AO: THE FOUNDRY
QiC: Nemo
Date: 06/29/2026
Title: Pick your Poison
Number of HIMs: 4
Clog, Falcon9, Nemo, TestTube
Number of FNGs: 0
Name of FNGs:
WarmOrama:
We kicked things off with a little Broga, which—as usual—generated plenty of mumble chatter. From there we took a short mosey to get the blood flowing before getting to work.
Tha Thang:
Thirteen numbered cards were laid face down on the ground, each hiding a predetermined exercise and rep scheme. The rules were simple.
A HIMs flipped over two cards. The PAX would then decide which "poison" to drink. The selected exercise was completed, while the unchosen card remained in play. Another HIM would then reveal a new card, and the group once again had to choose between the remaining poison and the newly revealed one.
This continued until all exercises had been completed.
The first card selected happened to be Blockees, immediately setting the tone for the morning.
The poisons included a variety of Cindy and bodyweight exercises:
Blockees
Burpees
Thrusters
Cindy Clean & Press
Goblet Squats
Goblet Lunges
Cindy Swings
Bent Over Rows
Merkins
Pull-ups
American Hammers
Curls and Tricep Extensions
The expectation was that the harder exercises would continue sitting in the middle while everyone chose the easier options first.
That's not what happened.
The HIMs consistently chose the more difficult option. Time after time, they attacked the harder exercise instead of postponing it. The mumble chatter was alive and well, but so was the willingness to embrace the challenge.
COT:
The inspiration for today's workout came from Student Leadership University (SLU) and one lesson that has stuck with me ever since attending last year:
"Eat the Big Frog First."
The principle is simple.
Every day we all have "big frogs" in our lives. The difficult conversation we've been avoiding. The project we've been putting off. The commitment we've delayed. The opportunity God has placed in front of us that feels uncomfortable.
Many of us aren't lazy. In fact, we're often very productive.
The problem is we fill our day accomplishing good things while avoiding the one thing that would make the biggest difference. That "big frog" lingers in the back of our mind all day, stealing our focus and mental energy.
I'll admit, I expected today's workout to prove that point. I thought the harder exercises would remain on the ground until the very end.
Instead, the HIMs surprised me.
Over and over again, they chose the harder option first.
I pointed this out because it demonstrated exactly the mindset we should strive for—not only in the gloom, but in life.
Personally, I've had a "big frog" of my own.
For quite some time I've talked about going back to school. I've stayed busy with work, ministry, family, and F3. All good things. But if I'm honest, I've been using those good things to postpone something I know supports the long-term direction God has placed on my heart.
It's time to stop talking about it and start doing it.
Today's workout was a reminder that the hardest thing in front of us is often the very thing we should tackle first. Once the biggest frog is gone, everything else seems a little easier.
Thank you, men, for reminding me that sometimes the best lessons are the ones you demonstrate before they're ever taught.
Prayer Requests:
Falcon9 and family
Test Tube as he pursues a job opportunity
Clog, that business continues to grow as calls have picked up
Nemo, his family, and the student ministry team traveling to Orlando for Student Leadership University