Day: October 23, 2019

AO LOCATION :  THE LABYRINTH

Kotter: Madoff

Upon arriving mere minutes before today’s launch I witness an overly excited Gump jumping up and down for joy in anticipation of what awaited him. I was further encouraged seeing BedPan and then Madoff!!! Even Linus and Goose and Bandit and TimeFrame all out two days in a row!! Been missing you guys … but what’s that …. someone starts mentioning Stone Cold …. I look, but sadly, no … it’s not to be. I was hopeful …. even thinking maybe Squirt may show ( he was here one day last week ….) but alas …..
I tell all assembled that they will truly LOVE today’s warm up …. since there’s so much ( teeth ) chatter …. hehe

Start with the Pledge as always and deliver swift disclaimer and now….

As I look out at assembled ( my eye catches Gaston who I believe caught what I said when I started with, “ A side straddle hop, in cadence, in position move, begin …. 1-2 —— 3!!!”

I now start to leave starting paddock while half of the group is befuddled and I remind all quickly that’s I saiddddddddd “ A ssh!!”

On Twitter and Slack this week I promised to only run to and from the park …. and so we did …. assembling near turd shack and upon Gastone’s suggestion we plank while Gump brings the six in.
Circle up and I deliver today’s beat down …. I will call an exercise and we will do it until the first man stops and calls “ Man Down!” I also tell all that today we will not chastise or criticize any, I will also not publish Any mention of any who called the phrase …we will instead support each other. One pax called it correctly …. we are a judgement- free zone ( sounds like I’ve heard that somewhere?).
We now come in hard and strong …. Mo Rockin’ Night clubs!!!! Much mention about no one wanting to be the first to call a stop …. and then I hear of 44 minutes of Mnc’s !! But we do stop and move to butt kicks …. much enjoyment as there’s lively discussion on whether it should be done slowly or rapidly. Arm circles next …. boy were the troops happy or what? Burpees ….. yes, we had to….Now crab thrusters …. boy THAT got the gang into it …. Gump with an AMAZING upwards thrust and then Gastone talked about inviting our M’s to perform this perfectly …. oh boy … No one definitely wants to be THAT guy to call a halt to this exercise …. but we do move on sooner or later. Grab some curb for Rocky B and then I hear what sounds like Ming Tao …. Gastone trying to impress all with his Chinamese …
I now call for Whoopees FAVORITE exercise ( mentions of Don Q and grass pickers …. Wrongo!!!) he loooooovvvvveeeeesssss American hammers!!!!!!
Now we move to picnic area for step ups, dips and then plank with feet on bench… followed by lunge walk over into playground ( some try to call man down to which I respond “ then your sorry butt can mosey the rest of the way!” Once inside we find a pull up station and attempt to reach 10 ( or modify) …. flutters then dead hang and pickle pounders ( some may call them baby makers ……. MUCH mumble here …. Someone even says “ I can do 30 ( pregnant pause) seconds!!!” Hey, at least we had no Mr. Baseballs present ( 3 strokes and Y’ERR OUT!) and lastly crunchy frogs!! Meander back to parking lot for bear crawl back and forth and then squat jumps ( where I call a stop for once !)
We end this all with Lbcs and then nur to the gate and finish with a race to the finish !!

Announcements for the Tuna this weekend
Gump with a pre Halloween Spooktacular next Wednesday ( costumes welcome )
Praise for Madoffs family and Bedpan getting a new job… way to go !

Moleskin…. these men were truly great today embracing this new routine and following my directions to strengthen and support each other! Much thanks to all in attendance for this opportunity …. until next time…….

If you were asked to name three areas where you and your spouse disagree, you’d likely be able to do it without thinking very hard. You might even be able to produce a top ten list if given a few more minutes.  And sadly, unless someone at your house starts doing some giving in, these same issues are going to keep popping up between you and your mate.

Unfortunately, stubbornness comes as standard feature on both husband and wife models.  Defending your rights and opinions is a foundational part of your nature and make-up.  It’s detrimental, though, inside a marriage relationship, and it steals away time and productivity.  It can also cause great frustration for both of you.

Granted, being stubborn is not always bad.  Some things are worth standing up for and protecting.  Our priorities, morals, and obedience to God should be guarded with great effort.  But too often we debate over piddling things, like the color of wall paint or the choice of restaurants.

Other times, of course, the stakes are much higher.  One of you would like more children; the other doesn’t.  One of you wants to vacation with your extended family; the other doesn’t.  One of you wants to vacation with your extended family; the other doesn’t. One of you prefers home-schooling your kids; the other doesn’t. One of you thinks it’s time for marriage counseling or to get more involved in a church, while the other doesn’t.

Though these issues may not crop up every day, they keep resurfacing and don’t really go away.  You never seem to get any closer to a resolution or compromise.  The heels just keep digging in.  It’s like driving with parking brake on.

There’s only one way to get beyond stalemates like these, and that’s by finding a word that’s the opposite of stubbornness – a word we first met back while discussing kindness.  That word is “willing.”  It’s an attitude and spirit of cooperation that should permeate our conversations.  It’s like a palm tree by the ocean that endures the greatest winds because it knows how to gracefully bend.  And the one best example of it is Jesus Christ, as described in Philippians 2.  Follow the progression of His selfless love …

As God, He had every right to refuse becoming a man but yielded and did – because He was willing.  He had the right to be served by all mankind but came to serve us instead.  He had the right to live in peace and safety but willingly laid down His life for our sins.  He was even willing to endure the grueling torture of the cross.  He loved, cooperated, and was willing to do His Father’s will instead of His own.

In light of this amazing testimony, the Bible applies to us a one-sentence summary statement: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5) – the attitude of willingness, flexibility, and humble submission.  It means laying down for the good of others what you have the right to claim for yourself.

All it takes for your present arguments to continue is for both of you to stay entrenched and unbending.  But the very moment one of you says, “I’m willing to go your way on this one,” the argument will be over.  And though the follow-through may cost you some pride and discomfort, you have made a loving, lasting investment in your marriage.

“Yes, but then I’ll look foolish.  “I’ll lose the fight.  I’ll lose control.”  You’ve already looked foolish by being bullheaded and refusing to listen.  You’ve already lost the fight by making this issue more important than your marriage and your spouse’s sense of worth.  You may have already lost emotional control by saying things that got personal and hurt your mate.

The wise and loving thing to do is to start approaching your disagreements with a willingness to not always insist on your own way.  That’s not to say your mate is necessarily right or being wise about a matter, but you are choosing to give strong consideration to their preference as a way of valuing them.

Love’s best advice comes from the Bible, which says, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield” (James 3:17 NKJV).  Instead of treating your wife or husband like an enemy or someone to be guarded against, start by treating them as your closest, most honored friend.  Give their words full weight.

No, you won’t always see eye-to-eye.  You’re not supposed to be carbon copies of each other.  If you were, one of you would be unnecessary.  Two people who always share the same opinions and perspectives won’t have any balance or flavor to enhance the relationship.  Rather, your differences are for listening to and learning from.

Are you willing to bend to demonstrate love to your spouse?  Or are you refusing to give in because of pride?  If it doesn’t matter in the long run – especially in eternity – then give up your rights and choose to honor the one you love.  It will be good for you and good for your marriage.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests others.  

– Philippians 2:4

Today’s Dare

Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse.  Tell them you are putting their preference first.