What's New in The Group
Good morning, men. I get this week to walk us through some daily motivation, and hopefully, something to think about in our pursuit of Jesus. Congrats to all of you who are still going strong. With busy lives, fitting all of these tasks can get challenging.
Something I have been mulling over for a few days is how many of these days have become simply checking a box. Getting the workouts in, drinking more water than my bladder can process and dialing in the eating somehow turns automatic. I even sat through a birthday party with a healthy selection of whiskey and end up drinking sparkling water.
Getting fit and strong is valuable and I love it. Eating healthy makes you feel good.
However, I've noticed when I treat my time with God and reading the Bible as another task as apart of a larger commitment, I realized I'm missing a huge part of what I'm doing. My goal was to be able to grow closer to God and hear Him. What I've done is allow distraction and rushed through journaling to check the final box and make myself feel good because I "accomplished" a task. I completely missed the point.
"And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone," Matthew 14:23.
There's a of times Jesus pulled an Irish Goodbye and left to be alone with His father. I've put it on my task list and Jesus prioritized getting alone with His father often. Our lives are inundated with distraction the moment we wake until we sleep. We tend to operate on task lists, metrics and just getting stuff done. We must get quiet and alone with God in a world that wants us distracted.
Something to think about - This is just me, but spending time quiet with God in the morning sets the tone for the day. Emails, calls, etc. are waiting to force you into problem solving mode. So think about coming to Jesus first thing. Here's another thing. Just come to be with Him. No agenda, no "fix this for me, Jesus" list, don't try to force a conversation. Sit with Him to be with Him. Maybe He'll speak, maybe He won't. But I know Jesus wants to be with you.
One of my favorite speakers / authors, Jamie Windship, asks these two questions in prayer: What do you want me to know? What do you want me to do?
Go choke Monday out and let it know whose running the show! Love and serve those around you well.
Good morning brothers! Have a wonderful and blessed day!!!
Let’s keep getting after it. I know we are at the point we are all little more tired the usual. Let’s do the best to our abilities. There is no shame in walking for the two workouts. Whether it’s outside or at the gym on the treadmill. To help your body recover more. Let’s get better today. Grow today even if it’s 1% better. Attack the with purpose! Let’s make it happen captains! LETS GO!!!
Jimmy GO HERD!!!
3 weeks down! I’m back to being able to use the knee scooter again. Couple of cold and snowy scoots around the park. Glad I did one right after church this morning. Other than working around my bum foot, my biggest challenge has been diet. I’ve had a couple of days where I got stuck with provided food that didn’t fit with what I want to do, so this afternoon I cooked several meals for the week. Also, bought some things I can keep in my desk at work for those unexpected times.
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This years been eye opening doing HERD90. I absolutely love everything about it, you guys too, even though i don’t really know y’all yet. I’ve volunteered myself to create a video reel about HERD90 everyday for 90 days to try and spread the word. I think everyone should join the HERD. I know they all won’t but it never hurts to invite. I’m running with the American flag to create attention, smiling, waving, even kneeling down on the street corners. God’s wild. The biggest thing I’m needing to do is get into a routine. I get all the pieces done in a day but everyday is different and I ‘habit stack’ (e.g. run, workout, pray, acts of kindness, drink water, etc) all while I run or I’m at the gym or park. I’m gonna work on the routine of listening/reading the bible, journaling, then go and conquer the world lol. I’d like to join a group sometime too. I’ll message some early risers. Hope all is well! Carry on brothas!
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Keep up the good work 👏
Week 2 complete! Had a setback Wednesday. I’ve been dealing with a foot injury on my right foot, so my outdoor workouts have been doing a couple miles on the knee scooter. Wednesday evening I discovered a blister on my other foot, so re-did my outdoor plan to do non-walking exercises on my back porch. Couple of cold workouts, but made it through.
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Wore them home to start the break-in process and then did my Sunday Exercise plan (2 walks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon) wearing the new shoes to further the break-in.
For your situation, if you have some resistance bands, you can use those for your outdoor exercise on the back porch.
You can do it!!! Prayers to you brother...
Aaaaahhooooo!
Men, I came across this in ~1994 and it really resonated with me. While I cannot claim to abide in this daily, I certainly try to!
The Time Bank
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with
86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to
invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account
for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s
deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. You must live in
the present on today’s deposits; invest that deposit so as to get from it the utmost in
health, happiness, and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
Rufus, of course, you are right. We must all evaluate where we are in our lives and how much more we can take on and the point about our wives/girlfriends agreeing to something like this without the full knowledge of what it entails can be dangerous to the peace in our lives.
A couple thoughts along those lines.
This is precisely what we are all working on here in the Herd Strong. Stand guard and protect our families, so there may need to be a time to say “No”. In fact there will most certainly come this time in your our lives.
Secondly, often the time we need for these activities odds present in our lives but simply consumed by others “priorities.” Anyone else ever spent 3 hours surfing on the net on web sites you would not want your daughter to see or anyone ever spent 3 hrs playing Fort night or whatever shoot em up game you are favoring these days.
Finally, these commitments are for a season. It’s an important season of growth and, I’ve found, elimination of some of the habits we have developed over the years. Many of these will stick with you as well.
My is point is that yes we need to use our discretion and modify the program as necessary to fit our lives but IRON SHARPENS IRON and that’s why we are here in the HerdStrong.
Men, I was at the gym today reflecting on Herd 90 and how adding a challenge like this can sometimes take away from our families and our wives. I honestly think this is something that should have been said before starting Herd 90 or when beeing asked to add more commitments. Leading our families doesn’t mean continually adding more to our already busy lives. True leadership means evaluating our lives and being willing to remove things if we’re going to add something new.
As a man who does not have a wife and who has chosen to live that way, at 58 years old, with some years and experience behind me, I find it easier at times to step back and observe the lives of men who do have wives and young families. Often, a wife or family will say, “It’s okay, you can add more,” but many times we hear their words without truly seeing their hearts. Life isn’t just about hearing, it’s about nurturing the hearts of our wives and families.
When we add more without recognizing their hearts, over time wives and families can begin to feel neglected or even abandoned.
Before stepping into something like Herd 90 or taking on more commitments, we should first evaluate what can be removed. As meaningful as this challenge is, nothing but God is more important than our wives and our families.
Good morning men. Day11 starts NOW!
Exodus 1–14 reminds me how easy it is to slowly end up stuck. Israel didn’t wake up one day in chains—it happened over time. I see that in my own life. Comfort, habits, and fear can quietly take over until they start calling the shots. Pharaoh, to me, is anything that keeps me from being the man God’s called me to be. This 90-day challenge has forced me to look at some of those things honestly instead of pretending they’re no big deal.
When Israel stood at the Red Sea, nothing about that moment felt safe. The enemy was behind them, the water was in front of them, and God still said, “Move forward.” That hits me. Day 11 feels like that moment—far enough in to feel the resistance, not far enough to see the breakthrough. But freedom didn’t come from having it all figured out; it came from taking the next step. I’m learning this challenge isn’t about being perfect—it’s about obedience, consistency, and trusting God one day at a time.
Reflection Questions
1. What’s one habit or mindset I’ve tolerated that might actually be keeping me stuck?
2. What’s one small step forward I know God is asking me to take today—even if it feels uncomfortable?
Good morning all! This morning (1/14/26 on the round up we continue our talk on Strength! Jump in bright and early https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86853705358?pwd=HtuKbhapXTCdWL9xjZHeqhPd8oxtWn.1 and be prepared to answer these questions:
1-What part of your life would fall apart if someone actually saw the truth?
2-Where are you calling self-reliance “strength” when it’s really pride?
3-If Jesus put His finger on your weakest place today, would you surrender it or defend it?
4-Where is one place that you are standing in your Strength and Righteousness?
1. My life is pretty wide open but my finances are in disarray. I’ve been in survival mode for the past 7 years. That’s about to change!
2. Self-reliance is one of 5 core resiliency principles. It’s asking for help that’s hard.
3. It’s not black or white but I choose surrender.
4. Crazy faith
Good morning, men. Welcome to Day 9.
I want to share a bit of my journey with the 90-day challenge.
This is my fourth year with Herd Strong and my fourth time doing the challenge. These four years have fundamentally changed my life. I’d love to share my full story with you sometime, but for now I want to focus on the challenge itself.
I’m a relatively small guy and have always been driven to prove myself athletically. So this challenge was right up my alley. I thrive under discipline and pushing myself to do things most people wouldn’t enjoy—extreme efforts in hunting, football, running, whatever it is.
Hmm… anyone seeing an underlying problem there? 😆
With my career and constantly changing schedule, the challenge really stretched me. It demanded attention every waking hour—getting the water in, completing two workouts, and honoring every other commitment I had made. What I learned internally was this: this is what it requires for me to truly chase after my Lord, Jesus Christ. When I am walking in truth, honor, and obedience—when I am closest to God—my mind is constantly on Jesus.
This year, though, has been different… and much more powerful.
I have a fair amount of mastery over the physical disciplines, but I’ve been awakened in a new way to the quiet disciplines. And this is where I need to be honest.
I’ve never journaled well—I’ve mostly done the bare minimum. I’ve never spent deep, unhurried quiet time with Jesus—I’ve pushed through it. And I haven’t prayed with the intention and focus I should—I’ve hustled through it.
That admission has been earth-shattering for me.
Learning and practicing these quiet disciplines has enriched my life and my walk with God in ways I didn’t expect. I’m not where I want to be yet—but I know this challenge, and growing alongside my brothers, is shaping me into the man God is calling me to be.
Question for you today:
Where might God be inviting you to slow down and grow in one of the quiet disciplines?
Have a great day, men.
Good morning, Men. Over the last few days we’ve had a few men step up and talk about how they have fallen short on one or two of the disciplines for their first week of our challenge. If you are one if these men…I HONOR YOU.
Here’s the thing, we all threw our stake in the ground and made a commitment in front of our Brothers. There’s a lot of risk in that. If you fall short on a task you can handle that in a couple ways. You can hide it and not tell anybody. As men this is an easy out. There is a fear that we will look weak if we admit we are out of integrity.
There’s a different choice out there though. We can choose to step into integrity and admit that we did not complete this day tasks. Know this…Gods Grace is sufficient for you.
Want a deep dive on this idea. Join us tomorrow morning to fully flesh out this idea with the guys on the Morning Round Up.
It starts at 6 am and will give you a huge jump on your week.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86853705358?pwd=HtuKbhapXTCdWL9xjZHeqhPd8oxtWn.1
God knows we all stumble, but when words and actions consistently don’t match, He calls it hypocrisy. Jesus spoke strongly against this because it misrepresents God’s character (Matthew 23:27–28).
Matthew 23:27-28 ESV
[27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Stay true to your word and live with integrity.
