Merry Christmas and have a Safe New Year-2006

It has been a long week, and this weekend was filled with excitement. I have been able to hang out with my new family Afif, and a great couple Nick and Jen. We all got to experience two fun filled nights together like no other. The first Christmas service of FC and of course they loved it. Second, we spent Christmas Eve afternoon, and all evening together, laughing, joking, asking questions, running around town, wrapping presents, and getting to know a little of each ones lives growing up. FC put on a total of 21 Christmas services, 11 just at the main Grapevine campus where I go. I was able to see the show 3 times, and I brought a total of 12 friends, for the very first time to Fellowship. I could move right now out of Dallas, and head to my next location, (which is a secret) but I am going to stick around for little bit longer to continue one great ride. A ride that I have had the opportunity to allow God to work through me and others so far here at the greatest thing going for the local church-Fellowshipchurch.com. Log on to "WATCH" just a glimpse of the Fellowship Christmas experience. ALSO A CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL to read, your greatest 30 minutes is only a click a way. iii Please note my web page will be going through "reconstruction". I hope your looking forward to meeting me back here soon in 2006.333

CCC goes head to head with Willow Creek

My home church finally lands a new younger Senior Pastor from the biggest mega-giga church in the nation. It is about time, and way way too long over due. Congrats Our Lady of 680!!!! Published ThursdayDecember 22, 2005 Omaha megachurch gets new pastor BY ANGIE BRUNKOW WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER A pastor from one of the most prominent megachurches in the country has accepted an invitation to serve as senior pastor at Omaha's Christ Community Church. Mark Ashton, who has served at Chicago's Willow Creek Community Church for the past six years, will take the helm at Christ Community once he wraps up his commitments in Chicago. Christ Community leaders expect he will be in Omaha by this spring, possibly earlier. The hiring brings an end to a round of major leadership changes at Omaha's megachurches. Westside Church, at 156th and West Dodge Road, picked a new senior pastor two years ago. Salem Baptist, near 31st and Lake Streets, picked one this past summer. Christ Community has been without a senior pastor for more than a year. The Rev. Bob Thune, who had been senior pastor for 22 years, announced in July 2004 that he was leaving Christ Community to become senior pastor at Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, Calif. Ashton, 38, may be a bit of an unusual pick to replace the senior pastor at a church this size because he doesn't have a formal seminary background. The Chicago native graduated from the University of Illinois with bachelor's degrees in economics and marketing and has done some graduate study in apologetics. But his on-the-job experience impressed leaders at Christ Community, a church that draws roughly 3,000 to its weekend worship services and is located along Interstate 680 south of West Dodge Road. "He's a next-generation leader," said Roger Atwood, one of the church elders. "We recognize his commitment to present the church in relevant, helpful ways, which is what Christ Community has been about throughout our history." At Willow Creek, Ashton worked as pastor of spiritual discovery and as the associate evangelism director. As part of the job, he developed and taught "The Biggies" series, a forum that invites nonbelievers and believers alike to ask the big questions. Before that, he served a number of years as a staff member of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, working with student groups at the University of Illinois and speaking at many Midwest colleges. Ashton, who is married and has four children, has published a number of Bible studies and booklets about Jesus and the evidence for Christianity, including one called "Absolute Truth?" He has earned credentials to serve as a minister in the Christian & Missionary Alliance, the denomination that Christ Community belongs to. Ashton emerged as a strong candidate during the past six weeks. He and his wife, Kelle, visited Omaha last weekend, and Ashton preached at four services before heading back to Chicago. In its search, the church developed a profile for senior pastor. They wanted someone who placed a high value on people and relationships and who would lead the church in interacting with the community and continuing existing partnerships, such as the church effort to support Omaha's public school teachers. The search committee shared the profile with Ashton. "Right away he looked down through it and he said, 'That's me; that's my life,'" said Randy Hager, Christ Community's spokesman. "There wasn't anything that didn't match." Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

the Fellowshipchurch.com story continues...

FC Today FC offers a wide range of activities and ministries for all stages of life. FC's "Home Team" ministry, modeled after the popular cell group system, allows newcomers to meet individuals with similar interests and geographic locations, which would not be otherwise possible due to its size. FC operates a bookstore and coffee bar (The Source), which features mainly FC-logo merchandise and Ed Young's sermons and books. One of the unique features of FC's facility is its outdoor baptistry. (FC does not have an indoor baptistry, a common feature in church architecture among churches which practice baptism by immersion; whenever FC does perform a baptism indoors it uses portable jacuzzis on either side of the stage.) Built like an amphitheater, it is located within a lake on the Grapevine campus (the lake serves as a flood control pond for the property). However, it is physically separated from the lake (to keep whatever may be swimming in the lake out), and is heated similar to a jacuzzi. Notwithstanding that Texas weather is notoriously fickle and at times violent, only on a handful of rare instances have scheduled baptisms been cancelled due to inclement weather. Another fountain on the campus (closer to the building) was the initial outdoor baptistry, and is used most often during winter months to allow individuals to more quickly enter the building after being baptized. FC meets four times each weekend at the Grapevine campus: at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM on Saturday evenings and at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM on Sunday mornings. The three satellite campuses meet on Sundays only, at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM at the Plano and Uptown campuses and at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM at the Alliance Campus. In addition, FC Grapevine hosts a monthly mid-week service, Emergent Service, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month (the satellite locations do not have mid-week services). Special "age appropriate" services are held for preschoolers and children through 5th grade. FC's Christmas and Easter services are among the area's most popular, and in order to accommodate the large crowds nearly a dozen different services are held over a 3-4 day period. In 2004, FC was able to rent the American Airlines Center for its Christmas services due to the NHL lockout which made the facility available; however, for 2005 it reverted to having multiple services at its campuses (11 at the Grapevine campus, five at Plano, three at Alliance, and two at Uptown). In December 2005, Associated Press reported that Fellowship was one of several American megachurches that would not be holding services on Christmas Day, which in 2005 falls on a Sunday. At least one D/FW area talk show host (Mike Gallagher on KRLD) criticized Fellowship's decision not to hold services that day.

Fellowshipchurch.com Our Story-unfolded

Fellowship Church From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to: navigation, search Fellowship Church (FC) is a Christian megachurch located in Grapevine, Texas, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. FC is purportedly one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the United States, with an estimated attendance exceeding 20,000. FC's pastor is Ed Young (the son of the equally-famous pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston), who has pastored the church since shortly after its opening. FC is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. However, since it is part of the "seeker church" movement as well, it does not publicize its ties with the SBC and is not actively involved in SBC affairs. History FC started in 1989 as a mission church of the First Baptist Church of Irving, Texas, and was initially known as "Las Colinas Baptist Church". Approximately 150 members of First Baptist Irving relocated to the new church. FC initially met in a rented facility next to the Irving Arts Center and across from MacArthur High School, both of which would figure in its history. Shortly after its opening, the membership hired Ed Young as its Senior Pastor. Young quickly convinced the church to adopt the "seeker church" style made popular by Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Community Church. One of the church's first actions was to de-emphasize its ties with the Southern Baptist Convention and change its name to "Fellowship of Las Colinas". Another move was to use contemporary music during the services, and to offer services on Saturday evenings. Most notably, FC adopted the concept of "age appropriate" teaching--children 5th grade and under are provided separate services at their level of maturity, and parents are encouraged (but not required) to send their children to those services. (FC purports that several families, after initially being hesitant to return to FC--mainly due to its size and non-traditional approach to church--did so after finding out their children loved the activities.) The strategy proved highly successful, and FC quickly outgrew its original facility. Thus, it moved across the parking lot to the nearby Irving Arts Center. During this time, FC tried the concept of "simultaneous services"--one group would meet at FC's facility while another would meet at the Arts Center. The FC music team would play at one site while Young preached at the other, then midway through the services the teams would switch places. The concept proved unsuccessful and was quickly dropped, but continues in "FC lore" as from time to time Young mentions it in his sermons as an example of how FC is willing to try new ideas in order to reach people. Meanwhile, FC began to look for a suitable site for its permanent facility. FC discovered a 160-acre site on Texas State Highway 121 north of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which was being auctioned by the Resolution Trust Corporation. FC submitted a bid and was the successful bidder; however, it had to quickly borrow $1.675 million to make the payment. Approximately two years later, the announcement was made that Grapevine Mills Mall would be built literally across the street from FC. Unsolicited offers came in for portions of the FC property, and eventually FC sold a 23-acre parcel on the north side of the property for the exact amount it had borrowed earlier, thus allowing it to begin construction debt-free. Meanwhile, FC outgrew the Irving Arts Center before its permanent facility was complete. It thus moved across the street to MacArthur High School. (As part of the lease agreement, FC agreed to install an upgraded sound system in MacArthur's auditorium.) In order to maintain the "age-appropriate" services for preschoolers and children, this required an enormous logistical feat each weekend--volunteers would have to unload several trucks early on Saturday morning (the building was unavailable until then), install temporary partitions and furniture in several areas, then after the final Sunday service tear down and reload all the items onto the trucks, and make the school building ready for use on Monday morning. In April 1998, FC finally completed and moved to its current facility and adopted its present name. Young's father and Hybels spoke at the dedication service.

Funny Joke, bad timing...So I think?? Ed+U2=??? Four news station at FC

Well, my friends (not all of them) really don't have all there bulbs screwed in real tightly. I had probably one of the worst jokes played on me this Saturday night. I will not name any names, but two out of the 3 thought it would be funny to play a joke on me. The joke went something like this. They called me and told me one of my friends was in jail, and asked me if I could go bail them out. Of course me being the nice best friend that I am to these two people, I immediately jumped off on one freeway and headed on another to downtown Dallas. Long stupid joke and story later, they called laughing, and they just wanted me to come over really bad to hangout. I had already made plans, and really was not in the mood to be messed with, especially to that extreme. Fellowship never ceases to amaze me, this weekend services were really good, and Tianne Moon did an awesome job taking us through a journey into the GREAT UNKNOWN with the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Ed + U2 = Fellowship worship experience is like no other. Derrick Bennot of the student ministries of FC and his band lead worship, and he and Erik Orsen rocked out the crowd with the special before the message "original of Species" by Ed's favorite secular rock band U2. We had all 4 news stations at the last service this weekend taping, and doing a cover story about mega churches not being open on Christmas Day. The church keeps reminding themselves, and others they are doing 21 Christmas services, 11 just at the main campus in Grapevine.

Crowds go crazy to see Bono. The Great Unknown..??

People went nuts to see and hear Bono. He was in the Big O' for two days, and here is another good reason as to why he stayed for the 2nd day, and what we can learn and do is this subject for doing good in our humanity in this journey we call life. Bono mixes music with a message BY CHRISTINE LAUE AND DANE STICKNEY WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS RELATED STORIES » Entertainment News & Notes: U2 campaign seeks support » U2 trivia quiz » Rainbow Rowell: Kanye not just the 'too' part of U2 bill » Review: U2 rocks Omaha with atomic force One night in Omaha wasn't enough for U2 frontman Bono. A day after U2's concert, Bono was still in Omaha, attending a board meeting for DATA (Debt, Aids, Trade, Africa) at the Joslyn Art Museum. With Bono, from left, are Erin Thornton, Doug Varley and Susan Buffett. Following the band's sold-out Thursday night concert at the Qwest Center Omaha, Bono remained in town Friday to meet with board members of DATA, the group he co-founded in 2002 to raise awareness about and spark responses to the crises plaguing Africa. Omahan Susan A. Buffett, daughter of Omaha investor Warren Buffett, serves on the board of DATA, an acronym for Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa. The Buffetts and Bono have become close in recent years as they've worked for similar causes. Bono, Susan Buffett and her brother, Howard Buffett, were among about 16 people who met Friday in the Omaha Steaks Conference Room at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Bono, wearing his signature tinted glasses, scrawled notes on a white legal pad as the board huddled at a table decorated with red poinsettias. Extra security guards hovered outside the boardroom door and museum. "We were thrilled to have Bono there," said Michael Yanney, chairman of Joslyn's board of directors. During Thursday night's concert, Bono foreshadowed the meeting. While soliciting support from the crowd for the ONE Campaign to combat global AIDS and poverty, Bono said he was taking part in a Christmas party Friday in Omaha. Also during the show, he dedicated "Original of the Species" to Susan T. Buffett, the late wife of Warren Buffett. Bono is one of the celebrities who helped launch the ONE Campaign. He also visited Lincoln in 2002 to raise awareness of the African AIDS epidemic. The rock singer was in Omaha in August 2004 to sing at the elder Susan Buffett's funeral. Bono also thanks her in the liner notes of the 2004 CD, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." According to the DATA Web site, the board of directors also includes David Lane of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Jamie Drummond of DATA; Morton H. Halperin of the Open Society Institute; Ned Jannotta of GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC; Richard Kiphart of William Blair & Co; Trevor Neilson of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS; Edward W. Scott Jr. of the Center for Global Development; Bobby S. Shriver, DATA chairman; and Amre A. Youness, private investor. World-Herald photographer James R. Burnett contributed to this report.

In life, no one knows what's just around the corner. We all face the unknown. But we're not the only ones. As we look forward to Christmas and this weekend, Fellowship will take a unique look into the life of Mary, Jesus' mother. And we will discover her responses to the uncertainties of life, we will see some powerful ways we can respond to our own GREAT UNKNOWN.

Hey OMAHA, want to invest in lives????

Today, I am in the middle of my mourning, and also loving my life. I always got encouraged by my mom, and God has blessed with a great friendship realm. Sometimes, I just sit and laugh at the friends who God has put in my life. The one that probably gives me the biggest chuckle is my best friend Matthew Smith. He is the Executive Director of a non profit organization. He is one of my closest attempts to see, feel, hear, and get great encouragement from a walking Jesus, (other than my dad) here on this journey we call life. We have been through a lot together ever since 94' when we hit it off, and time has continued to keep us bonded together. His faith, hope, and love for his friends and the community of Omaha has and will remain strong. He sacrificially gives all he has to pouring out his heart to the less fortunate of the Omaha community in this small way of showing them Jesus.
Here is a great way that you can support, encourage, and give through your time, talents, and resources. Mosaic Community Development is a nonprofit organization that helps out in the community with a "Creative Educational Center", serving food to the less fortunate "Life on the Brick", teaching "English as a Second Language", and encouraging people going through "Life Transitions."

444Volunteer Spotlight
Thanks! from Matthew Smith ED
As our name indicates, we are a ‘mosaic’ of people who selflessly and generously give of their time and resources to serve and be amongst the poor and disenfranchised of our city. This month we wish to highlight our volunteers as a whole instead of one individual. We do this to recognize the significance of each piece as it composes a whole mosaic movement that touches lives. At the heart of MCD is a desire to be with those who are forgotten by society and demonstrate the love of Christ in a relational capacity. All of our volunteers are committed not only to providing a useful service that benefits the community, but more importantly they take time to value those they encounter in service. Our mosaic of volunteers loves to hear stories of those served and share their own. It is in this effort to be with those who are suffering that we serve in the most significant ways.

Happy birthday MOM

This is the 3 days of the year that I dread... My heart is saddened of the past events... Time has not been on the side of letting her go... People change, people forget, people get re-married... I try and let my mind think to the past... I am filled with emotion.... I begin to cry... I will never forget my mom... I wake up to this day with my dad in my ear... I am relieved he is still here on earth... I am ok wishing my mom a very Happy 68th Birthday... as she is spending her day with Jesus, and her parents in Heaven. My life will go on, I will still remember the joy she brought to alot of people...

Not Home Alone-ready to party??

Well, I got home from work on Sunday night for the second week in a row, where we did not have one table come in for dinner at My Martini. I left at 9pm, and was talking to a friend on the phone, and I was like, "Oh my god Cheryl there is someone in my house". Of course, I unlock the door, and the first thing I see is bellows of incense smoke, tons of empty be-vo bottles on the floor, and 3 sets of very surprised eyeballs staring at me. Well, Afif and Jen left my place about an hour after I left for work, Jen picked her man Nick and decided they wanted to hang more and called up Afif, and he said, " I am driving by Randall's house", and Jen said, "so am I, let's just hangout there and wait for him at his place." Good times had by all, and Afif and we finally got to meet this hockey player stud that Jen just adores and always talks about. So here is my question, Why are hockey players so big, this guy was huge, and I watched my p's and q's, cause he would squash me like a bug.

Simply put, Let me clear some rumors...Got Land??

This weekend Ed, was there in form, but not person. The Billy Graham Foundation taped Ed and staff for a couple of days and will be putting it on prime time television this January. The church is really looking forward to this , since it will give us more exposure. This weekend, was really low key, and the castle themed set was taken down, and you could tell they were getting ready for the big Christmas Extravaganza.Fellowship Church.com, and will be on prime time news in January, I will let you know when. The weekend worship was good, but a very slowed down, somber approach, and the message was a small excerpt of part of that video. The church was really excited, because it will give a lot of exposure to FC on national television.

I am getting ready to revise my whole web page, and add some new stuff, take out some old, and just plain revamp. Well, the reason why none of my FC bloggers have been updating is because some big wig put the kabosh on that. They can blog personally, but I guess too much info got out and they can not blog on a business stand point any longer. Last weekend, Ed had two big announcements, someone invited him to a board meeting to sit in on, as the meeting started, it was really a surprise, and someone anoymonoushly gave us 1,400 acres of prime land in east Texas, and we will be building a conference center, and camps for our kids. Also, we finally found a permanent building for the Uptown Campus, in North downtown Dallas for $8 million, for only 40,000 sq feet. Personally, I think it is too small, but we will have to wait and see.

From the December 2, 2005 print edition
Real Estate
Fellowship Church buys building in Arts DistrictChristine Perez
Staff Writer
Condo developers are doing their part to find new uses for vacant office space in downtown Dallas. Now a booming Grapevine mega-church is doing the same.

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Fellowship Church has snapped up a 44,300-square-foot office building on 2.1 acres in the Arts District for its new urban campus. The church paid Levco Enterprises $4.3 million for the property at 2809 Ross Ave., near Boll Street on the eastern edge of downtown Dallas.
The new satellite location will seat 1,300 and include 20,000 square feet of children's programming space, a bookstore and coffee shop with street access. Dallas-based Beck Group has been tapped to design the interiors. Susan Gwin with The Staubach Co. and Damian Rivera with Capstone Commercial put the deal together.
With attendance topping 20,000 in Grapevine, the church made a decision last year to expand into other parts of the Metroplex. It opened a 110,000-square-foot campus in Plano in January, as well as a temporary location at North Dallas High School in Uptown. In March, it opened a third satellite at Alliance in Fort Worth.
The campus locations operate as fully functioning churches with their own staffs, bands and programming. Sermons by senior pastor Ed Young are filmed on Saturday nights at the Grapevine campus and shown on theater-sized screens on Sunday mornings at the satellite locations.
Terry Storch, pastor of Fellowship's Uptown campus, said the Arts District location made a lot of sense.
"We are a creative church inspired by the arts," he said.

Your in the people industry...

Yea, I know but it sure does suck sometimes. Today was a very hard day, everybody was like trying to give me advice, and I was not asking for it. This Spanish man was having a really bad day, and was just not letting anybody know it, but me. He walked in, greeted him, I read the drink menu, let him know he could stay at the bar, or go to the counter, and where he could even eat it. So, at the end of his miserable attempt to eat, drink, and be merry, I just kept on pissing him off. He said to me, "You know you are not a very nice person, and I told him I wanted to know what I did wrong, and he said, " you are just not a happy person" I did let him know I was in a great mood, and the other guest at my bar, told him to leave me alone, and then he decided to leave.

Christmas Day/New Years Day-church or no church?? 3 miles + 2 1/2hours= stress

Well, today if my car was a padded rubber room car, I would of fit right in. I work and live just 3 miles from both jobs, (today DFW). I left work at 355pm and got home at 630pm. I got rear-ended not 5, not 6, no not even 7 times, but the magic number ladies and gentlemen for today is 8. YES, you read right, eight times, I got bumped in the butt. (Right now I am laughing, why do I do this to myself, but I guess, in the end, I don't mind a good laugh on me). shane don't even One guy kept on bumping me 5 times, and by the 5th bump, I got out of my car, and went and kindly asked him, "are you trying to get my attention or what," he had no clue what I was talking about, so I asked him, if he could start using his breaks, cause "you have bumped into my car 5 times", and he said, "I sure didn't know I did that". So I switched lanes, and of course someone else decided to be a dumba**, and bump me 3 other times. By this time, I was literally coming unglued-LITERALLY. I finally realized that I was sliding as well, and this nice red mustang let me use his bumper to stop with, and all that took 2 1/2 hours to drive 3 miles. I was running through my popular reads, and came across this article in the Omaha World herald...Enjoy Published Wednesday December 7, 2005 Churches dark on Christmas Day? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS This Christmas, no prayers will be said in several megachurches around the country. Even though the holiday this year falls on a Sunday, when churches normally host thousands for worship, pastors are canceling services, expecting low attendance on what they call a family day. Critics within the evangelical community said they were stunned by the shutdowns. "This is a consumer mentality at work: 'Let's not impose the church on people. Let's not make church in any way inconvenient,'" said David Wells, professor of history and systematic theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a leading evangelical school in Hamilton, Mass. "I think what this does is feed into the individualism that is found throughout American culture, where everyone does their own thing." Locally, a spot-check of Omaha churches showed that several may offer more Saturday Christmas Eve services, but are still having at least one Sunday worship service. "I guess we know our people and know what the crowds will be," said Pastor Tom Fraley of Trinity Church Interdenominational. Trinity will have three Christmas Eve services. Normally, they have one Saturday service and three Sunday services, Fraley said. Christmas Eve services normally have a higher attendance than Christmas Day, he said. "I guess people vote with their feet," he said. Other large Omaha churches offering multiple Christmas Eve services include King of Kings Lutheran Church, with six Saturday services, and one Sunday service, and Westside Church, with two Saturday services and one Christmas Day service. Nationally, the megachurches closing on Christmas also plan multiple services in the days leading up to the holiday, including Christmas Eve. Most normally do not hold Christmas Day services, preferring instead to mark the holiday in the days and on the night before. However, Sunday worship has been a Christian practice since ancient times. Cally Parkinson, a spokeswoman for Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., said church leaders decided that organizing services on a Christmas Sunday would not be the most effective use of staff and volunteer resources. The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was 1994, and only a small number of people showed up to pray, she said. "If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don't go to church, how likely is it that they'll be going to church on Christmas morning?" she said. ***Among the other megachurches closing on Christmas Day are Southland Christian Church in Nicholasville, Ky., near Lexington, and Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, outside Dallas.** North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., outside Atlanta, said on its Web site that no services will be held on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, which also falls on a Sunday. A spokesman for North Point did not respond to requests for comment. The closings stand in stark contrast to Roman Catholic parishes, which will see some of their largest crowds of the year on Christmas, and also have a tradition of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and mainline Protestant congregations such as Episcopal, Methodist and Lutheran churches, where Sunday services are rarely canceled. Cindy Willison, a spokeswoman for the evangelical Southland Christian Church, said at least 500 volunteers are needed, along with staff, to run Sunday services for the estimated 8,000 people who usually attend. She said many of the volunteers appreciate the chance to spend Christmas with their families instead of working. "If we weren't having services at all, I would probably tend to feel that we were too accommodating to the secular viewpoint, but we're having multiple services on Saturday and an additional service Friday night," Willison said. "We believe that you worship every day of the week, not just on a weekend, and you don't have to be in a church building to worship." World-Herald staff writer Jason Kuiper contributed to this report.

whyiTRUST...Weekend lowdown

Saturday and Sunday was my two not normal days off. I got home from working at my Martini @ 1am, slept, and awoke by 8am Saturday morning. Here is my weekend in review. I took a hike at Lake Grapevine, washed my car, met friends for breakfast, went to the bank, grocery shopping, cleaned my apt, shaved my head, and all by 3pm when my buddy Afif and Jen came to hang for the rest of the evening.
Sunday I went to church, and was on my way home when Afif called, and wanted to know what I was doing? I said, "heading home and chilling." I pull around the corner of my complex and I see this black Eclipse sitting in front of my apt, and I am wondering in my head, now why would that be there?? Afif decided after all he was not sick and did not want to stay home by himself, so of course we watched football all day & night. We did have a good time.

This weekend was the conclusion of the whyi series. Ed discussed why it is he and others have a hard time trusting others and God, because of his humanness. Trust is a God thing, and a good thing to have, and how all of us have been wired for faith, it is just a matter of trust.

Papa & Dalke UPDATE

Papa is just about out of the hospital, and he is doing much better, he had a heart attack the night he was in the hospital, but is recovering better.

I was able to catch up with John & Kate McNutt who are best friends of the Dalke's and John told me had passed on my regards. They have been staying with a family from the church and getting ready to rent a place for a while, till they figure out what to do next. The Red Cross has been very helpful in this time of need If you would like to donate any funds you can contact the Rolling Hills Bank here. The fund is called the Dalke House Fund, and it has been set up for assistance.

Please continue to pray for them, and Papa. Thank you

WORLD AIDS DAY....what are you doing TODAY?

Today is W O R L D A I D S DAY. What are you doing on a day like this?? Over 8,000 people will have died by the end of today, 5 people die every minute, sobering thought isn't it??? Today, is going to be a very quiet day for me, I will be remembering my friends who have died through this horrible sickness, and cherish the day that I might see them again. If your going to spread anything, spread this, aids anymore is not a gay thing, it is a social epidemic sweeping through our communities.

CLICK HERE for more information on what you can do in your community, to be a voice in the still of night, and a light in the shadows, Christian, or non christian. Today is the day, the Challenge is Ours!!

whyiDOUBT... Waiting on the Stars... Herb&Ester visit FC

Yes, it is true, I waited on Steve Harvey, Michael Irving, Danny Glover, and yes last but not least Barry Switzer, he is not real popular here in the DFW. I wonder why?

Ed's message this weekend was on doubt, and how we learned that Jesus had doubts, and that it is ok to doubt. It is healthy to have some doubt to show that you are real and not fake.

Thanksgiving weekend is always a big deal at FC, they have the whole campus decorated, and it is always packed with new people visiting for the first time with their families. I invited my dad's best friend Herb and his wife Ester. We hung out all day and then went early to church for some coffee and then headed to the 5pm service. They liked it for the most part, but couldn't understand why Ed didn't give a invitation at the end. I tried to explain that most mega-church's these days, have a response time, and people just don't do or like invitations.

I have been working a lot, and hoping this month goes by quick. This time of year does not impress me that much, except for Thanksgiving weekend of 98' is when I found Christ, and also the last time I say my mom alive.

Peace

Another DALKE UPDATE w/ pictures

Here is another update and pictures from the Kevin & Jen Dalke. Here is a note from Kevin and pictures of the house before and after.Please note: forwarded message attachedDear Friends and Family: As many of you have heard we a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. GOD has been so very faithful and unchanging. There are times we may feel like asking why. Our family has been challenged to say 'what' instead of 'why'. "What do you have for me LORD." - And he said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for you, My strength made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmaties, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ( II Corinthians 12:9) - After viewing the pictures, as long as they come through, you will see GOD's hand of mercy and know that everyone is in good health and we will persevere with GOD's help. He has used so many to encourage and support us.Love,The Dalke's 2005_1023dalke0015.JPG684K View Download 142028-R1-06-7.jpg1150K View Download

DALKE UPDATE////DALKE UPDATE

Today, my heart has been broken after I heard this news. PLEASE pray for Kevin & Jen Dalke

dimcmillen@netzero.net

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Nov 27 (1 day ago)

This weekend has been extremely long and emotional. I've been in close communication with Jen and went out to see the remains on Saturday along with Crystal.
First of all the Dalke's are doing really well for the most part. The girls still have lots of questions and some fear when going to sleep. When Dalia was walking through the house she said to me.. " Di Di, I don't want my house to be broken any more"- me neither I said. Josie seems pretty exicted about telling your friends about the fire and getting a new house soon. Hatti lost her hearing aides which should be covered by insurance but will take time in replacing. Please pray as she has to adjust to a classroom without them. Hatti was hoping to find some of her birthday gifts since it was in October- didn't find any.
Kev & Jen feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit as they have been surrounded by prayer by many. Thank you! They have been staying with a family that has a big house and lots of room since Thursday night. I met them last night and gave them my appreciation for taking care of my family- since I'm unable to do so in this manner. Kevin's brother, Dave and parents came down Friday night to spend some time with the family and look over the house. Kevin & Jen are amazed at the support of their church and community. It does my heart and faith good too!!!
Housing: They have a few offers for furnished homes. Unfortunately, both houses would be about 20 minutes further for Kevin's commute into Bellevue and Jen would have to drive the girls back and forth to school. They are also looking at some apartments in Griswold today... not for sure if any will work but they are hoping one will. They will need to make these decisions this week. Please pray.
Insurance: Many of you asked and yes they had insurance for the house and items in the house. Last night Crystal and I helped Jen itemize the kitchen- we were close to starting the 4th page and I'm sure we missed a few items. Crystal & I were also able to itemize the things that we had lost- not for sure whether or not they will be replaced by the insurance. Please pray for them on Monday as they will be sitting down with their insurance company to discuss all of this. Jen & Kev do feel very overwhelmed at times in making all the right decision now.


Old House: I had a lot of mixed emotions when I toured the house remains. First of all I was amazed that the exterior walls were still standing and that their was so much rumble. I figured it would of all be burnt to ashes. Secondly, I was broken hearted to see everything in such disarray. They had cleared a path in two small areas but you could barely move around because the whole house was literally on the main floor. I just can't describe it in words- It was so horific and I was thankful we had all made it out safe. It could be a different story today had this fire started late in the evening.
Jen & Kev and some friends went on Friday to see what was left. At first they are all hopefully of finding treasures among the ashes but soon realized that if you can find something that is recognizable it's usually not intact or is charred or melted etc. After a while Jen said-- why even look. They were able to pull about 20 items from the rumble this includes many of their photo albums (they may still have water damage etc) and office papers (which is amazing when you think of their location). Kev found two of Jen's rings (not her engagement ring) but they are very damaged.
Help. Many of people have asked how can they help. First of all please covet them in your prayers- continue to pray that God will go before them in every detail. Their next steps will be determined by their insurance payout. They are thankful for the offers of people wanting to give but they are not accepting any furniture at this time as they have no where to store it. A bank account has been set up in Atlantic, IA- which is so generous of the community. They have recieved a few clothing items and gift cards. If you are wanted to give please contact me further.
Thank you for loving my family and praying for all of us- It will be awhile before things will seem normal again. The Briethhaupts, the Dalke's and myself have decided that sometime in January, when things have settled down a bit, we are going to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Because we have a lot of things to be thankful for.

Love, Diane3333

I just want to thank everyone who have emailed me and called. Im sharing our love, prayer and thoughts. randall paul

Dalke's NEED PRAYER>>>please

I went to college with the Dalke's, and they need your love prayer's right now.

Please pray for Kevin & Jennifer Dalke: (my sister)
Thursday night- Kev & Jen's house caught on fire EVERYONE MADE IT OUT OKAY. Dave & Crystal Breithaupt (for those of you who know them) and myself had all been out there since Wednesday night. The upstairs fire alarm went off about 6:00 p.m. and when Kev went to see what the matter was could see smoke and flames from the chimney/attic. We all proceeded out.. thinking we would have to spend the rest of the weekend wiping down walls and airing out the house... Instead we watched the whole house quickly consumed in flames. Basically they only have the clothes on their back. Everything else was destroyed. It was so surreal.
History: Jen & Kev have been restoring a 100 year old home on about 7 acres of land about 1 hour east of Council Bluffs. They had put lots of money and lots of sweat into their home for the last three years and now everything is gone. They have a wonderful church community that I am hoping will take them under their wings. I only live in a duplex and although Kevin works in Bellevue, their school, life and friends are out there.
Please pray for them. Pray that God would provide a place for them to live that would work out best for everyone. Pray for peace during this stressful and emotional time. Pray that God would go before them and work out all the little details. Pray that their church would come and walk besides them. Pray for them as they walk through this with their girls. Amazing enough the kids (Briethaupts' too) kept themselves fairly preoccupied and it wasn't too traumatic- I'm sure that will come later. Pray as the grieve over this lost- Yes it only earthly possessions but it's still a lost of hopes, dreams, and things that can never be replaced- baby pictures, family heirlooms-
We are all rejoicing- this could of happened while we were sleeping... everyone was downstairs at the time... therefore we were all able to just put on our coats and walk outside. Please pray for all of us- as we work through these emotions and feeling very helpless for the Dalke family.
\r\nI came home tonight without my suitcase with my stuff..no blow dryer, no slippers- but I have a place to come home to. I will keep you all updated. Love, Diane
I came home tonight without my suitcase with my stuff..no blow dryer, no slippers- but I have a place to come home to. I will keep you all updated.
Love, Diane

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Happy TEXAS Anniversary.... Where is the Davies? Go Huskers

It has been a great ride so far, so can you believe I have been in the "Big DFW" for 3 years? Well, I can't hardly believe it, but my 3 year anniversary was yesterday at high noon, when I pulled into the DFW at Jason and Amy Hansen's house in Bedford Texas. The big celebration was the my Martini party with my new bud Afif. I had to be at work at the Blue Mesa taco and tequila bar at 9am-till 4pm on Thanksgiving Day, but I was cut early at 130pm, and I was very cool with that. I was walking out of my store, and I literally ran into Dale Davies from Christ Community in Omaha, I caught up with them after their lunch and we chatted for two hours, it was awesome. I explained to them that it was my 3 year anniversary, and they just made my day. It was like they were a present to share with, in my 3 year Texas run. ***UPDATE on Papa*** Please pray for him and our family, he has taken a turn for the worst, as of this morning,he is not doing good. Courtney is moving slower than my dad, and she is very sore. This is the Huskers last game of the regular season against Colorado in Boulder. GO HUSKERS!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING....A long road ahead for our family

Hoping all of my friends and family have a great Thanksgiving. I love you all and am blessed to have you apart of my life.

This week the Thompson/Wright family has hard a blow and will be a long road for this upcoming holiday season. Step-sister Courtney was in a bad car accident last Sunday, and finally got out of the hospital today. Dad was able to take her home and she will be slowly recovering this month.

Well, my dad's best friend Herb and his wife Ester made it into town. He is staying with his son and daughter in law, and they both moved from San Antino this Nov. 1, . We will be all hangingout all day Saturday and then all 4 of them will be going to Fellowship with me at the 630pm service, and Herb is really looking forward to it.

nnn The Thompson/Wright family unfortuanetly will be spending this Thanksgiving at St. John's Hospital in Springfield MO. They had to rush PaPa (Raphael's dad) into the emergency room this mid morning due to what they think is congestive heart failure. PLEASE PRAY for the Thompson/Wright Family this season.

Afif and I went to my Martini's Thanksgiving Party, and to say the least, it was very fun and lots of turkey. Good times had by all.

whyi-give... Shane & Shane @ FC

This weekend was very fun, I hung out before work both Friday and Saturday with Afif and Jen, which was nice, since I wont be working with them any longer. FC invited national recording artist Shane and Shane, it was a very toned down weekend of worship, which was nice.

Ed spoke on why i give, it was more on tithe, but tied in time and talents as well. God gives us so much, to show our love back, we need to share our wealth which is ultimately His. I start work Monday, and I am really nervous, but excited.

Oh YEA, I almost forgot, Happy Birthday MICHELLE KILDOW. love

Hangin' with the Frat rats & Sorority sisters... Another cancer story

In my endeavor to always not pass up a opportunity to encourage someone's faith, or show them my own, I try and always have that on my frontal lobe. I have been working with this kid who's mom is dying of cancer, and will not make it past this Christmas. We have went out for dinner a couple of times, hung at my house, and we were going to hang in his neck of the woods. He is a awesome person, and just a really great guy, and is really hurting over the soon loss of his mom. He asked me if I wanted to come over to hang, but he informed me, he had a surprise for me. I was not ready for this surprise. Delta, Delta, Delta can I help you Sig Ep's. We went to a fall formal after party, o h yea till 6 : 3 0 in the am. We had fun, I had fun, but I have not seen stuff like that in a long time. Boy am I old.

Under-construction-by God

Well, like I said in a previous post, it was going to be a hard holiday, and it has been a long 4 months getting to it. God decided that it is time for me to go thru a little construction in my life, and so I can't argue and you usually don't. I didn't even on this one have a chance, so for what ever reason, I am temporally unemployed with my full time job at Fridays. This one I am really upset about, and saddened by. I really wanted to still travel for them opening new stores, and travel around on their passport program, where you can go pick up a shift anywhere in the world, as long as you can speak that language, that is not happening. I belief that everything happens for a reason, and this is no mistake. I am strong, I am a surveyor, No, is not in my vocabulary, I only settle for 1st place, and will not come in second. I did however go and get a second job,( with-in 4 hours of my dismissal) as a bartender at the blue mesa grill & tequila bar in the brand new Intl terminal D-28. This will only be temporary, or until I get fired from this one, just kidding I hope not. Peace

whyi-laugh

I am sure not laughing today, or this week. Well, I was with friends at church. We were in the last row of the middle section, next door to the main camera's, when this fat guy decided he was going to come through our row. I am normally open to letting people sit down in my row, but this time, I was not. We were already standing, the service already begun, and he slides past me. I lean back in, against my theater seat, and hold on, well I placed my right foot on the worship guide and slide, and luckily I caught myself, but still threw out my back. I couldn't breathe very well, and I grabbed on of my usher friends, to have someone help me out. I normally would be laughing at this time, but you know what, I am in pain, not laughing, and out of work for 4 days. If you were wondering Ed's message was on laughing, I didn't hear it, but I am sure it was funny. Next week it might be funny, but right now, my back side is on ice.

CONTROVERSY vs discussion? what do you like?

I found this article that someone sent me, I have been to a few focus groups around the metroplex discussing this with Christians and non, this very subject. I have been trying to give back to my community. (thanks shelly bang bang). So if your up to it, this is what I have been dealing with in my real world. As many of you know, controversy follows me and it has been doing it along time.
Here is some food for thought:
g Outreach at Gay Pride Day
Just in my last post today, I said I don't get political too much here, but this struck me as a positive development...

We've all seen the "God Hates Fags" signs that so-called Christians take to protest the homosexual lifestyle. Pastor Tim Lucas takes a different approach that was noticed this week in the NY Times. On a hot seaside afternoon, about 150 people from his small church wore light blue T-shirts bearing the name of their ministry, Liquid, and gave out free bottles of water. The title of the article:

Christians Say Hello. Gay Activists say Hmmm.

The Times piece says... "Pastor Lucas hoped that Liquid, which is part of a conservative Baptist church that considers homosexuality a sin, could take a third position, avoiding both the scolds of some evangelical Christians and the acceptance of more liberal churches. Without endorsing homosexuality, he said: "We want to dismantle the invisible hierarchy of sin that many evangelicals promote that puts gays and lesbians at the top of the list. That sense of self-righteousness and superiority runs rampant in our church like a cancer."

It continues... "For the members of Liquid, an alternative ministry within Millington Baptist Church, the event was a mission into new territory. At a final strategy meeting last week, a handwritten sign in the back of the room listed reasons for the outreach, and the first was "to challenge stereotypes of 'Christians.' "

Mr. Lucas wore spiked hair and an Amsterdam Motorcycles T-shirt. He advised the church members not to get into arguments or try to convert anybody. "We're not going there to hand out tracts," he said. "These people have been marginalized and hurt, often by us.

"If they say, 'What are you doing here?' keep it simple. Just say, 'We're here to show you God's love.' "

Alternatively, Mr. Lucas said, they might draw criticism from other conservative Christians, including members of their parent church, which was not invited to participate. "People might say, 'So you think I have to change so God will love me?' " he said. "Or they'll say, 'So you're a gay church, huh. Baptists are coming around to gay marriage?' You just say to them, 'No, I'm just here to serve.' "

If all went well, he said, "we'll earn the wrath and condemnation of religious folks, and find more people on the fringe, much like it was for Jesus."

Seems like a balanced approach to me, and a good start. I think Jesus would treat homosexuals with respect, just as members of "Liquid" did. Jesus loves each of them as much as he loves you or me. You've often heard it said that you need to love the sinner and hate the sin... I think this is a great way to start the dialouge. Who knows if any progress was made; but nothing was hurt.

FOR DISCUSSION: Has your church done any outreach to groups like homosexuals? How was it received? How did it effect your church? g Taken from Monday Morning Insights June 2005

Love ya lots, and get ready cause Christmas is just around the corner. Fellowship Church.com's Christmas Extravaganza is coming up, dates soon.

Making Waves....Who wants to be a Gideon???

After the big Texas election, the discussion has been the talk of the town, about same sex marriages being legal or should not be legal. I have been slowly changing the way I relate into a discussing to now more of a debate, and well, let's just say, there has been some heated discussions. At Fridays there are a lot of so called Christians at my store B-10 and they are not for that amendment, it has been many long discussions, and it has been some good times. At my martini, just two Christians and very liberal views on the subject. I found out that my dad became a Gideon, and every time he is on vacation, he checks to make sure that there is a bible in his hotel/motel room. His new best friend Herb introduced him to it, and he really loves it. Herb is planning on coming down for Thanksgiving to visit his son, and hopefully we will be able to hangout, and I think Dad and his wife Rapahel are coming down the week of Christmas, and hopefully they will be able to experience a Fellowship Christmas service that is always like no other.

ELECTIONS COME...elections go??

This Tuesday marked history for the state of Texas, and I hope for along time. The state voted by a wide margin "FOR" Same Sex Marriages to remain with one man and one woman, which can be good and bad. It is a touche' subject, and I am not really ready to make my plea, but it is hard for me to be against the idea, that your love for someone has to be a law/rule. It really comes down to once again "the Freedom" that everybody thinks we have, but rarely realize that we are losing it in a lot of everyday situation- like this one. I rest my case. Well, my buddy Afif and I have been hanging tight since June had a great week of his Muslim Christmas and birthday. Something that is really funny is that we have been noticing that every time we go out, we never EVER get good service at a restaurant. On his birthday we waited 15 minutes for them to come clean off our table, that the host told us to go sit at in the bar, and then another 15 minutes to even get a manger to come and say hello. At least us 3 had good company, not a good birthday experience. Good thing he is so easy going, and care free.

whyiLIVE...

This weekend was a exceptional at FC. This series is looking deep into Ed's own life as he is always asking God whyi?. He stated that he would be sharing things in his own life, that no one else knows and is really just being real, open, and honest in more of a sit down on the couch and let's chat type of each installment. I have decided I am going to do that as well, only for myself and God first, and well you can see whyi--click too. Let's GO whyiLive- because I belong to God, was created by Him. I try to let go of myself, and transpose my sinful nature into His shadow, to love, to reveal my faith in the most humanly way possible. I live to try and grasp what it means to be a man, and friend like my father. I live because right now, God wants me here. I live to share my life journey with some, who might need encouragement, and I don't even have to say a thing. I live because my friends have helped mold me into the person I am, and for my bestees', I only look to you to continue to complete my sphere of what you stand for, that I can learn from. I live that others can see that I have come along way, and my road still continues on, hopefully my influence as well, even when God chooses to take my home. WHYiLIVE-for my faith, my hope, my love peace

New 4 YOU... whyi??? A week of fun?!

I have decided since usually so many people respond to my web page, I am going to respond to you. So as of Nov 1, 2005 I am responding to all of your comments on the "comments page", so m you better check it out. You wanted to know, go get em'.

This weekend at FC we are kicking off a new one. In our frenzied rush through life, we rarely slow down long enough to ask ourselves why we do what we do. In this series, Senior Pastor Ed Young takes time to do just that. Ed, a self-proclaimed why guy, opens up his life to give us an insiders look at why he does what he does. And over the next several weeks, we'll discover that the amazing life God has in store for us is often one question away.

Afif, my Muslim buddy is living high on the hog this week. Wednesday was the end of Ramadan, and this Monday is his birthday, and when we get back from church, we will be celebrating. Of course the party will be at my pad, since "your pad rocks dude, let's have the party here." Fine by me.

Christmas with his best friend....Don't beat around the bush. Please...

In my buddy's Muslim faith, Ramadan is now over, and it is "Christmas for us buddy" which he celebrated with his mom and sister, and me tonight. We just got back from Abuelos (where I use to work), and now are hitting the peace pipe, and the cigar is nice, I must admit also. Going to take a walk and enjoy the nice cool 70" weather. GetR don".


It has been along week, and it seems like it is getting longer by the hour. Halloween night was fine, nothing too exciting. Today is the start of a 7 day warm front, and tonight KK gets back from her trip to Vegas. I can't wait to see her. This is the 3rd time she has went and I cant wait for my 3rd gift. I have a friend who has been promising me something for a while now, and it is just driving me nuts. If you don't want to give it to me, than don't keep saying you will. That is what has been driving me nuts this whole week. Mean what you say, and say what you mean. PLEASE.

We have a new manager working at B-10, and she is Mrs. Razor, I am best friends with her daughter. Since she is here, she is the mom of the store, everybody lovers her and she is so sweet, she brought so much Halloween candy last weekend, that it was crazy. I missed First Wednesday at FC this week and it has been awhile since I have been to one of those in many many months. However I cant wait, this weekend Ed is starting a new series whyi. Cant wait for that. Well I better go, I feel I like I am just babbling, and to be frankly honest, I am, and don't ever call me frank.
Peace I am out.

Walking alongside a friend...FC music is back...Christmas for GLBT's

****This will be another touchy subject, and wish not to piss anybody off.**** I have been getting along with this awesome person from one of my jobs. I have earned her trust on big secrets that she has trusted me with. This past week I had to make a hard decision on morals, or Christian beliefs. My friend got pregnant and was really excited about it, but then slowly changed her mind. She asked me if I would go with her to go get an abortion, now my first reaction was, "are you out of mind?" You love your 3 kids now, why would you even think of something like that? Well, I spent the week wondering what kind of person would I be if I did not go, but still talk to her about God things. I don't think she would then take me seriously. Do I go, and hurt God's heart or befriend a person who looks for trust, loyalty, and being real. Well, I chose on showing a good loyal Christian friendship that she will hopefully find Faith, Hope, and Love in this dark world. If you go back to New Testament, Jesus talks about hanging out with the hookers, poor, people in need, and those are the people you could find Jesus, just chilling with. Well, that is who Jesus and I chose to chill with. I took her out for breakfast, and I prayed for our day, our breakfast to give us the best nourishment right now, and a calm peace that she would find Gods heart and love in this time. Since that day she is resting at home and her heart is still in need of what she just might of lost. Well, I found out that they are changing pictures, and you can see what hot hits were part of their past weekend worship set. Well, I hung out with my other good friends. If you want to see a real freak show, next year you got to come down to the Halloween Block Party in the famous largest gay district in Uptown Dallas. Thousands, upon thousands of Gay's Lesbians, Bisexual, and Trandsgendered, and also all of us in the regular mix all the straight people. It is a lot of fun, but it is just crazy to witness all the differernt freak shows there are. It was definitely Christmas for all the GLBT's-Merry Christmas.

Mom is it my turn?? Which do you prefer a trick or treat?...Single 4 life?...

\ happy birthday to Nan Dailey and Matthew Waller-bro your 30!!/

It is the weekend, and I am ready to let my hair down!! My second job is a blast, the people really make it fun, and they actually do care, well at least some of them. When I got hired, I was told that I would have to wait a while to get on the wait staff, which I was ok for that, sometimes in life you just have to wait for the good stuff. This cute little, dark ethnic, (background-unknown) mom of the store, told me last night that I am going to start training next week. Which I am stoked about. Ms K (to keep her guessing) is the mom of the group, and definitely the glue to that store, which I hope the right people one day come to realize. She is awesome, she makes me and the rest of the staff laugh each day she is working. I really like this group, the bartenders are awesome, we have a really cool laid back young minnesotaian executive chef, and down to earth people. Yes there are a couple I could see not working there, but I am not the boss, so that will probably not happen.
My friend who loves carrots, sorry bro I had to tell the story, and of course it was a hit. Love ya

Tonight and tomorrow I have to work at Fridays, but Saturday night, I will be out on the town. A bunch of us are meeting for dinner at Cafe Brazil-uptown, and then heading to the block party in the Oaklawn district. Thousands upon thousands of people of all different backgrounds converge onto this 2 mile radius to have fun, drink, and of course check out the scenery. I will be looking for treats, and I am sure the rest of my single friends will be looking for tricks, not my thing, but to each is own. For my friends back at home like Shane, Jeanette, or Michelle-Don't go there. I know you want to, but let's not OK!? Trick or Treat?

I really have been enjoying my singleness. I just think for a while, I am going to remain single, personally I think for life, but I could be open to a realationship. I really have no desire to get married at all, that I am positive on, and will not EVER happen. A really good friend of mine who I met at Fellowship has been choosing to be single, only cause God has not lead him down that road yet. He wrote this article on being single in a Christian lifestyle. It is an awesome article from an awesome man of God, so check it out here.

Long day at the office...Visit Fellowship of Maceio, Go White Sox

What a very long day and night. I just got home, the bar got spanked, and I was asked to bar back and help out. It is a really fun job, but the bartender sure does like for us two to do shots together. I was working my tail off and by the 2nd shot, and wondering why I am sweating, I came to the realization that I had not eaten, since oh let's say 4pm, and by then it was time to go home. We had a girl who comes in a regular basis, that is always loopy. We found out that she is a pill popper, and to be honest, I really don't know anybody around my age and under who is not. It is kind of sad, that all the people I know are always popping zanax, vicadin? And stuff like that. I ended up "being security" and watching her all night so she would not leave, while we were waiting for the cab to come. Towards the end of the night, another one passed out at the bar, and we had to call him a cab, to say the least, wow what a night!?!?

I know I should really be a Texan as my friends say, but I really hope the White Sox pull a big win.

I am sad to say that the Fellowship web design dept. are making a few changes, I am not sure, why, and for what reason they did not get my opinion on this, but they are no longer sharing with the world what kind of worship set they did that weekend on their web page. I hope they change their mind, we will have to wait and see. One of the big mission trips that FC does, started 3 years ago in Maceio Brazil, check out the updates here.

This weekend was awesome at FC. Tianne Moon is one of our speakers when Ed is gone and she spoke on how to really listen. Between the roar of rush hour traffic, the buzz of airplanes overhead and the constant ringing of the telephone, it's amazing that we can hear our own thoughts-much less the voice of God when He calls out to us. In this message we learned how to drown out the White Noise and listen to the one true voice that matters.

What's around the bend...

Well, breast cancer month is almost over, and I am gearing up for what lies ahead for me in the next few months. Along with a heavy work load, and a few friends that want to come and see me, (3 different groups just for thanksgiving weekend). I am not sure how I am going to pull that one off, and with the big one, my moms passing away month, I am gearing up for the emotion. I was lying in bed and realizing that I am still so blessed. My health is not where I want it to be, but we are working on that. My family and some very close friends are still dealing with cancer and on Halloween coming up, it will be a somber, but joyous time of reflection. I had a couple of friends pass away since I have been living here in Dallas, from Aids.

I just want to share Aids is not just a gay thing, people's mindset, is that only homosexuals pass on Aids. That is probably just the opposite, more heterosexual people who pass it knowingly, and some unaware of this diease, that can be slow, but deadly are in the running. It's not hard to practice safe sex, trust me, I know people who were very sexually active, and have been non-active for well over 5 years.
That is probably one thing I really enjoy about my life, in a non-bragging way, is that I have friends, and can make friends with anybody or any group. I am developing a friendship with a friend who visits FC and thinks every church should be cool, hip, and contemporary like that. He has realized through me and our talks, that his sexual activity really needs to slow down, HE realized it, without me making him really aware of how careless he is with who he takes home from the bars. No, he is not a Christ follower yet, but he does know the difference in my life verses his own. That is how I can have so many different types of friends without judging them, and they do not feel so much pressure from me, like others who are more of a "bible beaten' em over their head". People it is being real, honest, open, with the intent of building a relationship that they see, feel, and hear in a non-judgmental way. I don't have it down, but when it comes down to friendship, I at least know I am heading in the right direction, cause it comes back to me, "if you want a true friend, or if you need to talk to someone, you can definitely trust him". When I hear that, or it comes back to me, I feel really good knowing trust has been established, now I just hope I can show a little God in me, and how my life has been positively altered back on the right course.
peace

Time to get REAL? Weekend Ready, Texas vs Texas Tech??

Here is a recent pic of me at work and my fisty friend Mo. YOU like??? I like!!!

Well, I have this best friend back at home, she insists that I need to be more open, honest and "real" with myself, and the others in my life. In the upcoming months, I am going to try to entangle those wicked webs we weave.

I just got invited to a football watching, outdoor grilling, Guinness drinking, and hanging with the boys, and yes two really hot girls event this Saturday. Well one really hot one, and the other, she is ok, she is not dropdead hot, but she is ok. (Sorry rat, not to bust you out) Literally with in 5 minutes, I had another friend from C-30 invite me to hangout that evening, and do a little bar hopping. What to do? Who will win, it will be a good game, the longhorns, or the red raiders?

Walking high in the clouds.... Birthdays abound

I guess October is the month for birthdays, I want to say a big happy birthday, and I know, also a belated birthday to the following friends and family. Aunt Virginia, Jodi McQuillen, Chris Saub, Joseph Carlson, Shannon Crist, and last but not certainly least Meghan Bernard!!!!!

Well kids, I am going to tell ya'll a little secret, maybe its a vice, maybe a longing to reach another planet, it might be a delusional craving inside to be just normal, maybe not a Christian, or a Christian, maybe a Mormon and Jew, na I just don't think so. Just maybe a longing to be real, and not scared of what people might think of, oh if they could just be.

Oh ladies and gentlemen, a guy walked in with a pig on his left arm, no what I was going to really say is that Randillious Airlines has officially taken off, from DFW Intl, on this fine evening, MMM OOO NNN DDD AAA YYY NIGHT football, game on bitches. The inflight movie will be Oceans 11 & 12, so sit back, put your legs back, and get ready for the flight.

So anyway, Im with my friend and officially another new best friend. Let me, let you in on a secret, Afif Hossainn's family was/is one of the richest people from Bangladesh. The richest, he just throws money around like its pennies. We hangout I would say, every other day, and we just chill, leave our memories, laughter, tears, and fears, beers and queers aside, and begin to just fall into a non existent like trance. Its as if we do this only on the days where our moms thinks were at Randy Czech house in the back yard, smoking in his little sister barbie house.

Why, is it so hard to let people into your life, but wondering why do they want to get to know you, with all of the baggage they can see lying around you. That's what I think, Afif is different, he knows he has his baggage, his sin, and vice's that so entangle us into believing that life is just plain f*c*ed up, and nothing really matters. He just enjoys being in a free country, and people not knowing they just walked past one of the richest men from a small ,DFW INTL airport size country of 12 million living there, and just are content. Afif is different, he is Muslim, and he has been to church with me and thinks FC is just cool, but believing in Christ, might not just be established yet, He asked me tonight, if I died, where would I go? Remember that secret, I told, I like to smoke, I am sorry, there you go, you got it out of me. I love to just zone, not all the time, but when life throws you a few hurdles, and you just need to go to that a happy place, Vanvoorst go find your happy place. Thanks, I think I will, peace. Oh yea, in a about 30 minutes, we will be landing, and you can go dreadfully back into your pathetic excuses and attempt to call your job-- LIFE.

peace

NICE, or honesty??-which do you prefer?

Well, this has been hell week for me, and of course I am sick and came home early from work. If you know me, I love to work, when I come home, you know I am sick. I had someone drive me home and I have friends coming over to bring me lunch. I am not trying to be nice, but just plain honest. Let's see here, I was in a ok mood, but now that I just checked out my site, someone yet again is trying to be an asshole and piss me off. Well, I cant get mad over people who "Anonymously" don't have the balls to say how they really feel, or put a name with it. If you know ME, than you already know me. Let me refer you to the section that's "ABOUT ME". You read it, and then get back to me. I was thinking, let me help you OUT, " I don't see color, race, religion, or sexual orientation. I am equal with others." That is it, read into as much as want. The party I am going to will be filled with over 400 of the biggest fags, models, doctors, Asians, same sex married couples, and some of the wealthiest young professionals in the dfw .Etc, and I cant wait to hang with them. You want to know why, because they enjoy life, more than I do, because they don't believe in stereotypes, however, my so called friends obviously still do. I am close, but not yet. Oh yea, I almost forgot, I prefer to be real. Grow some.

A straight 7...Hurricane Katrina Relief Party ... Who came out?

No Edward, this post is not dedicated to you, but it might as well be. Love you, miss you, don't ever forget Marcy St vacation. Well tomorrow is going to be my 7th day working in a row at Fridays, and to celebrate I am meeting a few of my friends at Hurricane relief fundraiser party on White rock Lake. Yes, there will be a few reality stars from the Real World, Road Rules, The Bachelor, and Bachelorette, just to name a few. What is a guy suppose to do when he has not two party's to go to, but 3 in one night. Oh the possibilities. My Elsavordian family that has took me under their wing, is having a huge birthday celebration for her daughter, and my friend Mirna. Happy 21st MIRNA-get ready for the shots. Oh yea for anybody that feels the need to party make sure you have a DDriver on hand, and if you do, and you feel the need to get sick, trust me, it will be alot easier, PUKE IN YOUR CAR, not out the window. Since this is a big week with National Coming Out week, and the specific day of Oct 11. I want to acknowledge a few of my friends who decided they felt the need to kick that door open, ("No pun intended of course") I joined the huge fag-fest celebration at the State fair of Texas this past Sunday. To my friends and you know who you are, you are loved, supported, and know you can be free to just be. So, Come Out, Be Out, and Stay Out.

Be still and know you are on vacation this past weekend

I woke mid morning awoke to the cool air enjoyed being alone with myself the phone rang no more the room spinning in silence I knew this weekend would be peaceful made it out of bed since I have been awake for an hour roamed my apartment naked to the cool air blowing in on me played on the computer watched TV the aroma of incense covered my pipe smoke listened to jazz for hours no Fridays, no my martini oh to be free to just do nothing can I be dreaming 3 good meals all three days off vacationing from life, but not left texas knowing I can be free to just be ME

a cool-cold air front... high off of paint fumes....living care free

athis out, it is a cool 61degrees out, and the wind is blowing through my apartment and thankfully, I am not getting high anymore. I have gotten back in touch with one of my old high school best friends, that I have been trying to encourage him with his marriage. He wanted to help me out, because he was one of the people I was coming home to hangout and chill with. Our friendship didn't get tainted, just we finally found each other back on our paths. He is a really great friend, and would/has done anything for me or anybody. His brother had unfortunately taken his own life, and we have been trying to cope with that, and I hope YOU are still doing ok. We are planning on him coming down to visit me sometime around Thanksgiving. RI, know after our long talk last night, I finished painting my apartment, I finally hit the bed oh around 2am, but my apart looks sweet. Thank you for the encouragement to "Live Life Care Free". Please accept my humble apology, for us not being able to come at the last moment. Sorry my friends.

OCTOBER starting to suck as well...

ELPASO MEETS NEBRASKA VACATION-- C A N C E L L E D, sorry my friends.

A welcome to October, the eagles visit FC...

OMAHA VACATION-- C A N C E L L E D

Im still hoping and praying that this October is better than September. I am trying to get my car insurance re-instated. To be honest, I am not sure if this very soon, and upcoming trip to Omaha is actually going to happen, we will have to wait and see till the very end. Sorry.

This weekend we continued the "Love Affair" series with earlier taped "Live" interviews with couples who have went through an adulterous affair and how God has healed their marriage. It was very intense, even though their faces, and voices were altered. The worship was also really alive and energetic. Our special guest song was an Eagles song sang by Eric Orsen titled "the best of my love". It Rocked.

The end to September....Anybody for DonkeyKong? Everything is BIGGER in Texas?!

Well, I know this will be a shock to most of you, but the month outside of my mom passing away, this by far was one of the hardest months in my entire life. I am down, up, then down, happy, frustrated, mad, sad, glad, in argument's with friends and family, that don't understand that I love them, care about them, and want only the best for them. I am hoping and praying to the God above, I need a better October....Please.

Well, today is the first day of one of the largest state fairs in the nation. Yes it's so BBBIIIIGGGG.
This big event runs from today to October 23. I will let you know who might stroll through our TGIFridays-B10

C A N C E L L E D
Well plans are final, and Karla and I are on our way to Nebraska, leaving this Wednesday afternoon, we cant wait. T-bag & Nat we will see you soon. Oh yea miss shelly bang bang, you want to play? Oh it's on, better go get warmed up on the old Atari beeaacthhhh. CANCELLED

OH VICTORIA....A belated birthday... Lincoln Brewster @ FC... Introducing El Paso to Nebraska-CANCELLED

Oh where, oh where can one of my favorite sisters be. HAPPY 49th Birthday VIC.

I want to say a huge sorry, and happy belated birthday to one of my very best friends Patrick Ley. I have a had such a great friend like you since summer of 93. I have been there for your moms cancer, the passing of her, your engagement to Shari, the wedding when we kidnapped her, ( that's what the best man has to do), I was there for the birth of your new son as you dedicated him, and I am sure more good best friend bonding moment times to come.

When I am down, you always call at just the right time, you know when my walk is struggling, and all you have to do is just listen, and it picks me back up and puts back on the path. Love you bro.

This weekend was yet another surprise for the grapevine campus of FellowshipChurch.com Lincoln Brewster, national recording artist, and worship pastor/leader led worship all weekend at FC-grapevine. It was an awesome time of worship. Ed's message still on adultery just plain rocked. Check out this powerful message and awesome video they did to get the point across here.

C A N C E L L E D
Two short days and 1 week I will be back in the Big O' with my girl Karla. We are lining up the schedule, and it will be jam packed. Just to name a few highlights. Mai Tai Lounge, a kite Flying Festival, riding 4 wheelers, Jazz on the Green, Chris Saub Band Jam, going to the Husker game, and of course, our Lady of 680 CCC, and tons more. STAY TUNED, you know who you are??!!

FOR ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED, YOU BETTER GET READY TO WORK!!!!! CANCELLED

Inside scoop on Rita & Texas...News at the Creek... Who stopped by FC?

Yes, I am ok and all is well. Hurricane Rita has turned more east. The DFW Intl. Airport is discussing possibly shutting down the airport completely Saturday and Sunday. The DFW metroplex is completely sold out of hotel/motel rooms. The closest is the far north of Oklahoma City, Ok.

Dad and I arrived safe, sound, probably not so sane, but I was able to go back to work early Tuesday morning.

This past weekend at Fellowship, we had two different musical numbers. Check it out here.
So you are probably wondering why does FC and other church's play for example this weekend the Dixie Chicks and Sheryl Crow in their worship set? CHECK out this blog on "Secular music in Church."

We made it to the "Creek" on Sunday, and dad could not believe the campus and how massive it is. He enjoyed the service, but commented, "it was sure different, this church is definitely into building relationships." They kicked off the a brand new series, War of the Worlds, first installment- REEL relationships-"why can't you be more like me?" The series opener was a guitar solo, and he was doing a cool riff to "Live and Light Die" and with also a light show. After the service we ate lunch in their 800 seat cafe, and then I showed him around the campus, with a brief hello to Gene Apple in the guest central area. He saw me and immediately remembered me from FC, and asked me what I thought of the service. I loved it

Gene Apple is the new Lead Pastor for Willow Creek South Barrington Campus, check out the news press here.

Thank you to all who have emailed and called me to ask how things are. We need your prayers, times are tough, and hopefully it will let up here, very soon.

booming birthday... What are you doing in here???... Happy Belated Birthday

Well, we made it super safe, sound, and tired. I love going thru Chicago, and cant wait till we go to the "Creek" tomorrow. Just chilled last night at my sister's house, with a pizza, vino, cards, and many laughs.
We are heading to the Botanical Gardens today, and more than likely taking care of baby Larsen.

Dad, me, and his best friend with his wife went out for dinner at Landry's Thursday night. Dad went to the bathroom, and he had to wait for a small 3x5 toilet stall. The guy leaves the stall, and dad tries to walk in it, and some guy goes, "there is someone here," and Dad goes, "What are you doing in here?" Of course the guy didn't answer him and when he finally finished doing whatever he was doing, he did not say a word to dad or even bother making eye contact. So the moral of the story is, if you are going to be working and you want to get your swirve on, or want to sword fight with your favorite sports partner, make sure you are not at work, while it is busy, and dont do that in public. GROSS people .

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU KRISTEN DRISCOLL. im sorry, i forgot. i human. not perfect. love

Trent Douglas knows who his daddy is? Thompson Family going to the "Creek"...Happy 18th Birthday Andrea and 50th to my sister Debra...Lifto???

Well today was a shocker, I have not seen one of my long lost brothers from good ol' college days in a long time. I was talking to a manager and I hear "Thompson", and I said, "Lifto, what are you doing here?" It was so weird, but it was awesome, Christopher and Kjerstin Lifto are now in North Carolina, and we go way way way back to 1993. He just got done with his two week R & R, that they spent in Arkansas, two fun filled weeks in the water, and I am sure plenty of "Hot Baths"- private joke, I know you two are laughing.

God continues to bless with me with great friends, and for all my other friends, If they did not show love, compassion, and a open heart, trust me, you all and I owe them a wonderful thank you. They found me yet in another deep dark hole, that I could not get out of. LIFTO'S, I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, and yes I know I am still worthy!!! It still up holds me when I need it. ***Please pray for Lifto and all that are still in Iraq.**

I want to welcome into the world Trent Douglas Sanders who was born this morning around 2am, I cant wait to see you two and meet the little Sander-man in just two days. Congrats Brennan and Annie.

Well, after much anticipation we are going to our little Thompson Family reunion to CELEBRATE DEBRA RUANE'S 50th BIRTHDAY, this weekend in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Here is the down low for our schedule....
Friday arrive in Kenosha around noon, lunch at the Secret Garden? and chillin in the evening.
Saturday breakfast w/ family @ hotel, Saturday Nick Larson and daughter, Brennan Sanders joining the Thompson Festivities in Milwaukee.
Saturday night we will all go to dinner at the SafeHouse, and then possibly a Comedy Sports Club, and then the downtown Milwaukee riverfront.
Sunday wake up and go to church at Willow Creek w/ Kristen, eat breakfast, and head towards Downtown Chi-town.
Monday head back to Branson with Dad, and Tuesday back to work

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREA RUANE, AND DEBRA RUANE.!!!!!! Try and guess who is 18 and who is turning 50???? They are both young at heart.