Why: Why not? You’ll regret not being there if you miss it.
Q&A:
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Not a dime. But each PAX/M is asked to bring a pasta dish of your choice, salad, & dessert (just bring something to share)
Q: BYOB?
A: Drinks will be provided. But booze…I think is BYOB. Check with Ruxpin
Q: When should I RSVP?
A: Yesterday. Since you can’t do that hit up Ruxpin on the GroupMe or DM him so that he and Shawna can start to get a headcount.
Q: What if I have any additional questions not covered here?
A: Reach out to Ruxpin or Chappie in the Gloom or on F# First State FB or IG.
Thanks ahead of time to Ruxpin and his M, Shawna, for hosting this always-a-fun-time event. Let’s get together, celebrate Christmas and another year of F3, and enjoy some 2ndF beyond a morning workout (i.e. lets introduce our families to each other…)
Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats.
Cherry Pickers – 20 IC
Mosey .5 miles to that darn hill
again….:)…
The Thang
Q revisited the beatdown that could
not be completed on last Q opportunity.
We started with the exercises originally slated for the descending evolutions
of the hill climbing portion of the beatdown….but we decided to start back at
10 instead of 5 where we had left off last time….:)……PAX completed 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. Boo Boo Bear Crawl up the hill and mosey down
and complete 6 Burpees, 6 Squats, 6 Merkins & 6 Big Boys. Nur up the hill and mosey down and complete 5
Burpees, 5 Squats, 5 Merkins, & 5 Big Boys.
Mosey .5 miles back to CHOP
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.
F3 Message 11/12/19
LAST-SECOND VICTORIES They’re usually some of the most exciting moments in sports: the touchdown or field goal that wins the game with no time left on the clock, that game-winning basket as the final buzzer sounds, or the game-winning home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Whatever the sport, there is nothing like a sudden victory when victory seems out of reach. It makes the fans go ballistic.
It can be
really nerve-wracking when you’re behind and time is running out, but it’s
really thrilling when a hero pulls it out at the last minute. The longer
someone walks with God, the more they come to appreciate Him as the God of the
last-second victory, the God of the eleventh hour.
The Bible
reveals many names by which God wants us to know Him. One that has meant so
much to so many for so long is the name Jehovah-jireh. It means, “The Lord
will provide.” You may be facing a need or situation right now where that
is literally your only hope – that the Lord will provide. Maybe it’s a job, a
friend, the funds, the person, the answer, the house, the healing, or the
breakthrough you need.
There is
a rock-solid promise in Philippians 4:19 that “God will
meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
God’s supply has nothing to do with what’s happening in the economy, in the
news, at work, or in what your resources can do. It’s all about His unlimited
“Jesus-account” in heaven, which transcends every limitation earth
has.
God
sometimes waits a while to meet that need. That’s when we tend to panic, to
come up with some desperate way to meet the need on our own, or to abandon our
trust in God because we think He’s taking too long. That takes us right out of
the will of God and aborts what God was going to do.
It’s
in Genesis 22 that God is known as
Jehovah-jireh for the very first time. We can learn a lot from how He worked
that day for Abraham. Abraham had, by faith, obeyed God’s direction to take the
son God had once promised to him, climb Mt. Moriah with him, and sacrifice his
son – as God Himself would do one day when Jesus died on the cross.
Believing
that God will somehow provide something Abraham can’t imagine, Abraham promises
his servants that both he and his son Isaac will return from the
mountain. Genesis 22:10 says his faith and
obedience went so far that “he reached out his hand and took the knife to
slay his son.” At the very last moment, God stopped him and showed Abraham
a ram, stuck in a thicket, who would be sacrificed instead of his son. The Bible
says, “So Abraham called that place, ‘The Lord Will Provide.'”
Jehovah-jireh made His move when there was no time left.
Now,
about your need. God loves to come through for us when there is absolutely no
place else that answer could come from, and there is no time left on the clock.
It’s 11:59 and the buzzer is about to sound. God shows up with His provision at
a time and in a way that will blow you away, that will give Him all the glory,
that will show the people around you the greatness of God, and that will take
you to a whole new level of faith and worship.
Have
faith in God. God’s last-minute victories are some of the most awesome moments
of your life. The greater the need and the later the hour, the more amazing
God’s work on your behalf is going to be. Hang in there until the end of the
game, because that is when God really does His stuff!
Seven PAX broke the Fartsack chains and won THAT FIRST BATTLE to brave the polar vortex, which brought a 30 degree temp drop since yesterday’s workout. Those who took on today’s Gloom repeatedly jumped “into the void” for an ab beatdown at the hands of YHC.
The plan was to stay put on the AO’s home court, however, the stiff winds not only moved us during the warmup, but also the workout. During the warmup PAX were moved to behind the screens on the tennis courts…
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 18 IC
SwartzJacks – 18 IC
Crab-flippers – 10 IC
Imperial Walkers – 18 IC
Prison Squats – 18 IC
The stiff wind, along with 24 degree temps, forced us to take a short mosey downtown to a beatdown sheltered by surrounding buildings, so off we went…
THE THANG:
PAX were circled up where the following beatdown instructions were received: The middle of the circle will be called “The Void,” 1 PAX would be in the void, executing 10 Burpees, while PAX on the outside of the circle would execute, IC, AMRAP Ab exercise pulled on the card. PAX would rotate strictly voluntarily to jump into the void. PAX executed the following random ab exercises as written on the cards:
Crab Cakes
Box Cutters
Gas Pumpers
American Hammers
E2K’s
Freddie Mercury
Protractor (10-Counts)
Big Boys (Feet interlocked)
Half Pumpers
Side Planks (10-Counts)
Not-So-Lazy-Boys (10 Counts)
Dying Cockroaches
Heel Touches
X’s & O’s
Flutter Kicks – lots of extras here, read below
After first round thru with each PAX rotating into the void for Burpees, the following 3rdF was shared:
Quote I read recently from a GORUCK selection IG post: “HE WHO JUMPS INTO THE VOID OWES NO EXPLANATION TO THOSE WHO STAND AND WATCH.”
We’ve all come across those in life who stand and watch. But we are not those; we know we cannot afford to be. No man can. Instead we’re leaders, we’re those who have jumped into the void (or are prepared to do so at a moments notice, at first call) we’re those who are HIM! And HIM, by definition, jump into the void.
Teddy Roosevelt referred to the same idea when he said, “THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA; WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY THE DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD; WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY…WHO, AT WORST, IF HE FAILS, AT LEAST FAILS WHILE DARING GREATLY; SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO KNOW NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.”
In the Bible, when the Lord said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” he was calling Joshua to the enormous, overwhelming, fear-inducing task of leading Israel into the Promised Land. He called Joshua to jump into the void, into the arena! In that very moment Joshua had to make the decision, as Kyle Carpenter writes, “On behalf of Future You (actually in his case future Israel, my emphasis). You know that Present You is probably going to have to deal with a little more discomfort or inconvenience right now, but long-term, you will be grateful for the choices you made today. You don’t want merely to hope for better days ahead, you want to take the steps necessary to ensure them.” (You Are Worth It, 229)
Our workouts are preparation, a small microcosm of this, an incubator, if you will, but it applies to all of life. You may be “nudging, creeping, or stumbling forward because it’s the only option you have: forward or backward,” but you’ve jumped into the void, you’re in the arena getting sweaty, marred, and bloodied—but YOU’RE STRIVING, not standing and watching!
“Even when there’s no reason in the world to continue, you’re making decisions that take away your own excuses to quit (every one of them) because you know how it would affect the way you carried yourself afterward. And once you make those kinds of choices to continue, you find it easier to make them again and again.” (Adapted: Ibid. 231, 261, 262)
So, what’s God calling you to do? How might this bare out personally? In the very least, refuse to align with being a cold and timid soul: Be a HIM in your home, in your workplace, and in the communities in which you serve! Maybe God’s even calling you to something additional, seemingly enormous, like Joshua? Whatever it is, dare greatly and jump into the void, because “HE WHO JUMPS INTO THE VOID OWES NO EXPLANATION TO THOSE WHO STAND AND WATCH”!
PAX returned to the COP for Round 2: Instead of Burpees, this time the PAX who jumped into the void would either Plank or Chilcutt for 1 minute (timed). PAX outside the void cycled through the same Ab cards. Only detour taken was an extra long set of Flutter Kicks at the hands of Leatherman (and the finicky timer on YHC’s phone).
Mosey return to the home court
NUMBER-RAMA:
NAME-O-RAMA:
COT/BOM:
Announcements: F3 First State Christmas Gathering location up for grabs, somebody act quickly so we can plan. Wanna host? Contact Chappie
Prayers: Aaron (Chappie’s nephew deployed), Danielle Briggs (facing cancer), Denny (Chairman’s dad, praise for good test results), Doubtfire, etc.
What a brisk morning it was, lots of work but no sweat–to cold to sweat. Honored to have the privilege to bring the beatdown at the Primis AO and to be able to share a 3rd Word with the PAX. A principle tested is a principle proven (F3 workouts are always outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold). YHC appreciates all the PAX who braved the elements prove the principle on this very cold and very windy gloom! Aye!
PAX: Chairman(Q), Chappie, Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Gump, Leatherman, Quatro, Semi, Vanilla, Wild Wing & Special Guest: Ryan Mavity (Cape Gazette)
Warmups: All In Cadence 18 SSH 20 Moroccan Night Clubs 18 Windmills 18 shell pickers
The Thang: Bring Sally Up Merkin Challenge (lots of complaining and grunting!).
Mosey to drawbridge. Toy Soldier Set: 35 LBCs 20 E2Ks 15 Big Boys.
Bear Bridge: Crawl bear up bridge incline, Ltnt Dan across deck, Bear Crawl down bridge. 10 count. Nur up bridge incline, Ltnt Dan across deck, crab walk down bridge. 10 count.
Mosey back to Primis. F3 Message:https://f3nation.com/2019/04/06/mammon-q1-9/
The Thang 2: Abbreviated version of William Wallace. Pax in 4 Corners of BBall Court: 3 in 2 corners & 2 in 2 corners (Thanks Chattahoochee!). Half Pax run to middle and do 10 Burpees while other half plank. Pax in middle run back when done and switch. All Pax to middle for 25 American Hammers IC.
Number-O-Rama and Name-O-Rama. https://youtu.be/VssjeqmRUjs
COT prayers for Chappie nephew Aaron overseas, Danielle Briggs and family as she battles cancer, Vanilla & Summit brother-in-law Jay (pancreatitis), Chairman’s Dads upcoming tests.
Those who stayed cozy got lapped! Especially those new young guys. What the what? Get upppp! Sorry, not sorry! Nonetheless a dirty dozen HIM started the week by winning THAT FIRST BATTLE and posting for an ad hoc beatdown by YHC. Doubtfire had to back out of his scheduled Q due to his back being tied in knots. Here’s to a recovery day for our brother and a quick return to the rotation. We have so many on the Q rotation that it sometimes feels like you don’t get to Q enough; that’s a good problem to have. YHC was excited to step in.
Never really JUST a standby, YHC went to the Exicon toolbox, pulled out the Bearmuda Triangle, and used it on the PAX. It lived up to its name…we mysteriously lost a PAX along the way (oh, wait, that was only a modification?). Here’s the skinny on the workout:
Warm-O-Rama:
SSH – 18 IC
Crab Flippers (Cherry Pickers on Delmarva) – 18 IC
Swartz Jacks – 18 IC (Uno, dos, tres, QUATTRO!)
Moroccan Night Clubs – 18 IC
Merkins – 18 IC
Patriot Run around the block – nice pace!
3rdF Message shared here – Content posted below
The Thang:
THE Bearmuda Triangle – 3 cones set up in a triangle pattern, 90 feet apart. PAX Bearcrawl from cone to cone, adding 1 Burpee at each cone. 3x around the cone triangle = 45 total Burpees
Two 10-counts later, PAX found themselves on the side wall of the church:
People’s Chair – 10 Count
5 Mexican Jumping Beans, OYO
BTTW – 10 Count
10 Mexican Jumping Beans
People’s Chair – 10 Count, 2x
15 Mexican Jumping Beans
The Jack Webb Finale: (Always a crowd pleaser)
Ratio: 1 Merkin/4 OH Claps all the way up to 10 Merkins/40 OH Claps
Though Leatherman tried to stop us, and stop the pain, we went…a WHOLE 30 secs over :-)’ Nice try brother, nice try!
Count-O-Rama:
COT/BOM:
Announcements: Nuh’in (at least not that YHC remembers)
Prayers: For family of Fireplex’s friend who passed from ALS, Chappie’s nephew (Aaron) who is deployed, for our bro Doubtfire on several different fronts
That was about it. Again, honored by the opportunity to lead. Always enjoy Q’ing. Humbled by it all. Get back soon, Doubtfire.
~Chappie, out!
Scars – 3rdF Content:
The theme of SCARS seems to keep coming up an awful lot in the last few weeks. Scars are often a kind of credential. Each of them has a story.
Kyle Carpenter (MOH recipient) bears some serious scars for jumping on a grenade to save the life of a fellow Marine. He devoted an entire chapter of his book YOU ARE WORTH IT to scars (cf. Ch.13, Don’t Hide Your Scars). In it, he wrote that “scars are a kind of credential”(210). Kyle added this story: “There is a greeter at my local Walmart, an elderly gentleman who always has a cheerful hello for everyone who comes through the door. One day, as I was walking in, he spotted me, flashed his huge grin, and then did finger pistols at me as he playfully asked, ‘Motorcycle wreck?'” I did finger pistols right back at him and replied, ‘Taliban!'”
Later he continued, “I would never encourage anyone to share something they aren’t comfortable sharing. But there are some scars that are so obvious, so apparent, that it is impossible to hide or ignore them. Instead of being ashamed of them, I think there is power in embracing these ‘stories’ that leave their marks on our bodies and souls” (211).
Scars are a kind of credential. They have tremendous power for creating bonds. “Wear them proudly. Wear them for yourself, to honor what you’ve been through. And wear them for others, to connect with them and inspire them to keep on fighting. They reassure others they’re not alone. They give hope that someday, their wounds will become nothing but scars, too” (215).
In 2 Cor. 11, the Apostle Paul shared quite a list of experiences which undoubtedly left him with serious scars. The context of the list was that he was facing off with false teachers who were trying to lead the Corinthians away from the truth. Paul shared the list not to brag about personal experiences, but to express that his heaviest burden of all was for the churches. The best scars are always the ones left from a cause that is bigger than we are! Listen to these verses from 2 Cor. 11:22-29…
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
Had Paul NOT been a true follower of Christ, had he NOT been truly concerned for the church, he would not have experienced (willingly endured) those trials — he would not have borne the scars which those trials inevitably produced — especially the 39 lashes x5! (Btw…that’s 195!).
Scars are a kind of credential. The nail-scarred hands of our Savior are credentials of His unconditional love. Proof that He paid our penalty in the cross. They are further proof that He is alive! Add to that, sometimes some else’s scars remind us we’re living, we’re ALIVE!
This past week you heard about the death of Toby Mac’s (and his wife, Amanda’s) oldest son, Truett, age 21. Toby Mac’s Facebook post was nothing short of phenomenal. In the midst of feeling exceptional pain that will leave exceptional scars, he and his wife, Amanda, were able to inspire others. Here’s how/why: (This is the last paragraph of their post)
Scars in the lives of HIM are a kind of credential. They’re credentials that we ARE unquestionably ALL IN, whether it be in relationship with God, in our families, our churches, our workplaces, or the communities in which we serve. Scars heal and tell a story BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIVE; scars mark you as resilient, tough, and as a survivor! They mark you as a HIM!
Walking lunge to light post then mosey to Shipbuilders
20 Mountain Climber Twists IC
25 Big Boys
10 Pendulum Lunges each leg
Mosey to MES
30 Panther Shoulder Taps IC
20 Xs and Os IC
25 Bobby Hurleys
Mosey to HOB entrance
High knees, butt kickers, karaoke down driveway then return
with mosey prison break light post to light post
Mosey to Waters Edge
20 Hand release merkins
Not so Lazy Lazyboys
8 Iron Mikes IC
Mosey to AO
F3 Message
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be
glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
What
Does a Good Day Look Like?
Waking up to a new day is the start
of a good day. For many of us, a good day includes having some alone time with
God during our day, getting our families ready for school and work, and then
doing whatever we need to do. Having a fulfilling day at work, being able to
help others, and knowing that our kids and spouses have had a good day at work
and school makes for a great day. Finally, spending time with your kids is a
common and great way to end your day. However, the most important (and best
part) of a good day is knowing that no matter what life throws at us, the Lord
is there for us.
DISCLAIMER – You’re here because you want to be. It is you against you. Do what you can. if there’s something you can’t do or shouldn’t do then modify, but always do something.
There was no rain or anything like that, the library just happened to have left the lights on for us so we executed the Warm-O-Rama on the library patio. Man, THAT PLACE IS GOING TO BE QUITE HANDY ON SOME OF THOSE RAINY/SNOWY DAYS! Technically it still meets the principle always outside rain or shine, hot or cold. Who found this AO??
Anyhoo, YHC led a warm-up that went something like this (the BB is a few days behind schedule so memory is fading on this one + it was Weinkeless)
SSH – 18 IC
Cherry Pickers/Crab Flippers/Hairy Chiggers – 10 IC
Prison Cell Merkins – 5 OYO
Windmill – 18 IC
YHC explained to the rest of the PAX that we’d be doing an abbreviated Q School for the workout. The value: New AO and new PAX who will soon be stepping into the Q role will be better-prepared for Q’ing.
Mosey to Arena’s Restaurant parking lot for Q School!
The Thang:
PAX Circled up and worked through the following:
Intro to Q School
Abbreviated History of F3
Freed to Lead (there are a few AO copies floating around, grab one and read
F3 Mission
Sadclown Syndrome
IATA – The “How” of Effective Leadership
Individual Initiative – the I2 of Freed to Lead
Accountability – must be applied by and outside force (“Accountability means making personal commitment to the entire team,” adapted from 4DX. “We expect out of peers the very best we all can offer.”)
Teamwork – Individual participation based on strengths
Attention to detail
How to Count– Effective leadership as a Q – Critical to this particular abbreviated version of Q School
Command Voice – Comes from the gut, not the throat. Signals PAX that you are in control, have a [plan, and you’re ready to roll and take leading them seriously.
Why Cadence? – CONSISTENCY in all things is the building block of leadership. It develops Esprit de Corps. It prevents fatigue. Demonstrates consistency, competence, and attention to detail.
At this point YHC gave a demonstration and then handed-off the Q baton to each PAX. We worked around the circle and each PAX called out an exercise and executed it IN CADENCE to practice counting. Gents be patient with yourselves and each other, IT TAKES PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
YHC briefly covered some of the important factors of the Building of the Workout structure by a Q.
Thang 2:
PAX lined up along one end of the parking lot and YHC worked the PAX up the ladder by 5’s with a “slow-burn” back and forth across the lot with exercises at each end to wrap the Q School.
Mosey back to the AO.
COT
Announcements
Prayer
That’s it. Keeping it short (a first) but had to make sure the Backblast was posted. Afterall, if there’s no Backblast, it didn’t happen. Plus, YHC wanted to lead by example since Toy Soldier is on Q in the Gloom.
9 HIM posted for the first First State beatdown of the week and the month.
YHC pulled out what has become a standard of measure at the CHOP AO in Milton, DE: The 4 x 4! But the name was changed from 4 x 4 to 4 for #4 this time in honor of #4 Troy Haynes, star QB from Woodbridge High School, Class of 2019. This young-man was starting QB for 4 years, leading his high school football team to 2 State Championships. He was diagnosed in the Spring with kidney cancer. He’s been a strong tower through this battle, and his parents and family have been an amazing testimony of faith in Christ the whole time, hoping, praying for, and expecting the best. Sadly, Troy went home to be with the Lord on Sunday. He just turned 19-years-old!
The whole community of Woodbridge has stood by the Haynes family during this battle. YHC’s wife teaches in the Woodbridge School District and has been involved in rallies for #4 and kept YHC abreast of his situation. What a community! Everyone was praying. Everyone was wearing their shirts that said #fightlike4. Everyone was right there, on the sidelines, rooting for Troy through what turned out to be an insurmountable battle. Troy was apparently not accustomed to losing, but this one was out of his hands. If they could everyone around him, including Troy himself, would no doubt call some other play, any play, that would pull this one out for the win–whether it be a come from behind, after the 2-minute warning, last second, or an OT situation. Texas. In the end, there was no play call to beat this opponent. Cancer. Time ran out. Cancer sucks! A young man has been taken from his parents, family, friends, and this world. Too soon! Our hearts ache for the whole family, but for the parents, especially. Some of you have been there and done that, but most of us cannot imagine losing a child. They’re supposed to outlive us! There’s no understanding this side of heaven to be able to explain, more less fully accept such a loss. There are no easy answers. Presence. Yet, we know Christ who holds this family and the entire world in His hands. In situations like this we may not know the future, but we can find peace in Him who holds it. We pray this for Troy’s mom and dad, and for his siblings. As part of the community-at-large, we’ll continue to pray for and support and stand beside this family–their hopes were not seemingly satisfied. While there are no answers in all of this (yet), the family’s faith has been strong. We trust that it remains as such, and if not, where it is perhaps tested or maybe even broken, may God use this experience to rebuild their faith in due time.
This workout was themed in honor of Troy: 4 for #4: 4 corners [around the block, 0.5 miles] with 4 workouts, one on each corner. It went a little something like this:
Cherry Picker (Crab Flipper, Hairy Chigger) – 18 IC
Italian Night Club – 18 IC
B2G (Butt 2 Ground) Squats – 10 Count Hold (x3)
Brief review on the purpose of the Shovel-Flag, the Mission of F3 to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups of men for the invigoration of male community leadership, and the principles of F3: 1. All men 2. Always outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold 3. Peer lead 4. Free, and 4. Always end with a COT.
Brief explanation of workout and how we were going to use it as a simple tribute to Troy Haynes. #4!
Transition to next corner: Mosey down Willow Ave. toward Union St. 50% mosey to 1st light pole, 75% mosey to 2nd light pole, Jail Break rest of the way to…
Corner #4: Body – Burpees – 10 OYO, Mt. Climbers – 10 OYO, Flying Squirrels – 10 OYO, and Mule Kicks – 10 OYO (YHC’s back still hurts! note to self: NEVER put these on the Weinke again!)
There you have it, 4 [corners] for #4.
Mosey return to the AO. And looky, looky, it’s 0600 hrs.
COT/BOM:
Announcements: Lots of chatter about some unheard of run. The Dogfish somethin’ or other? We’re going to check into this thing and see what it’s all about. Anybody know anything? (Seriously, great job to all the guys who ran it! Chairman, Chattahoochee, Leatherman.) Shout out to all those pushing not only to improve their wellness, but also their leadershipness. #F3FirstStateVisibility
Prayers: Haynes family, that God and His people would surround them during this time | Gump, recovery from possible stress fracture | A bunch of other requests that I’ve forgotten but Christ has not. All humbly lifted to our Lord.
Thanks to all the HIM who won That First Battle, overcame the draw of the fartsack (which has apparently been very strong as of late), and posted. You posted and that’s why YHC posted! Honored to lead this workout as a simple tribute to #4, and honored to lead the PAX of F3 First State! Aye!
Chappie, out!
3rd F Message shared prior to Corner 3 workout. The full version:
We’ve all inadvertently inflicted pain on someone else, we’ve all inadvertently been the source of someone else’s pain. I remember once when Zeke (our 20-yr-old) was a baby and I had just changed his diaper. As I was getting him dressed again, I began to snap the shoulder snaps on his onesie. One moment everything was fine, a split-second later, he was red-in-the-face screaming and crying. I had no idea what was wrong with my little guy, and I all I wanted to do was finish dressing him so I could pick him up to comfort him. I was having trouble with one of the snaps, so I hurried even more, pressing the snaps harder between my fingers. He screamed and cried louder. I became all the more determined to get the thing snapped, so I squeezed the snap harder still. The result was his escalating pain. At that moment I was horrified to realize he was being tortured by ME! He was screaming and crying because of ME! The snaps I’d kept squeezing harder together would not close because I had the skin of his left shoulder between them. I was the source of his pain! Inadvertently, yes! But I was inflicting severe pain upon someone I loved. (Not talking about discipline here, that’s very purposeful pain, but I’m talking about inadvertent infliction.)
Several pieces of this scene translate into tools we can use when discovering that we’re the source of someone else’s pain:
First: STOP DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING. When I discovered I was causing my son pain I stopped. I realized I’d had some of his skin between the snaps and I was hurting him, so I stopped right away. When you and I realize that what we’re doing is a source of someone else’s pain — a loved one, a friend, a peer, an acquaintance, or even someone we may not know — we have to stop doing whatever it is that’s causing them pain. You might discover it on your own, they may tell you (depending on age, they might even scream or cry :-), or an outside voice might come from someone observing what’s going on and mention it to you. The point is that awareness should bring it’s end.
Second: COMFORT THE OTHER PERSON. When I discovered I was causing my son pain I comforted him. I immediately picked him up and I soothed his shoulder the best I could. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. Frankly, I’m surprised there’s no scar there today. Pain brings discomfort. The level of pain inflicted carries with it a corresponding level of discomfort. My son was only a baby at the time, and it was easier to comfort him in that moment than at other times in his adolescence, or since as a young adult when I’ve failed him and inadvertently inflicted pain upon him (or others). The same is true among all of us as adults; we can’t simply pick up another adult and soothe them from [physical/emotional/relational] pain we’ve caused. Oh, if it were only THAT easy! It’s going to be different when we’re dealing with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet, still, maybe it doesn’t have to be as complicated as we sometimes make it. After all, we’re “members one of another” according to Romans 12:5. And Romans 14:19 says, “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” What it is that will provide comfort for someone when we’ve been the source of their pain? Our pursuit of making peace with them (no matter who it is).
Third: EXPRESS YOUR SORROW. When I discovered I was causing my son pain I pleaded my sorrow to him. As a baby, he had no clue what I was saying. But he did understand the action of my love. He knew my sorrow because it was expressed not just by my voice (words he didn’t understand) but by my affection and by my repentance (I stopped doing that which was his source of pain and I picked him up and held him til the pain subsided). God’s Word talks about a sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). While that refers to salvation, I think we can apply it here. When we’re the source of someone else’s pain, its not enough to simply say we’re sorry. Our sorrow over hurting someone else has to lead us not only to stopping, but it has to lead to reconciling with them. Taking full responsibility for our words and/or actions is part of godly sorrow.
When Carol and I were first married we attended what was essentially a small group for Marriage Ministries International. Someone in the group quipped that there were 12 words that we’d have to get used to saying: “You were right. I was wrong. Please forgive me. I love you!” If I recall correctly, the husbands (especially) were taught we’d have to get used to saying them if we wanted a happy marriage. I jest, but there’s truth in those words that we’ve both actually kept handy for nearly 26 years now. Here’s some key advice for expressing your sorrow when you’ve been the source of someone else’s pain. DO NOT just say sorry! DO tell them you know exactly what you did that hurt them. Take full responsibility for it! Plead sorrow and use these words EVERY time: “Will you forgive me?” If you’re the one who’s been hurt, and someone is admitting their wrong and asking for your forgiveness, use these words EVERY time: “I forgive you.” Say it! You’ve probably noticed some who are utterly uncomfortable using these words. Well, make it your practice anyway! Who knows, maybe it’ll catch on. Remember, express genuine sorrow and take full responsibility for doing whatever it was that was the source of someone’s pain, and let the action that follows do the convincing: “…fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22). In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus said, “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you [i.e. you probably hurt him], leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
Also, in the next chapter, right after the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught this about forgiveness: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then you Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14-15). In summary, these verses say we are to treat others the way God has treated us.
Rest assured I was careful to never pinch my boy’s skin between the shoulder snaps of his onesie again. Nonetheless, I have been a source of pain to him in other ways. To be fair, he’s done the same. I’m human. He’s human. We’re all human, and there have been plenty of times when we’ve inadvertently been the source of someone else’s pain. And maybe they’ve been the source of ours. Yet, we have this God-driven love for one another, supernatural love, which not only prompts us in the Spirit of Christ to reconcile, but He’s also given us the above tools and many more to work through the pain and continue on in healthy relationships with one another. That’s what HIM men do!
Warm up. 20 SSH, windmill, cherry pickers… high knees, butt kicks, L & R karaoke.
mosey to alley. Mike Tyson set of 7’s with a bear crawl in-between.
mosey to ballfields. 1st game. race around the bases. split into teams. at home do 10 burpees, than bear crawl to first and do 20 big boys, run to second and do 30 merkins, nur to 3rd and do 40 alternating lunge squats jumps then crawl bear to home. first team with 2 PAX to finish win.
2nd game. keep away. one team starts inside the grass baseball diamond with a football and try to keep away from other team that all starts at the pitchers mound then goes after the team with the ball to either tag the person with the ball or intercept/block a pass which stops the time. winning team after 3 rounds using their best time does 5 burpees and losing does 10 burpees.
3rd game. ultimate football. to score you have to pass the ball up the field, once you have the ball you can only take 3 steps. when the possession changes the team that just lost possession needs to do an up-down before they play defense.
mosey to circle for COT! good times fellas, thanks for being HIM!
3rd F on the song reckless love by Cory Asbury and how we have a Father, a heavenly Father that loves us. But although there is a heavenly Father that loves everyone of us, we need to be the best earthly fathers for our families and an example for our family friends and the community because like my wife and I there is an epidemic of people who grow up without dads. I am learning that I want to be a role model for them, but one of those most important jobs in that role is to be a doorway to their heavenly Father. And to help them grow a relationship with Him.
