Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 23, 2009

Bikes of Passage

Jonathan in Beijing

Jonathan in Beijing

   Today is my son Jonathan’s 25th birthday. As I was thinking about and praying for Jonathan, I remembered something I had recorded in my journal in May 1991 on the night I assembled his first bicycle. I offer it here as a reminder to parents that our kids grow up faster than we would like. So, make the most of every day and every year with your kids. You won’t do everything right, but neither will your kids. Learn together along the journey and love each other no matter what. I love you, Jonathan. You are indeed a gift from God. Happy Birthday, son.

• • • • •

   I spent half the night assembling my son’s first bicycle. The carton not only had a picture of what the finished product should look like, but pictures of the tools required to assemble the “some assembly required” product. I did not have all of the necessary tools but felt certain I could improvise with what few tools I have managed to collect over the years. And so the project began with a look at the assembly instruction manual. It looked like some long legal contract peppered with pictures of screws, washers, and an occasional “this is what your bicycle should look like after this step” picture. Over the next few hours I managed to complete the project and put it in the living room where Jonathan would be sure to see it upon waking.

   Before going to bed to get a few hours of sleep, I paused to look at the bicycle. There before me was another stage in my son’s growing up. It seemed like only yesterday I had gone through the same ordeal to assemble his first tricycle and then a big wheel and then a scooter — first-fruits of transportation. And now, a bicycle — a symbol of growing up, of added responsibility, and of moving at greater speed toward the next rite of passage, the automobile. Perhaps that is the purpose of tricycles, big wheels, scooters, and bicycles. With each comes greater mobility to move just a little farther down the road toward adulthood. Perhaps each bike of passage is meant to help parents to turn loose of their growing children, a little bit at a time, so that it doesn’t hurt so much when they finally leave home.

   For the time being however, I will enjoy my son and his new bicycle. I’ll watch him ride it up and down our cul-de-sac and teach him bicycle safety rules. I’ll help him up when he falls down and bandage however many scraped knees and elbows he suffers. I’ll repair flat tires and realign crooked handle bars and replace broken reflectors. I will do this and more. We will do it together, my son and I. And I will treasure these moments in my heart because one day I will see him travel down the street only to return for occasional visits. Yes, the bikes of passage are inevitably leading to the day when my son will go off to pursue his own dreams and hopes and visions and goals. And as he travels toward that end he will shed and discard his tricycles and big wheels and scooters and bicycles. As a daddy, I do not want to neglect my responsibility to bring up my children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) while I have the opportunity. After all, one day their tricycles and big wheels and scooters and bicycles will no longer be parked in my garage.

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Posted in Home and Family

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 22, 2009

Let Your Light Shine

   Years ago I was reminded of an important lesson about light. One stormy night a bolt of lightning hit a power line, leaving our neighborhood in darkness. As I fumbled around in the dark I noticed a soft glow of light. “Dad,” said my son, “when you squeeze my teddy bear it plays a song and his nose lights up. His little light can help you find your flashlight.” Jonathan was right. All it took to get oriented in the darkness was the soft glow of light from his teddy bear’s nose. A little light can make a big difference on a dark night.

   Jesus said to His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Our sin-darkened world needs light. The purpose of light is not to draw attention to itself, but to enable people to see what they otherwise would be unable to see. Our lives should enable people to see the truth of the gospel. Our influence for Christ should shine as brightly as a “city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). And, we should live in such a way as to “shine like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:15) in the midst of our unbelieving generation.

   Jesus cautioned His followers against hiding their light (Matthew 5:15). The people of Jesus’ day used small oil-filled lamps to illuminate their homes. Jesus pointed out the absurdity of lighting a lamp and then covering it with a bowl. Instead, He commanded that we let our “light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). We are to be witnesses for Christ wherever we are. Our “good works” (Matthew 5:16) should serve as a shining demonstration of the effectiveness of the gospel and cause people to glorify God.

   Many people all over the world still live in the darkness of sin and separation from God. That is why we must be light and carry the light to the nations. We can make an eternal difference in the lives of others by faithfully letting our light shine. Remember, God can use even a little bit of light offered in child-like innocence to help someone in darkness find their way into the light of forgiveness and hope. So, let your light shine.

• • • • •

Note | Operation World by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk is a great resource for learning about people groups. The book is available on the Operation World website.

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 20, 2009

Light for the Nations

   Accordingl to Isaiah 42, God, the creator of the universe (42:5), called His servant to be “a light for the Gentiles” (42:6). Isaiah described the Gentiles, or nations, as living in the darkness of bondage (42:7) and idolatry (42:8), ignorant of the greatness of God (42:9). God assured His servant of divine support (42:6) for the important task of taking light, freedom, and hope to those in spiritual darkness. Jesus said, “you are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). Think about that. If you fail to let your light shine, who will remain in spiritual darkness?

   The Bible talks a lot about darkness and those who live disoriented lives in the darkness of sin and separation from God. People who do not have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ live in darkness. And the darkness is a terrible state in which to live. That is why God is so concerned about lighting up the darkness. And that is why those who have turned from darkness to light have a responsibility to help those still groping in the darkness. Those who have the light have an obligation to those who live in darkness (see Rom. 1:14). Every Christ-follower  is a trustee of the light. The greatest crime we can commit is to withhold the light from those living in spiritual darkness.

   Christ charged His followers with the task of taking His light to the darkest corners of the world. Today, Christ-followers are working together to take the light to the world’s remaining unreached people groups. Many of these people have never met a Christian or seen a Bible because they are kept in darkness by hostile cultures, governments, and religions. We must continue penetrating their darkness with the light of the gospel. So, pray for those awaiting the light. And, pray for those who are penetrating the darkness.

• • • • •

Note | Learn more about unreached people groups by visiting The Joshua Project.

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Posted in Missions Musings

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 18, 2009

Bring Forth Justice

   I once heard someone remark that God does not use us because we are good but because He is good. God indeed uses ordinary people, despite their shortcomings, to help carry out His work in the world. The nation of Israel was chosen by God for a very important work. God did not choose the people of Israel because they were good or more important than others (see Deut. 7:6-8; 9:4-6). God chose Israel to be the nation that would evangelize all nations or people groups. God chose Israel to be His servant.

   Isaiah described the role of God’s servant (Isaiah 42:1-4). Though Isaiah did not explicitly state the identity of this servant, many scholars believe Isaiah’s words reiterate Israel’s servant-missionary role in God’s plan. God’s Spirit empowered His servant for ministry (v. 1). God always stands ready to empower and equip those whom He calls to serve Him. God assigned His servant the task of bringing “justice to the nations” (v. 1). Justice is that which is in harmony with God’s will and law (v. 4). Justice will come to the nations when people repent of their sin, turn to God for salvation, and live in a manner pleasing to Him.

   Isaiah wrote that God’s servant would carry out his ministry in a gentle and quiet way (v. 2), reaching even the weakest and most helpless members of society (v. 3). Christ-followers live and serve in many areas of the world where they are not permitted to initiate conversation about what they believe. However, these individuals are prepared to respond in a gentle and respectful way to those who ask about the hope that is within them (see 1 Pet. 3:15). Many Christ-followers minister to people groups by providing the most basic humanitarian needs. These practical acts of kindness open many doors for dialogue about God. In these quiet, gentle, and practical ways, Christ-followers are helping to bring justice to the nations.

   Isaiah affirmed that God’s servant would see his mission through to completion (v. 4). However, Israel did not fulfill her mission as described in these verses. Matthew saw the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s words in Jesus, the perfect Israelite (see Matt. 12:14-21). May we faithfully share with all peoples on earth the only message that can lead them to life. Let’s allow God to use us to bring forth justice to the nations and hasten the day when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9).

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Posted in Justice, Missions Musings

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 17, 2009

Deuteronomy 8:11-20

• Warning against Forgetting God | Deuteronomy 8:11-20

8:11-20 | In verses 1-10 Moses emphasized the importance of remembering the leadership and provision of God through the wilderness journey. In verses 11-20 he emphasized the danger of forgetting God and His past deeds (8:14-16) in the midst of the Promised Land’s bounty (8:12-13). These verses illustrate that it is easy to forget God when stomachs are full, bills are paid, and barns are bulging. Forgetfulness is the greatest indicator of ingratitude. And, there are consequences and dangers to forgetting God (8:19-20), not the least of which is the temptation to embrace idolatry. If we forget the true God, we will choose another.

Do not forget God. | God can remind us to remember Him by removing the things that cause us to forget Him. God does not want for life’s blessings and successes to cause us to forget Him. We should always keep in mind that God can easily remove anything that causes our thoughts of Him to diminish and our love for Him to grow cold. He can easily strip us of anything that diverts our attention away from Him. So, do not forget God.

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Posted in Bible Study

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 16, 2009

Deuteronomy 8:2b-10

• Remembering God’s Past Dealings | Deuteronomy 8:1-10 (cont.)

8:2b-10 | Moses urged the Israelites to remember several valuable lessons from their wilderness experience that would serve them well in the Promised Land.

First, Moses reminded the people that God had a purpose for allowing them to be touched by difficulties (8:2b). God was interested in the development of their characters and in knowing what the Israelites were made of. Difficulties reveal character. God developed His people through the challenges of the wilderness journey during which they faced choices between trusting in God or themselves, obeying or disobeying God, praising God or murmuring against Him, going on or returning to Egypt. The struggles and obstacles of the wilderness experience were designed to prepare and strengthen the Israelites for the challenges of the Promised Land. Someone noted that the path that has no obstacles leads to nowhere.

We don’t grow in a vacuum. | The things the Israelites were exposed to in the wilderness were designed to help them mature and understand that they needed God. Helen Keller said, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work and my God.” Every trial and affliction was designed to mold the Israelites into a distinctive people. God used affliction to shape his people just as a blacksmith uses a hammer to shape iron. Henry Ward Beecher said, “Affliction comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise.” W.E. Channing said, “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”

Second, Moses reminded the Israelites that part of God’s purpose in allowing them to be touched by difficulties was to teach them humility and the value of trusting God and depending on His word (8:3). God taught the people this lesson when they found themselves in situations where it was necessary for them to trust Him instead of themselves. When they had exhausted their food supply God miraculously supplied them with “manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know.” The purpose of this was to help them understand they needed to depend on God. Note: Read Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 regarding Jesus’ use of this verse when He was tempted in the wilderness.

Third, Moses reminded the people that God had made provision for them in the midst of difficulties (8:4). The wilderness experience was difficult and physically challenging. Yet, in all their wanderings their clothing did not wear out and their feet did not swell (8:4).

Fourth, Moses reminded the people that all the things they had experienced in the wilderness were designed for their good, just like the discipline of a father for his son (8:5). That was reason enough to “keep the commandments … walk in His ways … fear Him” (8:6). Psalm 119:75 states, “I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.” Psalm 119:71 states, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes.”

In contrast to the hardships the Israelites experienced in the wilderness, the Promised Land held the prospect of great blessings. The Israelites would be sustained by abundant resources in the new land that were no less a gift from God than the supernatural provision of manna in the wilderness (8:7-10). Moses exhorted the people to respond to God’s goodness in the new land with gratitude.

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Posted in Bible Study

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 15, 2009

Deuteronomy 8:1-2a

• Remembering God’s Past Dealings | Deuteronomy 8:1-10

8:1-2a | Moses urged the Israelites to “remember” (8:2 and 18) and to not “forget” (8:11, 14, 19) the Lord, the Lord’s commandments, or His deeds on their behalf. He understood that it would be easy for the Israelites to become prideful and forgetful once they possessed the land (8:14). So, because their success in the Promised Land was linked to obeying God’s commands and remembering His deeds on their behalf, Moses exhorted the people to remember two things.

First, Moses exhorted the people to remember “all the commandments” (8:1). They would have no success apart from obedience to God’s word. The word “all” defined the scope of what they were to obey. The phrase “be careful to do” defined the method in which they were to observe God’s commands.

Second, as the people stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, Moses exhorted them to remember “all the way” (8:2a) in which the Lord had led them in the wilderness the past forty years. The word “all” defined the scope of what they were to remember and included both the pleasant and bitter experiences of their journey. It is often life’s most difficult experiences that can produce the most memorable lessons. Their forty year wilderness journey was clearly marked with the evidence of God’s providential care and discipline.

We can learn good lessons from bad experiences. | Moses urged the Israelite’s to remember all the way in which God had led them through the wilderness. Their wilderness journey was littered with experiences of failure, frustration, and foolishness. Moses wanted for the people to remember and learn good lessons from those experiences. Their bad experiences were valuable tutors regarding the dangers of disobeying God, the heavy price of unfaithfulness, and the demand of God for loyalty, to name but a few.

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Posted in Bible Study

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 14, 2009

Hot-Tempered People

   You can easily spot them as you travel down the highway of life — those individuals who are given to hot-tempers and outbursts of anger. They are among the most careless people on life’s highway. They drive and maneuver their dented lives without regard to others. They bear the corrosive marks of bitterness. Their windshields are cracked and filthy. Their mirrors are improperly adjusted because they never look back to consider where they have been or what they have done. Their noisy mufflers signal their approach and their suffocating exhaust let you know they have arrived. They never park between the lines and they never put a dime in the meter. They travel life’s highway on their own terms and dare anybody to challenge them.

   The book of Proverbs offers some keen insight into the character of hot-tempered individuals and practical advice on how to deal with them. It would behoove every person traveling down life’s highway to learn the following defensive driving techniques.

   First, don’t bail hot-tempered people out of their troubles. Hot-tempered individuals are constantly getting stopped and fined along the highway of life. Proverbs 19:19 warns, “A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.” Unless hot-tempered individuals change their ways, they will always need to be bailed out. So, do not use your hard-earned cash to bail out reckless and hot-tempered individuals.

   Second, don’t travel down life’s highway with hot-tempered individuals. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.” The Bible clearly warns of the danger of traveling with the wrong kind of people lest we pick up their sloppy and dangerous habits and end up at the wrong destination. That’s why Proverbs advices that it’s best to give a cold shoulder to a hot head lest we end up wrecking our own lives.

   Third, take a detour around road hazards caused by hot-tempered people. Hot-tempered individuals are always stirring up trouble along life’s highway. Proverbs 29:22 cautions, “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” And Proverbs 15:18 states, “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” Hot-tempered individuals create the kinds of hazards that can seriously injure others. So, when you see a hot-tempered individual causing trouble ahead, take a detour and  heed the warnings of Proverbs — keep a cool head and you’ll stay out of hot water.

Written August 1994

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 12, 2009

Gina’s Forty-Day Fast

IMG_0447Gina, my seventeen year-old daughter, recently spoke at our Women’s Freedom Conference at Kingsland.  She was asked to share about her forty-day fast.  I asked Gina for permission to share the text of her testimony on my blog in the hope that it might encourage others to fast and pray or answer questions about what it is like to fast for a long period of time. I am grateful to God for Gina and inspired by her determination to seek and draw closer to Him. I pray that her story encourages you as it has me.

• • • • •

On January 7, 2009 I made the decision to go on a 40-day fast to seek the Lord’s guidance in my life. As a Christian, I’ve learned the importance of seeking God’s leadership through prayer and Bible study. A few months ago I was convicted by several questions about my life and my future. I knew what my answers were but I didn’t know if they would align with what God wanted for me.  So I set out on a difficult 40-day journey to learn God’s will for my life.

The night I made the decision I picked a few select people and sent them messages explaining what I was doing and asking them for their prayers. Before my fast I definately underestimated the power that prayer holds, but after going through it, I realized that I couldn’t have done it without those prayers. I know now that prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have as Christians.

My fast began on January 8, 2009. I had to be careful about not telling people that I was fasting just for the sake of it. A verse that really helped me with this was Matthew 6:16-18 which says, “When you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you they’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you.”

I made the commitment to fast on only broth, crackers, and juice for the entire 40 days. Now, don’t get me wrong, just because I ate some crackers doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard. I can honestly say that this was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. About two-weeks into my fast, I attended U-TURN weekend. This was probably when I had the most temptation during the 40 days. There were about 14 girls in the house that I stayed at and each one brought like 5 pounds of junk food. At one point, the temptation I felt was so overwhelming that I almost gave up and ate everything in the kitchen. But my close friends Hattie and Jessica encouraged me to stick with it and keep going. So, thanks to their support, I was able to make it through the weekend without giving in to temptation. Fasting intensified my focus on God immensely because whenever I got hungry, I was reminded of why I was doing it.

Halfway through my fast I received, in my opinion at the time, “the wrong” answer to one of my questions. I really thought that God would agree with me on this particular question but to my great disappointment and shock, he didn’t. So, being the stubborn person I am, I refused to accept this answer as true. I was so mad at God for giving me this answer that I spent a week turning away from him instead of praising him like I should have. Toward the end of that week I was still in denial about the answer and I was still mad at God for giving it to me. I don’t know why I did but I picked up my Bible and opened it, not looking for anything specific. It opened to Proverbs 19 and I started reading. I was getting bored with it and was about to turn to another book when I came across a verse that made me stop. It was Proverbs 19:21 which says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

I knew what this meant, yet I was still reluctant to let go of the hope that I would get a different answer. But as I started meditating on the verse more and what it meant, I realized that no matter how much I wanted a different answer, I wouldn’t get one. It wasn’t what God wanted for me. When I came to that realization I finally accepted and embraced the answer God had given me. I learned that I should submit to God’s will and not my own from that experience.

I now try to live my life by Proverbs 19:21. It reminds me that I want so many things but if it’s not God’s will, I really shouldn’t want those things anyway. I often ask myself questions like, “Is this something God would want me to do?” and “How can I glorify God by doing this?” I believe God freed me through this experience from my own selfish desires so that I could seek what He desires for me.

Fasting is denying yourself and your own desires in order to seek the face and will of God. This 40-day journey not only helped me seek God’s will but it brought me closer to God than I would have previously thought possible. My relationship with Him had been pretty rocky this past year, but going through this experience has renewed my relationship with Him. I wasn’t looking to grow closer to God during those 40 days — I just wanted some answers. So, I guess you could say that growing closer to Him was a pretty cool “side effect.” I also experienced joy from this fast. I’m a happy person most of the time but happiness can change with your mood. Joy, however, is constant and, in my opinion, is much more fulfilling than being happy.

Fasting for 40-days was a very difficult thing for me to do, but the rewards I received at the end made doing it completely worth going through all the all the temptation and difficulties I faced.

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Posted in Fasting

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 10, 2009

Into His Harvest

   While on a short-term mission trip to southeastern Ukraine in 1996, I accompanied some of our team members to a village. When we arrived, a crowd gathered and asked why we had come. We explained that we had come to share good news. We then shared the gospel with those gathered around us and dozens placed their faith in Christ for salvation. On the following day, many more people gathered to listen to our message. The people were receptive, but we did not have enough workers to share the gospel with all of the people eager to hear our message.

   Our experience in the village in Ukraine reminded us of the crowds that followed Jesus as He ministered in the towns and villages of Galilee (Matthew 9:35). When Jesus saw the crowds, “He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus told His followers that the crowds represented a great harvest. However, there were not enough workers to address the urgent needs of the people (Matthew 9:37). That is why Jesus told His disciples to plead with “the Lord of the harvest” and ask that He “send,” or thrust out, “workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

   We must plead with God to provide the workers. Unless more workers are sent into the harvest, much of the crop will be lost. The harvest is ready. The world is waiting. Ask God to send out workers — including yourself — into His harvest field before the crop is lost. And, pray for those already laboring in harvest fields at home and around the world.

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Posted in Ukraine

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