Hi Jay,
Like you, I was raised Hyper-Catholic in Iowa. I'm honored to
stay that I am a Christian and still Catholic. My bride is Protestant
and also devoutly Christian. I must honestly say that I still
struggle on a daily basis as much as any person who doesn't claim
strong religious convictions. I'm flawed because I'm human. I
personally feel uncomforable with being so overt that I appear to be
pushing my own beliefs and practices on others. Everyone is different
and their methods of evangalism reflect their own personalities. I'd
just like to try and explain your lunch companions' actions as I
understand them.
They feel a strong conviction to share the Lord's message with
folks who don't believe. They are going to a casino rather than a
church just as Jesus hung out with tax collectors and other 'sinners'
that the organized religious leaders viewed as not worthy. I imagine
that your lunch companions felt the same way about talking to you
about Christ as they would about warning you to prevent you from
accidentally stepping into traffic. You may not see it that way, and
most of the other poster's either.
I don't intend to pass judgement on others, as I fail on a pretty
regular basis. However, I also don't think I should avoid telling
others that I am a Christian for fear that they might be offended.
Don't be surprized if someday your own children are plying you with
the same style evangalism you experienced in the casino. God works in
ways we don't often understand.

Brian Cox
Pilot, and (I guess) Bible Beater