Thursday, December 28, 2017

Compassion and Great Leadership

With all the negative and fake news that floods into our lives, it almost seems like a miracle when something wonderful happens. In the midst of reports of bullying, harassment, and seemingly endless bad behavior comes a bright spot that is worth sharing.

My oldest grandson, Jeffrey, is about to be promoted from a Cub Scout into a Boy Scout troop. Recently, he participated in what would be his last Rain Gutter Regatta as a Cub Scout.

The Rain Gutter Regatta is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America that is the sailboat equivalent of the pinewood derby. The sailboat kit consists of a balsa wood hull, mast, plastic sail, plastic rudder, and metal keel. Within the basic design rules, Scouts are free to paint and decorate their sailboats and sails as they choose. Modifications for speed include the placement of the keel and rudder and the size, shape and location of the sail. A catamaran is an exceptionally fast design, although this modification is not allowed in all races.

The boats are raced in a standard rain gutter that is ten feet long, placed on a table, and filled with water. The boats are then propelled by blowing on the sail, either directly or through a drinking straw; the boat cannot be touched with hands or the straw. The first boat to reach the end of the gutter is the winner. The overall winner is determined by an elimination system.



The picture is of Jeffrey, proudly displaying his boat and sail design AND his first-place medal for being the overall winner. First place!

The next morning, however, Jeffrey asked to borrow his mother’s phone so he could send a message to his Den Leader. Now Jeffrey is 10, so I left his message as he entered it (I’m not sure what excuse my adult friends have when their messages look much like Jeffrey’s).

Jeffrey

To: Seth H.

mister seth  this is me jeff I didn’t like all the unhappy faces at the meeting, I especially didn’t like niko crying so I want to give up my metal to someone who really wants it.


This is how the Den Leader responded:

Seth H.

To: Jeffrey

I want to let you know that you offering to give up your medal is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard. It shows that you have a kind and generous heart. But I want you to keep the medal, and I’ll tell you why.

We all get to take turns winning and losing. When we win, we get to learn, and practice, how to be a gracious winner (that’s what you are). When we lose, we get to learn how to be a good sport and be happy for those that won. I think you should keep the medal. I watched all the races, and you won fair and square.

Thank you for your email. See you at the next den meeting.

Congratulations,

Mister Seth


Jeffrey is very competitive and he loves to win, but he also has a compassionate heart. At the age of ten, while being recognized and awarded first place honors, he had a heart for those around him. He understood that they did their best, but they didn’t win the medal. He understood their sadness, because he had competed for years to come in first, and until now that first-place prize had always gone to someone else. His thoughtfulness and compassion are amazing enough, but that he ACTED to make a difference makes me extremely proud that he’s my grandson!

And then there’s Mr. Seth… what a wonderful example of fine leadership! Not only does he explain winning and losing to a young Scout, but he edifies and encourages Jeffrey while leading him to a better understanding of sportsmanship and competition. To Mr. Seth, I am grateful that he is making a positive impact on our young people. And I’m sure that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of leaders like Mr. Seth that are part of Scouting, churches, and other organizations who are making the same kind of impact on our children. My prayer is that the leaders of our country, and of the world, learn from the leadership example of Mr. Seth.

Your brother in Christ,


Dave

A Prayer for Eastside Bellflower


As 2018 approaches, the Eastside campus in the City of Bellflower is getting close to being ready to explode into that community. Campus pastor, Marcos Garcia, and his amazing staff are bringing the spirit of Eastside, the heart of God, and the life-changing message of Jesus into an area that is hungry for Good News.

I wrote the following prayer/poem last month, and now publish it with the following requests:
  • If you call Eastside your church home, print out the prayer so you can fold it up and carry it with you to help remind you to pray each day to support God’s work in the City of Bellflower… and beyond.
  • If you worship and serve somewhere other than Eastside, print out the prayer so you can fold it up and carry it with you to help remind you to pray each day to support God’s work where YOUR church has an outreach ministry. Just substitute YOUR outreach area for Bellflower and YOUR church for Eastside.
  • If you don’t have a church home, this prayer is inviting you to join us at any of our Eastside campuses. I invite you to come experience a place where you can connect with a community that cares, and where you can belong and grow, and… begin to unleash your compassion.




A Prayer for Eastside Bellflower

by David Alan Hoag  --  November 28, 2017

In Bellflower, we’ve made a place,
A place where someone cares.
Everyone can’t go along,
So we send our heartfelt prayers.

Eastside is a church that blooms
In locations far and wide.
We pursue God, build small groups,
And unleash compassion’s tide.

We’re not just home to all the saved,
To all our Christian brothers;
We’re living out our Pastor’s dream
Of sharing Christ with others.

And men and women, young and old
And those that still abuse
Alcohol, or drugs, or worse
Have need of the Good News.

Come offer your obedience
In baptism’s waters
Come die to sin, and then you’ll be
Reborn… God’s sons and daughters!

Our prayer for Bellflower, and beyond:
That we share with grit and nerve
An Eastside where communities
Belong, and grow, and serve.


Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Monday, December 11, 2017

2017 Christmas Card - Angels Rejoiced

Well, it looks like this will be another year where I get my annual Christmas card onto the blog early. Of course, early for me is any time before Christmas Eve. As usual, if you want one of my cards in all its paper glory, you will either have to get one from me in real life, or request that I email you the Word file so you can print, fold, and hold it in your hands. Unbelievably, I still stubbornly send these cards out via snail mail to a select few... when I can get my address database, printer, and the Post Office to all work together at the same time.

Here is the electronic version. Merry Christmas.




Angels Rejoiced
by David Alan Hoag  -  December 10, 2017
While the angels rejoiced
At the birth of the child
Singing of peace on earth
And of us reconciled.
While the peace from above
Humbly came to the earth,
A new age was dawning
With the infant child’s birth.
God knows we need saving
For we won’t change our ways
And for wages of sin
It’s true, EVERYONE pays.
Yet, with the babe’s coming
We could turn a new page
But something was missing
For, still we kill and rage.
Men tried to contain it
Sealed it up in a grave
But Good News… it broke free
That salvation God gave.
How can it be contained
In a day, or season,
This grace of God, His Son,
Our joy beyond reason?
Well, it can’t be contained
So perhaps Christmas day
You’ll follow a new path
Jesus called it “The Way.”

Merry Christmas to You!
This Christmas, I pray that you get past the
trappings of the season to discover and embrace
the gift that God has given to all of us.
Unwrap God’s gift to you…
it’s the best present ever!
May this Christmas season bring you
love, peace, and uncontainable joy
to fill your heart, and your New Year, too!
Dave  Hoag