The Mountain View  

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven on Earth.

March 2002

Pastor's Ponderings…

"The Water Vendor"

A Modern Re-telling of John 4:4-42

The NYFD fire fighters returned from another battle of the blaze. It was another victory won by the elite team of Manhattan Island's best. They had climbed their way to the ninth story of the apartment building to rescue two little girls who were hiding, paralyzed by fear, in their bedroom closet. The fighters of fire (and sometimes fear) safely evacuated everyone else in the building with no serious injuries. The fire was contained in less than an hour.

Joe had just pried himself out of his smoke-soaked fire-fighting "armor." It felt good to be able to move freely again, and to be able to breathe "real" air "if that's what you can call it in New York City," he thought. He thought back over the last several hours: another heart-stopping alarm in the fire station. Would he ever again hear the alarm scream without screaming inside, "Is it another attack? I don't think I could go through that again."

Joe was so tired. He flopped down on the lumpy rust-colored couch next to the pop machine in the break room. The rest of the guys had gone out for donuts, but he just needed some time to himself. He was really thirsty, but a soda didn't sound good. And how long had that coffee been sitting there?

Through the window, he spotted something intriguing. Someone had set up a bottled water stand across the street from the fire station. The sign hanging above the rows of bottled liquid crystal read:

Pure Mountain Spring Water…20 Ounce…79 cents

Joe licked his cracked upper lip and felt around in his left jean pocket. He pulled out 12 nickels and 6 pennies. Disappointed, but not defeated, he had to stand up so he could investigate the right pocket. Was he drying his jeans too long after washing them? They seemed a lot tighter than when he bought them. (Or was it turning forty?) A smile crossed his lips as he finally found one lonely quarter through a maze of about 20 keys.

He walked out to the street holding tightly his new-found treasure, when suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes fixed on the vendor behind the bottled water stand. The man looked familiar—disturbingly familiar. Joe had seen him over and over again on the nightly news and on CNN. No, it couldn't be him! There were so many vendors in the neighborhood from so many different countries. It couldn't be HIM! But there was not mistaking it. It WAS him! The man who was said to have toppled towers and brought death and despair to thousands was selling water on the streets.

Joe's first thought was to run back into the fire station and grab the axe on the wall. But something stopped him. His hand was now clenched in a fist around nickels, pennies, and a quarter. He walked across the street. His legs felt as heavy as they did before he took off his gear, and it was just as hard to breathe as it had been with his oxygen mask on in the smoke-filled building.

Then he was standing before the man whose eyes he had memorized from the television. "I'll take one, please." (That wasn't what he really wanted to say.) The man behind the bottles said, "Pardon me for saying so, but I really didn't think I'd get much business from the fire station. In fact, I didn't think you'd even want to associate with me." Joe just untwisted the cap with a shaky hand, unable to utter a sound. He felt a little better as the cold water washed over his parched throat.

Finally, the words came. "I'm a Christian." The vendor noticed the silver cross around Joe's neck. "The preacher said on Sunday, 'Love your enemy,' and I said, 'Amen!' I won't lie to you. Right now, I'd like to take it back. Dozens of my friends died in the rubble, and my first thought when I saw you was that you should too."

About that time, Joe's buddies returned with the donuts. When they saw who he was talking with, they went numb. But no one asked, "Why are you talking with HIM?" Joe's eyes moved back and forth between friend and foe as he continued, "But how do I witness to the fact that murder is wrong by committing murder? So I choose to love you. I suppose the best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." A tear cascaded over the cheek of the water vendor.

The street merchant returned to his homeland in such a hurry that he left his bottled water stand behind. It is said that he told friends and neighbors across the country about the fighter of fire: "He knew everything I had done, but loved me anyway." The story spread.

And rumor has it that this meeting of the fire fighter and the street vendor was the beginning of true peace over the entire face of the earth—a peace that lasted until the end of time…

In Christ's Love,
Pastor Steve

Artists, crafters, and other are needed for an arts, crafts and antiques sale we will have May 4, 2002. Proceeds will benefit a new church library. If you can help, contact the church office or Betty (562-3016).

People are needed to nurture a group of 6-8 people in our church. Please call the church office to sign up.

Sunday School…Something for Everyone!
Come develop a relationship with God through study and fellowship.

Every Sunday 9:45 - 10:40 a.m.

Adults: Bible Discussion class
or coming soon, Instructor Lead Workshop

Children 5 and over. Sunday School
Children 4 and under. Nursery available

Now through April 30th. For the low price of $10 per hour, you can rent a teen to do your spring chores! Money goes to the Youth Fund.

Sophia Emily Wahed - February 3, 2002
Jennifer, Joshua and Nicholas Coe - February 10, 2002

Keynote Speaker: Jonathan McKee. Jonathan McKee has started on-campus outreaches that grew to up to 200 kids weekly. He speaks and trains thousands of kids on campuses, summer camps, retreats and churches all over the United States. He directs trips and retreats for large groups and has trained hundreds of volunteers and paid staff. Currently he runs a citywide program for Youth for Christ that brings out over 1,000 junior high youth.

Song leader: Brian Riecke. Brian has been a song leader for worship, camps and youth events since high school. He has been a member of various Christian Bands through the years and currently tours with Big Fish Story. His "other" job is the conference Coordinator of Youth, Young Adults and New Media Ministries for the Rocky Mountain Conference.

The Bands. We had so much fun with this last year, we're doing it again! All the bands that you will see at Up With Youth are from churches around the Rocky Mountain Conference. Prepare to be inspired as these band play favorite and original songs throughout the weekend!

Saturday Activities will include: basketball, volleyball, a talent show, and rec time at the YMCA (swimming, roller-skating, hiking and horseback riding).

Up With Youth will take place April 5 - 7, 2002, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. The fee is $150 postmarked by March 23rd or paid at the event

The church's office hours are 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Pastor Steve is available in the office Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, with Monday as his day off.

Article Due Dates

For the Sunday Bulletin: Wednesday of each week.
For the Mountain View: the 21st of each month.