gistfile1.txt

user.checkValidUser(userId).then(function(userInfo){
 10     if(userInfo.docs.length==1)
 11       db.insert({type:'message',message:messageText,userId:userInfo }, function(err,body){
 12         if(!err)
 13           console.log(body)
 14       });
 15     else
 16       console.log('error, more than 1 user returned')
 17   }).fail(function(err){
 18     console.log(err);
 19   });

gistfile2.txt

function checkValidUser(userId){
  7   var deferred = Q.defer();
  8   db.find({"selector":{"documentType":"user","_id":userId}},function(err,body){
  9     if(!err){
 10       deferred.resolve(body)
 11     }
 12     else{
 13       deferred.reject(err)
 14     }
 15   });
 16   return deferred.promise;
 17 }