Sunday, March 26

The last leg of the conference over the weekend was a church visit to a church...an urban ethnic church. So, being of the evangelical natured denomination inside, I cheerfully chose the Rock of our Salvation Evangelical Free Church. We had to take the green line for about half an hour and walk a few blocks through a high-crime area to get there, but when we were there, we knew. Color abounded; there were a total of about 10 white people, 4 of them being us.
I'm getting ahead of myself already. We were supposed to meet up with a group leader at 10:45 at the green line train station beforehand, so that we could travel as a "group." That didn't work because we didn't know who our group leader was, and the place where we were supposed to meet was unclear. Four of us just went to the church instead of trying to find a CS person.
Church started at 11:30, and we were there just in time for the party. There was a choir of course, band (complete with trumpet), halleluias abounding, clapping, praise, dancing, "I'm not tired yet" song, kids around, slow and soulful songs and everything. Totally like the New City Church of Birmingham, Alabama. We sang for at least an hour and then the preacher started a-preachin'. He looked like a skinnier version of Montel Williams. And did he preach. The words that I needed to hear came directly out of his mouth. I could have listened to him all day, and soon I found myself outwardly agreeing with his words with the odd "Ummm-hm, and Amen" but I wasn't giving him the constant standing ovation like some others. It was awesome.
I hear that these people make a day of it...church in the morning, church in the afternoon, and eating after that. What a community; a beautiful family. I like that every once in a while...maybe once a month. I don't think I'd be able to spend three hours in worship every Sunday!

We got back to our apartment at 3pm, and I crashed on the couch..ended up falling asleep watching TV. After I woke up after about an hour I went for a nice evening run, came back, showered, gave kyle a quick trim (his hair show hair was "too much" so I evened it out a little) and then went to bed!
I'm doing a paper called My Encounter With an Artist, and I chose to interview a tattoo artist. I was recommended the tattoo shop Cherry Bomb in Wicker Park and I'd find a nice lady there to talk with. I'll get that paper written on Wednesday or Thursday night, the last possible nights...arg...deadlines creeps up so fast when I'm having so much non-homework FUN!