I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but there’s only one time of year in which I am distracted from what I’ve done for the last 10 years.  That time of year?

Christmas.

Tradition – a state of being which I am not really a big fan – creeps in, and walaa, I am immersed in the sights and sounds and food and viewing pleasures of the season, many of which slam right in the face of the vision God has given to me to lead a church.

Santa inadvertanly takes the place of Jesus.

All of the trips to the store take the place of reading my Bible.

Parties take the place of visioncasting.

Meaningless gifts take the place of sacrifice.

Thinking about what I have to do takes the place of what I should be doing.

So I need some mind re-evaluation.  Maybe you do to?  There’s certainly nothing wrong with Christmas, but is it overkill?  Do I end up spending way too much time thinking about the good times of the past and not enough time thinking about where I am and where God wants me to go?

So this week, I want to…

Fix my eyes on Jesus.

Stop.  And spend time with Him.

Be intentional about encouraging and leading the people I’m with toward the One we worship during this time.

Look to sacrifice rather than shop.

Do what I should be doing.

What should you be doing?

As a church, we are constantly striving to come together to accomplish our mission of leading people in Central Massachusetts into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  Every year, month, week,and day we work towards this goal as a collection of broken people who have been forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus.
You wouldn’t believe (or maybe you would) how difficult it is to keep this mission THE focus for our church.
There are numerous roads we could follow as a group of people.  We could focus on obedience or social justice, the color of the carpet or the volume of the band, but we choose not to, because we have our mission, our shared purpose, and we choose instead to share this purpose.

There’s nothing wrong with these things.  Obedience and social justice are surely fruits of our surrender to this God-man I’ve just mentioned, and sometimes we have to pick the color of the carpet or change the volume of the band in a room, but they are not the focus.

No, if you attend Fellowship Church, I want you to know that we have a shared purpose, and it always points to connecting people and leading them into a growing relationship with Jesus.

Everything we do.  Everything we accomplish as a church should focus on this mission.  Sometimes the road seems long and tough, but together, we can become the church God wants us to be.  So internally, please answer this question with me:

Who am I connecting?  Who am I leading?

Thanks for reading my blog.

I have this dream. It’s a simple dream really. It starts and ends with people just enjoying being together and growing together. Not under the false pretenses of being a part of a certain status like economic, family, or religious experience, but under something deeper. It doesn’t seem deeper, but it is. By the simple idea that they just really enjoy one anothers company.

To start off, they (the people) might not exactly understand why they would want to be in this community, but they take a chance. A chance to learn, grow, live, influence, and maybe even laugh with their newfound community. Over time they would even use the word “love” to describe their journey with the community they have take a chance on.

Now remember, there is no common sense or special commonality that brings these people together, except maybe a strong desire to love God more, though they might not really understand what that means, and may not even really ever understand fully. So they meet regularly and eventually grow to a place where they can take a chance and influence others in their journey too.

Obstacles (and in some cases tools) to this dream are technology, complacency, prejudice, pride, and comfort. Taking a step towards community can be hard when you have a preconceived notion of what your day looks like,and change is hard to come by, but my dream relies on people all across New England moving out of that notion and connecting with God and people.

My dream is authentic community, and I have a long way to go. But here are 4 ATOMic steps and prayers I’m taking and praying to reach my dream:

1. Authentic community – “God, help us to drop our walls and be authentic.”
2. Transormation – “Transform us as we move toward You together.”
3. Outward reaching – “Help us to not be focused on ourselves, but to make reaching out to others
    habit we’ll never take for granted.”
4. Multiplication – “And use us to influence others to move into this journey we’re on.”

Critics please?

I thought of a lot of things.  I thought of the times my dad used to turn on the television on Sunday afternoons and we’d watch the Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish dominate everything that moved on the old parquet floor of the Boston Garden.  I thought of the times immediately after when I’d run outside, pretending I was their point guard Dennis Johnson (I was pretty short as a child) and dribbling through orange cones and chairs and anything else that could defend me.  I thought of the countless number of times that I would go out as a young teenager and practice my turn around jumper ala Larry Bird, or my baby hook ala Robert and Kevin (I had grown a bit at that point).  I thought of the Wheaties box I bought the first week I moved to Massachusetts – July 9, 1998 – with a commemorative picture of Bird on it.  I have yet to open it.

I also thought of the playoffs in 2002 when Pierce and Walker took the C’s to the semifinals, and I would sit in my pastor’s house and watch the games over chinese food and ice cream with Lonnie and Ruth Snell.  They almost did it then, but they definitely were not the best team, and typically in the NBA, the best team wins.  Ironically enough, that year Shaq and Koby were the leaders of the best team, the Lakers.
And then I thought about what Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers must have gone through last year.  The worst team in the league.  The joke – and they were a joke – of this great professional sports area.  To bring your team from that to win the world championship is a feat that not many people’s psyche would have allowed.  But quitting, losing, and ultimate defeat were words that were not even in the dictionary when Ainge pulled off the trades that would ultimately bring them to win it all.  Not just bringing in Allen and Garnett, but also Posey, House, and Brown, and still made them a team, something even this Celtics fan denied could happen in a year.
“Two years, maybe, but I’d give it three, and even then, the new “big three” will probably be showing their age too much to win a championship.”
And then last night happened, as the Celtics destroyed the Lakers in a fitting end to their dominant year, and as I sat with my friends, some old friends, some new, (A shout out to Jay, Al, Steve bramlett, Jon, and Ben inserted here) I thought about this moment,and I thought about what it takes to be a champion.
It takes a team, committed to something more than personal glory, committed to something more than a “me first” mentality, to show up on a regular basis, and admit in their action, I will do what it takes to accomplish the task at hand.
That’s what I want to be a part of, and the vision may be different for me (no trophies for this one), but the end result wil be so much more satisfying.  To see people connect into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  And I love the team I get to accomplish this goal with.

What’s your Championship?

This post was written with Randy Elrod’s Watercooler Wednesday in mind.

Earlier in a post I wrote that I was going to write about our lead team retreat this weekend.  It looks like I don’t have to, because Billy, our first impressions director, already did.  Check out this incredible post on Billy’s blog and get a glimpse of the weekend we all had.

Dream, dream, dream.

A picture of Carie and I with my grandparents in Richmond, Indiana – 3/30/2008

I think, when it comes to my job, I enjoy two things more than anything else in the world.  I tell you this because it’s important for you to keep me accountable in case I start doing tons of other things outside of these two things. You see, I’m big on focus, and I’m really working at it in my own life.

Those two things are conversating with a person one on one and teaching.

I absolutely love doing these two things.  Very occasionally I love to think of creative things as well, but I can do that inside of my teaching role, so that usually covers that need.

For me, my entire day could consist of talking and admonishing and listening to someone over coffee (or some sweet drink for me because I can’t take the taste of Coffee) and then (or first) shutting myself into my office to prepare for what I’ll be teaching to our church either this Sunday or those to follow.

Sometimes I’ll be in my office so much and I’ll realize that I haven’t talked to anyone in a given week and I’ll feel so empty, and then sometimes I’ll be out and about feeling relational and talkative and I realize I haven’t prepared like I should, and I feel foolish.

So I think I need both in my life.  And so I’e worked hard on focusing on these two things.

What are you focusing on in your work or life? 

Until next time…

Many people don’t know that they can find my blog at martyholman.com.  I think this is important information because everyday people find my blog using the search words, “Marty Holman.”  Come on peeps, just put those words together and slap a .com at the end.  Walaa!

Things are going amazing right now at Fellowship Church, and I’m so proud of my church for the way they have banded together in their life groups and in their service teams and on Sunday Mornings @ Fellowship to lead other people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  There is such a kingdom-mindset right now, and I’m privileged to be the pastor of this outstanding group of Christ followers.

At the forefront of this group is several leaders who have sacrificed of themselves to spearhead this movement of God.  I’m so proud to be working on a regular basis with guys like Steve, Al, Billy, Jeff, and Jay.   They are inspiring and teachable, ready to work and ready to wait, and most of all, they have been available for God to use them in a great way.

I put out a challenge to our team back in January that I wanted our church to grow in every way in the summer of 2008.  Seem ordinary?  I want you to know that in the 9 years that I’ve been here now, our church has never grown in the summer, and I have been praying,and I think it’s about time God changes all that.

So if you are a member or an attender of Fellowship Church or you just follow one of our blogs, would you begin praying for this to happen here in Holden, Massachusetts?  We’re starting to see momentum happen on a weekly basis, and God is moving here – no doubt!

One more thing.  I’ve also been praying about being involved in this in June.  It seems like hundreds, if not thousands of churches across America are taking part in it (which is not a reason in and of itself to do it), but I really want God’s direction here.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the subject.  Unless of course you are a natural critic and just think that anyone who would do this hates God.  Then you can keep your comments to yourself.  But if you have any constructive thoughts, good or bad, throw them in. 

Anyone have any thoughts on it?

Until next time… 

I’m sitting here admiring the future.  It looks sweet.

Carie and I talked about the future a bit yesterday, and what we wanted it to look like, how we were going to get there, and what the point of it all is.  It gets me really excited!

We’re still hashing it out and attempting to focus it all, but all in all, I’m pretty impressed and what God can do as we dream together.  Carie’s top strength is that she’s a futurist, and my top strengths are Ideation and Positivity, so you can bet that our future looks mighty good, with some pretty sweet stuff going on.

I’m also so excited for Fellowship Church as all of our future plans focus in on our church family.  We love to dream this stuff,and we love where we’re at.

So this makes me think more and dream more and focus more.

I’d love to know what you’re dreaming about right now.

Also, this weekend’s service will be amazing as God is continuing to do great things at Fellowship Church.  Service will be at 10:30 am!  See you there!

Until next time…

Finally, a bit of time to do some blogging today.

Of course this weekend is Easter Weekend, and I wanted to write to you Fellowshippers and share with you how excited I am about this week at FC.  We’re going to have a combined service this week, and I believe God’s going to bring us a packed house.  It will be good to see everyone back this week after lots of sickness and travels, and here are some things I’ll be looking forward to this weekend:

*The band will be off the hook as they will be covering a new song from the group “Leeland,” and be leading us in a new worship song by Chris Tomlin.  Can’t say which one though.  Looking forward to having Al’s brother Christian with us.
*The transformation project – Let me just say that this will be a killer.
*During my message we will be unveiling the new theme for Fellowship Church this year.  This is why we haven’t announced the next series.  I’ll also be sharing with you how to vote! 
*Meeting many of your family and friends who will be attending with you this Sunday. 
*Our church coming together and begining to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, like we’ve never done before.
*That the focus will be on our risen Savior Jesus Christ.

Looking forward to seeing you there too.  If you’re in the area of Worcester, Massachusetts this week, check us out at

Fellowship Church
325 Bullard St
Holden, MA 01520

Fellowshipholden.com

Until next time…

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, it’s time for the Sunday morning recap at Fellowship Church.  Billy already gave his here.  Here are some thoughts I had about my weekend at Fellowship Church.

*I attended a benefit dinner for Hearts for Heat this weekend.  Hearts for Heat is a ministry of Fellowship Church, and is doing an amazing job of providing oil for people in Worcester County.
*I ate with Massachusetts State Rep. Lew Evangelidis at the dinner.  Turns out he plays in my basketball league.  We haven’t played against one another yet, but when we do…
*Saturday we helped the Dancy’s move into Holden.  The team is coming together and the future of FC looks great!
*After that, I was sore.
*It’s amazing how when things fall apart, like in music practice or whatever, that God comes through and gets us past it.
*We are only a few weeks away from our Easter service, where we’ll all find out how to vote.  Should be a great service.
*Billy made some hilarious confessional videos for the service yesterday.  There was a lot of laughter, specifically at the last one when he was jamming out to Feist.
*Totally psyched about the guitar hero championships next Saturday at “The FC.”  Played for the first time in 2 months yesterday against Carie.  Gonna need to practice this week.
*I confessed that there are times I don’t think I can do the thing God has called me to do.
*Yes, I really did fail my broadcasting platform, and yes, then I did graduate with a real degree after working my tail off on learning how to talk.
*Yes, this was Moses’ problem too.
*No, I don’t doubt that I made the right decision to stay at Fellowship. 
*Were you inspired to find out what God’s vision is for your life?
*I love Fellowship Church in Holden!
*Have a basketball game tonight.  Pray for me that I don’t injure myself, and that some state rep for Mass. doesn’t injure me in any great way.
*My dad just called me and told me that his attendance at church yesterday was 800!  Go Hillcrest!

How are you doing?  Anything I can do for you?

Until next time…