Many have asked me what happened last Friday night, and I have been meaning to journal it as the experience was not just a physical one, but a spiritual one as well.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forced of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12

Last Friday (July 17, 2009) was payday and per my routine the day that I take care of all our financial stuff for the next two weeks. When I got home, I opened up the laptop and put Quicken to work paying bills and balancing the register. After that, the only thing left to do was deposit a check and withdraw our envelope money.

Ines and I enjoyed a relaxing dinner followed by some pleasant conversation with a family who stopped by to visit Ines to see how her pregnancy was going. Long story short is that I looked up at 9:00 PM and still had not gone to the ATM, my last billpay/financial duty of the pay period.

I didn’t HAVE to go that evening, but because I like to wrap things up all at once I insisted that I get it done. At this point, I felt something inside me hesitate as if to say, “Rob, this may not be a wise decision. It’s late and Geyer Springs isn’t the safest place to be on a Friday night.” But I persisted.

I asked Ines if she wanted to go with me, and she declined (also having felt something in her saying not to go). She simply said that she was tired and would prefer to stay home. I think she even said to me, “Are you sure you want to go tonight?” or something like that. But I persisted.

Sometime around 9:15 PM I was driving down I-30 East thinking to myself “Hmmm…I should close the moonroof so I don’t invite any unwanted passengers into my car.” I closed the moonroof as I exited onto Geyer Springs still pondering if this was a good idea.

NOTE: If you are wondering why I chose the Geyer Springs Bank of America, it’s because that is the closest one to my house. Maybe I should switch to Metropolitan.

Again I hesitated before queuing up in the ATM lane as I parked in the middle of the lot to endorse my check. CLUEBIRD! Not feeling safe. But still I persisted.

I pulled into the ATM lane and proceeded to the 2nd of the two ATMs available. As I put my card into the ATM, I realized that I was a bit to far away from the machine and too far up, so I backed up and over a bit (but not much). AGAIN, I thought to myself something to the effect of, “I’m far away from this machine and it just doesn’t feel right.” But I persisted.

I inserted my ATM card, punched in the code, and started for my check to deposit when suddenly I hear a voice say, “There’s treacherous motherf’ers out tonight!” It startled me a little, but mostly I was just confused. Do I know you? Is this a trick? Why are you telling me this? In an instant, all of these questions dance in my brain. Then I see the knife in my face and realize this is no trick nor is it funny. I’m in danger.

THIEF: “Give me all your money!”

ME: “I don’t have any money. I’m making a deposit.”

I show him my wallet which had $2 in it. I give him the $2. He tells me to withdraw as much as I can. Then I let him know that I’m making a deposit. I show him the check for $345 and tell him to let me deposit the check so I can then withdraw that amount to give to him. He says ok.

ME: “Calm down. Calm down. I have a pregnant wife waiting for me at home.”

I silently say a prayer to the Lord to get me through this event safely so I can see my wife and unborn child again soon.

THIEF: “Oh, you’re gonna be OK. You’re a nice guy.”

While I appreciate the compliment, I prefer to hear that from people who ARE NOT holding me up with a kitchen knife.

As I finish the deposit, he tells me to give him my car keys. That worried me a bit, but in the moment I didn’t have time to think about it too much. I gave him the keys and then proceeded to withdraw $340. I actually hit $385 which didn’t work because it had to be a multiple of $20. I retyped in the amount and the ATM dispensed $340. At this point, he takes the money, drops the keys in my lap, and disappears into the shadows.

Immediately, I start the car, lock the doors, roll the window up, and take a deep breath. I pull forward and park in the middle of the parking lot. I’m alive and thankful. Thank you, Jesus!

At this point, I called 911 and then Ines.

As soon as Ines answered the phone she said, “What’s wrong!?” She knew immediately that something bad happened because the Spirit was speaking to her also prior to me leaving the house. I told her everything that happened as we both thanked the Lord for my safety and that only $342 was taken (and not my life).

Ten minutes or less after my call to 911, the cops arrive and take notes on the robbery. When I’m done with them, I call Ines and tell her that I’m coming home. I got home safely to my wife who had been crying. It was so good to see her. Words do not do justice to how good it felt.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

The Holy Spirit had told me not to go, but I didn’t listen. But the same Holy Spirit gave me peace and collectedness to maintain control over the situation. The thief could have got more money, but I made some calm suggestions during the “transaction” that kept things somewhat mellow. I kept thinking of my wife and baby and how to keep things calm. The Lord provided me peace of mind that surpasses understanding, especially under such stressful conditions.

I went to bed Friday night thinking that I had just learned a $342 lesson on listening to the Holy Spirit (which seemed like a good deal as opposed to losing some blood or my life). The next morning I went to the bank and filed a report with them when I learned that bank policy is to refund money stolen from an ATM machine. Praise the Lord! I could have lived without that money, but I sure was thankful that it was returned to me. In this case, the thief neither stole, killed or destroyed anything in my life…praise be to God!

Spiritual Applications:

1. God speaks. My advice is that when the Lord whispers something important in your ear, LISTEN and OBEY!! I am struck by this experience that we have a God who actively engages us. When He engages you, pay freaking attention!
2. Each day is a gift. This event showed my how quickly your life can change. In an instant everything can come to a screeching hault. Life offers no guarantee. Today may be your last, and I suggest you make it count. Because I love and follow Jesus, I want to be bragging on Him on my last day and every day until then. If you haven’t tasted how sweet it is to walk with Jesus, you are missing out! The second half of John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” He’s not joking. My life is FULL!

Check out my Jesus!

¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
John 3:16-21

Other Considerations:

1. Don’t use an ATM at night. Plan ahead if you need money at night. Otherwise, it can probably wait till tomorrow.
2. Eliminate the space. When you use an ATM, position your vehicle as close as possible to the ATM machine so that nobody can walk between it and the ATM thereby reducing the ability of someone reaching through your driver’s side window.

Thank you to all who have written me words of encouragement. My wife and I and our families are so grateful to the Lord for His protection and provision during this scary moment in time. We are all doing well and life is good.

QUESTION: What are you thankful for today?