Bolt 45’s (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats.
Windmills – 15 IC
The Thang
Mosey 0.5 mile to “Oh Hill No” to complete the Thang. 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. All completed OYO. Rinse and repeat in descending order until reaching 5 of each exercise. Extra credit and a shout out to Leatherman who did not hear the descending order part of the exercise and he completed 10 of each during each cycle of the exercises. The F3 message (see below) was an opportunity to catch a breather, and because of time we did not complete the exercises descending all the way to 1 of each. However, Chairman decided to “poke the bear”. We added one full exercise evolution that was comprised of a crawl bear up the hill and bear crawl down, where we completed the next cycle of Burpees, Squats, Merkins & Big Boys before moseying 0.5 mile back to the AO.
F3 Message
Q spoke about Caleb and how he had spent 45 years in the wilderness in his obedience to God when others that were filled with disbelief created that exile. He persevered when it would have been easier to fold. Once all the disbelievers had passed away, and the promised land was realized, he went on at 85 years old to defeat the Anakites to take the hill country that he had been promised. Caleb did not give up much like Jim Kelly, Hall of Fame QB of the Buffalo Bill who received the ESPY Jimmy V award for perseverance on 07/18/18. His life is a testimony to perseverance as he led his team four times to the Super Bowl and was defeated each time. He has two lovely daughters but had a son that was born with Krabbe’s disease which is a deadly nervous system disorder. His son passed at the age of 8. Mr. Kelly has battled cancer himself having been diagnosed in 2013 with oral cavity cancer that had been in remission. Recent reports are that the cancer has returned. I am sure that he will face that diagnosis as he has faced all other adversity; while all the time praising God and living for Him as is evident from the quotes below.
“We are shocked, heartbroken, sad, angry, confused, and just darn tired,” Jill Kelly said in her post. “Yet, despite how we feel, we KNOW that God is a promise maker and keeper.”
Kelly, who remained a towering force in Buffalo and in the N.F.L. despite all of his Super Bowl appearances ending in losses, said he was relying on what he called the “four Fs”: faith, family, friends and fans.
“With all of you by my side we will fight and win this battle together,” he said. “Staying ‘Kelly Tough’ and trusting God will carry us through this difficult time.”
“O Hill NO” doesn’t seem so steep and exercises don’t seem so taxing when you are inspired by these stories of facing such huge adversity.
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Prayers for traveling mercies for Chappie, peace for an upcoming event for Leatherman, heat related health concerns for brother Firemen responding to recent alarms. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.
Shuttle Run format with exercises on each end. 30 exercises for 30 reps with Prison Break in between from end to end of CHOP parking lot.
Merkin
Squat
LBC
Derkin
FWD Lunge (Alt. Legs)
Flutter Kick IC
Incline Merkin
Reverse Lunge
Scissor Kick IC
Diamond Merkin
Mexican Jumping Beans
Box Cutters IC
Ranger Merkin
Calf Raises
Leg Lifts
Wide Arm Merkin
Iron Mikes (Lunge Jumps)
High Plank – 30 Count
Shoulder Taps
Apolo Ohno’s
American Hammers IC
Overhead Claps
Burpees
Box Cutters IC
FWD Arm Circles IC
Broad Jump to Back Peddle
Forearm Plank – 30 Count
Reverse Arm Circles IC
Wall Sit – 30 Count
Big Boys
3rd F Message: The Joy is in the Journey
“Success is a journey, not a destination”
I’ve heard many times that if you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans. As I reflect on the last decade of my life, it looked nothing like I would have scripted. It had deep dark valleys and some wonderful mountaintop experiences, both of which I would not have expected. I had big goals set for things I wanted to achieve by 30 and quite frankly the bulk of them never came to fruition. But I’m confident in this, that He who began a good work in me, will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11
As leaders and High Impact Men, it is our responsibility to cast vision, set goals, and know our direction. However, as leaders, we also need to be emotionally stable enough to embrace and enjoy the journey, even when it takes us down a different path than planned. Leaders love the journey, leaders love the process. Leaders stay diligent even when things shift, because ultimately they know that God will work all things out for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Embrace the Journey, Find Joy in the Journey, and keep traveling toward your destination, even when a decade is nothing like you expected.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest, IF we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9
THE Thang- curtesy of Chappie’s chalk art -Slightly modified.
Each PAX pick a station
Stations-
Box Jumps
Slosh Pipe
Rapid Merkins–
Rapid LBC’s
Hair Burners – actually does smell like hair burning ….
Squat Press Lunge w/cindy
Upright Rows w/40lb. ruck
Burpees
Tire Flip
Dragon Crawl
Burpjacks – burpee with a bomb jack
Plank
Work Each station for 60 seconds , Q calls next and move to next station for 60 sec.
12 stations. After 4 stations all Pax go for Mosey around block. Return for 4 stations, mosey , last 4 then Mosey.
There may have been a few 10 counts in there somewhere.
QuickBreak for 3rd F message
Each PAX then chose a ‘favorite’ station and we finished with 30 seconds at each of those stations.
Plus some LBCs for the fun of it …..
Chappie was concerned about a ‘slow burn’ from Tuesday…….I tried to clear any concern.
3rd F (pulled from F3nation.com )
Disturbance To The Status-quo
Leaders influence movement to advantage
A leader is a person who can influence people to do things that they would not have done otherwise. Put another way, but for the influence of the leader, the things done by his followers would not happen. The leader is the agent, the impetus and the proximate cause of his followers’ movement toward the doing of those specific things that he identifies as advantageous. Without him, they would remain static and focused on maintaining the status quo. In the heart of man inertia will reign—absent a disruption.
The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for movement, a recognition by the leader himself that the status quo is something less advantageous than some other place, a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers. Only then can the leader begin to persuade them to follow him to the new place. He must describe it to them first because people will only overcome their inertia and follow someone if they believe that he knows where he is going. They won’t leave the known for the unknown, no matter how charismatic the leader is.
Because it induces movement, leadership causes Disruption
It wrenches people away from the place at which they were determined to remain. It causes them to question the foundation for their belief that their status quo was desirable and that stasis was in their best interest. It attacks the palpable (but false) sense of security that inertia provides. Like the agitator in a washing machine, leadership dislodges things long embedded in people’s emotional fabric, things that are impure and do not belong there but to which they had become accustomed—like a ketchup stain on their favorite shirt.
Being both Disruptive and agitating, leadership will naturally make people uncomfortable, at least until they begin to see for themselves that they are being led to a place of advantage.
If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause Disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership. He might be doing something else, like managing or engaging in politics, but he is not leading. He is a leader in name only until people begin to follow him to an advantageous place that he has visualized and articulated to them. A leader influences movement to advantage.
A great leader’s legacy is built on love
The degree to which a leader is able to influence movement is dependent upon his level of skill. People will follow a leader when he is in the room. People will continue to follow a good leader when he has left the room. But only a great leader is able to influence movement to advantage even after he has died. That is a legacy leader, and he is a rare breed whose legacy is built upon love.
All great leaders aspire to leave a legacy. Leadership is a difficult skill to master, requiring desire, commitment and love. Having paid for that skill with blood, sweat and tears, great leaders have the natural inclination to pass on what they have learned and to be remembered for it. This yearning is what creates their legacy. It comes from the leader’s love for his followers and his sincere desire to see them obtain advantage.
A great leader accelerates throughout his life. He views leadership as a craft that must be honed through continual study and application. In the way that a lawyer or doctor practices his profession from the standpoint of service to his client or patient, the great leader’s focus is always upon his followers rather than himself. It is their best interests, not his, that motivates his actions. It is their advantage, not his, to which he initiates movement. This is only possible if, first and foremost, he loves them more than he loves himself.
The great leader knows that If his love is not great, than neither will be his leadership.
This Backblast has less to do with the workout itself than it does its title–YHC will get to the explanation of what that means, but in the meantime here’s the breakdown for the sake of recall and as a catalyst of remedy for those who lost THAT FIRST BATTLE to the Fartsack.
With a good number of Q’s in the rotation there is a longer break in action than what most QIC’s prefer, so YHC was actually disappointed in what turned out to be more of a slow burn than a memorable beatdown. I.e. it seemed like a wasted opportunity to leave one’s mark on the other PAX’s minds and bodies. Gotta hate it when that happens! Okay, here’s how it went down:
Warm-O-Rama:
SSH – 20 IC
Moroccan Night Clubs – 18 IC
Italian Night Clubs – 18 IC
Shell Picker, Shell Flipper, Cherry Pickers…WTB??? This somehow turned out to be some crazy, off-cadence, retarded form of the Windmill. Holy smokes, did YHC get inside of his own head for a brief moment! Thankful the PAX were gracious enough to give a good laugh from this total screwup, what else could they do? YHC has no idea What The Bombjackshe was doing!
Okay…
Cherry Pickers – 10 IC
Windmill – 18 IC
Imperial Walker – 18 IC
The Thang:
Living next door to the AO has its privileges — YHC was able to work his way around the parking lot the night before and go to work with some sidewalk chalk (to write different exercises on the asphalt). 13 different stations. 1 PAX ran from AO to Willow Street and back while PAX did exercise at given stations. Switch on the return and continue rotation til all 13 were visited by all PAX. Here’s what was written:
Run to Willow and back – Good hustle by all PAX!
Sledge Hammer Row
Box Jumps
Slosh Pipe
Rapido Merkins (18) – swap – Rapido LBC’s (36) rinse & repeat. Rapido = as fast as you can
Hair Burners (compliments to Flutie Flakes, I think)
Squat Press Lunge w/cindy
Upright Rows w/40lb. ruck
Burpees
Tire Flip
Dragon Crawl
Burpjacks (exactly what it sounds like)
Plank
Somewhere in the middle YHC had the privilege to share the following 3rd F message:
Last Wednesday for an off-the-cuff 3rdf, I’d mentioned a “secret to success” borrowed from Jack Hayford that Mark Batterson mentioned in his book “If.” The secret? “Make decisions against yourself.”
We’re already onto something here in the Gloom, because, fact is, if you’re here it’s because you already made a decision against yourself. You can see how this applies to leadership.
As a secret to success it is exactly what the Bible teaches in Romans 8:4, where it says, “walk not according to the flesh…” If you know someone who has 6-pack abs, they made a decision against themselves to go to the gym when, as Mark Batterson writes, “the rest of us went back for seconds.” (57)
Not only does this apply to workouts, but many other areas of life:
• My nephew, Aaron, who once again is in Ranger School has repeatedly made decisions against himself toward accomplishing his goal of becoming one of the army’s elite combat leaders. He’s in swamp phase once again. Go Aaron!
• Earning any type of degree, whether it be a BS, BA, MA, or a PhD brings with it memories of going to the library instead turning on the TV. Those who earned degrees or other credentials made decisions against themselves. The piece of paper on their wall is a key that opens doors.
• Successful (and I should say fruitful because Paul does add, “walk not after the flesh, but according to the spirit”) athletes, musicians, professionals, ministry leaders, etc. are successful and fruitful in large part because they made decisions against themselves–both when it came to right/wrong issues, and often times when it came to personal convictions.
This is key because some decisions we have to make against ourselves are not right and wrong, or black and white. Paul also wrote in 1 Cor. 10:23, “everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial.” We need to understand, then, that often times “if we really want god’s best, we won’t just say no to what’s wrong. we’ll also say no to what’s second best.” (Batterson 58)
We have to prepare for times when we must recognize that we cannot settle for what we want in the moment in exchange for what we want most! The kind of success and fruitfulness this refers to is that which involves sacrifice beyond what most of us are willing to make.
F3 workouts provide a superb laboratory in which to train ourselves and each other for this kind of leadership:
Setting your alarm very early and posting in the Gloom (at O-Gawd-Thirty) for a workout which will push you past your limits…if that’s not making a decision against yourself, then what is?
Some are used to hitting that snooze button on the alarm, both literally & metaphorically speaking! When you’re not willing to make decisions against yourself, you’re kind of hitting the snooze button on success and fruitfulness in your spiritual life (temptation & sin), your family life, your work life, and in many other areas…you’re delaying doing the right thing—the hard thing—9 minutes at a time!
So, what do him do? As a general rule and practice, they are High Impact Men because they make decisions against themselves!
Well, that was the workout. A slow-burn, as mentioned, but a burn nonetheless.
Now allow YHC to explain the title of this Backblast; it’s more important than the workout itself. So…Keep Calm and Read on: Much Bigger Than We Are
If you follow what’s going on, either on F3Nation.com or F3MustardSeeds.com then you have at least some sense that F3 is Much Bigger Than We Are. We’re a Mustard Seed–pioneers!–and so we tend to think small, within the limits of our own line of sight. But we are Much Bigger Than We Are.
F3 is blowing up across the nation; we’re privileged to be a part of this explosion of men being rescued from Sadclown Syndrome and to rescue others from the same condition through Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith. Still, we tend not to see very far down the road from our own AO’s.
Each Tuesday Mustard Seed Nantaans from across the nation participate in a half-hour long conference call from 07:30 – 08:00. The call is about leadership and its where we encourage, challenge, build-up, and basically sharpen one another “as iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17)
Yesterday’s call was different. It reminded me that while the fitness that brings men out, its the fellowship (the glue) that brings them back. We’ve been impacted by this incredible force in our lives, making us better leaders. But here’s how yesterday’s call was different:
Our call Q, Fountainhead (Columbia, SC), essentially began the call by telling us how hard a weekend it was for many of their PAX because F3 Gump had lost his 19-yr-old son this past Friday night in drowning accident. He talked about the camaraderie (2ndF) of other PAX that jumped into action to come along side Gump and his M. He’d also mentioned that Gump was a pastor there in Columbia.
Having lived in Columbia for nearly 3 years, I asked what Gump’s hospital name was. Since I’m also in ministry I figured I might at least know the pastor’s name.
I was utterly floored and speechless when Fountainhead told me Gump’s name was Scott Fleischer! Frankly, it was a punch in the gut. It still hurts; that’s why I’m writing because it helps to grieve rightly.
Here’s the thing. I didn’t know Scott from my time living in Columbia. I knew Scott and his M, Victoria and their 2.0’s Jack, Isabella, and Sam from my years pastoring in York, SC. Scott and I connected in York through ministry and immediately hit it off. Our families spent time together celebrating birthdays, eating dinners together, swimming, etc. Our kids (3 a piece) are practically the same ages. We got to know each other well before ministry took he and his family to Columbia. When I heard that Jack died on Friday my heart sank for Scott and his family. I’m so deeply grieved because Jack and my oldest 2.0, Zeke, were good buddies. “Running through the woods and playing laser tag” were my son’s fondest memories when I informed him yesterday of Jack’s death.
When Scott moved his family from York to Columbia, SC there was no F3, so I didn’t even know Scott was involved with F3. We’d lost contact with each other over the years. So you can imagine my shock just hearing his name when I’d inquired. Following the conference call I called Scott immediately. The phone rang only 1 time when he picked up and simply said, “Hi Todd!”
It was great to talk with Scott (F3 Gump). It was painful to find out how Jack died. Scott and I simply picked up where we’d left off, but this time we reconnected in a rather providential way (Godincidence) because of F3! I’m so glad I didn’t find this out later. This time we reconnected because we serve a God and Father “who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God.”
Indeed we’re Much Bigger Than We Are. I’ve never lost a son, but I have suffered great loss in other ways and I have been comforted by God and by brothers in Christ at times when it was desperately needed. Scott and I grieved together as we spoke on the phone. I grieve for Scott and his family. We all grieve with the family over this heartbreaking loss. But, you see, as believers we “do not grieve as those who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). There’s so much more to this than meets the eye but we really are amazingly Much Bigger Than We Are. I know Scott personally, he’s truly a brother and has been since long before F3. But he’s also your brother. That’s F3, so please keep the Fleischer family in your prayers.
Well guys, if you’ve made it this far thanks for reading. I appreciate your patience.
5 Cones set up spaced out 2 parking spaces wide for Suicide Burpees .
Partner 1 starts the suicides drill while Partner 2 started the Merkins ( 200) to completion switching back and forward with Partner 1. Immediately switch to (200 )LBCs until completion Switching with Partner . Finished with (200) Prison Squats until Completion in same fashion.
Cone 1 – 1 Burpee
Cone 2 – 2 Burpee
Cone 3 – 3 Burpee
Cone 4 -4 Burpee
Cone 5- 5 Burpee
200 Merkins
200 LBCs
200 Prison Squats
Break for 3rd F
I spoke about how the sport of Wrestling taught me how to handle certain situations in my life. whether I win or lose taking those experiences and learning from them. I read 3 Quotes from a Legend in the sport and another Man who is becoming a legend in his own right. I explained what they meant to me and how I thought described us as HIM.
Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit. Give everything you got today for tomorrow may never come. -Dan Gable
The easiest thing to do in the world is pull the covers up over your head and go back to sleep. -Dan Gable
To get better you have to step out of your comfort zone. You cant do the same things you’ve always done and improve. – Jordan Burroughs
Thang 2-
Rapid Fire Coupon Set.
20 Curls IC
20 Tricep Extensions IC
20 Overhead Press IC
20 Bent Over Rows IC
20 Dips
15 1 leg dip Switched legs 15 more.
Finished with some MARY each HIM called out a Exercise until time was up.
Great push this morning, especially by those whose legs have been put to the test 3 days in a row this week!
Warm up-
SSH- 25
Arm circles forward – 15
Arm circles reverse- 15
Cherry pickers – 10
Prisoner squats – 10
Mountain climbers – 15
The Thang-
Mosey to Ace Parking Lot.
Line up on one end of lot.
25 ssh – single count
Sprint to 3/4 point
25 ssh. Bear crawl to end of lot.
25ssh. Mosey back to start. Plank for 6
25 merkins
Sprint to 3/4
25 merkins
Lt Dan to end
25 merkins
Mosey back to start. Plank
25 squats
Sprint to 3/4
25 squats
Bear crawl to end
25 squats
Mosey back to start. Plank
25 Big Boys
Sprint to 3/4
25 lbc
Lt dan to end
25 Big Boys
Mosey back to start. Plank.
3rd F –
Toy soldier set – 30lbcs, 20 etks each side, 10 …. or 15 Big Boys.
Mosey back to AO.
Round of Mary.
Hello dolly , leg climbs , box cutter, flutter kick, American hammer
COT
3rd F-
Present Tense
It was spring, But it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, And the great outdoors.
It was summer, But it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, And the cool, dry air.
It was fall, But it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, And the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, But it was spring I wanted,
The warmth, And the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, But it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom, And the respect.
I was 20, But it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, And sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, But it was 20 I wanted,
The youth, And the free spirit.
I was retired, But it was middle age I wanted,
The presence of mind, Without limitations.
My life was over.
But I never got what I wanted.
Jason Lehman
This poem has insight for all ages. But also touches heavily on the reality that we can often focus on what we don’t have , and miss what’s in front of us. This carries different meaning for each of us- depending on what you may be going through, your age, your health, firtness, family, friends, Job , business, etc.
I take it as a message of – you are right where you need to be. do not miss the blessings right now because you are solely wishing for what’s next. Live at the fullest now. See how you can impact and improve others lives where you are now and don’t wait for the next season. You’re life will be better for it. It’s ok to set goals, be driven towards achieving them, but go after them now and don’t wait for the next season, or tomorrow , or perfect timing to do it, because It won’t come. Now is the time. Live life the way it’s intended to be. And be an High Impact Man.
HIM seize the day- go after what they need, live life with anticipation of what’s coming, but dont allow themselves to be paralyzed today in false hopes That tomorrow will bring what they want.
The Thang 1: Chappie Challenge aka Scary Spice Circuit
Start: PAX lined up along sidewalk 1 on near side of school front yard.
Round 1: Bearcrawl to sidewalk 2, mosey back to start, complete 30 merkins OYO.
Round 2: Bearcrawl to sidewalk 2, Lt. Dans to sidewalk 3, mosey back to start, complete 20 merkins.
Round 3: Bearcrawl to sidewalk 2, Lt. Dans to sidewalk 3, Dragoncrawl to sidewalk 4, mosey back to start, complete 10 merkins.
The Thang 2: Quarter Pounder
Sprint 25 yards – 25 Merkins, Nur Back
Sprint 50 yards – 50 Prisoner Squats, Nur Back
Sprint 75 yards – 75 Mtn. Climbers, Nur Back
Sprint 100 yards – 100 LBCs, Nur Back
Break for 3rd F
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke
Read excerpt from Freed to Lead by OBT & Dredd
“There are many great Workout locations in F3Nation, but Charlotte’s Freedom Park was the first. It is where it all started. Not only is it a great place for a Workout, it also serve the community in a thousand different ways. The average man in F3Metro probably spends an average of 7 hours a week there in one capacity or another. Go there on a Saturday morning in the spring or fall and you will see the parking lots stuffed full of minivans and the fields overrun with kids playing soccer and baseball. There is so much sweet America there it will make your teeth hurt. When the world is running particularly amok, a day in Freedom is all a man needs to keep him focused on what we have here, what is worth protecting. The World may be afire, but we have Freedom, brothers. We have Freedom. Is it likewise in every park that is part of F3Nation? We imagine so. That is really why we do this, isn’t it?
One day after soccer, Dredd was walking toward his minivan with his daughters when the youngest one asked him why there were never any police officers at Freedom Park. He had never thought about it until that moment, but she was right. Except at the front gate (enforcing the no-left turn rule), he had never seen a police officer patrolling the park. So he answered, “They are probably at other places where they are needed.”
Which prompted her older sister (in her older sister voice) to say, “Yeah, we don’t need them here because we have the daddies.”
Little sister replied, Riggggght we have the daddies to keep us safe at Freedom. The police are at the parks without the daddies.” At that, Dredd kind of looked away so his daughters wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes, and he noticed that he could see about five other F3 guys within nine-iron distance, coaching soccer or cheering their kids on. And he knew there were another twenty F3 men that he couldn’t see from where he was standing. But there were there.
It occurred to Dredd that if the bad guys came to Freedom they might have thought it easy pickings because they would see no police on duty. But they would be mistaken. If evil came to Freedom it would have the daddies to contend with, and it would not stand a chance. While we might be outnumbered Brothers, we have locked our shields and will keep them locked in the heat of battle. We know that to be true.
Alone, we may go down fighting but we are still easily overcome. But we do not fight alone. We fight behind the Locked Shields of the Minivan Centurions. That shield wall will not be broken. That is Why We Are Here. We are F3.”
Mosey back to AO for Tha Thang 3: Captain Thor
1:4 ratio of big boys & American hammers, work to 10:40
PAX – Chappie, Toy Soldier, Summit, Vanilla, Waterfall, & Fireplex
QIC – Fireplex
Warm up
SSH – 25 IC
Cherry Pickers – 25 IC
Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats.
Windmills – 25 IC
Inch worms – Approx. 70 ‘(7 Parking Spaces)
Bear Crawls – Approx. 70’ (7 parking Spaces)
The Thang
The Sheldon Cooper – Not On a Hill! – We did not mosey to “Oh Hill No” to complete the Thang as was originally planned. Q will save that one for a Saturday or for a much cooler morning. Complete 10 Burpees, 10 Squats, 10 Merkins & 10 Big Boys. Run around the AO (Capri Lap that measures by Google Earth at .26 miles) and complete 9 Burpees, 9 Squats, 9 Merkins, & 9 Big Boys. Run Capri Lap after each set. Descending until reaching 5 of each exercise as time was not in our favor to descend all the way to 1 of each exercise. 79o and very humid conditions at 5:15 a.m. worked against all HIM.
F3 Message
Q shared some personal reflections on Father’s Day. The focus placed on positive influences of a Father that instilled a gift of work ethic that included follow through on commitments and obligations. I am forever grateful for that gift.
Q shared excerpts from a word found online from the Everyday Christian published in 2009 by Chuck Mason . The full message as posted by Mr. Mason appears below.
“In Numbers chapters 28-30, Moses prepares the Israelites to enter the promised land by reviewing God’s rules on offerings, sacrifices, celebrations and vows. Moses is going to die and Joshua has been appointed to take over. So the generation has changed, the leadership is about to change, but the ways of God never change. Isn’t that refreshing? When God says something, He means it. He is faithful and true to His word; He can be counted on.
Unfortunately that isn’t always true for you and me. Numbers 30:1-2 says “This is what the LORD commands: When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”
Our words are important to God. When we make a commitment to someone we should keep it. He takes our promises to others and to Himself very seriously (whether we do or not). Let’s face it, we all have good intentions, but many times we don’t follow through on them.
Jesus spoke about this as well in Matthew 5:34-37: “But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
This is a scripture I have used over and over again with my daughters. The first time it came up was when I overheard them in the back of the van doing a “pinky promise”. This verse came to mind and I explained to them that Jesus wants us to be so honest and careful with our words that any kind of “special promise” is unnecessary. The other important parenting application of these words from our Savior is that when Mom or Dad says “no”, we mean “no” so there is no need to ask again. It is easy to see that breaking a commitment to do something you said you would do is wrong, but sometimes a little less obvious when it is applied in the other direction. When we say “no” and then later give in, we are sinning according to this scripture. In order to properly model this biblical principal to our kids we must allow our “no” to mean “no”. Eventually they will understand that asking again and again is of no profit.
Too many times in our culture, our promise is like saying “unless something better comes along.” This command of the Lord says we should not break our word, period. We may very well change our mind about something, but we still do not break our word. I once heard a male celebrity say of his wife: “We’ll stay together as long as things are good.” You may have guessed–they are divorced today.
Whether we are joining a team, an activity or a class, God expects us to fulfill our obligations. Volunteer work, job, church, marriage, home mortgage, etc., we should live up to our word. In many circles today, the breaking of an oath is just standard business practice–but before God, it is simply sin.
Because God takes our vows so seriously, sometimes it is better not to make a vow. Ecclesiastes 5:5 says, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” This passage goes on to say “do not let your mouth lead you into sin”. We need to carefully consider our words and the commitments we make for ourselves and for our family. Vowing is voluntary and should stay in line with what pleases God. We need God’s direction in making vows. Take some time, don’t answer someone rashly, seek the Lord’s best and His wisdom before making a decision.
If you find yourself breaking commitments you’ve made on a regular basis, it may be that you are overcommitting yourself to begin with. Too many times we think everything looks good, there are so many opportunities for “good” things, activities and social events and we want to do them all, but it is not feasible or realistic for us or for our families. We must be discerning, prayerful, cautious about how we commit ourselves and our family. We need room in our days, our weeks and our lives. If the only speed in your life is “rush”, this can be a sure sign of overcommitment.
So, what about you? How does the Lord want you to apply this scripture? Ask yourself these questions:
Can I be trusted?
Am I known for my integrity?
Does my “yes” mean “yes” and my “no” mean “no”?
Think of the last 3 obligations you made. Did you completely fulfill them?
What am I teaching my kids regarding commitments? From my example and from what I require of them with their commitments?”
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Prayers specifically for the Pedrick Family, Jones family, Aaron, Stealth & Toy Soldier. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.
8 HIM posted this morning for a fun match on the pitch. (Soccer term for field). The grass was cut and the HIM were ready to get after each other and show their skills (or not) in the crab walk vs bear crawl soccer match!
Disclaimer
Warm up:
-Capri lap
20-SSH
15-windmills
15-cherry pickers
20-mountain climbers
Crab walk VS Bear crawl Soccer.
20 minute match. One team crab walks while other bear crawls. Teams switch positions after each goal. Goalie for both teams is in the plank position. Both teams rotate goalie between each goal.*** rules changed as game progressed.
^^^Match Highlights
-‘good guys’(fireplex, chairman, toy soldier and nugget) topped ‘bad guys’ (summit, vanilla, leatherman and chappie) 4-3!
-fireplex was match MVP with winning goal!
* 3rd F
ABs on fire workout
1. Windshield wipers
2. Big boys
3. Reverse crunches
4. Bicycle crunches
5. V-sits
6. Heel touches
10 reps each X 2 sets
Group Merkins. (4 HIM in square in plank position with their feet on each other’s back.
Good guys did 7
Bad guys did 10 for punishment (mostly humiliation)
Ended in COT
* 3rd F
Overview-In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars by Mark Batterson
Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase.
You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets:
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow:(2 Samuel 23:20)
