Subscribe to the Network10 Minutes and Light Years Away
I drove downtown this morning to come to one of my favorite coffee shops – Stumptown. Stumptown is a nickname for Portland because when they were building the city they had to cut down a lot of trees (yes, amazing, they killed tree’s in Oregon) and there were a bunch of stumps around. Hence the name, “Stumptown.”
Stumptown is a chain here, but extremely popular and very good coffee. They all have a similar feel to them. They have an urban feel (as you can tell by the dj booth in the back, but have a very eclectic base of customers. There are a lot of artsy people, businessmen and women, etc. I come here because it’s close to my house, but it feels like light years from where I live. That’s the beauty of Portland – there are so many different types of areas here. Each district is unique from al others.
One thing I really enjoy is walking up to Portland State. It’s an urban school, smack dab in the middle of downtown. But man, it’s a beautiful campus!! I often hand out in the student union when I write. It puts me in the context I’m writing about, gets me thinking specifically about college life…plus I inevitably talk to people. It’s great to get to know people that aren’t churched. It’s great to be around people who need Jesus but don’t know him and have not recognized their need!
If you’re sitting in a church office right now reading this, maybe you’ll leave and get out among some students! One just sat down next to me, I’m going to talk to him about his “criminal justice” book and see where it goes…
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How did the conversation about the criminal justice book go?
Oh, and I’m so diggin that way of doing life. That’s one reason I love being part-time church staff…the church isn’t keeping tabs on my time, so I can hang out and read/study/meet students on campus.
Inside the church office is not where the ministry is at.
Go Jesus! paul