Tag: Chattahoochee

MACV-SOG

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Date: 08/06/19

QIC: Chappie

A dirty dozen PAX threw off the Fartsack and won THAT FIRST BATTLE to post for what turned out to be one of the workouts for GORUCK’s August rucking challenge. YHC had two options on his Weinke: On one side, the Bearmuda Triangle. On the reverse, the MACV-SOG workout put together by the cadre at GORUCK. The choice depended on whether YHC could get other PAX to bring rucks. Thanks to all who brought rucks! We had extras…which means we’ve got a good crew of ruckers. (Let’s get some of the GORUCK events under our collective belt.)

Here’s how we started the day:

WARM-O-RAMA

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Apollo Ohno – 18 IC
  • Swartzjacks – 18 IC
  • Crabflippers – 18 IC
  • Superman/Pull! – 10 count/5 rounds
  • Shoulder-Tap Merkins – 10 IC

PAX counted off by 2’s then partnered up for the following MACV-SOG workout (YHC had a bunch of extras in case we fell short…who was “I” to doubt GORUCK?)

MACV stands for Military Assistance Command Vietnam

Between the 100 No Push-Up Burpees, what the F3 Exicon calls Flying Squirrels, (50 per partner) YHC shared this 3rdF message:

We need to constantly push ourselves to understand what we [PERCEIVE] to be our limits. Until we do, we haven’t reached, or begun to reach, our full potential. Often times, EXTREMES are required to push us past our limits, to make us stronger, better, or produce growth where we need it most.

▪ We can push ourselves past our limits, this requires self-discipline. Or, at least the willingness to places ourselves in positions where we know we’ll be pushed past our limits. That’s the treasure of having different Q’s lead us through a workout! …

▪ I.e. Others, who do not know OUR limits (or probably don’t care what our limits are) will push us past our limits… These situations are mostly in reference to the physical workouts or challenges we face, but they easily translate to the mental and spiritual aspects of life as well, because…

▪ Lastly, and most importantly, Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), will push us past our limits. And this is often through our testing, which includes suffering (suffering ALWAYS pushes us past our limits) and in God’s economy He allows this for our good, like burning away the dross and purifying us like gold, and He does this for His glory. (Our good, His glory!) So…DEQ! (Don’t Ever Quit…cleaned up version of DFQ.)

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:

  • ABRAHAM in Gen. 22 was tested by God to take his son, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering. Poor Isaac even had to chop and carry the wood. When he asked his dad about the offering, Abraham replied “God will provide for Himself a lamb...” And when Abe was about to plunge the knife into Isaac, God said “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to harm him; for NOW I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, YOUR ONLY SON, from Me.” You can guarantee this extreme test pushed him past his limits!
  • JOSEPH, by the end of Gen. 42, was sold into slavery by his brothers! He ran from Potiphar’s house in his boxers after Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him (he ran because he feared God), and ended up imprisoned. The story continued for numbers of years in Egypt where Joseph experienced the favor of God, rising to leadership where he was 2nd only to Pharaoh! Point being, his life was full of consistently being pushed beyond his limits, but he never once used his personal circumstances as an excuse NOT to live for God. As a result, he rose to power in Egypt. He knew God’s purposes were higher than his personal suffering. He not only reached the full potential of his faith, but as a result, the nation of Israel was preserved! There was a greater purpose to it all!

Peter referred to all of this when he wrote: “Brothers, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed…” (1 Pet. 4:12-13)

So, we push ourselves to understand what we [perceive] to be our limits, others push us beyond our limits, AND God pushes us past our perceived limits. ALL for a purpose: For our GOOD but ultimately for God’s GLORY. So…DEQ!

PAX wrapped up the very last exercise at 5:59, which left no time for the extra’s YHC had planned: Wall work, Jack Webb, & Mary. With a minute spare shared a little further about the ruck workout carried out in honor of America’s Special Forces.

Time called.

COT/BOM:

  • Announcements: Chattahoochee working on method to collect school supplies.
  • Prayers: The family of Katie West, grieving her tragic death; Chattahoochee’s daughter, Taylor, having surgery on 8/7

That’s about it. Always honored to lead. And, yes, what a great way to start a day!

~Chappie, out!

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Chumbaburpees!

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Thursday August 1, 2019.

F3 Workout at CHOP n Mlton, DE

Warmup: All IC 25 SSH 18 Cherry Pickers 18 Windmills 18 Moroccan Night Clubs 18 Mountan Climbers

The Thang 1: Mosey Union to Tobin to Mulberry to Willow to CHOP via back driveway

Chicken Peckers With feet high on wall touch opposite shoulder (BTW shoulder taps)

Tunnel of Love: Broken into 2 groups. While Pax plank side by side, one by one someone crawls under the tunnel of planking pax. 2 rounds followed by 1 round with all Pax forming Tunnel.

Chilly broad jumps with pax holding elbow plank 5 feet apart whle someone broad jumps over each pax

Chumbaburpee SSH while Chumbawumba’s Tubthumper plays and do burpees on I get knocked down. About 27 burpees

Brief message about sticking to what you know is right even if it is not easy. Road less traveled may not be an easy route, but if you know it is the best route you should follow what you believe and take it.

The Thang 2: Coach (modified) – Groups of 3. P1 Hold bottom of merkin in down position while P2 encourages P1 as P3 sprints a lap around parking lot. Switch when P3 lap is done.

Clowney: 4 jump lunges IC 4 Merkins IC 7 Times

Number-o-rama and COT. Prayers for Toy Soldiers friend, West family, Semi vehicle situation, and any unspoken prayers.

Video link below…
https://youtu.be/tLm5ge7Feug

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Gtown beatdown

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Qic Semi

Warm-a-Rama
20 semi wave. i/c
20 ssh. I/c
Nur to opposite side of circle
20 plank Jack. i/c
20 seal Jacks. i/c
Side shuffle to opposite side of circle
20 should taps. I/c
20 Windmill. I/c
Side shuffle (opposite side) to opposite side of circle
20 mountain climbers i/c
20 Cherry pickers. I/c

Thang
Mosey to church on Bradford street

10 swerkins
15 leg lifts on bench
X 3

Mosey to wall on other side of the tracks

5 derkins, hop wall, 5 urkins
X 5

Mosey to Domino’s

5 chicken merkin
I/c 8 count

Mosey to parking lot by court house

Semi suicides
Nur, side shuffle, jailbreak, bear crawl, lt Dan, crawl bear, mosey, and lt danger

Mosey to circle

Round of Mary

15 Superman plank i/c, 20 reverse crunch, 20 e2k, 25 flutter kick i/c, 20/10/5 toy soldier set, 15 hello dollies

10 HIM showed today: semi, bovine, doubtfire, nugget, Fireplex, Chattahoochee, toy soldier, Waterfall, Vanilla, Wildwing

Number Rama
Name rama
Cot

3rd F. All in
1 kings 18:20-40
Prophets of baal defeated

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Sally Loves Burpees!

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Tuesday July 23, 2019

Location: CHOP

Q: Chairman

PAX: Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Gump, Leatherman, Nugget, Ruxpin, Summit, Toy Soldier, Vanilla, Waterfall, & Ying Ying

Warmup: All IC 25 SSH, 18 Cherry Pickers
18 Moroccan Night Clubs, 18 Windmills, 18 Mountain Climbers

The Thang Mosey around the block
Bring Sally Up with Burpees on Up (30)
Mosey around the block
Burp & Merk Pyramid up to 10 and back down. Start with 1 merkin 1 burpee, 2 merkins 1 burpee, 3, …100 merkins 19 burpees.

Mosey around block
Cptn Therkin 1 Big Boy 4 American Hammers 5 Merkins, up to 5 Big Boys & 20 Double Count American Hammers with 5 merkins each time. Mosey around block

Brief message about F3 encouraging us all to win the 1st battle each morning by posting and how we all benefit from surrpunding ourselves with other HIM.

Number-O-Rama and COT.

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COMEBACK BEATDOWN

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Chattahoochee on Q

5 HIM posted for my Comeback beat down at the circle on this beautiful saturday morning

WARM UP– 25 SSH, 25 windmills, 25 MNC, 25 cherry pickers, 25 imperial walkers.

The Thang- Mosey out west market street to the bank at 113 cut thru parking lots to possum point players.

15 diamond merkins 10 SSH

15 Ranger merkins 10 SSH

15 Finger tip meekins 10 SSH

15 wide arm merkins 10 SSH

15 Merkins 10 SSH

Mosey to steps on the east side of GMS for Aiken legs 20 Squats, 20 box jumps on steps, 20 Lunges each leg, 20 split Jack’s (4 count)

Mosey to Armory 25 Flutter kicks IC, Toy soldier set 35 LBC, 20 E2Ks each side, 20 box cutters.

Mosey to circle 20 forward arm circles, 10 backward arm circles, IC 20 seal claps, 20 overhead claps.

Every set back is a set back for a comeback God wants to bring you out better than you were before. Unfortunately failure and setbacks are a part of life. No way around it, gotta go through it. However just because folks are experiencing a personal setback whether it be an injury, illness, job loss, financial pitfalls or just hard times in general it does not mean you are forever doomed. It is important to remember that a setback is just where a person is right at the moment not where they will always be. With time, patience and trust in God it is possible for everyone to comeback one way or another both physically and mentally

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Route 66

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Beautiful weather for lots of Burpees!

Q: Waterfall The PAX: Toy Soldier, Summit, Ruxpin, Ying Ying, Chairman, Gump, Doubfire, Chattahoochee

The Warm Up: 20 SSH IC, 20 Diaper Pickers IC, 20 Moroccan Night Club IC, 20 Windmill IC, and Superman Banana! Superman Banana starts in the superman position. When Q yells BANANA you roll over on to your back in a reverse of the superman so you are curled up like a banana. When the Q yells SUPERMAN you roll back. Rolled back and forth like a bunch of crazy people a few times.

The Thang #1: Route 66 and a bag of chips. We did the Route 66 from telephone pole to telephone pole. We did it decessending from 11 burpees at the first telephone pole down to 1 burpee at the last telephone pole for a total of 66 burpees. For added suck we also did LBCs ascending. I’m calling the additional exercise “and a bag of chips” since it was added on.

The Message: The story of the Rich Young Ruler. His good works weren’t good enough. Jesus invited him to follow him. But the young man went away sorrowful because he wouldn’t give up his lavish lifestyle to follow Jesus.

The Thang #2: Waterfall likes the wall! Wall of Burpee for an additional 3 burpees. Each PAX takes the chair. We go down the row doing 1 burpee each. Then we went down the row again doing 2 burpees each. Next we did Mexican jumping beans and overhead claps ascending up to 10 jumps and 40 claps. With a few minutes left we ended with some Mary.

Good push by all!

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A Friendly 82

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Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

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

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Chilcutt Plank Jacks – 15 IC

Windmills – 15 IC

Mosey .5 miles by way of the merkin mile to the school.  Each ¼ mile, all Pax stopped to complete 25 merkins.

The Thang

 Q brought a modified Super 21 beatdown for the hot and humid morning that Summit dubbed “a friendly 82” degrees at 7:00 a.m.  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.  Since we had excessive heat and humidity, Q elected to start at 21 in descending fashion.  Each merkin/big boy set was followed by 21 prisoner squats.  All Pax completed the round of 21 descending through the round of 16 before taking a break for the third F.  After the message, Pax completed the Super 21 descending through the round of 10.   

Mosey .5 miles back to Aegis.  Pax stopped twice on the return mosey and completed 25 merkins at each stop to complete the merkin mile.

Back at the Aegis, Pax completed the modified Super 21 from the round of 9 descending to the round of 1.

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

F3 Message 07/20/19 – Q shared from Ron Hutchcraft Ministries in regards to how Jesus, the Cross, and the Bible is being systematically removed or “stolen” from our daily lives because it offends someone. As Christians, we must remain vigilant and defend the One who sacrificed all for us.

Who Stole the Cross? – #6479

Thursday, November 10, 2011

“Somebody stole the cross! Go figure.

Well, I mean that was a news story that got my attention a while back. The missing cross was a six-foot-tall metal structure that was embedded in rock and concrete, and it was perched high up on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave Desert. Veterans actually placed it there to honor those who’ve died fighting for their country. And wow! It’s been there for 75 years—no problem; suddenly—problem. People who didn’t want it there argued against it all the way to the Supreme Court. And for the time being, the Justices said that it could stay. But then somebody just went up there and stole the cross. It’s crazy.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You about “Who Stole the Cross.”

As soon as I heard the story, something much more troubling hit me. The cross has gone missing a lot of places these days; places that matter a lot more to God than some mountainside in the desert. I’ve listened to lots of sermons and Christian radio programs, and sometimes I’ve heard little or nothing about Jesus’ cross. I’ve heard lots of Christian talk about how to have a great marriage, or how to raise your kids, how to manage your money, how to have a good self-image, but somehow they never got to the cross.

I’ve heard some great Bible teaching that was deep and powerful, but the cross was on the margins or not even on the page. We’ll talk a lot about important things like justice for the oppressed, compassion for the poor, and help for families, and God cares about all of them. But we never get to God’s game-changer for a sin-broken planet, and that’s the cross of Christ.

Sadly, I think of lost people I’ve known for a long time and talked to about a lot of things, but somehow I’ve never told them about the cross where Jesus died for them. I suspect I’m not alone. Too often, Christians talk a lot about their church or their faith, but not much about their Savior. Oh, yeah, somebody stole the cross…from our conversations, from our ministries, maybe even from the center of our hearts.

Oh, I know who took it. The one Jesus called “…the thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). The devil hates the cross because as the Bible says, “having disarmed the powers and authorities, (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

You know, Satan’s death warrant is signed in the blood of Jesus. He knows the power of that cross. The oft-quoted Charles Spurgeon called the cross God’s “magnificent magnet.” And in our word for today from the Word of God in John 12:32, Jesus said this about His cross: “When I am lifted up…I will draw all men to Myself.” No wonder Satan says, “Hey, go ahead. Talk about everything you want. Just don’t mention that cross.” Talk about your church. Talk about your faith. Talk about your family values. Don’t mention the cross! The enemy of our souls knows its power and does whatever it takes to erase the cross from our view.

Now, veterans are outraged that the cross was stolen from that hill. We should be outraged! We’ve allowed Jesus’ cross to be stolen from the center of our hearts, and our ministries, and our conversations. “The message of the cross,” 1 Corinthians 1:18says, “is…the power of God.” I need to be as passionate about elevating that cross as the world and the devil are about eliminating it.

I have the unspeakable privilege of taking a lost friend by the hand and walking with them up a hill the Bible calls Skull Hill, and standing there at the foot of an old rugged cross, and sharing with them the greatest love in the universe. “What He did here, my friend, was for you.” Without that cross, there is no hope…no heaven.”

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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Sled 2.0

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QIC Semi

Warm-a-Rama
All i/c
21 seal jacks
21 Windmills
21 seal waves
21 Cherry pickers
21 plank Jacks

Capri lap out back entrance around to the front entrance

The Thang

1 pax pushes sled out the back entrance and back as timer

Rest of pax do the following exercises during sled push

Sledge tire hit
Burpee with a doubtfire
H bomb (30 or 50 lb. Ball)
Ball slam
Box jump
Log row
Coupon curl
Bear crawl coupon drag

2 rounds, 2nd round sled pushed to survey stake along drive

3rd F

Proverbs 18

9 HIM showed – semi, leatherman, Chattahoochee, Chappie, Wildwing, Waterfall, Fireplex, gump, summit

Number Rama

Name Rama

COT

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Field of Dreams [a.k.a. Burpee Delirium]

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Great times! For this time of year as PAX rotate out on vacations it was awesome to have 11 HIM drop the DRP and post for the Field of Dreams [delirium] workout. It wasn’t always this way, so its exciting to still see double digits when others are out. Plant, Grow, and Serve small workout groups of men for the invigoration of male community leadership–on mission!

So here’s the skinny, it went a lil’ something like this:

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH’s – 18 IC
  • SwartzJack’s – 20 IC
  • Seal Jack’s – 18 IC
  • Plank Jacks – 18 IC
  • Merkins – 10 OYO
  • Crab Flippers – 18 IC
The Big Dice

THE THANG:

Upon returning to the AO following a nice brisk 0.5 mile Patriot Run around the block, PAX divided into 2 teams. Teams took turns rolling the 3 dice until reaching the opposite end of the field.

  • ROUTINE: Roll dice, both teams Bear Crawl to dice, execute the corresponding number of Burpees rolled (teams were to remember total number rolled. Team with highest number determined the punishment of lower scoring team at the end of the field).
  • Team 1 rolled 4x – Roll dice, Bear Crawl, Burpees. Rinse & Repeat…
  • Team 2 rolled 3x – Roll dice, Bear Crawl, Burpees. Rinse & Repeat…
  • Team 1 Rolled the highest number, though neither team remembers the exact number due to burpee delirium. Guestimates are as low as 77, but it was more likely closer to 100.
  • Da MATH: Neither team rolled less than 11 (77 Burpees would be the bare minimum), but there were rolls of 16, 14, 13, and 12. I.e. just know that the PAX executed ALOT OF BURPEES!
  • Rolling the highest accumulated number, Team 1 determined they would do 15 Merkins, while Team 2 was assigned 30 Merkins.

PAX took the long Mosey back to the AO, taking turns swapping out holding the dice overhead. They’re not heavy but THAT did create a different dynamic for the mosey.

Meanwhile back at the AO: 3rdF Message…

(The following thoughts adapted from R. Kent Hughes in Disciplines of a Godly Man)

Harry Blymires, in (The Christian Mind) said, “The Christian mind  has succumbed to the secular drift with a degree of weakness and nervelessness unmatched in Christian history.” He sees our generation as suffering from religious anorexia (anorexia religiosa), a loss of appetite for Christ.

The bottom line is: this comes from a declining willingness to properly program the amazing instruments God has given us. Christians leave their 12 billion cells unguarded and unthinking—and undisciplined. When we turn to God’s Word, we’re aware that the Biblical writers understood the problem in a less technical way. “Above all else, guard your heart,” says Proverbs, “for it is the wellspring of life” (4:23). “For as a man thinks within his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). The Scriptures tell us rightly that INPUT DETERMINES OUTPUT — that our PROGRAMMING DETERMINES PRODUCTION.

The one thing that will always shape your life is the condition of your heart. The Apostle Paul told us in Philippians to think on explicitly positive things: The true. The noble. The right. The pure. The lovely. The admirable. This is more than the power of positive thinking. They all defy negative exposition. I.e. each is a matter of personal choice — and our choices make all the difference in the world. We all can CHOOSE a thought “program” which will produce a Christian mind.

2 AREAS OF PERSONAL APPLICATION:

#1 – I have great sympathy for those whose past has been a series of bad choices. I understand that if over the years one has chosen the impure and the illusory and the negative, it is very difficult to change. But as a biblical thinker I give no space to myself or to anyone else who rationalizes his present choices by the past. Brothers, as followers of Christ we are free to have a Christian mind/a biblical worldview. It IS within our reach, and it is our duty.

#2 – We should be aware of the wise warnings against using words like “all,” “every,” and “always” in what we say. Using absolutes is dangerous. But I’m going to do it anyway. Here it is: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY FOLLOWER OF CHRIST WHO SPENDS THE BULK OF HIS EVENINGS, MONTH AFTER MONTH, WEEK UPON WEEK, DAY IN AND DAY OUT WATCHING THE TV AND WATCHING VIDEOS TO HAVE A CHRISTIAN MIND. This is ALWAYS true of ALL Christians in EVERY situation.  A biblical mental program cannot exist with worldly programming. Again, INPUT DETERMINES OUTPUT — PROGRAMMING DETERMINES PRODUCTION.

Where the Bible says “think about such things” (Phil 4:8), the word that is used is “logidzamai”, from which we get the mathematical computer-like word logarithm. It means a “deliberate and prolonged contemplation as if one is weighing a mathematical problem.” It’s like getting junk mail versus getting the new Shooters Magazine, Runners World, etc. Or like getting junk emails versus emails from F3 or GoRuck, etc. You throw out the junk after a brief scan, but you take deliberate and prolonged contemplation over the new items from your favorite sources.

Even more so, we are to think about the good and positive elements God wants us to put into our computers/minds. God calls HIM in His Word to a massive and positive discipline of the mind. You cannot be profoundly influenced by that which you do not know. I.e. INPUT DETERMINES OUTPUT — PROGRAMMING DETERMINES PRODUCTION.

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, For I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, For I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:97-100)

Last but not least A Round of Mary:

  • Flutter Kicks – Courtesy of Chattahoochee
  • Box Cutters – Courtesy of Vanilla
  • Big Boys – Courtesy of Gump
  • LBC’s – Courtesy of Summit
  • American Hammers – Courtesy of Ying Ying

COT/BOM:

  • Announcements: Warm-Up VQ scheduled for Gump @ Primis. Be there!
  • Prayers: Chattahoochee, Bill Crouch, YHC, etc. Plus, as always prayers were lifted up for each PAX to be a HIM in his home, his workplace, and in his community in which he serves.

That’s a wrap. Lot’s of PAX on vacation but we still posted 11! Way cool to see the continued growth of this group and of each individual PAX getting stringer and better as they keep posting. YHC was once again honored to lead!

Aye!

~Chappie, out!

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Blame it on the Milkshake

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Date: 07/04/19

AO: CHOP, Milton, De.

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Plank Jacks – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Ballerina Toe Squats – 20 IC

Mountain Climbers – 20 IC

Windmills – 20 IC

The Thang

Patriot run .5 miles to “Oh Hill No”. 

PAX partnered up for B.O.M.B.’s on the Hill.  One PAX Soldier Crawls (Spiderman Crawl) up the hill and mosey’s back down while his partner completes a series of exercises.  Each team completed a total of 50 burpees, 100 Overhead Claps completed as SSH’s, 150 Merkins, 200 Big Boy Situp’s, and 250 Squats.  However, Q had each PAX carry his own weight and complete half of that total exercise amount before moving on to the next exercise….25 Burpees, 50 Overhead Claps completed as SSH’s, 75 Merkins, 100 Big Boy Situp’s, 125 squats.  A little chatter in regards to the pain station prompted a response by Q to blame it on the milkshake he indulged at the fireworks display last night.

F3 Message – See below

Mosey .5 miles back to CHOP by way of the Patriot Run.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayer.  Save travels and a shout out to Bovine and Chappie as they were completing a 17.76 mile Ruck during this morning’s beat down. 

F3 Message 07/04/19 – Excerpts were utilized by Q from the re-post below from Christianity Daily as well as Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Happy Independence Day 2017: Bible Verses and Quotes To Reflect On What Freedom Means In America

JUL 02, 2017 07:26 PM EDT

From Christianity Daily.com

Fourth of July marks the moment in history when representatives of a new government uprising signed the Declaration of Independence in the United States on July 4, 1776. The document listed grievances suffered by the U.S. colonies under British monarchy and justified a desire for liberty. It was penned by Thomas Jefferson. Also known as Independence Day, it is an annual holiday that symbolizes freedom. It is celebrated nationwide in 2017 on Tuesday, July 4.

Although declared in 1776, Americans were not delivered from bondage until 1783. The high cost of freedom was paid for in blood, in what historians estimate to be the death of 25,000 American Patriots. It took eight years, four months, and fifteen days of war between America and Great Britain during the American Revolution to be fully attained.

The Oxford dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” It is also defined as the “absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government,” and “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.” Christianity Daily compiled a list of Bible verses and quotes that shed light on the true meaning of freedom.

4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom

By BGEA   •   July 1, 2019   •   Topics: Holidays, Lifestyle

By Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

As the United States of America celebrates Independence Day on July 4, it’s worth noting the nation was founded upon the idea that God created human beings to be free. The Declaration of Independence states that people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

But what is “liberty,” exactly? Is freedom based upon the country where you live, or can it have a deeper meaning?

Here are some key ideas from the Bible about freedom—including how to find true freedom in your life.

1. People have been searching for it for thousands of years.

The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God’s creation, humanity gave up its freedom by choosing to rebel against God. From that time forward, the perfect freedom God created in the Garden of Eden was gone, and the long-term effects were both physical and spiritual.

The Old Testament of the Bible records how God’s people lost their physical freedom time and again as various empires overtook them (most notably the Egyptians, as recorded in the book of Exodus).

The loss of physical freedom was often tied to spiritual disobedience like worshiping false gods. But time and again, the one true God forgave His people and rescued them. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to free humanity from sin—the spiritual slavery that leads to death.

Today, many people are living in spiritual slavery without realizing it. They chase false gods of money, success, personal comfort and romantic love—only to realize they still have an emptiness that can’t be filled by any of those things.

>> Everyone worships something. Read Billy Graham’s short answer about the definition of an idol.

2. God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ.

When Jesus began his short period of ministry on the earth, He announced He was the One that God’s people had been waiting for since the fall of humanity. He did this by reading a particular passage from the book of Isaiah—a passage his listeners knew was referring to the Messiah, or the Savior of the world.

The words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future. When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him.

“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:17-21, emphasis added).

>> Read Billy Graham’s short devotion, “Truth Brings Freedom.”

3. Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

The core message of the Christian faith—the Gospel—is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond. This is what Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Good News—the best news ever—is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done.

While Christ followers still battle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it. Through the power of Christ, His people can be set free from the bondage of greed, vanity, pride, pornography, addiction, abusive behavior, gluttony, selfishness—and any other sin under the sun. Here’s what Jesus said about the freedom He offers:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

>> Watch Billy Graham’s powerful message, “Truth and Freedom,” from his 1969 New York City Crusade.

4. God gives us freedom to choose our own path.

God created human beings, not robots. We don’t have to accept the freedom He offers us through Jesus Christ. He gives each person the free will to accept or reject His salvation. But the Bible warns that hell is a real place where real people end up when they knowingly reject the truth.

Likewise, those who choose Christ are not forced to obey Him at every turn. But God makes it clear: the best life is one that’s devoted to honoring Him. As the Apostle Paul explained to some of the first Christians:

“’All things are lawful for me,’” but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

>> What is “the judgment,” and why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Listen to Billy Graham’s message.

Final thoughts on freedom

From cover to cover, God’s Word points to freedom in Christ. And God doesn’t leave us wondering how to grab hold of the freedom He offers. It starts with acknowledging our brokenness—and admitting we are slaves to sin. And it ends with choosing Jesus and following Him daily. Only He can break the bonds of slavery and lead us to true freedom, now and forever.

Choose Jesus today, and find out what true freedom feels like.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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