Archives For easter

JESUS HAD A SIX PACK

(Edited from posted in April 2015)

Since I was a little boy and as far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a strong belief in God and something “bigger than me and this world”.  This was so much so that in High School I began to question everything I was being taught in the Catholic church, and set out on my own journey to “find God”.  That search for “truth” continues to this day, but one very practical thing that never really made sense was how the world has portrayed Jesus, which has been a very frail, skinny, white, pale sickly looking man who anyone could take down with one punch to the face.

I believe in a very different image of Jesus Christ, one that I feel should have been adopted a long long time ago, and it’s based on very practical observations.  I believe that Jesus was not frail or sickly, but rather a very strong and fit man with dark skin, strong forearms and biceps, resembling a very fit and toned MMA fighter of today.  He probably didnt’ have the physique of a bodybuilder, and may have been more lean, but by all means had more muscle and endurance than most of us.  How have I come to this conclusion?

JESUS WAS A FISHERMAN

The fisherman of today have it pretty easy compared to the days of Jesus.  There were no motorized boats or machinery that lifted nets and brought fish into your boat.  Lots of rowing by hand, pulling up nets by hand all day, every day.  Unloading the boat of fish, packaging the fish, pulling the boats in, etc.  A complete work out like this every single day would have to keep these guys fit and toned.  The exaggerated depiction of Popeye’s forearms was not just the creation of a cartoonist, as I’m sure that fisherman developed huge forearms from all of this work.  In addition to all of the manual labor that kept them fit, take into account their constant exposure to the sun which probably kept them nice a tanned all year round.

 JESUS WAS A CARPENTER

Carpentry today can’t compare to the work involved in the days of Jesus either.  Because of my circular saws, miter saws, jig saw, and my dewalt cordless drill, I can build in minutes what it probably took hours or days for them to build back in the day.  And the energy exerted would be minimal.

If Jesus needed to build a table for someone, he had to manually cut each piece of wood, shave each piece by hand, and perform tasks that required strength and arm pressure.  Wood work back then was not easy work and I’m sorry, but if you do your research on the many different facets of wood work back then one would have to come to the conclusion that these craftsman were building muscle while working.

JESUS ENDURED HIS EXECUTION BECAUSE HE WAS PHYSICALLY ABLE

Without going into detail about every task involved with being a fisherman or carpenter back in that day, I would hope that you can see how easy it would be to come to the conclusion that Jesus was not what the world has described to us for so long.  I feel that one of the major reasons that Jesus was able to endure what he did during his crucifixion was due to his physique and fitness.  The “frail” Jesus wouldn’t have made it past lashing #4 or #5, and yet Jesus withstood 40 FREAKIN LASHES with a weapon that was designed to rip his skin off!

Add to this the beat down that he received from the soldiers, the fact that he had to carry his own heavy cross to his own execution, and then having huge railroad type spikes driven through his arms and feet.  The strength needed to continuously try to pull him self up and position himself to breath easier required a strength that the little white sickly Jesus simply wouldn’t have been able to handle.  Many of us would have been dead before even making it to carrying our own cross.

JESUS WAS A BAD ASS

As you sip on your coffee this morning, prepare for lunch, or even as you make plans for this coming Easter Sunday, remember that the man behind the Easter holiday was plain and simply a Bad Ass.  Whether you believe that he rose from the dead or not, Jesus was a real man who walked this earth, and history supports the fact that he was executed in one of the most gruesome ways possible.

His message was just as real, which in a nut shell was one of LOVE and FORGIVENESS.  If you take anything away from the story of Jesus at least take that.  Learn from his selfless life of Love and walk in it everyday.  He gave us so many great lessons and tools to use to live this life and his story has stood the test of time and will continue for centuries to come.

Have a Great Easter everyone and eat lots of BBQ this Sunday.  *smiley face here.

@hectorgarciahtx

 Photo artwork from Tjokorda Bagus Wiratmaja

Posted on March 20, 2016 In Blog, Life, Minstry Tools, Personal Growth, Religion , , , , , ,
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THE ASH WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE

Ah, the infamous Ash Wednesday is today, a day observed by the religious that includes a quick stop by their local church for an ashy imprint on their forehead and the beginning of what is called “Lent“.  Those who observe this ritual (which I did growing up) will spend the next 40 days fasting a variety of things such as alcohol, chocolate, soda, and for the hardcore Catholic maybe margaritas are on the list. I’d go into more detail about my views on Lent, but you can read them in one of my older posts “Lent – A Ritual Worth Giving Up”.

Rather than point out the obvious about said ritual, I want to encourage everyone to do something different this year.  Rather than “give up” or “fast” a vice, which many go right back to on Easter Day, why not use your time more wisely and “give back”.  Do something good everyday for the next 40 days and see how much more of an impact you can make on the world around you, rather than kill yourself trying to fast cokes, coffee, or those damn tasty margaritas.

I will call this the ASH WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE and if you like the idea, share this with your friends and family and let the world know what you plan on doing for the next 40 days.  Here’s a list of ideas:

  • FOSTER A DOG
  • BUY GROCERIES FOR AN ENTIRE FAMILY
  • CUT SOMEONE’S LAWN
  • PAINT AN ELDERLY PERSON’S HOUSE
  • SURPRISE SOMEONE AND PAY FOR THEIR LUNCH AS THEY STAND IN LINE BEHIND YOU
  • PAY FOR SOMEONE’S COFFEE IN THE DRIVE THRU LANE
  • BABY SIT A FRIEND’S KIDS A FEW TIMES PER MONTH SO THAT THE PARENTS CAN ENJOY A NIGHT OUT
  • GIVE A GIFT CARD TO A FAMILY IN NEED TO ENJOY A NICE FAMILY DINNER NIGHT OUT
  • GET A GROUP TOGETHER AND BUY CLOTHES FOR SOME HOMELESS AND TAKE THEM TO GET HAIRCUTS
  • TAKE CARE OF HOUSE REPAIRS FOR A FAMILY IN NEED
  • GIVE A NEEDY KID A NEW BIKE
  • VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO A CHARITY
  • COME CUT MY GRASS AND PRESSURE WASH MY HOUSE.

This list could go on and on.  The idea is to stop what I refer to as “madness” and use your time and efforts more effectively, in a way that changes people’s lives, not just makes you feel better inside for a couple of months.  You would be surprised at how much more rewarding it is to do something good for others, rather than patting yourself on the back because you didn’t eat meat for the next several Fridays before Easter.

Change the world my friends.  Encourage your friends and family to do the same.  In turn, it’ll change your life.  Happy Ash Wednesday.

– @hectorgarcia

 

Posted on February 18, 2015 In Blog , , , , , , , ,
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3 LENT SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.

A few years ago I wrote an article expressing my disagreement with the ritual called “Lent”.  As someone who was raised Catholic this ritual was something that was forced on me and as I got older I felt like it was unnecessary and full of man-made attempts to please God.  Read the article “Lent – A Ritual Worth Giving Up”.

I feel the same way today, but I do understand that for many, this is important and many people sincerely use this time to make sacrifices in their attempt to “please” God or feel better about themselves.  With that in mind, I’d like to suggest a few options:

EAT MEAT EVERY FRIDAY

One of the main traditions and “rules” of Lent is to not eat meat on Fridays.  There are a variety of explanations for this but nothing real solid that I could find.  So why not just eat the meat on Fridays and do something more meaningful each Friday that you CAN explain.

For example, make it a rule to volunteer at a shelter or dog rescue each Friday.  Or make it a point to purchase an awesome meal each Friday for a homeless person or family in need.  And yes, make sure that meal has lots of meat in it, cause meat is soooo good.

Whatever you choose to do, do it because it has meaning and do it with all of your heart.  You’ll feel much better at the end of the day.  God isn’t going to strike you down because you eat meat on Fridays in exchange for doing something much more lasting.

GIVE UP FOR GOOD, NOT JUST FOR SEVERAL WEEKS

I remember racking my brain as a kid, trying to figure out what to “fast” during lent.  Some of my family would give up beer, some chocolate, others would give up smoking, etc.  The strength to to give up these and many other “vices” by participants in this ritual is fueled by the fact that they will soon have a taste for them once again in just a few weeks.  Many family members who gave up drinking would be the ones who got the most drunk at the Easter BBQs.  Very funny to say the least.

If you’re going to “give up” something, why not do it for the long run.  For example, if you’re giving up smoking for Lent because you know it’s not good for you, why just give it up for a few weeks?  Why not forever, especially if it’s an addiction?  If you’re cutting down on eating because you feel you’re overweight, don’t just cut down for lent, make a lifestyle change that lasts forever.

CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND YOU

As I stated in my first suggestion, Eat Meat on Fridays, these next few weeks would be much more rewarding if participants changed focus off of themselves and put it on others.  Look for needs around you, at work, at school, within your family, in your cycling groups, at your local bar, at your church, etc.

Don’t just give up something for the sake of giving it up.  If we should give up anything it should be selfishness and the best way to do that is to focus our attention on others.  Wake your neighbors up to the sound of you cutting their lawn one morning and when they ask why, you tell them because you can.  haha.

The elderly lady who lives down the road from you has a house that needs work.  Gather some friends one weekend and offer to make those repairs at no charge.

Rescue  and foster a dog.  There are so many strays in the city and all you have to do is drive around for a while and you’ll find one.  Take him/her in and nurture them as you work to find them a permanent home.  Maybe you’re their new home.  Who knows?

Whatever you end up doing, do it because it impacts the world in a better way.  Do it because it makes someone smile or happy.  Do it with love and do it just because.

Happy Lent.

@hectorgarcia

Posted on March 4, 2014 In Blog, Life, Personal Growth, Religion , , , , , , , ,
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