How is the World to Know?

Once again, it’s time for my annual Christmas card. This year, more than 600 were produced and shared with co-workers, family, friends, my Eastside church family, and strangers. I still haven’t completely kicked the snail mail Christmas card habit, and even those cards have already been mailed. Hard to believe, isn’t it! The few cards that are left will go to family that I’ll be seeing on Christmas Day.

For 2014, I have written a Christmas song. This was my longest and perhaps most ambitious Christmas card song to date. You might want to watch a video of the Nuns singing this song in the Sound of Music to be reminded of all the complexities of the melody.

The picture on the front of the card this year contains the first few verses of this year’s song. Here on the blog, the picture will just follow, below. With the exception of the little logo and identifying date stuff on the back, the card is here on the blog. Merry Christmas!

How is the world to know that I’m a Christian?
How do I answer all of those who search?
What are the things that say that I’m a Christian?
A cross on my chest?
A fish on my car?
A Church?

Often I wish I knew more of the Bible,
Many a verse I wish I knew by heart.
So how do I point the way?
When my heart is apt to stray?
How can I help when I might come apart?
Oh, how do I share the Good News of the Gospel?
How can I even know just where to start?

There is peace and mercy mild,
And we’re all now reconciled,
So I harken when those herald angels sing.
But then there’s songs of snowmen, too,
And Rudolf, bullied by his crew.
It’s become a Winter Holi-day-ee thing.

It’s a Holiday, don’t stress.
Peace on Earth (well, more or less);
To put meaning into Christmas could be wild.
Christ is King. He is the Lord.
He's the Lamb. He is the Word.
He’s Emmanuel. He’s our Savior. He’s a child.

How is the world to know that I’m a Christian?
How do I answer all of those who search?
What are the things that say that I’m a Christian?
A cross on my chest?
A fish on my car?
A Church?

Often I wish I knew more of the Bible,
Many a verse I wish I knew by heart.
So how do I point the way?
When my heart is apt to stray?
How can I help when I might come apart?
Oh, how do I share the Good News of the Gospel?
How can I even know just where to start?

Merry Christmas to You!

May Christmas bring you…
love, peace, and uncontainable joy
to fill your heart, and your New Year, too!

Dave  Hoag

Overwhelmed

Every time I hear the song Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave on the radio it invokes so many powerful images in my mind, and it definitely moves my soul. Engineer and scientist that I am, I envision galaxies, worlds, and physical wonders. My mind conjures the cruel realities of Christ purchasing our redemption through his suffering and death on the cross. And my heart… my heart so delights in God’s presence in my life that I truly am… overwhelmed.

Until recently, I had not seen the official music video, so it came as a bit of a surprise that the video is promoting the efforts of World Vision. The video is shot somewhere in Africa, and you need to watch it AND be open to let the Holy Spirit settle the lyrics on your heart. You won’t be asked to donate, but World Vision does a lot of good. If the Spirit moves you to make a difference in some distant part of the world, I’m quite certain that World Vision will be happy to put your contribution to good use.

Right now, we are celebrating the Christmas season, a time when we remember God’s overwhelming gift to us. Another watch, handbag, pair of shoes, or electronic gadget doesn’t honor that gift, but making Christ known by improving the health, education, and welfare of an impoverished child is something worthy to lay at the foot of the manger. Let yourself be overwhelmed!

Your brother in Christ, Dave