F3 Knoxville

All the Smells

JUCO
AO: juco
Q: Guardrail (Brandon Brown)
PAX: Mailbox (Chip Keim), Noodles (Brian Solmonson), Carhop (Nick Axon), Lil’ Spice (Chad Crawford), Fetch (Joel Moran), Commission (Adam Wilson), Hallmark
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
74° 100% humidity
WARMUP: SSH, Windmills, TiChi Warrior, Cherry Pickers, Tempo Merkins
THE THANG: Aug Metric. 1.5mile run, max bbs in 1 min, max pull ups, max merkins in 1 min, Max burpee in 5 min.
MARY: No time
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Shovelflag handoff Sept 1 and 5
COT: Today, I need to talk to you about a serious topic, I need to talk to you about how you smell. Specifically, how you smell after being here.
Does being out here change the way you smell to God?
Before I get into that question, 3 things about odors
1) There is no denying it’s real, but you can’t see it.
Remind us there are senses we have that we don’t use all the time, but show us a reality we often miss. Don’t miss the fact that there are realities we can’t see. Use the spiritual sense God gave you to experience Him and the spiritual realm.
2) Smells invoke emotional responses
Nose, Absorb into blood> Olfactory Bulb: Sort smells> Olfactory Cortex: Identify smell. It helps you recognize if you’re smelling a flower, Butterknife, or unwashed gloves.> Hippocampus: This is a really important area for memory. It’s like a librarian in your brain that helps store and organize memories. When you smell something, the hippocampus can help connect that smell to past experiences or memories, making smells a powerful trigger for recalling memories.> Which is right next to and part of your: Amygdala: This part is in charge of emotions and feelings. Smells can evoke strong emotions and reactions because the amygdala connects them to past experiences. That’s why certain smells might make you feel happy, relaxed, or even nostalgic.
God uses smells and memories to bring us emotion, joy, sadness, longing. Realize this and lean into it. Don’t be afraid to experience all the emotions.
3) You can get so used to a smell you don’t even notice it anymore – but you still stink
On the good things in life, don’t get so used to the amazing access we have to God in Prayer or through free, immediate access to his Word. Or freedome to worship or meet here. Enjoy the “smell” of your spiritual life. God has blessed us beyond measure.
4) Everyone has a smell. What do you smell of? Selfishness or selflessness? Joy or Despair? Hope or Hopelessness? You may have to ask a brother to get the honest answer.

2 Cor 2: 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
Phil 4:18: walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Check your heart, make sure you are spending your days in a way that is an offering to God.