Seattle!

It was actually a bit chilly here today! My kind of weather! :)

We weren't really sure what was going to happen today, and to be honest, the day kinda got off to a frustrating start (trying to find our way around and such). However, it turns out God had a plan for the day, anyway (as he always does).

The first 8 or 9 people we talked to Seattle all turned us down. The most of any city so far, I think! We actually had to change locations because no one said yes. We went down by the waterfront, instead.

Of course, in a scenic area like that, there were more tourists, and we did talk to a few (one couple was actually from SC!). Got some footage there, and moved on. Back downtown, we ran into a guy who said that he would advise us to go out of the city to get better interviews, since most people wouldn't probably want to talk, and most people were transplants (not natives of Seattle), and most people weren't churched (not that that mattered to us for the sake of getting a wide variety of opinions). We thanked him and went about our way. The very next guy we stopped, not one minute later, was willing to talk to us, was a native of the Seattle area, and was a super solid Christian. It was quite encouraging!

One thing this guy said stuck out to me. We asked him how God moved in the world today, and he responded by telling us about the relationship that God wants to have with man. He described it as the best relationship you could ever have, with a person that you can tell anything to, where there's no reason to worry and there's nothing to feel bad about.
It's a good reminder to hear these sorts of things said by others. Sometimes I know I, for one, get too caught up in trying to meet goals or do better than I have before or whatnot. But it really is true that once we are in relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ, he is our closest confidant, our reason not to worry, and (by his grace) we have nothing to feel bad about (conviction, yes, but shame, no). We don't have to worry what he thinks of us, how he will react to something we do. We just know that he loves us with a surpassing love and will give us mercy, grace, and loving kindness throughout the days of our lives. What a treasure and a relief. God is love.
Amen!

We ended up getting to talk to a pastor friend of ours who is starting a church here in the Seattle region today, and we're staying with him tonight. He's a great guy, Warren Mainard, and his church is called Essential Church. If you're ever in the area, look it/him up! Tomorrow we're going to see some of the work this new church is doing in the community. Should be good!

Tomorrow we'll also head into Canada, God willing, so there may or may not be a blog post tomorrow night. Keep watching if you want, though!

Love you guys, keep us in your prayers! Lots of traveling to do tomorrow, so it'll be quite the full day. Let us know if we can pray for you, too!

Love you guys!

Love in Christ,
Tim and Randy :)