It was a perfect morning for a workout. And today at CAT, the boys of Ambush showed up to converge. Some work was done. There were a lot of laughs. There were a lot of gas pumps. There was a bit of cheating. And most importantly there was a lot of mumble chatter. A good time was had by some. We ended with a cup check devo. Good work today brothers. See you in the gloom again soon. Below is what happened.
Conditions: 46 , full moon, slight breeze from the W
Disclaimer
Prayer
Slowsy to the lower field for COP, all IC
SSH x 15
Burpees x 5
TTT x 15
Burpees x 5
Imperial Walkers x 15 clockwise (because we’re not animals)
Burpees x 5
The Thang
There were three cones and we used the lacrosse goal as the fourth in square. Partner up. While one guy moseys around the perimeter (clockwise, counter clockwise, just move)of the cones the other does 3 exercises x 10 reps per exercise. Then they swap out. Rinse and repeat for 10 rounds. Each guy gets 100 reps of each.
Merkins, Gas Pumps, Squats. Focus on good form.
That took up a lot of time.
Then we lined up on the goal line for a plank race. Pax broke into two groups. Each group single lined up nose to toes in the plank position. The guy in the back would move to the front in a Indian run fashion. First team pass the cone (about 30 yards) would win. Luckily Popoff called bearcrawl and got the pax all fired up. After the bearcrawl round we returned with another plank race, this time running from the back to the front. A fair amount of cheating took place.
We had just a few minutes left for Mary all IC x 10
Shoulder Taps
Hello Dolly
Hydraulics
Flutter Kicks
Mosey to the flag for COT
Moleskin:
-Jam stinks. Stay upwind.
-Do not look into the cone. It will blind you.
-Winning > integrity. Ask Squatter.
Announcements: Convergence coming up next weekend
Prayer Request: Jams SIL, Grass Fairys FIL
DEVO: From The Putting Green Devo and 721 Ministries go here to sign up https://www.puttinggreenblog.com/
Seventeen years ago this week, February 16, 2004, I met with a group of men in Spartanburg, SC, and that became the launching of 721 Ministries. A few months before I had met with Ben Hines in Spartanburg, simply because his brother Bobby had said, “I want you to meet my brother Benny. You will like him, and if you ever start a men’s ministry, he would be an asset in Spartanburg.”
At that point in time I had no ideas about, nor any interest whatsoever in starting a men’s ministry. Many people were encouraging me to do so, but to each I would reply, “I am just a Sunday School teacher. I have a renovation company to run. Don’t be ridiculous.” But Bobby was persistent, so I met Ben for lunch in October 2003.
As we were getting up to leave, Ben asked how he could pray for me. At a loss for an answer, and trying to appear Godly, I said, “Just be praying about ministry opportunities in Spartanburg.” That was it. I did not give Ben another thought after that.
Three months later, to my surprise, Ben called and asked, “Do you have any plans for February 16? I have twenty-five Christian businessmen lined up to meet with you, to hear your ideas for a men’s ministry in Spartanburg.”
I had no “ideas” for anything. I was taken aback, but I immediately felt the Lord’s presence, so I said I would be there. I hung up the phone, looked up towards Heaven and said, “Okay, okay, Father, I hear you. That is as clear a sign as you can send. I will do it. I have no idea what to do, but I will do it. But what would I name this ministry?”
His direct answer, although in my head, was as clear as you talking to me. He said, “What is your passion, Sam?”
I replied, “Matthew 7:21-23.”
He said, “Then that is your name: 721 Ministries.”
And off we went. For seventeen years I have watched Jesus change hearts, which changed lives, which changed marriages, which changed families, which changed legacies.
But why Matthew 7:21-23?
I had been a roving Sunday School teacher for three or four years, teaching Young Adult classes at fifteen different churches. The classes were mostly couples, and mostly my age: mid-forties, plus or minus.
As I would stand in front of these couples, all nicely dressed young fathers and mothers, church active and community active, I would see this: the ladies were paying attention—for the most part—and perhaps even taking notes; the men were distracted, bored, and thinking about anything but what I was saying.
My heart went out to them. These fine husbands, sons, fathers, active in the community and active in the church. They did not know it, but they were just going through the motions at church. They were phoning it in with God. Doing what was expected of them. Getting their children to church on Sunday mornings. Giving a little money. Even teaching Sunday School (when they could no longer avoid it).
But totally missing it. I wanted to shout out, “There’s more! And you are missing it.” They were “Churchians,” not Christians. They were following church, not Christ.
And then the Holy Spirit showed me Matthew 7:21-23:
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
It was that “I never knew you” that shook me up so badly. Jesus was making this startling statement to men and women who had just listed their resume of church activities. Here is the modern-day version:
“But Jesus, we went to church most Sundays. We were active in Sunday School. I cooked pancakes for the men’s Saturday morning gathering. I coached church league basketball. I was on the fund-raising committee for the new gymnasium. I even went to the men’s’ Bible study … sometimes, albeit half-heartedly.”
But to these men—and women, too, mind you—presenting their fine resumes, Jesus says, “You did all those things because they made you feel good, or look good, or satisfied your checklist religion. But you never took the time to get to know me.”
And then the hammer: “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers.”
Prayer