Moseyed to “Oh Hill No” where Pax completed a bear crawl up the hill and a crawl bear down. Then each Pax completed 10 burpees, 20 merkins, and 30 squats. Plank for the six. Pax Nur’d up the hill and ran down and completed 10 burpees, 20 merkins, and 30 squats. Plank for the six. Pax Nur’d up the hill and ran down and completed 25 LBC’s, 25 flutter kicks, and 25 squats. Plank for the six. A break was taken for the 3rd F Message. Then each Pax completed a bear crawl up the hill and a crawl bear back down and completed 5 of the 6 previously identified exercises at their discretion. Plank for the six. Pax mosey’d back to the AO for a round of Mary to finish the beatdown.
The beatdown ended with a COT with a name-o-rama, announcements, and a prayer.
F3 message 03/23/2023
God created humans in His image. We have the distinction of being designed on the model of our creator and Lord. As such, we are treasured by Him. We should take note that those around us are also made in the image of God. That person in line at the grocery store, that face on social media, that server at dinner — all are made in God’s image, and God cherishes them all. They are all human beings and creations of God. Knowing that we are all made in the image of God should prompt us to see value in others. God calls us to love one another. Seeing value in everyone is not the same as agreeing or being best friends with everyone. Instead, it means showing all people the love of Christ through what we do and how we treat them. Each person brings value to the world and to God’s kingdom. We all have purpose, and we should treat all people mindfully and with great respect because God has deemed them of value.
F3 Message – Q shared the story of how he found a painted rock at the workout on 3/14/23. The hashtag on the rock pointed to #Teamlennyrocks on Facebook. The message was about Lenny Williams, a 20yr old that passed away from a battle with cancer back in October of 2022. Lenny’s family are all Milton FD members and Lenny was bestowed honorary membership in the dept. posthumously. He loved the FD, and he loved baseball as he was active with his family at the Milton Little Park. A benefit tournament was held on the Little League premises and it was only fitting that the rock be “hidden” there for the next person to find and to be inspired by the story and the strength of young Lenny Williams. Q offered a word from Ron Hutchcraft below about preparing for the worst and the power of God’s Grace.
The Cycle – From home plate, bear crawl to 1st base, 3 burpees, crawl bear back to home From home plate, bear crawl around the bases to 2nd base, 6 burpees, crawl bear back to home From home plate, bear crawl around the bases to third base, 9 burpees, crawl bear back to home From home plate, bear crawl around the bases to home plate. *The Thang was modified for time and all PAX completed the full cycle Bear Crawl around the bases, 9 burpees at home plate, and then a full cycle Crawl Bear back around the bases to home plate.*
Mosey back to AO
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayer.
During the high school football season, our Campus Life Club used to have a crowd breaker that provided a lot of entertainment for all of us. We had four cheerleaders up front with a box of football equipment, minus the more personal stuff, of course. They raced to see who was the first to get fully dressed in shoulder pads, hip pads, knee pads, helmets, the rest, you know. Well, they each had a football player providing verbal coaching, but the results were still hilarious. Those cheerleaders had no idea what gear went where. But that’s okay. They didn’t need to know. You can be sure the players knew. Every day, whether it was for a practice or a game, they got that equipment on. They didn’t need it all day in school, of course, because they weren’t generally being chased, or run into at high speeds, or thrown to the ground. But when it came time to play, the coaches made sure they had the equipment they needed. The coach wasn’t about to send them into the battle without what they would need to protect them.
I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Preparing For the Worst.”
Our missionary son called us one day and, in an uncharacteristically sober tone of voice, he opened with these words: “Mom, Dad, get your grace helmets on.” He was preparing us for some bad news. They were in their sixth month of pregnancy with our grandson, and the doctor had just spotted some rare and serious medical problems. Our son knew what he, his wife, and our whole family were going to need for the trying months ahead. We were going to need God’s grace; the equipment that God provides to give us that extra strength and protection we will need for the battle we’re headed into.
Right now, you may be in one of those seasons where all your human resources are just totally inadequate to keep you going. Here’s God’s open invitation, recorded in Hebrews 4:16, our word for today from the Word of God. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” See, grace is God’s enabling power that sustains us when we’re running on empty. It’s sort of like a reserve fuel tank that kicks in when our emotional and physical fuel tank has run out.
And it’s not just generic grace, you know; not like “one size fits all.” No, it’s customized grace, specially designed for the kind of situation you need it for. So, God provides parenting grace when that’s needed; forgiving grace when forgiving is what you need to do. He’ll give you cancer grace, suffering grace, persecution grace, funeral grace. For our family, facing the deep questions, the deep feelings, and the critical decisions about that little baby, God’s grace came in like a Daddy’s arms picking us up and carrying us when we couldn’t walk any farther.
That little guy has had his battles, and he’s not a little guy any more, and he’s doing okay. But even if we have some more, you know what? His story is already one miracle after another. Not the least of which is the strength and the grace that has protected us like body armor on a soldier, or gear on an athlete. And, as God promised Paul in the pain and limitations of his thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Or, as the original Greek says, “Enough for you – My grace.”
His grace really is enough for you, no matter how desperate the situation. Because He’s said “your strength will equal your days.” (Deuteronomy 33:25) Whatever the burden, He will match it with His grace. More than match it, if you’ll go to His throne of grace to get it. You have to go for the grace that this moment requires.
No matter what hits you, God is no less in charge; His plan is no less on target. Things may be out of your control. They are never out of His control. If you trust Him, He will give you just the equipment you need for the battle you’re facing right now, because God’s plan will not lead you where His grace cannot keep you.
15 seal jacks i/c 10 mountain man pooper i/c 30 merrockin night club i/c 15 plank jacks i/c 10 hip circles each direction oyo 15 seal waves i/c
The Thang
Bolt 45 with toes raised
Split into 4 groups
Timer group Jail breaks across parking lot and nur back x 2
Other groups are AMRAP of the following exercises:
Abyss merkins Swerkins Pretzel sticks
3rd F WHY DOGS LIVE LESS THAN HUMAN
Here’s the surprising answer of a 6 year old child.
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that dogs’ lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said, ”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued,
”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay for as long as we do.”
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
• When your loved ones come home, always run to greet them. • Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. • Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy. • Take naps. • Stretch before rising. • Run, romp, and play daily. • Thrive on attention and let people touch you. • Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. • On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass. • On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. • When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body. • Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. • Be faithful. • Never pretend to be something you’re not. • If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. • When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
That’s the secret of happiness that we can learn from a good dog.
Round 2
Timer group – side shuffle across the parking lot and back
Derkins E2K Hand release merkins
BTW for 5 chicken peckers i/c
Round of Mary Gas pumpers 4 count Freddie Flutter kick Hello dollies Crab jacks
A double-deuce of PAX (22) won #thatfirstbattle and posted for YHC’s Roll & Rock workout: I.e. Roll the dice and rock out the reps and run. So it could be called Reps & Run as well, but that’s just not as catchy. YHC has been on a hiatus so it was good to be back out in the Gloom. Welcome to this morning’s two FNG’s: Lil’ Joe (yes, Hoss brought him) and Snagglepuss; so named because he posted last week, but he exited Stage Left after YHC Rick Rolled him. IYKYK. Oh, there were many other nickname options like Houdini, Stage Left, Casper, Walk-Off, etc., however, when an FNG states he doesn’t particularly like a name, well, he gets THAT name–it’s just the F3 way! Lol. Again, welcome to F3FirstState Lil Joe and Snagglepuss! That being said, here’s how things went down…
COP/Official Disclaimer given
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 18 IC
Hip Circles – 10 L, 10 R OYO
The MOTIVATOR – Always a crowd-pleaser
Cherry Pickers – 18 IC
Imperial Walker – 15 IC
THE THANG: (no standing around, no stopping, only Planking acceptable)
The Brief: Roll the Dice & Rock the reps, then run. Clydesdales run the short lap (.27 miles); Shivering Whippets run the long block (.05 miles)
This is from Skip Bertman when he was head baseball coach at LSU and led the Tigers to 5 National Championships: Let’s say you have 25 nickels to represent 25 guys on the team, in your group, or at your respective workplaces. (Bertman stacks the nickels)
Boy, they’re easy to stack, aren’t they? We can put ’em right on top…on top of one another, and you can stack all 25, not much of a problem. We can stay together, we can be one. But, boy, if you have one guy, bent out of shape, not in the system; some guy who’s not with it (kinda just settled on doing his own thing his own way). I guess we could carry him for awhile [places bent nickel on top of stack]. If you had two guys, maybe we can carry…maybe two guys like that [places 2nd bent nickel on stack]. But they can offer no foundation, you see. If they’re bent out of shape, not with the team, group, or company) there’s no chance that we’re going to be able build on top of these guys [places bent nickels on bottom and tries placing others on top]. There’s no chance they can help any of us. If we try and put ’em in the middle and we try and stack some guys on them, but they’re bent out of shape—their altitudes are different than the rest…it’s just not going to happen, boys! [Bertman places bent nickels in middle with nickels on top, they fall]. You can’t be bent out of shape (just doing your own thing, in your own way, if your part of something bigger). HIM gotta be with the team (the group, the company and they gotta stay together and gotta be One as they strive to carry out the mission of that team, group, or company that hired them. Or as Skip Bertman said, “You gotta remember the nickel demonstration.”
Time to roll again…
Round 2 – Rolled a 6
Bearcrawl out/Crawlbear back (count only left step) – 6 steps
Dying Cockroaches – 6 IC (double count)
Lunges (count only left step) – 6 out/back
Run respective blocks
Round 3 – Rolled a 15
Hand-Release Merkins – 15 OYO
Triple Threat Gas Pumpers (side-middle-side) – 15 IC
MJB’s – 15
Omaha due to time: All PAX run short block
Clydesdale total run distance = .81 miles
Shivering Whippets total run distance = 1.27 miles
Note to self: Mumblechatter Radar detected words to the effect, that, “We need to do some more running...”
COT:
Number-Rama – 22 PAX
Name-O-Rama – FNG’s named Lil Joe & Snagglepuss
Announcements: Happy 51st Birthday to Ruxpin…REEESPECT! ShamRuck (family ruck) coming up Friday, March 17 @ 6:30. Stepping off from the Aegis AO. ShamRuck FAQ’s: see Deez.
Prayers: T-Rex’s dad; travel mercy for Chauffer; Blockbuster’s success going before Soldier-of-the-Month Board today, etc., and for God to help us all to be HIM instead “bent nickels”
Bolt 45’s – IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats.
Pax completed a Toy Soldier set consisting of 100 LBC’s, 50 E2K’s each side, and 25 Big Boy ‘s.
Hydraulic Squats – 10 IC (6 Count)
“Chairman Lap” out the back driveway of the CHOP, to the left on Willow, left on Union and to the left back to CHOP parking lot. Approx. .25 miles.
All Pax were asked to complete a set of 21’s approx. 30 yards apart. Complete 20 merkins and bear crawl approx. 30 yards and complete 1 Bobby Hurley. Bear crawl back the @30 yards and complete 19 merkins, then bear crawl back and complete 2 Bobby Hurleys. Continue until you complete 15 merkins and 6 Bobby Hurleys. Pax took a breather for the F3 message after which they finished strong with 10 Burpees, a 30 yard bear crawl, 10 burpees, and a 30 yard bear crawl.
I’m about 5’8″. You probably know that because I sound about that tall, right? Years ago, I was carrying 210 pounds on this little 68″ body. Goodyear actually offered me a job as their blimp. But thankfully, I have weighed about 45 to 50 pounds less than that for a lot of years. Of course, I’ve still got the same metabolism that inflated this body many years ago. So, ohhh, do I know about dieting! And I also know the point at which your diet is in the greatest danger. OK, you’ve really been good…the scale has been giving you good news the last couple of weeks…your diet discipline is holding. Then somebody offers you something that you just can’t resist–let’s say, a few french fries. You consume them in one bite. So, you buy a whole order of fries for yourself. And now you feel bad. You have blown your diet. You could just get back on track right then. But no–you say to yourself, “I blew it! I’ve failed! Oh well, what’s the use? I might as well have a milk shake to wash down those fries. Hey, and anybody got the number of Pizza Heaven?” Yeah, you messed up. So you give up–and soon return to your former roundness.
I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about “Bouncing Back When You Blow It.”
Now, it’s a shame when one or two failures make you give up on your diet. Or, more importantly, on living like Jesus wants you to live.
Maybe it’s a pattern you know all too well. Like a dieter, you’ve made up your mind to change–to do things Jesus’ way. You’re living right, you’re doing well. But one day you mess up and fall back into something the old you would do. And you feel ashamed. Now right here is the point–in dieting or being a disciple–that will determine whether or not this is a brief detour or a huge defeat. What will you do when you’ve blown it? Now, you can clean up or give up. And, believe me, Satan is gonna be right there whispering, “What’s the use? You tried this Christian thing, and look at you! You’re a spiritual lose. You’ll never make it. This is too hard for you. Give it up, man.”
Now, Jesus said Satan is capable only of telling lies–and this is no exception. But he wants to take one defeat and turn it into many defeats…to use this one detour to get you to turn back completely. And maybe you have. Well, it’s time for the truth. Our word for today from the Word of God, Proverbs 24:16, “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” Notice it doesn’t say, “a righteous man never falls.” It says that when he falls, he gets right back up and starts walking again! See, that’s God’s intention for you when you’ve messed up.
That’s why He invites us in 1 John 1:9 to “confess our sins” because “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It’s not Jesus standing there, condemning you for falling. God says, “there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) No, that’s your enemy trying to pull you into a cycle of defeat. Live right…then mess up…then feel ashamed…then you give up…then you mess up a lot more…and then you crash spiritually. That’s the cycle of defeat. But Jesus is saying, “One failure is one failure. And the only people who never fell down are people who aren’t trying to walk. Bring that sin to My Cross. Let me clean you up. Tomorrow’s a new day!”
So when you mess up spiritually, it’s either the cross or a crash. Bring that sin straight to Jesus’ cross, and you can get up and keep going. Believe the “what’s the use?” lie, and you’ll crash. Because of Jesus, no failure is final. If you’ve fallen, you can get up, in the forgiveness and power of your Savior.
Now take it from a veteran dieter–it’s a terrible mistake to give up just because you mess up. Today’s failure doesn’t have to sink you tomorrow. You have a Savior who makes each new day a brand new beginning.
PAX at CHOP won #thatfirstbattle and posted for yet another surprise Chappie Q, who stood in the gap for Bunt who “called in sick.” YHC jumped at the opportunity and jumped into action with an oldie but a goodie–Ye Old 4×4! That is, 4 corners around the block x 4 exercises at each corner, plus the transitions from corner to corner around the CHOP’s .5 mile square. This workout has been done before and has been returned to from time to time as a bit of a measuring stick. It has been awhile, so…
WARM-O-RAMA:
YHC was all set up for a good warmup and completely forgot Roscoe was scheduled for his VQ Warm-O-Rama. Fortunately said PAX was mingling in the circle and ready to go. YHC doesn’t recall all the warm-up exercises, but kudos to Roscoe who did a great job leading. Thanks brother for being ready and NOT slipping into the shadows thinking maybe you could just do it another time. After that, off we went to get in the 4×4…
THE THANG:
PAX moseyed from the AO to the dentist office parking lot
Corner #1: Merkins (Corner of Union & Tobin)
05 Diamond Merkins
10 Ranger Merkins
15 Regular Merkins
20 Hand-Release Merkins
Transition to next corner:Lt. Danger to light pole, Mosey to corner #2…
Corner #2: Abs (Corner of Tobin & Mulberry)
20 X’s & O’s
20 E2K’s
35 4-Count Freddie’s IC – A real crowd-pleaser
60 Dying Cockroaches
Transition to next corner:Bearcrawl to power pole, Dragoncrawl to light pole, Karaoke rest of the way
**3rdF attached below was shared here after a 10-count (see below)
Corner #3: Legs (Corner of Mulberry & Willow)
18 Smurf Jacks IC
30 Calf-Raises OYO
The Bolt 45
05 Compass Squats (Omaha’d from 10 for time’s sake)
Transition to next corner:50% Jailbreak to church driveway, 75% Jailbreak to next corner)
Corner #4: Full body (Corner of Willow & Union)
10 Burpees
10 Plank Jacks (4-count)
05 8-Count Body Builders (Omaha’d from 10 for time’s sake)
10 Mule Kicks
Transition back to AO: Just a good ol’ fashioned Mosey
Returned to the AO at 0602 hrs. (apologies to the PAX). Had a few extras ready just in case there was time:
Jack Webb
Hands of Time
**3rdF shared at Corner #3:
In the OT book of Exodus, Ch. 7 begins a record Moses’ repeated visits with Pharaoh (King/Ruler) of Egypt to plead with him to “Let my people go!” God called Moses to lead Israel out of 430 years of Egyptian slavery. Each time Moses met with Pharoah he said no, or he said yes, only to turn around and recant Israel’s release to freedom.
Throughout this exchange with Pharoah, Moses warned with plague after plague–10 to be exact–and repeatedly we read that Pharaoh hardened his heart. But we also read the peculiar verse in Ex. 9:12 which says “the Lord hardened Pharoah’s heart.” I’ve always wondered about this, even at times fearing that God, in my own stupidity and rebellion, might harden my heart. But this goes against the concept of Free Will (the idea the we have the ability to interact with God voluntarily and NOT under compulsion).
I want to share some thoughts on this I recently discovered that helped me understand the verse. “Maybe you have your own thoughts on this verse, but let’s look at it another way–through the lens of a metaphor: Let’s say God is the sun, and let’s say Pharaoh is a leaf that IS NOT connected to the vine, and Moses is a leaf connected to the vine.
Now keep in mind the verse in John 15:5 where Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” We know the sun is the same today, forever, and always, but it will have a drastically different effect on the leaf that is connected to the vine, compared to the one that is not. The sun causes the vine and everything connected to it to flourish and to have life in itself. While on the other hand, it causes the unattached leaf to harden, shrivel up, and to eventually die. The same sun, the same leaves. The difference is one is connected to the Vine and one is not.” (Source: kingdom.story.films )
COT:
Number-Rama – 19 PAX
Name-O-Rama
Announcements: Take a look at the nation site F3Nation.com and check out the information for GRT Event coming up in D.C. Mar 24, 25, 26. This is THE premier F3 event. Sign Up today.
BOM/Prayer: Praise for the outcome/justice in the trial mention in previous prayers; strong finish for Swartz’ wrestling season and for his school work as his marking period is coming to a close; prayers for YHC’s parishioner who lost her husband to suicide yesterday; prayers for Bunt to get well soon and return to action; prayers for other requests mentioned–forgotten as of this writing by YHC, but never forgotten by Sky-Q, our great God and King who will continue to keep our hearts pliable and teachable and full of life IF we remain connected to Him through faith in Jesus.
Always honored to Q and appreciate the call from Bunt to fill in.
YHC jumped in to fill the gap as requested by Bunt who was out of town. 23 PAX won #thatfirstbattle and posted for yet another multi-station workout, which YHC confesses may have had too many moving parts. Nonetheless, those who did the work got “gassed”–says Quattro. Several PAX dressed in red to honor Cardinal from F3Knoxville, who actually collapsed and died during his VQ just yesterday, 1/11. (Forgive Streudel’s laughter in Name-O-Rama, he wasn’t aware why the PAX next to him announced “Cardinal!“) Cardinal leaves behind his M, Andrea, and 2 young children, Clay and Evie. Our hearts go out to the family and F3 PAX who were with him when he died. There are no guarantees that we’ll have our next breath…let’s live like it! And let’s be prepared for eternity!
As mentioned, there may have been too many moving parts. Still, here’s how it all went down…
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 51 IC
Imperial Squat Walker – 15 IC
Tempo Merkins – 10 IC
Italian Night Club – 51 IC
Cherry Pickers – 15 IC
>>>>>>Mosey to H.O.B.
THE THANGITY THANG: (WORKOUT RULES below)
PAIR UP for Stations: Run counter-clockwise aroun stations, stopping to do the workour (if bags are available)
CONE #1 • 40lb sandbags – 40 OH Presses, then go to next station; if there’s no sandbag, keep running all the way around…
CONE #2 • 40lb sandbags – 40 Sandbag Curls, go to next…
CONE #3 • Long Sit/Cross Legs – 30 reps, Single Count (Grab a card, do exercise, before moving on. KEEP YOUR CARDS!)
CONE #4 • 40lb GORUCK BAGS – 10 Sandbag Burpees (clean & toss), go to next…
CONE #5 • 20lb Medicine Balls – 10 OH Squat Thrust & Catch or Slams, go to next.
CONE #6 • X’s & O’s – 25 Single count (Grab a card, do exercise, before moving on. KEEP YOUR CARDS!)
CLOSING GAME OF WAR: 2 lines/2 teams: I. De. Clare. War! Winners: No exercise Losers: Exercise on winning card.
OVERALL WORKOUT RULES:
Move in Pairs
Spread out among 6 stations/directions are in chalk at each CONE.
GOAL: Keep moving! Rule: If you see a PAX walking you may Grab a card from the deck, charge them with it (they do exercise) AND you get to exchange it with and keep the highest card from their hand (no exercise charged to you!)
If there’s no bags at a station, rock on! (Keep running till you’re able come around and complete all stations.)
After each time at the ab stations (3&6), grab card from deck, do the exercise, but keep your cards to the end. Try to get 3 cards.
Once you’ve done a station you’ve completed that station. By-pass it if already done. DO NOT throw down actual sandbags!
Bonus: RETURN TO AO WITH ALL THE COUPONS, AND WITH WATER IN MOUTH (Spit it out/Swallow it no Burpees!) Due to time no Burpees were rewarded, however, several PAX did them after BOM. Growing success—most of the PAX succeeded at this crazy exercise invented by the Apache Indians (who ran great distances while holding water in their mouths)
Wait a second! 23 PAX/24 Waters…who didn’t drink up?
3rdF shared prior to the round of I Declare War:
Navy Seal, Admiral McRaven, told this training story during a commencement address:
He said, “Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events. Long runs. Long swims. Obstacles courses. Hours of calisthenics, something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards, times you had to meet. If you failed to meet those times, those standards, your name was posted on a list. And at the end if the day those on the list were invited to a circus.
A circus was 2 hours of additional calisthenics, designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, and to force you to quit. No one wanted a circus. A circus meant for that day that you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue, and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult, and more circuses were likely. But at some time during training everyone, everyone, made the circus list.
An interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list: Over time those students who did 2 hrs. of extra calisthenics got stronger and stronger; the pain of the circuses built inner strength and physical resiliency.
Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD—don’t be afraid of the circuses!”
In 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Paul used this kind of physical training as an illustration to tell of something of greater importance—living for Christ.
“Don’t you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (More important.) Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I beat my body [discipline] and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”
The Bible gives this allegory to tell us that to cross the finish line effectively it’s going to take work. Not to earn it, but it just takes work AND because, like any athlete or any man, there will be times when we just don’t feel like putting in the work [out]. T.D. Jakes reminds us, “Your feelings will never cooperate with your dreams. Beat your feelings into captivity. Because when you beat your feelings into captivity, that is what discipline is!”
This sounds like Admiral McRaven, except that it stretches across the spectrum from physical training to the things we face in our everyday world… “Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.” IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR HOME, YOUR WORKPLACE, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR WORLD—IF YOU WANT TO BE A H.I.M., don’t be afraid of the circuses!” [Anticipate and expect to do the extra work]
COT:
Name-O-RAMA – 23 PAX
Announcements: SLT Meeting tonight @ Tequila Real, 6:30 pm; Roving RuckF3st Friday stepping off at Georgetown Circle in the Gloom; Quattro need girls clothing and school supplies for trip to girls orphanage
Prayers: Quattro as he’s preparing for mission trip to El Salvador; Cardinal’s M and children and the PAX with Cardinal when he died during the workout.
Honored to stand in for Bunt in his absence, thankful for the opportunity to Q
Warm-a-Rama 13 seal jacks i/c 20 mountain man pooper i/c 23 Moroccan night club i/c 13 seal waves i/c 10 hip circles oyo each direction 23 Windmill i/c
The Thang Every PAX grab 1 large coupon and 2 small coupons
Tabada 20 second on, 10 second off = 1 round 10 rounds of 6 excercises Curls – palms up, hammer Flys (shoulders on large coupon) – palms up, palms in Squats – 6″, wide Bench press (shoulders on large coupon) – elbows in, palms together Holding chair chest squeeze – extended, close Abs – gas pumpers, lbcs
3rd F
2023 is about discipline Decide what you want Write that down Make a plan Work on it EVERY SINGLE DAY Your competition isn’t other people Its YOUR PROCRASTINATION It’s the knowledge you neglect Compete against that Conquer yourself Master the universe within
Round 1 at each station: 40 reps each exercise (lap and glow stick swap)
Round 2: repeat with 30 reps (lap and stick)
Round 3: repeat with 20 reps(lap and stick)
Round 4: repeat with 30 reps (lap and stick)
3rd F:
While in Church last week, some guy talking up front made a profound statement that honestly made me feel a lot better about the Christmas season, and my thoughts concerning the gift of Jesus all together. He said something to the tune of… “Jesus is the light during this season, and throughout every other season.” Id been thinking about that same thought a lot leading up to Christmas and Id been making that connection a lot ever since our family committed ourselves to following Jesus during our baptism in August. To be honest, leading up to the baptism I had this sense of complacent calm that after we publicly pronounced our faith as a family… the commitment was openly made and the path with Jesus would just appear naturally, easily, and fluidly. While some of what I thought would happen was true, what took me by surprise was the overwhelming challenge that would hit me soon after. This path was going to be rewarding in so many ways, but it would not be without it’s hurdles, because the road bumps that I once ignored and dodged, or solved by taking the easy solution, now presented them selves as an obstacle that I had to handle in a way that He would be proud of. Take for example us… we’re all members of a society in which we’re trying to do the best we can. And with that, we have a huge responsibility to be a faithful role model. And to piggy back off whirlybird… your kids (and everybody else around you both old and young) do watch you. When you cuss when you smash a finger, when you lose your temper in traffic, when you tell your wife you love her and make her tea in the morning, when you own up to a mistake, and even when you think their eyes are closed with you during prayer… They’re always watching to see what they can learn from you. The big questions is, what are you showing them? From that knowledge I think it’s important that we own, accept, and embrace the challenge of not only knowing about the Lord, but truly walking so instep with Him so that anybody who’s watching knows exactly where you stand, and the sense of security and resolve that a Christ centered life gives you. Coupled with that incredible challenge is understanding and admitting that things aren’t always easy, we screw up… and we aren’t perfect. There’s an amazing path laid out in front of all of us that leads to forgiveness and salvation. That being said, the path that is laid out will lead you to challenges, tests worse than those in a 7th grade science class, and even some rejection and sadness that will test everything you stand for. The guidance and comfort that Jesus provides can give you what you need to conquer all of that. If it’s being a leader…. His words teach about that. If it’s guiding your children…. His lessons are perfect for that. If it’s being a better husband, there’s many important lessons to learn in the Bible, and if it’s commitment to a healthier life that serves as an example to our friends, family, and community (and possibly leads to a sweet patch) there’s wisdom about that too. So what stands in our way??? A commitment to taking that next step, embracing the challenge as one that YOU need to tackle, and walking with Him in order to meet your goal. Accept the challenge, own the challenge, embrace all of life’s hardships as a chance to learn and be blessed. Romans 8:18 reads “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” A new year is upon us, and if you happen to stumble on your path or fall into darkness in 2023, Get back up into the light and move forward even faster, because He’s got your back, and those who are watching you will follow.
Workout Continued…
Finish up as many reps at last station as possible with lap and stick swap in between.
19 PAX won that first battle and posted at CHOP to take part in YHC’s 200th Post celebration with a good old fashioned stations workout. Truth be told YHC’s been working on this one for weeks, brainstorming and adding items to the 3×5 card on his desk as his Q crept closer. Here’s the 411, the skinny, the low-down…
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 25 IC
Seal Jack – 21 IC (or, something like that; got rep-jacked by PAX who wets himself every time SSH’s are called)
Swartzjack – 18 IC
Crab Flippers – 16 IC
THE THANG:
YHC took a brief to explain the stations
Partner Up – Work through stations at each cone.
The WHOLE Idea: KEEP MOVING! thru the 10 STATIONS: (not necessarily in this order, follow instructions on paper at each cone)
20 Abyss Merkins
Firehose Pulls (partner resist, cone to cone) Safety brief: Resisting… DO NOT faceplant partner!!
20 Partner Big Boys (interlock/hold ankles)
Chairman Lap: 0.27 miles
10 Swerkins
40 Curls for the Girls (w/Cindy)
10 Compass Squats (THE crowd pleaser of the day)
20 Patty Cake Merkins
Sandbag Steps (single leg over parking blocks – down & back)
10 Sandbag Burpees
CHANGE IT UP! Big Dice, 3 Options…
+ ROLL SNAKE EYES: No Burpees/No run
+ ANYTHING but SNAKE EYES = 18 Burpees/Long Run (a 0.50 mile mosey around the block)
+ NO ROLL, JUST RUN: Choose the hard thing & do it. No gambles, no negotiations. Just a choice.
3rdF Shared Near End of Workout
TRex asked on Saturday how we did over the past year in achieving our goals. Not many of us responded. Unfortunately that’s probably more often the case than not. In fact, many won’t set goals because they know they’re not likely to keep them, and, therefore, won’t even take the time to seriously think through setting goals.
I can’t say that Ruxpin’s goal was to post for 200 workouts this year. Personally, it was in the back of my mind and perhaps a small’ish goal, but YHC’s real goal was simply to be consistent. Consistency meant working out after being all night helping 2.0’s with issues and dead tired, working out with a head full of snot, working out in the rain, the snow, the hot, the cold, or working out when I just didn’t feel like getting out of the Fartsack. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, I post because I know you guys will be here. I honestly wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for knowing you’re all going to be here. The patch for 100 workouts or 200 workouts isn’t the real reward, CONSISTENCY itself is the reward! I love that F3 is a community of consistency! I heard the quote recently that, “Commitment gets you started, but consistency takes you to the finish.”
So maybe last year you committed to some goals, but came up short because you lacked the consistency to follow through. Keep in mind we have to live out consistency exactly where God has placed us. Maybe things got changed up in the past year. Doesn’t matter, live it out where God placed you. That may mean sacrifice, serving others, or stepping in somewhere to make a difference. (Somewhere uncomfortable and unfamiliar, but nonetheless where you’re called to make a difference.)
Consistency isn’t a once-and-done thing; not once a month, not once a week, but everyday…and sometimes even hourly or moment by moment, depending on the curveball life throws at you. I’ve talked about consistency in posting for workouts, and while consistency here is great and you will benefit by it in Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith—you become stronger, gain endurance, and lose weight; you build deeper and lasting camaraderie; and your belief system/faith is shored-up on a firmer foundation—all of these are only a microcosm of what’s going on in the real world. So consistency, as we’re heading into a 2023 may require making some changes or taking some new steps. Maybe not New Year’s resolutions per se, but commitment to more attainable goals. Goals which are not “possible”, but are better labeled instead as “probable.”
Make changes and take steps that’ll help you live consistently for the Lord, your family, your workplace and for the communities in which you live and serve. That way when crisis comes, your consistency will trump its challenges, there will be no need to panic. You’ll stay committed to family, job, friends, to achieving your goals…especially if you’re first commitment is to the Lord and consistency in your daily walk with Him. Start 2023 by intentionally renewing your commitment to Him. But don’t forget: Commitment only gets you started, consistency takes you to the finish! Be HIM and be consistent.
Each group finished up their last station(s) and YHC called it a wrap: (All made it through the stations at least once)
COT:
Number-Rama – 19 PAX said, “There’s a heatwave; it’s back up to 24 degrees so I’m posting!”
Name-O-Rama
Announcements: SLT (Shared Leadership Team meeting scheduled for Thu. evening Jan. 12, 2023 for strategic planning, etc. Details/Location/Agenda TBD). YHC honored to be among the 2 @f3firstState PAX to earn the 200 Posts patch. #earnednevergiven
Prayer: No specific personal; requests offered up besides prayer for those in our Armed Forces away from home over the Holidays and for our first responders.
Always love Q’ing. Thanx to all the men who stuck around to help put gear away.
