The Legacy of Ronald & Nancy Reagan (Just Say No)

15 Men. 70 degrees. Humidity = 235%. The Legacy of Ronald & Nancy Reagan.

DISCLAIMER
PRAYER
COP

• Through The Tunnel 10 IC
• Shoulders Down Pickle Pounders 10 IC
• Little Baby Crunches 10 IC
• Merkins 10 IC
• Motivators from 7

(mosey to the sign on the far end of the field)

THE THANG

Part 1: Buddy up for the president’s physical fitness test.

• Buddy 1: Merkins 2 Minute AMRAP
• 20 Second Recover/Switch.
• Buddy 2: Merkins 2 Minute AMRAP
• 20 Second Recover/Switch.
• Buddy 1: Big Boy Situps 2 Minute AMRAP
• 20 Second Recover/Switch.
• Buddy 2: Big Boy Situps 2 Minute AMRAP
• 20 Second Recover/Switch.
• Buddy 1: 1/4 Mile Inside Loop Lap
• Buddy 2: 1/4 Mile Inside Loop Lap
• Recover. Plank for the six.

(mosey to the curb in front of Tombstone Hill)

Part 2: Tombstone Hill. A Round Of 47.

• 10 Merkins
• Run to the 1st pole and back.
• 10 Squat Jumps
• Run to the 2nd pole and back.
• 10 Big Boy Sit Ups
• Run to the 3rd pole and back.
• 10 Burpees
• Run to the 4th pole and back.
• Motivators from 7.

(mosey to the amphitheater)

MARY

• Plank for 40 seconds.
• Boat/Canoe 7 IC w/ a 7 count hold on the last one.
• Plank for 40 seconds.
• Boat/Canoe 7 IC w/ a 7 count hold on the last one.
• Plank for 40 seconds.
• Boat/Canoe 7 IC w/ a 7 count hold on the last one.
• Plank for 40 seconds.
• Burpee Train!

CIRCLE OF TRUST
PRAYER
MOLESKIN

Sexual sin.

Hoarders and I were talking over lunch on Monday, and one of the topics we keep each other accountable on is sexual sin. As part of our conversation, I shared that sexual sin was just as much, if not more, of a struggle at 47 as it was at 27 but — that I’d experienced some victory in this area, thanks in part to Nancy Reagan.

In the past, when I was tempted by sexual sin, I’d have an internal dialogue in my head. I’d justify why it was OK for me to look at porn (I’ll only look at Maxim-style soft-porn and not hardcore stuff… I’ll only look at straight porn and nothing too hardcore or perverted… I’ll only imagine my wife when I think of perverted stuff… I’ll only read stories and not look at pictures… I’ll only imagine and remember what I’ve already seen and not look at new things…).

Then, masturbation. I’d make the same kind of “deals” with myself (or with God?). I’ll only think about my wife when I masturbate, or I won’t think of anything, or I’ll only think about my own pleasure and not “use” anyone else.

Then, lust. I won’t look at porn, but I’ll click on this link to the hottest swimsuit models of all time. I won’t have an affair, but I’ll linger, looking at the women at the beach, or the yoga mom bent over to put her kids in the car, or the edgy “art” that pops up in my newsfeed or browser, or the image that pop up in my email…

All kinds of deals, and all kinds of compromise — looking at other men’s daughters, and using them for my own sexual “pleasure.”

At one point, though, I had a breakthrough. I decided to stop having conversations with temptation, or at least, to limit that conversation to a single word.

“No.”

I wasn’t going to have a debate in the moment of my emotional weakness or temptation. I was going to decide, ahead of time, once and for all, what was right and I was going to commit to doing it. I was going to act based on my convictions and not based on my emotions. When sexual temptation comes, when the woman at the store bends over, when that email comes in, when that ad pops up in my browser, when lustful thoughts come, and the voice in my head tells me that I “need” the release or I “deserve” the pleasure or whatever… I was going to simply say “no.”

Then, after saying no, I’d move on. Sometimes I pray. Sometimes I just go do something else. Almost every time, I need to change my environment. If I’m alone, in the bathroom or bedroom or basement, I’ll go where there are people and get away from the temptation. In public situations, I’ll just bounce my eyes and look at something else. In private, I’ll close my laptop or I’ll turn off the tv. I won’t take my phone or computer in the room where I know there’s an opportunity for temptation. I take the steps to guard against failure — to help myself be the man that I want to be, and to just say, “no.”

It’s been powerful for me. I hope it helps you too.

2 Peter 1 says that one of the steps toward maturity is self control, and without mastering it, we can’t be effective and productive. I’m applying that to sexual sin today, but we can just as easily apply it to gluttony or laziness. Here’s the passage:

“Make every effort add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive… For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Amen!

Men, let’s be climbing and not sliding… Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Let’s be gaining ground and not giving it up. Let’s keep doing the hard work, asking the hard questions, confessing our weakness, being honest about our struggles, spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, and building one another up in the faith.

I love you men and I want good for you. If you’re struggling, I’d love the opportunity to be an encouragement and a help. The best way to fight the good fight is with an army. If you’ve got a battle to fight, call your brothers in arms to help. You’ve got a better chance at victory than if you go it alone.

I’m praying for you as I type this, and I’m expecting victory for you, and for your families. Amen! (let it be)

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