Tag: 3rdF

3rd F meetups are service and faith related where faith is believing the world is bigger than just yourself

  • The Crucible is awakened

    19 Redwoods posted for the first version of the Crucible. This is what transpired.

    The Thang: Mosey to field. 20 SSH, 10 Don Quixotes, 10 Helicopters, 20 Lbc, 20 imperial walkers, 20 Merkins. Mosey to stands near football field. Lindseys with jump squats and WWII setups. Mosey to field near road. Triple Check. Box Cutters, merkins, run to other side and bernie sanders back. Mosey to pole in the corner of field and perform a different exercise at each pole. COT and TYA took us out.

    NMM: This AO and workout has been a long time coming. Lots of chatter about starting something near the Healing Place for sometime and August 6, 2022 was the day it was meant to start. Steamy morning out there, but the AO has a lot to offer. Thanks to all the men that had a hand in getting this AO started. Particular thanks to Shakedown for connecting with the leadership at the Healing Place and making this happen. F3 has had a strong presence with this group for sometime, I am glad we now have a F3 driven workout there every Saturday.

    YHC thought that he would have to take it easy from a workout perspective, thinking that there would be some folks that might not be in bootcamp shape. I could not have been more wrong about that. The three folks from THP were in great shape and looked like they were ready to roll from the beginning. Extra Credit earned his name in the first group of exercises when Shakedown and Anthrax realized he was doing 2x the number of reps. He said he wasn’t sure how many, but did not want to do less than was called. So by the time the COT happened, his name had already stuck. Sometimes names come easy, sometimes it is difficult. Our second FNG had run several quarries in his career. Despite lots of other good content to chose from a half dozen people shouted Flintstone simultaneously. Rocket man was the third THP participant. He had participated in F3 in Raleigh previously, so he had already been named.

    This AO is going to be a special place. You could feel the excitement and energy in the air before, during and after the workout. When you post at a workout, you are guaranteed to get the first F. If you want it, you can get the 2nd F. It is a special thing when all three things are present at one AO. Check out the Crucible when you have a chance. All three are there in abundance.

    TYA OUT

  • New AO – “The Crucible”

    For 4 or 5 years some of the Pax have been volunteering as running coaches for The Healing Place 10k Training Team. Regulars include Offshore, Swiper and YHC but we have seen a host of including but not limited to LabRat, Hardywood, Bootleg, and the man who first brought it to my attention at least – Upchuck. We have a lot of fun and the guys from THP really appreciate our support.

    THP is a homeless shelter and a recovery center for men who have substance abuse disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction etc. It is often a fellas last hope when they have burned through all their bridges and favors. Learning to run gives them something positive to do and somewhere to channel their energy.

    The program works too, they have a high success rate.

    As you guys know by now, we have been working with F3 Charlottesville and helping to lead workouts at The Bridge. Some of us thought that maybe we could harness some if that good 3rd F energy and do something similar closer to home so we worked with the managment of THP to be sure they were ok with what we are doing and we started The Crucible. I hope some of you men can help with this mission and come work out with us or even take the Q occasionally.

    We will have to go a little easy on the names and never bring a cooler of beer but other than that it will be a normal AO, just positioned and timed to be attended by the guys from THP.

    I hope that we can help some guys and bring in some new blood and new perspectives into our PAX.

    The Crucible kicks off on Saturday August 6th at 7:30 in the park across from Blackwell elementary. TYA will be our first Q. Spread the word and help us make this a success.

    Meet on the Maury St side of the park

  • Breaking Bread – We are Into Q2, 2022!!

    Breaking Bread – We are Into Q2, 2022!!

    Gentlemen,

    I have to extend an apology. During the COT on Friday and again today, I mentioned the opportunity to sign up for Breaking Bread this month and during the rest of the first quarter. Unfortunately, that is not correct.

    Because of the incredible leadership you all are showing, Breaking Bread is FULL until MAY!! You all have done an exceptional job.

    I appreciate the continued solid efforts that you and your families make on behalf of these people. I thank you, Barbara (their director) thanks you, and the residents thank you. And, we thank your families.

    UpChuck

  • We Didn’t Forget the Bread

    We cooked. Ziti, salad, brownies, + BREAD. We arrived to deliver a hot meal only to see Barbara was taking deliveries for the rest of the week. She was excited for our meal however, as it was HOT and ready to go.

    Sign up gentlemen. Couldn’t be any easier and rewarding + it’s a good deed for some people who desperately need a break. We are looking forward to when serving is an option back on the table.

    Kudos to Shakedown for following through Sunday even though his day went a little sideways.

  • Forgot the Bread

    Sunday started nicely with a pleasant run around the JRPS with friends until gravity took me down, busted shin, three hours in Patient First getting stitched up… but like running life is nothing but relentless forward progress so I popped a couple ibuprofen and hit the kitchen. Manicotti and Salad with some vanilla ice cream for dessert. As always, Barbara was wonderful and gracious, she does love the men of F3RVA – especially loves her some Splinter (she mentioned him several times though it took me a second to remember who Brian was – lol). If you have not done this, do it. It’s easy, these folks can use the help, and selfishly it feels good to help people so if nothing else do it for yourself. I did forget the dang bread.

  • Fed or Fed Up?

    The post editor is acting weird on this ancient browser, so please bear with YHC.
    Five PAX converged on Zoom for the last 3rd F before Labor Day.
    Disclaimer
    John 6:24-35
    Discussion
    COT
    Thanks to first-timers Snuff and Termite for coming out. YHC hopes to connect with ya’ll more in the gloom.
    Prayers for Pigskin’s friend’s family, Offshore’s friend’s family, Boberry’s friend’s family.
    The next 3rd F is September 14th. We’ll have a “normal” 3rd F that night – Q sheet is open!
    YHC proposes that we start reading “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and plan to start discussing on September 28th. The book is available on Amazon for under $3 and a pdf is available online for free. It’s about 120 pages. Stay tuned for the September 28th reading assignment.

  • Looking for F3 “Clown Cars”

    I am trying to track down a guy whose F3 name is “Clown Cars” — possible last name is “Tedesco.” He participated in the GrowRuck a few years ago. Any leads would be appreciated — especially a hospital name and mobile number. Thanks! F3 Johnsonville (flbiggs@gmail.com)

  • Common Ground in Faith

    The purpose of this AO is to push the PAX along their journey in developing the 3rd F – Faith.  We recognize that PAX are at their own place on the journey and proceed at their own pace.  PAX are encouraged to share.  It is not required to share (wise men learn by listening), but there is a requirement to allow others to share.  What is shared in this 3rd F stays with the 3rd F; it is a COT.  None of the PAX has a monopoly on the truth, though we are all truth seekers.  It is fine to disagree.  If there are not disagreements, then we are probably doing it wrong.

    This 3rd F event:

    1.       Is free of charge.
    2.       Is a discussion based on faith and open to all men.
    3.       Is peer led by volunteer Qs who may or may not be certified/ordained.

    The topic: Finding common ground in faith: Focus on Biblical and Buddhist ideology.

    Baseline for the discussion:
    Counts..
    535 Million Buddhist followers (believed to be a suppressed number by Chinese government)
    2.5 Billion Biblical followers.

    How the life stories of Buddha and Jesus are similar.

    •            Conceived in a miraculous manner
    •            Similar names of mother (Maya for Buddha, Mary for Jesus)
    •            Was a bit of a child prodigy
    •            Underwent a long period of fasting while traveling alone
    •            Tempted by, but overcame, the devil
    •            Began an itinerant ministry around the age of 30
    •            Had disciples who traveled with him.
    •            Performed miracles, such as curing blindness and walking on water
    •            Renounced worldly riches and required his disciples to do so also
    •            Rebelled against the religious elite (Brahmans for Buddha and Pharisees for Jesus)
    •            Dispatched disciples, shortly before his death, to spread his message

    While Buddhism is based primarily on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (a spiritual teacher from India who lived from approximately 563BC to 483BC and is known as the Buddha or enlightend one), Buddhism incorporates a variety of religious traditions, beliefs and practices. Like Hinduism, Buddhism provides no singular unified view about Jesus, although a number of Jesus’ characteristics are described by many Buddhists.

    Jesus Was An Enlightened Man
    Most Buddhists acknowledge and respect the fact Jesus lived a self-sacrificial life and had compassion on those who were in spiritual need. This kind of compassion is seen by Buddhists to be the key to happiness and enlightenment. For this reason, many Buddhists, including the 14th century Zen master, Gasan Jōseki, refer to Jesus as an “enlightened man”.

    Jesus Was A Wise Teacher
    Most Buddhists also respect the teaching of Jesus to a high degree, especially Jesus’ teaching related to loving one’s neighbor and the need to demonstrate kindness and forgiveness. His teaching related to compassion, for example, impressed the Dalai Lama greatly. Jesus is seen as someone who possessed the correct perspective on life and his teaching helped others to embrace the truth. Some Buddhists including the 14th Dali Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, have even recognized Jesus as a ” bodhisattva” (one who dedicates his life sacrificially to the service and betterment of others). While Jesus is seen as a wise teacher, He is not seen as divine.

    Jesus Was a Holy Man
    The current Dalai Lama often describes Jesus as a “holy man” and includes Jesus in his list of such people. In fact, the Dalai Lama does not typically elevate Buddha to a greater status than Jesus when discussing the two figures. The Dalai Lama met frequently with the Pope in the early part of the 21st century and showed great respect for the teaching and person of Jesus Christ.

    The Questions:
    Are the man Jacob wrestled with, Siddhartha Gautama, and Jesus all incarnations of the same Spirit brought forth at the exact time and place when needed?

    God did not create Religion.. Man did.  Why does man paint themself in a tiny box and label it when they all have the same desire to get to an Afterlife that is peaceful and whole?

    Is the afterlife segmented like our physical life?  Is there multiple heavens or does the division of man’s faiths disappear when we leave this current life?

    The Answers are COT… and what is said in COT stays in COT.  If you want to know more, join in on the next 3rd F on 8/3 when we continue our Faith journey.

    Thank you for letting Homer and YHC lead today.

    v/r
    John (Gypsy) Boles

  • Pandemic

    We logged in for this 3rd F event and had 5 F3 brothers discuss how the COVID-19 Pandemic has effected them, their families, the way they see the world now. Was there negative issues, positive results and what helped them cope to the present time.

    This was a healthy discussion and we learned more about one another. Very special and engaging!

    It was great seeing you and we look forward to the next 3rd F event in two weeks. See you in the gloom….Cheers, CB!!

  • Town Hall on ZOOM

    Town Hall on ZOOM

    Brothers – there is a consensus to have Thursday’s Town Hall exclusively on ZOOM using the same link as we use for 3rd F (below). We will start at 8PM. ALL PAX are invited to an open discussion about our Region, and how we can pull together post-Pandemic to support and refresh what makes F3RVA unique and effective.

    Zoom Meeting ID:  822 7005 7337 (PW on Slack)