What to do when you hit rock bottom?

Since God has directed me to be a humanitarian, and my heart of compassion is always alive, I had to take a friend out to dinner for one last time. I want to introduce you to my friend Bennot, he is 22, no parents, no siblings, no grandparents, no car, no job, no apt, and of course no money, but the two good things he has is God and his 4 year old son. I get Bennett, I understand him and I certainly can relate to him a little. I am so happy that the Navy accepted him and he is leaving this Thursday June 22. You might ask, why no life, well he has hit rock bottom, and he is ok with that, his faith has spurred me on to keeping on going, life is ok, and other people might have it a little bit worse off than what you think is devasting to you, but in Bennott mind, your life is just a walk in the park. I hugged him goodbye after hanging out with him for 5 hours and I told him, God is starting over with you, and you need to start a new life with Him and begin to make one for you and your son, from here on out Bennott, everything you do is for your son." Good Luck bro, I wish all the success in the world and I hope God will bring our paths back together.

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Hang with the boys...

Well this is really getting exciting, however tonight's loss was a huge disappointment. I decided to show my love for some of the friends I have in my life. Afif, David and Donnie met at my house tonight at 5pm and we jumped into the car and headed downtown to a really nice steak house in the west end. Afif was really excited, so excited that he was leaning forward on his chair, and it gave way and he landed square on his ass, as the chair slid backwards a few feet. We all could not stop laughing so hard. We walked into the AAC for the "Mavs Watching party", they were really surprised and very appreciative of my kind gesture. We had great seats, but David talked us into going down closer to the floor for a better view. The last 5 minutes was so exciting that David was the first one to rip off his shirt, then Donnie, and a minute later Afif did as well, and they all were swing them in the air. I will save your fingers, hell no I did not even contemplate taking off my shirt, next year, my shirt will be coming off, along with my 50 pds that David has already helped me to lose.

Peace

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Can priest drink... The World Cup is On.

Well, growing up in a heavy catholic town of faith, I was always use to the men of the cloth not drinking, but I guess in today's culture, they can, they are, and boy can they "Get R Don". I have waited on a few of them. Most of the priest just walk up to the bar and look at me, and wait for me to ask them what they want for a drink, and usually I just say hello, and move on to another customer, and then they want to know when I am going to wait on them. Most of them are surprised to find out that the reason I don't ask them for a drink is because I tell them, "most people like you, I didn't think were allowed to drink", so I ask you, are they? I guess in Costa Rica, Brazil, and last but not least Mexico they are allowed.
One of my owners has played in a couple World Cup soccer games, and business has picked up and of course right now everybody is watching soccer for the us and "football" for the rest of the world.
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KK is getting older.

Big D and his best friend Aaron

This weekend my girl is celebrating her birthday and I was not sure where I was going to take the troops. It was 100' all weekend, and they just wanted to drink, and I knew I would be the DD. Karla and her friend Padma have never been down to Sundance Square in Downtown Ft.Worth. "You two have never been, Where are going there", I said. It was crazy and there was a jazz festival scheduled and of course no one told me when I was making the plans. We all got there around 11pm and each of the bars were packed so we ended up going to Bennigans, nothing new. We stayed there until 2am, and then went to a after hours party at a friends house.

Now if you want the gossip and all the juicy details of who puked 4 times, how many fights took place and who went wild, you will have to log on to my other web page, this is the "Christian one." I got home around 4 am and as I was walking into my apt. I kept on hearing these weird noises, ones that would never come from my apt. Next time, I want you to give me some sort of warning, like a sock on the door something, wow I didn't fall asleep until around 10am. You guessed it, not on this web page. Tonight is a very big game for the Dallas Mavs and I am hoping we can pull it off. So,if you are around the neighborhood, and have time, stop on by, you know we are watching the MAVS school the shack attack. U r going down, buddy. Peace

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Did you survive 6-6-06??? GOT Mavs Mania??? When you know!?

Tuesday down here in Texas, people were going nuts trying to avoid letting there newborns not be blessed by entering the world on this evil day?? People not going out on the streets, looking over there shoulders, and avoiding the crowds. Give me a break people, but I guess you just never know.
People are going crazy considering they have not had an NBA experience like this in 25 years. I will be having my first ever NBA Mavs party at my apartment and the troops will be here, I hope they will bring the beer.
Probably for the last two months or so, I have been home sick. When you know something is going on back at home, but you are stuck here in Texas, and you are just out of the loop it gets very frustrating. I am not dumb, and I certainly have been around the block a few times over and over again. I love my friends so much, and soon I will have one more friend, in which right now, my stomach and soul is so excited, that it is literally killing me inside. I want so much to hug, kiss, and wrap my arms around my friends, but for right now, I can only sit back and laugh at the situation, because I know.
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Busted Chicago wide open....

We arrived in Chi-town around 9am on Thursday June 1st. Jumped on the "EL" towards downtown Chicago, from right off the bat we were relieved that people would be so gracious to help us out, since they definitely could tell we were not from there. The hotel that we booked was the downtown Hilton Hotel and Towers, we had a lake Michigan view on a high floor, and we got a sweet deal. We got off on the wrong stop 10 blocks from the hotel, and caught a bus to atleast find the hotel, we stored our bags with the bell man and hit the streets running. Within 5 hours under the cloudy dismal, spitting lite drizzled day we took a nap from 5pm-7. My buddy Afif woke me up asking me what was wrong with my face? I jumped into the bathroom to realize that I look like a damn lobster. Burnt to a crisp, and of course had to make our way 7 blocks south to the closest Jewel-Osco for some sunscreen. We found this awesome pizza-Italian pub just two blocks from millennium park with $5 u call it martinis. We had a few too many, and then made our way to the bar to watch the mavs school the suns, a few more drinks, shots, and then it was time to meet my grade school best friend Randy Inserra. Afif decided to take a nap, and then meet up with us around 11pm. We finally made it to Rush street, got kicked out of 3 bars, in one fight, watched Afif puke on a cop car right in front of Wrigley Field and stopped him in mid stream of kissing a few random people that he did not know. Missed going to jail for PI's with a sweet talker in letting us go home. Then we jumped into a taxi cab that was a"HBO-Taxi Cab confessions car", that I signed the release form at the end to seal the deal, only because Afif ran his mouth the whole time, to this day, he still thinks so. ha
Friday morning we slept in till noon and went and hit the downtown riverfront and all around, we found this awesome little Italian bistro, and then meet up with my two sisters, and nieces around 3pm. We went shopping, on a riverboat tour, lots of good laughs and enjoyed a nice relaxing late dinner at the Chicago House of Blues, and then they headed back to Kenosha. My buddy's client flew up in his private jet, and rented some Dodge Vipers that were tooled around the city in. Awesome.
Saturday morning I scheduled a breakfast talk-counseling session with one of my old prof's from GU. I had a great two hour in depth talk with Dr. C and really was able to get a lot of advice from him. Thank your Dr. C. During lunch we cruised up to Kenosha to my sisters house for her daughters family & friend BBQ from noon-4pm. After we all had a quick nap, we settled in for the night to watch the mavs final winning game, then off to the Wine Knot for an awesome glass of wine that turned out to be very relaxing.
Sunday, we awoke up and headed to Willow Creek for church and then to go see my niece graduate from high school, and whizzed on back to Midway airport to fly home by 9pm.

All in all, it was a great vacation and we will be doing it again very soon at the end of summer, however destination will be top secret, since this web page is read all over the world. You will soon find out why. Peace randall
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Chi-town or bust

This past weekend has flown by, and I made the decision to not go to church, ya I know I am a sinner. Memorial day weekend is always parent/child dedication and I just did not want to sit through 500 screaming babies in church. Sorry. However I did hangout with my new little brother David and we all watched the Mavs keep on scoring to a victory.
I am definitely ready to go to the windy city for our first ever "millionaire weekend". We have four going and we will be living like rock stars. Believe it. My best friend from Texas and I are leaving tomorrow at 7am. I will let you know all the juicy details. I promise.
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Summer is here...A brand new project on the horizon?

can you feel it, if you are in Texas you sure can. I have been busy with some old friends, my regular friends, and making new ones. I just don't understand why the new ones are still alot younger than me. I have been hanging out with a bartender friend of mine and his best friend which is the owners nephew. He just graduated from high school, a little late, but still graduated and also in college. This kid is an awesome person who still lives at home, and the mom is literally sucking the life out of him. Both parents are glad that David and Donnie are hanging with me and encourage it. They have been over around 9 times watching the Dallas Mavs with Afif and I. Recently, I asked them what they expect out of this relationship and they both said at different conversations, " we love hanging out with you, cause your a lot fun, a very wise person, a positive person who always encourages us, a very good friend, and we both look at you as an older brother that we never have had. " I was very flattered and also humbled. I have hung out with David a lot more than Donnie, because of schedule conflicts. I hung out with David all day Monday, Thursday, Friday. We had a great talk over sno-cones, dinner, volleyball, and then the mavs game. They both are Christians, however Donnie is a new Christian, and has not yet been brought up in the Christian faith, that will be our summer project for David and I. They are going to both start coming to Fellowship with me, and you know I love that. They will be staying at my apartment while I am in Chicago for 4 days this upcoming weekend.

I have been working on a new project that will get rolled out 4th of July weekend, and trust me it is going to be a hot summer sizzler. To kick off my new project, I have hired, and asked a friend of mine of who is a Christian rapper to spin little track for me. MORE TO COME July 4th.

IS IT GETTIN HOT IN HERE? YOU WILL SOON FIND OUT!!!

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Meet my friend....

Everyone-from knee high to tree high-is an author. In fact, whether you realize it or not, you are in the process of writing a best-seller. But for your story to take on the character and potential God has in mind, you have to move beyond the first page. We learned how to turn past that first page. And when we do that, we can transform an average story into the story of our lives. So, with that I want to introduce you to one of my friends Janay MacDonald, that I know personally from FC, and you can gain perspective on how her story was unwrapped, and how we all can get our own stories out, one person at a time. That is what life is about, sharing your story, learning and growing from it, all the while gaining knowledge to apply it to your own life. GO MAVS

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Want to see me on t.v.???? FC-Uptown UPDATE...DaVinci Code is a dud...

**** I am sharing some cool info. NOT BOOSTING MY EGO, a couple of my friends said I should.**** The last couple months Ed was inspired by his favorite music group to be a little more edgy in church, and so he created the first ever Christian mosh pit in a church, and it was a huge success. Everybody was and still is talking about one of the fastest growing churches in the nation. So I ask you, have you yet checked out the past sets, stage designs that we are known for??? Want to see me on national television and in the pit, then you better tune into Ed Young t.v. to see me in the first ever Christian mosh pit in a church. Trying to not keep God in a box, we don't even attempt to go there. Creative, Innovative, Compelling, and cutting edge is the best way to explain our explosive growth. Mark your calendars, a brand new campus is opening up in the downtown-uptown Dallas area on June 25 and you can check out the construction process right here. The word is getting out. Dan Brown and Tom hanks have done a injustice to Christians and evangelical alike all over the world, it will spur on conversation-yes, but the outcome will be taking us a few steps back.

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Do you know what everybody is talking about??

It's about Jesus, and all you have to do is just open up an ear to hear all the chatter. Mary Hart is in London for the world premier, every radio station is pushing it. Alot of mega churches are catering their next few weekends services about it. You want to know what, Fellowship is not mentioned a thing about it. Ed, has expressed concern about engaging in conversation about it, or his thoughts are" don't even bother reading the book, you will be waisting your time." I want to know what all the hum is about, because I just dont get it. Here are a few churches discussing this hot topic...Willow Creek Community church Saddleback Church Point of Grace Church

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Shania Twain @ FC...Time to let go...

Well, I must say that my church never ceases to amaze me. Lisa Whelchel-aka-"Blair", from the Facts of Life made another Mother's Day guest appearance to encourage mothers. She also kicked off the building campaign of the first weekend to give your best gift-first-this weekend. She is incredible author, speaker, teacher, actor and mother of 3. She does a lot of traveling and speaking engagements. She recently came down to hear the casting vision for "Town and Country" about a month ago, since she is still an active member of FC. This weekend a all girl group sang for all the moms a Shania Twain song, "This one is for the girls. Well onto other news, I have been successful in helping a friend "which we all know", find a pyschatrist, I just couldn't do it any longer. I sure am hoping that he will stick with it to the very end. I love this friend of mine, but we both know that he has a chemical imbalance in his head, that he just can't let go of. We are still very close friends, and he is still going on vacation with me and my best friend from grade school, Randy Inserra at the end of the month. I have been doing a lot of soul searching, and my heart breakes about letting go of things that I just love to hold on to. I have a couple of friends that I just wonder why we are friends. We use to be really close, but have slowly drifted away, I think that is one little thing I just don't like about Christianity. You have to completely put your whole faith and beliefs in a God that you can't see, but yet you trust Him enough to get you threw each day. When He says it is time to move on, you better do it, and make it that much easier later on down the road.

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Saying Goodbye...Happy Mother's Day

Last night, I said good-bye to a friend that I have known since age 10. Dan & Ester Fries left this morning for a long road trip,their moving back to Pittsburgh. Just not even two weeks ago they had their first baby girl Kaitlyn, yesterday morning graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary, last night packed up the U-haul with some of the family. My friend who I will extremely miss is moving back to Steeler country. I have been hanging with Danny for a couple of years now, and we have been working on a lot of issues I have in my life. I am learning to love myself more, learning to love people more, but most importantly I am learning to let God love me more. Thanks Danny for your constant love, support, and encouragment.

I am kinda thinking that I really don't like the month of May, it is just so hard on me "emotionally"-speaking. I would like to wish all the special MOM'S out there that I know HAVE A GREAT DAY! Just remember when all the kids have moved out of the house, safely, soundly, and still sane, then you give a sigh of relief and know you did a hard job well done. GO MOMS. It's your day, live it well.

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Hallelujah Hallelujah, Want to know what??? Lisa WHO?

The bar is almost finished. We started construction at 7pm last night, and almost finished at 10am this morning, tonight will just be cosmetics. It is looks awesome, much bigger, much more functional. I will be taking pics hopefully. Have you ever sat on the couch, and wondered what famous person has done what?? Maybe you want to know how many times Lance Armstrong has been married?, or how many times Dog the Bounty hunter has been arrested. Well here are some really cool informative web pages, that keep you glued to the computer screen. Think of people living, past presidents, movie stars, anybody. Go check out www.nndb.com, or www.smokinggun.com . Thank you Kim Fornoff for the tip. I am actually looking forward to meeting, and hearing Lisa Whelchel aka "Blair from the infamous 80's favorite sitcom "The Facts of Life". This weekend she will be speaking all weekend at FC, she also just finished last weekend in NY-City taping a reunion of her past friends in the show. See what else she has been doing with her time.

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Son??? WHO-- for Mother's Day weekend

I lay in bed dreading to get up to face this day My nerves are shot in anticipation of what seems like an eternity Wondering if I will ever have the opportunity to stare into his eyes I need to go to work, but even that gives me a bad taste in my mouth Can I still walk this life, and not want to know you, and want you to be so in my life... Today is Wednesday May 10, a day that will always haunt my dreams, hopes and fears. Today is my son's birthday, my heart hopes for hope. I often tell myself that hope is good thing, well right now it is the only thing to hang on to. I want to meet him, hold him, hug him, hangout with him. Until that wish happens, I will continue to hang out with the other young people who are in my life, and continue to hope. Hope is a good thing!!! Have you figured out who is going to the special guest speaker this weekend at FC. I will give you another clue, CLICK HERE to find out who is a member of Fellowshipchruch.com

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Ed & Bono...Carrie Underwood @ FC... What bar expansion??

The bar expansion was supposed to have happened by March 9, then by April 9, and now I sure hope this Wednesday. I am just so sick of the contractors putting it off, but we have to deal with the airport advisory board, and that has been a huge problem. So, this week is going to be kind of crazy. Ed Young and the lead singer of U2-Bono, had coffee this past Friday, and Ed shared this rare experience with us this weekend. I would imagine Bono was humbled that we play all of his songs in church. He wanted to check out FC, because of that reason. Which is very cool. The worship team at FC sang "Jesus Take the Wheel", by Carrie Underwood this past weekend. Town & Country is here and roaring like a lion. This weekend was commitment weekend, and us praying all week as to what we will be giving to make this great opportunity happen, next weekend will be the first weekend to tithe to Town & Country during the weekend service. Stay tuned as to WHO will be speaking this weekend at FC for Mothers Day. Here is a hint: a 80's sitcom, her friend was always on roller skates, and last-she was the one who had long flowing blonde hair that she always was so proud of?? Can you figure it out?

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Got a birthday?? Thompson Family NEWS...GO MAVS

May is the month that alot of my friends have birthdays. I would like to introduce you to a friend that has been impacting my life over 7 years. Today is one of my best friends birthday, and this cat is getting old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEOFFREY CARLSON. Geoff has been working at Busch Gardens in Willamsburg for the last 4 summer years. This year he is in charge of all musicals and dramas that will be happening this season. CONGRATS GEOFF!! He has been a very good encouragement for my life for many years. I am hoping this will catapolt him into Hollywood, where he belongs. (You need to catch up to your old, ex-friend from high school - Chris Klein)haha I want to wish all of my friends a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY~~~John Bonnell, Geoffrey Carlson, Edward Weinger, Jonathan Miller, Brennan Sanders, Nathan Opdahl, and my son who will be turning 17 on May 10. I am sure old. ***In Kenosha Wisconsin on May 1, my niece Christiana Ruane got into a minor car accident with her best friend. Since I am an uncle a few times my brothers two kids just welcomed new little ones into the family. Jaime the oldest, welcomed her 2nd new little one this past month, and Jordan had his first baby at 20, just a couple of weeks ago.*** CONGRATS The Dallas Mavs will be starting the 2nd leg to a championship. They play the San Antonio Spus this Sunday May 7 at high noon. G O MAVS

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a great birthday this year...

was needed, and I was not disappointed. The clock hit midnight, the phone began to ring, and I knew, boy I am getting older. Thank you to everybody who called, text me, emailed, and I even got some gifts in the mail. I definelty felt the love. Thank you Thank you. My general manager talked me into taking the day off. I told Debbie, "what am I going to do on my day off?" My buddy Afif called me around 1:45pm and said, "something came up, and I won't be able to make it". After hanging up on him, at 2pm I heard a knock on the door, it really was not what I wanted to hear, but it was Afif, "boy I got you, ha ha." I didn't think it was funny. We hit the road, and we went to Mexico Lindo for my favorite "Rainbow Margarita", then we spent the next 3 hours at Martini Ranch in Uptown sipping on $3 martinis. Our next stop was Sambuca, a very ultra cheek expensive bistro, and it was very good. All in all, it was a great birthday, and nothing really crazy happened, he did want to take me to the stripe joint, but we both knew that was not going to happen. Also, shane no I did not get naked for this birthday, like the last, sorry.

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PROBLEM FIXED...

The link was fixed, sorry for the problem. YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT THESE PICTURES of my church, and what a normal weekend service looks like at one of the greatest things going for introducing the gospel in the local church-fellowshipchurch.com.

Immigration March... Purging my soul..EASTER PICTURES ARRIVE

Today marks a significant petition in the hispanic, latino, and asian culture as it was the march heard around the nation. Back in the day, I was thinking that we just need people to come over here legally, and then I realized that one of my best friends down here fits that bill(only with his green card). I have my hands full with this summer. Afif my bangladishian friend needs my help with learning how to swim, focusing his life, and also studying to get his citzenship. Last year, I helped a friend (a little) from TGIF to get her citizenship, and I somewhat enjoyed the process. This summer however, it will feel like I will be going back to school in helping my buddy study, study, study. He asked me if I would help him to do this, and I was humbled when he said, "I have no one else that could help me, except for you" As the clock ticks closer to my birthday in a few hours, my heart is consumed with how God brings people into each others lives. I won't deny that I have been racist in the past, but that is slowly changing for me. I work, live, and breathe with people of another race, and who am I to say that one is better than the other. Dallas is home right now, and helping a good friend in a month study for his citizenship brings tears to my heart as to the road that God has so far brought me down.

Fellowship Church's Easter extravaganza is now in picture on this website, that features FC as a proud sponser of the church. They are also responsible for all the lighting elements you see.

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