Streudel

Sometimes I Just Wanna Sit

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Date: 06/05/2025

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

Pax: Chattahoochee, Deez, Fireplex, Probe, Streudel, Toy Soldier, TRex, and Welcome FNG (Punch List)

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 30 IC

Windmills – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Imperial Walkers – 20 IC

Hydraulic Squats -10 IC

The Thang  All Pax grabbed a block and ran to the intersection at Mill Street.  Pax completed 20 Merkins each side with one hand on the block.  Pax utilized the block and the curb to complete 20 abyss merkins.  Pax completed a Lt Dan with the block down Mill Street to Federal Street.  All Pax completed 20 double count American Hammers with the blocks as well as 20 Big Boy Sit-ups with the blocks.  Leaving that pain station each Pax completed a 50 Yard bear crawl with the block before moseying to the M&T Bank parking lot.  At that station each Pax completed a Bolt 45 set in cadence with the block.  All Pax moseyed around the bank parking lot with the block before returning to CHOP to complete a murder bunny evolution across the Fire department parking lot before completing the final pain station.  Each Pax completed 10 Alabama Ass Kickers using the block as a base and finally 10 Blockees.      

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

F3 Message 06/05/25

The Tripper Upper – #5092

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

In high school, our teenage son lived a very, very busy life which I think might go with having this last name. And I could sometimes find him finally ending up on the couch for just kind of a collapse, you know, and he deserved it. He would set up this little comfort zone there. He’d have his New York Giants mug, and his school books, and his TV guide, in case he had time to watch. And most important, he had his phone. Unfortunately, the phone hooked up two rooms away. That means the cord was stretched to the max to get it to the couch, and I could tell when he had the phone there, because I kept hearing people muttering through the house after they tripped over the cord. It was right where everybody had to walk to get to the living room or to the kitchen. And I’d say, “Son, you’ve got to do something about this thing that people keep tripping over.” Well, so do you!

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Tripper Upper.”

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Romans 2:24. It’s a sobering indictment of first-century Jewish believers. Listen to these words, “As it is written, God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” “The Gentiles” really means the unreached people, and basically the Jews were the reached people. And He is saying, “You believers, you know, because of you, the unreached people are blaspheming God.” He talks a little bit about why, for example in chapter 2, verse 21. He says, “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?” Then He says, “God’s name is blasphemed because of you. You’re not living what you say you believe, and people are tripping over the contradictions.” It’s like my son’s telephone cord. It’s in the way. You’ve got to ask, what is there in my life that may be keeping someone from Jesus and from heaven?

It’s a terrible thought to think that someone might end up in hell forever because I turned them off to Jesus by my inconsistency. Maybe your temper is canceling out your message about a loving Savior. Maybe the humor that you use is contradicting the purity that you say Jesus stands for. Maybe your sarcasm is a little hard to reconcile with the compassion of Jesus. Maybe your gossip and your backstabbing is confusing people. Maybe it’s the fact that you tend to be so negative. Maybe it’s your laziness at school, or your complaining attitude, or your laziness at work. You know, a Christian ought to be the best employee that an employer’s got, so that they give credit to the name of Jesus.

You ought to be the hardest-working student in that class whether you get the best grades or not. You’re an advertisement for your Savior. I know you’d hate to be a reason for someone to reject Christ, all because you never dealt with your “tripper upper.”

Actually, if you would let Jesus change that part of you; that part that is out of control, that’s inconsistent, that’s confusing to an unbeliever, it might just create the curiosity they need to start investigating a life-changing Christ. It might give you the best opening you’ve ever had to share Christ. They’re going to say, “Man, what happened to you,” because it will be in an area where they never saw you this way before. And that is a powerful testimony.

My son and I had to solve that cord problem before someone got hurt, and he had to do something about the thing that kept tripping people up. I hope you’ll do that in your spiritual life. I believe that you can provide an uncluttered path to the Jesus who your friends so desperately need if you’ll just get rid of that “tripper upper.”

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Super Sheldon Cooper on Chestnut Street

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Date: 05/06/2025

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Chattahoochee, Drago, Fireplex, Toy Soldier, Ruxpin, Streudel, Whirlybird

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 25 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

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

Windmills – 20 IC

Hip Circles – 10 Each Direction OYO

Imperial Walkers – 20 IC

Mosey around Mill Street and congregate back at the Flag Pole at the Firehouse – @.25 miles

The Thang

The Super Sheldon Cooper on Chestnut Street.  Complete 10 Burpees, 10 Squats, 10 Merkins & 10 Big Boys.  Nur up the hill and run down and complete 9 Burpees, 9 Squats, 9 Merkins, & 9 Big Boys.  Rinse and repeat in descending order until reaching 1 of each exercise.

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

F3 Message 05/06/25

Someone’s In My Room! – #8069

Thursday, December 14, 2017

I’ve checked into many a hotel over the years, but I’ve never before experienced what I did just a little while back. See, when I arrived, I went to the desk – yes, they had my reservation – and they gave me my room number and my key – so far, we’re good – and I went to my room. Then I put the key in the door, opened the door and stopped in my tracks. First hint of trouble was the clothes I saw hanging up on the rack near the door. Then I noticed the TV was on, and there were feet propped on a footrest – feet that were probably attached to someone who was watching that TV. Well, I quickly and quietly closed the door, turned to my associate and said, “What do you know! Someone’s in my room!”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “Someone’s In My Room!”

Now, it’s not a nice feeling to find someone already in a room that you thought was reserved for you. Jesus knows that feeling – and that occupied room just might be your life right now.

It happened to our Lord before. The Book of Revelation makes it clear that it happened, for example, among some believers at a place called Laodicea. In chapter 3, we learn that they thought they were doing pretty well. They said they were rich and they didn’t need a thing. But Jesus said they were lukewarm spiritually, a temperature that He said He would spew out of His mouth.

Then, in our word for today from the Word of God in Revelation 3:20, Jesus gives unforgettable – and actually heartbreaking – word pictures of how He had been shut out of lives that were supposed to belong to Him. Jesus says to them, and maybe to us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Here is this awful picture of the Savior locked out of lives He paid for with His life. And He’s talking to Christians here!

Could it be that Jesus is feeling closed out of your life, closed out of your priorities right now? It’s not that you’ve stopped believing in Him, or giving money to Him, or going to His meetings or doing His work. It’s just that someone or something has taken over that room of your life – the best of your time, the best of your affections, the best of your energy, the best of your resources – they’re going somewhere else. In essence, Jesus has come to the door of your life right now and He’s saying what I said that day at the hotel, “Someone is in the room that I thought was reserved for Me.”

It could be that, like the Laodicea believers, you have the illusion that everything’s fine. You may be relatively prosperous right now, experiencing some success. Your Christianity is going great – but your relationship with Christ is a mess in His eyes. And you’re feeling this unexplainable loneliness in your spirit right now. You know what? You’re lonely for Jesus. You’re just not close like you used to be. Somehow, in the business of your life, the One who died for you has been crowded to the edge. And now His room is filled with your career, your family, that friend, that person you’re dating, or your personal pursuits.

The old hymn writer described it pretty well, “Room for business, room for pleasure; but for Christ the crucified, not a place that He can enter in the heart for which He died.” But you’re missing Jesus, aren’t you? That closeness, that power, the reality you once had when the room He paid for was totally reserved for Him.

Maybe these words from another old hymn express the way you can move out the intruder and welcome back Jesus to His rightful place. “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.”

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Hey Boo Boo

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Date: 04/24/2025

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Chattahoochee, Deez, Fireplex, Motown, Probe, Quattro, Streudel

QIC: Fireplex

Warmup

SSH – 20 IC

Moroccan Night Clubs – 30 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

Mountain Climbers – 20 IC

Hydraulic Squats – 10 IC (6 Count)

Mosey to “Oh Hill No”.

  1. 1st round – All Pax Nur up the hill and mosey back down and completed clock merkins on the incline.  Each Pax completed 2 reps of 5 merkins at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, & 9 o’clock.  All PAX planked until the 6 was in. 
  2. 2nd round – All Pax crawl bear up the hill and mosey back down and then completed the same 2 evolutions of clock merkins as described in Round 1.  All Pax planked until the 6 was in.
  3. 3rd round –  All Pax completed the boo boo Bear crawl up the hill and mosey back down and then completed the same evolutions of clock merkins as described in Round 1.  All Pax planked until the 6 was in.
  4. Pause/Break for the F3 message.
  5. Final round – All Pax completed the inch worm up the hill and mosey back down and then completed the same evolutions of clock merkins as described in Round 1.  All PAX planked until the 6 was in. 

Mosey 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 04/24/25

Got the Pain? Get the Point! – #9869

November 7, 2024

America runs on coffee! Yeah, let’s face it! Now, you might object to that, but I don’t know on what grounds. You know, there are people who drink coffee, and then there are some who mainline coffee. I have friends who do that, and it keeps people like the makers of those little quickie coffee units very busy. In fact, those little units are a good example of the importance of something called the filter.

Now, when you pour into those filters, the hot water goes straight through and enough coffee gets through to taste good, but the grounds don’t get through the filter and you don’t want them to. I mean, the reason being that most people I know aren’t fans of chewing their coffee, and what makes the difference is the filter. Of course, there’s a much larger filter around your life that makes all the difference in your quality of life.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Got the Pain? Get the Point!”

Now, our word for today from the Word of God is found in 1 Corinthians 10. I’m reading from verse 13. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Did you notice those words “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear”? “Not let you.” In other words, everything has to get past God before it gets to you. It’s got to have His permission. So, God is reviewing every test and every trial that comes into your life before it gets to you. Otherwise the Bible wouldn’t say that He “let it come to you.” Every problem you’re facing right now has been, according to the Word of God, Father filtered. Wow! It can’t get past your Heavenly Father before it gets to you.

Of course we know that from the book of Job don’t we? The devil wanted to bring all kinds of turmoil and anguish into Job’s life. But before he could do that, he had to check with God. He couldn’t just go do it on his own. And God, knowing that it would build Job’s life, and that ultimately he would double the blessing on his life, said, “Yes, that’s okay. You can do it.”

The pain that we have in our lives, the struggles that we have, some of it God sends and some of it God allows, but all of it has to get past Him. Now, I find the hard times in my life much less terrifying when I know that God, if He hasn’t sent it, has at least allowed it. And He will never allow something to come into your life that can break you; only what will build you.

It’s like a weight lifter who, even though he has to strain and push and it hurts to lift more than he’s ever lifted before, he’s stronger as a result of lifting greater weight. God may allow greater weight to come into your life – not to crush you, but enough to make you stronger.

So, look for the Lord and look for the lesson in that tough time you’re going through. And if you’re going to get the pain, get the point. Your Father loves you very deeply; He’s allowed that to come into your life. Don’t say, “Is this from the devil or is this from the Lord?” I don’t think we’ll ever figure that out. But you can say, “How can God use this?” Because He wouldn’t have sent it if He couldn’t use it.

What are you facing right now? I’ll tell you this, It has been Father filtered. And the filter makes all the difference, because the Father loves you very much.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

F3 A Merkin

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Date: 03/11/2025

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Ruxpin, Streudel

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.

Jiminy Crickets – 10 OYO

Windmills – 15 IC

Cardio Warm-up – Partial Spartan Run Routine at CHOP parking lot – Run/sprint @40 yards and drop and do 15 merkins. Wosey back to the start.  Run/sprint @40 yards and drop and do 15 merkins.  Pax completed 5 reps for 75 merkins for the exercise.

The Thang

The Super 21 Cycle.  1 Merkin to 1 Big Boy Sit up.  2 Merkins to 2 Big Boy Situps.  3 Merkins to 3 Big Boy Situps, etc., etc., etc.  But wait there is a twist….after each completed set of #1 though #5 PAX will complete 21 Imperial Walkers and then Bear Crawl @ 40 ft.  After each completed set of #6 through #10 PAX will complete 21 Mountain Climbers and then Bear Crawl @ 40 ft.  After each completed set of # 11 through #15, PAX will complete 21 Monkey Humpers and then Bear crawl @ 40 ft.  After each completed set of #16 through #21 PAX will complete 21 Prisoner Squats and then Bear Crawl @ 60 ft. to complete the Cycle.

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

F3 Message 03/11/2025

Fortifying Your Weak Spot – #9955

March 7, 2025

When our kids were growing up we occasionally had our own personal emergency room at our house! Our youngest son dislocated his ankle in football, so the doctor put an air cast on his ankle for about six weeks for support. Oh, and then the oldest son, yeah he had surgery for a knee injury that he got in sports. So they recommended that he wear a knee brace whenever he played a game where he had to pivot much. So, let’s see. You’ve got your ankle cast; you’ve got your knee brace. It’s all based on a simple principle that prevents further injury.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Fortifying Your Weak Spot.”

Okay, our word for today from the Word of God is from Luke 4 where Jesus is in the desert. “He ate nothing during those days and at the end of them He was hungry. The Devil said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written, man does not live on bread alone.'” And at that point He is quoting a Scripture that He has obviously memorized from Deuteronomy 8:3.

Okay, where was Jesus’ weak spot there in the wilderness? Well, obviously after 40 days, it was His need for food. Where did the Devil aim his temptation? Well, at Jesus’ need for food, of course. And you notice Jesus’ response – a verse that directly addresses the point where He was vulnerable. It’s about bread. It’s about food. Basically a verse that says, “Life is bigger than food.” Okay, I’ve got a feeling that wasn’t the first time Jesus said that verse. I have a feeling that during those days of fasting, He’d been drawing strength from that verse frequently. It’s like a brace on a weakened knee – He applied Scripture to the area where He would tend to be weak.

Now, unlike what the four spiritual laws say about God, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” the Devil hates you and has a terrible plan for your life. He’s sized up that vulnerable spot, and he’s going to try to bring you down with that. So it’s pretty important that you size it up, or you’re going to be easy prey. Jesus knew his vulnerable spot, and He braced it with Scripture; specific Scripture that dealt with that specific issue. If the Devil is going to bring you down, what weakness do you think he’ll use? Oh, you probably know. He’s pushed that button many times. It’s worked all too often. See, it’s important for you to find Scripture that gives you God’s view on your weak spot. Memorize it; repeat it to yourself frequently, not just when you’re under attack. I think that’s what Jesus did.

Re-program yourself by thinking Scripture where you usually think sin, and then hammer the Devil with God’s Word and a response that is biblical whenever temptation comes. Temptation comes to the door, God’s Word answers it. The Devil can’t stand a biblical response.

So, where is the hole in your armor; that weak spot? Is it an old bitterness, maybe the tendency to think you’re worthless, your sexual desires, maybe your thought life, tending to worry a lot, tending to run ahead of God. The need to be in control all the time. You know what it is. You’ve lived with that weakness for a long time; now it’s time to cover it, fortify it with Scripture.

You’re ready for the Devil when you keep covering your weak spot with God’s Word about it. That’s a strong spiritual brace that will help you avoid any further injury. So, support that weak spot with the strength of words from God.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

It’s Cold Out

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QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama

15 seal jacks i/c
15 seal waves i/c
15 Michael Phelps i/c
Side shuffle across parking lot and back
Nur across parking lot and back
15 mountain man pooper i/c
15 Imperial walkers i/c
15 toy soldiers i/c
10 hip circles each direction oyo

The Thang
Each PAX grabs a coupon and moseys to the park playground.

Timer is one PAX farmer carrys coupons around gazebo

Curls
Swerkins
Abyss merkins
Small coupon Bent over flys
Bent over rows – axle
Hanging knee raises
Small coupon lateral raise

3rd F
Roll with the punches and look at the positive side of things.

Round 2

Mosey back to AO and return coupons

Number Rama
Name Rama
COT

7 HIM showed today: Semi, Streudal, Deez, Fireplex, Chattahoochee, Quattro, TRex

Wanna See It Again?

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Date: 01/16/2025

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

PAX: Chattahoochee, Deez, Fireplex, Probe, Quattro, Streudel

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 30 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

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

Windmills – 20 IC

Moroccan Night Clubs – 30 IC

The Thang

Mosey to the Fishing Pier and complete a set of Aiken legs – 20 squats, 20 box jumps, 20 lunges (10 each Leg), 20 split Jacks (10 each Leg). Then each PAX will take a lap up the hill and back down the Governors walk.  Upon arrival back at the Fishing Pier each Pax will complete a Toy Soldier set of 30 LBC’s, 20 E2K’s (each side) & 10 Big Boys.  Rinse & Repeat as much as time allows.  Pax were able to complete three rounds before moseying back to CHOP.

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

F3 Message 01/16/25

When You Force It, You Break It – #7272

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Our friends were kind enough to loan my wife and me their second home where we could get away for a couple days. Now, when you’re in somebody else’s home, look, you want to be on your best behavior. You know, make sure you don’t break anything, and leave it like you found it. Well, I was having a little bit of difficulty getting the front door un-jammed; or unlocked. My wife said, “What are you doing?” And I jokingly said, “I couldn’t get it unlocked, so I’m just pushing it open.” She said, “No, no. Don’t do that.” Now, there’s a reason we had that little dialogue. Yeah, it’s called history.

See, she panicked right away because she knows my history of you know, sometimes trying to make things work, and it doesn’t happen, and a couple times you know something got broken. Oh, I got it out okay, and it worked okay but she knows I have this tendency to try to make things work when they don’t want to work. So I sometimes get impatient – I’m the only guy on the planet like that, I know – but sometimes I get impatient with things that don’t work quickly. Alright, I confess, I’ve been known to force a door handle and break it. I’m growing, I’m getting better. But you probably aren’t going to lend me anything anymore, right?

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “When You Force It, You Break It.”

Our word for today from the Word of God; Genesis 16:1, “Now, Sarah, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maid servant named Hagar. So she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my maid servant.” I insert here, “what?” “Go sleep with my maid servant. Perhaps I can build a family through her.’ So he slept with Hagar and she conceived.” I’m shaking my head.

Here’s the history. Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son by God. They had to wait longer than they thought they would have to wait. Apparently they thought it wasn’t working. So guess what happened. Sarah has an idea, she says’ “maybe we can force it! We’ll help God out.” And Abraham goes right along with it. Now, here’s a new verb for you: to “Hagar”. You say, “Well, isn’t Hagar like a name? Isn’t it the name of this maid servant; this surrogate mother?” Well, actually, it’s a noun, but to “Hagar”, to make it a verb, well it means to try and make it happen. I’m trying to “Hagar” this. You force it, take it from the expert, you break it.

Thirteen years after Abraham and Sarah tried to force what God had promised, the son God promised came along-Isaac. Now they had a 13-year-old Ishmael on their hands, though. And those two boys were in constant conflict. They’re still in conflict today. It’s called the Arabs and the Jews descended from Ishmael and Isaac. And many great wars have been fought over that conflict. And it all happened simply because Abraham couldn’t wait for God to do it His way and in His timing.

How easy that is to do. You know, right now maybe there’s something in your life that isn’t working like you think it should, it isn’t happening fast enough. Maybe the romance isn’t there. Maybe you think “I’ve got to help God out a little bit here.” Maybe the money isn’t there and you’re trying to figure out some scheme to help God with that. Maybe the future isn’t working out the way you want it to. So you’re going to try to make it happen. Don’t “Hagar” this! Don’t force it. Don’t grab a wrong way to get a right thing done. You’ll pay for that mistake for a long, long time.

Four thousand years later people are still paying for Abraham’s “Hagar” solution. So, are you trying to rush it right now? Are you trying to force it? Are you trying to make things happen instead of waiting and watching your God do it? Would you let go before you break it and let God make it work in His way, in His time. Because the Bible says, as for God, His way is perfect. As for my way, it makes a mess.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

I Can’t Hear Those Complaints

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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 3rd 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

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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

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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

Cr(Abs) & Shoulders

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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

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