northwestern vacation, day one

vacation: it's about time.
seattle dave: we met 3 years ago in a dive bar, here in seattle; it's kind of a shady story but it's worked out nicely; he lives in a re-vamped lutheran church with a bunch of artists in ballard.
iPhone: has google maps w. bus directions & is amazing. get one.

thoughts for today:

i don’t know how to evangelize. i honestly don’t know the “four spiritual laws”. and i also don’t spend a lot of time with people who aren’t christians (note: that’s not something that i like). i don’t know how to start a conversation with the intention of telling someone about Jesus. i don’t even know what telling someone about Jesus means. except, i just know who Jesus is to me. tonight, three people told me about their faith. specifically, they shared with me how they’d come to where they are now, which is not following Jesus. these conversations didn’t start because of anything i did. as i said, i don’t even know how to start those conversations, and i really like not knowing. my Jesus, as you know, is not canned, and frankly, He’s not easily explained. it’s kinda complicated, and as much as i’m violating my own beliefs by saying this, i don’t really like getting into it. it’s so volatile, faith is. so invasive. and i’m so much more concerned about my relationships with people than with HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR that you will not quickly find me asking someone about their spirituality. i will also point out that Jesus tended to be that way, himself. anyway, seriously, three people tonight launched into it with me, and it was great to share my side of the story – how i got to where i am in my faith. i was really pleased & encouraged by their open-mindedness – it was great to be listened to, and i felt like i was treated with the same respect i always intend to extend to others.

i love seattle. i love the musicians busking on the corner, i love the crazy alleyways that require you to back into diagonal parking spots, i love walking to a dive bar when it’s raining, i love the graffiti in the bus tunnel downtown, and i love that the neighborhood pub serves a mighty fine vegan artichoke sandwich.