practicality of the information he shares.

The following are books I have, but haven’t taken time to really look at:

Just Walk Across the Room:Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith, Bill Hybells, Zondervan Press, 2006

The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation can Act on Its Gifts, Luther K. Snow, Alban, 2004

Systems-Sensitive Leadership: empowering diversity without polarizing the church, Michael C. Armour and Don Browning, College Press, 2000

Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures, Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger, Baker Academic, 2005

The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with Grande Passion, Leonard Sweet, Waterbook, 2007

The Blogging Church: Sharing the Storyof Your Church through Blogs, Brian Baily with Terry Storch, Jossey-Bass, 2007

Blessings to you!

Jeff Glass