I just have to say this:

I’m really excited about what is happening at Fellowship Church here in Central Massachusetts.  The community that is being built and vision-driven for His glory is an amazing thing to watch.  I feel humbled and stoked  by the stories I’ve heard over the last 6 months about what God is doing in the lives of people in and through this community.  Whatever is happening, it’s because God is using amazing people who are using there gifts to further his kingdom, as opposed to their empires.

I believe this weekend will only fuel this fire in our community as we begin the “One Prayer” series for the 2nd year in a row.  This will be a month long series we’ll be doing with 1600 other churches in the US and 20 other countries!  As Fellowship grows, it shouldn’t just grow in number (though that’s what a healthy church does), but in it’s impact on the kingdom of God.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this weekend, my favorite pastor in the entire world (outside of my dad) will be speaking at our church.

This will be good times!

Here are some ideas I’ve had over the last few weeks.  Feel free to use any of them you wish:

Online service only
We are going to do this for Good Friday at Fellowship on April 10th, 2009.  This will be a part of a 5 week series we’ll be doing, but will not be on a Sunday, only online at this site.  I’m looking forward to joining our church family in one of two services on Good Friday at noon or 5:00 pm.

What I’ve done
This Linkin Park tune was a killer a few weeks ago to close up a service where we focused on the story of sin.

Picture video of my life
Ever since I was introduced to Animoto on Brad Ruggles blog, I’ve ideated about making a music video of my life from birth through the multi generations I’ve lived until now.  The only decision I would have to make with the aforementioned site would be the theme song for my life soundtrack.  Ideas?

Work on a project with Clay
As one of my closest friends since junior high, I feel very strongly that this founder of conservatismlives.com is a genius.  But I have yet to work with him on some project since we have both blossomed into adulthood.    But one day…

One Prayer pastor/band switcharoo
Last year our church participated in One Prayer, a movement of churches who came together to show the unity we have in Christ.  For 4 weeks we were treated to the wonderful video teaching of some of the best preachers in the country.  So I had this idea to take it to another level.  Would another pastor and church be open to trading places with the pastor of this church (that’s me) and  the bands would trade places too?  Just an idea.

A Marty Party
I would love to have all my closest friends from the entirety of my life and from the many places I’ve lived to come to a party where I can connect them all and convey how much I appreciate them, and I would love this party to take place well before I’m 80 and not to coincide with my funeral.

Surprise Lunch
Using the wonderful technology of Facebook, I would like to announce to all my friends an inpromptu lunch at a specific place in the area I live.  It might be interesting to see who would show up.  Could I end up having lunch with 5 people I haven’t seen in a few years?

Heck No!  We won’t go!
A bit of reverse psychology – I think I’d like to form a picket line around a non profit organization that is doing amazing things here in my area.  Then I’d write negative sarcastic jokes down on my posters about that 501c3 organization, and act like I’m really angry that they exist, then I’ll watch as they gain more support after I picket them than they have had for the last 5 years.

I Scream Sunday!
There’s really no interesting idea here, but thank you to One Bad Pig, the 80’s Christian metal band from Austin, TX for singing these words with all the heart they could muster.

Don’t go postal on me
I think it would be neat to prepare a box lunch of some sort for my postal carrier sometime, especially since she’s pretty ticked off that our box door always sticks.

No email or social networking day
No doubt you’ve received the “please fast from your computer” pleas from friends and family alike, but that’s not what I’m talking about.  I’m thinking that with all the emails I send out and internet communication I do, it might be nice to take any general day and say “Today I’m not going to communicate at all via the internet, but if I need to communicate with someone I would have emailed, I will push myself to make a phone call or go visit that person.”

So that’s the rough draft of my recent idea list.  the next step is…

Yesterday I wrote here that there are 4 ways that the ever-changing world is changing my life, and focused on “Going Public” as the first way.  Today I want to focus on participating in “open sourcing”.
Currently this term is a buzz word for individuals and companies coming together to collaborate on projects and problems in order to hurdle each problem and situation that comes up in life’s arenas.
Open sourcing focuses on the idea that I do something well (I hope anyway) and I enjoy doing certain things, and by pooling my talents with others who enjoy that thing, we can move ahead faster than I could alone.

For instance, I love small groups.  It’s one of my favorite parts about being a part of this era of church.  I think I have a good grasp of how to effectively do small groups and have an interest in excelling in this arena.  But I don’t know everything, so I gladly share with other pastors or on this blog or in any number of ways what I do know about small groups, and do so in a way that is inexpensive (blogs are free, so is word of mouth), and easy to read or apply.  Then others do the same, and through this experience, my knowledge and understanding of the small group environment is enhanced.

Google, IBM, Sun, Firefox, Lifechurch.tv, and Wikipedia are just a few of the successful companies that have “open sourced” their organization, and enhanced our lives as people over the last few years. 

I’m no expert, but if I ever become one, even by default, I’d like to be able to say that as an expert, I still “open source” my expertise for the greater good of those who can take it and expand upon the work I’ve done.

My own mind is swimming right now after One Prayer about how the church can do this better.  I’ve been having these radical thoughts about how we can come together to out source and open source our expertise as we watch the body of Christ form into what He actually wanted it to be.  Like maybe if I’m an “expert” on small groups, and another church in our area is an “expert” musically or in their Sunday service or their work with the less fortunate, how can we utilize and link up with one another, for the purpose of leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?

Your feelings on open sourcing please?

The internet on my computer is down,but I had to find myself on another computer to share with all who will listen about yesterday’s service.  It was Fellowshipable!  Not sure if this is a word, but go with me.

Before the service I thought we were going to get hammered in attendance because so many people have been on vacation and doing their thang, so I brought a few members of the team together (Al and Billy) and told them that no matter how many people we have in this room, we will do what God would want us to do if the room was packed.  Then I prayed with them, and felt much better. 

But alas, it’s not just that the room was packed, but the spirit in the room was unbelievable.  It was electric!  Here are some of the highlights of the morning service for me:

*We finished the “One prayer” series.  This has been amazing and couldn’t have finished on a better note.
*The band, led by Al, had a smooth sound yesterday right off the bat.  They started the service with a jazzy blues jig, and never slowed down.
*Going up to welcome our attenders for that day, and just watching more and more people come in the door.  I wonder if North Point has (relatively speaking) thousands of people coming in late.  Just to let everyone know, our service really does start at 10:30 am now.
*Getting to worship (with music) without being distracted by a whole lot going on.
*The Production team played this video that showed all the churches participating in One Prayer this year. 

I have been saying all along that 1,200, then 1,300, then 1,400, then 1,500 churches were along for the ride, but seeing it scroll in front of them made those numbers come to life!

*The crowd cheering two times in that video:  When Fellowship Church’s name scrolled by, and at the end of the video. 

*Craig’s message or his prayer for the church was “Make us one” and all I can say was how it evidently impacted our church.  Even on video it connected in a way that was clear by the end of the service.

*Our church commiting in their prayer and singing to be one in heart and purpose.  POWERFUL!

*At the end of the service during the last two songs, I went to an office and knelt down and prayed for our church.  Then the band played and for the first time ever, I couldn’t hear Al and the band – only the church as a whole. 

*You need to know that several people in our church community gave up their time to serve on Saturday in the spirit of One Prayer and picked up trash to give back Tacoma St in Worcester for the kingdom of God.  We prayed together, and had a great time too.  Here are some pics:
 

So this was my weekend.

*Next week, we’ll have the “Party in the Park”.  Our morning service will be outside at 10:30 am!  Save for rain of course.  Bring a blanket or a chair, and invite some friends.  Afterwards we’ll have a potluck dinner with your choice of games or talking or whatever you want to do!

Since our church is participating in that One Prayer thing, I’ve been thinking a lot more about unity in the body of Christ, and also about unity in my life.  You see, I like people.  I like a lot of people. I love a lot of people. But there are some that I just don’t like - Even Christians (or should I say, especially Christians).
So then I run into this verse yesterday with my small group: 1 John 2:9-11 – “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.  Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness;  he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”

So here’s the thing – I like a lot of people, but even though I’m pretty friendly and like a lot of people, there are still some people in my life that I choose not to  be around a lot for various reasons.  I’m sure many of these people also choose not to be around me.  One might even say that I don’t like them and they don’t like me.  Simple question today for a simple Friday:

Is “don’t like” different than “hate”?

This week, Fellowship Church continued the church (small c) wide series “One Prayer” with 1493 other churches and 849, 036 people (at last count).  We represent a small portion of that numerically, but I feel like our church is coming together to pray and to fellowship in ways that I could have never imagined.  I’m so excited about the direction of “the FC” and how our people are stepping to become part of the “One church” God wants us to be.

This week’s service is one I won’t forget for a long time, from beginning to end, as there just seemed to be a spirit of humility and unity in the entire room.  I can’t of course speak for everyone, but I’m just sharing my perception of the morning.  I spoke on my “one prayer” for the church-at-large – “God, make us lead.”  I thought I would share my outline with you in this post, in case you missed it or were interested.  Later I’ll share the podcast.

“Make us lead”

“Leadership is not reserved for those in position power. The leader is the one who cares most about the mission or endeavor.”- by someone.

Our mission – “To lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

How do I make other people want to lead?  Dont teach them bullet points, or that it’s cool to lead, teach them to care with all their hearts about “Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.”

As a church, what I want for us is to be successful at our mission, “to LEAD”

To lead is to care.  This is not about personality!

If you don’t “care” about your (Family, job, time, finances) someone will “care” (lead) for you.

My testimony – Good kid.  Went to Christian school, Christian college, bought Christian t-shirts, and I didn’t care.

The story of Samson, the judge who God had a purpose for, but didn’t care.

Hebrews 12:1a - 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,

Sexual sin
Pride
greed,
gossip

And then there are the things that probably aren’t sin, but just hold us up.  What are those things in your life?

“sin takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs more than you want to pay.”

 “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

 Hupomones – “the characteristic of a person who is not swerved from his or her deliberate purpose and his or her loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.”

I’m afraid for some the hardships are too hard and the discipline it takes to follow Christ is too great, and so we’re not willing.

Hebrews 12:5-11
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening!”
We have to be willing to overcome. Willing to go through adversity. (email 1)

Usually what we do is complain, gossip, and worry. 

“People become our heroes because they fight through things and overcome circumstances, not because they’re glorious.”

Become somebodys hero!

and here’s how we do that (run with endurance), the writer of Hebrews says,
“by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.”

 So this is how the author finishes the thought in Hebrews 12:12,13

 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those follow you, the weak and lame, will not fall but become strong.

Because what you do will be effects those people who follow you – your kids, your friends, your loved ones.

1.  Heroes seem to be in the right place at the right time.
2.  Heroes fight through adversity.
3.  Heroes don’t have to tell everyone what they did.
4.   Heroes work on it, or they stop becoming heroes

 Become somebodys hero!

 Here’s what this looks like for the church - creating environments for people that are relevant and focused for people to connect and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

How you can be a part:
Do what you can do.
Build real community in the life of your church.  (why I believe in small groups)
care about the mission.

I’m looking forward to this weekend.  I’m headed here again for a men’s retreat.  Then I’ll be here on Sunday as usual for the opening weekend of the series “One Prayer.”  This is a series that we’re doing with 1300 other churches in 20 countries with an average attendance of 750,000 people.  I am so pumped for this series and what we’re asking God to do in the church as a whole.  The first week, Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in North Carolina will be preaching via video, and then the following week, I’ll be preaching. 
If you attend Fellowship Church, please make it out to these services and pray for God to do something amazing in our church and in the church at large.  You can see a list of all the churches participating in this video here.

If you had one prayer for the church at large, and it started with “Make us…”,

How would it end?

This weekend will be one of the most fascinating services we’ve had at Fellowship Church in a long time.  4 baptisms, including the baptism videos, from ages 10-70, the Lord’s Supper for the first time in several years in our church (Generally we take this ordinance of the church in our “life groups”), A focus on this ministerial use of technology in our church, and a testimony that is one of the most powerful testimonies of coming to Christ I’ve ever heard.
It’s also the last message in this 2 part series called “Something old, something new.”
Next week, we’ll begin the series, “One Prayer” with 1200 other churches and 750,000 other church attenders.  This is a four week series where we will ask this question:  “If we had one prayer to pray for the church at large, what would it be?”
Over the next four weeks will hear from 4 pastors (3 on a video venue) where they will be answering that question.  The first two weeks are:

June 8th, 10:30 am – Pastor Steven Furtick, Elevation Church:  “Make us Audacious”
June 15, 10:30 am (Father’s Day) – Pastor Marty Holman, Fellowship Church:  “Make us Lead”

So my encouragement to you over the next few months is not to get in a summer rut, but be ready to see God work in amazing ways here at Fellowship Church.  Invite your friends.  Play a part in something bigger than rest and relaxation.  (by the way, I’m not talking about vacation, I think people need that)

Let’s see what God can do!

Happy Tuesday!

I just returned from an amazing weekend in New Hampshire with our church lead team, and we’re ready to take on the summer time to fulfill God’s purpose for Fellowship Church.  We started off this excellent weekend on Sunday morning at FC in Holden.  I’m pleased to report that for the first time in the history of our church (or at least in the ten years that I’ve been there), we did not decrease in attendance on Memorial Day weekend.  We started off a new series called, “Something old, something new”, and the whole morning was absolutely phenomonal.
I think I’ve mentioned it before, but if you need a reminder – I love our church!
Afterward the service, which focused on Baptism, blogs, and the announcement of our new series coming in June called “One Prayer,” 12 of us took off for Waterville Valley, NH for a time of relaxation and dreaming.  I’ll write more about the actual trip tomorrow, but I wanted to share with you what an outstanding weekend Carie and I had.

Also, you may remember this post where I asked if there was any pastors in New England who blogged.  I found very few in my search on google that I would read regularly, but I did find a few and I’ve been  diligently reading their posts.  This morning getting caught up in my posts, I found that I received a shout out from this guy who’s a pastor in Hopkinton, MA.  Thanks Mike for your kind words,and I’ll be communicating with you very shortly.

As many of you know from this post, and from other places, tragedy struck the family of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman when his 5 year old adopted daughter was struck down by a vehicle in Tennessee.  This morning I watched this video and it brought me to tears. 

Absolutely no words.

I’m interested to know your thoughts on baptism.

This weekend, one of the things we’ll be focusing on at Fellowship Church is baptism.  If you know someone who is thinking about who God is or who has just started reaching out to Him, this will be an incredible message for them to hear.  For those of you who are already full engrossed in all things baptism , then it will be a good reminder of that time that you took a step to publicly identify yourself with Christ.

But we will also be focusing on something new – a new way that Fellowship Church uses technology to fulfill our mission of leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Also, I’ll be sharing with the church about our upcoming new series we’ll be starting in June.

Have a fantastic memorial Day weekend, and with all the parties you’ve been invited to, don’t forget to join your Fellowship Church family this Sunday morning.

“To reach who no one else is reaching, we have to do what no one else is doing”

p.s.  I had this fantastic story to share with you in this post, but after I finished, for some reason it didn’t save,and I lost most of my work.  So, either because I was too lazy to type it again or because I felt that probably I wasn’t supposed to share it, It remains in my head.