Have you ever....traveled one hour one-way at 3:00 am to attend a early morning prayer service?? Well, neither had I until the morning of Tuesday August 1, 2006.

This is what I looked like catching the train at 2:45 am.







At the invitation of Bishop Alvernis Johnson, I ventured out to Jamaica Queens, NY to attend the weekly 5am prayer services held at New Greater Bethel Ministries.

Following his instructions, I arrived at 4:45 am to meet him at the door..... so as not have to wait in line.

There were nearly 200 people already ahead of me....some had been in line since 4:00 am.

I couldn't believe it...that is why I just had to take the picture. Bishop arrived and I was excorted into the 1,200 seat sanctuary...(which was filled to capacity......those 200-plus persons waiting in line outside were directed to the overflow facility.) Under his company I was provided a second row center seat. For the first 15-20 minutes all I could really do was just sit there....trying to absorb the awesomeness of the experience.

As expeditor, Bishop Johnson lead an opening prayer and then turned the platform over to his spiritual mentor Dr. Junita Bynum.....she elevated the service into the hands of guest speaker Bishop Nicholas Duncan - Williams ( the presiding bishop of the Christain Action Faith Ministries Int ' l & Action Chapel in Accra , Ghana ).

I really have no words to describe my experience. The sound....the sensation.....the charge of the atmosphere. I would have like to have taken pictures....but even though it has been said that they are worth 1,000 words....even the visuals would have been inadequate. Allow me to say...that....time stood still...and that early morning sacrifice hardly seemed a high price to pay for such a GLORIOUS experience. I look forward to a more regular attendance.

Scences from Queens













After morning prayer up in Queens, NY













Back for the $5 lunch at my favorite fish and shrimp shack in Harlem

















For me....the $5 lunch is a rare treat.....but this other brother pulls out a phat roll of $20 dollar bills....to pay for his $47 lunch of fish, shrimp, and fries. I wonder.....just how did he get all that money???









A scene in midtown


















A clear case of anorexia....I hope she gets help.













Record temperatures in Harlem













In order to cool off.......folx do as much as they are compelled.












EVERYBODY gets in on the fun













Me and Mikal on the train downtown













Mikal goes shopping for sun glasses at some vintage clothes shop.












He finds a nice fit.













Just a place I have been meaning to try out













I went apartment hunting.....saw 2 places in this building....up in Washington Heights.












The renovations give the place a great look....but....it is far too small and the layout simply will NOT do.











Historic church in Harlem


















Another church in Harlem













Place I like to go for cheap (uhh....inexpensive) urban wear.












The historic Lenox Lounge...another place I need to check out while living in Harlem













Just a sceene in Harlem













Have you ever seen a dog on wheels?













I cannot tell...but it looks as though the dog suffer some sort of back injury












View from the middle of the street. Have you ever seen such a sight?












This is what is called a Dog Run....a caged play pin for dogs...in the middle of Washington Square Park.











Yeah....unbelievable....I know













Down at the Pier













Manhattan in the background.













My time in Michigan is come to a close. Within 45 days I will make a full transition to the East Coast.....most likely....New York City.

I have no 'nest egg'.....I have not recieved a job offer there.....in fact...the only ovetures to job offers have come from various institutions in Michigan.....to which I have had to say 'no thank you'.

I am moving BY faith and IN faith......If I get lost He is smart enough to find me....and if I fall He is quick enough to catch me.....but failure is not an option ....for it is in HIM I live....move...and have my being....and there is no failure in God.

I leave behind a 2 bedroom bi-level condo. It is my frat brothers place....but I did the decorating...and I pay the rent. He is away in California for medical school at Berkeley.



































And when I returned from 2 months away in NYC....this is the condition in which I found it.....much thanks to my little brother Alan Crawford.....who regularly checked in on the place for me while I was away. I have been very comfortable here these past 3 years. A perfect little abode for an aging bachelor.....lol.


























I also leave behind my Trooper......by far the most reliable ....comfortable...and flexible piece of transportation I have ever owned......this will be gifted to my brother Jamale and his wife.










117th Street in the heart of Harlem....(between Lenox and Frederick Douglass.....I think) This is the place I want to call my home. ....don't know how long it will take....or how much.....but I plan to own this unit one day.