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.

A Baby Boy Born in Bethlehem

"He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute."
-Augustine of Hippo

What an amazing scene... certainly one of the most glorious (and ordinary) occasions to ever take place in history. Glorious because it was the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah whom the Scriptures prophesied about; the first step in God graciously sending His Son into a fallen world marred by sin so that we could have eternal life. But ordinary because it was the birth of a little baby Jewish boy who was placed in a manger. A manger! The glorious King was placed in an ordinary feeding trough. The same "I AM" who created the heavens and the earth was now in the form of a tiny, delicate, vulnerable baby boy.

We pick up the story in Luke chapter two. An angel of the Lord appeared to "shepherds living out in the fields." He did not appear to high dignitaries or important Roman or Jewish officials, but to the socially outcast. Throughout Scripture, we see that God always seemed to look kindly on the shepherds. They were a picture of the very heart of God. An angel announced to shepherds the arrival of "The Great Shepherd", who was born so that He would "lay down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Awe-struck and in sheer excitement from the good news, the shepherds journeyed to Bethlehem to see this special little baby boy. So excited, in fact, that Luke 2:16 says, "they came with haste." In the Greek, "haste" means they were in a hurry... they got moving, booked it, high-tailed it, got crackin'... well, you get the picture. haha! Here are Joseph and Mary adoring Baby Jesus when all of a sudden, these shepherds come and tell them that these angel dudes (yes, that's the technical term) appeared to them and announced that their baby was the Messiah. It must have been quite the story! Luke 2:18 says, "All those who heard it marveled..."

Michael Card poetically describes the event,
"Out in the stable yard
She sees a glow
Could it be angel light
How would she know
Shepherds stand wondering
Afraid to come in
But the baby that's born tonight
Will free them all To never fear again
As He lies in a cattle trough
She kneels by His side
Sweet baby breathing Soft infant sighs
Soft sounds of swallowing
As soft fingers part
Marvelous memories
She pondered then and hid them in her heart.


This brings us to one of the most interesting verses in the Christmas story, Luke 2:19... "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." She was taking it in. I wonder what she was thinking about in those moments? She couldn't comprehend what was fully happening, but I believe she knew these were events long foretold in the Law and Prophets and that her baby would impact all of history. She was right there in the midst of one of the most profound and important moments of all time! Without the birth of baby Jesus, we would still be in our sins and our faith would be entirely empty and pointless (1 Cor. 15:12-19).

I can't help but wonder if Mary also pondered throughout her parenting years why God would choose her to bring the Messiah into this world. Gabriel told her that she had "found favor with God." Was it because she was so special and lived a perfect life that pleased a holy God? Contrary to what many Catholics believe, this points to God's goodness, not Mary's. After all, the story of Christmas is about Christ, not Mary. We are ALL sinners (Romans 3:23) and fall short of God's perfect standards (yes, even Mary!). She found favor (like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others), because God is merciful and desires to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God also wants to use us... not so that we can think more highly of ourselves, but so that we can think more highly of Him.

Christmas is also about the amazing fact that God would even chose to save us. He certainly didn't have to! It would have been completely just to leave us in our sin. The angels look at us and marvel because we have a Savior... they don't (Hebrews 2:16). Christmas is really a peculiar story... just the fact that it is so odd really points to the reality of it's truth and historicity. The Almighty, omniscient, omnipotent God of the world born through a humble, virgin teenage Jewish woman? I would not have pictured the coming of the Christ through this kind of narrative, but something more resembling the likes of some super cool Hollywood action flick. I picture a sci-fi sort of story... like "24" meets "Heroes" meets "The Matrix" or something (Jack Bauer with Neo/Peter Petrelli-like powers would be sweet). An awesome hero-ish sort of Jesus showing up with amazing power, nuking anyone who stood in His way. Someone whose presence immediately demanded respect and attention. Maybe this sort of thinking was why so many people missed Jesus when He walked the earth. The Jews were looking for a Savior who would wear a crown of royalty and who would rule with an iron fist... not someone who would wear a crown of thorns with nail-pierced wrists. God's ways are not our ways. He displayed humility and desires us to do the same (Philippians 2:5-11). The story of Christmas is about the God of the universe being born a baby to save us and show us how truly mighty He is. Think about it, there is tremendous might in humility. Proverbs 16:32 says that a patient person (displaying humility) is stronger than a mighty person who captures an entire city. He humbled Himself even to the point of death so that you and I could have life.

Christmas is not just a story we read to our children. We need to guard ourselves from even the thought of it comparing to some far-removed fantasy. Although at times, the historical account of Jesus' birth may be hard to believe, it really did happen! Let's also not forget what Christmas is all about... not presents or spreading "Christmas cheer," it's about a baby in a manger who would grow up, live a perfect life, and die a horrible death on a Roman cross so that we could live an abundant life (John 10:10). Let's not think about Christmas this year without thinking about how He has saved us! It is truly an amazing time of celebration as we reflect on the hope, joy, and freedom we have in Christ. He died so that we could be free to live for Him! Let's focus our eyes on Him and push past the busyness of the season. It's sooo hard (I know!), but let's remember that this world has nothing to offer and that our satisfaction can only be found in Him and in Him alone. Not in things, not in circumstances, not in relationships... but in Him. As you spend time with family over the holidays, reflect on Christ's humility that was demonstrated for us. How can you serve others and show love to your family? As you give gifts to your loved ones, remember how God gave His Son as a gift to us. And the next time you see a nativity scene, don't forget to think of the amazing story of excited shepherds, a pondering Mary, and a baby boy who would one day die on a cross and rise again so that you and I could be free from the effects of sin.

~AF

The Bible's Ultra Dysfunctional Brady Bunch Family

This isn't quite like the Brady Bunch! Get this scene... you have eleven brothers (Yes, 11 brothers!). You have some sisters, too... but for sake of time and simplicity, let's just focus on the bros for now. Unfortunately, your family isn't one large "happy family" but more of one that pictures some twisted reality show family from an odd polygamous region in the remote parts of Mormon country (or the rural mountainous regions of Utah- whichever you prefer). Ten of your brothers are from other mothers, three others to be exact. The four oldest brothers have the same mom, then the next two in-line have another mom, then the seventh and eighth yet another mom, the ninth and tenth in-line are from the first mom (am I confusing you yet?), and you and the youngest son in the family are from your dad's second wife (which is the fourth mom in the family). Oh, did I mention that wife #1 and wife #2 are sisters? Nice, huh? If that already wasn't strange enough, the story gets better!

Now imagine your oldest brother decides he wants to have an affair with the mother of two of your half brothers. Also, the fourth oldest brother in the family has a son who gets married and dies without children. Desperate for kids, she plays the role of a prostitute and sleeps with her father-in-law and has children with him. Yes, this is your family... your extremely dysfunctional family... figured out you who are? Yup, you're Joseph (if you guessed it, go ahead... pat yourself on the back)!

The reason I share this odd story is to focus in on the ancestry of Christ Himself. Without the book of Genesis to paint some of this history, I would have thought that the ancestry of Christ would have been a long line of great godly and holy men, who always obeyed the commandments of the Lord. The fourth eldest brother in Joseph's family, Judah, had a son with his daughter-in-law, Tamar, who was named Perez. Perez was the great great great (I'm not sure how many greats) father of King David who was the great great great (again, not sure how many greats!) father of Joseph, the step-father of Jesus. His family tree would certainly not have been one to be proud of... Christ's ancestry was integrated with horrendous sin! Why you may ask?

...Well, I'm not sure! :) Although we may not fully be able to answer this question, we can certainly learn some things about God's character. It shows the trustworthy nature of God in fulfilling His promises. From the very beginning, God promised Abraham (Judah's great grandpa) that He would be a father of many nations, and that those nations would be a blessing to all other nations. Meaning, Abraham's descendant would be the Savior of the world who would free all of the elect from the slavery of sin. God's promises will ALWAYS come to pass, no matter what. What are some of the promises He has made to us? He has promised us peace and comfort through the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14). The Spirit is a promise to us, a seal or guarantee that He will give us eternal life with Him in heaven someday (2 Cor. 1:22). Heaven will be an AMAZING place where the very glory of God will illuminate the New Jerusalem with His majesty and splendor (Rev. 21:23). It will be a place with no sorrow, death, or crying (Rev. 21:4). What an amazing promise! He has also promised that He will NEVER leave us (Heb. 13:5), and that NOTHING will ever separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38,39). The wonderful thing about God is that these promises are unconditional... it's not about how great we are, but how great He is!

The story of Christ's ancestry also shows the great humility of Jesus in entering a world stained and corrupted by sin. The verse in Philippians really comes to life, "but (He) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." He entered a family that had some pretty dark "secrets"... incest, adultery, fornication, murder, lying, idolatry, the list goes on. This wasn't a holy lineage but one that represented the sinful and depraved nature of mankind. Jesus would be born into a family with this kind of history to show His love for us and how, in spite of sin, His blood would cleanse even the worst of sinners and the most vile of pasts. Have you ever been inside during a huge snow storm during the day only to step outside to be blinded by the bright, white light of the freshly fallen snow? The unspotted and unsoiled whiteness of fresh-fallen snow is a picture of redemption. It's a picture of how God purifies our sin through Christ's precious blood. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). Paul reminded the church at Corinth of this truth, "And such WERE some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). Peter denied Christ, and yet he was used by God to help establish the church. Paul was the "chief" of sinners, and yet he penned nearly half of the New Testament. No matter we're you've been, what you've experienced, or the family you are part of, Christ can use you to accomplish His purpose! If you are in Christ, there is no sin too great in which He won't forgive. This should bring us to a place of humility and dependence on Him. Experiencing such grace and mercy should truly bring us to our knees in humble reverence. It should remind us to never look at someone's past in a way that "disqualifies" them from being used of God. He truly can and does use "ordinary" people do accomplish "extraordinary" things. It should also motivate us to continue praying for our loved-ones who do not know the Lord... because in spite of how lost they may be, God can do a "180" in their life.

So, even by looking into the messed-up family of Joseph, we can see the loving and gracious nature of the one true God. The next time you find yourself reading various historical books of the Old Testament, remember that it ALL somehow points to the Cross of Christ. It leads us to His mercy and to His grace, which ultimately leads to OUR salvation. Yes, He is truly a remarkable God and His Word living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

~AF

Night of Worship: Devoted

If you missed our Night of Worship event recently, you missed out on a great evening of praising God and being encouraged from His Word! Cyrus gave a convicting message challening all of us to puruse God with an undivided heart. If you missed it, you're in luck 'cause I've posted it below (just click "play"). It's only about 20 minutes, and well worth your time.

"Devoted: Serving God with an undivided heart"

The God Who Weeps

I've been utterly baffled (for lack of a better word!) for quite some time now by the thought of a God who is referred to as "a Man of Sorrows" (Isaiah 53). Is it really true that the very God who spoke the universe into existence experienced what it was like to weep and mourn? Isaiah also described Christ as being familiar with pain and suffering. It wasn't just a one-time occurrence-- He was actually familiar with it and experienced it throughout His 33 years on earth! This, to me, is simply amazing! What world religion out there worships a god who suffers? Have you ever stopped to think about that? Christ was "stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted." But why? So glad you asked:) Isaiah answers that important question, "... He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities... by His wounds we are healed." He experienced pain, suffering, mourning, and weeping (all human experiences as a result of the fall) because of His love for US!

This also reminds me of Hebrews 4:15 where the author says we have a High Priest (Christ) who can sympathize with our weaknesses (yet without sin). Have you ever felt that God is too far removed from your pain? Have you ever felt that God cannot relate to your tears of sadness? It is encouraging to know that we have a Savior who CAN relate. He didn't experience sadness as a result of sin (guilt, fear, lack of hope, self-pity, etc.), but He certainly experienced loss. He wept over Jerusalem because it was a city that was blinded to the truth of His coming (Lk. 19:41). He knew what it was like to lose a close friend He deeply cared about (Jn. 11:25). He also knew what it was like to lose a close family member-- there is no mention of His step-father, Joseph, past the early part of the gospels (Jn. 19:26,27 clearly indicates Mary was a widow at that time). In fact, He went through more than we can ever imagine (or will experience ourselves)! Martin Luther said, "When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death thinking of what they are in comparison to the sufferings of my blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ."
He actually sweat blood, was beaten and mocked, and was publicly humiliated and embarrassed when His nakedness was exposed on the cross. Imagine the emotional pain He experienced on the most tragic and heroic day ever!! He was so sorrowful in the garden, to the point of death, as He anticipated the moment when His Father would turn His back on Him as He bore the sin of mankind (Mt. 26:38). So, the next time you are hurting and the tears won't stop flowing, remember He is there for you. Like a loving Father, He knows your sorrow and pain and will be the "God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3).

One of my heroes of the faith is Michael Card-- author, theologian, song writer, and musician extraordinaire (hey, I really like the guy!! lol). He wrote an entire album devoted to lament, called "The Hidden Face of God." In one of his songs, he writes:

In Eden, the darkening garden was still unwet by all the tears from the sky. The burden of that disobedient bite brought all the tears the fallen world would cry. The unwelcomed tears that they never had known coursed down their fallen faces in surprise. All they ever had seen was the light of His face, but now that sin had entered in, their tears would fall like rain. Falling tears from fallen eyes. Our faces with an unaccustomed stain. We were driven from the garden beneath the cloudless sky, for human tears are older than the rain. And so we all were driven from His presence and His peace to stumble all along this long lamenting race. From the deepest darkest shadows, He joins us on our way, and we recognize our fallen tears upon that Human Face.

Before God brought the Flood as punishment for a wicked world (Gen. 6:5), there was no rain on the earth. There was a greenhouse type environment where plants were watered through a mist that came up from the ground (Gen. 2:5,6)... probably not completely unlike that cool mist that waters the fresh produce at your local grocery store (haha! Okay, maybe not quite). Like rain, I don't believe tears were a part of the original creation either. Tears were the result of shame and guilt as Adam and Eve chose to disobey God's clear command. They were driven from the garden and clothed by God from the skin of an innocent animal (the first sacrifice, a picture of Christ- Gen. 3:21). It was likely around this event, that the first tears were shed.

We see that sin separates us from God and caused suffering to enter into the world. This resulted in God choosing to become a man to save us, which resulted in the Creator experiencing the punishment intended for the creation. And this is the amazing thing, as Michael Card so poetically says, "He joins us on our way and we recognize our fallen tears upon that Human Face." That's what I think about when I read the Bible's shortest verse, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). He took part in our suffering!

Of course, not all tears are tears of sadness. We often cry out of happiness. Maybe a touching story of an athlete who overcame cancer or maybe a news clip of an unwanted child adopted by a loving family. It can also be out of gratefulness and awe. Realizing the presence of God during an emotional worship service or remembering how God brought a lost sinner out of despair and into a victorious, joyous life. It could even be romance that brings tears to our eyes. Hearing of the perfect wedding proposal... at the beach... during sunset... with a lovely string-quartet playing Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" in the background (okay, getting carried away here!). Although I can't prove this, I believe that the tears of joy we shed are an example of how God can redeem something originally brought about as a result of the Fall and make it a thing of beauty. Just like the first rain brought a Flood that would judge the entire world, we later see throughout Scripture that it would become a sign of God's blessing. In similar fashion, tears originated from loss and suffering, but would also come to be a sign of joy and reconciliation (Gen. 45:14,15 shows a grateful Joseph as he wept at the reunion of his brothers). God has a way of mending and redeeming what was once broken! So, the next time the Broncos win in the final seconds of the game and you are overcome with happy tears (haha!), think about the God who can take something and redeem it by bringing new life and meaning to it.

We serve a Mighty God who is amazing! He can relate to us. He can comfort and meet us where we are at. He's "been there." And yes, He can even restore us and make us new and give meaning to our lives. Let's learn to praise Him with ALL of who we are and to go to Him during times of sorrow AND joy.

~AF

ps... I would love to hear some feedback from anyone out there! Additional thoughts or insights?