Why do Asians really get straight A's? - Project Gutenberg Consortia ...

and even a Starbucks inside for all your caffeinated, praying needs. This is a typical
megachurch, the result of too many snobby people with too much money. It's interesting that
this is suppose to be a Church of Christ, the same Christ that preached against the sins of
greed and avarice. The church members of Unity Mission probably missed that particular
sermon.
I think about all the poor, starving children around the world as we walk through the
church parking lot, which is full of luxury cars: BMW's, Mercedes Benz convertibles, Lexus
sedans, among many others. Consider WWJD: What Would Jesus Drive? I know he wouldn't
drive any of those cars. I guess Unity Mission Church members don't practice what Jesus
preaches. Gabriel points his finger at the cross near the top of the roof to show me how
miniature it is in comparison to the entire megachurch.
Upon entering the main entrance, we see a vast sea of people, hundreds waiting in
separate lines and many in groups of circles. It takes some time, but we finally make our way
into the sanctuary. The inside of the sanctuary is even more impressive, like a grand concert
hall: bright lights shining from above the mile-high ceiling, rows of pews cascading down like a
torrential river flowing to the bottom, screens literally as big as those in a movie theatre
hanging high above, and at the top of the chancel, a sound system with a speaker as wide as
a football field and just as expensive, too, from Auntie's explanation.
We sit in the nose bleed section of the megachurch way in the back, as the front and
middle sections are already full. I find it surprising that there aren't any event ushers to check
our tickets—just joking, of course. Auntie recognizes a friend over in the next pew so she gets
up to talk to her. Gabriel and I sit there silently and awkwardly, not knowing anyone.
Once the sermon starts, I notice a number of cameras at the center of the nave.
Apparently, this church service is a live televise, broadcasting all over the Bay Area. I'm
guessing I can't sleep through service, like I usually do. I'll probably have to babysit Gabriel
and keep him from snoring too loud. Speaking of which, he's already starting to doze off— why
the hell did I bring Gabriel?
When it's finally over, after about two hours of the same, monotonous stuff that I've
heard since I was a child, we walk out towards the main hallway. Auntie sees some more of
her friends and walks over to talk to them. I'm with Gabriel, both of us standing silently and
awkwardly, just like during service, by the entranceway. All of the sudden, I notice a girl and a
guy walking towards us. As they come closer, I realize that I recognize that girl: Emilie! What's