The Thang
Weather: A bit chilly at 25 degrees
Disclaimer/Opening Prayer
It was the coldest work-out of the year, but these Pax are tough. We went for a warm up lap around the parking lot and eventually settled at the landing pad for some warm up exercises. We went through 14 counts of each of the following: SSH, IW, TTT, LBACs, Merkins. We then counted off and broke into three groups of three.
Each group would send one of their Pax off to jog around the flag pole loop while carrying a 14 lb 4×4 log. While that Pax was off running, the others were going through a mystery grab-bag of exercises. When the Pax carrying the log came back, they handed off the log to one of their teammates. Each person rotated by grabbing an exercise out of the grab-bag and they then had to share something interesting about themselves. The Pax shared interesting stories of the cars they drove in college, being adopted, being born in South Korea, being a certified deep sea diver, and having an identical twin brother.
For the grab-bag of exercises, the Pax had to do 28 counts of each of the following while the other group of Pax was jogging around the loop with the log. The exercises were: Fingertip Merkins, Squats, Lunges, SSH, Flutter Kicks, LBCs, BBSUs, Mountain Climbers, Plank Jacks, Burpees, Bulgarian Ball Busters, Iron Crosses, Shoulder Taps, Low Plank, Monkey Humpers, Boat-Canoe.
The Pax returned to the shovel flag for COT and closing prayer.
Announcements:
2/2: MGC Long Run
Crypt Q Sign Up: Open Dates on Feb 14, Feb 26 and 28
1/24: Thirsty Thursday at Keg Cowboy at 6:30
Prayer Requests:
Praise for Colton in becoming a cadet, Pray for JigglyPuff today, Pray for my M as she undergoes surgery next Monday (1/28).
Devo:
Luke 4:18. “He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed”.
In the 5th century BC, the Buddha identified a universal truth: that the root of suffering comes from craving. When times are bad, we crave for them to be good. When times are good, we crave for them to be better. He then developed a way to train his mind into overcoming these cravings, ultimately leading to a state of nirvana. While I don’t agree with being able to overcome our natural state of sin, I do believe he identified an essential truth to our nature. The root of all sin comes from our selfish cravings. We may call it other things: wanting, personal desires, covetousness. The fall of Adam and Eve occurred because they craved to be something they were not. They craved to be like God. Simple cravings of the flesh lead to sins of lust, greed, and gluttony. Unfulfilled cravings of acceptance and love can lead to frustration. Ultimately, this can fuel the sins of anger, wrath, and malice. When we crave to be better than we actually are to the point that we begin to believe this, we call that pride.
Ultimately, the only thing that can release us from the bondage of our own cravings, is a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus came to set us free. Our wives will not be enough to fulfill us. Our children will not be enough to fulfill us. We are called to love them and love them well. But, ultimately they will not fulfill us. Think about the cravings in your life today and the sins they bring about. Think about how you can turn from them and begin to trust in Jesus more deeply.