Hey @alex_uk, I’m not sure if you saw the news about the author of the book we talked about in my log a few months ago, but just wanted to give a heads-up. Our small group leaders informed us last night that they won’t be using that book anymore. I hope you and your wife were able to get as much out of it (or more) than Chris and I did. However I’m actually not sure what to think about the teachings of a person when they weren’t walking the walk.
Game on!! I would love to go on an adventure with you!!
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Congrats on the hormone improvement! That’s such a huge deal.
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I think we need to figure something out!
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Thank you so much! Even though it’s nowhere near high, the difference feels like night and day! 
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I totally understand. There’s a massive delta between sick and healthy. Once healthy, the delta between healthy and optimal seems far less significant.
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Oh that’s very interesting. It’s great to be on this side of things!
Thursday: Ruck + Incline Walk Day
- 20 minutes with load
- 20 minutes with high incline
Well that was a bad idea. I took the weight off at 20 minutes and that was probably too much continuous time wearing it. The first 10 minutes I had it on my back. The second 10 minutes I moved the backpack to my chest, which felt a lot better and healthier.
But let me tell you, my back did NOT feel right for the rest of the day. It’s better now, but 20 pounds for the first 20 minutes is apparently not a thing my body wants to do.
I’m not giving up on rucking yet. So the plan next time is to wear it for 5-minute intervals. When it’s off, raise the incline, and go for 40 minutes alternating between load and incline.
Today’s Workout
I just hit the vanity muscles then ran out of time and energy.
Abs
Glutes
Shoulders
I had to rest a lot longer between sets today, and surprise surprise, it’s luteal phase!
So my workouts don’t look like much but my body thinks they’re exhaustive because I’ve been famished and eating like a hippo and somehow spending it all. I just ate leftover breakfast pizza and am about to head back down to the kitchen for more food. We have a game night tonight, which is exciting because Chris and I are in charge of the snacks.
Speaking of hippos (again), do you know the story behind this?
It’s morbid… but also a good lesson.
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I don’t, but if they’re anything like otters, it ends badly.
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Oh no! Otters? Seriously?
Here’s the story: Humphrey the pet hippo kills owner in South Africa | South Africa | The Guardian
Yep. Apparently they’re all cute with the belly rubs & whatnot, but when they aren’t seeking treats, they’re brutal!
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GANGS OF OTTERS!? HAHAHAHHAA Okay that video was kinda shocking, but their little squeaks are so cute! They’re basically water puppies!
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Holy smokes! Humphrey has some serious history!
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Hey Dani thanks for the heads up, wasn’t something I was aware of, we hadn’t started the book yet, which raises an interesting question, if I hadn’t see this, I would have taken the book in face value (and everything I’d seen of Aaron Ivey up to this point suggested he was walking the walk).
So does this make a difference if the book is solid?
I’m typing and processing this at the same time, I know for me, I preach and lead in our church, but my life doesn’t always line up to what I preach (I’m always open in my preaching about this, often I’m preaching to myself) and my walk is like a scramble up a shale mountain, progress punctuated by sliding back down a bit, thinking I’ve got over something, only to find myself back at that point. Does that make what I’m preaching/teaching/leading on invalid?
I’d say not, looking at King David, he forms a huge amount of scripture, and yet is a deeply flawed man, but his teaching is still part of the canon of scripture.
Back to our man in question, not doubt his failings are significant (I had a quick scan of the scandal - I try and avoid looking at church scandal generally) and I wouldn’t have him in church leadership again, I also wouldn’t buy his book had I known, but I think I’ll read it and try and separate the actions from the teachings, after all Jesus once said:
So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.
It is a real shame though when leaders in the church go so wrong and bring such a negative light on the church… Heard a preacher once describe it as leaders getting successful, letting it go to their heads and then becoming like the spoilt little rich kids of church (although this is more serious than that).
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Alex, your thoughts and questions were so good I had to think about them for a few days!
Honestly I’m not sure what to believe. The vibe I get from people in our group is the feeling that we were bamboozled.
You probably won’t get that feeling if all you do is read the book and work through the exercises they say to do. You’ll be more likely to get that feeling by watching the videos that accompany the book. He talks about how he repented from his past of porn addiction, but never mentioned being a serial cheater who took advantage of young men under his authority.
Do you think a person who does those things should write a marriage book? I believe in grace and forgiveness, but you can be gracious toward someone without making them a marriage advisor in your life.
Just like my first choice for a financial advisor wouldn’t be a scam artist. Even if he used scripture in his lessons.
If people get closer to God as a result, then of course not. I also think it’s really commendable when leaders talk about where they struggle and what they’re working on or what they overcame in their walk. Sharing information like that makes a person more relatable and trustworthy. And I bet your lessons are fantastic.
On the other hand, if a preacher was hypocritically unrepentant and secretive of doing what he was preaching against, and he’s been causing other Christians to stumble, that would be a different story.
And when the truth about a person comes to light, it can be distracting from the good he or she did.
It’s wild that you bring up King David because I have a big question after finishing 2nd Samuel last week. I’m in 1 Kings now and still haven’t found the answer. The last thing I want to do is post heavy theological questions in my log. So I’ll probably either ask my dad or my pastor because it’s been driving me crazy.
I haven’t gotten to the psalms David wrote, but I’m going to be extremely confused if his message is all about monogamy.
That is so perfectly fitting.
Alex, I sincerely apologize for bringing it up. I was concerned that if you saw those headlines it would somehow reflect poorly on me since I recommended the book. But in retrospect, I see how silly that was.
Haven’t got time to reply to all of this (will do at some point soon), but my comment was in no way directed as a negative towards you, I very much appreciate the heads up and the initial book recommendation, it’s not your fault the guy turned out to be something significantly different than he portrayed.
When I said about avoiding church scandal it was more of a case of avoiding the salacious side of things, I know the “church” can be a place of hurt and scandal, and it’s important not to be naive, but I don’t want to revel in the failings (because I have enough of my own!) - again that’s not at all what you were doing at all, so this isn’t pointed at you.
We live in a culture that loves gossip and scandal and I try my hardest to be counter to that - look for and live in the positive and pure (Philippians 4:8) - don’t always get it right but I try!
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You’re so kind. I didn’t take your comments as negative, but your thoughtfulness regarding bad news like that made me rethink bringing it to your attention. It actually made me reflect on how I’ll approach similar situations in the future should they come up again. So, thank you!
This is such a beautiful piece of scripture that it’s worth taking to heart; even for the non-believer. I can’t imagine what our world would be like if that was the goal.
Speaking of scripture, I’ve been thinking about and loving proverbs 15:15.
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Rough day here, so this was just what I needed—thanks for that!
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I’m so glad! Hope things start looking up. I said a little prayer for you.
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Thank you, @Dani_Shugart! We haven’t interacted much, but I always find so much grace and positivity in your log that I know it was heartfelt—I appreciate it!
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