A New Church Metrics Paradigm - Instead of counting bodies in the pew, you could count the times members invited their friends, relatives and neighbors. "I want to suggest a measurement that I believe would bring many benefits. This key measurement stat is 'how many people have you asked to church this past week?' Why that question? ... [I]t does measure how enthusiastic the congregation is to want to talk about their church and what is going on there." The writer sees eight benefits resulting from stressing this type of measurement.

Americans Need a Counter-Script - Brian Zhand: "As Americans we are given a script from birth—it is our shared and assumed formula for the pursuit of happiness. Without even being aware of it we are scripted in the belief that our superior technology, our self-help programs, our dominant military, and our capacity to obtain consumer goods should guarantee our happiness. Said just so it sounds silly, but when it is communicated in ...