I Can’t Hear Those Complaints

Bunt, Fireplex, Looney Tunes, Probe, quattro, Streudel, Whirlybird / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 12/05/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE.

PAX: Looney Tunes, Quattro, Whirlybird, Bunt, Probe, Streudel, Fireplex

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.

Imperial Walkers – 20 IC

Windmills – 20 IC

The Thang

B.O.M.B.S. – 50 Burpees, 100 Overhead Claps while doing a wall sit, 150 Merkins, 200 Big Boy Sit-ups, 250 Squats. From the side wall of the firehouse, each Pax will complete 25 of each exercise and then run up the steps behind the firehouse and down before moving on to the next 25 reps. A break for the 3^rd F will be after all the merkin reps are complete.

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 12/05/2024

Where to Take Your Complaints – #9780

July 5, 2024

Ken really felt he got a promotion when he left the business world to enter full-time Christian ministry, and I think he did. But it wasn’t so much because of the salary. Oh, I’m sure you thought it was because of the great money that he would make in Christian ministry. No, it wasn’t because of the great benefits, but his job before had been handling consumer complaints.

Now, he was definitely a candidate for a lot of antacids. Can you imagine getting calls all day long from people whose whole thing is to tell you what they didn’t like? He’s in ministry now, so Ken deals with a lot of people’s burdens, but it’s a whole lot better stress than that old job was. How would you be able to listen to people dump on you for eight hours a day? It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it, and somebody wants to.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Where to Take Your Complaints.”

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Psalm 142. David says, “I cry aloud to the Lord.” Sure sounds like he’s hurting. “I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him. Before Him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who knows my way.” That’s a very interesting portrayal of where our complaints ought to go. God’s Throne Room – that’s where you ought to take your complaints. David said, “I pour out my complaint to Him. It’s before the Lord I tell my trouble.” “He’s the One where I, in a sense, dump all of this hurt, anger, and frustration.”

Of course, we have a tendency to take our complaints to other places, don’t we? We complain to our friends, we complain about the other guy to everybody else except the guy, we complain to our family, we complain to our co-workers, and the only thing we accomplish is we get to drag them down with us. They were feeling great until we came along. And then, all of a sudden, this big, dark cloud came in with us. We start them thinking negatively about it too. And we sound like squeaky chalk.

Well, the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 3:15, as believers, to “be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us.” A lot of folks can’t hear our hope because they hear more about our hassles. Listen to yourself. Step outside of yourself and just try to listen. Are you becoming a complainer? God doesn’t say, “Don’t complain.” That would be denying the pain – denying your real feelings. He invites us to complain all over Him. He’s the One who can do something about it.

David said, “It is You who knows my way.” You know, that’s why people bypass the complaint department sometimes and go right to the president. They say, “Hey, I want action! So forget the complaint guy; I’m going straight to the top!” Well, that’s actually the place to go. Sometimes it’s appropriate to go to an offending person and confront them in order to seek healing. And, of course, it’s appropriate to share our burden with other people and ask them to pray for us. But first, dump all your garbage at your Lord’s feet. Go to the top! Get the emotions out before Him. Get some objectivity, some perspective that comes from being in God’s presence with all that stuff.

Hebrews 4 tells us that we can go to the throne of God’s Grace and there we can “obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” How about trading your gripes for grace? The Throne Room of God is the complaint department of the universe. So, let God deal with your complaints. You won’t get action by complaining to all the employees. Skip them and go straight to the top.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Chattahoochee’s Rinse & Repeat

Chattahoochee, Deez, Fireplex, pooh, Probe, quattro, Streudel / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 11/14/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

Pax: Quattro, Deez, Chattahoochee, Pooh, Probe, Streudel, Fireplex

OIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 22 IC

Cherry Pickers – 22 IC

Arm Circles – 11 each direction

Windshield Wipers – 22 OYO

Mountain Climbers – 22 IC

The Thang

YESOW/NUR TO PARK

22 BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUATS 11 EACH LEG (1 LEG UP ON BENCH)

22 SWERKINS

22 BIG BOYS

11 PULL UPS OR HANGIN KNEES TO CHEST

YESOW/NUR TO PARKING LOT NEXT TO BODIES

11 FLAMINGO MERKINS (BEND TOUCH TOES WITH 1 LEG UP WALK HANDS OUT DO A

MERKIN WALK BACK IN RINSE AND REPEAT WITH OPPOSITE LEG UP IS 1)

22 AMERICAN HAMMER DOUBLE COUNT

22 MONKEY HUMPERS IC

22 FLUTTER KICKS IC

YESOW/NUR TO FISHING PIER

11 ZOMBIE CRUNCHES EACH SIDE (LEGS BENT AND TO SIDE]

22 TRIPLE PUMP SQUAT (SQUAT CALF RAISE SQUAT AND JUMP UP)

22 DECLINE MERKINS

22 X-CROSS SIT UPS ( R HAND TO L FOOT, L HAND TO R FOOT BIG BOY)

22 INCLINE MERKINS

YESOW/NUR to 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 11/14/24

Focusing On the Falls – #8409

April 4, 2019

I don’t have much time for TV, and when I do, I don’t usually watch gymnastics. But some time ago they were showing a sports feature about gymnastics on a plane flight. As usual, I had too much to do to get the headset that carries the audio, but I did occasionally glance up at the video part. It was a gymnastics meet between the U.S. and Russia. You can probably guess who I was rooting for. Now, I couldn’t hear any commentary, but I saw some impressive performances by these young athletes. I also saw an occasional replay. But every time they did a replay, it seems like all they showed was the gymnast’s mistakes; anything she was marked down for, and they kept replaying it. They had executed some great moves, but no, we don’t go over those – just their mistakes.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Focusing On the Falls.”

It’s not only athletes who have their shortcomings replayed is it? A lot of us are experts on going over and over the mistakes people make; the weaknesses they have. Which is definitely not what God had in mind for how we would use these mouths of ours in the lives of those around us.

In fact, He describes that in our word for today from the Word of God. It’s Ephesians 4:29. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” In other words, talk about the things that will build that person up, and stow the things that will tear them down.

Now think about how you talk to the people that you’re around a lot; your coworkers, your friends, your parents, maybe your husband or wife, your children, or the people at church. Could it be that you have a tendency to train your camera on what they do wrong, on their weaknesses, their shortcomings, the problem areas? And do you keep bringing up where they missed it – like those sportscasters replaying the gymnasts’ mistakes?

This is a classic problem between parents and children, for example. Let’s say your son or daughter brings home four Bs and one D. What do we spend most of our time on? The four Bs? Oh, no, we do most of our talking about the one D. Too often, we do that with every area of their life. Minimizing – overlooking what they’re doing right – and focusing on what needs improvement. And we’re trying to build them up by showing them their failings and what they need to work on, right? But I wonder if we keep doing that, aren’t we actually tearing them down?

People can slowly but surely be destroyed by a person’s critical spirit. Could that be happening to someone in your world? Remember the people around you are starved for praise. Yes, part of loving someone is to gently help them see their blind spots and to help them get stronger where they’re weak, to help them improve. There’s a place for constructive criticism, but you win the right to do that when you spend more time talking about their strengths and what they’re doing right.

Replay capability – it’s a powerful thing. But if you keep replaying their mistakes where they haven’t measured up, well, you’re going to be diminishing the people around you. If you replay their good points, you’re going to be building up the people around you, which is what God says we’re supposed to do. Help the people who you are around a lot see the worth and the value that God sees in them. How do you do that? Well you just keep pointing it out to them.

Maybe you’ve focused on their falls too much. It’s time to start replaying the good moves made by the people you care about!

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Something Different

Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Looney Tunes, Mr. Mom, Probe, Semi, Streudel, TRex / Leave a Comment / CHOP, DE, Milton, DE / By Jason Dypsky

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama
30 Marocan night club i/c
20 Michael Phelps i/c
10 mountain man pooper i/c
15 seals waves i/c
10 hip circles oyo, each direction
15 seal jacks i/c

The Thang

Each HIM grabs one large coupon and 2 small coupons

Colt 45 with small coupons, palms in

Tabata, using small coupons
8 rounds of 6 excercises

Flys (shoulders on large coupon) – palms up, palms in
Bench press (shoulders on large coupon) – elbows in, palms together
Holding chair chest squeeze – extended, close
Overhead clap – palms in, palms forward
Bent over rows – palms down, palms in
Squats – butt must touch coupon – sumo, 6″

3rd F
Positivity helps our spiritual hearts. Did you know it also helps our physical hearts? Our mindset truly changes everything. Which is exactly what today’s verse helps us do. Paul provides us attributes of godly thinking we can use as a quick “checklist” to guide our thought life:
True: Does this align with God’s Word?
(Psalm 19:7; John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16–17)
Honourable: Does this bring respect to yourself and others?
(Proverbs 22:1; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 2:12)
Right: Is it just and fair?
(Micah 6:8; Romans 12:2; Proverbs 21:3)
Pure: Is it free from moral fault?
(Psalm 51:10; Philippians 4:8; James 3:17)
Lovely: Does it promote love and compassion?
(1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:12–14; 1 John 4:7)
Praiseworthy: Is it deserving of admiration and respect?
(Psalm 145:3; Ephesians 1:12; Philippians 2:3)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).

• What are the main thoughts that guide your life?
• Is there a particular area from the checklist where you feel you’re lacking?
• What Scripture can you memorize to help anchor your thoughts?

Colt 45 with small coupons, palms up

Toy Soldier set
50 LBCs
25 E2Ks, each side
15 Big Boys

Number Rama
Name Rama
COT

8 HIM showed today: Semi, Probe, Streudal, Fireplex, TRex, Chattahoochee, Mr. Mom, Looney Toons

Something Different

Looney Tunes, Semi / Leave a Comment / DE, First Town, Lewes / By Jason Dypsky

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama
30 Marocan night club i/c
20 Michael Phelps i/c
10 mountain man pooper i/c
15 seals waves i/c
10 hip circles oyo, each direction
15 seal jacks i/c

The Thang

Each HIM grabs one large coupon and 2 small coupons

Colt 45 with small coupons, palms down

Tabata, using small coupons
8 rounds of 6 excercises

Number Rama
Name Rama
COT

2 HIM showed today: Semi, Looney Toons

“Lid” It Go

Bunt, Chattahoochee, Chauffeur, Fireplex, Motown, Pick, Probe, Pusher, Ruxpin, Semi, Yukon / Leave a Comment / Aegis, DE, Georgetown / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 11/02/2024

AO: Aegis, Georgetown, DE

Pax: Bunt, Chattahoochee, Chauffeur, Fireplex, Motown, Pick, Probe, Pusher, Ruxpin, Semi, Yukon

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

Hydraulic Squats – 10 (6 Count)

The Thang

Round #1 – Karaoke around the circle switching directions at halfway and complete 10 hand release merkins. Round #2 – Nur around the circle and complete 20 LBC’’s. Round #3 – ass kickers around the circle and complete Aiken legs – 10 squats, 10 box jumps, 10 lunges (10 each Leg), 10 Iron Mike’s (5 each Leg). Round #4 – high knees around the circle and complete ATM’s – 10 alternating “merkin” shoulder taps, 10 tempo merkins, and 10 fast merkins. Round # 5 – Lieutenant Dan around the circle and complete 10 four count mountain climbers. Round #6 – Toy Soldier march around the circle and complete a set of 11’s. 1 big boy to 1 merkin, two big boys to 2 merkins ascending to 11 of each. Round #7 – mosey 10 laps around the circle and complete ascending Burp & Merks up to 10 merkins. The twist is we are going to repeat each of the previous exercises before starting the next lap around the circle.

F3 Message 11/02/24

A Strong Sense of Season – #9721

April 15, 2024

On the first warm day of spring I can remember my son saying, “Ready for a little baseball, Dad?” Well, ’twas the season, although that early in the season we usually ended up stuck in the mud somewhere between home plate and first base. Now, he didn’t ask about playing baseball if it was fall or winter. Now, he always had a like a strong sense of season. By the same token, the first cool day of late summer, of course, that brought a predictable question, “Ready for a little football, Dad?” This is the same son, of course, that got upset when he saw Christmas items up before Thanksgiving, or phone calls when he was studying or homework that you had to do on weekends. See, this kid had and actually still does have for that matter, a strong sense of what season it is, and there’s actually a lot of sanity in living that way.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “A Strong Sense of Season.”

Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Ecclesiastes 3, and let me read some excerpts to you: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” It goes on with a list of life’s times, and then concludes in verse 11, “God has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Well, the message of Ecclesiastes 3 to me is this: Know what time it is. Know what season it is at this point in your life, or your month, or your week. And then really do what it’s time to do and don’t mix up your seasons. When it’s time to work, really work; when it’s time to fellowship, really fellowship. Just don’t mix everything up.

Now, I know some people who talk for half of their work day. Well, when it’s fellowship time, do that, but don’t mix that with your work and vice-versa. When it’s time to play, really play. When it’s time to be home, don’t bring your work home with you; really be home. When it’s time to be at work, don’t keep doing personal stuff. When it’s time to pray, block out everything else.

Maybe that’s why Jesus told us to go into a closet to do it. When it’s time to listen, drop everything else and focus on that person. If it’s time to finish something else before you listen, get that done and schedule a time when you really can listen. When it’s time to study, don’t talk. When it’s time to unwind, don’t study. Get the idea? It’s like the Bible says in Colossians 3, “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.”

I have a friend whose employees’ wives are on the warpath because their husbands are coming home forever late from work. Guess who they blame? The boss and the company for overworking their men. Well, the fact is what the wives don’t know is that these men are taking extended lunch hours for gym time and shooting the breeze much of the day. They waste as much time as they work, and then they have to work like crazy at the other end of the day. And then, guess what? They can’t be the fathers they need to be.

I like what the Bible says again, “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.” And I really like what Jim Elliott, the missionary martyr said, “Wherever you are, be all there.” See, things don’t work as well when you do them “out of season.” Each day, each week has seasons in your life. Well, do with all your heart what it’s time to do at that moment and then God makes everything beautiful in its time.

I’ll tell you, life is a lot more peaceful when you live with a strong sense of season.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Cr(Abs) & Shoulders

Bunt, Chattahoochee, Deez, Fireplex, Probe, Ruxpin, Streudel, Toy Soldier, Whirlybird / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 10/01/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE.

Pax: Deez, Whirlybird, Bunt, Ruxpin, Toy Soldier, Chattahoochee, Probe, Streudel, Fireplex

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

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

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Plank Jacks – 30 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Windmills – 15 IC

The Thang

Mosey around Mill Street and back to the M&T Bank parking lot.

Each Pax completed the Burp & Merk – Burpee with ascending merkins up to 10. Each PAX will Bear Crawl to each parking space and complete a Burpee with a hand release merkin. Bear Crawl to the next space and complete a Burpee with two hand release merkins. Continue until completing a Burpee with ten hand release merkins. Nur back to the start and plank for the six.

Pax continued on over to “Oh Hill No” and completed the bottom feeder/deconstructed toy soldier set exercise. Crab walk up the hill and complete 100 LBC’s. Crab walk down the hill and complete 50 E2K’s to one side. Crab walk back up the hill and complete 50 E2K’s to the other side. Crab walk down the hill and complete 25 big boy sit-ups.

F3 Message – See below

Mosey back to CHOP by way of Strawberry Alley. A round of Mary was completed to finish out the beatdown.

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

F3 Message 10/01/24

When You Don’t Like What’s On Your Plate – #8160

Friday, April 20, 2018

One of our team members reminded me the other day of how I felt about junior high school lunches. He was talking about it in our team devotions. Few of us remember those 7th or 8th grade cafeteria lunches with great fondness. Friday wasn’t bad – that was French fry day. But most of the other days – who knows what some of that stuff was – mystery meat! We’d complain about the food, we’d trash the food sometimes, and sometimes we even had a food fight with it! Hey, it’s junior high; what do you want? There were many days I wasn’t too excited about what was on my plate. There still are.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “When You Don’t Like What’s On Your Plate.”

Okay, this has nothing to do with your diet. I know you have days when you don’t particularly like what’s on your plate though. Or you don’t like how much there is of it. As a parent, you may have to handle some things that really aren’t much fun these days. That’s what on your plate. As a son or daughter, or a student, you’ve been stuck with some jobs you really don’t want to do. At work, it’s getting pretty messy, or heavy, or boring. At church or in your ministry, you’re not particularly liking the way it’s going and what you’re trying to do for the Lord. But it’s just part of life – days, and sometimes lots of days, when we don’t like what’s on our plate.

So, how are you handling days and tasks you don’t care for? Do you complain about them? That would be the way we normally do. Do you worry about them? Freak out over them? Do you get negative or irritable because of what’s on your plate? Look, we’re not in junior high anymore. It’s time for a more grownup response. It’s time to see what’s on our plate from God’s perspective.

Here it is in our word for today from the Word of God in Psalm 16:5-6. David says, “Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.” So who decides what’s on the plate of a child of God? Your Heavenly Father who loves you totally and does everything perfectly! Sometimes God’s assignment is exciting and energizing, sometimes it just seems sort of humdrum and mundane, and other times God’s assignment is downright hard – like when He assigns you to a sickbed or an unappreciated, dirty-work job or working with someone who frustrates you or annoys you.

But there is a peace, there’s this lightness in your spirit – even a strange joy – that can come when you look at today’s plateful and say, “Lord, You have assigned me to this.” Which leads us to that powerful formula for being emotionally and spiritually on top of things, instead of things being on top of you. It’s in James 4:7 where the Lord says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” In other words, submit to the Lord’s greater plan, His greater wisdom – “OK, Lord, I’m going to handle what’s on my plate as if it came right from Your hand.” The result? Well, you have resisted the devil’s attempts to discourage or distract or detour you.

In fact, since the Lord assigns you your portion, you can actually thank Him for it, looking expectantly for what good things He wants to bring out of it. What’s God working on through this? Does He want you to be more of a servant? More patient? A better listener? A learner? More sensitive?

See, whether or not you particularly like what’s on His menu for you today, you can be sure it is for your good – it’s part of His loving plan for you. What’s on your plate is OK – because the One who put it there loves you so much. Oh, by the way, knows exactly what you need.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Semi Killer

ace, Chattahoochee, Fireplex, FNG (Hoe N), FNG (Manscape), Mr. Mom, Probe, quattro, Semi, Streudel, Toy Soldier, TRex / Leave a Comment / CHOP, DE, Milton, DE / By Jason Dypsky

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama
15 shoulder tap i/c
15 mountain climbers i/c
15 seal waves i/c
15 hip circles oyo
15 Michael Phelps i/c
15 seal jacks

The Thang
Grab a coupon and mosey to park

Pair off, workout as a pair

AMRAP
Curls for the girls
Pull ups
Swerkins
Rows
Sledgehammer to tire
Pretzel sticks
Overhead press
American hammers w/ coupon

Timer is nur, side shuffle, and karaoke around gazebo

https://www.facebook.com/share/GKqhkusfkKiTNV5a/?mibextid=oFDknk

Don’t be confined by your environment!

Number Rama
Name Rama
COT

12 HIM showed today: 2 FNGs (Manscape & Hoe N), Semi, Probe, Fireplex, Chattahoochee, Quattro, Ace, Streudal, Mr. Mom, TRex, Toy Soldier

Abs-so-posa-lutely

Chattahooche, Deez, Fireplex, Probe, Ruxpin, Streudel, Whirlybird / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 09/03/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Deez, Whirlybird, Ruxpin, Chattahoochee, Probe, Streudel, Fireplex

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Jiminy Crickets – 10 OYO

Windmills – 15 IC

Hydraulic Squats – 10 IC ( 6 Count)

The Thang

An Inclined Toy Soldier Set was completed on the grass hill behind the stone parking lot – 100 LBC’s, 50 E2K’s x2, 25 Big Boys OYO.

Pax completed one lap around Mill Street and back to the flag pole at the Firehouse.

Captain Therkin – 1 big Boy to 4 American hammers; 5 Merkins . 2 Big Boys to 8 American Hammers; 5 Merkins in ratio up through 10:40 with 5 Merkins.

Pax completed one lap around Mill Street and back to the flag pole at the Firehouse. A short break was taken for the F3 Message.

Pax finished with a modified Super 21 beatdown for the abs-so-posa-lutely kickoff beatdown. 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. Q elected to start at 21 in descending fashion. All Pax completed the round of 21 descending through the round of 15 of each to complete the beatdown.

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

F3 Message 09/03/24

Only Two Days On Your Calendar – #4481

Monday, March 15, 2004

Some years ago, my wife got a very serious case of hepatitis. Later, the specialist told her that the battle for her liver was so acute he could hear the blood rushing to save it, “Just like Niagara Falls,” he said. Thank God, she recovered fully with no trace today of that disease or any of its effects. But it took a while – seven months of bed rest. That was an interesting time for Daddy – suddenly known as Mr. Mom – and for our three children. Thankfully, our church brought dinner to our home almost every night. God bless them! It’s a good thing. I mean, if it had been up to me to feed the kids, they probably would have been on the cover of something like World Vision magazine eventually. But as tough as it was, my wife said she had much to praise God for in her recovery from hepatitis. For one thing, no one could really look to her or count on her for seven months. Here’s what she said about it: “God gave me the gift of cleansing my schedule!” He weeded out a lot that didn’t matter after all and left only what did matter.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Only Two Days On Your Calendar.”

If you look at many of our calendars, they are packed to the edges. Some days the date book boxes are just too small to write everything in. Our life is congested with places to go and things to do, and we’re overdosing on stress. We could all use a priority check. We could all use a little schedule cleansing so we can focus our time on the things that really, really matter.

Now I’m no magician. I can’t make your responsibilities disappear, but I can give you a simple grid that may make your life a little more doable. And it’s not my idea. It’s actually Martin Luther’s idea. He said he had only two days on his calendar – one of those is Judgment Day. He tried to evaluate everything in light of the Judgment Day that’s coming for all of us. God talks about that great values-clarifier in 1 Corinthians 4, beginning with verse 2, our word for today from the Word of God. Paul writes: “It is required that those who have been given a trust” – and I just want to add, “we all have” – “must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court … It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”

If it’s not going to matter there, how much should it matter here? Earlier, Paul talked about things that are just “wood, hay, and straw” that will burn on that day. That’s a priority check.

Luther said he had only two days on his calendar: Judgment Day and this day. It’s the only day I can live right now. I don’t need to be weighed down with yesterday. It can’t be changed. I don’t need to be fretting about the future. I’m not there yet and I can’t control it.

What I have is today, one 24-hour slice of life in which to honor my Lord in everything I do. So this day will count on that day! Maybe that’s what Paul had in mind when he said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Keep your eyes on the prize, all day long and each new day.

God will take a life that you have lived for Him with His priorities, one day at a time and He will make a life out of those days that will fulfill you and glorify Him. It’s a great way to live – two days on your calendar: Judgment Day and this day.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

I Hate Burpees II

ace, Bunt, Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Probe, Semi, Streudel, Toy Soldier, TRex / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 08/08/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Semi, TRex, Ace, Bunt, Toy Soldier, Chattahoochee, Probe, Streudel, Fireplex

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

Bolt 45’s – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

SSH – 20 IC

Imperial Walkers – 20 IC

Four Count Freddie’s – 31 IC

Hydraulic Squats – 10 IC ( 6 Count)

The Thang

Pax paired up to complete as many Burpees as time allowed. One PAX Nurs up the hill to Mill Street from the flag pole pad area at the fire station and runs down while the other works on his burpees. Pax rotate positions upon completion of each Nur and run down the hill at approx. .14 miles for each lap. When all Pax reach 50 Burpees a break for the F3 message took place. Pax continued the evolution for a second set of 50 Burpees.

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

F3 Message 08/08/24

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING PEOPLE

July 16, 2024

By Ron Hutchcraft

There’s a mountain in northern New Jersey that has an intriguing view. It’s called Garrett Mountain, over the city of Paterson, New Jersey. In the 1980s, Paterson happened to be the fourth poorest, middle-sized city in America. Now, if you had driven around that city then and that’s all you saw, you would think the whole area of north Jersey was poor. But just beyond Paterson on the horizon, you can see some of the wealthiest communities in America.

If you drove around some of those towns, you’d think the whole area was well-off. If all you saw was Paterson, you’d say, “There’s no countryside around here.” If all you saw were the suburban communities, you’d say, “There’s no city here.” See, I like Garrett Mountain, because it gives me a bigger view than I can get when I’m right in the middle of things. Up there, you can see the bigger picture. Maybe you need a mountain like that right now.

1 Samuel 8:4 says, “All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel. They said to him, ‘You’re old and your sons don’t walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us such as all the other nations have.’ But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they’ve rejected, they have rejected Me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now, listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.’ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.”

Samuel has a frustrating situation. The structure of the judge ruling Israel on God’s behalf is coming unglued. He’s being unappreciated by the people he has given so much for. Does that sound familiar? These people are off on a total tangent that he knows is wrong. They’re trying to get a king, when all they really need is God ruling through the judges. Maybe you have some frustrating people in your life. Different issues, but frustrating.

What did he do when the people frustrated him? It says, “So, he prayed to the Lord.” What they did displeased Samuel, “So he prayed…” He didn’t tell them off or blow up. He takes the people and his feelings straight to the Lord when he’s frustrated. Do you?

There are two good results when you do that. First, the Lord gives Samuel the big picture. He says, “This isn’t against you. It’s part of a pattern.” And he defuses the emotions. It’s like being on that mountain overlooking both the suburbs and the city. You can see the whole picture when you take the frustration to the Lord. You can see where things are coming from, and where things are going. You’re above that limited view you have when you’re right in the middle of the aggravation. When you take the frustrating people to the Lord, He gives you the big picture instead of you just reacting to an incident.

Secondly, He gives you a balanced response. He told Samuel to listen to them and then warn them. Listening to frustrating people gives you credibility. They’ll listen if you’ve listened to them. Then warning them fulfills your responsibility to tell them the results of the way they’re going. Some people listen without warning people; some people warn people without listening to them.

When people’s actions displease, frustrate, and hurt you, would you go to God first? You know what He’ll do? He’ll take you up on a mountain where you can see the whole picture, and help you respond in a balanced way. When people frustrate you, go over their head. Go straight to the Throne Room of the King.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Freakin’ Whirlybird 21

ace, Bunt, Chattahoochee, Chauffeur, Fireplex, Probe, Reptile, Ruxpin, Shake & Bake, Whirlybird / Leave a Comment / Aegis, DE, Georgetown / By Johnny Hopkins

Date: 08/03/2024

AO: Aegis, Georgetown, DE

PAX: Reptile, Shake & Bake, Ace, Whirlybird, Bunt, Ruxpin, Chattahoochee, Chauffeur, Probe, Fireplex

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 Armory

The Thang

All Pax worked on the descending Burpee and Big Boy evolution. 20 Burpees and 1 Big Boy Sit Up. Up the steps of the Armory hitting every step and back down. 19 Burpees and 2 Big Boy Sit Up’s. Up the steps of the Armory hitting every step and back down. 18 Burpees and 3 Big Boy Sit Ups. Up the steps of the armory and back down hitting every step and back down. Continue the descending pattern until completing the round of 10 Burpees and 11 Big Boy Sit Ups. Break for the F3 Message before continuing the descending evolutions. Pax completed 210 of each exercise if completing the total evolution.

Mosey @.5 miles back to the Aegis.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

HOW YOUR FRIENDS CHANGE YOUR LIFE – #7380

Friday, April 24, 2015

Sometimes you see hitchhikers by the side of the road. What are they usually holding? A sign, usually crudely lettered, and it doesn’t have the name of the car they want to ride in. No, it has the name of a place on it; the place they want to go. On Indian reservations, hitchhiking is a way of life. I asked one of our Native American friends recently about her hitchhiking experiences. She told me she asked only one question before she got in a car. She didn’t care about the make of the car, the driver’s IQ, or where the driver was from. She had one question, “Where are you headed?”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “How Your Friends Change Your Life.”

Hitchhikers have a simple basis for deciding who they will travel with: is this person going where I want to end up? That’s exactly the question we all should have in mind when we’re deciding who we’re going to travel with.

Our word for today from the Word of God is from Proverbs 13:20. This is God’s counsel concerning the people you hang out with, people you spend time with, make friends with, people you date, people you marry. “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” You tend to become like the people you spend time with. Like a hitchhiker, you end up where the people you are traveling with end up. God reinforces that point in 1 Corinthians 15:33. He just simply says, “Bad company corrupts character.”

If you’re going to make good decisions about who to travel with at your school, at your workplace, in your social life, or even who you’ll marry, you first need to decide what kind of person you want to become; what kind of goals you want to achieve. I hope you want to end up being a positive person, not a negative person. Who needs any more of those? You probably want to end up being caring, not self-centered, encouraging, not tearing people down, living for what really matters instead of just some attractive, meaningless junk.

And if you’ve been to the cross of Jesus to have your sins forgiven; if you belong to Him, I hope you want to end up being someone that Jesus is proud of; someone who lives for the One who died for you – not for some little earth-stuff. Decide what kind of person you want to be; what kind of attitudes you want to have. And then look for some people who have the same “destination sign” as you do.

Your selection of friends, associates, romantic prospects may well be one of the most important choices you will ever make because you will probably end up on the same road as they do. If you’re with people who are spiritually careless, or just don’t care, you’ll probably end up there, too. If you’re with people who just simply settle for mediocrity as a Christian, you will live that grey life like they do. But if you are connected with some people who are going in the “make a difference” direction, the “live for other people” direction, the “live for Jesus” direction, chances are that’s where you’re going to end up – going the direction where your life can mean the most and matter the most, and count for something lasting.

You can ask any hitchhiker, it really does matter who you decide to travel with. You don’t decide who you’re going to go with on the basis of how cool they are, or how well-connected they are, or how exciting their lifestyle looks – or even how they treat you. You ask that all-important, deciding question about who you’re going to spend your time around, “Where are you headed?” You only travel with someone who’s going to a destination that you’re not ever going to regret.