The RC Deep Dive Podcast

I've been blessed to be able to help out with a group of vintage RC car hobbyists with a new daily podcast about radio controlled cars called the RC Deep Dive. Here is the announcement that they have been making after posting our 100th episode yesterday, so I wanted to share it here too: 

Our new podcast, The RC Deep Dive, just posted its 101st episode, so we thought we would dare to come announce our podcast to the RC hobbyist community! After 101 episodes, we want your questions and topic ideas for future podcasts. Our focus is on vintage, classic, rere (re-release), and modern RC cars, buggies, trucks, and vans. We review RC model vehicles, hop-ups, and give you advice on how to fix, upgrade, repair, and improve your radio-controlled vehicles and teach you about the history of the RC hobbyist community and culture. We are all about that RC life!

You can find all our links to Podcast aggregators that host the RC Deep Dive podcast at https://linktr.ee/rcdeepdive . We are available on Android Podcasts, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audible, BoomPlay, CastBox FM, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Player FM, Podbean, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast App, Podcast Guru, Podcast,ru, PodChaser, Poddtoppen, Podmailer, Podtail, Rephonic, YouTube, and YouTube Music. Our podcast host website is at https://rcdeepdive.podbean.com/ .

We look forward to your comments, likes, subscriptions, and creating podcasts based on your suggestions and questions!

Here are our episodes so far and our planned episodes for the future, along with the dates that they were published or will be pushed to podcast aggregator apps: 

1. The Tamiya Frog Hop-Ups: CVD or UJ Drive Shafts over the Dog Bones or Hex Drive 2025-03-27
2. The Tamiya Grasshopper Hop-Ups: Oil-Filled CVA Shock Dampers using Grasshopper II Parts 2025-03-28
3. Hidden Upgrades for the Grasshopper II from the Rising Fighter 2025-03-29
4. Which Grease to Use? Moly vs. AWG vs. Cera HG 2025-03-30
5. Which Battery Should I Use in my R/C car? 2025-03-31
6. Hop-Up Tires and Wheels for your Tamiya and other brand R/C Buggies, Cars, Trucks, and Vans 2025-04-01
7. Stabilizing Gearboxes in the Tamiya Grasshopper, Hornet, Grasshopper 2, and other R/C Vehicles 2025-04-02
8. The MIP Super Ball Diff for Tamiya ORV R/C Vehicles, including the Frog, Brat, Blackfoot, and Super Beetle 2025-04-03
9. HOW-TO: Upgrade your Tamiya Grasshopper to a Hornet and your Grasshopper II to a Super Hornet 2025-04-04
10. 380 Tuned Motors vs 540 Motors: What's the right choice? 2025-04-05
11. The Special Color Edition R/C Cars 2025-04-06
12. Who Really Owns your Local Hobby Shop and R/C Car Brands? 2025-04-07
13. Let's Get into Traxxas! 2025-04-08
14. The Elusive Super G Tamiya R/C Buggies 2025-04-09
15. What Causes Grubscrew Issues in the Grasshopper 2 with a 380 Sport Tuned Motor? 2025-04-10
16. What are the Top 10 Selling R/C Vehicles of all Time? 2025-04-11
17. A Simple 3-D Printed ORV Trailing Shock Arm Can Save your R/C Car! 2025-04-12
18. Which Cements, Glues, and Solvents to Use on your R/C Cars? 2025-04-13
19. Do Low-Profile Servos Allow you to use Larger Batteries in your Grasshopper/Hornet Family of R/C Buggies? 2025-04-14
20. What are the Best Tools to Build your R/C Vehicle? You Might be Surprised! 2025-04-15
21. The Missing Cera Grease HG Mystery 2025-04-16
22. Sticks or Pistol Grips: Which is best for your R/C Vehicles? 2025-04-17
23. Tamiya vs. HobbyWing: Which ESC is Best for You? 2025-04-18
24. The Flysky and DSServos Takeover of R/C 2025-04-19
25. R/C Cars and Trucks in Pop Culture 2025-04-20
26. Cutting, Sanding, Masking, & Painting Lexan (Polycarbonate) R/C Vehicle Bodies 2025-04-21
27. HOW-TO:  Fix Common Throttle and Transmitter Issues 2025-04-22
28. BRAT Attack! Why those Subaru BRAT Wheels & Tires are so Popular On R/C Buggies 2025-04-23
29. What is that Cardboard Disk that goes on your 540 Motor? 2025-04-24
30. What do Shock Damper Oil Colours and Numbers Mean? 2025-04-25
31. Which Shock Oil is Best for the Grasshopper/Hornet Family of R/C Buggies? 2025-04-26
32. What is the Best Shock Damper Oil for ORV Chassis Based Tamiya R/C Models? 2025-04-27
33. HOW-TO:  Easily Fix R/C Vehicle Steering Issues 2025-04-28
34. Is Using Marine Grease in R/C Cars a Good Idea? 2025-04-29
35. HOW-TO:  Fix Broken Shock Towers 2025-04-30
36. HOW-TO:  Solve Servo Woes 2025-05-01
37. Aftermarket Third Party Hop-Up Option Makers 2025-05-02
38. HOW-TO:  Lower  the CoG on the Lunchbox & other R/C Monster Trucks 2025-05-03
39. Upside Down Shock Dampers? 2025-05-04
40. 
    The RC Deep Dive Podcast Theme/Intro song 2025-05-05
41. Is a Frog with a MIP Super Ball Diff Slower? 2025-05-06
42. Why is the Tamiya Frog Called the Mighty Frog in Japan? 2025-05-07
43.  R/C Boy: The Radio-Controlled Vehicle Manga 2025-05-08
44. R/C Street in Hong Kong 2025-05-09
45. The History of R/C Vehicles 2025-05-10
46. What are LiFe Batteries and are they Worth the Tamiya Tax? 2025-05-11
47. What are RTR, XB, & XSA R/C Vehicles? 2025-05-12
48. Minimum & Maximum Temperatures for R/C Components 2025-05-13
49. What was the CPR Unit in R/C Vehicles? 2025-05-14
50. What is the Best Wheel and Tire Choice for your 4WD R/C Cars? 2025-05-15
51. What is Understeer & Oversteer, and How Do You Fix It? 2025-05-16
52. Tamiya R/C Vehicle Promo Videos 1976-2025 2025-05-17
53. Steel vs. Aluminium Pinion Gears: Does it Really Matter? 2025-05-18
54. What is a Square Set Up? 2025-05-19
55. HOW-TO: Upgrade your Grasshopper with Hornet Parts 2025-05-20
56. HOW-TO: Upgrade to Oil Filled Shocks on the FAV & SRB Chassis R/C Buggies 2025-05-21
57. Why are Ball Bearings an Essential Hop-Up and Which Bearings are Best in R/C Cars? 2025-05-22
58. Red vs. Blue vs. Green vs. Orange Thread Lock in R/C Cars 2025-05-23
59. What was the R/C Vehicle Golden Age? 2025-05-24
60. Our Potential New Theme Song for the RC Deep Dive Podcast 2025-05-25
61. Shock Spring Sizes & Colours: What Does it All Mean? 2025-05-26
62. HOW-TO:  Clean and Maintain Your R/C Vehicles 2025-05-27
63. What R/C Cars Have Different Names in Japan vs the RotW? 2025-05-28
64. Where are R/C Vehicles Most Popular? 2025-05-29
65. Why Tamiya Subaru BRAT Wheels and Tires Instantly Sellout! 2025-05-30
66. Are O-Rings Needed in CVDs and UJs? 2025-05-31
67. ORV Gearbox Bearings: Tamiya Metal or Fast Eddy Rubber Seals? 2025-06-01
68. R/C Cars and their Place in Japanese Culture 2025-06-02
69. Is the Vintage 3-Piece Wheel Actually Superior? 2025-06-03
70. The Evolution of R/C Car Wheel Connectors 2025-06-04
71. What is Binding and How to Fix it? 2025-06-05
72. Are CVDs Necessary in the HotShot Family of R/C Cars? 2025-06-06
73. The T-Tool: The Iconic 4-Way or Cross Box Wrench History 2025-06-07
74. HOW-TO: Identify Causes and Fix Rear Axle Slop 2025-06-08
75. The Importance of Getting the Frog's Front Arms Right 2025-06-09
76. Beyond the Frog: Tamiya's Racing Championships 2025-06-10
77. Pro-Line & CRP Bumpers: Improved Function & Fashion! 2025-06-11
78. Best Wheels & Tires for the GH2 or Super Hornet 2025-06-12
79. Best Foam Inserts for Hornet Large Diameter Wheels 2025-06-13
80. What is Camber and How Do you Adjust it? 2025-06-14
81. What to do About the Extra-Long Frog Body Mounts? 2025-06-15
82. Where in the World are the Best Vintage R/C Car Racetracks? 2025-06-16
83. Design Thinking in Tamiya's First 100 R/C Buggies 2025-06-17
84. Hacking Flysky R/C Vehicle Transmitters 2025-06-18
85. HOW-TO: Remove Decals from R/C Vehicles 2025-06-19
86. Why do the FGH R/C Buggies Remain Iconic After Over 40 Years? 2025-06-20
87. Why is Tamiya’s Lavender Paint not the Correct Hue? 2025-06-21
88. What Exactly do the ORV Radius Arms Do? 2025-06-22
89. Let’s Get into Kyosho! 2025-06-23
90. The Bumper Paradox: How Stronger Parts Wreck your R/C Cars! 2025-06-24
91. HOW-TO: Prepare, Glue, Vent, and Balance your R/C Tires 2025-06-25
92. Decoding Different Diff Oils for your R/C Vehicle’s Differential Gears 2025-06-26
93. Can Washers Fix Axial and Radial Play in R/C Ball Bearings? 2025-06-27
94. Which Screws are the Best to Use in R/C Vehicles? 2025-06-28
95. HOW-TO: Get a HobbyWing 1060 Power Switch to Fit Correctly in a Tamiya R/C Model Chassis 2025-06-29
96. The 10 Must-Have Hop-Ups for the Tamiya Frog 1/10th Scale R/C Buggy 2025-06-30
97. Tamiya RC Cleaner Products Reviewed 2025-07-01
98. To Paint On-Sprue or Off-Sprue? 2025-07-02
99. What Exact Colour of White or Yellow Paint Ought to be Used for Headlights? 2025-07-03
100. What is Tamiya Gear Diff Putty and How Do You Use It? 2025-07-04
101. What are the Dry and Cure Times for Tamiya AS, PS, TS, X, and XF Paints? 2025-07-05
102. Vintage BRAT Attack vs. RestoMod Hornet Large Diameter Hop-Ups 2025-07-06
103. The RestoMod Movement, Blockhead Motors, and Jun Watanabe 2025-07-07
104. R/C Rally Car Legends: Audi Quattro vs. Lancia 037 2025-07-08
105. Do Softer Shock Springs Require Hard Damper Oil? 2025-07-09
106. What are Parma Double Wheel Adapters and How Do They Work? 2025-07-10
107. R/C Jargon: Racing, Bashing, Crawling, Driftin, Speed Running, and More! 2025-07-11
108. HOW-TO: Fix Lexan (Polycarbonate) Body Shell Cutting Mistakes 2025-07-12
109. R/C Rally Car Legends: Audi Quattro vs. Lancia 037 2025-07-13
110. Should You Grease Your Gearbox Where it Connects to Your Chassis? 2025-07-14
111. HOW-TO: Fix White Stress Lines in Your R/C Model Chassis 2025-07-15
112. The Evolution of the Vintage and ReRe Grasshopper/Hornet Family Chassis 2025-07-16
113. HOW-TO: The Rock Hopper Custom GH2 Build 2025-07-17
114. The (Mighty) Frog's Superiority Amongst Vintage and ReRe 2WD R/C Buggies 2025-07-18
115. HOW-TO: Use Pearl PS Paints on RC Model Polycarbonate Body Shells 2025-07-19
116. Team Associated Green Slime, Black Grease, and Stealth Diff Lube 2025-07-20
117. Why Aluminum Knuckles for the HotShot Family of 4WD R/C Buggies? 2025-07-21
118. CA Super Glue vs. Clear Silicon Sealant for Tire Glueing 2025-07-22
119. Are Grasshopper and Hornet Shock Brace Bars the Real Deal? 2025-07-23
120. Fixing All Front End Slop in the HotShot Family of 4WD R/C Buggies 2025-07-24
121. What is the History of the R/C ORV Chassis and it's Many Colors? 2025-07-25
122. Why are the Pro-Line and CRP ORV Hop-Up Bumper Exactly the Same? 2025-07-26
123. Hopper to Rocket: The History of Speedrunning the Tamiya Grasshopper 2025-07-27
124. HOW-TO: Fix Mismatched Electronics Connectors in R/C Vehicles? 2025-07-28
125. What is the CRP ORV Chassis Stiffener for the BRAT, Frog, Blackfoot, Super Beetle, etc.? 2025-07-29
126. What are the Most Popular Colors to Paint the Tamiya Frog R/C Buggy? 2025-07-30
127. Anytime Baby! The Wild Story of Tail Wing Mottos on Tamiya R/C Buggies 2025-07-31
128. The Super Sabre v Thunder Shot Problem of 1987 and 2022/2023 2025-08-01
129. Should you Combine Ball Diffs with Carbon Fiber Gearboxes and Support Tensioners? 2025-08-02
130. HOW-TO: Paint Chrome Details on Your R/C Model Vehicles? 2025-08-03
131. Changing Chassis: Why Some Tamiya ReRe R/C Models Have Very Different Chassis 2025-08-04
132. Power to the People: Alternate Placements of the Power Switch 2025-08-05
133. The Electric Handy Drill: A Great Hop-Up Tool that Need Hop-Ups Inself! 2025-08-06
134. To Paint the Windows or Not to Paint the Windows? That is the Question 2025-08-07
135. What are Hop-Up Nerf Wings , and Do You Really Need Them Today? 2025-08-08
136. HOW-TO: Get the Most Out of Your A3 Hobby Mats and R/C Car Stands 2025-08-09
137. How Can the Miniature Manufacturing CNC Alloy Heatsink Save Your R/C Model Vehicle? 2025-08-10
138. HOW-TO: Fix the Hornet Shocks Preventing Proper Grasshopper Bofy Fitment 2025-08-11
139. What is the Best Material for Static Balancing R/C Model Vehicle Wheels and Tires? 2025-08-12
140. HOW-TO: Fix the Front Top Shock Mount Screws From Sticking Out So Far 2025-08-13
141. The Frog Fit: The Proper Way to Mount Your R/C Buggy Body Shell 2025-08-14
142. What Does the CRP HotShot Nerf Wing Do, and Can it Fit the Super HotShot? 2025-08-15
143. C-Ring Necessity in Stock vs. Hopped-Up Frogs 2025-08-16

How Should We Live?

 

Because we all need a reminder from time to time, including myself... 

Luke 3:11 “And answering, he saith to them, ‘The one who hath two tunics, let him share with him who hath not; and the one who hath food, let him do likewise.’” 

Acts 5:32 “And of the multitude of those who believed there was one heart and soul; and not even one of them was saying that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them.”

Acts 5:34 “For neither was there any among them in need; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, they were bringing the values of those being sold,” 

Romans 15:1-2 “We then who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. For let each of us be pleasing his neighbor for the good, toward building up.”

Iakovos (James) 2:15-16 “Now if a brother or sister be naked and wanting of daily food, and any of you should say to them, ‘Go in peace, warm yourselves and feed yourselves,’ but ye give them not the necessities of the body, what is the profit?”

The above quotes are taken from The Orthodox New Testament:  Volume 1, The Holy Gospels, Evangelistarion & The Orthodox New Testament: Volume 2, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation, Praxapostolos. 

The Orthodox Psalter has been Updated and Expanded! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As you know, back in 2011 I highly recommended "The Orthodox Psalter" by Holy Apostles Convent in this blog post/article and continued to point out the superiority of the translation in another blog post/article the same year. I still stand by that recommendation, but recently I found that there is a new 3rd edition of this Psalterion published in 2017.

There are 9 more pages of patristics than the 1st edition, which includes explanations of verses and psalms from the Church Fathers from both the east and the west. The Orthodox Psalter includes both the Septuagint and KJV numbering systems, 20 Kathismas, 9 Biblical Odes, 160 pages of Patristic Commentary, 6 Tables for Usage, 2 General Listings, The Verses and Couplet to the Prophet David, and the excellent introduction, "In Praise of the Psalms" by Saint Basil the Great. All in a full-sized 6.25" x 9.25" sturdy Deep Purple Smyth-sewn case-bound book, with gold stamping, and a burgundy double-sided grosgrain ribbon marker. As an author I appreciate that it is printed on high-opacity acid-free 80-pound cream coloured pages, in a very easy-to-read 14-point bold typeface for the Psalms, and a readable and clear 10-point typeface for the Commentary. 

Aesthetically, the "Deep Purple" that I think of more as an indigo, looks great with the green "The Holy Prophets", the dark navy "The Orthodox New Testament Volume One", and the dark burgundy "The Orthodox New Testament Volume Two". These books are must-haves for any Orthodox Christian. 

The Orthodox Psalter and the other mentioned books are available at Amazon or can be ordered directly from the Convent.

The 5 Types of Love in Ancient Greek

Though there are more Greek words for love, variants and possibly subcategories, a general summary considering these Ancient Greek concepts are as follows:

Agápe (ἀγάπη agápē) means "love: especially charity; the love of God for man and of man for a good God." Agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for one's children and the feelings for a spouse, and it was also used to refer to a love feast. Agape is used by Christians to express the unconditional love of God for his children.

Éros (ἔρως érōs) means "love, mostly of the sexual passion." The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "intimate love". Plato refined his own definition: Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. Plato does not talk of physical attraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, "without physical attraction". In the Symposium, the most famous ancient work on the subject, Plato has Socrates argue that eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth, the ideal "Form" of youthful beauty that leads us humans to feel erotic desire – thus suggesting that even that sensually based love aspires to the non-corporeal, spiritual plane of existence; that is, finding its truth, just like finding any truth, leads to transcendence. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth through the means of eros.

Philia (φιλία philía) means "affectionate regard, friendship", usually "between equals". It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. In his best-known work on ethics, Nicomachean Ethics, philia is expressed variously as loyalty to friends (specifically, "brotherly love"), family, and community, and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity. Furthermore, in the same text philos is also the root of philautia denoting self-love and arising from it, a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

Storge (στοργή storgē) means "love, affection" and "especially of parents and children". It is the common or natural empathy, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant. This is also used when referencing the love for one's country or a favorite sports team.

Xenia (Greek: ξενία, romanized: xenía, meaning "guest-friendship") is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host expressed in both material benefits (such as the giving of gifts to each party) as well as non-material ones (such as protection, shelter, favors, or certain normative rights).

Scout Sunday 2020/7528

This year, Scout Sunday for North Texas (BSA Southern Region, Area 2) will be celebrated February 9th at 9:00am at Saint Constantine and Helen Antiochian Orthodox Church in Carrollton, Texas as the North Texas Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting continues to move around the North Texas Area Churches. (The 2017 & 2018 Scout Sundays were at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless, Texas while the 2019 Scout Sunday was at Saint Barbara Orthodox Church in Fort Worth, Texas.) Please join us at Saints Constantine & Helen Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1225 East Rosemeade Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75007 this Sunday!

Please see the following important announcement from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America about Scout Sunday for 2020 / 7528:

Orthodox Scouting Sunday - February 9, 2020
By The Most Reverend Archbishop David, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska 

Each year we come to this Sunday in February to celebrate Scouting in our communities. Throughout our country we will join in recognizing the contributions they have all made to our churches and various institutions through their hard work, dedication to duty and love of country and Faith. They have a comradery not found in any other organization. This idea of fellowship in Faith, love and respect for others is the guiding principle that makes their work so beneficial and important. 

Today I address not only our Scouting Youth and Leaders who are before you, but I also address the Families, parents and children in attendance who do not yet know the values that Scouting offers. 

We live in an age where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a harmonious existence with others. Some are quick to judge those not like themselves and others simply want to avoid contact as much as they can. Neither of these options are suitable for a population to coexist. There must be an effort made to not only coexist, but to communicate with and learn from each other so that as a society we can all improve our way of life and social existence. 

As our children grow, parents all ponder many questions about their future. Every effort is made to protect them from harmful situations. We all hope they will have a life more fulfilling than our own. In our pursuit for our children we enroll them in various things to aid their maturity and growth. It may be a sports team, or social club, or a hobby group of like-minded people. There is no shortage of organizations vying for their attention. These organizations have no respect for your preferences in Faith, in fact, many times practices or even games are scheduled for Sunday mornings; this leaves the parent with a very difficult choice. Sad to say more often than not, it is the church that seems to be left out. Add to this that other families involved in such organizations may have no pious life at all and it is reflected in the way their own children behave at times. 

Scouting gives us all of the good behaviors we aspire our children to have, while minimizing the bad ones. In Scouting, all youth are taught the Scout Oath, which ends with this phrase, “To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Each and every Scout lives by this code in every aspect of their life. We can even say, the more involved they are in Scouting, the more likely they are to practice these virtues. Is this not a desire we would want for all young men and women? We can offer it to them with Scouting, BSA. 

So today I offer my most heartfelt thanks to the Scouts who work so hard to deliver the good work of Scouting to your community. I extend an invitation to parents of all ages, and grandparents as well, to get involved in Scouting. To help improve the life of those you care so much about; whose futures you long to improve, to help them become the fine outstanding citizens we know they are capable of becoming. And to the youth, your future can be even brighter than you know through your participation in Scouting, BSA.
For more information on the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting and the work of Scouting got to their website at https://www.EOCS.org

God bless our Scouts and Leaders. 

Your servant of Servants,
+ David, Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska
Episcopal Liaison to the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting

The Corps of Discovery Service Society Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Updated Guidebook, Website, & Flaps

For the 20th anniversary (1999-2019) of the Corps of Discovery (nee Venturing Corps of Discovery) Servant Leadership and Service Society, Dr. Craig Murray and Nik Stanosheck have created a new updated 3rd edition guidebook, refreshed the extant website, and created new limited edition flap badges (flaps)  in 2 different styles (A traditional Venturing and Scouts style flaps and  for the first time ever, a hexagonal Sea Scout and BSA Red Jac-Shirt style flaps) for new and existing members of the Corps of Discovery.

• The newly updated website can be found at https://www.TheCorpsOfDiscovery.org.

• The new guidebook can be found at https://www.TheCorpsOfDiscovery.org/membership.html.

• The new flaps can be found at https://www.TheCorpsOfDiscovery.org/recognition.html.

The purpose of the Corps of Discovery (CoD) is to promote a stand alone servant leadership and service program within our home communities and religious institutions that use youth groups, especially Venturing Crews, Sea Scouts Ships, Exploring Posts, and Scout Troops, to enhance their program and dedication to service regardless of the endorsement of any national organization. The mission is to provide servant leadership to youth and adult members of youth groups through leadership training, program development, and service projects.

The CoD is not an honor society so much as it is a unit, district, council, region, and national based co-educational Service Society. To be a member, one must simply be a servant leader willing to commit to doing service, and ask to join the Corps of Discovery. The CoD takes its name and symbolism from Lewis and Clark's historic Voyage of Discovery.

The Corps of Discovery's 20th Anniversary Flap Patches Now Available for Sea Scouts, Venturers, Scouts, Explorers, and Scouters!

CoD Flap Patch on the Official Sea Scout Uniform (TOSSU)

The very limited edition 20th Anniversary Corps of Discovery flap patch, which was previously available for pre-order, is now made and available for order from the official Corps of Discovery web site at https://www.thecorpsofdiscovery.org/recognition.html. The theme of the 20 year flap is that everyone was entitled to vote. On November 24, 1805, the Corps of Discovery, led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, votes to spend the winter on the south bank of the Columbia River. All members of the expedition are allowed to participate. This is the first election by Americans in the West, and the first election to include a woman, a Native American Indian, and an African American slave.

Corps of Discovery Flap Patch on the Red BSA Jac-Shirt

This is the first ever Corps of Discovery flap that is available in standard Venturing/Scouting flap as well as a Sea Scouting or red BSA Jac-Shirt flap patch. While the new design does not have the logo of the Corps of Discovery on it, the CoD pin still fits on the new flaps and looks good. (In the past the COD pin was worn above the program strip, translator strip, and nameplate, but it is currently worn on the Corps of Discovery flap patch or an OA flap patch [if said person is a member of both the CoD and the OA] instead).

CoD pin (with permanent party disk) on the new 20th Anniversary Flap

Included in this blog post are pictured of the new Sea Scout/Jac-Shirt patch both with and without the CoD pin, so you can see how good it looks on both, before you order one for your Sea Scout uniform, red BSA Jac-Shirt, and your personal Scouting badge collection. Please forgive the poor quality of the photos taken by my mobile phone. Currently only 12 more of the Sea Scout/Jac Shirt version are left and a few more of the standard Scout/Venturing flaps remain. If you wish to order some, I suggest you order quickly.

Matthew 5:16: "Thus, let your light shine before men that they might see your good works, and might glorify your Father Who is in the heavens."

Verse and Patristics taken from the Orthodox New Testament Volume 1: The Holy Gospels (Evangelistarion) as usual.

"As many therefore as stand indebted to you, either for money, or for trespasses, let them all go free, and require of God the recompense of such your magnanimity. For so long as they continue indebted to you, you can not have God your debtor. But if you let them go free, you will be able to detain your God, and to require of Him the recompense of so great self-restraint in bountiful measure. For suppose a man had come up and seeing you arresting your debtor, had called upon you to let him go free, and transfer to himself your account with the other: he would not choose to be unfair after such remission, seeing he had passed the whole demand to himself: how then shall God fail to repay us manifold, yea, ten thousand fold, when for His commandment's sake, if any be indebted to us, we urge no complaint against them, great or small, but let them go exempt from all liability? Let us not then think of the temporary pleasure that springs up in us by exacting of our debtors, but of the loss, rather, how great! Which we shall thereby sustain hereafter, grievously injuring ourselves in the things which are eternal. Rising accordingly above all, let us forgive those who must give account to us, both their debts and their offenses; that we may make our own accounts prove indulgent, and that what we could not reach by all virtue besides, this we may obtain by not bearing malice against our neighbors; and thus enjoy the eternal blessings, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might now and always, even forever and ever. Amen." –Saint John Chrysostom

The Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America is introducing the Duty to God Buffalo Award.

“The Scout in his promise undertakes to do his duty to his king and country only in the second place. His first duty is to God. There is a higher mission before us, namely the promotion of the kingdom of God. That is the rule of peace and goodwill on earth.” –Lord Baden-Powell

The Duty to God Buffalo Award is a necklace with a realistic, western-style buffalo skull and a swiveling medallion in the center that shows the Duty to God shield on one side and Matthew 5:16 on the reverse.

"He did not say, "You must display your virtue," for that is not good; but rather He said only, "Let it shine," so that even your enemies will marvel and glorify not you, but your Father. If we practice virtue, we must practice it for the glory of God, and not for our own glory." –Saint Theophylact of Ochrid

This item is a good reminder of Scouting’s focus on Duty to God. The requirements are focused to help the individual better understand and implement their Duty to God:

1. Read Matthew 5:16 and summarize what it means to let your light shine. How does letting your light shine glorify God? Share with your group or leader. 
2. How can “men see your good works”? Write a plan and set goals to serve those around you and your community. Perform a service project of at least one hour. 
3. The Holy Spirit is here to guide you. What are ways you can reduce the worldly noise around you to clearly hear His promptings? 
4. A Scout promises their first duty to God. Discuss with your group or leader how you can fulfill this promise by putting God first in your daily routines such as daily prayer and scripture study, participating in church duties (if any), etc. 
5. God loves us and wants us to gain as much knowledge as possible. Make a list of these opportunities you’re given and share with your group or leader.

The Council encourages all Scouting units and youth groups to incorporate the Buffalo Award and associated activities during your time at camp this summer.

You can apply for the award at http://blog.utahscouts.org/duty-to-god/duty-to-god-buffalo-award-2019/

Corps of Discovery's 20th Anniversary Flap Patch Available to pre-order NOW for Sea Scouts, Venturers, and all other Scouts & Scouters!

For the 20th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery (nee the Venturing Corps of Discovery) Service Organization, 2 special patches are being made in very limited quantities. There will be 200 traditional flaps (for Scouts BSA and Venturing BSA uniforms) and 50 hexagon flaps for both Sea Scouts BSA uniforms and red wool BSA Jac-Shirts. If you would be interested in pre-ordering one (or more) of these limited time, limited edition flaps celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery, please contact Dr. Craig Murray at https://www.sageventure.com/store/COD20.html and pre-order them A.S.A.P.. The ordering window is very short!

The images will look even better once they are made into flaps and are on your uniforms. Craig's patches, knots, and flaps are always exquisite, which you can see from this picture of my latest BSA Scouter uniform shirt.

As a society that encourages servant leadership, the Corps of Discovery seeks to recognize the willingness of Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers, and leaders to nurture and grow their programs. Induction into the Corps of Discovery should be a "pay forward" commitment. Similar to the commitment made when taking an oath of office.

The first item used for recognition was a animal tooth that hung on a wire from the right pocket. Later, a western region Venturing leader asked Dr. Craig Murray to design a pocket flap. The first flaps were presented to youth who completed a Kodiak training course in 2005 and made a promise to take on a simple service project when he or she got home. Some of the projects were as complex as helping with Scoutreach camps, Powder Horn, and VOAs, and others were as simple as recruiting some friends to join their Units.

Below is the history of the Corps of Discovery flap, from oldest to newest, showing only the traditional Scouts BSA style/current Venturing style flap and the older Venturing style flap, as this is the first one with a design ever made specifically for Sea Scouts pocket flaps! As you can see, the quality improves over the 20 years that the Corps of Discovery has been around!

Here are some additional special Corps of Discovery flaps that were made for special occasions as well.

Make sure you do not miss out on this limited time opportunity and pre-order these special flaps for both yourself and your friends in (or soon to be in) the Corps of Discovery today!

UPDATE: The limited edition flap patches are in. See https://orthodoxscouter.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-corps-of-discoverys-20th.html for details and order the very limited remaining stock while supplies last! 

Servant Leadership: The Corps of Discovery

Founded in 1999 by a Venturing Crew, the purpose of the Corps of Discovery (COD) is to promote a stand alone servant leadership and service program within our home communities or religious institutions that youth groups, especially Venturing Crews, Sea Scout Ships, Scout Troops, and Exploring Posts can use to enhance their program and to service regardless of the endorsement of any national organization. The mission is to provide servant leadership to youth and adult members of youth groups through leadership training, program development, and service projects.

The COD is not an honor society so much as it is a unit-based co-educational Service organization. To be a member, one must simply be willing to commit to doing service, and ask to join the Corps of Discovery. The COD takes its name and symbolism from Lewis and Clark's historic Voyage of Discovery.

The Corps of Discovery is a Service Society for the youth and adults who have shown a willingness to promote service within their Scouting organizations, communities or within their religious institutions. It is intended for youth and adults who have gone beyond what would normally be expected by a unit member or unit leader; ones that provide widespread service. It should not be thought of as an inclusive precursor to the (newly made Co-Ed) Order of the Arrow (OA). It is a totally different animal. One must not choose between membership in one or the other. In fact, many CoD members are also OA members.

The Order of the Arrow is an optional Honor Society whose purpose is to promote camping in Boy Scouting. It is structured into a Lodges like Freemasonry. It's theme is based in American Indian culture, and its ceremonies involved dressing up as Native Americans.

The Corps of Discovery is a Service Society whose purpose is to provide service to Venturing, Scouting, Exploring, and our communities. It's theme is Servant Leadership and it is based on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The moment depicted on the current pocket flap is when Sacagawea recognized her brother, Cameawhait, upon her return to Western Montana. She had been kidnapped by a rival tribe as a young girl and was returning to her home territory for the first time — as a member of the Corps of Discovery. The reason this moment is so important is because the Corps was in danger of failing at that moment, as they needed horses and directions in order to cross the Bitterroot Mountains into Idaho and Eastern Washington State before winter, which her brother provided.

The first pocket flap was a depiction of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark at the white bluffs of the Missouri Breaks at the moment they (thought they) could see the Continental Divide. It turned out they were seeing the Bearpaw Mountains and were a week or so away from the Rockies.

The next pocket flap, designed for the 20th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery, will show the leaders of the Corps voting on whether to spend the winter on the Washington State side of the Columbia River or to cross over to Oregon to winter near the present site of Astoria. Everyone in the Corps got a vote, including Sacagawea and York, Clark's slave. This was almost certainly the first time in American history that a woman and a black man got to vote in a major decision. The Corps voted to move to the southern shore of the Columbia and wintered at Fort Clatsop, a small log compound which they built themselves. That flap can be ordered in a variety a of shapes. Click here for more information on this special flap.

Here is the elevator speech version:

"The Corps of Discovery is a Service Society based on one of the greatest adventures in American history. The Order of the Arrow is an Honor Society based loosely on American Indian culture and Masonry."

The COD is not an official part of the Boy Scouts of America (although some BSA districts, councils, areas, and regions recognize it as an important part of their program) many units, including Venturing Crews, Sea Scout Ships, Scout Troops, and Exploring Posts are embracing the program for several reasons. Some of those reasons include:

• The fact that the COD takes its name and symbolism from Lewis and Clark's historic Voyage of Discovery.
• It is a service organization and not an honor society of lodges.
• Both males and females have always been able to belong to the Corps.
• To become a member, one must simply be willing to commit to doing service (a pay it forward concept).

For more information on the Corps of Discovery and how to join, please see https://www.TheCorpsOfDiscovery.org & https://www.SageThinking.org/COD.shtml as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/16213695514/ and https://facebook.com/vcorpsofdiscovery.