Tag: 3rdF

A PAX of two met on Zoom for 3rd F. To account for over preparing last time, YHC underprepared.

YHC had prepared a bit of trivia about some of the “bizarre” stories of the Bible. Florence’s knowledge of the scriptures is stunning. It was great to get to know him a bit better. Where two or more are gathered…

Put the next 3rd F on your calendar: June 22nd at 8pm on Zoom.

Any ideas for multi-access/HyFlex gatherings? Send them my way. Perhaps we could take this 3rd F on the road and have a blend of in-person and virtual attendance.

Disclaimer:
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:

• Is free of charge,
• Is a discussion based on the Christian faith, but is open to all men,
• Is peer led by volunteer Qs who may or may not be certified/ordained.

The Thang:

The PAX discussed connections between the Tower of Babel, where God/the gods scattered everyone to speak different languages and Pentecost, where people of different backgrounds could understand one another. What was different? Also, YHC took the discussion “off the rails” in typical fashion.

Prayers for Tobit’s grandmother and family. Great to have EF Hutton back in the gloom and on Zoom!

Disclaimer:
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:

• Is free of charge,
• Is a discussion based on the Christian faith, but is open to all men,
• Is peer led by volunteer Qs who may or may not be certified/ordained.

THE THANG :

Each PAX shared their spiritual background, when they started seeking God, and where they’re at now on their spiritual journey.

Common Themes :

1. Every PAX had bad experiences with religion and good experiences with religion.
2. We’ve all made mistakes.
3. There came a time when each PAX wanted to seek God for themselves rather than what someone told them.
4. We are all still on a faith journey.

QIC appreciates each PAX being vulnerable to share their own unique experience with God. They didn’t have to share but they did. This topic was a great ice breaker because this was only QIC’s third 3F post so QIC is still getting to know a lot of PAX. Hearing about others’ spiritual backgrounds helps QIC to understand the PAX in a deeper way to know where they’re coming from. It will help navigate QIC for future 3F Q’s.

3rd F is quickly becoming my favorite of the 3 F’s in the RVA region. Don’t get me wrong.. YHC loves seeing you guys in the Gloom.. but the mumble chatter while rolling around in the middle of freshly manured spring field has nothing on the 1 hour of COT that we have in the 3rd F.
It is a COT.. so what is said in 3rd F says in 3rd F. But this is what we covered.

Disclaimer:
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:

• Is free of charge,
• Is a discussion based on the Christian faith, but is open to all men,
• Is peer led by volunteer Qs who may or may not be certified/ordained.

We started with: Who is Jesus?
Mark:  8:27
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?“

Responses: A man?
A Prophet?
The Savior?
The Bridge?
The Son of God? (so is Solomon and Israel once he was no longer Jacob)
The Holy Spirit in the Flesh?
God?
Interesting claim:  “‘Son of God’ was a classical term for someone whose father was unknown. Jesus was called ‘the son of God’ because that was a term that mothers called their children when they didn’t know who the father was. There was no great mystical or religious significance to the term, as the churches try to claim today.”

Why are you searching for Him? 
Have you found Him or have you found what you hope is him? Are you looking because it was others want you to do or are you seeking for yourself.
Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

John 11:25:  “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”

Thank you for allowing me to lead.
v/r
John (Gypsy) Boles

YHC offered to take this post today. YHC has attended other 3rd F events but was not the Q until tonight and similar to the first Q on the first F was nervous, restless that will the right things get covered? Is there a definitive process? Well we had a great discussion this evening and all I can say is it was humbling to see what other brothers are doing and possibly going through these days. Probably the easiest topic was talking about being a dad and we picked up from there.

YHC is reading a book by Neil Peart titled Ghost Rider – Travels on the healing Rode which he chronicles his riding a motorcycle across Canada, across the US, Mexico to Belize. Driving 55,000 miles working out the meaning of life after just recently losing his wife and only daughter the year before in 1997/1998. In one short year he is alone, no longer a dad or husband. I have just started this book and already feel his pain and emotion. Powerful and YHC appreciates the fortunes in his life as I have had multiple friends lose their children, tragically, sudden and unexpected. And have witnessed the change to their family and friends forever.

We wrapped up and YHC took us out in prayer this evening.

It was an honor to lead this group this evening and I look forward to seeing you in the gloom. Prayers….CB.

7 faithful joined to discuss the difficult topic of Forgiveness. We went over Matthew 18, Romans 3:21-24. Christ tells us all are worthy of grace & forgiveness and practicing forgiveness with others allows us to accept his grace. Lots of good discussion and some good examples of the difficulty of this topic in their own life. Couple of PAX tearing up, including YHC, means we all have work to do.

Plus Boberry’s new 2.0 made an appearance!

Four gathered for some 3rd F discussion on trust.

Who do you trust? We began by recounting the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham and Isaac. YHC asked how old everyone thought Isaac was when Abraham was about to sacrifice him. DTH said 7, Gypsy said 37, and YHC was thinking more like 18. In any case, Isaac was old enough to know what was going on and yet he fully trusted his father. Jesus does the same in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26.

Is anyone having trouble fully trusting God and what exactly does it mean to trust God? YHC’s interpretation is that no matter what happens in your life (not matter how good or how bad things are), you continue to turn to God in prayer…you just keep praying.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 46:11 – Be still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on earth.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Joshua 1:9 – I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.

Mark 5:36 – Do not be afraid; just have faith.