One of a kind

Mike Burns, my friend and compadre from across the pond and beyond, is like a mountain man who likes to hang out in a mall.  A diverse fellow for sure, who can try to explain to you what a particular verse means is Scripture, and then offer you a torrential outpouring of verbal abuse like you haven’t had in your life time, all with a smile on his face.  This is why I like Mike – I dig the diversity, and the bit of the sacrilege he brings to the table.  I’m sure Jesus would have had hung out with him if He were here, so I will too.

Mike wrote the last comment of my post yesterday (up to this point) called, “Not that person anymore” where he said, “I mostly only read the comments (speaking of my blog), and not the post.”  Knowing Mike, this was meant to be a quick jab at me.  Mike claims (and certainly in some ways is right) to be “a friend who will help me with my ego.”  However, this particular jab was very much a compliment, whether it was intended or not.

I’m no genius like Garret or Jeffrey or the other engineers, doctors, and scientists God has blessed me to be around in this wonderful area of new England.  Nor do I claim to have a corner on God speaking to the masses in America or anywhere else.  But what I do bring to the table, Mike pointed out covertly.  I bring out an idea, let people process the idea and share their opinions, then connect with one another like they might not have done otherwise.

The geniuses are the ones commenting on these blog posts and sharing their opinions, and helping me to form my own through their relationship, both with this blog and face to face.  The real authors are the ones who follow up my posts with their insights, more times than not much better than my own.  The real innovaters are my friends who directly share their opinions, many time unwaveringly, and respond passionately to my quick thoughts or ideas.  the Daves, Ians, Katies, Brians, Dionnes, Darrens, and others of you who make this blog worth reading beyond my own thoughts.

The real geniuses are you.  So… thanks.

Here are some Blog posts I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks.

Seth chats about failure.

Jake gives his fresh new music likes.  I trust him.

Pete shares this amazing truth/comic piece.

Chad hit me in the face with this quote.

Vince shared his small group philosophy and I liked it.

Mark Cuban is…well, Mark Cuban is a genius.

Brian is a genius too,and his friends, myself included, couldn’t wait to hear this news.

What are you reading these days?

And now it’s time for the 2nd Bloggle awards, an award ceremony that happens every 6 months here on martyholman.com, giving the common person (like the author) access to some amazing blogs on the web 2.0.  Hopefully, we’ll get some acceptance speeches.

Most focused blog
Nominees:
Ethos: a cultural Watercooler by Randy Elrod;  From where I sit by Michael Hyatt; Gotcha by Jake Holman;  History in the making by Ben Arment;  Reluctant Republicans for McCain by Clay Davis
THE WINNER:  History in the making by Ben Arment
Anything this guy writes is gold.  He’s somewhere around brilliant and then some.  His focus is creativity in the church.

Best blog, comedy
Nominees:
Rainy Day Communications by Katie Ferguson; Stuff Christians like by the Prodigal John; Don Miller is by Donald Miller;  Vince Antonucci by Vince Antonnuci
THE WINNER:  Stuff Christians Like by The Prodigal John.  Wildly funny, and will make you laugh out loud in your office every time you dare to read it.

Best blog, story
Nominees:
Trek to the summit by Tom Hogsed;  Scott Hodge by Scott Hodge;  Jenn with 2 n’s by Jenn;  Connecting with Pastor Mike by Mike Laurence
THE WINNER:
Jenn with 2 N’s by Jenn

Best blog, pastor
Nominees:
Velocity by Dave Ferguson; Leading Smart by Tim Stevens;  Life Church.tv:  Swerve by Craig Groeschel and Bobby Gruenewald;  Perry Noble dot com by Perry Noble;  Tony Morgan Live by Tony Morgan;  Without Wax by Pete Wilson
THE WINNER:
Life Church.TV:  Swerve by Craig Groeschel and Bobby Gruenewald.  This was the hardest to judge.  These blogs are amazing!

Best blog post
Nominees:
“A couple of my rules for startups” by Mark Cuban (March 14, 2008);  “Creating WOW product experiences” by Michael Hyatt (May 17, 2008);  “The Lifetime of an opportunity” by Steven Furtick (July 30, 2008);  “The Secret of the web” by Seth Godin (August 11, 2008);  “The Bible said so” by Winn Collier (September 2, 2008);  “What Complaining says about you”, by Ben Arment (September 9, 2008);  “Palin, Religion, and how Secualrism is out of touch” by Dale Fincher (September 15, 2008)
THE WINNER:
“The Secret of the Web” by Seth Godin (August 11, 2008).  This was not an easy task.  I have so many subscriptions to blogs and highlight very few of them, but very few of so many is still a lot.  These are all excellent posts, written originally by the authors.

Best blog, pictures
Nominees:
It’s all going to change by Kevin and Jen Richardson;  Mark Beeson by Mark Beeson;  Ethos:  A Cultural Watercooler by Randy Elrod
THE WINNER:
Ethos:  A Cultural Watercooler by Randy Elrod  Randy always helps me to think more artsy than I really am.  He bring out the culture in me, and I don’t use that term scientifically.

Best blog, intellectual
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk;  Dale Fincher by Dale Fincher;  Jeffs Deep Thoughts by Jeff Campbell;
Jenn with 2 N’s by Jenn;  Winn Collier by Winn Collier
THE WINNER:  Winn Collier by Winn Collier. I’m pretty sure his nominated post for best blog post won him this award.

I wish I knew him or her (no winners, just a list of 3)
Steven Furtick by Steven Furtick
Flowerdust.net by Anne Jackson
Blog Maverick by Mark Cuban

I’m glad I know him or her (no winners, just a list of 3)
Mill Industries by Eric Mill
Brian Howe by Brian Howe
You can know God by Michael Lukaszewski

Thanks for joining me for the 2008 Bloggle awards!  Check back for the acceptance speeches and comments about how wrong I was.  And…

Please vote for your favorite all around blog

Yes, this is true, my head feels like it’s exploding…in a good way.

I just spent some time with the guys from this church.  I used to hang a bit with this pastor from that church and all three of the pastors from the church spoke into my life today.  I feel energized and ready to go this week, and maybe this next year.  Thanks Brian, Buddy, and Nate.  Here are three lessons I’ve learned this weekend, not only from them, but also from the people around me, including Carie:

1.  Risk-taking – never get comfortable, and when you do, it’s time to take another risk.
2.  Clear expectations – “Marty, if you didn’t tell them, they might know that they’re supposed to have done that.” – uh, duh Marty!
3.  Sometimes if you want something done, you have to get dirty when you do it.

(4. Coldplay’s acoustic version of th song “Lost” almost brings me to tears. an unbelievable song!)

If you could teach me one thing right now that you’re learning, what would it be?