Little girls at the Forbidden City. | 2007 | Beijing, China
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 10, 2013
Wordless Wednesday
Posted in China, Wordless Wednesday | Tags: beijing china, forbidden city, Photography, Travel
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 9, 2013
St. Elmo’s Fire
Elmo Johnson is one of my long-time friends. He has served as Pastor of Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Houston’s Fourth Ward for the past 29 years.
He is, however, not just Pastor to the members of his church. He is regarded as Pastor by many Fourth Ward residents who do not attend his church.
It seems that everybody in the Fourth Ward knows Pastor Elmo. That’s because he is hardly ever in his office. If you are looking for Elmo you will find him walking slowly among the people in his community.
Last week, Jon Davis and I met Pastor Elmo for lunch at our favorite restaurant in the mid-town area — This Is It Soul Food Restaurant. I have eaten a hundred meals at This Is It over the years but I have never been able to eat everything on my plate because the portions are so generous.
A few years ago the restaurant changed locations from the Fourth to the Third Ward. When we walked in to the restaurant everybody in the place, employees and customers alike, greeted Pastor Elmo. Hanging out with Elmo is like hanging out with a rock star.
While we were enjoying our meal, Pastor Elmo told us about his Easter sermon.
“You know,” he said in his trademark deep bass voice, “sometimes you preach a sermon and other times a sermon preaches you!” And then he proceeded to tell us about what he preached on Easter Sunday.
The more he talked the more animated he became. Soon he was in full preaching mode. Jon and I noticed one customer in particular who was seated behind Elmo. He turned his chair and listened attentively, occasionally nodding in approval.
When Elmo finished the recap of his sermon, the guy seated behind him got up, reached into his pocket, and put some money on the table. “That was a great sermon,” he said. “Since we don’t have an offering plate, here is a little something. I enjoyed that encouraging word.” And then the fellow walked out. Elmo gave the “offering” to our waitress, a single mom who is struggling to make ends meet.
Our time with Pastor Elmo reminded me of St. Elmo’s Fire — a weather phenomenon in which a luminous electrical discharge appears on a ship during a storm. Sailors often considered it a positive omen.
Elmo was certainly on fire at This Is It. In a day when so many Christ-followers are timid and afraid to talk about Jesus, Elmo is unashamed and unapologetic. He loves Jesus and does not hesitate to speak about Him both in and out of the pulpit.
Elmo’s passion also reminded me that there is always someone who is either watching our actions or listening to our conversations. May we always keep in mind that many of the people around us at any given time are hungering for an encouraging word.
So, live out loud and speak about Jesus with passion! You just might be the source of encouragement and hope that the guy sailing in rough seas needs in order to make it through another day.
Posted in Biographies, Devotional Thoughts
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 7, 2013
Bonnie and Me
Fifty-seven years ago today, I made my entrance into the world in the small single-story hospital in Mission, Texas. Of the three babies born in the hospital on that day, I was the only one to go home with his mother. The other two young women died during childbirth. My Mom told me that on the day that we arrived home from the hospital, the funeral procession for the mother of one of the baby girls born on my birthday passed by the street in front of our home on the way to Laurel Hill Cemetery. One of these days I hope to find and meet the two girls born in the Mission Hospital on April 7.
One year later, on my first birthday, my mother gave birth to my sister Bonnie (Yvonne) at the same hospital. Bonnie was a great birthday gift. We celebrated every birthday together until we became teenagers. In the early years Bonnie and I shared a single birthday cake. Later, my Mom baked two cakes — one with blue colored frosting and another with pink. Our birthdays were always special occasions because we were surrounded by lots of family members, including all of our grandparents.
Today, Bonnie and her husband Paul dropped by the house. We enjoyed chocolate cake, carrot cake, and some vanilla ice cream. Our birthdays are not the big occasions they used to be, but there is still something comforting whenever we get together. Bonnie and I share so many wonderful childhood memories. We have experienced so much together over the years, including the unexpected death of our beautiful mother in 2009. Every birthday since Mom passed away, we remember her with fondness — grateful for all that she and Dad did to make our birthdays more than special for us.
So, Happy Birthday, Bonnie. I am glad that you were born on my first birthday and grateful for all of the memories that we share. May God grant us both another rich and memorable year of life. I love you. And we love you too, Dad. We treasure the days that we are able to spend with you. Thanks for making our childhood magical, adventurous, and meaningful.
Posted in Home and Family | Tags: family, Holidays, home, Inspiration, motherhood
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 5, 2013
Lost on Texas Backroads
Last week I received an email from my good friend Steve Peace. Steve and I have been friends for thirty-one years. We attended seminary together and I later had the privilege of calling Steve my pastor for eight years. Steve invited me to meet him for lunch at the Texas Star Cafe in the small town of New Ulm, Texas. So, late this morning I made the hour-long drive to New Ulm to meet Steve. We enjoyed a two-plus-hour reunion. The food was delicious but my time with Steve was nourishing. Sometimes the encouragement we get from spending time with a trusted friend is better than a good meal. That was certainly the case today.
After Steve and I parted company, I decided to spend the rest of the day getting lost on Texas backroads. This is the best time of the year to wander down the unpaved roads that radiate away from the Farm to Market roads that connect to major highways. If you want to go deeper into the heart of Texas, then you have to venture down these unpaved arteries that wind their way through some of the most beautiful parts of the Lone Star State. And this afternoon, my wanderlust paid off. I found the mother lode of Texas wildflowers — acres and acres of bluebonnets and other beautiful wildflowers.
I was also happy to come across the little community of Welcome as I drove down Highway 109 between Brenham and Industry. This is one of those if-you-blink-you-will-miss-it kind of spots in the road. The town was settled in the late 1820‘s but remained nameless until 1852 when a German immigrant named J.F. Schmidt christened the town Welcome — a name that he felt reflected the hospitality of the residents. One problem the tiny town has battled more than once over the years is having their sign stolen!
I enjoyed the hours I spent wandering today. I was not in a hurry to get anywhere in particular. I turned off my GPS and just let the road take me to where it would. I stopped often to take photos. And I had lots of time to think and pray along the way. At the end of the day I was refreshed by my time with Steve and also by my time alone, lost on Texas backroads. If you have never done so, I encourage you to set aside an afternoon to wander and to get lost on the backroads near where you live. You’ll enjoy the solitude and the sights and will likely find some welcoming places along the way.
Posted in Road Trips | Tags: Flowers, Friends, Photography, Texas, Travel
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 3, 2013
Wordless Wednesday
Letter Box at a home in Sovabazar. | 16 March 13 | Kolkata, India
Posted in India, Wordless Wednesday | Tags: India, Kolkata, Photography, Travel
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 31, 2013
Adventures Close to Home
One of the advantages to living west of Houston is having quick access to some beautiful off-the-beaten-path drives. After attending Easter services this morning, Cheryl and I decided to head out on another backroads adventure for the afternoon. Within minutes of leaving home we were bouncing our way down Farm to Market roads, enjoying Texas vistas and wildflowers.
Our first stop was at the historic San Felipe de Austin. Founded in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas, this little colony was the focal point for issues related to the immigration and settlement of American colonists in Mexican-controlled Texas until 1836. Austin built his only home in Texas at San Felipe de Austin. His log cabin also served as the colony’s land office and became the center of San Felipe commerce.
From San Felipe we headed farther west on our backroads excursion. We enjoy the backroads because there is little traffic and we can drive slowly in order to better appreciate the sights. While driving, I received a Weather Channel message on my phone alerting us to severe thunderstorms in the area. We could see the approaching storm in the distance. The darkening skies created some beautiful light, making all of the sights a little more dramatic. We loved it!
We especially enjoyed seeing the old houses and farm buildings on our drive, places no longer inhabited that are slowly losing the battle against time and the elements. Looking at these old houses made us wonder about who might have lived there or who looked forward to returning there to visit family or friends on holidays and ordinary days. These old decaying homesteads always remind me that we are here for a season and should therefore make the most of every day that we have.
After a couple of hours of driving, the thunderstorms finally arrived. There is nothing quite like the smell of rain in the Springtime. There is something absolutely therapeutic about the smell and the sound of falling rain. Our drive home was slower because of the heavy rains, but we absolutely enjoyed every mile. Although we only spent a few short hours away from home, we were refreshed by the experience.
You don’t have to travel far to have an adventure, but you do have to venture out and away from where you are. Little backroads excursions like the one Cheryl and I enjoyed today do not cost much and they do yield good returns. I encourage you to find your next adventure close to home. It’s a great way to redeem an afternoon and to learn a little more about the people and places that have shaped the history of your area.
Posted in Road Trips | Tags: backroads of texas, family, home, Photography, Texas, Travel
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 30, 2013
Speaking of Jesus
This Easter, Christ-followers around the globe will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. From house churches meeting in secret to humble village churches to mega-churches — pastors and parishioners will review the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The passion and resurrection of Jesus will be the topic of the day.
The Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering) | 23 March 2009 | Jerusalem
The Apostle Paul wrote quite a lot about the resurrection and the implications of this grand event for those who place their faith in Christ for salvation. In his letter to the church at Corinth he wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
Mosaic at Church of the Holy Sepulchre | 23 March 2009 | Jerusalem
Paul told the Corinthians that what he had received was rooted in history or was “according to the Scriptures.” The death of Christ was foretold in “the Scriptures” (for example, Isaiah 53:5-12). Many men died at the hands of the Romans, but His death was “for our sins.” And, Jesus “was raised” — the perfect tense in Greek indicates that He remains raised from the dead. His resurrection is a past event with results continuing to the present.
Mosaic at Church of the Holy Sepulchre | 23 March 2009 | Jerusalem
The earliest followers of Christ talked about Jesus. “In that age every Christian was a missionary,” wrote John Foxe. “The soldier tried to win recruits…; the prisoner sought to bring his jailer to Christ; the slave girl whispered the gospel in the ear of her mistress; the young wife begged her husband to be baptized…; every one who had experienced the joys of believing tried to bring others to the faith.” (Foxe’s Christian Martyrs of the World, p. 41)
What strikes me most about Foxe’s observation is how much and how often first-century believers talked about Jesus. The late Ray Stedman, a Christian pastor and author, agreed. Stedman wrote, “These early Christians never witnessed about the church at all; they witnessed about the Lord — what He could do, how He would work, what a fantastic person He was, how amazing His power was, and what He could do in human hearts” (Ray Stedman, “Acts 1-12: Birth of the Body,” p. 21).
Even historians like Josephus talked and wrote about Jesus. He noted that Jesus was “a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works.” And indeed He was — and indeed He is.
Those of us who are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ love and kindness have a responsibility to speak about Him. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” Like first-century believers, we must include Jesus in our daily conversations. We must tell others how wonderful He is, what He has done for us, how He helps us from day-to-day, and the assurance that we have of spending eternity with Him in heaven.
So, this Easter, I am first of all grateful for the resurrection of Christ, thankful for those who spoke to me about Jesus, and determined to speak of Jesus as often as I can throughout the year — to whomever God puts in my path and wherever the road takes me. Happy Easter. He is risen, indeed!
Posted in Easter Reflections, Reflections on Jesus | Tags: Christianity, Easter
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 28, 2013
The Tree of My Youth
En route to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas
I took a couple of vacation days this week to make a quick trip to South Texas to visit my Dad. It’s been a while since our last visit and, because Dad had surgery last week, I wanted to see him before I leave the country again in April. So, I tossed a few things in my truck and headed South on Tuesday afternoon.
I enjoy having windshield time on Texas highways. This time I decided to not pass the time by passively listening to the radio or iTunes. Instead, I used my time on the road to pray and to think deeply about several things that have been stirring around in my heart. It was time well spent.
Every time I have made this trip home over the past 34-plus-years, there is a point along the way where I begin to feel the gravitational pull of South Texas. For me, it’s when I turn West off of US Route 77 onto Texas State Highway 285 and drive the desolate 22-mile stretch between Riviera and Falfurrias. The range on either side of this road is riddled with gnarled mesquite trees.
Call me crazy, but I like mesquite trees. The mesquite is the tree of my youth — the first tree I learned to identify and the first tree I climbed as a kid. We had little grass on the lawn of our home in the small town of Mission, but we had plenty of mesquite trees. I had many an adventure in and around these trees and many fond memories as a result.
The name of the tree is an Hispanicized version of the Aztec word mizquiti. This hardy tree refuses to grow straight and has a disposition as defiant as the rugged environment in which it thrives. And, its gnarled wood is as hard as the vaqueros, the cowboys, that settled South Texas. The mesquite is one tough tree — certainly harder to kill than any weed.
The mesquite tree is a survivor that laughs in the face of drought. It has a tap-root that can reach depths in excess of a hundred feet and lateral roots that spread in all directions, each designed to drink in the life-giving moisture that enables it to survive in harsh environments. South Texas ranchers either love them or hate them, but there is no middle ground.
Texas writer J. Frank Dobie loved mesquite trees. He wrote, “I could ask for no better monument over my grave than a good mesquite tree, its roots down deep like those of people who belong to the soil, its hardy branches, leaves and fruit holding memories of the soil.” However, pioneer Texas rancher W.T. Waggoner called the mesquite “the devil with roots,” adding “It scabs my cows, spooks my horses, and gives little shade.”
I think that if King David, the great writer of so many of the psalms in the Bible, had lived in South Texas, he would have liked the mesquite tree. And if he had been a vaquero tending cattle among mesquites instead of being a shepherd, the third verse of the first psalm might have looked like this instead:
The righteous man is like a mesquite tree
firmly planted on a barren range
with a tap-root reaching deep for moisture
in order to yield its fruit in its season
and to sustain leaves that do not wither
so that in whatever he does he prospers.
So, I like the ubiquitous mesquite tree. I always know that I am a little closer to home when I catch sight of their gnarled trunks in the distance and see them waving to me with their feathery leaves when I turn on to Highway 285 to begin the final leg of my journey home. It is the tree of my youth and a reminder to always persevere.
Posted in Home and Family, Road Trips | Tags: family, home, Inspiration, Texas, Texas Highways, Travel, Trees
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 27, 2013
Wordless Wednesday
Glamour Training Car (Drivers Education) | 16 March 13 | Kolkata, India
Posted in India, Wordless Wednesday | Tags: Photography, Travel
Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 25, 2013
Stay Smart
As I was getting ready to leave for work this morning, I noticed a small bundle of Smarties candy wrapped in purple ribbon and placed next to my truck keys. A little heart-shaped note attached to the ribbon read, “Because I love you. Stay smart.” My daughter Gina knows that I enjoy Smarties and left me this little gift before she left for work early this morning. Her thoughtful gesture brought a smile to my face.
Gina’s note reminded me of an old Cowboy proverb that I read a few years ago: “Don’t get mad at somebody who knows more’n you do. It ain’t their fault.” I love this kind of practical wisdom or, pardon the pun, old-fashioned horse-sense. Gina’s note also reminded me of one of my favorite dichos sabios (or wise sayings) that I heard more than once while growing up in South Texas. “Lo que bien se aprende, nuca se pierde” — which translated means, “We will never lose what we learn well.”
In a day when so many things are dumbed-down, we need to be intentional about staying smart. Staying smart requires that we feed and exercise the mind. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Theologian Carl Henry said that unless we prod one another to disciplined thinking, we undermine one of Christianity’s most precious resources — the mind. Snacking on Twitterisms and biblical soundbites is not enough to develop a strong mind.
One of my personal mantras is, “Think deeply. Live wisely.” I believe that each new day offers us multiple opportunities to think deeply about something. And, thinking is good for the brain — that’s what God designed it to do. In order to stay sharp, it’s important to exercise and stimulate your brain every day. We have no excuse for puttin’ the noggin in neutral and coasting through the day without ever giving our brain cells a good workout. I believe that thinking deeply is a prerequisite to living wisely because our actions are rooted in the thoughts that produce them. So, here are a few suggestions for staying smart, or maybe getting smarter!
Read | It’s hard to get smart or to stay smart apart from reading. Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” He’s right! So, read a lot, read often, and read things you would not normally read (perhaps something technical or out of your area of expertise).
Solve | Solve mentally challenging puzzles. Whether you work on a daily crossword puzzle or log on to a site like Lumosity, give your brain a challenging workout that will make your brain cells break a sweat.
Backwards | One of the things I like to do when I am on a road trip is to select words on a billboard and then spell them backwards. Another fun thing to do is to learn the alphabet backwards. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is once you get started. These simple exercises force your brain to think in new ways.
Viewing | Make your television viewing work for you. Make sure that your television viewing includes programs that stimulate your thinking. While I enjoy Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, I also enjoy programs about history, current events, and interesting things in the world.
So, stay smart. And remember the words of the old cowboy: “Don’t get mad at somebody who knows more’n you do. It ain’t their fault.” Only you can do the things that will make you and keep you smarter. And remember to have fun in the process.
Posted in Home and Family, Personal Growth | Tags: Devotions, Education, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Reading
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