Do You Recognize We Are At War?

I thought this was a good email I received from Ransomed Heart Ministries. We are at War!! Most do not recognize it. I was fortunate to recognize it a couple of years ago. The battle has been fierce, but the victories are more rewarding that the pain occurred during battle. Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. (Braveheart--William Wallace)

The Thief Wants It All
05/31/2007

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Any movement toward freedom and life, any movement toward God or others, will be opposed. Marriage, friendship, beauty, rest—the thief wants it all.

So, it becomes the devil’s business to keep the Christian’s spirit imprisoned. He knows that the believing and justified Christian has been raised up out of the grave of his sins and trespasses. From that point on, Satan works that much harder to keep us bound and gagged, actually imprisoned in our own grave clothes. He knows that if we continue in this kind of bondage. . . we are not much better off than when we were spiritually dead. (A.W. Tozer)

Sadly, many of these accusations will actually be spoken by Christians. Having dismissed a warfare worldview, they do not know who is stirring them to say certain things. “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel” (1 Chron. 21:1). The Enemy used David, who apparently wasn’t watching for it, to do his evil. He tried to use Peter too. “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things . . . Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’” (Matt. 16:21–23). Heads up—these words will come from anywhere. Be careful what or who you are agreeing with.

When we make those agreements with the demonic forces suggesting things to us, we come under their influence. It becomes a kind of permission we give the Enemy, sort of like a contract.

Some foul spirit whispers, I’m such a stupid idiot, and they agree with it; then they spend months and years trying to sort through feelings of insignificance. They’d end their agony if they’d treat it for the warfare it is, break the agreement they’ve made, and send the Enemy packing.

(Waking the Dead , 154–55)




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From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 151
Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com

Saturday cont.

My Saturday Project!!

After the groundbreaking this morning and some needed rest after lunch, I embarked the raising of the pool. Enjoy the pictures!!!!

CrossFit!!

I complete my first WOD with another group this past weekend up in the Cleveland Metroparks. I was a great setting for an excellent workout. Check Crossfit Cleveland for pics and what the WOD was. I am still a little sore and recovering on Monday, but could not pass up doing another WOD this afternoon when I got home from work. I tried to avoid any real eccentric or concentric work on my lats because they were really sore still, but did get some pushing in today along with a intense legs workout as well.

WOD: (4 rounds)
20 KB swings
10 KB Push press L/R
10 24'' step up L/R
10 Burpees

Time 18:27

I felt great after the workout, but my chest is pretty tired right now. More to come about the weekend announcement in the next few days.

My Stomach Failed!!

WOD
6 L/R Snatches (16kg KB)
3 Pull-ups
12 Sit-up

10 Rounds

23:50 (min:sec)

I completed another workout of the day, courtesy of Crossfit Philly. It began well with a easy first round followed by...."dad, our feet are cold, can we get our coats?"

You see, I had Ryan and Randy with me and they were in tank tops and and sandles at the park today (9am). I thought they could handle it...I was wrong.

So, I stopped the workout, went home, put better clothes on them and came back to the park to finish the WOD.

I was committed to completing this entire workout, but I experienced failure in my rectus abdominis. I needed to take breaks with the sit-up portion usually after rep #6, and #9. I felt great after the workout and look forward to the next one.

Have a great day. If you are interested in working out with me in Cleveland this Saturday, check out CrossFit Cleveland.

Workout of the Day!!!

Wow! I did my first official workout of the day. I scaled it down after I had trouble with round one. My ego was bigger than my endurance. I got my WOD from CrossFit Philly:

10 Swings, Cleans, Front Squat L
10 Swings, Cleans, 5 Front Squat R.....Totally gased at this point. I need to re-evaluate how fit I am
Rest 2 min
10 Swings, 5 Cleans L/R, 5 Front Squat L/R
2 min rest
10 Swings, 4 Cleans L/R, 4 Front Squat L/R
2 min rest
10 Swings, 3 Cleans L/R, 3 Front Squat L/R
1 min rest
10 Swings, 2 Cleans L/R, 2 Front Squat L/R
30 sec rest
10 Swings, 1 Cleans L/R, 1 Front Squat L/R
1 min rest
8 Turkish Get-up (4 ea)
1 min rest
20 Windmill (10 L/R)



The above picture was my cool down. I promised the boys that I would wrestle with them and we did for about 20 minutes.

Have a great day.

What is He Carrying?

I decided to workout in the park yesterday. The boys had energy to spare and I wanted to workout. I took advantage of the nice weather, and headed to the park carrying my 35lb kettlebell. I have not done this before and was curious what people were going to think. I had a great workout, about 35 min in length. My WOD was:

2 Rounds:
20 2-hand swings
20 snatches (10L/R)
30 one arm swings (15L/R)
3 TGU

Follow-up by 5-5-5 of elevated pistols
5 Pull-ups
10 jumping pull-ups.

Still feeling it on Monday morning. I need some Post_workout_recovery....HAHAH

I found this video on digg. It is amazing how many of the lifts, positions, and throws look amazingly like kettlebell swings, snatches, and cleans.
These individuals are athletes.

A New Way of Thinking!

Many of you know what my future endevors are and it is amazing how one's thinking changes over time. I used to be the guy who did all the machine's in the gym thinking that I got a good workout. Boy...was I wrong. I have been using my 1 pood kettelbell faithfully now for about 6 weeks. I am amazed at the trasformation that my body is going through. I feel leaner, stronger, and more fit than I have in years. I am coupling that with world class nutrition and a change in my eating patterns. I am eating 5-6 times a day (about every 3 hours) and I have more sustained energy and a leaner stomach for the first time in.....ever.
Strength and fitness training is constantly evolving and I am glad I am experiencing a revolution in fitness thinking and committment to health. Check out Crossfit Cleveland and check them out on Saturdays in May. I got the above picture from Crossfit Philly. Another great website that is on the cutting edge.