HERE IS THE CHURCH, HERE IS THE STEEPLE

i went to church today. first time at my new apt. it was really good. i liked the songs and the message. but it had the same problems i'm probably going to find at every church i visit. where's all the people? i went to the 11 o'clock and i think the 8am is more attended so i'll try it. but i doubt there's going to be a bus of late 20 somethings pulling up to the steps at 8am. we'll see.

it was refreshing to go period. even if i'm doubtful of much young adult interaction (do i still qualify as a young adult? i hope so)

they included a verse from mark that i love. mark 6:1-13
(8)these were his instructions: "take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. (9) wear sandals but not an extra tunic..."

i love it because i really feel like i've tried to simplify my purchases in the past few years. when i was younger, grade school and high school, i accumulated a lot of junk and spent money on garbage i didn't need. i've made conscience efforts not to do that anymore for a number of reasons. one of which being that it is a waste of resources God has given me. whether i am putting the money to good use or just saving it, either option is better than wasting it on things i don't need and won't use.

i also love it because i love the idea of leaving 'home' with nothing and completely trusting God to provide and protect.

and i see it as a reminder

TASTEY CHICAGO

i went to the free guster concert at the taste of chicago yesterday. despite the steady misting rain it was a good time. the rain no doubt helped keep the crowd down. i don't think i tried anything too unusual...sweet potato fries were a must along w/ the mango, cranberry rice pudding that is my yearly favorite. the concert was AWESOME. the drummer is by far the most talented person ever created. he attacked his bongos like they were his flesh being bitten by armies of red ants. loved it. we were about 40 yards from the stage which was ok. until the middle of the show when shaquell o'neil, 7 rows in front of me, opened his golf umbrella that i swear was sheilding me from the rain while at the same time blocking my view of the entire stage. i love the music alone but i really needed to be able to see. so me and my friend moved closer to an unobstructed spot. we were there all of 5 minutes before we were told we couldn't stand there and had to find a seat. so i walked over to shaq and asked if he'd be able to hold the umbrella lower (he was holding it so there was a 3 ft gap btwn the bottom most points of the umbrella and his head) he mockingly attempted my suggestion as if to show me it was a rediculous request. i forgot to explain that i had migrated from behind him due to his monguloid umbrella. i then realized the rain had almost completely stopped and pointed this out to him. he said his head was allergic to water. so me and my friend continued to stand by him for a song or two before being asked AGAIN to find a seat. back at our original seats the rain really did stop and he exageratively shook the rain off and closed his umbrella. i wanted to let him know his display was not wasted, that i did enjoy it, but i was afraid the people at the end of our aisle would strangle me w/ their ponchos if i passed by them one more time.

the lead singer paused at one point and thanked us for welcoming them to "tastey chicago". he said this twice. there was an awesome group of 20/21 yr olds behind us dancing on the folding chairs the whole concert. they redefined horrible white dancing. it was great. guster gave us don't fear the reaper w/ plenty of cowbell and an encore. fantastic!