Nothing witty to say - good for the Airborne School - hope it spreads.

I'm not sure it matters much, but the link is actually to the NY Times, not the WSJ. I'm sure they'd appreciate the credit.

The CrossFit Running and Endurance Cert this weekend was incredible!

This was my second time doing it. The first time around helped a ton and this time I cleaned up the "pushing off" that I was still doing. I couldn't believ how much better my tape looked this time and how much better I felt. Although the "Death By 10 Meters" was horrendous..

Everyone in my group did really well, too. I don't remember anyone seeing less than a 40% improvement. Some saw improvement in the 60% range.

Good runners turned into great runners and Bad ones turned to good ones! And the girls were representing big time!

Carl, BMack and co were fantastic. They have it down so well and managed to get a group of about 50 moving beautifully. Very impressive coaches. I'm thankful I had the chance to be coached by them again.

I highly recommend getting out to the cert.

I am the Catholic son of a Catholic mother who wishes she was Jewish.

Don't start with me about guilt...

***NOOB POST***

If you're new here, welcome aboard. You happened to drop in on one of our rest days. That's cool. We take a full day of rest after each 3 day WOD (workout of the day) cycle. Come back tomorrow and a workout will be right here waiting for you.

In the meantime, this is a perfect opportunity to do some reading and learn a little about what Crossfit and this community are all about. Start by clicking on the...drum roll please...'start here' tab over there on the left side of the home page. Download the 'What is Fitness' article, watch some videos and read some of the comments.

If this is your first time here, you've found something very special. Crossfit has changed my life and the life of countless people around the world. The community is world class and the workouts are amazing. Good luck in your journey and remember: As a Crossfitter, you're never alone :-)

3-2-1 Go!

First Post-Ranger School workout: only lost 70 Lbs on my full squat clean! Nothing quite like a 2000 Cal/Day deficit for 2 months.
RLTW

As an attendee of the Toronto Certification, I would like to extend my thanks to the coaching team, for their professionalism, enthusiasm, knowledge, and quality of instruction. The level 1 certification far exceeded my expectations, and my knowledge of the Crossfit method has improved ten-fold. I feel I was more than adequately prepared to start coaching the methods taught, and my only regret was that I couldn't spend another day or two with these instructors. There is so much information to process, that I am sure the questions won't be come out for a couple of days. Thanks again, and all the best!

The CrossFit level 1 course in Toronto this wknd was amazing! The instructors were so educated and I learned so much. Came out of this course a better CrossFitter! That's all I have to say!

A big thanks to the instructors...Todd, Andy, Joe, Rod, Jon, and Maggie. You made the course what it was!

Thanks again!

**FRAT**

Hey Corey Bibolet bro you said that for real??!!! If you said that for real wow bro that's huge for me...

Hugs and bad english to the FRAT guys you are the best of the best...

One question i feel overtrained i felt weak after Nate and almost injured after trying to rack jerk 275# that was a bad idea i didn't feel it...i think i'm not eating good or enough i didn't care about the fat intake but now paleo says no fry no butter, paleo is great but i think i need more fat...please help i don't understand so well the paleo for crossfitters i tend to fatness so i think i'm not eating the necesary calories

Thanks guys big BIG hugs

**FRAT OUT**

question: Because of my work schedule I do my rest days different. 1st week I rest on Thursday, 2nd week I rest on Tuesday and Sunday. So sometimes I go 4 days in a row. Rather than the strict 3on 1 off that they do on here.
What do you guys think, will this be alright or is it better if I stick to the 3/1 split so as not to overtain Thanks

I guess I'm the first to post a message from the Crossfit Level 1 cert from Moss Park in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

First off I have to take a moment to say that the coaches we had this weekend were absolutely phenomenal! There wasn't a lecture or movement workshop that I didn't walk away from in absolute admiration of the teaching ability of these coaches. Being a school teacher, I come across many people who attempt to convey information in a concise, understandable, intelligent, and entertaining manner. Each one of the coaches this weekend had these qualities in spades. Listening to Todd, Andy, Jon... I was inspired to teach and coach in the same manner. You guys are incredibly engaging, and for that I thank you all!

Watching Maggie demo all the movements was inspiring! Seeing form like that is inspiring!

Contrary to other posts I have read during my time "lurking" on this and other forums, the complaint of adequate programming information during certs has been a bone of contention. Let me say that in my opinion, Jon's lecture on programming solidified my thinking on this topic. It wasn't that there was a step-by-step how to "Do this, then this..." but that the conceptual framework and underpinning for effective programming was terrific. Bottom line (at least for me) - Have a reason to do what you do, and be as creative and accountable in your training as possible.

Todd's lecture on Nutrition has lead me (and by default my wife) back on the Zone + Real Food track.

I must also take a moment to say that watching the coaches workout during the lunch time, was incredible! I think the best part was watching them run around and coach each other throughout the workout. There is no end to better technique. Thank you for showing that!

This was the most informative and engaging seminar, workshop, certification I have been to. Bar none!

My one complaint- no workouts- What's with that?
:)
Just in case my tongue in cheek wasn't clear, I am actually typing this from the bathtub as I soak my legs.

One last THANK YOU to the coaches! You guys were absolutely incredible!!!!

Shawn

24 hours

as rxd

So, I'm new to this crossfit thing. I must say, IM ADDICTED already. I'm training to be a firefighter and this is perfect.

So from my understanding, I go onto the website, check out the WOD and take it to the gym? What if there is an exercise that requires certain equipment? I'm sure I can use my imagination but if I need to, where can I find a good substitution. Really curious as to how other people do this crossfit thing without being a member of an affiliate.

good to see the USMC representing. Hoorah green panties.
semper fi

#10

go to the FAQ tab and scroll down to paragraph 3 "Substitutions"

Good Luck

#8 nschmidt,
Some people follow a 5-on 2-off schedule. It's usually tougher to get through that last day or so, but if your schedule demands it, go for it.

In a 28 day period, there will 7 micro-cycles and 7 rest days on the main page. With your schedule, there will be 6 rest days in 28 days. You might consider throwing in an extra rest day once a month, say on the 1st or something.

I mean if your schedule demands altering the 3-1 cycle, not that you have to follow a 5-2 schedule.

I'll hit a massive deload i don't wanna hurt myself and we need bummpers un our gym i attempt 275# rack jerk but missed it was close but no no i had to catch the bar with my back and the bar hit the disc bone hurt as hell and was scary...other thing ís that i think i'm not doing the paleo correctly i drop 8 pounds and beside that i feel overtrained...

PROPS TO THE MIGHTY FRAT you guys are the best

Btw Corey Bibolet if you say that for real wow bro that's an honor...if you were joking :) that's cool bro haha!! Good FRAT joke

My peace:

Children should be taught right from wrong, with the moral authority for that right and wrong being Jesus Christ. Without an absolute moral authority for right and wrong behavior, we are left with the cliche, "whats right for you is not necessarily right for me, and visa verse."

To say something like homosexuality, drunkenness, or divorce is wrong, really makes no sense. If it feels right to the person doing it, who are you, or who am I, to say it is wrong? But when we say the Lord Jesus Christ says it is wrong, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then it is absolutely wrong in every way!

It is every parents responsibility to model good God fearing and loving behavior in front of their children. And every child deserves a mother and a father that stays married through thick and thin. Our children's guilt or innocence depends on it, and the security and freedom of our country is held together by it.

***FRAT***

Check out JJ's interview with Herm Blancaflor on Crossfit radio episode #82. Nice work guys!

GO FRAT! GO PALEO!

Those are Black Hats??? Good Lord times have changed!

Level 1 Certification in Toronto-
Was and excellent weekend. All of the trainers there were professional and informative yet at the same time very personable. It was a great atmosphere and I learned things I never thought I would have and got my first muscle up. (and felt back muscles I never thought I had!) To the trainers Todd, Andy, Joe, Rod, Jon, and Maggie thank you!

thank goodness this is a rest day
I am toast, not even the good toast with butter

I am finally getting to bed from a long weekend at the Toronto Level 1 Cert. I haven't figured out what is more worked my back, quads or my mind. I learned so much and the coaches were the most refreshing set of teachers I've met. Agreeing with #10, I only regret not having more time. I feel even a few hours more to drill in cues and attention to technique would give me a bit more confidence teaching the less athletic demographic. Other than that, I loved it and now have a huge desire to help my clients reach a whole new level of fitness. Thanks!!

#17 - What would stop me from making any other random character of my choosing the ultimate moral authority? Wouldn't this mean that you could just say that everybody must believe what you believe, since figurehead X says so?

For instance, I am not religious but don't go around killing people, and I am not divorced.

The article clearly shows how guilt is a basic human emotion that doesn't need to be learned through religion, since these toddlers all experience it anyways.

And what made Jesus say that killing someone was wrong? Could it be he was a human who felt guilt as well?

#3 AllisonNYC:

Sister, you are the queen of the cert! I am extremely jealous of all the great coaching and knowledge you've been able to absorb over the past year.

Your clients are lucky to have you as a coach :-)

#23 Randy-

What should stop you from making any other random character of your choosing the ultimate moral authority, is that there is ONLY one ultimate moral authority.

And before we start making general comments about "religion", we should realize that there are vast differences between the Catholic Faith, the Jewish Faith, and a true relationship with Jesus.

That aside- any "religion" or "religious" figure that uses guilt as a driving mechanism to affect change is not walking the path that Jesus led.

#23 Randy: Right on.

I'd like to hear a Buddhist's response #17 Greg,

I wonder if Buddhists feel guilt over not raising god-fearing children or for not accepting Jesus as their ultimate source of moral authority. What irresponsible parents they must be!

#23 Randy wrote: "What would stop me from making any other random character of my choosing the ultimate moral authority?"

That is a fair question. The answer is nothing would stop you. However, Jesus Christ is not a random character of any person's imaginative choosing. He is the Son of the living God, always has been, always will be. He proved this through the many miracles He performed, and His own bodily resurrection. There is enough historical evidence to convince even the sceptic willing to check the facts currently available, that He is in fact who He said He was.

----------------------------
#23 Randy wrote: "And what made Jesus say that killing someone was wrong? Could it be he was a human who felt guilt as well?"

The Bible says Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and that all things were created through Him and for Him. (see Col 1:15-18).

Since we were made for Him and through Him; He has the authority to tell us not to destroy each other. As far as Jesus feeling guilt, that would imply He did something He knew was against His own character to do. Since He is the image of the invisible God, He is holy, and therefor had no sin or guilt, ever, nor could He.

He did however experience other human emotions, like sadness, and happiness, joy, and grief, and is therefore able to sympathize with us. He does love us, as He so courageously and obediently demonstrated on the Cross. I guess one could say He was the original CrossFiter. He most definitely deserves a Hero WOD named after Him, considering the suffering He endured to set us free from the pit of Hell, and redeem us to Himself. :)

#26- Pete

The buddhist parents wouldn't necessarily irresponsible, just misinformed.

Goodnight to everyone. God Bless

#9 = Great post

Lost Boy,

Anyone tuned to listen to people would ask you now: why are you so lost?

Greg/M2
Lost Boy
you both have a lot of nerve coming on here, and preaching to people in that way. There are a lot of people in this world who don't care to have their beliefs talked down to by people like you. You guys really suck..

## LEVEL ONE CERT - CF VICTORIA ##

Wow. What a weekend. It was my second as an intern and about my 6th or 7th cert in total. It was a blast. This time we were hosts and thankfully everything fell into place.

Matt Swift and Lisa Ray ran the show like pros. Mike Ray and Steve Willis kicked in with some amazing presentations. Gotta say Mike's nutrition lecture was spot-on. Then Zane Hoare and Chris Tefft were there to coach, with Brett Fforde interning as well. Quite the team.

A huge thank you to Scott Waugh (my partner in crime) who ran around like a madman all weekend to keep things running just right. And thanks to his able assistants Angus, Ben, Amy & Bjorn. Mmmm coffee!

Thank you to everyone who attended. You are all a great example of why CrossFit works. It's a$$hole proof!

I hope to see all of you again in future certs in Victoria.

Cheers, Adam.

Monday Musings (with a nod to Bingo)...

Our second tour of Iraq is done, and we have begun our movement home to the States. To quote the Grateful Dead, “what a long strange trip it’s been…”

I was very fortunate to have linked in with CrossFit crews at 2 of our 3 stations, and I needed to say thanks to some folks...

To Wayne at Combat CrossFit: It was a great pleasure and a very good experience for me to fall in with you and your crew at REO Al Hillah. I learned a great deal from you and I very much came to appreciate your discipline with form and mechanics. You were a tremendous positive influence and convinced me of the importance of mechanics first. I wish you and your crew at CC solid community, and continued success as a CF affiliate. I also wish you and any of the former REO crew safe journeys on their next tour. And Scrubbie, you can sleep well knowing your one Wall Ball has found a good home at FOB Kalsu…

To LT M and the “other” FOB Kalsu crew: It was yet another good experience for me to fall in with your crew and I can’t say thanks enough for the opportunity to develop my coaching skills with you guys as my guinea pigs. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew. Thanks for putting up with me. Best of luck to all of you with the rest of your tour, and keep up the fire…

And to my own crew who hung with me for my stint at REO: nice work, I was very proud. I learned from you as well. Those were good times.

Patrick

M/47/66”/135

Also Formerly Known As:
REO Al Hillah Crew (South Forth)
KALSU FOBBITT

To all the crew who ran the crosfit cert at CF;VIC

Guys wat an amazing weekend, with my posterier chain burning it just shows that everything we learn with half the amount of reps we do in any workout is always spot on with the hawk like eyes of all the trainers watching over things.

Best course ive been to and will look forward to doing another cert down the track.

Thanks guys.

Luke Heiser

To Chuck, Jon, & Bobby Jo,

Just wanted to say thanks for the cert. You guys are professionals and ran a top notch professional class. I enjoyed it thoroughly. God bless you and your families.

Thanks guys!

#17=I agree wholeheartedly
#23- Who do you think instilled wright form wrong in 2yr olds or individuals who have never had a parent or exposure to any religion?
#30- Grow up and have an open mind.

95# power snatch 15 reps
run 400m
Rx'd 16:43

I'm a 22 year old Marine who just started doing CrossFit a few weeks ago and I can't believe I didn't start earlier. This is truly the only way to do it!

JLG
WOW! In my 33 years of living I have experinced more than you can possibly imagine. So don't ever talk to me about being closed minded. Pot calling the tea kettlw black. open .inded "christians" like yourselsf, are the ones who can't seem to let the rest of the world alone to believe and parctice what they wish... kiss my A**!

Thanks to the military we live in a country where we can post our comments w/o fear.

400M Run/95# Snatch WOD - 22:15

#31 Lost Boy: Thanks for showing me, and Buddhist communities everywhere, the light. Your prize is in the mail.

#30 Greg/M2: Overuse of leading capital letters aside, your response to Randy was perfect. Your Christian training has paid off. Aside from your distasteful joke about a hero WOD, you contributed zero original thought.

Saying there is one ultimate moral authority in the world is like saying blue is the bestest best color in the world. It's a belief. Morals, values, and acceptable standards of behavior vary across cultures just as religions do. Dismissing different beliefs as wrong because your current beliefs dictate it is lazy, irresponsible, and dangerous.

It seems to me a more rational explanation that our morals are to a large extent an extension of empathy or even sympathy. The "Golden Rule", which many religions (not just Christianity) endorse, has merit outside of religious context. It seems to me that guilt and empathy/sympathy go hand in hand. I'm not advocating the "Golden Rule" as the source of all morality, but it's probably the best universal guide to it.

I was at the Toronto Level 1 Certification this past weekend. Just wanted to say thankyou to the HQ staff for doing an amazing job. I had a great experience!

On guilt:

I found the article quite interesting. I also wonder how different CrossFit coaches motivate their clients to show up to sessions and give their best, with guilt (or even shame) being potential tools. I know I would have felt guilty for not meeting my buddy at the door at 4:30 AM when he used to come over to work out before school in my basement gym. On the other hand, I am not a big fan of using shame as a motivator.

Relatedly, I also wonder about how guilt can translate into integrity. I feel guilty when I have a lack of integrity, such as when I say I will do one thing and then do something else (like show up late for something). Without guilt, I feel like I would be less likely to admit my lack of integrity and seek to make amends.

On the religious "discussion:" let's see if we can stay above name-calling and super-generalizing when describing people with beliefs that differ from our own.

Chuck, Jon, and Bobbi
Thank you very much for a very informative and professional block of instruction. Your instruction was one of the best presented and digestible I have every received. I know we will be making the Army a fitter place one workout at a time with the folks you trained. You dispelled many of my misconceptions about crossfit and I have already signed up for the Running and Endurance seminar in Nov.
Thanks
Don

QUESTION--
If I was unable to do the WOD yesterday am I okay to do yesterday's WOD today and the next three days as well or will that be too much?

Hey duders n dudettes
I just went to the toronto cert
Before the cert I have done a total of.....
2 crossfit workouts!!!!
I had to swallow a lot of pride this wknd
I got continually smoked by everyone!
So far I'm excited and am gonna give it all a try
I enjoyed taking this cert to start because I learned so much about the program and more importantly the techniques!

WeemsFit at 7:24,
I agree on the use of guilt to spur positive action. When I realize that I've done something wrong, I figure that hey - I'm better than that. I should either fix it, or get it right next time. Of course, the problem is making it so that this kicks in each time, or so that I don't simply ignore this tickling of the conscience.

Greg at 9:22:
"The Bible says Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and that all things were created through Him and for Him. (see Col 1:15-18)."
The use of the Bible as support for your idea of god is begging the question in assuming divine inspiration (unless you're willing to admit it as only a flawed though powerful work of humanity alone). "The Bible says God exists and is wonderful." "Why should I believe the Bible?" "It was written by God."

I say dress like Pirates and be touched my my noodley appendage. Seriously I think a lot was lost in translation of the bible from the original into greek, then into latin then into english. What is the true word of god? Pretty sure it should say thou shalt no Murder not thou shalt not kill. Else how do we eat?

Greg/M2 and Lost Boy,

You guys are a riot.

Did you do the WOD yesterday? You know, those weighted pull-ups? If so, you might wanna go turn yourselves in to the village elders for the stoning that is due to you for breaking Yahweh's rules. And if you were smart enough not to do that WOD, you should be finding all of those people who posted results and start hurling rocks. God commanded that, too. Children ever talk back while you were teaching them right from wrong? Yep, stone 'em! While you're at it, round up all the homosexuals and adulterers. You might as well be efficient while you're commiting murder in the name of the holy ghost. Oh, and don't forget anyone who had some bacon for breakfast or is wearing a blended fabric. Hell, you might as well just stone everyone in your neighborhood, because with all the ridiculous stuff in Leviticus, I'm sure everyone deserves to be bludgeoned to death.

Today's Zionist WOD: stone 10 people. Post time and total weight of rocks to comments.

We did Barbara
20 pull ups
30 push ups
40 Sit ups
50 squats

Joe - 25:26
Dave - 30:10
Rich - About 32 min, but modified.

I had a an amazing time at the level 1 cert in Toronto this weekend.
I want to thank all of the coaches for being so full of knowledge and teaching me so much! Andy you seriously were a riot, You remind me so much of Vince Vaughn.lol
Every in class workshop blew me away, I feel I learned so much more in the last 2 days then I have in the last 2 months I have been doing crossfit.
That is an incredible feeling.
Thanks Again
Melissa Jesmer

Greg/M2 #20:
I don't think there was any malice in your original post, but I think your concept of morality, as you stated it, is beset by a number of problems. For one, you seem to ignore the fact that millions of people lead very upright, moral lives without any belief in Jesus. They may be followers of another religion, or skeptics, or atheists like myself, but they all know right from wrong and practice moral living. I don't Christians would fault the way I live, other than maybe the fact that I respect homosexuals as well as anyone else (but not all Christians are homophobic as you seem to be); yet, I don't rely on a faith in god. Why is it that so many Christians pin their moral pride on a mistaken belief that morality originated with Jesus? It's pretty clear from historical writings that the moral underpinnings of Christianity predate that religion, and are also shared by all the world's major religions, not to mention areligious people as well.

Aside from the fact that you've limited your concepts of right and wrong to an apparently narrow interpretation of one set of scriptures, there's a real problem with the simple dualistic approach you advocate. To wit, it doesn't really help people who live in the real world. So it's wrong to kill. Agreed. But, is it wrong for a soldier to kill in battle? What about a soldier who fires at a target he thinks is an insurgent, then discovers he's blown the head off a small child instead? Our soldiers are going through this kind of experience all the time, and the emotional trauma is killing them, literally. Suicide rates are way up for vets and it's no surprise, given what we put them through. Telling these people that the difference between right and wrong is simple really doesn't help them cope.

What about a doctor with a terminal patient who begs to be taken off life support? A judge who has to decide who gets custody of the kids in a difficult divorce? A president's decision to declare war? The decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki? Is it right to give money to panhandlers, if they turn around and use the money to support their drug habit? Look, real life is complex and posses many difficult moral dilemmas. What I'm saying is, your approach is simplistic beyond belief. I'm not saying you can't draw inspiriation from Jesus, I'm just saying, it takes thought, dialogue with thoughtful people, and making a lot of mistakes, to get things right. And even when you do what you think is right, you can have second thoughts. So why don't you wake up, smell the coffee, hop down from that high horse, and see what life is like for those of us who live in the real world.

Respectfully,

Steve Cole

Toronto Level 1 Certification
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect going into the cert and you may even say I was a little apprehensive about parting with the money it cost to attend. I can easily say that it was well worth every penny. I've never learned so much in such little time. Not only that but the coaching staff were so good in making the material including all the movements so easy to understand and retain by using easy to remember cues and analogies. To prove that, just by explaining the techniques and how a muscle up should be performed, I completed my first one the first try....unreal.

I'm excited to continue my Crossfit journey. Great job coaches and thank you very much. I'm honoured to be among the Crossfit Elite.

Gearing up for the Sept. FRAT Paleo Challenge. Handled 30 days with NO CHEATS!!! :) Yay! Im feeling fantastic! It's never too late to join so come on over - the more the merrier!
http://crossfiteclipse.typepad.com/the-frat-paleo-challenge/

#55 Steve

Nice post. I am a Christian who believes in Jesus, has homosexual friends, criminal acquaintances and drug addicted friends. You are right that it takes thought and dialogue with thoughtful people.

Go Huskers!
Ryan

Level 1 cert in Toronto was awesome.

I completely agree with #10. My legs and back are sore but I'm pretty sure that means job well done by all =P

I'm more than confident in my ability to use proper technique so I'm expecting my loads to go up because of that, which is exciting.

I meant #11 =/

CrossFit Lvl I Cert - Moss Park Armoury - Toronto

This was my second Lvl I Cert and I came away (limped away) from it with SO much more than I absorbed the first time.

Todd, I have always been a believer of "if you work hard enough, you should be able to eat whatever you want" and I have been through the Nutrition lecture before, but your your Nutrition lecture has inspired me and realigned my perspective. It was your line about not knowing until you have tried it and your in-depth explanation of the Paleo theory that lit the bulb for me, thank you.

Andy, you instructed on my first Lvl I and you continue to crack me up brother, your sense of humour compliments your technical expertise and helps to humanize the huge amount of data we are trying to ingest, thank you!

Joe, you are a machine! Watching you destroy those workouts at lunchtime was truly inspiring. You solved my kipping problem in the first two lines of your class, push away from the bar on the way down, Thank you!

Todd you cured my fear of the deadlift after my previous injuries with your coaching and correction of my form. Thanks for the confidence to drive forward!

Jon you are a technique fanatic! I have been rowing incorrectly for years, thanks for getting me on track.

Maggie, your demos were fantastic and you picked me apart in the executions with the PVC, thank you for improving my mechanics!

I also want to thank Paul McIntyre for making Moss Park Armoury available to us and making this all possible!

Awesome Cert Coaches, you have re-filled the motivation tank, 3-2-1- GO!

#57 Cookie: Hell yeah sister, 30 days with no cheats is legit, I'm right there with you!

Did one of the FRAT Paleo Challenge Benchmark WODs this morning.

"Avalanche"

Run 1 mile
80 burpees
Run 1/2 mile
40 burpees
Run 1/4 mile
20 burpees

28:32 (PR!)

Last month it took me 31:40 to complete. The power of Paleo maybe? Hmmm....

Today is the final day of the challenge for me. Tomorrow is my birthday and I'll be enjoying my first beer in a month!

Go FRAT!

ether
steve cole
well put guys. Thanks for the thoughtful responses

NYC Affiliates!

Are any of your boxes in close proximity to Penn Station? And have later afternoon training options?
May have a brief layover waiting for a train back to NJ on Wednesday afternoon and was possibly looking for a training option - or just a quick visit to see your location.

Please email me.
Thanks!

J9
janine@ptd.net

Wow religion again...

#52 ether: You need to read the Bible more carefully... 'nuff said.

#55 Steve Cole: You pose an interesting posit, except that the "upright, moral life" you have determined millions of people live daily is only upright and moral in your eyes...obviously it isn't upright and moral in everyone's eyes...and here lies the problem because everyone believes themselves to be right in their own eyes...it just gets stickier down the rabbit hole from there.

Internet religious talk doesn't typically go anywhere....but I really do respect/commend those of you who will carry this debate on ad nauseum probably well into tomorrow...

#4 Bingo--ditto--Catholic son of a Jewish mother--the guilt trips were so intense growing up that in the word's of my sister I know "have no soul"

Ether...
before you post something like that you should at least get your facts straight. Nearly all of what is in Leviticus are Gods directions to the Hebrew people and only the Hebrew people in whats called the Old Covenant. Once Jesus Christ entered the world, He began the New Covenant where both Jews and Gentiles are able to receive Him, and those rules do not apply. God commands us to love all people, including homosexuals and adulturers, even if we do not agree with their beliefs.

To everyone else: sorry, i hope i didnt step on anyones toes, and I know this isnt a religion debate forum, but it just annoys me when people talk about things without actually looking at the facts.

You can disagree with my religion, but dont grind it into the dirt.

Open question to #67 and all discussing the religion aspect of the debate:

At what point does the guilt inspired by various religions (and don't even debate that guilt and shame aren't a part of three major faiths) become so counterproductive as to produce individuals whose actions are ruled by faith in only guilt and shame--not faith in the higher power upon whom that religion should be based?

I was just wondering if anyone had any opinions on supplements?

I'm 27/m/170 and I eat 4-5 times a day, drink 2 protien shakes and take BCAA, Glutamine, Fish oil and a Multi-Vit. I can't seem to gain any mass, but I am getting stronger/faster (which is a definate plus). I eat very healthy (meats, veggies, fruits, nuts, etc), but can't seem to tip the scale past that 170 lbs.

I'm not looking to spend $500 for a month of supplements, just some basic things I might be missing out on. If anyone had any tips/advice I would really appreciate it... Thanks!

RIP Burl Toler, 1st black NFL referee.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/sports/football/21toler.html?_r=1&ref=sports (WFS)

#68
Faith is trusting something else to work on your behalf. When you sit down on a chair, you're trusting that it will keep you from crashing down onto the floor. Shame and guilt do not affect faith whatsoever, because faith is simply trusting in God. If you have that faith, and believe God's Word the Bible, you realize that once you have accepted Him you cannot do anything to separate yourself from God. In fact, even While a person is still an unbeliever, they cannot do anything to make God love them any more or any less.

So, guilt and shame dont really get in the way of faith. Once you ask God for forgiveness, He says in His Word that it is cast into the sea of forgetfulness. You never have to feel that guilt again. Now, I am ashamed of many of the things I have done in the past, but that is on the basis that my God is perfect and holy and for that moment I failed in my attempt to be like Him. We fail all the time, but God's forgiveness is unending, so guilt isnt necessary. We humans who worry about our actions will still often feel guilt, but once forgiveness has taken place guilt is not a concept that we Christians should endure. That doesnt mean that we shouldnt worry about our actions, because a Christian's life goal is still to make themselves as close to the image of God as possible.

Hope this helps woody.

A little help with the whole Paleo thing.

Alright, I know I’m going to get slayed for this, but I'm slowly converting to paleo. What about supplements? Creatine or protein shakes (specifically Muscle Milk)?

Can you post higher res individual group photos vs all those pics combined?

Btw, great crse and staff for the MPA cert crse!

Comment #57 - Posted by: Cookie
Comment #62 - Posted by: Playoff Beard

Congrats on rolling through Paleo the way you all did, that is amazing. Hopefully when i hit my goal weight I can try this diet again, before my wedding that is.

Everyone have a great rest day and God Bless

m/38/240/73"
Still have a pulled forearm muscle
75 lb thrusters
120 lb pull downs
6:43
cardio
1/4 mile on elipticalthen 100 jump rope x4
10:05

You guys had to do it, didn't you? You had to bring religion into this. I would have been perfectly fine reading the article, and then keeping my thoughts to myself, but no, somebody had to start talking about Jesus. And now I can't help but say something.

First, I appreciate how the article delineates between guilt and shame, there really is a difference between feeling bad about a behavior, and thinking that one is a bad person.

With regard to religion, I will argue that-- whether there is a God or not-- religion has been and will continue to be used as a tool to control people. One of the methods that religion uses to accomplish this control is manipulation of people's feelings of guilt and shame, feelings that the article implies we are born with. Religion promises that we can be free of shame (either through the knowledge that we are essentially good, or that we are shamed because of original sin, but that we can overcome it through faith, etc.) and that when we do bad things, we can be forgiven-- we can make that broken toy as good as new.

In essence, those things aren't bad and they even help some people to remain emotionally stable. However, I suspect it's also innate for us to feel shame for others, that is, to be ashamed of somebody else and think that they are a bad person because of the things they have done. And this is where control by religion starts to become a truly dangerous thing. The minute somebody starts believing somebody else a bad person is the minute all kinds of appalling behavior becomes justified. All the more reason for me-- and several others in here-- to continue to eschew religion, simply on the grounds of morality.

It's been said that in order to gain forgiveness, and thus a freedom from guilt, you first have to be able to forgive yourself. Maybe that's what you religious types are trying to say with all your jabbering about humility, accepting Christ, confessing your sins, and so on. You can't really do any of that stuff unless you've already figured out that you can forgive yourself for whatever sins you've committed. If that's true, then you don't really need a god to forgive you, do you? You can do it on your own.

My fellow atheists, and heathens us will doubtless see that as yet another reason to maintain our skepticism.

Oh Squats from the other day.

133, 153, 173,183, 203 fail (couldn't get bar up), 193 fail (couldn't get bar up). I guess fatigued at that point. the squat at 183 wasn't difficult. suprised couldn't get 193.

then.... did Fran 4:33. first breaking 5min. I have been setting PR's the last few weeks. I would say primarily due to the Zone diet. Been on it for 2 months now. Fairly strict.

m/35/68"/ 165

That in essence is the position of every atheist right? That whatever the Bible says God can do, you can do just as well or better. In that case, try creating the world or walking on water, and see how far that gets you.

SSgt. Johns in the house!

could someone explain the (add 5 lbs) on the crossfit football workouts? the 5 sets/ 5 reps i certainly understand. thanks

#78, crossfitter,

No. The position of atheists is that there is not enough evidence of Yahweh's existence (or that of Zeus, Ra, A'lah, Quetzalcoatl, or any other deity)to profess belief or to justify binding one's life and behavior with the strictures contained in a poorly written, disjoint, and self-contradictory religious text like the christian bible. It is also my position that one does not need belief in a higher power to decide what constitutes ethical behavior.

Do you have any evidence that your god created the world or that Jesus walked on water? Can you do anything in defense of your beliefs other than appeal to authority, talk about the rapturous euphoria you experienced at church, or point to your religious text? Enter any human endeavor, aside from religious blathering, armed with only blind faith and see how far that gets you.

The earth will be a better place to live when today's religious texts are shelved in the fiction section along with the older remnants of human mythology.

Ether I suggest that you read The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel and actually give it a chance. He was extremely anti-Christian before setting out to prove that there was no evidence that God created the universe. But time and time again he came to the opposite conclusion. There is a very large amount of evidence pointing to intelligent design, causing many scientists to say that it actually takes more proof to believe in evolutionary theory than it does in Creation. Charles Darwin himself said that if no intermediary species were ever found, then his theory would have no basis. So far, none have turned up, and I honestly dont expect them to. So anyways, please try the book, and you might just be surprised.

CrossFit Lvl I Cert - Moss Park Armoury - Toronto

I would like to thank all the coaching staff for an amazing two days. They do represent Crossfit well.

I enjoyed the different teaching methods used by each member. It allows me to see that you can get the method and information across by using many techniques. Good job.

I too wish the course were longer. There is so much we all can learn from the Coaches.

One recommendation is, have more instructors to make the classes smaller, or accept less participants. This would allow more break out group time. It was beneficial to watch the coaches teach and critique the movements of the participants. With the size of the group it felt like we were pressed for time (sometimes)

Backs of my traps are sore today, but I didn't need this rest as much as I needed the last one after the killer 3-day cycle!

This newbie can't wait to hit it hard tmw.

bottom line is, the bible teaches very valuable lessons for us, no matter what you believe, and it's not our place to judge anyone else, we all make mistakes. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and I try my best to live by the standards of the bible, but no one is perfect. How much better it would be if instead of being quick judge someone, we tried to see the world from their viewpoint.

lower back still recovering
5x
BP: [135# (2x) 115# (3x)]x5
Dip: 7
PU: 10

5x
PL: 5
BO flyes: 10# x 7
BO Row: 40# x 10
swiss ball crunch x 10
swiss ball cross crunch x 10 ea

swiss ball abs and stretching
hoping to run tomorrow. i miss running

Had to make up a few wods as I had a ball tourney on the weekend:

5 Rounds:
65# Power Snatch
400m Run
17:44
Did the first round at 65#, but dropped to 45# to keep intensity up. Damn girthy YMCA bars!!!

Weighted Pull Ups - Singles
35-45(PR)-47.5(PR)-45-37.5

Thanks Coach;)

GregM2
sorry if I offended, You are right, I do not know you or your experiences and should not judge. Accept my apology.

I have a hard time taking any of this talk about the bible very seriously. Several years ago I was working a SWAT detail covering security at an capital execution. There were two groups protesting. One very much for the execution to go forward. One very much opposed. The protests started to get violent and the team was asked to make it's presence know in the hope that this would quiet the protesters and keep anyone from getting hurt. As we set up a skirmish line and prepared to enter the crowd and help the main violators off the field, we heard and saw an very elderly woman holding her bible in her hand with her arm outstretched to the pro-death penalty crowd. She shouted to a man who was taunting her and exclaimed “Mr., You should read your m..... f...ing bible!”. I don't know that any of that means anything, but I found it very funny that stupid people can take themselves so seriously.

Rod

#89 Rod-

That is a funny, yet sad story. It's unfortunate that there are people like that. I would only hope that a horrible example like that woman wouldn't be looked at as an example of what a Christian looks like.

Oh, I don't think that is what a christen looks like. I think that is what a stupid person looks and sounds like. The article on guilt and atonement was not about religion. It was about a human reaction "guilt" that transcends any one religion. A two year old experiencing guilt does not feel that way because of religion. The failure of adults to teach tolerance about other peoples belief system is an entirely different topic and I was amazed at how the article turned into a religious tirade.

Rod

"Rest day".... Missed both WODs on the weekend (renovating) and made them up today.

Max weighted pull ups:
55-70-80-90-95-100-105(fail)-100

5 rounds- 15 Snatch, 400 m run, as rx'd
18:44

Ready to get back on schedule.

Religion, to me, is a place-holder, potentially, for something useful. I am sympathetic neither to dogmatic atheists nor to dogmatic Christians (or members of other faiths). My own view is that the universe is much more humane than most believe.

My sincere hope is that at some point we begin to investigate these things scientifically.

Until then, I will remain in the middle, target of everyone. C'est la vie.

Crossfitter,

I used to be a christian, but I am no longer. The more I looked for evidence to support my beliefs, the more I was found wanting. I dug for it. The loss of my faith was not an easy thing to adjust to, and I didn't want to lose it. It amuses me that so many religious people believe that I am the one that hasn't read the bible and hasn't studied both sides of the debate.

(Yes, all of those prohibitions I mentioned earlier ARE in the bible, and that new covenant stuff doesn't really apply to those points because Jesus said that we still have to follow the old law.)

Of *course* it takes more evidence to believe in an old universe and evolution than it does to believe in gods. That is likely why when our ancestors started developing the capacity to communicate and record information, we developed ideas of gods to explain all of the seemingly inexplicable things that happen in the course of our lives. It was not until the genius of Darwin, a blink in time ago compared to how long humans have wandered the planet, that we developed the idea that life evolved without a supernatural guide. There is a plethora of evidence supporting the theory of evolution and a dearth of evidence against it. Likewise, there is plenty of evidence for UNintelligent design, and little reason to believe that a grand architect created species individually or guided their development. The latter of those ideas only came into popularity only after Darwin's ideas became widely accepted as an accurate model of how life in our world developed.

Belief in god doesn't take any evidence at all, much like belief in Santa Claus. It just requires faith. No child wants to give up belief in Santa. It would be much more to most of our liking if someone really did give us stuff on the date that happens to be both Jesus' birthday and the date of the winter solstice about 1500 years ago. But Santa doesn't exist. I can't prove that, but like god, I find it more likely that he is just a figment of our imaginations.

I'll read the book you suggested, but I have to obtain and finish "Evidence That Demands a Verdict " first. I suggest you read "The End of Faith" and think about what Sam Harris has to say.

Toronto Cert.
Andy, Jon and Todd explaining the why behind CrossFit has left me blown-away by its brilliance.
Power-output, measurable and observable, large loads over long distance quickly, midline-stabilization; these are no longer catch phrases to me.
It was an honor to be taught by these men.

attended Level 1 Cert in Melbourne - just a quick comment for the coaches - thanks you very much for what was a very humbling experience - the corrections and tips for the 9 moves will certainly make me a better athlete and trainer - I will work on my tight shoulders and all the other skills you showed me. I would have liked more time on the kipping pullups but this was far outweighed by hitting 3 muscle ups for the first time !! - keep up the good work and I will be back to try Cert 2 in a year or so. Matt & Steve are heroes in Otatara, New Zealand !!! - glad my first workout back was a Fran plus a ton of rowing !!!

Ether:
High five, bro. Well said.

Crossfitter:
Show me that god did any of the things you say he did-- or even that there is a god-- and I'll accept your challenge to make a world and walk on water. Both are equally likely to actually occur.

Barry,
Good to see you again. You bring up a good point about religion being a place-holder. I believe there is significant scientific exploration of the purpose/ evolutionary origins of religious feelings. Richard Dawkins has written about several ideas along these lines. I'm not sure if that's what you meant, or if you were referring to exploring the humanity of the universe.
On a side note, I'm quite glad that you didn't bring Obama into this argument. Cheers!

Great WOD!!!!
21:38

Completed after an Oly Class we have at our gym with Sage. That workout was max Snatch and Clean and Jerk.
The legs felt like concrete, but it was great!!!

Nice Wise:
"Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?"

Your atheist position is untenable. In order to hold your position you have to admit that you possess all knowledge. You have to know that there is no God in the universe, so you first have to admit that you know everything in the universe. Are you willing to do that? If that’s the case, explain to me the existence of irreducibly complex items? Surely you know. Please explain to me the concepts of gravity in light of the warp curvature of the earth? Do you know? No? Okay, lets go with something easy. Explain to me what is “good”? Explain to me what is “love”? Explain to me what is “truth”? Now mind you, the modernist philosophers have been trying to answer these questions for hundreds of years, but they’ve failed in their attempts. As an atheist you have to have the answer to these questions since you possess all knowledge.

You’re not an atheist you’re an agnostic because you don’t know. You’ve heard a few little fun facts from Dawkin’s and the other New Atheist and you think it’s cool. Understand this, Dawkin’s and such are the same old atheist arguing the same old tired arguments that have been proven false. They just happen to be more colorful in their delivery.

The question is have you ever really looked into these things? Or since it wasn’t on a billboard, or an after-school special you gave up? You want proof? I can give you proof, but you’ll have to do some work. It’s much bigger than “track” theology. We’re dealing with the creator of the universe, so it’s going to take you more than 5 minutes. Either “embrace the suck” and put some action behind your words, or stop being so sensitive to others who profess a belief in God.

Way to ruin a CROSSFIT thread with rants on religion guys. Take it somewhere else.

Turtlessss:

The burden of proof for the existence of god lies on the shoulders of those who believe in him. Further, I never said that there isn't a god, I said that there isn't any evidence for a god.

Second, religion does not address the irreducible complexity issue, it simply dodges it. You say that god created everything, and that god is infinite and wasn't made. What's the difference if I say the laws of nature are infinite and didn't have a creator? Or better yet, if I simply say, "I don't know, yet."

Third, I'm agnostic in the sense that I don't believe in intuitive spiritual knowledge or mystical enlightenment. You seem to think that gnosis is synonymous with knowledge, but it's not. I'm an atheist in that I don't believe in deities, just as I'm also an a-dragonist or a-fairyist because I don't believe in dragons or fairies. I don't believe in these things because there is no evidence to suggest that they exist in any realm other than fantasy.

Fourth, it doesn't matter whether I have looked into spirituality or not, and it doesn't matter what billboard or after-school special I watched, nor what college I attended. You assume that I am ignorant of your position, and thus, my statement about the non-existence of god is categorically false. This is called argumentum ad hominem, and is a logical fallacy.

Finally, I have every right to be sensitive when others profess a belief in god. Are you not being sensitive to my statement that there is no god? Why am I not surprised to find such a hypocritical position being touted by a believer?

post evaluation WOD #1 for Paleo 30 day challenge... deadlifts 1-1-1-1-1... 55# increase! :)

"PROPS TO THA FRAT!!!"

Franiel

Run 400
10 tire flips
5 pull ups
10 hammer strikes on tire

4 rounds - 14:55

3 x 10 pull ups
20 hammer strikes right handed
20 hammer strikes left handed

This is what I get for doing Fran yesterday.

Subbed the run for rows. My block is a little longer than 500m so I got some extra running in. Otherwise, as Rx'd.

6'3"/34/215
21:03

Much needed rest!!!

Here is an interesting question: if we are born with guilt, to what extent do social conventions either strengthen or WEAKEN it?

The implicit argument the Christians are masking is that "secular humanism", defined very broadly, CAN work to instill a rejection of guilt, and that guilt is needed for a healthy society.

Certainly, guilt was very explicitly rejected by the "me" generation, along with all the other pains of life.

Barry,

Great question.

My experience with christianity, and why, at least in part, I think it is so pervasive when indoctrinated from childhood is that it taps into our natural guilt response. Part of the central cannon of the faith is that humans are flawed and prone to sin and are thus unworthy of the creator's love. However, he loved us so much that he sent his child to us in the form of a human to suffer and die as our atonement and path to heaven. This is much like the broken toy experiment from the article. Christians would have you believe that we as an entire race broke Jesus and should feel guilty for it.

That, I think, is the guilt rejected by secular humanism. Guilt that is brought on by our own actions is healthy for society, but it's not necessary or beneficial to heap existential guilt on top of that. I am about 6 years post identifying as a christian and have identified as atheist for about three years now. I've managed to expunge the guilt heaped on me by religion, but I still feel very strong connections to other humans. If I wrong someone, I am still going to feel guilty about that, and I honestly don't think that can be gotten rid of... at least not directly.

If our guilt response can be gotten rid of or controlled, I think it has to be at the level of who we are morally identified with. If you think that a certain race or class of people is unfit or beneath you, you can literally get away with murder and feel no remorse for it. Women in muslim societies are treated badly because they are not seen as equals to men. Homosexuals, though once revered in some cultures, are now denegrated by the monotheistic religions and are persecuted because of it. The other side of that coin is that who and what you morally identify with can be expanded. Vegans who choose to eschew eating animals often do so because they think it is wrong to bring harm to other living things.

As an atheist, I no longer feel guilt in relation to religion because the concept of god is outside of my moral identification. I don't believe that a god exists or that such a being is the seat of moral authority. However, loss of that guilt has in no way released me from experiencing a pang of conscience if I perceive myself to have wronged someone.

Anyone who is actually rid of guilt completely is very likely a sociopath with little empathy for his fellow human beings. Healthy society requires that we morally identify with one another. Segregation of the population, whether by religion, race, sexual preference, or station, limits our ability to morally identify with one another, and I don't think anyone can rationally argue that such situations are healthy. So, I agree with you that we need that guilt response and the care towards our fellow man that grows from it.

The article distinguishes between "shame" and "guilty feelings" thus:

(1) "SHAME, the feeling that you’re a bad person because of bad behavior, has repeatedly been found to be unhealthy..."

(2) "...whereas GUILTY FEELINGS focused on the behavior itself can be productive."

It seems to the second type of feeling (guilt) is one that results from assessing causes and effects - you do (or don't do) X (casue) with BAD result Y (effect) and you have 'guilty feelings' based on the way you understand the relationship between your actions and their effects. This feeling seems related to concepts of justice and morality- I did X, it resulted in Y, I actedly badly, I was unjust and immoral.

It seems to me the second type of feeling (shame)also results from assessing causes and effects, but the resulting feeling is not just based on the way you understand the relationship between your actions and their effects, but also on the way way you understand your status as an moral being. I did X, it resulted in Y, I am bad and immoral.

You can used religion and the "Golden Rule" (or you could also use the Adam Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments" or J.S. Mill's "Utlitarianism" etc etc for a secular articulation of the "Golden Rule") to help you understand the relationship between the causes and effects that are your actions and their impacts. Using religions in this way seems unobjectionable to me provided the analysis of moral causes and effects does not become an application of authoritative texts. A Religion can be one among competing theories of morality.

What I do find objectionable is the notion of "original sin". The notion of original sin diminishes the importance of the cause and effect analysis, the analysis of what you do and your actions' results. It makes "guilty feelings" as described under (2) above irrelevant. It is linked to "shame" under (1) above in the sense of describing a person's status as "corrupted" and "sinful", but it departs from (1) insofar as it describes a person's moral status as divorced from their conduct.

I think this sort of "shame" or "guilt" is a net detrimant to humanity. Perhaps if the effect of "original sin" (let's call the more positve notion "original fallibility"), was to underscore the desirability of listening, learning and individual and cooperative improvement, then it could be a positive force. But I do not think it is. I think original sin as it is taught since Augustine and the Nicean fathers stamped out the Pelagian Heresy has been a detrimant to the struggle for moral improvement. The teaching of original sin requires that moral improvement is not possible without the assistance of God's grace. Original sin does nothing to promote or help people to live according to the "Golden Rule". Original sin promotes the Christian chruch by suggesting that people cannot live by the Golden Rule without finding God's grace through the Christian chruch.

Original sin is about membership and institutional control, not improvement.

Barry,

I agree with you that we do need a guilt-response to maintain a society. I think that Ether makes the point quite well that it's not important just that we feel guilt, but that we feel guilt when we behave immorally toward others.

Your statement about the ability of secular humanism to instill a rejection of guilt makes sense, especially in the context of the previous discussions we've had about absolute morality. However, I would contend that religion, Christianity in particular, creates a way for people to by-pass their feelings of guilt that is just as efficient as the "me" generation's refusal to accept guilt in the first place. In Christianity, it's drilled into you that god is the one you need to get forgiveness from, and that you can get forgiveness by accepting Jesus. There's a little more to it, depending on what sect you follow, but the bottom line is that there is a method within Christianity that allows you to ease your feelings of guilt without actually making amends to the person you've wronged.

Now, don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that religion makes a person amoral, or that lack of it does. I know a lot of Christians, most of whom are good and moral people. I suspect that most people are good and moral, despite (or sometimes in spite of) their religious beliefs, since goodness and morality are partly requisite on guilt, and guilt is a built-in feature for healthy humans.

I wonder if an over-developed guilt-reduction mechanism can create sociopathic tendencies in the same manner as having a faulty guilt-response since birth. I would be interested to see if there is any difference in the number of sociopaths-- or quasi-sociopaths-- between religious and non-religious groups.

Run, thruster, pull-ups as rx’d

21:28

Prole,

I think we are, for once, in agreement. I don't like the notion of Original Sin. It has never made sense to me. And if you listen to the teachings of the original Protestants--Martin Luther, and John Calvin--they are downright depressing. Not very happy or hopeful at all.

Certainly, guilt can be hung around peoples necks such that it alters their lives in permanently negative ways.

Like most things, there is a happy medium. Too much or too little, and it doesn't work.

Nick,

I see currents in our society that appear to be, to coin a long word, "sociopathogenic". The roots of this are deep, but net net watching people being tortured in 3d, over and over and over, cannot BUT desensitize people, and I don't think you can have effective guilt without at least some empathy.

Perhaps that's a good definition of pathological guilt: guilt without empathy. To me, guilt should be a response to something you've actually done. Rules exist for reasons, and psychologically normal people know why they exist. Breaking them, then, become, ultimately, a crime against OTHER PEOPLE, and it is the empathy and connection with them that sparks the pain we call guilt.

I was a part of the Airborne School certification.

Great cert and I learned a whole lot. We'll be trying to get this stuff off of the ground here in the Ft. Benning area to help make better warrior/athletes.

Chuck, Jon and Bobbi Jo,

Thanks for the extremely professional, fun and challenging certification. I hope to work out with you guys again sometime!

3...2...1...GO!

Barry,

I have to disagree. I think we have agreed more than once. Ha ha.

Is it possible to get a blog or a spot specifically for posting times to the WODs...so we don't have to read through all the crap??

Is there any way that we can get a seperate part of the blog specifically for WOD times?? That way we-- who don't care to read about, or get involved with the dramatic posts--can quickly compare times???

Here is a question, If you are an evolutionist, and tomorrow you found out, with out any doubt, that there was a God, a Creator, would you change anything in your life? And if you believe in a God, and tomorrow you found out there wasn't, what would you change in your life?

Nick Wise et al,

It is uncommon that a man changes anothers opinions or beliefs with argument or debate intended to devalue or demean another's intelligence. For that reason I apologize for my fellow believers who for lack of a better adjective, are quite insensitive. It is even more uncommon to present the reality, truth, and relevance of our Faith via the internet. Could I meet you, share my own struggles with guilt, my daily blunders, and how my faith reconciles them with the morality we propose, I would.

Suffice it to say that this medium, ie: internet, lacks authenticity and relationship, both of which make the Christian faith.....well real. Just keep thinking and keep your wonderful open minds, my suspicion is that you are "closer" than you know. My prayer is that a believer in your life realizes that and "gets real" with you.

"Just one beggar showing others where to find bread"

Katie Bubbles,

Don't click on the rest day blog links if you don't want to read the "crap". It's a free internet. Start your own blog.

Michael C,

If I found out that there is without a doubt a creator, I would stop calling myself an atheist. I honestly can't think of any behavior that I would change.

Jay,

If you keep thinking, you may be closer than you know to finding your way out of the religious woods. If we ever find ourselves in the same location, I'd be happy to talk with you. Please keep the bread, tho... that's not paleo! =)

Nick,

As always, thanks for your thoughtful comments. High five back to ya.

#117 Michael,

If I found out there was no God, I would not change a thing. I really thought about that too, cause I really believe that He (Jesus) does live. But I did think really hard about what I would change... I really have no desire to get back in debt, tell more lies, watch porn, commit adultery, and trample the weak, or hurdle the dead.

My faith in Christ has delivered me from much, and though while I was a slave to sin, and had no desire to be loosed, now that I am free, I am filled with a joy that just cant be explained. The gift of knowing 100% with no doubt at all, that when I die I will be more alive then I am now, and in the presence of God almighty, forgiven and free, is well, just awesome! :)

109 Prole,

I would say it does not matter if one believes in the concept of original sin or not. God says the consequence of sin is death. So since all die (infants included), one could say all are impregnated with a desire to sin.

Psalm 58:3 "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies."

Luke 5:31-32:
"Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

CrossFit level 1 cert i done on thew weekend @ CrossFit V.i.c
was amazing pretty much the best thing i have ever done.
thanks to all involved make it an unforgettable weekend.
thanks

Prole,

Given my normal cantankerousness, that seems unlikely. But I could be wrong. Yes, you read that right.

Greg 121

You said:
"God says the consequence of sin is death. So since all die (infants included), one could say all are impregnated with a desire to sin."

Restated:

All people die,
Death is a consequnce of sin,
All people desire to sin.

Here are the false premises you need to build into your statement to reach your false conclusion:

All people DESIRE TO die (false)
THERE IS NO WAY TO DIE BUT THROUGH SIN (false)
ALL PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY MUST SIN TO DIE(false)
Therefore, all people can be taken to desire sin insofar as they desire to die (false).

Please do not use the Good Book as the basis for logical propositions. Use it for something else, like "meaning" or "truth", but not for arguments. The Bible's method of teaching is by showing, not arguing or leading readers to conclusions. The Bible is a conclusion. You take it, or you leave it.

You know, I would like to point out that there is a continuum with respect to Christianity. You are not either a Christian, or not a Christian.

If you want to accept that Christ is the way, the truth, and that no man comes to the Father but through him, so be it.

To me, the part of the whole thing that matters is "by their fruits you shall know them."

Christ was not someone who asked everyone to feel guilty about everything. He asked us to love one another and FORGIVE one another, with the understanding that none of us is perfect. None of us would have been qualified to cast that first stone.

In primitive societies, the idea of moral LAWS--which CANNOT be broken--are useful. They provide safety and order for people who do not understand why those laws exist.

But as societies develop, we can begin to see why certain rules exist. Ultimately, all of us suffer if none of us can trust others to do what they say they will do. We suffer solitude when we can't trust. And we suffer confusion when we don't know what the rules are that we are expected to follow, or that we can expect others to follow.

Christ's revelation was quite revolutionary in that it travelled from the rule of LAW to the rule of PRINCIPLE. Principles can evolve over time, and we can challenge them as to what they are actually working to accomplish.

Love your neighbor as yourself is as high-minded an ideal as you will find in any religion. It is very hard to implement in practice.

I have my own theological ideas on Christianity, which I won't trouble anyone with here, but I felt the need to share that.

As far as Original Sin, one could read that of course as requiring the intercession of God/Christ for salvation. We ourselves are powerless to achieve it. One could, however, equally read it as necessitating, practically, the intercession of the CHURCH.

God has given us the building blocks: perception, good ideas. The question is what we do with them. Do we bury them, or invest them as we move with faith into the future, as in the Parable of the Talents?

Barry Cooper, your ideas are well thought out and presented with the flavor of compassion to the listener. Commendable indeed. :)

Prole, Death simply means destroyed, it is the final conclusion of what was once life. We all die does not mean we all want to die, though at time some people do. People take great measures to avoid death, but death ultimately wins, and we are subdued by it.

Death is seen in many forms, not just the end result of life itself. There is the death of friendship when there is no love. There is the death of trust when there is no commitment to be loyal. There is the death of happiness when there is no vision for a happy future. There is the death of joy, when there is no God. Death is the result of an action. One man hates, another man dies. One man is greedy; another man has his possessions taken from him.

God does not like death, in any of its forms. When God said that in the day we transgress His holy law, we would die, He was saying that we would be separated from Him in fellowship, in friendship, and ultimately in life. This was not what God wanted, but He gave us the choice. We could live, which required we live as He lives (holy), or we could chose death (separation from the life giver). This was the choice of the very first man in his relationship with his friend, God. The consequences for this choice have been passed down from generation to generation.

Almost all of us think that we are good people. We also think that our good works, and our sorrow for sin and the fact that we won’t do it again (repentance) will save us when we face God. However, the Day will come when each of us will stand before Him who the Bible calls “the Judge of all the earth.”

It is then that we will see His anger revealed against murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, fornicators (those who have had sex before marriage), etc. God’s justice will be so thorough, He will even judge hatred as murder, and “every idle word that men speak.” Jesus said, “Whoever looks upon a woman and lusts after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.” Have you ever done that? Will you be innocent or guilty on that Day of breaking God’s law? Remember that the law doesn’t see the fact that you have “weaknesses” or that “everybody else does it,” as a legitimate excuse.

God is “good,” and He will make sure absolute justice is done. Being sorry or not sinning again won’t save you because you should be sorry (you have a conscience), and of course you shouldn’t sin again. Your good works may be commendable, but they will have nothing to do with your case on the day you stand trial for your transgressions. If you are found to be guilty (and we all are guilty), according to the Bible you will end up in Hell.

All you can do is fling yourself on the mercy of the Judge…and the Bible tells us that He is also rich in mercy. It is not His will that you go to Hell. He provided a way for you to be forgiven. He so loves you that He sent His Son to take your punishment: “God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death. If you will repent (turn away from sin) and trust in Him, God will forgive you and grant you everlasting life. It’s as simple as this- we broke God’s Law, and Jesus paid our fine. If we repent and trust Him, we are free to leave the Courtroom-Our case can be dismissed!

Turn away from your transgressions (name them), ask God to forgive you and change your heart. Place your trust in Jesus Christ as savior. Ask Him for the gift of everlasting life.

Peace :)

I was pretty much expecting to get those answers, because most people feel that they are good people, right? I mean I am sure that you try to be kind to your neighbor, clean in habits, and obviously we all want to be healthy! So regardless of whether we believe in creation or evolution, all humans have the same basic set of values: respect for personal property (car, wife, etc), don't murder, etc. Even going further, I bet each one of you regardless of faith would end all crime if you had the ability. What is your thought on why that is?

You know, I would like to draw a structural homology between religious atrocities, and political atrocities. In both cases normal ideas of guilt are submerged in an ideologically and socially supported mythos in which hate is good, provided it is directed at an enemy of what is "good".

I think most of us, left to our own devices, talking to real people of diverse viewpoints, can reach points of accomodation. It is only when we stop seeing other people as individuals and rather as abstract representatives of groups that guilt can be abolished. Self evidently, this is the role of propaganda, which well predates Lenins and Goebbels' clarifications and explicit expansions of it.

I am increasingly cautiously optimistic. I see no reason to demonize Democrats, per se. I was once a Democrat myself. Quite obviously, I have hurled a lot of relatively generic and untargeted vitriol over the years.

The reason for this was not that I am incapable of distinguishing radicals from moderate; but rather that as a historical fact (on my reading) that the moderates don't matter once radicals take power, and to the extent that the moderates are unwittingly supporting the radicals agenda, they are equally part of the problem.

My hope, today, is that psychologically normal Americans can begin to put together a Centrist coalition AGAINST the radicals like Van Jones, and presumably the guy who hired him (and won't fire him). Sorry Nick.

The task is not demonize either large corporations or people who can't get their $hit together. It is to demonize--because they deserve it--dedicated revolutionaries who will tell any lie, and countenance ANY act, as long as it furthers their agenda.

The precise difference between the Mensheviks (who at one time--say 1905--actually WERE the Majority Party, if memory serves, even though it actually means Minority Party) and the Bolsheviks (Majority Party), was that Lenin only wanted full time revolutionaries, and the Mensheviks wanted to actually include the people on whose behalf they were supposedly conducting the Revolution.

Radicals feel no guilt in pursuing their aims. They are in what amounts to a cult in which normal personal feelings are submerged in a Grand Hatred that animates them and gives their lives purpose. They are cultists, in other words.

I really believe we are at a point where our future will be determined, one way or the other. For those with eyes, the actual aims of the people who run, now, the Democratic Party have been revealed.

Van Jones is merely proof positive of this. It will be interesting to see what happens. My vote is that the Good Guys win, in the end. There are far too many of us.

And Prole, I love to beat you over the head with rhetorical clubs, but I don't get the sense at all that you are a bad person. I just think you see a lot of pain around you, and have drawn--to my mind--incorrect conclusions about how to fix it.

This is a must watch video from Glenn Beck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80zzW6Osyhs&feature=player_embedded

The broad outlines of the fraud that has been committed--by people with seemingly no consciences, to tie this to the topic--are emerging. The Apollo Alliance, which unifies Big Labor, the Environmental Movement, and the "social justice" (aka campaign for massive wealth redistribution) movement, wrote a "stimulus" bill in 2008.

Their name comes from the Apollo program, and the comparison is that they want a massive focus on and stimulus of their radical agendas.

The "Stimulus" is to Leftism what the Apollo program was to space exploration. This plan--which runs through 2015--had NOTHING to do with the economy. It is simply an expense account for leftist projects, including, presumably, political indoctrination of the sort you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bayNhJayn_U

If that doesn't scare the poop out of you, maybe you need to check for a pulse.

Another "must watch" from Glenn Beck, and why I trust him implicitly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-D_S7WOnjg

Barry: how did you get a youtube URL through the filter? I attempted to post one as well on a similar topic, and it was held and remains unpublished. I have my suspicions as to why it wasn't published, but since I can't prove them, will keep quiet. Any suggestions on getting videos through, though?

Hey guys! Late posting I know. I just finished the Cert 1 at CrossFit Victoria and I just wanted to say firstly, a massive thanks to all the Trainers for their awesome effort over the weekend. I learnt so much more from those 2 days than most of the globo gym lectures I've ever been too. Secondly, thanks to CrossFit Vic for hosting the course at their great facilities and lastly, it's been 5 days since the course finished and I can FINALLY walk normally!!

No. Please don't be thinking all my posts get through either. They don't, regretfully. Most of them do, though.

I don't think there's any censorship going on. At least, I hope there isn't, as there is no need for it. Cases that are strong stand, and those that aren't fall.