Author name: Johnny Hopkins

Doce Dias De Navidad La Parte Dos

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Date: 12/16/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex with an Assist by Quattro when the tones dropped for Station 85 for a medical assist

Welcome to an FNG that was named in the Circle of Trust – Grub-It-Is ?? whatever that means…:)…

Warm up

12) Side straddle hops – IC (4 Count)

11) Big boy sit-ups OYO

10) Jiminy crickets OYO

9) Donkey kicks – OYO

8) Windmills – IC (4 Count)

7) Mountain climber IC (4 Count)

6) Goofballs (ladder climbers) – IC (4 Count)

5) Cherry pickers – IC (4 Count)

4) American hammers (4 Count)

3) Mountain man poopers – IC (4 Count)

2) Tempo merkins (4 Count)

1) Set of Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

The Thang – 12 Days of Christmas Part Two…..or…… Doce Dias de Navidad La Parte Dos

Each exercise was completed and repeated in descending order just as the Twelve days of Christmas Song would be sung. You get the idea…..

1– Tuck jump followed by a lap around the Church at end of each evolution

2 – Mountain climbers (4 Count)

3 – Hand release, diamond, wide & ranger merkins (3 ea.)

4 – LBC’s (4 Count)

5 – Burpees

6 – Donkey kicks

7 – Iron Mikes

8 – SSH’s (4 Count)

9 – Apolo Ohno’s

10 – Shoulder tap merkins – ATM’s

11 – Full motion squats

12 – Big boy sit-ups

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Prayers were offered for multiple needs within the attending PAX, but please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

F3 Message 12/16/2021 – Rinse and Repeat from Quattro’s Warmup VQ with Fireplex on 12/12/19

The Twelve Days of Christmas – True Meaning Behind the Lyrics

Ace Collins – From Crosswalk.com

To many people, the lyrics of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” seem strange beyond belief. The odd carol’s words might make one think it is a novelty song, in the vein of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” or “My Favorite Things.” Though a host of modern internet sites and some magazine articles have tried to reduce “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to a little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings. Originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, this song was transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the twelve days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs. By understanding the meaning the clerics chose the twelve days as wrapping for their poem, the full impact of the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas can be understood.
 

The 12 Days of Christmas – True Meaning

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . a partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young.
 On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . two turtledoves.

These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments. So in this gift, the singer finds the complete story of Judeo-Christian faith and God’s plan for the world. The doves are the biblical roadmap that is available to everyone.
 On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . three French hens.

These birds represent faith, hope, and love. This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the apostle Paul.
 On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . four calling birds.

One of the easiest facets of the song’s code to figure out, these fowl are the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
 On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . five gold rings.

The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch.
 On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . six geese a-laying.

These lyrics can be traced back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation, a time when the world was “hatched” or formed by God.
 On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . seven swans a-swimming.

It would take someone quite familiar with the Bible to identify this gift. Hidden in the code are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion. As swans are one of the most beautiful and graceful creatures on earth, they would seem to be a perfect symbol for the spiritual gifts.
 On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . eight maids a-milking.

As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was about the worst job one could have in England during this period; this code conveyed that Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The eight who were blessed included the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
 On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . nine ladies dancing.

These nine dancers were really the gifts known as the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
 On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . ten lords a-leaping.

This is probably the easiest gift to understand. As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the Ten Commandments was fairly straightforward to Catholics.
 On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . eleven pipers piping.

This is almost a trick question, as most think of the disciples in terms of a dozen. But when Judas betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, there were only eleven men who carried out the gospel message.
 On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . twelve drummers drumming.

The final gift is tied directly to the Catholic Church. The drummers are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”

The Context & History Behind “The 12 Days of Christmas”

Teaching the Catholic faith was outlawed in sixteenth-century England. Those who instructed their children in Catholicism could be drawn and quartered. Thus, the church went underground. To hide the important and illegal elements of their teaching, clerics composed poems that seemed sill to most people. But these verses were veiled works that taught the church’s most important tenets. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is said to be one of these teaching tools.

Most people today believe that the twelve days of Christmas start on December 12th or 13th and run through Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But in fact, the first day of Christmas is December 25th and the final day is January 5th. Thus, for hundreds of years the Christmas holidays didn’t begin until Christmas Eve and didn’t end until Epiphany.

Why were these twelve days important? These dozen days were tied to more than just the teaching of the Catholic Church. A host of other denominations also celebrated the twelve days of Christmas. Some denominations celebrated Christmas in January and began to count the twelve days then. But whenever they began, the counting of the days became an important facet of each holiday season. Even in the Dark Ages, in some Eastern European churches, the twelve days of Christmas meant attending daily church services. For Christians who lived during this extremely difficult age, the twelve days were a time of rededication and renewal. It was also a period when small, simple, and usually symbolic gifts of faith were given to children. Thus, in both coded poems and public worship, the twelve days were considered a holy period.

For many Christians today, even the recognition of the twelve days of Christmas has been lost . . . for two reasons. The first is that when Epiphany lost out to Christmas as the day of giving gifts, many simply quit celebrating the twelve-day observance. The other reason is based more on the change in the fabric of culture than on overlooking the Christian holiday of Epiphany.

In ancient times, when most societies were rural, few people worked in the dead of winter. It was a time when many were spending long, dark days inside their homes, looking forward to winter’s chill giving way to the spring thaw. So devoting a dozen days to prayer, reflection, and attending church was not a huge undertaking. Yet with the coming of the Industrial Age and the regular year-round work schedules it brought, finding time to continue the activities that had been traditionally associated with the twelve days of Christmas became all but impossible for most people.

So the passing of the twelve-days custom probably had as much to do with “progress” as with anything else. As fewer and fewer churches and families participated in the tradition, it was all but lost. Yet in the obscure poem that was later turned into a popular carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” live on. And the twelve days described are actually a wonderful and complete picture of the Christian faith.

The “true love” mentioned in the song is not a sweetheart but the Catholic Church’s code for God. The person who receives the gifts represents anyone who has accepted Christ as the Son of God and as Savior. And each of the gifts portrays an important facet of the story of true faith.

So, just a silly song? On the surface maybe, but in reality, a refreshing reminder of the essential elements of Christian faith. The twelve days of Christmas may no longer be a widely recognized holiday tradition, but the days were an important bridge that connected persecuted believers of the past with the whole story of God’s plan. In the complicated world of today, a trip back to the not-so-distant past when Christians celebrated the twelve days of Christmas would only enhance the meaning of Christmas for everyone.

Ace Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog’s Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, he continues to publish several new titles each year. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!

Respectfully Submitted,

Quattro & Fireplex

“Thanksliving”

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Date: 11/25/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Windmills – 20 IC

Mosey @ .5 miles to the Goshen Hill

The Thang

Thanksgiving Workout: Set 1

  • Mountain Climbers x 25
  • Squats x 20
  • Side Straddle Hops x 30
  • Side Lunges x 20 (10 each side)
  • High Knees x 25
  • Plank x 1 minute

Nur up the Hill

Thanksgiving Workout: Set 2

  • Burpees x 20
  • Lt. Dans’s x 20
  • Tuck Jumps x 10 or Bobby Hurleys x 20
  • Merkins x 30
  • Apolo Ohno’s x 20
  • Side Plank’s x 30 sec (each side)

Mosey @.5 miles to the Hill by the Boat Dock Stopping to Squat Broad Jump Across the Footbridge Behind Irish Eyes

Dragon Crawl Up the Hill & Run Down

Thanksgiving Workout: Set 3

  • 50 LBC’s
  • 25 E2K’s each side
  • 15 Big Boy Sit-ups

Mosey @.5 miles back to CHOP

F3 Message – 11/25/2021

A “MAGIC WORDS” THANKSGIVING

November 25, 2019

My parents told me they were the “magic words.” But they would often have to remind me, “And what are the magic words again, Ronnie?”

I still need a reminder. “Please.” “Thank you.”

Actually, “thank you” can be almost magical. Because like valuable collectibles, those words are getting to be pretty rare.

We need a day called Thanksgiving. To remind us we should be thanksliving.

Just watch the reaction when you thank the Walmart checker for working on a weekend or a holiday. Or the custodian for keeping this a nice place to be. Or the housekeeping lady for being the angel who magically makes your hotel room a welcoming place to come back to. Or the teacher for all the time she invests in preparation and shaping young lives.

Don’t be surprised if they’re surprised. You may be one of the few – or the only – person who stops to say thank you. You’ve made their day. You’ve let them know they’re not taken for granted. That someone actually notices and values what they do. You’ve gotten them back in the ring for another round.

Because we’re in the Age of Entitlement. “The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” Gratitude dies on the altar of entitlement. “I have this coming.”

As a Jesus-follower, I’m struck by this Bible description of what following Jesus looks like. “Let your lives be built on Him…and you will overflow with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6).

Unfortunately, we’re more likely to overflow with negativity. Seldom praising the people we live or work with – but faithfully pointing to what’s wrong with them. Which they already know all too well.

The Bible bluntly declares, “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). We’ve all felt the pain of names called, putdowns fired, anger dumped. Things that killed our joy, our confidence, our sense of worth. And then there are those few, but not forgotten, comments that were like wind beneath our wings. Among them, the powerful uplift of “thank you.”

Like “thank you” to your son or daughter for strengths you see in their character – their generosity, their smile, their sensitivity to hurting people, their passion. Their sense of humor, their discipline, their ability to organize, their insight, their honesty. They’ll flourish with your compliments. They’ll wither with your criticism.

With my wife no longer here to thank, I know it’s important to ask how long has it been since your spouse heard “Thank you”? For the difference you’ve made in my life. For the sacrifices, for listening, for loving me enough to tell me things I didn’t want to hear. And it means affirming them for positive changes. So much better than a boatload of nagging. As my Karen often said, “Water what you want to grow.”

Thanking an employee for their attitude or effort is that kind of “watering.” Being appreciative, rather than defensive, when someone shows you a fault or a weakness models humility and teachability.

Wherever there’s a “thank you” deficit, Thanksgiving is a good time to catch up. By hug. By phone. By text. By letter.

Of course, Thanksgiving is originally and primarily about thanking the God who is ultimately the Giver of every gift in our life. “Every good and perfect gift comes down from above” (James 1:17).

When you consciously look for “God-sightings” throughout your day, your worst day can still be a good day. You’ll bring blessing into the room with you instead of burdens. God’s showing up in my day constantly – a beautiful sunrise, an encouraging text, a welcome smile, locating something I can’t find, a helpful insight, the accident that didn’t happen. One writer said, “The thankful heart is like a magnet, and it goes through life picking up all the beautiful things all day long.” I love that!

Surprisingly, ingratitude is at the very heart of a lot of the darkness in our world. In our culture. In my heart. God diagnoses the brokenness in this world this way: “They neither glorified God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

When we rocket through life, marginalizing the One who gave us our life, we start thinking wrong is right and we are God. Failure to sincerely thank God starts us down a road of hurtful choices, dead-end streets and a growing deficit of hope and meaning.

I know there have been times someone gave me a gift or sacrificed to help me, and I failed to acknowledge it. That’s how I’ve made God feel so many times.

Because no one has given me more – beginning with life itself. And no one has sacrificed more for me. One Bible writer says this about it: “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (I Corinthians 9:15).

The gift? “He did not spare even His own Son for us, but gave Him up for us” (Romans 8:32). Because there was no hope of ever knowing God, of being forgiven, of going to heaven without the death penalty for all my junk being paid.

So my Thanksgiving – this week…every day, doesn’t begin at a dinner table. It begins at the foot of an old rugged cross.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

The Old Bull

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Date: 10/28/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Bolt 45’s – IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Hydraulic Squats – 10 IC (6 count)

Windmills – 15 IC

Jiminy Crickets – 10 OYO

Four Count Freddie’s – 20 IC

The Thang

Completed at CHOP (Chappie’s House Of Pain).  All Pax completed Aiken legs – 20 squats, 20 box jumps, 20 lunges (10 each Leg), 20 split Jacks (10 each Leg).  All those completing early will start the evolutions over until all Pax are in. Mosey around the block and retuning for our six at three designated waypoints on the way back to CHOP.  Then all Pax completed 20 Burpees, 20 Squats, 20 Merkins, 20 Big Boys.  Mosey around the block and retuning for our six at three designated waypoints on the way back to CHOP.  Pax closed out the workout with a Super Toy Soldier set of 100 LBC’s, 50 E2K’s (each side), and 25 Big Boy Sit up’s.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.

F3 Message – 10/28/2021

BIG SPURTS AND STEADY SPEED – #8162

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

I’ve traveled a lot. Of course, sometimes I drive, and time matters a lot. So over the years, I’ve learned a fundamental secret of making great time on the open road. Not speeding – just driving steady. Over and over, I’ve watched what I call a “spurter” come roaring up behind me. (You’ve seen them too.) He does everything but push you into the right lane. He’s obviously well into the State Trooper Zone as far as his speed’s concerned. So I move over…he roars past…but I catch up with him a few miles later without ever changing my speed. See, he’s settled back into the right lane, just cruising along. (Have you passed this guy, too?) He speeds in binges, he floors it one minute and then he’s just tapping the accelerator a few minutes later. I usually make excellent time driving places, and I’ve talked to other marathon drivers who are used to getting places fast. And we pretty much agree. How do you trim hours off a long trip? A steady foot. The fast way to get somewhere is not with big spurts, but with a consistent, steady speed. 

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “Big Spurts and Steady Speed.”

No, I’m not opening a driving school. I brought this up because there are people who do their Christian life like those drivers who do a wild sprint, and then settle into a slow crawl. A lot of believers follow Jesus in spurts. 

Spiritual bingers usually shift into high speed after a spiritual high of some kind – a great church service, a retreat, a conference, a concert, a recommitment, a special event – or just a season of great spiritual feelings. When you’re on one of your highs, oh, look out world! You’re coming on strong! Right? But then, a few miles later, there you are, back to mediocrity, back to business as usual, making little or no progress. A lot of us are really into what I call event Christianity. We live for the next spiritual event, we depend on the next spiritual event, and we start fading when there hasn’t been a spiritual event for a while.

A lot of believers live like this – but a lot of believers are getting tired of living like this. Maybe you’re tired of stop-and-go Christianity – the roller-coaster ride of real high highs and real low lows. Your heart’s hungry for something more satisfying than spiritual spurts. You’re hungry for spiritual consistency. 

Which is why our word for today from the Word of God is so helpful. In Luke 9:23, Jesus issues a call to follow Him, but in a way that will get you more than a high. He tells you how to get a life. Listen for the all-important “D” word: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny Himself and take up His cross daily and follow Me.” How do you follow Jesus? He said daily! One 24-hour slice of life at a time. You give Him your life, not in one big blob, but by consciously living His Lordship each new day.

Our problems come when we try to make some super-commitment that will change our life forever, or by needing an event to keep us going. What Jesus calls us to do is a brand new surrender on this particular Monday, focusing on what it means to take up His cross on this particular Monday, and then giving Him the specific Lordship issues of this specific Monday. Then, when you drive into your Tuesday, you give Him specific Lordship issues of that specific Tuesday. Pretty soon, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, you have lived a Jesus-week. Put a few of those together and you’ve got a Jesus-month. Keep going and you’ve got a Jesus-year, and then a Jesus-life. How? One day at a time. 

The secret of spiritual success is not bigger and bigger highs or bigger and bigger commitments. It’s the daily enlarging of Jesus’ Lordship over the real stuff in your life for that day.

You won’t cover nearly as much ground in spurts as you will by keeping up a steady speed. Steady, consistent, daily progress. It may not be as exciting as the bursts of speed, but it will get you a lot farther, a lot faster.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

GO M.A.D. ( Go Make A Difference)

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Date: 09/02/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Four Count Freddie’s – 30 IC

Mosey @.5 miles to the Goshen Church Hill

The Thang

PAX split up into teams of two to complete the Whirlybird 21 evolution from Saturday, August 28, 2021.  One Pax Nurs up the hill and moseys down while the other works on the descending Burpee and Big Boy evolutions.  Since we left off on Saturday completing the round of 15 Burpees and 6 Big Boys, we will pick up from there in a cumulative team effort beginning with 14 Burpees & 7 Big Boys while your Brother Nurs up the hill & moseys down.  Switch out each time your Brother returns from the hill.  Teams completed the Whirlybird 21 in descending order down to 1 Burpee and 20 Big Boy Sit Ups.  Any over-achievers were instructed to return to the round of 15 burpees and 6 Big Boys and work their way back up to the 20 Burpees and 1 Big Boy Sit Up.

Mosey @.5 miles back to CHOP

F3 Message – Go M.A.D. (Go Make A Difference)

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

WHY IT’S GOOD TO GO M.A.D. – #8693

May 6, 2020

When it was 7:00 a.m. in the Hutchcraft house, the word “chaos” took on new meaning – a typical school day morning. It was very exciting to get two teenage sons up, get them around, and get them dressed and out to school. Of course, both of them were a little crazy like their Mother, and that contributed to the chaos as well. Finally we were able to get them off to school.

But in-between all kinds of things happen. I mean, pairs of pants mysteriously disappeared and reappeared on the other brother. What? Socks and underwear took on enormous value as we tried to find one pair. Phones rang, papers needed signing, books needed covering. And after it was all over and the boys were headed out, on a typical morning you might hear me step outside the front door and call my final instructions to them for that day.

“Go M.A.D.!” Can’t you imagine our next door neighbor sticking his head out and saying, “Say what? Go M.A.D.? Have you? You want your two teenage boys to go mad? What’s the matter with you?” Well, that’s exactly what I wanted them to do every day. Actually, it’s what I hope you’ll do.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Why It’s Good to Go M.A.D.”

Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Matthew 5, and verses 13 and 14, and Jesus is using two figures of speech here to describe His followers. As you listen to these, maybe you’ll ask the question I’ve asked, “What do they have in common?” Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” And then in verse 14 He says, “You are the light of the world.”

Now in these verses, and you probably don’t realize this, Jesus is telling us to “go M.A.D.” You say, “Come on Ron, that’s not even in the original Greek. Where are you getting that?” Well, if you understand what M.A.D. stands for, it’s an acrostic. When I told my boys to “Go M.A.D.,” I was saying, “Guys, go make a difference.” That’s what a day in the life of a Jesus-follower is all about, and that’s what Jesus is saying here, “Go make a difference.” What does salt and light have in common? Not much. But they have one thing in common.

Take, for example, popcorn without salt. Blaaa! Or meat…usually meat requires some salt. It doesn’t take a lot. A little salt will change the environment you put it in. It will change the taste of the popcorn; it will change the taste of the meat. What about light? Well, once again, you take a little light into a big, dark room, and it will change the environment. And in both cases it doesn’t take much.

Now, Jesus is saying, “You’re my salt; you’re my light.” If you’re a Jesus-follower, you should be changing the people around you; changing the atmosphere around you. You should go M.A.D. You should make a difference. Now, most believers have a smaller purpose in life. Not necessarily to make a difference, maybe to make money, or make friends, or make an impression, or just make it through and survive as a Christian.

Jesus said, “You’re not here for any of those. You’re here to make a difference.” Well, are you? Do you change the flat flavor of the world around you, do you bring a smile, do you bring a positive spirit, do you bring some real love into your circle? Do you bring light to a dark office, a locker room, a classroom, a home?

Let Christ make a difference in you, then you can go make a difference in others. And the ultimate difference you can make in anyone’s life is to change their eternal address from hell to heaven. And that can only happen if you will let them know what you know about Jesus; if you’ll tell them how Jesus changed your life by what He did on the cross, and by being a living Savior who walked into your life. That’s making a difference that will last a hundred billion years.

There’s a lot more reasons for getting up in the morning, believe me, when you say, “Lord, help me make a difference for You today.” So, as you head out each morning, imagine Jesus at the front door calling out to you, “Go M.A.D. for Me today! Go make a difference!”

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Cover Your Bases

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Date: 08/07/2021

AO: Aegis, Georgetown, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 30 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Windmills – 20 IC

Mosey to Ball Park @.5 miles. While enroute, PAX were held up by a Gazillion car freight train. All PAX completed burpees until the train passed by.

The Thang

The Super 21 Cycle.  1 Merkin to 1 Big Boy Sit up.  2 Merkins to 2 Big Boy Situps.  3 Merkins to 3 Big Boy Situps, etc., etc., etc.  But wait there is a twist….after each completed set of #1 though #5 PAX will complete 21 Imperial Walkers.  Bear Crawl to 1st base.  After each completed set of #6 through #10 PAX will complete 21 Mountain Climbers.  Bear Crawl to 2nd base.  After each completed set of # 11 through #15, PAX will complete 21 Monkey Humpers.  Bear crawl to 3rd base.  After each completed set of #16 through #20 PAX will complete 21 Prisoner Squats.  Bear Crawl to Homeplate and PAX will complete the final set of #21 Merkins to #21 Big Boys then finish strong with 21 Burpees.

NOTE: Because of the train and the reduction of time, the third base cycle had to be skipped and the evolution at home plate was modified to the 21 burpees only!!

Mosey back to Aegis @ .5 miles.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.

WELCOME to F3 OBiwon !!!!  

F3 Message 08/07/2021 – Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

DEEP HOLES, BEAUTIFUL DISCOVERIES – #9020

Not long after we moved to this area, we had a chance to explore a beautiful cave that really has some breathtaking views. Most of the caves you tour in America were discovered some time in the 1800s. Not this one. It was just discovered in 1969. Actually it was discovered because of a giant sinkhole that opened up. Some adventurous young men decided to crawl down into that sinkhole and see where it led. The cave guide showed us the little hole in the rocks that they crawled through and then out into this huge room, decorated with spectacular rock formations. I don’t suppose the big lights and sidewalks and the railings were there when they first looked in, but they must have been amazed at what they saw, and what millions have been able to discover because they did. And it was all because of a sinkhole.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Deep Holes, Beautiful Discoveries.”

I’ll bet a lot of folks weren’t very happy about that big hole in the ground opening up. It was probably a pain for some people; potentially dangerous for others. But the “problem” of that sinkhole turned out to be the access route to beauty like those folks had never seen before.

That’s happened to a lot of us when a big hole opened up in our life – when things collapsed. And it may be that God is wanting you to look beyond that big hole to see the undiscovered beauty that’s underneath it.

In our word for today from the Word of God, He talks about folks who had some major sinkholes open up in their lives. In Isaiah 61:1: “The Lord has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for all those who grieve in Zion.” Then He goes on to show what beauty He hopes we will discover in our grief, “To bestow on them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Beauty in the middle of ashes, gladness in the middle of mourning, and praise in the middle of despair.

When things collapse in our life, we are keenly aware of what we’ve lost. Unless we go deeper, unless we go looking, we will miss what He’s wanting us to gain from this loss; the things He wants us to see that we would never see without that collapse.

It’s in our hurting times that we can see in the person we married some beautiful strengths that maybe we forgot or never noticed. If you let the cave-in drive you closer to your children or your parents, you may see in them a beauty that you’ve missed before. If you look in the right direction, a time of loss can actually be a time of finally seeing the everyday blessings in your life that you’ve been taking for granted. The hole that’s opened up may provide an opportunity for people to really show you how much they love you, for you to appreciate your Christian friends in a new way, for you to tell people that you’ve prayed about, about your Jesus. And they’ll listen to you now because of what you’ve been through.

Most of all, when things collapse you can see the faithfulness and love and power of your Lord in ways that we can only see when we’re desperate and when we’re beyond what we can fix, what we can handle, what we can control. This season that you’re in maybe, when things are caving in, can be a season, also, of life-changing discovery. You can’t make the hole in your life go away, but you can go through it to discover beauty that you might never see any other way.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Can You Just Leave It The Hill Alone

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Date: 07/22/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 25 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Four Count Freddie’s – 25 IC

Bolt 45’s – 15 squats full up to half way down, 15 squats half way down to full down, & 15 squats full motion.  All completed IC as a 4 count.

Windmills – 20 IC

Mosey @.5 miles to Oh Hill No

The Thang 

The Modified Slugger & Toy Soldier Routine.  Crawl Bear up the Hill and Bear Crawl down and complete 20 Diamond Merkins, 20 wide armed merkins and 20 Hand Release Merkins.  Crawl Bear up the hill and Bear Crawl down and complete a Toy Soldier Set 100 LBC’s, 50 E2K’s each side and 25 Big Boys.  Rinse & Repeat as time allows.

F3 Message

Mosey @ .5 miles back to the AO. 

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Prayers were offered for multiple needs within the attending PAX, but please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.   

F3 Message 07/22/21

FINISHING YOUR RACE – #3712

It was the end of the day at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics – only a few thousand spectators were in the stadium as the last of the marathon runners were carried off in exhaustion to the first-aid stations. More than an hour earlier and Ethiopian runner had been the first to cross the finish line in this grueling 26-mile event. As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, they were stopped by the sound of sirens going off and policemen blowing whistles. There, entering the stadium came a lone figure wearing the colors of Tanzania – his name was John Akhwari. He was the last man to finish the marathon.

His leg was bloodied and bandaged, and he grimaced with each step. He had severely injured his knee in a fall, but painfully, he hobbled around the 400-meter track. The spectators who were still there just got to their feet and applauded as if he were the winner. After he crossed the finish line in excruciating pain, he was asked why he hadn’t quit when he had no chance of winning a medal. His answer: “My country did not send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it.”

Well, I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Finishing Your Race.”

When God wanted to give us a mental picture of our life and our service for Him, He used an Olympic image – running a race. And you’ve been running the race He set out for you – but you’ve been hurt – you’re running with pain – you’ve been disappointed – you’re bloodied and bandaged. And you may be tempted to drop out of the race. But you haven’t reached the finish line yet.

The great Apostle Paul must have felt that way many times. But we have this report from the finish line – it’s in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Timothy 4:5-8. He starts out addressing his next generation leader, Timothy – who’s been hammered, discouraged, and considering quitting. “Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering…” Just imagine an Olympic runner, collapsing as he crosses the finish line, having given all he had to give in the race. “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the race. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord…will award to me.”

The problem with too many of us is that we run hard for a while – but we quit before the end of the race – when Jesus has called us to be that lone runner who knows he or she was put here to finish the race, no matter how painful it is. Maybe you’re one of those exhausted runners on Team Jesus who says, “Look, I served my time, I worked very hard for the cause – I’ll just step aside and let others do the running now.” Listen – in the service of Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as early retirement! God may change your assignment, but He’ll never leave you without one until the day you see Him!

Maybe you’ve been tempted to quit an assignment God has given you – and He’s coming to you right now saying, “Finish the race.” Run with everything you’ve got, not halfheartedly. Remember, He gave everything He had in His race to rescue you – and even though He was beaten and bloody, Jesus didn’t quit until He had crossed the finish line. Run the whole race – He’ll be waiting to embrace you as you cross that finish line for Him.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Blimpety, Blimp, Blimps

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Date: 06/10/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, De.

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Mountain Climbers – 20 IC

Windmills – 20 IC

Chairman Lap

The Thang

Pax completed the Hindenburg BLIMPS routine from the Exicon at the CHOP.  We modified the sprint portion to a straight line across the CHOP Parking lot approx. .02 miles apart.  Sprint from the Church to the field behind CHOP and perform 1st exercise, sprint back to Church and perform 1st exercise, sprint back to the field and perform 1st exercise.  Sprint back to the Church and perform 1st exercise.  Plank it up until all PAX are in.  That completes one round.  Rinse and repeat until all 6 Rounds are complete. Round # 1 – 10 Burpees, Round #2 – 20 Lunges (10 each leg). Round #3 – 30 Imperial Walkers. Round #4 – 40 Merkins. Round #5 – 50 Plank Jacks. Round #6 – 60 Squats.

F3 message – See Below….

SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT – #5913

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Years ago there was a cowboy hero, and a young boy who thought he was a big deal. The boy was me. And my parents bought me this plate with my hero’s picture on it and an inscription that said, “That a boy! You cleaned your plate.” I wanted his approval very much, so I just kept cleaning my plate – and filling it so I could clean it again. By the time I was in high school, I was 210 pounds. And whose fault was it that I was so heavy? I’ve told many people – it was the fault of that cowboy hero, of course. At least, I wish I could have blamed him.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “Someone Else’s Fault.”

I’ve always been joking, of course, when I blamed my “clean your plate” hero for my teenage weight problems. But it is no joke that blaming someone else is, for most of us, one of our favorite ways to account for something in our life that shouldn’t be there – whether it’s a bad attitude, a bad habit, a bad situation, or a bad relationship.

This attempt to dodge the responsibility for our actions is nothing new. Centuries ago, the prophet Nathan was sent by God to confront King David with his sins of adultery and conspiracy to commit murder. David had slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, and then arranged for that man’s death in battle. When David learned that Bathsheba was pregnant, well, he knew he had a serious problem on his hands and he tried to cover it up. But Nathan approached David with the parable of a rich man who had owned many sheep and a poor man who owned one little lamb. When a traveler came for dinner at the rich man’s house, the rich man killed the poor man’s one little lamb for dinner. David was enraged at this rich man’s outrageous crime, and he angrily said, “The man who did this deserves to die!”

Then Nathan said these four chilling words to the king, “You are the man!” And in 2 Samuel 12:13, our word for today from the Word of God, “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.'” That moment of painful honesty was the beginning of David’s deep repentance and the restoration of his shattered relationship with God. It took a while, but David finally accepted the responsibility for what he had done. And the healing began that moment.

That’s how it will begin for someone who’s listening right now. As you look at that bad situation, the mess, the problems, you have two choices – blame someone else or accept your part of the responsibility for that broken or strained relationship, for that negativity, for the conflict, the mess, or the trouble. Many of us hide from taking responsibility for our situation with a victim copout.

Maybe you’ve honestly been hurt or wronged, and you can’t do anything about the other person taking responsibility for what they’ve done. But you can accept the responsibility for the way you’ve handled it, for the wrong things you may have tried to excuse by the wrong things someone else did. Those who have been victims – and those who’ve been victimizers – never get free until they realize that they are now the victims of their own choices, not someone else’s.

There is an old spiritual that goes something like this, “Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” That’s a great place to start – looking in the mirror, asking, “Lord, what do I need to change?” Taking responsibility: that’s the price of healing, and it’s the price of greatness.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

The Super 21 Cycle of Suck

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Date: 05/04/21

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 30 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Jiminy Crickets – 15 OYO

Windmills – 15 IC

Mosey for a “Chairman” Lap

The Thang

The Super 21 Cycle.  1 Merkin to 1 Big Boy Sit up.  2 Merkins to 2 Big Boy Situps.  3 Merkins to 3 Big Boy Situps, etc., etc., etc.  But wait there is a twist….after each completed set of #1 though #5 PAX will complete 21 Imperial Walkers.  Bear Crawl @ 60 ft.  After each completed set of #6 through #10 PAX will complete 21 Mountain Climbers.  Bear Crawl @ 60 ft.  After each completed set of # 11 through #15, PAX will complete 21 Monkey Humpers.  Bear crawl @ 60 ft.  After each completed set of #16 through #20 PAX will complete 21 Prisoner Squats.  Bear Crawl @ 60 ft. and PAX will complete the final set of #21 Merkins to #21 Big Boys then finish strong with 21 Burpees.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

F3 Message 05/04/2021 – From Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

REASONS TO QUIT; FINISHING THE RACE – #8842

December 1, 2020

The Los Angeles Marathon had been over about a week, but there was still one participant left – Bob Wieland. He finally crossed the finish line even though he has no legs. He lost his legs in Vietnam. But that didn’t stop him from entering and finishing the Los Angeles Marathon, making every step with his arms and his hands. He’s finished other marathons before this one. And Bob Wieland even crossed America on his hands. It took him three years to do it!

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Reasons To Quit; Finishing the Race.”

That’s Bob Wieland, with so many reasons to quit, he finishes his race. Which is what God is asking you and me to do. Your “race” is any track that God has set you on in your life. And you may have started well, but it’s gotten really hard now . There are more and more reasons to quit. But in the words of Galatians 6:9, God says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

There’s an enlightening picture of our race in Genesis 12, beginning with verse 1. It’s our word for today from the Word of God. This story of Abram is the story of a man who started well, faltered, and got back on track. It might be a story you find yourself in. The race starts – yours and Abram’s – with what I call the faith obedience. In the Bible’s words: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.’ So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.”

God directed Abram to leave his comfort zone, his “knowns” for the great unknown of a “land I will show you.” The greatness of what Abram’s life will become begins with a faith obedience; doing what God’s directing him to do, not because he can see where it’s going, but because he trusts the One who is leading him. Every great work of God begins that way. It may well be that you’ve had a time like that. You started on a race for your Lord with a risky obedience; which, by the way, is an oxymoron. There’s really no such thing as a risky obedience when it’s Jesus you’re obeying. There’s only a risky disobedience.

Abram left behind him a trail of altars. When the Lord appeared to him at Shechem, it says, “he built an altar there to the Lord.” You’ve had those altar times when God was closest and His will was the clearest. Think about it. But unfortunately, the faith obedience was followed by the famine detour. Genesis 12 says, “there was a famine…and Abram went down to Egypt.” A hard time hit and Abram’s faith literally went south. Maybe yours has, too. In Egypt, Abram made compromises that were disgusting and unthinkable. Maybe some kind of “famine” has hit your life and your search for answers, for relief, or for security has taken you right out of the will of God.

But the race isn’t over. Abram finishes with the full circle recovery. He returns from his detour and goes “where he had first built an altar. There he called on the name of the Lord.” He went back to the point of his original surrender. That’s how you get back on track, back in the race you’ve wandered from. In your heart, you go back to the time when God seemed so close and His will seemed so clear. And at that original altar, you surrender to Him again. Stop doubting in the darkness what God so clearly told you in the light.

When that paraplegic marathon participant crossed the finish line in a race he had every reason to quit, he explained it this way: “This was not natural; this was supernatural. It was only done by the grace of God.” You know what? That’s how you’ll finish the race you started!

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Hillacides

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Date: 04/15/21

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Windmills – 15 IC

Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Mosey @ .5 miles to the hill by the boat docks

The Thang

Pax went right at a set of Doracides which is identified in the Exicon as follows:  Two Pax worked together to reach exercise reps of 100, 200, 300, & 400 of 4 different exercises.  One Pax worked on the exercises while the second Pax completed suicides to three designated waypoints approx. 30 yards apart by way of a NUR up the hill.  Another extra twist is at the waypoint of each suicide run; the Pax completed 1 burpee, then 2 burpees, and finally 3 burpees before returning to the starting point.  Once all three suicide sprints were completed, the Pax switched stations until all reps of each exercise were completed.  The exercises completed are as follows:  100 American Hammers, 200 Merkins, 300 LBC’s, & 400 squats.  Each Pax will make every attempt to complete their half of the total exercises.   

Mosey @ .5 miles back to CHOP

F3 Message – See Below

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

F3 Message 04/15/21 – Gleaned from Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

WHY IT FEELS SO WEIRD TO BE NORMAL

April 2, 2019

My first hint that things were changing was the Storm Troopers suddenly patrolling the parking lot. Then I saw the man with the floor-length wolf tail. Followed by seeing X-Men in the hotel lobby.

And that was just the beginning. Batman, Superman, Darth Vader, Wonder Woman – and, of course, all the insects. Spiderman, Wasp, Bumblebee, The Tick. I fully expected Arnold Scharzenegger to arrive any minute as the ExTerminator. The growing invasion included all kinds of superhero movie characters and science fiction types that were from outside my universe.

The annual convention of National Religious Broadcasters was just moving out. You know, guys in suits. With briefcases.

And the annual convention of comic book, movie and science fiction folks was moving in. You know, characters in capes and masks and Spandex.

Standing in the lobby, waiting for my ride to the airport, was outrageously amusing. Two worlds colliding. Two polar opposite worlds!

Here’s the crazy part. Standing around in my jeans, shirt and sneakers, I had the strangest feeling. All of a sudden, I was the weird one. Not long before, I had been normal. But now I was surrounded by – well, what would be considered weird in most settings.

That’s when my mind started wandering into the whole culture I live in. Where the guard is changing at eye-blurring speed. Where the values and moral consensus that used to define our lives is rapidly receding.

And where it’s becoming increasingly “weird” to believe that God’s Word is the final word. Where those who are trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps find themselves increasingly out of step with the cadence of the culture. Sometimes, even out of step with the folks at church.

It was easier to be faithful Jesus-followers when that was respected. When it was, in a sense, “normal.” But now it’s increasingly “intolerant” … “narrow-minded” … “hateful” – judgments that at times we bring on ourselves. Because, instead of holding the truth in love, we come across with anger, self-righteousness and judgment.

And while I must be against what my God is against, I want to be known more for what I’m for. I’m for love without scars, selflessness in relationships, respect for every life, compassion for the broken. I want to be the guy who is quick to listen, ready to forgive and known for integrity. That’s not “weird.” That’s rare! And what’s rare is valuable.

But even with a positive brand of purity, it’s still getting lonelier to be God’s guy or gal in an increasingly God-“dissing” world. We shouldn’t be surprised.

The Bible forecasts a day when “normal” will be a world where people “will consider nothing sacred. Evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived…People will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 3:1, 12; 4:3-4).

God’s word for His people in that world where untruths will be revered as truth is clear: “But you must remain faithful in the things you have been taught … the holy Scriptures … All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:14-16).

I really can’t afford to begin my day without first being with my Jesus. Letting the unchanging truth of His Word rekindle my love for Him so once again He’s the only One I care about pleasing. And so I can download His perspective on what I will see, hear and experience today in a God-denying culture with its pretty packages and powerful magnets.

A world that is constantly trying to get you to be like them desperately needs you to be like Jesus. You are hope with skin on – hope that there is another way to be. “Blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-16).

If it seems to be getting darker where you are, remember – stars show most brightly against the backdrop of a very dark sky.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

What in the Sam Hill?

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Date: 03/18/2021

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 30 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s – IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Windmills – 20 IC

Mosey .5 miles to Oh Hill No

The Thang

The Super Sheldon Cooper on old “Sam Hill” with a few of my friendly animals – Complete 10 Burpees, 10 Squats, 10 Merkins & 10 Big Boys.  Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 9 Burpees, 9 Squats, 9 Merkins, & 9 Big Boys.  Dragon Crawl up & mosey down and complete 8 Burpees, 8 Squats, 8 Merkins, & 8 Big Boys.  Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 7 Burpees, 7 Squats, 7 Merkins, & 7 Big Boys. Crawl Bear up & Bear Crawl down and complete 6 Burpees, 6 Squats, 6 Merkins & 6 Big Boys. 

Time did not allow us to finish, but below are the remaining evolutions as planned if you want to make your own trip back to Oh Hill No.

Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 5 Burpees, 5 Squats, 5 Merkins, & 5 Big Boys. Inch Worm up the hill and mosey down and complete 4 Burpees, 4 Squats, 4 Merkins, & 4 Big Boys.  Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 3 Burpees, 3 Squats, 3 Merkins, & 3 Big Boys.  Boo Boo Bear Crawl up the hill and mosey down and complete 2 Burpees, 2 Squats, 2 Merkins, & 2 Big Boys.  Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 1 Burpee, 1 Squat, 1 Merkin, & 1 Big Boy.

Mosey .5 miles back to CHOP

F3 Message

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers

 F3 Message 03/18/21

MORE THAN SHAMROCKS

March 16, 2012

I’ve lost my shamrock tie, and I’m bummed. Of course, everyone else is thrilled. I loved wearing it for St. Patrick’s Day every year to celebrate the part of me that’s Irish. In spite of the fact that people insensitively described the color as “barf green.” It doesn’t seem that anyone’s missing it but me.

I’m not sure what old St. Pat would make of the holiday named for him – pouring green dye into the Chicago River and parades full of green-dressed celebrants. I do know that Patrick – who’s pretty much obscured by the festivities – was quite a guy with quite a story.

His first trip to Ireland wasn’t his choice. He was 14 and got kidnapped and carried off to Ireland where he became a sheep-tendin’, pig-sloppin’ slave. But while he was there, he realized that Jesus died to forgive his sins, and he put his trust in Him to do just that. Patrick finally escaped and got back home to Britain where he, presumably, swore he’d never wear anything green!

But his second trip was his choice. A choice that should give a lot of us something to think about.

As Patrick told it, he was asleep one night when he saw Victor, his former Irish captor, in a vision. He “appeared to have come from Ireland with an unlimited number of letters.” Patrick said that the letters seemed to shout with one voice: “We ask you, holy boy, come and walk once more among us.” He “was cut to heart and could read no more.”

And Patrick did walk among them. Spreading the Good News about Jesus that had changed his life. He introduced thousands of Irishmen to Jesus. Patrick reflected on the legacy of his life this way: “I am greatly a debtor to God who hath vouchsafed me such great grace that many people by my means should be born again to God.”

People in heaven. That’s St. Patrick’s ultimate legacy. It’s like the Apostle Paul said about some folks he’d introduced to Jesus: “What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

Which raises the question all of us Jesus-followers should be asking: “Who will be in heaven, because of me?”

God let Patrick know He was counting on him to bring Jesus to people he had “walked among.” Which raises another question: “Who are my ‘walk among them’ people?” They’re the folks who are part of the daily network and experiences of my life. We’ve all got them – the ones who God is counting on us to rescue. He says if “you do not speak out…I will hold you accountable for his blood” (Ezekiel 33:8). Why? Because I knew what that person needed to know to get to heaven – and never told them.

We don’t need a vision. We’ve got orders. “You will be my witnesses, telling people about Me” (Acts 1:8).

Patrick was biographically credentialed to tell the Irish about Jesus. His life had apparently been crafted by God to make him a man who understood them, who they would listen to because of what he had experienced. But that’s not just true of the “shamrock saint.” Every Jesus-follower has been biographically credentialed to share Jesus with folks. Because of what you’ve experienced. Your personal story is your point of entry to ultimately tell them how His story changed your story forever.

So you may be able to celebrate “that many people by my means” were “born again to God.”

Patrick was in a very hard place when he made the greatest discovery of his life – a personal relationship with Jesus. By giving his life to Jesus, he stepped into a greatness he could have never otherwise imagined. It may be that the hard place you’re in right now is where you’ll finally find what you’ve spent your whole life looking for – that love relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to know how to get started with Him, I encourage you to go to our website, YoursForLife.net, and step into God’s great plan for your life.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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