Marty the Airport Angel

I originally posted this on facebook a couple of weeks ago, but it ties in nicely with the recent conversations we've had at Monday night Bible Study about the unseen spiritual world around us, so it seems apt to post it here also. Enjoy!

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I recently spent a glorious weekend in Highland Park, NJ, for the wedding of my dear old friend Audrey. Not old because of her age (I'm older by 2 months anyway), but because we met in 6th grade and have a long history of theatre, letter writing, Bonnie Raitt songs, Trivial Pursuit, and water poker that spans almost 20 years now (criminy! Maybe we are old...)

Everything about the event was impeccably Audrey and perfect, from the eclectic assortment of plate and glassware to the music (especially the song she sang to David, her groom, accompanied by Gary, her dad, on the guitar) to the elegantly fun floor length brown gown with pink sash that she wore. It was the weekend that my soul needed - a chance to see Audrey and her family, her wonderful, dear family - the kind of weekend where you don't fully realize how much you miss someone (or a collective group of someones) until you see them again after an absence of too many years.

But I digress. This story is really about Marty, who may or may not be a real person. I'm open to either possibility, for I very much believe in the possibility of entertaining strangers who may very well be angels in disguise.

I'm late pretty much all of the time these days. I'm not really sure why this happens. Usually I have a good handle on where I'm going, how long it will take me to get there and when I need to leave to get there in time. But no matter how hard I try or how early I leave, something invariably happens along the way that makes me late. In FoCo, it's usually getting stopped at every red light between me and my destination or being stopped by a train. Sometimes it's a massive accident on I-25 that causes me to do things like miss my flight to Canada. This last month my excuse is that it's been too cold for my garage door to close and I have to wait and trick it into closing, which is about a 5 minute process. I guess all of these things could be comical, but mainly it's annoying because I hate being late.

But I digress again. Back to Marty.

I left my hotel that morning in New Jersey with plenty of time to spare. I got to the general area of the Newark Airport with plenty of time to spare as well ("plenty" being 15 minutes, which in Robin land is pretty close to excellent.) Here's where it got dicey. Despite Payless Cars' best effort to write out a paragraph of explicit directions back to the Wyndham hotel/rental car drop-off, I managed to continuously miss the exit to get me to the rental car office. Instead, I circled the airport multiple times, shouting a lot of un-Robin like words to no one in particular, except maybe whoever designed the 50,000 exits surrounding EWR.

20 minutes later, at 7:35 AM, I somehow managed to find my way into the hotel/rental car parking lot, dropped off my rental car, hoping that the shuttle would show up quickly to get me to the airport with enough time to print my boarding pass, go through security, and get to my gate in time for my 8:50 AM flight. Did I mention I was needing to do all of this in the Newark Airport? Yeah. That's right. At 7:45 AM, I was still standing in the Wyndham lobby waiting for the airport shuttle. It didn't take long for this normally smart girl from Los Alamos to figure out that this wasn't a good situation.

The still quiet voice of God kept telling me that it would be ok. The extremely loud voice of Robin kept telling me to panic. It's so much easier to listen to the loud voice...

Here's where the miracle begins. I'm in the lobby with an old guy who's on his way to the D.R. We discuss the Haiti earthquake briefly before panicky Robin makes a comment about being extremely late for my flight. There is no one else in the lobby with us except the hotel clerk and a family checking out. He looks at his watch, reminds me that it's 7:45 AM, one hour and 5 minutes before my flight, and basically says, "Good luck with that." Gee, thanks, old guy. I didn't realize I was cutting it that close until you pointed it out to me...

The shuttle shows up. I jump on and anxiously wait for the shuttle driver to get back on so I can demand that he take me to the Continental gate first. That's when Marty gets on. He sits down behind me and quietly says, "What time is your flight and what airline are you on?" He hadn't been in the lobby with us; I had no idea where he had come from, but the tone of his voice made it sound like he was fully aware of my situation somehow.

I tell my sister that she and I seem to carry this aura of vulnerability with us wherever we go. In reality, we are quite strong and can handle quite a bit, but we apparently give off a vibe that makes people want to take care of us (or worry about us.) No matter how old I get or how much I live, this quality doesn't seem to diminish for me, nor does it for her.

I don't know if that's what Marty sensed the minute he saw me or if it's just because he was one of God's invisible army members making himself visible and he knew exactly the situation I was in. But in that split second, I chose to trust him. I told him I was on Continental and my flight was leaving in an hour. He, too, looked at his watch and said, "I work for Continental, I'll get you there the short way."

Seriously? Where did this guy come from? And, God, remind me to trust you more than I do.

After the longest 5 minute shuttle ride of my life, we get to the Newark. I let Marty off first because I'm still not convinced he's for real. He gets off and waits for me and offers to carry my bags. I don't let my trust go that far...

As we walk inside, I ask him what he does. He says he's a captain but today he's not flying, just doing something else in the airport (he was wearing jeans and a jacket and looked nothing like a captain.) He starts telling me about his wife and how he always worries about her when she travels alone in EWR because she runs late and security lines are always long. Sounds like someone I know...

He guides me to a kiosk where there are no people, helps me print my boarding pass and then takes me through the employee only line at security. The normal security line was already a long one - it would have taken me 30 minutes to get through it if I had been on my own. By now it was 8:06 AM. There's no way I would have made it on my flight without Marty. He walked up to the front of the line, showed his badge, and said, "This is my friend, Robin. She's traveling with me today." The TSA lady let me right on through and we had priority going through the security screening area. Marty pointed me in the direction of my gate and promptly disappeared completely in between me putting my shoes back on and taking my bags off of the conveyor belt. This is why I suspect that he wasn't really a human, but probably an angel. Who knows, though.

I walked the length of my gate (which took 10 minutes since it was the furthest gate from security) smiling the whole way, amazed yet again at how God can pull my life out of the tank for no reason other than that He loves me. I got to my gate at 8:17, just as it started boarding. There's no way that would have happened without Marty.

Really, Marty is a picture of Christ, and a reminder of why I need a savior. When it comes to God's holiness, we're all running late. He's a busy airport where the security lines are too long and the gate is too far away from security to get there on time by ourselves no matter how hard we try and no matter how good our intentions are. That's why we need Jesus, the one who comes from behind, guides us to where we need to be and says to the One in charge, "She's with me. Let her through." And the One in charge listens and let's us pass.

Thank you, God, for that wonderful NJ weekend, the timeliness of needing to be away to work through some things in my heart, and for giving me Marty to remind me of who you are and that you came here to save me, not because I asked you to, but because you chose to.

~RAC

Preparing for Battle!

I remember the scene in the beginning of Rambo (yes Rambo people...do not knock American iconic movies of the 80's) when the one man annihilation machine, John Rambo, was getting ready to be inserted into the jungles of Vietnam to rescue fellow P.O.W's and they show good ole J.R. putting face paint on, getting decked out in his fatigues, strapping on his 4 foot survival knife, grabbing his assault rifles, grenades, and anything else he could get his rugged hands on that would go boom....it was a great scene that was to portray to us that a war was coming and our hero Rambo was gearing up for up.

Too many of us Christians, in my opinion, fail to see our lives like John Rambo did. He had a purpose and mission and that mission was to go to war with the enemy so he could save lives. He knew bullets would fly and opposition would be consistent and fierce so he prepared for it because lives were at stake. We, those who are followers/soldiers of Christ, need to understand we are in a battle every day and it isn't of flesh and blood but as we learned at Bible study, a battle of a spiritual nature against Satan, demons, and wicked forces that are looking to devour, derail, and defeat us daily!

It is our responsibility as servants of Christ to put on the full armor of God so we can stand firm in the faith and withstand the devil as Paul states in Ephesians 6. I want to implore all of us to realize that souls are lost in Fort Collins and we have a job to do as ambassadors of Christ armed with a message of hope and reconciliation to fight the good fight and take this message into every sphere of influence we have!

Come join us Monday nights as we discuss spiritual warfare, Satan and his schemes, demons and their powers, and how to put on this armor of God to fight the good fight....

Cyrus

This week at the movies...

Ever been caught off guard at the movie theater because you found yourself watching a flick in which you knew nothing about?? ... and only to find yourself in the awkward position of wondering if you should get up and leave or sit through it, hoping it will somehow get less crass, smutty, and inappropriate?? This scenario can easily be avoided!! Know what you are going to watch ahead of time. It is just one more simple way in which we, as followers of Christ, can honor Him.

In spite of the belief that movies don't effect us, we see that Scripture says otherwise. What we watch can and does impact us, and we must be sensitive to avoid being entertained by what is repulsive to a righteous, holy God. The Psalmist said, "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3). In 2 Peter 2, we see that Lot was greatly effected by the surrounding influences. "... for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day be seeing and hearing their lawless deeds" (2 Peter 2:8). Does what we watch pull our thoughts away from Him? Are we compromising what we hold valuable as believers or being influenced by sex, violence, or overly romanticized relationships that are based on feelings rather than God's principles? Are there better decisions we can make when it comes to the movies we enjoy? Are you justifying what you watch and severing your conscience? James says, "... to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). These are some challenging questions for all of us to think about!!

It can be difficult to find balance in life and entertainment for sure. But let's be men and women who love Jesus SO much that our lives are actually changed by Him. Let's be singles who live for Him, and who desire to make decisions based around what God would have us do. If we are truly seeking Him and desiring to put Him first in our lives, we can live a healthy, balanced Christian life. In the areas of movies specifically, I've found a great tool that you can resource before you drop $10 at Cinemark to watch a blockbuster full of compromise. Check out Plugged In Online.

We need to keep seeking Him by allowing the Spirit to guide every area of our lives, including the movies we watch!

~AF

Men's Prayer Night!!

Hey men,

Originally I wanted to do prayer this week but my internet was down last week so I didn't get an email off, and since we didn't have study today, I figured it would do well to wait another week so we can announce it there. With that, our next prayer night will be next week on Tuesday, 9/15, 8pm, at my place (357 Albion Way Unit D2).

Plan to keep the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month open for prayer. This is a great chance for fellowship with each other and of course with our merciful Savior, a time to not only seek answers but also to grow closer to God by surrendering our will to His. I hope everyone was as pumped as I was after hearing Kevin's message on Sunday!

Much of what we prayed for last time can be found, ironically enough, on the yellow insert, "Prayer and Fasting September 2009" that Mountain View handed out in the bulletins this past Sunday. If you still have yours, bring it and we'll use it as a starting point. Some highlights:
-preparing our hearts
-those in our church body struggling physically, emotionally, or financially
-youth, college ministries just kicking off for the school year, and of course 29Eleven
-next steps for a new church building
-outreach to our community
-Lighthouse Church in the Czech Republic (including a watering of the seed planted by our summer team, for the Alfredeens who are now living there, and for Melissa Wilson as she raises support)
-All the crazy church planting that is about to happen in the near future!

If there are any prayer requests specific to the items above or anything else at all that we should be praying for, please feel free to drop me a line. Also, if I have missed sending this to any of the guys in 29Eleven, please set me straight.

In Christ,
Jon Wolf
j.david.wolf@gmail.com

The Reason

Good Friday?! He was beaten and tortured beyond recognition. He was flogged with leather whips made of broken glass designed to rip the flesh apart. He was then forced to carry the heavy cross beam to His own death where they would nail His hands and feet. A cruel, humiliating death designed to slowly suffocate the victim as he hung naked and bleeding. This was a Roman form of punishment designed for the worst of sinners... not the sinless. And we call this Good Friday?! The Savior who fashioned the heavens and spoke creation into existence was now dying on a cross being ridicule by the very people He loved. The hands that sculpted the universe were now pierced with nine inch nails that held His frail body to the tree. This?? GOOD Friday??

Romans 3:23 says that ALL of us have sinned. We all fall short of His glory. Because God is Holy, our sin has separated us from Him. He is just and cannot allow it to go unpunished. It says in Nahum 1:3 that the Lord “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” But why Good Friday? Paul simply writes, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for US" (Romans 5:8). It's Good Friday because the perfect, spotless Lamb died in our place. Even though we turned our backs on Him, the Lord laid on Christ the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). Through the cross, we find redemption and grace. It is Good Friday because the cross provided salvation for those who would put their trust in Him. No amount of "good works" will save us. Even our best efforts to earn His love and forgiveness are seen as filthy, blood-stained tampons in His eyes (Isaiah 64:6 gives the gross picture of the menstrual cloth, which implied ritual impurity). Paul also states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT of God, not of works... "(Ephesians 2:8,9). It is Good Friday because through Christ's sacrificial death, we have salvation! We deserved hell, but He offers heaven. He took our place. And not only this, but His death and resurrection free us from sin now. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sin from us" (Psalm 103:12). He removed our sin (past tense)! If you have placed your faith in Him, He looks at you as a new creation. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation... all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Are you a Christian but living a life ensnared by sin? This is why He died and rose again... that you may have life! He paid the price so that you could truly live and be free from the slavery of sin (Romans 6). Are you weighed down by guilt or the cares of tomorrow? He is alive... He conquered death so that you could be free. This is truly good news! Life and peace and the assurance of knowing that He took every sin we ever committed or ever will commit and nailed it to the Cross. By His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

As Easter approaches, reflect on what you have been freely given. Thank Him for dying for you. If you have strayed from Him, repent and turn to Him. He is "faithful and just" and will forgive you (1 John 1:9). If you have never put your faith in Him, do it today. Believe in Him and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Talk to a friend or pastor who can encourage and show you the truths from Scripture. Or maybe you find it hard to even believe the Easter story... of a man who claimed to be God. Who died and supposedly rose from the dead (yea, I admit... it does sound strange!!). If this is you, please email me... I'd love to chat about it some more (alex.florea@comcast.net). You may be surprised at the overwhelming evidence that the resurrection was an actual, historic event.

~AF

"He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him."
~Isaiah 53:3-6

The Treasure

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, Please!" Quickly the Mother checked the back of the little foil box and looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost two dollars. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy then for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grownup. She wore them everywhere- Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh, yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess- the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."
"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again,
"Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it Jenny? What's the matter?"Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with the other hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure... So like our heavenly Father. ~Author Unknown

This is a great story that directly challenges where our heart is at. Are we holding onto "dime-store" treasure because we are afraid to give God everything? What is the treasure you are holding back from Him? Step out in faith and offer it to Him in humility. He will begin to change your heart and give you peace. Genuine treasure is not found in people, jobs, relationships, money, hobbies, or even serving others, ministry, Bible reading, church going, etc. True lasting, genuine treasure is only found in Jesus. John 14:27 says, "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you..." Whatever it is we are holding tightly onto other than Christ Himself is temporary. It will prevent us from seeking the One whose joy is limitless and bigger than any circumstance, trial, or hardship. Let go. Give it to Him. He wants to be your all.

~AF

Game Night!

Here are a few pics from Friday night. If you missed it, there are more events coming up in February.
Like any good church event, we started off the evening with some amazing food! Since Cyrus partially titled the night "roll-out night," there was some seriously good Sushi rolls.

Scattergories is a creative-thinking category-based game fun for everyone! HAHA! What is something that starts with the letter "A" that you would find on a hike? For some reason, my ingenious answer of "Aardvark" got rejected (yes, I'm still a little bitter). Pictured here is team "Jess n' Stef" as they go onto victory to win the coveted Scattergories trophy.

This friendly game of hearts got serious when Cyrus started making cash bets. As a respected Pastor at Mountain View, he should know better.

Pictured here is Jon carefully sculpting the purple Cranium clay. Like MacGyver, with the use of clay, duct tape, and a hair pin, his engineering skills could get him out of any predicament.

Greg sculpts a perfect looking skillet... complete with a spatula and all. But due to Adam's lack of kitchen utensil awareness, his guessing leads nowhere.

Cranium is billed as "The Game for Your Whole Brain." Unlike many other party games, Cranium includes a wide variety of activities. This variety led to some serious multi-tasking issues for many of us.