David George Montalvo | Communicate Christ

More Than What's Happening With You

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A friend of mine told me of a fight he had with his wife many months ago. They had torn into each others tenderest parts. They didn't hold back their rage...

Just three miles from the rest stop
And she slams on the breaks
She said I tried to be but I'm not
And could you please collect your things
I don't wanna be cold
I don't wanna be cruel
But I gotta find more
Than what's happening with you
If you'd - open up the door

Months after the fight, they had grown tired of each other, tired of trying, tired. They wanted something to make the pain go away. One wanted peace. One wanted out.

She said - while you were sleeping
I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
So I thought - hell if it's over
I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening - can you hear me
Have you forgotten

My buddy didn't know quite what to do. You see, the better part of advice he got was from casual bar conversations with other women and from TV shows. My friend didn't have a clue. But his wife, she had ideas. You see, she couldn't communicate the tension she felt. So she had been sleeping around to comfort herself, to console herself, to die inside to the man she once loved. The man who abused her by not being there.

Just three miles from the rest stop
And my mouth's too dry to rage
The light was shining from the radio
I could barely see her face
But she knew all the words that I never had said
She knew the crumpled-up promise of this
Broken down man - and as I opened up the door

They both had somehow gotten off track. One sought to keep up with the Jones' and the other gave her soul to follow someone who didn't truly know how to love. But they tried. And they wondered, were they ever on track in the first place?

2010 Region 7 Teacher of The Year - Representing T.I.S.D.

This afternoon, Jenny received a letter informing her she won "Regional Teacher of The Year" from Region 7 (Read Original Letter). She was picked out of among thousands of teachers in the region as among the best & brightest.

After completing a huge informational packet and writing many essays on education, she's now heading on to compete for the State Teacher of The Year title in Austin representing the Tyler Independent School District and Region 7.

In one's career, it is highly unlikely to win district; literally one among thousands.

There are fewer still who advance past regionals; one among tens of thousands.

Our Jenny Montalvo, devoted wife, loving mother, proud Grace Community Church member, and dedicated T.I.S.D. teacher is one of those few!

I just wanted to pass along to the world wide web how proud I am of Jenny's rare achievement; she gives glory to God for this award! If you get the chance, drop her a note of encouragement or congratulations, she will greatly appreciate it!

Note: Jenny.Montalvo@TylerISD.org

Rivera-Montalvo | Hidden Treasure, Persecution & Counting Cash

Alfredo Montalvo - My Grandfather
Jewish Italian Heritage

Descended from Italy, the Montalvo's, while running to avoid religious persecution because of their Jewish faith, finally landed at Vera Cruz. Family legend states that after our forefathers threw a rod like object to direct their path, they divined that the family should traveled north.

So the Montalvo's, with a treasure in tow, took off in search of mountains wherein they would hide their precious cargo. They ended up settling in Cerralvo Nuevo Leon. See map. There's a small mountain range west of Cerralvo.

Lucy Rivera Bolanci - My Grandmother
Catholic French Heritage

During the great depression, the Rivier clan (earlier generations changed name to Rivera for ease of pronunciation and to distance themselves from anti-French sentiment) was left completely unscathed.

They had great wealth, lots of cattle, prosperous farm land, and much much more. In fact, stories are told of how the family would regularly gather around a large table made of railroad ties where large sacks of money would be tossed out for the family "accountants" to count. As a child, my grandmother would sit at this table and watch the happenings. And later, she participated in the counting.

The family farm house, which I remember visiting as a small child, had awesome French architecture, large barns for the huge farm equipment, and lots of fruit trees scattered everywhere. That house was the last visible remains of the former greatness of the family wealth. Children later divided the land and the wealth.

Links Of Note:

• Crypto-Judaism - See subtitle Nuevo León — 1590s to early 1600s
• Nuevo Leon - Territory in Mexico founded by secret Jews from Spain
• Coat of Arms - Italian heritage
• Montalvo - Wikipedia has an article on us
  

House of Sea & Sun and My Summer Reading List

STREETVIEW GOOGLE MAP

This is how I plan on spending my summer vacation. Nestled in sunny St Augustine Florida among the Palm trees with the roar of waves from the other side of the small hill seen on the lower right of the above photo.

The beach is beautiful as the Google satellite map will attest to. No fishy smells. No bugs. Just peace. So what will I be doing.

For at least 4 to 5 hrs a day, I'll be sitting on the beach. Yup. Sitting. When I am not exposed under the beam of the sun while slathered in some hyper tanning Tropic Tan lotion, I'll be under a large umbrella with my wife Jenny and a stack of books. The kids will be doing their kid thing.

Here is my summer reading list which I'll enjoy with a nice drink of some kind, preferably with a small umbrella in it...

• Branding Faith
  Why Some Churches and Nonprofits Impact Culture and Others Don't
• The Last TV Evangelist
  Why the Next Generation Couldn't Care Less About Religious Media
  
• Pop Goes the Church
  Should the Church Engage Pop Culture?
  
• Less Clutter. Less Noise.
  Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales
  
• Killing Cockroaches
  And Other Scattered Musings on Leadership
  

At night, we'll share a dinner out, enjoy a trip into town, and we'll have a great time! No TV. No radio.

• Ripley's Believe It or Not tour
• A haunted train ride
• A cruise around the bay
• Santa Maria's restaurant where we eat & feed the fish
• plus a train ride around the entire historic city

Honestly, I've got a summer vacation itch real real bad.

Peanut My New Palm Pet

This funny little guy's name is Peanut; he's the newest addition to the Montalvo family. Somehow, my wife took my grudging approval to spend $100 on a teacup chihuahua as an "OK" to spend $200 on a toy chihuahua.

Here, Peanut stands next to my laptop while I take a pic of him on my iPhone. He his almost half the length of my manila folder. And at 12oz (yes, we weighed him) he's not a whole lot heavier than the set of keys behind him.

Although not excited at the purchase, when I saw this little helpless pup, I smiled and my heart was stolen. I can't believe it, I feel for a little doggy. I'm getting soft.

Note: Chihuahua's are nervous little fellows... I think he drizzled the folder a little...