Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 14, 2011

The Express Lane

I mentioned in a previous post that I am attracted to small towns, most likely because I was raised in Mission, Texas — a small South Texas town just north of the Rio Grande River. Mission was my Mayberry, a great place for a kid like me to have all kinds of adventures. Although I don’t think that I could actually live in a small town at this stage of my life, there is something enviable about the relatively slower pace of life in small towns, where the folks in a hurry are the ones who are out-of-place.

I am in South Texas today to visit with my Dad. This morning we drove to the cemetery to place fresh flowers on my beautiful Mom’s grave. Afterward we stopped by Whataburger to have breakfast with my Dad’s retired friends. And then we stopped by the HEB grocery store on the way back to the house to pick up a quick item. Dad and I stood in the Express Lane for what I thought would be a quick transaction. But I was wrong in assuming that the word Express actually means express in a small town. Here is the short version of what happened this morning.

The lady in front of us had two items in her basket — two large bags of cat food. Without warning and as if she had known us her entire life, she turned and smiled and then asked for advice.

Cat Lady: Which of these bags of cat food do you think is better?

Me: Hmmm. I don’t really know. I don’t have a cat but I do have a nice little dog.

Cat Lady: Which of these do you think my cat will like more?

Me: I don’t really know Ma’am. It’s my understanding that cats are more selective than dogs about what they eat. But because I do not have a cat I don’t think I’m qualified to tell you which brand of cat food is better.

Note: By this time the other folks in line leaned in to listen to our conversation. No one seemed to notice or mind that the guy in front of the Cat Lady had already checked out and was probably halfway home. I politely motioned that she was next in line to pay. So, the Cat Lady turned her attention to the Cashier.

Cat Lady: How much do these bags weigh?

The cashier slowly ambled around from his cash register and picked up each bag to look for the weight.

Cashier: This one here weighs 16 pounds and that one there weighs 15 pounds.

Cat Lady: What’s the difference?

Cashier: One pound.

Cat Lady: No, I mean what’s the difference between them? Which one do you think is better?

Cashier: They each seem to have their good qualities, but you will have to ask your cat.

Cat Lady: Well then, can you tell me the cost of each bag?

Cashier: Let me do a price check for you.

Note: By this time I am ready to go and get a shave. Of course, I did not need a shave when we arrived but I have now been in the Express Lane so long that the only thing happening quickly is the growth of my facial hair.

Cat Lady: Ok. I will take that bag there.

Cashier: I’ll ring it up.

Cat Lady: No, I changed my mind. I think that my cat may actually like the other food better so that’s the bag I want.

Cashier: No problem.

Cat Lady (turning and speaking to me): I think I have made the right choice, but I am not sure.

Me: (smiling politely with eyes noticeably wide)

Cashier: Would you like me to page somebody to help you load this 16 pound bag in your car?

Cat Lady: No, thanks. I think I can manage it on my own.

Me: Good-bye, Ma’am. I think you made a good choice. Have a nice day.

I turned to Dad and the other folks in line. Everyone was smiling. No one complained about how long they had been standing in the Express Lane. As Dad and I headed to the car I noticed the Cat Lady in the parking lot. It looked like she was conducting another opinion poll on cat food. I smiled and thought to myself, “It’s a good thing she stood in the Express Lane. If her cat is still alive when she gets home, I’m sure it will be ready to eat just about anything.”

Honestly, it was refreshing to meet the Cat Lady and to be reminded that the world seems to rotate a bit slower when you live in a small town. And, that’s not a bad thing. It’s good to slow down and to listen to the concerns of the people around you, even in the Express Lane.

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Home and Family

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 13, 2011

The Smell of Our Sweat

Christine is a single mom facing some tough challenges. Her oldest son is battling leukemia and is currently in the hospital getting a bone marrow transplant. And, one of her two youngest sons has Down Syndrome and requires special care. But, you would never know any of this by talking to Christine. She has a consistently positive outlook and a faith that runs deep. It’s not easy raising three boys on an hourly wage job, but Christine somehow manages to provide for her family. She is undoubtedly one of the hardest working and never-complaining single moms I know.

Cynthia, Pastor Alex’s assistant, cleaning cabinets.

When we learned that Christine’s son would need a very sterile living environment upon release from the hospital, we mobilized our Kingsland staff to help. Over the past three days we moved everything out of her two-bedroom apartment, removed the carpet and replaced it with hypoallergenic tile, cleaned it from top to bottom, repainted every wall, and purchased some much-needed furniture. I could not help but smile the entire time because of the way in which our staff worked cooperatively to meet this need. Even Dan, our IT guy who works at Kingsland two days a week, gave us a day of his time. Afterward Dan sent us an email in which he said, “I can’t thank you enough for letting me be a part of GoBeyond help towards assisting Christine and her family. KBC is awesome and truly wonderful! I worked muscles I did not know existed!”

Dan’s comment about working muscles he did not know existed reminded me of my old friend Paul Haas. Paul used to wear a t-shirt to our service initiatives that was imprinted with this message: “Work the muscles. Build the heart.” I like that! I have learned over the years that paint brushes and hammers are powerful tools for personal transformation. God can use a simple thing like a paint brush in your hand to do more than touch up a wall. He can use it to color your heart with compassion and to brighten your own outlook on life.

I am grateful to serve with such compassionate and caring folks on our Kingsland staff and encouraged by their let’s-get-it-done response to Christine’s need. Our labor this week reminded me of something I recently read in Mark Batterson’s book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. Batterson wrote, “God loves the smell of our sweat. It stinks to high heaven, but it’s a sweet aroma. Your sweat is sacred incense. God loves it when we break a sweat serving His purposes. Our energy turns into beautiful melodies, and it’s music in God’s ear. It’s also the way we build sweat equity in His kingdom.” Each of us have hearts that are beating a little stronger this week because we worked our muscles and broke a sweat to help a single mom in need.

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Posted in Local Missions Initiatives

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 12, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

A poor villager. | 2000 | Bangladesh

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Posted in Bangladesh, Wordless Wednesday

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 9, 2011

Going Gruene

This past weekend Cheryl and I attended the wedding of the son of some of our very dearest and oldest friends. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding set under a canopy of Texas oak trees in Austin, Texas. At the reception that followed, Cheryl and I stood with friends as the best man spoke to the young couple. “When you look back on this day thirty years from now,” he said, “may you see this as the day you loved each other the least.” Cheryl turned to me and said, “Wow. What a beautiful sentiment!” I nodded in agreement as I thought about the fact that Cheryl and I will celebrate thirty-one years of marriage this year. I can honestly say that as much as we loved each other thirty-one years ago, our love today is richer and deeper and broader and higher than we could have ever imagined. It was easy for me to whisper a prayer that our young friends would indeed look back on their wedding day as the day they loved each other the least.

Cheryl and I took advantage of our time away to do one of the things we like best ― exploring small towns in Texas. There is something that I find attractive about small towns, perhaps because I was raised in one. We decided to visit Gruene, Texas located south of Austin near New Braunfels. I first visited Gruene in the late 1970‘s when I would take teams there to go rafting down the Guadalupe River. Gruene was founded in the mid-1840s by a German immigrant named Ernest Gruene and his bride Antoinette. Gruene and his two sons purchased land, built the first homes, and planted cotton. Their cotton business attracted other families to the area, giving birth to the small town of Gruene. A number of historic homes and buildings remain, earning Gruene a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Cheryl and I ate lunch at the Gristmill Restaurant set in an authentic century-old cotton gin overlooking the scenic Guadalupe River. Afterward, we enjoyed walking slowly and browsing through the many quaint shops that line the main street.

Going to the wedding and later visiting Gruene was an experience made more enjoyable because Cheryl and I did it together. When we took our wedding vows almost thirty-one years ago we determined to work together to make our marriage meaningful for a lifetime. As with any marriage, we have observed lots of holidays and special days ― but mostly just ordinary days filled with the stuff of living. Marriage is about sharing a lifetime of ordinary days with the person you love the most. These ordinary days are what make up the soil in which the roots of a marriage can grow deep. Walking slowly down sidewalks in small towns may not seem like much of anything important, but to us it’s one way to keep the soil of our marriage fertile and gives us uninterrupted time to talk and laugh together. We have found that going to places like Gruene is a good way to keep our marriage green and fertile. I hope that you will consider Going Gruene or finding other ways to keep the soil of your marriage rich and fertile.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 8, 2011

Global Glimpses

Who | Paul Crandall, Recreation Pastor at Kingsland

Where I’ve Traveled With Kingsland | I have traveled to Nicaragua, China, Mongolia, Israel, and India.

My Most Recent Trip | Kolkata, India

What God Taught Me About Compassion | Before going to India, I was encouraged by a few friends to bring Vick’s Vapor Rub to place under my nose so I wouldn’t smell the stench of the slums. After the first day of walking through one of the worst sites I have ever seen, I was convicted to have a deeper compassion for the people of India. It was as if God wanted me to learn a valuable lesson. He wanted me to smell the smells that the people in the slums smell. I needed to receive their smell. He wanted me to see what they see, hear what they hear, feel how they feel and taste what they taste. God gave me sensory overload, and I was very grateful he did. I learned very quickly how to have a deeper compassion for the people there. It would have been near impossible for me to fully comprehend what true compassion was until I allowed my senses to be maximized to the fullest.

How My Outlook Has Changed | Not only do I need to be more compassionate to those around me, I now see the power of cooperation and collaboration. I see a huge need in this country for people to work together effectively. In my setting as a Pastor, I understand the need for us to work together so we can reach people for Christ. There is such a high need for us to place aside our selfish pride and sense of self absorption in order to reach those that are lost and have not found the hope of Christ.

Why I Must Go Again | I already miss the people, the sounds, and the smells. I want to see those faces again, hold hands with the kids from the school, and not just mark it off my list. I know God does not want me to forget the people and the ministry impact that was made. I want to go back and serve the people and remind them that God loves them.

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Posted in China, Global Glimpses, India, Israel, Mongolia, Nicaragua

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 6, 2011

Not According to Plan

There is a good reason why I tell those I lead on international missions initiatives to be more than flexible ― to instead be fluid. I have learned over the years that being flexible is not sufficient because regardless of the best laid plans, plans always change. Over the years I have encountered more unexpected challenges en route to and from our destination and at the places where we serve than I care to remember. Whenever things do not go according to plan my thoughts often turn to the Apostle Paul. On his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16), Paul and his team encountered some closed doors that eventually rerouted them to a place called Troas on the extreme western shores of Asia Minor. It was there that Paul had a vision in the night of a Macedonian man earnestly appealing to him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). As a result of an unexpected change in plans, the gospel made its way to the West for the first time.

Jerry with one of the first kids he rescued.

Whenever plans change, I also think about my friend Jerry Smith. In the mid-90’s Jerry had planned to go to Taiwan on a short-term mission trip. But, plans changed and he ended up going to Mongolia instead. While there he discovered the plight of kids who lived in the sewers beneath the streets of Ulan Bator and decided to do something to help. Jerry and his wife Susan moved to Mongolia and have been engaged in bringing hope to at-risk kids there ever since. I can’t imagine the number of children in Mongolia who would not be alive today had God not altered Jerry’s plans and had Jerry not been willing to be more than flexible. Only eternity will reveal the full impact and scope of his work in Mongolia.

When plans change unexpectedly, I can always count on three things. First, I always learn something about myself. I must confess that there have been a few times when I was less than pleased with what I learned. Nevertheless, in every instance God has used these occasions to help me to grow in new ways. Second, I always learn something about those I lead. I am often encouraged by how fluid folks can be when things change without warning or become tougher than expected. Finally, I always learn something about God and the fact that His plans and thoughts are much higher than mine. Looking back, I can testify to the fact that I have seen God do some really cool things because things did not go according to plan ― or what I thought should happen. So, the next time things do not go according to your plan, don’t despair. Be fluid. God is up to something good!

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Missions Musings, Mongolia

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 5, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Rainy day at Angkor Wat | 2011 | Cambodia

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Posted in Cambodia, Wordless Wednesday

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 2, 2011

The X Factor

It’s no secret to those who know me that I am a big fan of singing competitions like American Idol. Other than the fact that shows like this provide relatively wholesome viewing alternatives, I enjoy watching the discovery of new talent unfold week after week. So, I have waited in anticipation of The X Factor, a new singing competition with Simon Cowell, one of the executive producers, again in the judge’s seat. One of the things I enjoy most about these programs is the back-stories that provide insight into the lives of some of the contestants. Over the past few days I have watched the episodes of The X Factor that I missed while I was out of the country. Out of all of the episodes that I watched, one contestant in particular said something that struck a chord with me. I’ve been thinking a lot about her words over the past couple of days.

Stacy Francis, a forty-two year old single mother of two, walked out onto the stage and faced the four judges and an audience of several thousand. She said that she had been stuck for twelve years, believing what others had told her — that she was too old and not talented enough. And then she looked at Simon Cowell and said, “I don’t want to die with this music in me, Simon.” And then she sang “Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin and stunned the judges and the audience. After the standing ovation subsided, Simon said, “Let me tell you something, Stacy. I’ve done this a long, long time. That was one of the best auditions I have ever heard in my life. You did more than sing it, you believed in it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I love you.” All I can say is that I’m glad that Stacy had the courage to overcome the lies she had been told and that she walked onto that stage to share her amazing talent with the world.

When Stacy said, “I don’t want to die with this music in me, Simon”, I could not help but wonder how many people do, in fact, die with the music in them, never singing a note because they believe lies like “You are too old,” or “You are not talented enough.” One of the things I love most about Jesus is that He looked beyond the actualities to behold the possibilities in others. When He first met Simon He looked beyond what everyone else saw and beheld the possibilities in him. “You are Simon (the actuality) but you shall be called Peter (the possibility)” (John 1:42). And, because Jesus believed in Simon and encouraged and patiently worked with him, Simon became Peter, the rock-like man Jesus believed he could become. Simon Peter did not die with his music in him but instead blessed the world with his own stirring composition of commitment and dedication to the cause of Christ.

What music has God placed in you? What song has He given you to sing? Who is waiting to hear the notes hidden deep in your heart? What lies have you believed? What will it take for you to have the courage to do something that you never thought you would do in order to sing your song? Don’t die with the music in you. Let it out and sing it loud. The world is waiting to hear your song. And don’t forget that there are people in your path who are like Stacy Francis, people who are longing and waiting to hear a word of blessing and encouragement — the kind of gracious speech that will release the music in them. Be like Jesus and look beyond the actualities to behold the possibilities in others and then encourage them to sing their song.

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tags: ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 1, 2011

Food Poisoning Blues

Home from Cambodia

It doesn’t happen very often to me but when it does it has my full attention. I’m talking about feeling physically ill or getting sick. I have officially logged three sick days over the past 32 years of full-time ministry. Additionally, I have had two sick days while traveling out of the country. That’s not too bad considering all of the places I visit and all of the weird stuff I have eaten over the past 60-plus trips. More than once I have found myself in an awkward situation where my host placed something before me that smelled worse than my locker room in Jr. High school. But, after breathing the missionary’s prayer — “Lord, I’ll get it down if you’ll keep it down.” — I held my breath and managed to eat what was on the plate before me. I am a lot more careful about what I eat abroad these days and tell team members that my days of adventure eating are over. I have a pretty impressive record of eating weird foods and am no longer interested in adding to that list.

I returned from Cambodia on Thursday, feeling absolutely fine. I used some of my miles to upgrade to Business Class on the final 16-hour flight home and managed to get lots of rest and eat some really delicious meals. My intention was to go in to the office on Friday to get caught up on a few things and then to go home to mow my lawn before going to the Living Water Gala in downtown Houston. But, when I woke up on Friday morning I felt as though I had just been hit by a truck. I knew immediately that I was suffering from food poisoning (which has an incubation period) since the symptoms were confined to my GI tract. So, I launched an attack on my cramps and fever with a round of Cipro and crawled back into bed. Later in the day I got a text message from Lee Pullin, one of my favorite traveling companions, who took advantage of the opportunity to have a little fun.

Lee: How are you feeling Miss Omar? Does your tummy hurt? Just remember if you’re going to run with the big dogs you can’t act like a pup!

Omar: Forget the dogs and find the guy driving the truck that hit me!

Lee: LOL. You’re going to get the same amount of sympathy as I did.

Omar: Any amount will do. I can’t recall the last time I felt this bad.

Lee: Not a lot of fun, I remember that.

Omar: True. It’s good to be in my own bed and not feeling this bad on an airplane.

Lee: Yeah, or with a squatty potty. Did anybody else get it?

Omar: No. The eleven women who traveled with me are all fine. Yikes!

Lee: Hmmmm. Too easy!

There is nothing I hate more than having my plans altered because of a stomach bug or not feeling well. But, all things considered, I am very fortunate to enjoy remarkably good health. So, I really can’t complain when I am hit in the gut by a little bug every few years. The experience also helps me to be a little more compassionate and sympathetic when I have team members that get sick abroad and require me to make provision for their care while still trying to accomplish our objectives. Food poisoning is just one of the hazards of going beyond but one that is always overshadowed by the great things that I get to see God do in and through the people I lead. Hopefully it will be a few more years before I have to spend another day sick in bed.

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Posted in Cambodia

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | September 29, 2011

Just One Touch

Siem Reap, Cambodia en route to Houston

One of the questions I am most often asked is, “Out of all the places you have visited, which is your favorite?” That is actually a tough question for me to answer because I have been to so many places and seen so many of the world’s sugar-stick sites — those bucket-list places featured in travel books and magazines. So, I always answer that question by talking instead about the things I have seen God do in and through those who are willing to go to the places that are unfamiliar to them. For me, the particular place on the planet where I happen to be becomes the backdrop for a greater drama — that is, what God desires to do through me as I make myself available to Him in that location. That’s why I love to talk about how God has used our folks in this place or that and how I have witnessed what can happen when people go beyond everything that is comfortable and familiar to them.

I have enjoyed my time in Cambodia with my team of eleven women, mostly suburban moms who love God and the nations. If I could sum up the impact of this trip it would be by talking about the power of just one touch. Over the past several days our team has worked with orphans and children from impoverished families. As I observed our women in action I could not help but come to the conclusion that women tend to touch other people, especially children, more than men do. I don’t think I could have counted the number of times our women held and hugged kids even if I had tried. They did not let anything get in the way of hugging and holding kids — not the rain or the mud or the smells or the tattered and filthy clothing or the lice or anything else.

All of this hugging and holding got me to thinking about the power of a human touch and reminded me of something that I had read in Mark Batterson’s book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. Batterson said, “Research has shown that touch has the power to fight viruses, relieve stress, improve sleep, and help us recover more quickly from injury. … The power of touch, even on a human plane, is an amazing thing. But when you add the power of God to the equation, it sets the stage for something supernatural.” Touching others was something that set Jesus apart from the religious leaders of His day. He touched and held people that nobody wanted to touch — sick people, poor people, outcasts, and children. In fact, the religious leaders of His day referred to Jesus in these derisive terms — “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19).

This past week, Jesus used the arms of our women to touch and hold lots of orphans and poor kids in Cambodia. The smiles on the faces of the children we served testify to the power of every tender touch and warm embrace. That’s why when people ask me to tell them about the most beautiful or unique or mysterious place I have ever visited I prefer to answer in this way, “The best things I have seen in all of the beautiful and interesting places I have visited around the world are not the things you read about in travel books. Instead, what I have enjoyed most is watching God bring hope and healing to the people who live in those places through the power of just one hug or a single touch in His name.”

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Posted in Cambodia

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