Friend and Family share a common weekend

This past weekend my best friend Matthew Smith and his one year anniversary to Jenny from Chicago was celebrated at the same time as my dad Elmer's birthday on April 22. Elmer and Raphaels anniversary- 23 and her birthday also on April 24. They all enjoyed the weekend of anniversarys and a birthday knowing they share something special and both remembered it, we can also add Kim Fornoff who married Jeff Kaye on the same weekend also.

Cup holders in church is a win win situation. I came across this article and I thought it would be a good subject to talk about. I think it a great idea. FC does not allow any food or drink in the sanctuary. As long as you are not eating a snack during the service, but sipping on a Lattae, I am all for it.

My birthday is coming up and my friend Afif keeps asking me what I want to do, and I keep telling him, it is up to him. I just want my birthday to be a little bit more than the last one. Boy, I am sure getting old. This weekend, my eyes will be glued to the tube. The Dallas Stars Hockey is in the Stanley Cup, and we can wish for the best. Also the Dallas Mavericks are heading down the road to victory .


living for an audience of ONE...

Building for the future...

When people hear about money, they really begin to wonder, but when your in church, people then begin to freakout. Why is that? FC has embarked on a 2 year campaign that will kick off May 13/14 called Town and Country. I had friends in and this past weekend they kicked off the campaign and my friends who are not church attenders were not excited about coming to check out my church, and hearing about tithing in the message. All I can say, is I am sorry, but how do you think FC has grown to where it is now? The last building campaign was started in 2000, and the next one was kicked off the exact same time they came for the first time, and probably now the last time.

All I have to say, is that if FC was not heading in the direction they are now, from back in the day, then I would not be here, and this life would not have been changed. My existence here in DFW, has been a blessing, and I have been blessed, and I am being able to bless those around me. I am glad for that, life change is always good, when it is done one positive life at a time.
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Guess Who, Fellowship Uptown UPDATE...Want the dirt???

Monday afternoon right before I was about to leave, my buddy Kiefer Sutherland---aka---"Jack Bower" from the hit show 24 came in to have a drink and smoke with yours truely. Very laid back guy. **No autographs PLEASE**

GO MAVS is the only thing out of my lips. I have become an avid Texas sports team fan for a good solid year. Our Dallas Stars Hockey team is in the Stanley Cup this year, but I don't think they are going to do it, this year.

Check out this update on Fellowship church.comUptown on how things are coming along on their soon to be new home. Work is slow again, and I am getting bored to early of the day, but construction is not far away when my bar will be doubling itself.

Want to get the down load on past, present, and futuring moviestars, hollywood, past presidents, the whose who and so they think so. CHECK OUT THIS LINK. thank you kim fornoff

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Vacation over, Love ANNE THOMPSON...Who is P??

*****THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO ANNE THOMPSON FROM OMAHA****

Thursday after noon April 13, Anne Thompson, my little "adopted"step sister took my advice and came to visit me during her lay over from Omaha. IN SHOCK, is the only words that described my facial expression. I told her, "You are never going to guess who just got in town," and had her call Shane K on my phone, to shock him, and he was definitely surprised.

The 12 days of friends have come and gone. Stay tuned for the pics, they will be coming very soon.
Shane Kardell made it in around 9pm on Wednesday April 12 until that Monday. Michelle K made it in Friday night on the April 14. With a very cool UNEXPECTED, surprise one of my best friends from Omaha, ex-roomie Edward "7" Weinger made it around 11pm and surprised everybody at the bar we were drinking at for a two day visit. Shane and Michelle got to witness a Easter service at FC, and boy this year did they raise the bar, I mean literally RAISE the bar. MK, SK, and even I were just looking at each other during the service with amazement. Edward was traveling down to Austin, so he missed the Easter show. Kim Fornoff & Cheryl Reineke got in Wednesday April 19 & the 20. My 420 @ 1020 C & K party was a huge success. I just can't hang like I use too, sorry Afif, yes you win the $50 bet. I am old give me a break

Picture any home improvement show, "Flip this house, Trading Spaces", and you will get the idea, crap everywhere, boxes, paper, new furniture, "all assembly required". I wanted it done before Michelle got there Friday night for a surprise for her, then we needed to literally move everything around, because it just didn't not look good. It was down to the wire, before we needed to pick up cheryl right before the party was scheduled to start @ 1020pm.
***THANK YOU SHANE, MICHELLE AND MY NEIGHBOR MATT FOR HELPING****

Cheryl and Kim was able to visit FC, Kim for the first time, and they both liked it, but we were kicking off a building campaign, and Ed was speaking on giving to the local church. Let's just say it didn't fly to well with them or me. I did not know what he was speaking on, or I would not brought them.

In a brief summary, we tied a few on, shane and I had a couple deep talks, everybody got to meet my best friend down here named Afif, checked out my place of work, some really good DFW hot spots. We went hiking at grapevine lake, a little shopping, many, many wardrobe changes, (just in one day we did 3), were treated like VIP's, treated them like VIP, checked out hotel ZAZA, where Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey stayed. We checked out and walked around in Uptown, downtown, Gaytown, and of course Deep Ellum, everybody got tattoos (this is my 5th for me) and last but not least a lot of maxing and relaxing with a lot of good laughs.

Not to be rude, but who is P on my last comments page, I am not sure who drove down to see me in Texas. WHO ever you are please clue me in, I just don't remember. Sorry

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Good Friday

*****T H I S P O S T IS D E D I C A T E D TO GEOFFRY CARLSON*****

Good Friday is here, and it is almost time. Time for what you say, well stay tuned for recaps of the 10 day vacation that began today, with some 2 day pre-warm ups for the main event. My apt is so trashed with boxes, new furniture, old stuff and tons of mess. I need to get it all done by today, wish me luck, because I will need it. I had a long talk with my buddy Afif last night, were making progress, and he realizes that I only want the best for him. I just got off the phone with him this morning. He took my advice and had a long sit down talk with his mom from 4am-7am and he just wanted me to know that he is forever grateful that I have never ever given up on him. I told him, "Afif, I will never give up on you, because my good friends never gave up on me", ask Matthew he has been waiting for a life change in my heart for over 9 years. I pray that I don't have to wait that long. You know you are making strides when my muslim buddy calls and wishes me a "Good Friday". Enjoy your day, a GOOD FRIDAY DAY.
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Middle of Holy Week

Easter is fast approaching and my heart still continues to grow in anticipation of what lies ahead. I think for me this year it has more deeper of a meaning than in past years. Since my chains have been broken from what held me back for such a long time. I am realizing that I don't need to be afraid of past, (that I will not go back to) but aware that I am living in the here and now, ready for the future, of what ever is in front of me.

This week I have been training a new guy at my job, and I am afraid to say that he is agnostic, I am not sure what that really means, but I will need to begin to study, for a long road of lengthy discussions that have already begun. The one answer he doesn't understand is why I am here in Dallas for Fellowship Church.

I recieved confirmation of my # 1 present for my number one girl who will be on her way to visit me, and I can't wait to see her reaction. It will be priceless. I am getting ready for the big event. Can you belive I am going to be on vacation for 10 fun filled days with some of the greatest people on the planet. My house is filling up with all of my purchases and I cant wait to start putting it all together.

living for an audience of ONE...

400,000 march for Freedom...Holy Week begins... Another Fries enters the World.

Weekend worship at FC was incredible, and my heart was severed into tears realizing how good way have life, and it is blessing that in one week we can rejoice in the true meaning of Easter.

*** I want to welcome into the world a new little Fries to the family, at 1:30pm today Ester Fries gave birth to a healthy 8 lb 14 ounce baby girl. Father Danny was joined by his sister Chasity and brother Tristan both from Wichita this weekend for the fun filled event.****

Today, I made my final purchase from Ikea, and boy are you fine folks who are getting ready to visit me are in for a treat. I stopped off at my friends house Afif to meet his mom, sister, and Aunt who just moved here from Bangladesh.

This weekend marked a historical time for the Latino's in the DFW area. They were expecting around 20,000 and over 400,000 marched in protest of new immigrant laws being imposed soon. They have been protesting here in Dallas all week.

Holy Week begins, take time to reflect your life, and you can impact just one person around you each day. Today I am thankful that my mom poured love, support, and encouragement into my life.

living for an audience of ONE...

Rich & Famous, but not .... Time to Remember

I always try to inform my followers what is really going on in my real world, yes I might be rich, maybe famous, but I am not Howie Mendall from Deal or No Deal. Hey thanks for the compliment, no autographs please, this ends the interview. "Can I get my Grande Icey Spice, please."
One of the most poignant moments of Jesus' ministry occurred in a small, discreet room just hours before he was arrested. It was there that he said, "Remember me." But in our frenzied and frantic lifestyles, we often forget the true significance of what that means. This weekend we will take a special look at Christ's words and discover the real blessing and power of what it means to remember, through communion.

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20 Suicides too much....

My heart continues to be saddened when I hear of another person who decided that his/her life is not worth living. Someone is convinced that their life is over, and for 3 split seconds decides that it is time to end it. What possess a man or woman to take life into their own hands. Kenosha Wisconsin is hurting, people are crying out, but no one can help the helpless. Teenagers in my nieces school are the primary ones who feel that they can't live any longer. I pray that I don't get a call from someone that I know, my heart would sink. I am going to celebrate this up coming July 1st, that God saw fit, to not let my wishes not continue, but to grant me more time, to encourage those He has, will, and continue to bring into my life that needs encouragement.

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Making History with Lessons From Hell...TD Jakes @ FC...

Today was the one year of passing of the Pope John Paul II, and the Vatican city was filled with mourners and parishioners to honor the man who was the pope for 26 years. Also, it was opening weekend for MLSoccer, and MLBaseball, and the home opener for the Texas Rangers is Monday April 3, while FC DALLAS soccer team won their home opener at their new Pizza Hut park in Frisco Texas against the Chicago Fire. The buzz was in the air, excitement flowed through the campus, and most importantly our fearless leader was back, and Ed was on fire from being on 4 week spring break. Each year I fall more in love with this awesome church, only because there is no other church like it in existence. FC is not scared to tell the truth, when that is all they have to tell. Nothing scares us more than hell. Even those who don't believe in hell fear it. But in this weekends message, Ed will take us on a unique look into this most feared of all places. And we learn some valuable lessons from hell that can help us discover a life of meaning and influence-a life that God wants us all to have. taken from worship guide. Well for me history was made this weekend, we started a two week study on Hell, and a clear plan of salvation was the meat of the service. When it came to the end for our normal "in your seat response time", Ed decided to have an altar call. This was the first time since I have been here in my 3 years where they did this. He said, "this is a defining moment for our church, I needed this message, FC needed this message, and if you need to make a statement to God, you need to come forward." I was in shock to say the least, but as took a sneak peek into the crowd in front of me, hundreds went forward to receive Christ and talk to a trained counselor in the atrium. It was life changing for them, and my church, because that is not a norm, especially in today's mega church culture. Saturday night Afif and I hung out in uptown Dallas, and then had a really good 3 hour talk at my place till 430 in the morning. That is the first time we really have had that deep of talk, and you know what, he is finally getting it, the light is starting to barely flicker, and that is awesome. Life change is in the making and I can see hope in him. I forgot to tell you that last week TD Jakes from the Potters House here in Dallas was the guest speaker at FC, and I could be wrong, I think it was the first time we had a African American speaker in the FC house. WORD!

living for an audience of ONE...