Christmas Services pictures are out...

This year Fellowship took a huge step to really feed the need of Christ more in our life with a church wide fast. "Larger than Life" series was a huge success along with the famous wrestler who is a believer Hulk Hogan as co-speaker with Ed Young for this whole month. The last weekend of January we ended the series and fast with a church wide communion. The Saturday nights service was filled with a few Dallas Cowboys football players who helped out with the service. FC grapevine and Miami Florida campus gave away 2 pairs of free vip super bowl tickets with a camera crew that filmed this remarkable event the whole way.

We had a church wide "Larger than Life" new worship cd live taping and is now out and literally running off the shelves. People have been asking what the Christmas services looked like this year, check them out here. Just find Fellowship Church Gallery.
Looking forward to the next 3 days, my best friend from Omaha Matthew Smith will be in town to visit me since I have gotten out of the hospital. Matthew has been a rock and pillar of faith to keep pointing me in the direction that I always need to be moving... forward with my life. Thank you for all the time, energy, love and support you have shown me through this difficult time that you always said, "randall, your one of my best friends we will get through this, don't worry buddy, we will get through this." Friends are good God thing, that I don't take for granted.
living for an audience of ONE...

Where have I been???

That is a really good question many people ask, but only few will ever know the answer?. Its hard to see life through eyes that might be a little blurred. I have been gone for a while, but I am back and gaining strength. God leads us through valleys and mountains. I am praying that it will seem like more mountains will come my way, but the valleys have been also a good learning lab and honestly a true blessing in disguise.

I know this will be a shock to most people, but I have been in a psychiatric hospital for a while, due to overwhelming life circumstances that have deemed me to check my self in and get help. It was not easy, but with the support of many friends and family behind me, it made it a lot easier. I was very thankful for all the many people who came and visited me while I was there, and made my day go a lot faster waiting for that 6pm hour each evening to come so quick with anticipation of who was out there to visit me.

living for an audience of ONE...

Kool and Gang kicks off new series at FellowshipChurch.com

Fellowship kicked off a brand new series with no name, no title, just a simple smiley face kinda like the one from Walmart.
Its something that everyone wants. And we are willing to spend endless years, countless dollars and boundless energy looking for it. We think if we can just catch it, we will have it made.

But what does our search have to do with the life God wants us to live? Could it be that in our quest we have become distracted from discovering something greater?

We will see just how this plays out in our daily lives. And well learn just what it takes to stop the search and begin to actually live, "Outrageous, Contagious Joy".

It's a survival guide not to be happy, cause happines comes and goes, but to be joyful in all situations. Ed Young's new book relaease this weekend helped us kick off the new series along with the one of the singers of Kool and Gang to sing "Celebration". A very big black man came out from the glow of lights with dreads from his head and face beard, it was definetly a sight that only can happen at Fellowshipchurch.com.

living for an audience of ONE...

Welcome to the world.... Depression leaving my life...

I am hoping everybody had a an awesome New Years and welcomed in 07 in with a bang. Mine was very good, I went on my first blind date in over 8 years, yea I don't get out much do I? Her name is Dawn, and she is a smoking hot blonde, age 30 years old, and she's pretty cool. We did have a good time, who wouldn't going out with me?

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME INTO THE WORLD, TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS WHO HAD THEIR MIRACLE BABY. CONGRATS TO michelle & randall james ON THE NEW BUNDLE OF JOY. MACIE RENEE DECEMBER 21, 2006. SHE IS 7IBS, 2 OUNCES, 19 INCHES LONG. Can' wait to see the little one in August.

Life is getting alot better for me. I still have my moments, and once in a while a down day, but it is not so bad, that life seems to have to stop for me. I am so thankful to my friends for sticking by my side. David, has been such an encouragement to my soul, who was the one who really encouaraged me to get on medication. He is such an extreme blessing to me that anything that come up in my life, he is the first one to say, "Bro, we will make it through this, I am going to be there for you, no matter what, we will take care of this, don't worry." Those phrases have been a encouragement in the down times of life. All of my friends down here, including myself have noticed a 110% change in my life with this medication. Also thank you John and Shelly Ammerman for your listening ears, advice, support and a hand in finding a really good doctor. God brought you down here to help me out a little. Thank you.

living for an audience of ONE...

A Merry Christmas...without deppression

This Christmas was alot more merry since my others here in Dallas. Saturday 12-23 we had our 2nd Fellowship alumni reunion dinner. We all met for the 7pm service at FC and then went to dinner at Cantina Laredo. My two ex roommates and their wives also came with. Christmas Eve day and and Christmas Day was spent with David and his family. I picked him and his family up for church Sunday morning, and then we came back to watch his brothers while they went out to celebrate their anniversary. We all picked up the house, then went to the last Christmas service at Fellowship which was their first time. We came back for pizza and hung out and talked.

I had to work Christmas day, but then headed over to David's for another amazing turkey dinner. We then exchanged gifts between David and I , while his family watched, then watched scrooge the movie, tossed the new football around that David got me and then I had to head home.

Last night David wanted all of his best friends to hang out with him and do something adventurous. We got snacks and then headed to downtown Grapevine, Texas and started walking down the train tracks for over 4 hours till 2am in the morning. We had a really good time, lots of laughs, lots of rapping and of course David making us all feel right at home with his humor.
This Christmas was alot better. For over 10 years I have suffered from depression, it really sucks, it almost got the best of me, but I am glad for my close friends that I have call at times in the night to let them know I am not doing good. Very appreciative for David and Josh who would swing by on the way home to check up on me, and make sure I got to sleep alright before they would let themselves out. David, and Matthew Smith finally talked me into getting on medication, last Friday the doctor ran test and since I have never been on medication, it has taken affect right away. I am so glad for that, because I was starting to ruin some friendships.

Tomorrow my parents get in town, and David and I will go pick them up at the hotel and then our parents are going to hang out and go for dinner. Saturday night they will be going to FC 5pm service and then head back home, this will be dads wife first time at FC. I also remembered I have my first ever blind date this Sunday night. Yes I am nervous. It can't be to bad, I am going out with one of the "Coors Light girls" YEA

living for an audience of ONE...

Waiting for the sun to shine again...

I know it is probably hard for people to imagine, but for many, many years I have been suffering from depression. It is hard to admit, but if I want my friends and family to be real, open, and honest with me, then I need to be as well. Well over 10 years, I have had depression spells through out year. However, these past two years have been really hard, and I have really tried to find my inner peace with God to continue to keep going. I know I am suppose to be here, but the voices keep telling me, that I am nothing. I know that is not true.
With the strong support and influence I have around me, I have found a doctor, and I have my first appointment this Monday at 2:30pm. Since my friend has been so on my ass to get checked out to see if I need to be on antidepressant medicine, David was the first one I called to say hey, here is when my appt is. Without hesitation, or me asking him, he said " You know I am going with you to that appt". I told him that was not necessary and he said , "YES, it is, I am one of your best friends who really cares and I want you to know, it will be OK" How cool is that, a friend needs no excuse to be a really good friend when needed, and I don't even have to ask.

Today is the passing away date of my mother Patricia Jean Thompson, I can't really believe it has been 8 years, but time does fly by. I am glad she still guides me through my day, and I know her and Christ still have a guiding hand on my life.
living for an audience of ONE...

Pearl Jam visits FC... A new past time sport

This weekend at FC was amazing, Ed did a salvation message with video from one of his hunting trips to Andros Island. He did his message from the inside of a really nice fishing boat they brought out on stage. The opening song was "Life Wasted" by Pearl Jam. After the message he had an invitation for everybody who said the prayer and accepted Christ into their heart to come to the front and talk with someone. The first service must have had at least 150 people come down, it was awesome.

After the service David called to find out where I was and I met him and Joshua at the tennis courts for a quick game. We drove back to his house to change, swung over to my house to cook some food and wait for Skittlez to call so we could go meet him. David and I are starting a new sport, it is boxing, of course with full protective gear, but I will be kicking his ass in. Us 4 head over to this park at 11pm and begin to box. David and I have never, so we decided that it will be a real light match just to see how it goes. Well if you know me, about 30 sec. in I popped right into the mouth and cut his lip open, and the rest of the fight was not so light. It was really fun and we are going to be doing it 1 a week, just to get our frustrations out. This week will be kind of hard because it is the passing week of my mother and her birthday. I will end with that..

living for an audience of ONE...

7 months of change-worth it...

I have been here in Texas for some time now, and 4 years to be exact have led me down a long road. My thoughts have been not a waste, but a question as to why God did you bring me here? Last night was an exclamation point on 4 good years. David Thompson led his first bible study and I was apart of history in the making. He let everybody know up front that he was given this CD on love and a friend of his tries to live out this CD, which is me. My faith was so encouraged, my spirits were lifted, my hope was restored, my vision for life was reborn. I am not perfect but if there is one thing, I try and live out is a life of love. With all of my friends that know me, one in particular has been experiencing new life with me in it, showing him what it is like to live a life of love, demonstrated through faith, hope, peace and of course lots LOVE,

Love is patient, Love is kind, Love does not envy, Love does not brag, Love is not proud, Love is not rude, Love is not self seeking, Love is not easily angered, Love does not keep a record of wrong, Love lets go of hurt, Love does not delight in evil, Love does not hurt people.
Let's go deeper shall we...
Love always protects - love covers the wrongs of the other person.
Love always trust - and believes the best in someone else.
Love always gives people the benefit of the doubt.
Love always says, "I believe in people".
Love is to risk being burned over, over, over, and over again.
Love always believes and trust in people too much.
You will believe the best out of the people you trust the most.
Love always hopes.
Love is hopelessly optimistic - Love NEVER stops hoping.
Love is not about me, but you.
Love refuses to take as failure as final.
When you love somebody, you are hoping for the best in them.
Love always goes the distance.
To Love is to risk getting burned.
When you stop loving, you have lost.
Love never dies, Love never says, "I quit", Love never says, "Im finished", Love never says, "im through", Love never says, "no more", Love never says, "I give up"
Love will never give up, it will die trying.
Without this Love, we have nothing.
The only thing that counts is Faith expressing itself in Love.
I have been burned, and burned again, but I have come to the conclusion that I don't really know how to love my God, my self, and my friends and family like I should. I desire, and deserve a heart of love. I don't want to protect myself anymore, that is selfish. I have learned without love nothing else matters. I hope this Valentines Day, your love is like the one I am longing for in my own life.
LOVING you through faith expressing itself in love. randall paul thompson
living for an audience of ONE...

Time for Thanksgiving, time for friends

This weekend was exceptionally full of thanks and lots of giving. It had it ups and down, but overall, hanging out with my little brother who has turned into my bestfriend and his family has been a blessing in disguise. I had to work thanksgiving day, came home took a nap, and then headed off to David's. We played a little football, then helped with the finishing touches with getting ready for dinner. The feast was amazing. We then all loaded the van for the annual after feast bowling. Played lots of videogames with his brothers, and then headed back home for a pingpong competition between David and I.

This was the last weekend I saw my mom alive, my 4 year anniversary of coming to Dallas. Also this Sunday I celebrated my year of coming to faith with a real relationship with Christ 8 years ago. One of my other good friends JJ Junge got feeling back into his legs and is now at home back in Branson maxing and a relaxing. We had a great time as you can tell this is Joshua, one of Davids other best friends.
living for an audience of ONE...

Happy Thanksgiving... My life has been blessed

Wow, can you believe that this weekend I will celebrating so many different things. Unfortunately this the last weekend that I saw my mom alive. I miss her terribly, but I know God and my mom have been guiding my paths.
This weekend I also will be celebrating my realization of my need to put my faith in God. He has created me for a purpose, and the road has been a complete joy with a few bumps along the way. I know I am supposed to be here, and being an impact in people that Jesus puts into my path.
Lastly, I will be celebrating my 4 year anniversary of coming to Texas and being apart of one of greatest churches in America. Fellowship Church remains in a place that only other churches dream of getting to. They refuse to stand still, not to be boring and always tell the truth in a compelling and creative way. Last weekend the Fray "Save a Life" was sung for the offertory song before the message.
God continues to put people in my life, one that I am so most grateful for is my new little brother David Thompson (picture above.). Yea we both laugh that God has crossed each others paths, but we both know that God wants us chilling together. That is for sure. Please pray for me and my friend David. God has been really working on the both us individually, and this week has been no exception. These past few nights we have been up praying, encouraging each other, and crying out that God will not stop with what He has been doing in the both of us until the 4am hours of the morning. Some things require sacrifice, and this kid is no exception. He has been hurt too many times and I refuse to be another person that hurts his soul.
Him and his parents individually invited me over to celebrate Thanksgiving with them, since I now am part of their Thompson family. They know it is a hard but exciting holiday and they want to be an extended family that have already shown me lots of love and support.

***FOR MORE ON ME CHECKOUT www.myspace.com/randypaulthompson *****
living for an audience of ONE...

a friend in need of prayer

I had a very disturbing call this morning from my father. A friend of mine from Branson had to get another surgery done on his hips. The doctors hit a nerve and he has no feeling in his legs. Please pray for my friends JJ Junge, that the God we all know will heal his body and restore feeling back in his legs.

living for an audience of ONE...

It's been a while, ya I know. What's UP???

Life is good as it can get, I am very busy, with my new job, going to counseling and of course hanging with my crazy best friend who is like a younger brother, I never had. As you can see David is trying to crack his back in the bed of truck, that is not his in a gas station. It's never boring with him around. Change is in the air, and life is looking up. Please pray for me and my friendships that the good ones will grow and for the not so good ones will just slowly fade away.
Last Monday, one of our cooks-Ricardo and his family flew back home to Mexico to be with his mother which is dying of throat cancer. Debbie and I's heart broke as he came in to say goodbye and realized what he was going to have to do is soon bury his mother. My thoughts, prayers and love go out to them.
This past weekend was my 1 year anniversary at Blue Mesa. Saturday I worked, then came home to watch the Huskers sneek past a victory, worked out, then off to FC for the 630pm service. I met up with John and Shelly Ammerman and saw his sister who is on her 3rd time of having cancer, which I have not seen since I was 8. We were going to go celebrate, but Davids parents had to go out of town unexpectedly, and so he was stuck at home all weekend watching his younger brothers. One of his best friends is a rapper and had his first gig at a club, me being the nice friend that I am, let David go instead and I watched the boys late Saturday night. We woke them up, headed to church and then out for lunch. Came back played a quick game of football, and then picked up his parents at the airport. Long weekend but well worth the time.
living for an audience of ONE...

Happy Halloween... A time to try and rejoice..

Debbie my gm of the store, David, and I went to go hangout at a birthday party in south Arlington last night. This was not any special birthday party. It was for a friend who we work with whose mother is dying of cancer of the throat. Debbie asked me to go for support and of course when David and I were talking at 3am in the morning this past Saturday, I told him I really don't want to go. He assured me I would be fine because he is going with. I thought he was joking, only because he has so much other stuff to do that would be more important. He replied "what would be more important than hanging out with my best friend who needs my support in a rough time". She has cancer really bad and only has less than 2months to live, and she leaves to go back to Mexico this weekend to finish out her time. The party was hard to be at, but you can tell they love their mother to pieces. Please pray for this family that God will give them strength as they will need it. Tonight was the end of the regular season for Davids volleyball intramural. It ended with a blast. His whole family went even the 3 little brothers, me and his other best friend Joshua who was the one who really taught him how to play volleyball, after his two/one games won. After the big win we all went back to the house for apple cobbler and ice cream. Once again good times had by good friends.

living for an audience of ONE...

Here is the question

What do you get when have the 2 Thompson brothers + Phi Theta Kappa + Karla Kimber= no not a drama, but Boo at the Zoo. David invited me to help and hangout with PTK for their yearly volunteer services at the Ft Worth zoo. Kids come for 3 hours the last 5 days of October for spooky games and it was actually lots of fun. Not lots of going on, hanging low, tossing the football a lot, and just chilling and taking life a bit easier. I would indulge a little but at this particular time I am kinda not in the mood . Life is continuing, I am still losing weight, anxious about the upcoming holiday season, but in a real somber mood.

living for an audience of ONE...

Silence is Golden

This weekend at Fellowship was an awesome service that God really met me at. I went to the 6:30pm and 10am on Sunday morning as well. The theme of the weekend was on silence and What's The Point.--It's the most basic, yet profound question we can ask. But so often, we get distracted and set aside our quest to uncover the reasons behind what we do. The routine of everyday life keeps the answers at bay, And for Christians, life gets to be all about a list of do's and don'ts rather than about the God we serve. In short, we end up missing the point. This weekend there was no smoke, no moving lasers, no lighting changes, just a quiet worship to reflect on how God can speak to us through silence They had lots of video and a segment on questions that we read on the screens and two songs played, one with a song leader singing, but no congregation. The other just instrumental with only the words on the screens while the cameras panned the stage as it was all lit up with about a 100 candles. It was a very moving service. Today I decided to block out all distractions for me personally, that meant no cell phone, no t.v., no radio. I was humbled as a I realized that I can hear and feel God more when life's noises are not up and running.

living for an audience of ONE...

Brothers gotta hang

This weekend was no exception to having fun with one of my best friends David Thompson. Twice a month we try and do something fun, wild and crazy. So Friday night was bound to be a blast. We started off the evening at 7pm with Thai coffee, which for D's first time he loved it. We then went and looked at Hyatt Reunion tower that has a revolving restaurant on the top that I have never been to see. We had a appetizer that kinda sucked. The view was awesome. The next stop we had a quick tour of the W Hotel which was so contemporary and sheek. Then we went to the Martini Ranch for a drink and an appetizer. I then showed him where I use to live in the Village by SMU where he might take his last two years of college at. Then went to go see the largest Half Priced Book store, which is huge. After that we went to the Iron Cactus in downtown Dallas for dinner and walked around the downtown till 1am.

Saturday I had to work then we went to a friends 21st birthday at his house and was able to throw the football around, which is always fun, however it was a little rainy. Sundays I have been going to Restoration Church with David and God definitely was in the house and the service was amazing. Enjoyed the normal Monday night volleyball game and David 's dad Sr. went along with which was fun. Oh yea thank you for the Biology lesson on leaves producing water on the way there David Jr.

living for an audience of ONE...

Are you ready for Friday the 13th?

I have a really good friend who has had a really tough week, and has experienced an extreme amount of undue stress, from family, personal, and work. Most people don't get real concerned with tomorrows D-day, but I have friend who would really covet your prayers. He has the privilege of being a pallbearer of one of his past students who died earlier this week in Bellevue due to not wearing his helmet when he was skateboarding. I talked to my friend earlier in the week when he needed some encouragement. I also was a little down and wanted to receive my own encouragement, but he needed to just talk and release and I am glad that I could lend a listening ear. So tomorrow when you wake up and go about your day, say a prayer for my friend Shane around 10am. Life is about listening, caring, and supporting the ones who might need it.

living for an audience of ONE...

Thoughts on friendship...

I will warn you, I am going to babble, but it will be beneficial.

Friendships come and some go, but the good ones will always last longer than the rest. My sighs are long, my tears are heavier, and my heart you can read in my lack of facial expressions. Why does friendship have to hurt when it is not supposed to? You are supposed to be able to trust what your friends tell you. You never doubt, you always believe, and hope is always on both of your minds, tongues, and hearts. How do you know when God brings a person into your life that you know He wants you to be friends with? How can you trust that you are making a good judgement call when you are alot alike, and also a little different? When you choose to be friends with someone, and your old school friends don't agree with your decision, you lose out on the ones that have made such a lasting impact on you, why can they not just accept your decision? Can friendship be as good as it has been for a while, or can you rest in the fact that sometimes you just need to breathe a little? Then you realize that time has passed and you have had a total blast until Satan throws a wrench into the friendship.

I firmly believe that God brings certain people into your life, that will make a lasting imprint on you and them on the world. YOU know you are supposed to be friends, but you are fighting your spirit of fear, peace, hope, and someone that you get along with so much. You have never ever been exposed to a friendship like this. Should you let it go, or should you fight for what you have found- a friend who knows you better than yourself. A friend who looks up to you in all situations, believes in you, trusts you when you step out a little and lead, enjoys introducing you as one of his best friends with pride. What happens when that fizzles, when the hope dies, and the love of a friend is entangled in fear. He pushes away his interest in the truth, that he knows you have and desire him to grasp onto as you have, and as he is a witness to the all life changing path God has rescued you from.

When you are 95% there and you see your friend who just has one link to his chain away. He is still being held back from unleashing his spirit that has so entangled him for the last 2 years. How do you let your friend know that the one link he needs to release and COMPLETELY give to God is the link in letting go of past relationships and past hurts from those old friends. In return he's scared, of being real, open and honest and fears of being rejected that might throw him back into the past. He is scared of being hurt, only cause he has been hurt so many times, but always wants to be positive, loved, and wants to be liked. He has been betrayed too much and always is guarding his heart, which will never let him be himself. He is so overprotective of himself, but in a good way of his friendships. You cant let go of hope, you cant let go of the good times, and certainly can't let go of a God thing when you both realize God wants you to be hanging out for a long time.

I close with this, people are not perfect, people do fail, make mistakes, but when they get stripped of all they hope far, they then can lean on their friends. Friendships are a gift, cherish them always, keep the basics basic, and always hope for the best close to your heart. I do that always, Im doing that now, and will continue to never ever give up on my friends, that's a promise.

living for an audience of ONE...

Back in the saddle again..

We flew back to Dallas Sunday night, Monday went back to work and every Monday I watch David play volleyball. He has been wanting me to come check things out at his church called Restoration Church and so Tuesday we went to the college and career group for a bible study, which was really good. Wednesday was checking out the youth group that he is a leader of, and Thursday was the stand prayer service that I went to by myself. Friday night was out with friends, Saturday was FC, and clean my car, wash clothes, clean apt and have some alone time. Sunday picked up David for church at 10am in which we were really late. Then I hung out with a new friend who is the senior pastors kid of Restoration Church that David had introduced me to a month ago. We went to dinner, and then threw the football around while talking with his parents, which are really cool parents for being pastors.

living for an audience of ONE...

What tequila conference, SURPRISE

David and I arrived at 1015am on Thursday Sept. 21. But what you don't know is that the Saturday night before which would be Sept 15, I had a bit of a fall. I was chasing my little brother down a flight a stairs and I missed the last two that went to the left, and of course severely sprained my ankle. I was desiring to have a whole week off, but of course not at this expense. At 1am in the morning we made it to David's house and crashed there, while he helped keep my ankle iced and elevated all night. Wow, do I have a good friend or what. Tuesday after I woke up, looked at my foot that was purple on both sides and green on the top, made me decide to go to Care now, and find out what I really did. Luckily the nurse and Dr. were both smoking hot females.
Back in MPLS, and while we were waiting for the bags and Eric Smith to pick us up, David had to ham it up, by jumping over tall trash cans and finding a wheel chair to push his big brother around. I was not thrilled.

Dad got in around 1pm and we all went and picked him up at the hotel, and then headed to the 5.8 club for some good old "Juicy Lucy's" burgers( cheese in the middle not on top) and they were awesome.
Hung out with Patrick Ley my other best friend from Mpls at the Mall of America, went to a concert with Eric and then to an Irish pub for some brews and we hit the sack the first night around 5am.
Friday was the big surprise that we set up at the Mall of America and Victoria was surely surprised to see Dad. Friday night Dad, David, Debra, Andrea and I met 10 other of Victoria's closest friends at 7pm Bucca in St.Paul for an awesome 2 hour dinner. After that we met up with Nick Ritter that is from Blue Mesa @ DFW airport that use to work with us, and we went to hang out with Eric Smith and his friends. David and my niece andrea finally hit it off and hung out since they are in the same age group. The highlight of that night was I got to meet a Roller Derby girl named Mary Gold. She had the most amazing smile and teeth I have ever seen on a woman. She lit up the room when she walked in. That night we got to sleep around 4am. David is night person, I am but not that late.
Saturday was run around and get ready for the big surprise party for Vic, and so Dad, David and I ran errands, which was not all that fun. Got back to Vic's condo so Dad could spend some time with Vic before he headed for Branson and we headed for the party. David took a 2 hour nap in the sun porch as it poured down rain. We left to pick up Ritter, and hit the party. David and I were the bartendars and Nic helped out with the food, which was pretty much done. The karaoke machine was a hit and we stayed until 2am while David and Andrea were chilling together.

Sunday, we went out for a brunch, went to a record store, walked around Uptown a little, and then went to a contemporary art museum. It was harder for some to say good-bye than others. WINK WINK All in all it was a great weekend. David and I really needed to get away and just chill out with no pressure from life. Here is what I just love about our friendship. He took a 0 on a major test to go on this vacation in which we booked the plane tickets a month in advance. Basically his teacher screwed him and changed the test date, and would not let him take it early. I told him not to go and do the test, and he said nope, your little brother is going to support you. That is a true friend.

living for an audience of ONE...