About me:

My name is Paul Garcia.  I am 33 years old.  I have been married to Mari for 10 years.  We work as partners in ministry.  She teaches and takes care of the administration while I teach and take care of leadership development.  We have four beautiful girls.  My wife and I have been pastoring for ten years.

Thurs. Jan. 29, 2009

It’s been a while since I wrote anything on here, but a lot has happened.  Christmas, New Year’s, a birthday and new responsibilities in the church.  The latest thing that has been rolling around in me is the need for a clear and gripping vision.  In the book “It” the author talks about churches that seem to have a momentum and life that unifies the people and electrifies their service.  So I’m working on vision for myself.  I’ve always felt that vision needs to be something big enough that it scares me and deep enough that there it’s a burning passion.  So I’m praying for vision and I’m wrestling with this.

Another thing about vision is that people are going to find something to give themselves to whether the church gives them a vision or not.  But we have the greatest cause worth living for = Jesus.  Helping people Learn about, Live in, and Love others like Jesus did so that others will want toLearn about, Live in, and Love Others like Jesus.

Fri. Nov. 12, 2009

I just finished two good books.  “Financial Peace” by Dave Ramsey and “Walking with God” by John Eldredge.  Ramsey’s book is a must read for any person over 18 who wants to sleep easy knowing that they have done their best financially.  Ramsey was a millionaire by the age of 26 and lost it all.  He is back on top financially and gives the reader practical steps towards financial peace in a compassionate tone.

Eldredge’s book blew me away.  If you’ve been looking to learn how to hear God or been trying to stay connected to Him better throughout the day than this book is for you.  I just read it and plan on re-reading it in January with my leaders.  Powerful.  Simple.  Challenging.  I can’t just push through my days anymore with my “get it done” attitude.  The covers have been pulled off and now I must slow down to Walk with God.

September

This was a great month.  We hosted our first concert of the school year in the High School room.  “Witness the Fall,” “Perfect Example” and “All of the Above” put on a great show.  Well over 100 people came out.  We shared a short message of hope from the gospel of John.  It was great!  See you in December for a Hip Hop show featuring “Reality Check 66″ and “202.”

Thurs. August 20, 2009

Back to school time.  A time of sadness for a teenager and a time of rejoicing for a parent.  How will this school year be different for your teenager?  Are they starting High School?  Are they now an upper classman?

What do you want your teenager to be like at the end of this school year?  More generous?  A stronger faith?  Less selfish?  More helpful and without so much attitude?

I want your teenager to grow in their love and knowledge of God.  That’s why I am teaching through the Bible.  That’s why I write devotionals for them.  That’s why I encourage them every Sunday to use their devotionals and give God 20 minutes a day. You know as well as I do that who your child hangs out with has a huge impact on them, so why not encourage them to hang out with God everyday.

Thurs. July 16, 2009

Fun and busy.  That is what summer is in youth ministry.  So far this summer we (the church) sold fireworks (Pyro ‘n Praise night was awesome) and met over 600 people from our community.  We (the youth group) had three days of service in our Extreme Moblie Makeover where about 12 incredible teens cleaned up a mobile home park for free.  And we (the youth group) are getting ready to go to kid’s camp and help in any and every way possible.

I think it’s important for me to have a few things that help fill me up with all of this giving out.  Of course there is the devotional time with God.  But I have rediscovered a quiet drive home without the radio to be a wonderful time of debriefing that gets me ready to switch from pastor to dad/husband.  I also discovered the great help that is talking openly and honestly with two or three guys my age about anything and everything.  My friend told me today that we as the “body of Christ” should be connecting transparently with each other.  It made me think about the organs in our body…they have to receive blood and give the blood.

Are you receiving and giving to others through open and honest relationship?  I pray that all who read this will find the life giving power of authentic community, after all we are a Real Church living Real Life so let’s be Real People with each other.  May you discover the freedom of being fully known and fully accepted today.

Fri. June 5, 2009 Summer Updates

I had the most amazing thing happen to me one month ago today.  My youngest daughter was born.  She was 10 lbs. and 20.25 inches long.  And of course she’s pretty much the most amazing person ever.

Since then I have finished the book “The Shack,” had God ring my bell in Joshua, and show me what it means to be a stud (Boaz) in Ruth.

We also managed to total our minivan and purchase the same make, model and color from a dealership.  And two of my kids just finished the school year.  We also hosted our annual leader appreciation lunch at Chevy’s (love their chips and salsa).  So I’ve pretty much been bored.

Oh yeah, the High School summer calendar is also completed.  Click on the High School page to see what’s happening this summer.  And know that God is awfully fond of you!

Tues. Apr. 7, 2009 Love you, like you, see you in the morning

When I was a kid my brothers and I would say the words “Love you, like you, see you in the morning” to each other as we fell asleep.  I grew up most of my life believing that God loved me because He has to but I wasn’t too sure if he liked me.  After all I grew up hearing that I had to love everyone but not like everyone.  Somehow that leaked into my theology.  But, as I have recently discovered, God doesn’t just love me, He actually likes me.  This simple truth has helped me so much the past couple of months.  I don’t have to try and earn God’s friendship, He offers it freely.

I think that this is the point of the Sabbath day that Moses was told to keep holy.  And this is the rest spoken of in Hebrews.  A realizing that my best isn’t good enough for God, and that only He can make up the gap that my best efforts never could.  For the first time in a long time my soul has found rest…because He likes me.

Wed. Mar 25, 2009 Mighty Hero - High School Retreat Recap

Last weekend the youth leaders and I took 11 high schoolers to Lake Tahoe for our retreat.  The weekend’s teachings were from the life of Gideon (Judges 6-7).  We all see ourselves through someone’s eyes.  In Gideon’s case he had five choices: God’s, his own, his family’s, his friends, or his enemies’.  How we see ourselves makes all of the difference in the world because we will act and live accordingly.  Because Gideon chose to live through God’s eyes he was able to shatter the expectations of everyone else around him and be the man God wanted him to be.  He became the hero that God saw in him.  Our students are beginning to be the heroes that God sees in them.  Many of them talked about becoming heroes at home to their siblings and at school to their friends.  That’s what I call faith in action.

Wed. Mar. 4, 2009 The Method to the Madness

I talked with a parent recently who told me that they had no idea what we were teaching their kids in the youth ministry and it made me think “Am I communicating enough to the parents about what we are doing and why we are doing it?  Guess not.”  So here is what we are doing in the High School group and why we are doing it.  (To see what we are doing each week scroll over the word “YOUTH” on the red banner bar and then click on the word “HIGH SCHOOL” on the drop down menu.)

I am teaching through the Bible on Sunday mornings.  Not chapter by chapter, but main characters or main points in our faith.  We have finished Genesis (13 weeks) and Exodus (5 weeks) and are going to be spending one week in Leviticus and two weeks in Numbers.  We will spend two years in the Old Testament and two years in the New Testament.

For small groups we are using the Journals that the leaders and I are writing every month for our teens.  My goal is for each High Schooler to read the entire Bible by the time they graduate High School.  The Journal keeps them on track to read 10 chapters a week (5 days of devotions).  Each devotion time should take about 20 minutes and includes a prayer time with a theme from that day’s reading.  In small groups the leaders will help unpack what the students have been learning and help them apply it.

My hope in writing the Journals is that it will help each student experience our Living God weekly and know just how passionate He is about His children.  I also wanted to give parents an easy tool to talk to their teens about their faith.  So ask your teen what they are reading in the Bible and ask them how it is affecting them.

Fri. Feb. 6, 2009 Helping Parents Raise Great Kids

Raising a family takes a lot.  Between the spouse, the kids, the job (or lack thereof) life takes its toll.  Being a parent is a never ending job that none of us are fully qualified for.  But thankfully there are some great web sites out there to help us.

On the FAMILY RESOURCE page I have begun listing websites that I have found helpful.  You’ll find websites to help you with financial matters.  You’ll also find websites to help you with raising your kids in the Christian faith.  You’ll also find websites to help you enrich your marriage.  Spend 20 minutes tonight looking at the websites with your spouse and spend some time talking about what areas you could use some help growing in.

You are not alone in raising your kids.  I believe in you.  But most of all our Heavenly Father believes in you and is cheering you on.

Fri. Jan. 16, 2009 Sharing Your Faith

My daughter’s preschool teacher caught up with me this morning and told me that she was working on vocabulary with the kids.  The word she was working on was the word “across.”  She asked my daughter if she knew what “across” meant.  My daughter responded “Yes, it’s where Jesus died.”

Sharing your faith is so simple that a preschooler can do it.  One of the biggest things that parents at our church want is for me to help their kids share their faith.  As I have looked back on all of the messages I’ve taught here at the Warehouse over 10% have been on sharing your faith.  We have monthly outreaches.  We have easy to invite a friend to monthly activities.  We have plenty of opportunities to help our teens share their faith, but perhaps one of the biggest things that the kids need to see and hear is that their parents are sharing their faith.

So share the stories with your kids about sharing your faith.  Invite them into your story of faith.  Let them see what being a Christian looks like in 2009 from you.  Finally, listen to these words from Deuteronomy 11:18-19:

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Fri. Nov. 21, 2008

Youth Convention was amazing.  The bands were incredible, especially “Worth Dying For” from Modesto.  They stole the show.  Matthew Barnet was a great speaker.  He challenged our students to do something for God while they are still teens: “Don’t wait for your city to solve the gang problem in your town.  Why can’t teenagers solve the gang problem in your town.”  He also challenged the leaders in our churches to unleash our teenagers into ministry as teens.

Missions was also highlighted.  Our students caught a glimpse of missions.  Several students told me as we unpacked the weekend that they want to be a part of missions now more than ever.

Youth Convention, $75.  Hours of sleep, 6.  Called to missions, Priceless.

Wed. Oct. 29, 2008

October was such a great month in the youth ministry.  We hosted two outreaches, played broom hockey, had guys and girls small groups, learned about missions (Jr. High), discovered what faith means (Abraham/Genesis),  hosted our first all worship youth night at the church, and started a student leadership team.  There were around 50 students that participated in this months events.  But best of all students are truly growing in their faith through studying the Bible, accountability in a small group, and expressing their love to God in our group worship times.  October was truly an awesome month in the youth ministry!!!  I can’t wait to see what November brings.