Reflections from The Wife

I realize we are already a couple of weeks into 2011, but I feel the need to take a look back on the milestones of 2010 before I can really dive into goals for a new year.

The highlights:

Work. 
I had 4 jobs in 2010. That’s a lot. The culmination was my first “real” job as a first grade teacher. I am learning very quickly that six year olds are much different from fourth graders, and I daily need the Lord’s grace to keep my cool and to teach them anything. They are a tough crowd, but it’s good and I love those kiddos a whole lot.

Friends. 
We had to say goodbye to some sweet friends this year. Our apartment buddies packed up and moved on their adventures across the country. Other friends got married, and many embarked in new adventures of their own. It’s been bittersweet walking through life with these guys, supporting them, and living vicariously through their adventures.

Love. 
We celebrated our first anniversary this year in Fredricksburg, Tx. We had a fun trip, and accepted the reality that we are city folk. The turn from year one to year two seemed very natural. I think last year was about us finding our groove and learning how to appreciate our differences. We are learning how we are wired and how to serve each other in ways that are most important to each other.

Jesus. 
For me, this was a hard year in the spiritual sense. God was always present, but rarely approachable. The Lord has been working on my heart and I have already felt challenged and inspired in this fresh year. I am excited about those things to come.

Home. 
We moved from the first home we knew as a married couple. Bittersweet. We are now in our “temporary home.” At least one move is in the cards for 2011 as we move closer to my job…or wherever God may lead. ;)

Maybe the next post will be about looking forward. I definitely have some thoughts on that. Leave me some love!!

Thoughts about the Holidays

The Cowboys vs. Eagles game just started. Since this game really means nothing, I thought this would be a great time to put down the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head this past Holiday season.

"Jesus is the reason for the season."
Really? Every year we hear this. I just don't think its true. I would word it more like, "Jesus is one of the reasons for the season. Presents, trees, songs ect....are the other reasons." And thats fine. I am not trying to call everybody out on how bad of a Christian they're being cuz they open presents on the 25th. I'm just making an observation.

All of our Christmas traditions are a part of our culture, and I love it. I love opening presents with my family. I love hearing Nat King Cole's "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" twenty times in one hour on the radio. And I love hearing sermons about the birth of Jesus again. Why are we so adamant about this. Is it because it rhymes? Why can't we accept that as Christian Americans we celebrate Christmas a certain way. Jesus is always there, and during Christmas we give gifts.

I guess what I'm saying is "Jesus is the reason for the season" is almost the same thing as "W.W.J.D." It's a good thought, but its more of a concept or Christian fad than the way things are.


Happy New Year!!!
This year my wife and I had the privilege of bringing in the New Year with my good friends Joel Davis and Hailee Christal. I love celebrating New Years. Its like a yearly scheduled party. genius. I don't have a list of resolutions this year. Talking with Joel, he made the great point that as Christians we have a new beginning in Christ every day. There is one thing though that I definitely want to accomplish this year.
I have written quite a few songs in my day. I have yet to do a good recording of any of them. So hopefully sometime in the near future I can make that happen. I will be sure to let you know when I do.
My 2nd goal for 2011 is to graduate from college. I'm aiming to graduate in December this year. I started college in the Fall of 2002. ITs time to be done. It's beyond time.

I'm looking forward to this year and the blog posts it will bring. Also, please leave a comment. I need online affirmation. Its sad I know. Just say hi or something. Garcia, OUT!

Tips & Gospel Tracts

As I said in my first post, I have had my share of woes working as a waiter.  I have about three years of waiting table experience under my belt.  In that three years I have been "stiffed," yelled at, and have been asked the horrible question of, "uhh can we speak to your manager please?" But through all this, the worst situation I have experienced is being left a gospel tract in place of a tip.  Here are the top three reasons why this should never be done.

His look says it all.

  

1."Money talks, and Christians walk."

The average waiter in Texas gets paid about $2.14 an hour.  So, every little tip becomes a critical addition to his/her monthly income.  You sitting in their table means money for them.  When no money is made from you sitting in that table you automatically become a waste of time.  So whatever you leave in place of actual money becomes hated, ignored, or a joke.  Thus the Jesus you represent also becomes hated, ignored and a joke. 

2.  "I have needs too!"

As a Christian in a restaurant you are put in a position to meet someone's needs.  You could be a blessing to a waiter, who, in all likelihood, has been dealing with the needy, ungrateful, cheapskates of this world.  Anyone is more apt to listen to what you have to say when you show him or her a little respect.  Respect to a waiter is saying, you have served me well for the last 40-45 minutes; let me serve you with a 20% tip. You have no idea how many people will not even look a waiter in the eye, much less acknowledge that this is a person who has bills, tuition, or maybe a wife and kid. 

3.  Snuggie Evangelism

**People are so lazy that they invented a blanket with sleeves so that they wouldn't have to take their arms out from under the covers to do stuff i.e. get the remote, read a book, blog.  Same diff.  "I'd rather not talk to you or make any conscious effort to share my faith, so read this...at least it looks like money."  Its simply lazy evangelism.  Waiters have prayer requests.  Why not ask?  And surprise, some waiters are already Christians.  But you will never know because you can't see past your need for a refill.  Christians need to use their words.  It may not end up in some crazy conversion right there in the restaurant, but you will be demonstrating God's love. John 13:35

It breaks my heart to see Christ's message of love, forgiveness and hope laughed at and thrown away.  Make no mistake they all get thrown away (also due to their poor presentation and writing).  I challenge all Christians reading this to change if this is you.  To those representing well out there, keep it up.  I might even challenge you/myself to step up your game and learn a little about your waiters, or at least pray for them.

**I am a proud owner of a Snuggie. I you live in a cave and have never heard of a Snuggie, and therefore don't understand my analogy, here is a video for you.  Snuggie Commercial

 

What to Expect

And so begins our new blog. I (ben) was a little skeptical about starting one of these. First of all I'm still not convinced that blogging is not just a glorified xanga. For those who've never heard of xanga, it was basically an online diary that I'm ashamed to say i took part in. Second, I wasn't sure if I had anything I wanted to write about. I have come to this conclusion. The older I get the more opinions I have. And the more opinions I have, the more I want people to know them. Thus, here is my online soap box.

Accompanying me on this journey is my lovely wife, Robin. She will be the sweeter, not nearly as sarcastic tone to grace these cyber pages. We have been married for about a year and a half now. Looking back on that time I realized that we have experienced so much that is blog worthy. i.e. The Dallas Cowboys being horrible and then kinda good, but still doomed, Robin's sudden obsession with the future Princess Catherine Middleton, or my many woes throughout my time as a Olive Garden waiter (which will probably show up later).

Mix all that life lived with our belief that every second of that life is to be used to glorify God, (that's the God of the Bible by the way...we're Christians...more on that to come) and you have a life filled with victories, frustrations, sin and forgiveness. Aaaand since I don't want to sound like a lame Christian T-shirt from Lifeway, I'll just say that we see a lot of brokenness in this world and in ourselves. We believe that the only salvation for this brokenness is Jesus. Amen? Amen.

So, we are taking our spot here in the "inter-racial relationship/newlywed/Christian/dog owner/20 something" niche. Glad to be here.

Ben