I Heart CCM

I Heart CCM

If you know anything about me you know that I love Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).  I'm mostly referring to the music that came out during the late 80's and throughout the 90's.  I realize that this kind of music gets a bad rap, but I choose to chew the fish and spit out the bones.  Was there some really bad music made by Christians? Sure.  But there was some really great stuff written by very Godly men and women.  This is what I grew up on. If you grew up or live in the Houston area you know about 89.3 FM KSBJ.  That was the Christian radio station I listened to as a kid.  So I grew up loving singers and bands such as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Wes King, Amy Grant, Point of Grace, Avalon, Jaci Velasquez, 4-Him, Third Day, Anointed, Keith Green, Kathy Traccoli, Steve Green, Al Denson, Wayne Watson, Audio Adrenaline, PFR, Delirious, the Newsboys (the original) and of course DC Talk.  And that's just to name a few.  Judge me if want. I like what I like.

All of these artists have a special place in my heart.  Each one has written or sung a lyric that still encourages and moves me closer to the heart of God even now as I remember them.  One of those artists whose lyrics have stuck with me since I was a kid is Rich Mullins.  Click here to read about his amazing life of service and dedication to Christ.  Right now the life of my family is about to be challenged greatly.  This is how Rich's music has encouraged me during this time of change.

"Hold Me Jesus"

If you're not up to date with what The Garcia's plans are these days here is a summary (feel free to read past posts for more detail).  We currently live in Davenport, Iowa.  In about three weeks or so we are moving to Fairfax, Virginia.  Why would we do such a thing?  We are going to help plant Harvest Bible Chapel Fairfax.  I am going to be the Worship Arts Director for the church.  We are more than excited to be a part of this.  About three weeks ago Robin, Adeline and I flew out to Fairfax.  We figured we should probably see the city before we moved there.  We began planning where to live and I sent out resumes and filled out applications.  Then something happened that I wasn't expecting.  I freaked out.  

I was rewriting my resume, working on cover letters, and trying to contact the right people to talk to.  And then a flood of unanswerable, worrisome, doubt-filled questions flooded my mind.  What if this bad thing happened? What if I can't do this or that?  Has God really called me to do all of this?  If I was more of a cryer I probably would have cried.  (I didn't)  Which brings me to Rich Mullins' lyric in the song, "Hold Me Jesus."

Well, sometimes my life

Just don't make sense at all

When the mountains look so big

And my faith just seems so small

Chorus:

So hold me Jesus, cause I'm shaking like a leaf

You have been King of my glory

Won't you be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don't come natural to me

I'd rather fight you for something 

I don't really want

Than take what you give that I need

Life isn't making sense!!!  My faith isn't big enough!!!  Ahhh!!  In that moment Jesus was my Prince of Peace.  And he has been since then.  Lest you think that has been the only "freak out" since then.  Another great song from Rich is "We are not as Strong as We Think We Are."  One of my favorite lyrics is, 

When you love you walk on the water 

Just don't stumble on the waves 

We all want to go there somethin' awful 

But to stand there it takes some grace 

'Cause oh, we are not as strong 

As we think we are

"It just takes faith, Ben."  "You just gotta jump out of that boat, Ben."  "God will provide, Ben."

I know.  I know. It's just not that easy sometimes.  Faith is hard.  I'm working through that.  Robin is too. She's gonna be a part of this church plant as much as I am.  This is the church our little Adeline is gonna grow up in.  

She may have been born in Iowa and will grow up in Virginia but she is gonna know what team to cheer for, believe you me. (y Los eSpurs tambien)

"Sometimes By Step"

This is one of Rich Mullins' most popular songs.  You probably know it or have at least heard of it.  Its called "Sometimes by Step."

Oh God, You are my God 
And I will ever praise You  
I will seek You in the morning 
And I will learn to walk in Your ways 
And step by step You'll lead me 
And I will follow You all of my days

And on this road to righteousness 
Sometimes the climb can be so steep 
I may falter in my steps 
But never beyond Your reach

So there it is.  My family and I are leaning to walk in His ways.  Step by step he leads us.  Though I would prefer to see a few steps ahead, even if I can't I will follow God all of my days.  I love this song.  It has been such an encouragement to me these latest days.  We have been greatly encouraged by our friends here in Iowa.  I've especially appreciated some of the other pastors here at Harvest Davenport who have shared there own experiences where their faith was tested.  God has proved himself time after time.  Growing up I saw it in the lives of my parents and now I see that same provision in my own family.  

How to Pray for the Garcias

1.) I need a job in Fairfax.  Until the church is up and running I am going to be working full-time to provide for my family.  We are praying for a job that pays well, has good benefits, and allows me nights and weekends off to be able to be involved with the church plant.

2.) Once the job is snagged we will need to find some affordable housing.  We are looking for a rental of some sort.  Townhouse, apartment, condo, mobile home, basement....anything as long as its at least two bedrooms.

3.) Pray that God continues to stretch our faith and reliance on him.  I feel like each "freak out moment" (haha) helps to toughen us up and learn to cling to God's grace.   

4.) Pray for the three other families who are moving out to Fairfax to help start this church.  The Brinkleys have three children, The Billmans just had their second baby not to long ago, and the Buragas have three kids.  Pray for the wives as they acclimate their kids to a new home and city. 

5.) Finally, Harvest Bible Chapel Fairfax (http://www.harvestfairfax.org/) is still in many ways an idea.  I'm sure there are going to be many obstacles and hardships that go along with this church plant.  At the same time, we look forward to seeing God's blessing and movement among the people of Fairfax.  Pray that this church would be used to glorify him and no one else, that many in the North Virginia area would come to know him.

[Special thanks to Rich Mullins for all of his music.  Though he is not with us any longer his music is still reaching people and glorifying God.  I hope to model his commitment to the Lord in my ministry and musicianship.]

Away We Go

In case you haven't kept up with us (I know it's hard to keep everyone straight), we moved from Texas to Davenport, Iowa in June. This was a move that seemed kinda crazy. Ben got a job at Chick-Fil-A as a manager and the only people we knew were our good friends the Tullos'. After much prayer and doors seeming to fly open, we packed up our things and moved up here. Katy and Austin graciously let us live in their basement for 2 months until we found a place to call home. About a week or two after moving, a funny thing happened. An opportunity presented itself for Ben to become the Worship Arts Director at a church plant to happen next year... in the Washington DC area. Now one might assume that our reaction would be surprise and incredulous laughter at the thought of making a big move again, with a baby, and no job, to start a church from nothing with the possibility that it doesn't take off. Instead, we looked at each other and realized that everything just clicked into place. I can't explain how....or why this was our path..but we instantly knew this is why God brought us to Iowa. The interview process began and finally, Ben was officially named the Worship Arts Director at Harvest Bible Chapel Fairfax.

Fast forward to the present and the move is really starting to become a reality. Ben is currently on staff at Harvest Davenport to train for his future position in Fairfax, Va. Our plant pastor, Dan Buraga is about to move his family out to DC to begin laying the foundations for the church. Now that the baby has been born and the time is drawing near, I have to admit that reality is sinking in for me, and it's pretty scary. When we move (April 1), Ben will find a job outside of the church until he can come on staff in a paid position (hopefully a year). I know that planting a church is hard work and doesn't come easily. What I can say, though, is that in the past week, God has continued to confirm this move to us. Truth says that following Christ does not often mean living a life of comfort. But with the trials, God is working His glory in our lives. I realize that I need to be stretched. As much as we are going to Fairfax to minister to the people there, God is going to use all of this to change me. I am excited to know that we can tell our kids one day how we stepped out in faith that God had a plan when we could only see a glimmer. I pray that this becomes a testament to them of God's faithfulness and provision at work. God is stirring my heart for the work there even now. We have been so blessed to meet the Buragas and I am so honored that they are in this with us. Good things to come.

With all that being said, we invite you to join in this adventure with us by praying for our journey ahead. Here are some specifics:
- Please pray that Ben finds a job that will provide for our family, as well as give him the flexibility he will need to build the Worship and Production aspects of the church.
- An affordable place for us to live that is close to the proposed site of the church
- Peace and faith to continue trusting in God's provision and timing as it is never the same as ours.
- Wisdom and favor for Dan as he leads us on this journey- Unity and strength among the core group to encourage one another and bring the gospel to the peopleThank you for joining with us! We will keep you informed as we move forward!

Adeline Rose Garcia

On October 9, 2011, we welcomed our baby girl into the world. She was born at 3:37a.m. weighing in at 7 lb 6 oz and 20''. With a full head of bright red hair, she was the talk of the Maternity Ward at the hospital. Such a perfect angel.

By grace, we had a wonderful birth experience with no complications and a healthy baby! Ben was an awesome coach and we were so humbled and amazed at the incredible process of how God designed the body and gives life. I am so thankful for finding http://qcnaturalchildbirth.webs.com/ and for how Sarah and the Bradley Method helped to prepare us for a natural birth. It was an incomparable experience which I am very passionate about and can't imagine having it any other way. If you are in the Quad cities and expecting, it's certainly worth looking into!

Now our sweet girl is 2 1/2 months old (WOW). I am actually a little surprised by how much I love being a mom. Not that I thought I would hate it, but it's more joyous, more exciting, more sanctifying.. just MORE than I expected. I love caring for her and taking care of Ben and our home. I feel such a peace about where we are and where I am and I could not ask for more than that.

Best part so far: Adeline started smiling at 5 weeks. That is the best feeling in the whole world when she looks into my eyes and gets a huge grin on her face. 

Hardest part: SLEEP. Or lack thereof... It's amazing how good you get at going on so little sleep. Occasionally it catches up to me, but I have handled it surprisingly well. I think...you could probably get Ben to tell you a more accurate reading of that one. 

And here she is...

Updates

It's now been over a month since we made the move to Iowa. The last couple of months have been filled with gracious friends opening their homes to us to keep us from being homeless. We've had the pleasure of living with 2 married couples, 2 one-year olds, and a single gal during this time. Words cannot express how thankful we have been for their hospitality to us, and it's been a fun adventure!

At this time, we don't quite have an apartment nailed down. We have a couple of leads, but apartment hunting in Iowa could probably be compared to finding a spot in NYC. It's a rat race to get a good place at a decent price, so this one is definitely going to have to be a "God-thing".

Baby Adeline is growing and kicking like crazy. We are less than three months from her arrival and getting so excited/nervous/joyful at all that lies ahead. I (Robin) will be making a trip back to Texas in August for a baby shower and to see family and friends! Time is getting shorter and shorter before baby girl gets here! This is the most recent picture of how she looks at 29 weeks.



Since being here, we have discovered a wondrous place. CHICAGO. WE made a trip and loved it! The Navy Pier, H&M, Food Festivals, and water taxis. So much fun! Here are a couple of pictures from our trip.








We have another trip planned in a couple of weeks to properly celebrate our anniversary. Any suggestions on must-dos while we're there?

Lastly, we are loving our new church family at Harvest Bible Chapel. The mission of the Fellowship is awesome and we have been very blessed to be a part of what God is doing here in Davenport, and the mission they have for the rest of world. Here is a link if you would like to learn more: http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.org/.

That's about it! We are getting settled in and finding God's purpose for having us here at this time. The future looks bright and I can't wait to see what God has in store during this season of our lives.

Friends, Chick-fil-a, and Rob Bell

Adventure #2: The Move

Close friends are something to be treasured. Both Robin and I are so fortunate to have made some of the best friends a young inter-racial couple could ask for. We are unfortunate in that most of them have moved away at one point or another. Some of their destinations include Midland, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Oregon, the Philippines, Oak Cliff, Houston, Mansfield and Denton. (For our sensitive readers, if I didn't write your city don't worry, you're still a close friend.) There have been several requests and attempts to follow these friends to there respective locations. Unfortunately all attempts to leave the Metroplex ended in failure. The desire was there, but the pieces never seemed connect. Until one day...

After having another one of those, "Y'all should move here" conversations with one of the aforementioned friends, we began to seriously consider moving. Our reasons for moving were these:

1. Robin has had a burning desire to leave Texas. Since my love for my wife supersedes my love for the great state of Texas, I began to dream with her of leaving.

2. We have grown tired of the busyness of city life. Traffic sucks. Need I say more.

3. I have been searching for an opportunity to be involved in ministry at a good church somewhere.

4. Lastly, with a baby on the way Robin would prefer to stay at home with the baby. This means that I would need a full time job to support us. Waiting tables at Olive Garden nor substitute teaching would cut it anymore. "Even though I loved both of those jobs, " he said while shaking his head. nope

We expressed some of these needs, especially the one about me working to our friends and began to pray about this possibility. Several days and phone calls later it was evident that we were going to be moving.

The destination: Davenport, Iowa. The amazing friends that helped us with the whole process were Austin and Katy Tullos.
Austin is the Worship Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Davenport. I am planning to help out with the music as much as I can. Hopefully, after learning from Austin and gaining more experience I can steal his job. (just kiddin) I do hope to one day be leading worship at a church somewhere and look forward to playing with the band at HBC until then.

I still needed a job though. Enter Chick-fil-a. Austin talked to one of the members of his church who owned a Chick-fil-a about me. "Luckily" he had an open position at his store. I called him, I flew up and met him, and I got the job. This summer I will be training to be the kitchen manager at Chick-fil-a.

During my interview at Chick-fil-a I was asked if I thought God had called us to Davenport. My response was, "uhh yeah!" Obviously I said it in a more respectful, formal way. But seriously, there is no I would have ever thought to move to Iowa. I don't think anyone does. But this is where I believe God is moving us. I had the opportunity to visit Davenport. It is a very picturesque, Norman Rockwell type of a town. It is a place that experiences all four seasons. As a native Texan that will be fun to experience. I'm not looking forward to the winters, but if "hot" Austin Tullos can handle it, I sure can.

So there it is. We're outta here. It saddens me to think that my baby won't be born in Texas. I plan to teach him/her in all things Texas. After all Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." I'll just use that verse for my own context, Rob Bell did (ZING***).


Garcia later

How to cook a "Bun."

First of all, sorry for taking so long to update our blog. When we first started the blog we had such grand aspirations of blogging all the time. We would have the most interesting and fun adventures, that surely everyone would want to read about. We would be the next Jon Acuff. Alas, we have found out that maybe we're not as interesting as we thought. However, we are in the middle of two huge adventures.

Adventure #1: Baby.

Robin is now in her 21st week/5th month of pregnancy. During the first trimester Robin's relationship with most foods was on the rocks.

B: "So, babe, where do you want to eat tonight?"

R: "Wherever you want, my love."

B: "Chick-fil-a? McDonalds? Sweet Tomato? Pizza? Mexican?.......

R: "None of those sound good. How about some dinner rolls? =)

That conversation happened many times during those first three months. Another common occurrence were comments on Robin's size. "You're tiny!!" "Are you really pregnant!!??" Yes, yes she is. Funny thing about being pregnant, you don't just start out with a giant belly. The bun has to cook in the oven before its ready to come out, people.
Robin now has the cutest little baby bump. Here are some pictures to show it off.

Robin's appetite has returned with a vengeance. You'll be happy to know that both Robin and the baby a very healthy and eating all the time.















Thank you Ashley and Elise for providing the pictures and the squealing over the bump. Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated.

Robin is scheduled to have her second sonogram. Our first attempt to find out the baby's gender was unsuccessful due to the fact that the baby hadn't grown enough yet/ the baby was hiding what it had grown. So, hopefully the baby isn't shy this time. We will share with everyone what it is very soon.

Until then, cast your vote. Do you think its going to be a boy or a girl? Everyone who gets it right will get a kiss on the lips from my little brother, the Aaron Garcia. (maybe)

Adventure #2: The Move

Stay tuned to LaVidaGarcia for the details to our second adventure. It will be up soon, I promise.

The Failure of Mr. Bruce

Shortly after getting married in 2009 my wife began to beg me for a puppy. She claimed that it was for the sake of having company when I was away form home. Now I love dogs. But I was very opposed to the idea. I knew that getting a dog requires a lot of work. It was work that I didn't want to do. It was work that I knew I would probably wind up doing. I was imagining pee and poop on the carpet, barking, and vet expenses.

[Flashback: My Dad stepping on poop in the middle of the night from a dog that we later gave away.]

Eventually I caved. We found some people who wanted to sell a little long-haired miniature dachshund. This mini weenie dog would come to be known as Mr. Bruce.

What I have yet to tell you is that Mr. Bruce had just one job. He had one purpose. He had one duty. That duty was to be cute. Not only that, he had to be cute enough that it would curb Robin's desire to have a baby. I was advised by many that this would work. Mr. Bruce failed.

If anything, Mr. Bruce enhanced Robin's baby fever. According to her, seeing me with Mr. Bruce made her think of how good a daddy I would be.
Mr. Bruce accomplished his goal for about a year and a half.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'll say it plainly. Robin is pregnant. She is about 11 weeks along. We are very excited about this little bun in the oven. I hope my sarcastic tone doesn't make you think that I'm dreading this little blessing. I'm very much looking forward to it. Would I have preferred to wait a little longer to have kids? YES! But this is how our life has happened. I trust that this is where God wants us.

Robin: Honestly, I don't think Mr. Bruce had a chance. We've had the honor of being surrounded by some of the cutest babies ever courtesy of some of our besties. The cuteness of Mr. Bruce could only go so far to contain the power of cute little socks and funny faces. So we are embracing this time and looking forward to whatever the Lord may have for us.

                                                  (This is our family Christmas Picture.
                                                    Mr. Bruce is in his Santa suit.)

Shout out to Gina Garcia for the creepy photo-shopped pictures.  And Shout out to I Love Lucy.  I will be playing the role od Ricki Ricardo and Robin will play the role of Lucy. Enjoy