As I was preparing for this 3rd F opportunity my heart first turned to the story of Samson. How relevant to talk to a bunch of Men that like to workout while discussing a Man that was strong and has a weakness for women? Well, my heart was pulled in a different direction.
Growing up I always loved hearing the story of Gideon and how 32,000 men dwindled down to 300 defeated the Midianites. How could you not? But as an adult going back and reading it, I couldn’t help but think of the Tragedy of the story. God chooses Gideon to lead an army to defeat the Midianites and how does Gideon repay our lord? He makes a gold idol the Jews can worship. How can someone that is chosen by God be so nearsighted?
So what if F3 had been around back in the days of Judges? I think the story might have gone like this….
The month is June and it is brutally hot on the banks of the Jordan River. This is the newest AO that was just launched by @F3Jerusalem. (We haven’t come up with a name yet, though we have narrowed it down to F3HogWallow or F3Wreck). There are strong numbers for such and new AO. But have you seen this AO! River to swim, stairs to climb, hillsides to conquer, they have it all. Well onto the work out.
QIC: Jacob (wrestled with the angel)
PAX: Holiday Inn (Gideon) Midi, Amalekite, Zebah, Zalmunna, Baby Face, Boomer, Flo, Crack, DC2, Mufasa, Peanut, Moonshine, Darth Visor, IBeam, and Catfish.
The Thang:
In honor of Holiday Inn’s recent victory over the Midianites with only 300 men we are going to do 300 of everything.
300 Burpees, Merkins, Plankjacks, Big Boy Situps, Pullups, ATM’s, Derkins, Dips, LBC’s, and 300 times across the Jordan.
Finished just in time for a few minutes of Mary.
Moleskin:
It was a brutal day at the new Jordan River AO. Mufasa was leading the charge the whole workout. The heat got to Mufasa as Holiday Inn pulled away in the end. I think Holiday Inn had a fleece that was soaked in dew that kept him cool?
COT:
Everyone congratulated Holiday Inn on the victory over the Midianites. It is so pleasant to be able to head to the gloom with having to worry about those pesky guys throwing arrows at you.
Holiday Inn talked about how he had collected gold from everyone in town and was going to make a gold garment to put in the center of town to commemorate this victory. As he finished talking I-Beam confronted him, “Holiday Inn do we need to change your name to the Day’s Inn? The Lord was punishing us for worshiping Idols and you want to make another one? Come on dude!” Then the Pax all started to pile on and the mumble chatter was one for the ages. As Moonshine led us out in Prayer he said Lord I think we dodged a spear today.
Key Verses from today
12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’” So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments off their camels’ necks.
27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berithas their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.
Gideon’s downfall is that he didn’t finish strong. I afraid that happens to too many in our culture.
Trust in God.
John 14: 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
John 14:14 You may ask for anything in my name and I will do it.
How to prevent your family from going down the same path?
What is your legacy?
Some great conversation in the group.
TO – Keeping a higher purpose for his life.
Moonshine – Trusting God when his life is going great. Realizing that it is not him.
Mufasa – Finishing strong.
I-Beam – Since of relief when you give your problems to God. Releasing self control, I am Third.