F3 Knoxville

Author: Lillydipper

No False Idols Here

THE SCENE: Sunny, temp in low 40’s.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Side-Straddle-Hops, 10 Burpees, 10 Windmills, 20 second knee stretches each side, 5 Burpees, 10 Cherry Pickers, 10 Baby Arm Circles Forward and Backward.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to New Parking Lot that Is Across Street from North Ball Fields.  20 Hello Dollies (four count).

Mosey to south end of parking lot by Southern Ball Fields.  We will be running doing modified suicides.  Instead of running to each cone and back, we will do the following exercises to each cone and then sprint back.  We will add one cone each time we come back.  Also, each time back we do 10 Big Boy Sit-ups.  Those finishing first alternate do imitation jump ropes until everyone is back.  Then we will repeat step 5 where we go to all cones.

  • Bear Crawl to First Cone
  • Hop to Second Cone
  • Lunge to Third Cone
  • Bernie Sanders to Fourth Cone
  • Sprint to Fifth Cone

Mosey to Perimeter Trail that is just south of the south ball field pavilion.  We will be going east then north on the perimeter trail.  We will do nickel, dime, quarters along the trail.  Each light pole along the trail equals 5 cents or 5 reps of an exercise.  We will run the distance of one light (nickel) and do 5 reps of the exercise.  We will then run two lights (dime) and do 10 reps of the exercise.  Finally, we will run give lights and (quarter) and do 25 reps of the exercise.  One done with the 25 reps, do baby crunches until all other brothers arrive.  We will do these until we reach cardiac hill.  These are the exercises:

  • Merkins
  • Squat Jumps
  • Flutter Kicks (each leg = 1)
  • Dive Bombers
  • High Knees (each leg = 1)
  • Carolina Dry Docks

At cardiac hill we will run uphill, doing the following exercises at each turn:

  • First turn.  20 Diamond Merkins
  • Second turn.  20 Hello Dollies
  • Third turn.  20 Decline Merkins
  • Fourth turn.  20 Bench Dips

Mosey to Flag Pole at North Ball Park Entrance.  We will circle around the pavilion in a counter-clockwise rotation doing the following exercises at the following stops:

  • 20 Star Jumps at Flag Pole
  • 20 Bench Jumps at Playground
  • 20 Seconds of Pull-ups at Ball Field Dugouts
  • 20 Picnic Table Pull-ups under Pavilion
  • Rinse and Repeat

Mosey back to AO. 

MARY:
20 Flutter Kicks (four count).  ATM’s.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
We had fifteen men show including Spicoli from F3 Hilton Head and an FNG, Thomas Keaton, whom we named “Trippin.”
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Exodus 20:3 – You shall have no other gods before me.

Isaiah 44:9 – All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit.

The bible speaks often of the dangers of worshiping false idols.  When we read about worshiping false idols or gods, we often think of human made images (such as Aaron’s Golden Calf) of biblical times or the multiple gods worshiped by pagans in those days.  But the bible actually refers to all kinds of things that we deify or make our ultimate goals as being idols:  for example, money, sex, power and fame.  The idols of biblical times remain our idols today.

When I first read of God, saying in the Ten Commandments, that we shall have no gods other than Him, I thought He was saying this out of jealousy.  Indeed, God is jealous for us but in further study of the commandment, I feel he actually says this out of love and concern for us.  Because, when we worship idols, when we make anything other that Him the ultimate thing we live for, we get into trouble – the false idol, indeed, may destroy us.

The things that people make the mistake of placing ahead of God need not be bad things.  Money, sex, fame, power – these are not bad things.  Money helps feed us and provides us shelter and comfort; sex is beautiful and leads to our continuing humanity; fame often occurs in the face of great things achieved by the one who becomes famous; and power can lead to great changes for our human race.  Yet, these things are not what lead to our ultimate joy.  What happened in the stock market crash of 1929 and the more recent economic and stock crisis of 2008?  We saw many of those who placed their hopes in wealth come to emotional devastation – a good number of people committed suicide.  We often are jealous of wealthy people, of movie stars, of famous individuals, of those with great power.  But if you google famous people who committed suicide (examples include Marilyn Monroe, Robin Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Prince, Cleopatra) the lists are long and full of people that others admired and wanted to be like.  God knows that when we place all of our hopes onto that which is not him, we will be hurt and even destroyed.

Anything can be grouped into the false deity category.  Even our wives or children.  When we deify our spouse we make them responsible for our redemption.  That is unfair to the spouse and will lead to us being upset with, angry at, or turned off by our spouse because our spouse cannot be God.

Even parenting children can be turned into idolatry.  There are parents who expect too much for their children or place too much importance on their schooling, friendships, or success.  I have recently got into trouble regarding this “idol.”  I indeed love my children as I should as their father.  I have been quite proud of my daughter who graduated from Asbury University in May and was one of the top students in her graduating class.  I have quietly patted myself on the back, perhaps unconsciously bragging about my parenting skills.  My daughter is currently going through a vocational life crisis.  She was accepted into a masters program at an excellent university but then decided not to go.  She then took an one year internship with Americorp, hated it, and quit.  She is now working for a little more than minimum wage and struggling with what to do with her life.  I have wanted to step in and lead the way, provide all the answers, kick her own butt by exclaiming “how could you do this” or command others to give her the exact job she needs.  I cannot do this for her.  She must face her own struggles.  If I turn parenting into idolatry, I do not let her be herself.  I do not allow her to face pain and overcome it.  I do not allow her to reach out to God, as we all must, to find our path, find our way in life.  And so, I must turn to God, pray for my daughter, and have faith that she is precious, that God is loving, and that through God she will find her own way.

What idols are you struggling with at this time?  Are you making something more important than your relationship with God?  God loves you and that is why He wants you to place him first.  He knows that your placing anything above Him will only hurt you in the long run.

MOLESKIN:
We need to pray for G-6’s son who is in the hospital.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Coffeeteria!

Justice for All

THE SCENE: Temps in 50’s, cloudy, we finished right before the rainstorm.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Side-straddle Hops, 10 Plank Jacks, 10 Cherry Pickers, 10 Windmills, Michael Phelps, Little of This and That

THA-THANG:
Mosey to Dragon Tail.  We will do Route 66 up the Dragon Tail with the following exercises:

  • Burpees
  • Box Cutters
  • Bobby Hurleys

Mosey to parking lot that is south of northern ball fields.  We will have cones set up in the parking lot with exercises listed at each cone:

  • Cone 1:  20 Merkins.  Bear Crawl to Cone 2.
  • Cone 2:  20 Squat Jumps.  Bernie Sanders to Cone3.
  • Cone 3:  20 Imperial Walkers (each leg).  Sprint to Cone 4.
  • Cone 4.  20 Big Boy Sit Ups.  Bear Crawl to Cone 5.
  • Cone 5.  20 Carolina Drydocks.  Lunge to Cone 6.
  • Cone 6.  20 Hello Dollies.  Sprint to Cone 1.  Rinse and Repeat.

Mosey to pavilion at northern baseball fields.  We will do following exercises:

  • 20 Bench jumps.
  • 20 Bench raises.
  • 20 Picnic table pull-ups.
  • 20 Decline merkins.
  • One minute squat at wall.

Mosey to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Seven men, no FNG’s.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
My ideas for today’s message come from an article by Stephen Cave, Chief Ministry Officer with Biblica, a website of the International Bible Society.  He quotes from Psalms 33:5  “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”  In his article Cave comments that our human definition of justice is often narrow.  We may think of 1) someone committing a crime getting their proper punishment, or, at a little less narrow level, 2) justice for those being treated unfairly by those in positions of power.  Cave points out that the bible’s definition goes much deeper.  In the bible, God equates justice with righteousness.  This justice, this righteousness, is a Godly foundation by which all other things should be measured.  As HIM’s, we can measure ourselves by this standard.  Are we living up to God’s standard of justice, God’s standard of what he wants for us and our world?  This is a standard of compassion that calls for us to put things right in our relationship with others.  Are we being fair and loving in our relationships?  Are we hearing the cries of our brothers and sisters and helping them when they are in need?  Are we taking interest in those around us and not getting too caught up with our own issues?  Are we joining in on God’s compassionate fight to end poverty, corruption, disease, racism, and emotional, physical and sexual abuse?  I myself find it easy to point the finger and say “HE, SHE, or THEY are being unjust.”  I think I can do more good if I spend more time doing what Jesus did:  living the Word, being loving, being just.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Quickcrete Memorial Workouts this Saturday.  Polar Bear Plunge on January 1.

Solid

THE SCENE: Insert info about the weather, etc.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
10 Side Straddle Hops, Plank stretches, 10 Tempo Merkins, 10 Mountain Climbers, 10 Windmills, 10 Cherry Pickers
THA-THANG:

Mosey up mini cardiac hill and turn right onto the perimeter trail.  20 Hello Dollies.

We will be doing “nickel, dime, quarters” along the perimeter trail all the way to the serpentine sidewalk until it hits the main roadway going by the ball fields.  In the nickel, dime, quarter we run the distance to one light pole and then do five reps of an exercise, run for two more light poles and do ten reps of the exercise, then run for five more light poles and do 25 reps of the exercise.  Those finishing an exercise first do baby crunches until all others catch up.  We will do the following exercises along the way:

  • Squat jumps
  • Merkins
  • Big boy Sit-ups
  • Star jumps

Mosey to long parking lot between the serpentine sidewalk and the northern baseball fields. We will circle around the parking lot performing the exercises listed at each cone.

Cone 1:  20 American Hammers (four count) then Berry Sanders to Cone 2.

Cone 2:  20 Bobby Hurleys, then sprint to Cone 3.

Cone 3:  20 Imperial Walkers (four count) then bear crawl to Cone 4.

Cone 4:  20 Squats, Berry Sanders to Cone 5.

Cone 5:  10 Shoulder Taps (each shoulder) then sprint to Cone 6.

Cone 6:  Ten Burpees.

Rinse and Repeat.

20 Box Cutters.

Mosey to Playground.  We will do elevens at benches, starting with one bench lift and ten bench jumps.

10 Dive Bombers, 10 Bottle Openers, 10 Peter Parkers, 20 Flutter Kicks, 20 Table Saws, Boat Canoe

Mosey to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Eight men, no FNG’s.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 181 helpful votes

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

John 15:12-14 ESV / 134 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Certainly, a purpose of F3 is to better ourselves as men.  But in F3 we also learn that life is not just about ourselves.  A true HIM looks to God above for direction and then uses the strength that God gives him to reach out to others.  I love the way that we, in F3, look to beyond ourselves in the BOM.  We learn messages about life that are God-Driven and which give us moral and personal strength.  I also love how, in F3, we take that message outward, looking to find other men to be a part of our PAX but also looking to ways we can help the community.  In that way we no only make ourselves better, but make others better.  Let’s remember that as we go on through this week and as we celebrate Christmas.  We can be thankful that God came in the form of man to sacrifice Himself for us.  But we can also learn to make the high commitment to spread our love to others, sacrificing our tendencies towards greed and self-focus, while learning to give of ourselves, our time, and possessions.

Frustration Station

THE SCENE: Cloudy, temp at about 30 degrees.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Side-Straddle Hops, 20 Plank Jacks, Ten Tempo Merkins, 10 Windmills, 10 Cherry Pickers
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the long parking lot that is south of the northern ball fields and is adjacent to the serpentine sidewalk.  There will be six cones places along the length of the parking lot.  We will do suicides.  First we will sprint to each cone and back to the start until we have sprinted to every cone in order.  Next, we will do the same thing but do 10 Big Boy Sit-ups each time we come back to the starting cone.

Mosey to Pavilion at Northern Ballpark.  We will go in counter clockwise run, stopping at the following areas to do the following exercises: (we will rinse and repeat)

  • Pavilion:  20 Picnic Table Pull ups
  • Flag:  20 Boxcutters
  • Benches:  Ten Bench Jumps
  • Dugouts:  Ten Pull ups or 15 second hang

Mosey to Cardiac Hill.  We will run up the hill to the benches but stop to do the following exercises at the following areas:

  • First Turn:  20 American Hammers (four count)
  • Second Turn:  20 Hello Dollies (four count)
  • Third Turn:  20 Decline Merkins (four count)
  • Benches:  20 Bench Dips
  • Rinse and repeat

Mosey to AO

MARY:
20 Flutter Kicks, 20 Bicycle Kicks, 20 Pickle Pounders, ATMS
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Eight men, no FNG’s.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I chose these verses because, this week, I needed to read something in the Bible about coping with frustrations.  And, my frustrations were minor, when I think about the home fires, the prejudices, the poverty, the joblessness, the family deaths, and life struggles that many are coping with.  We all get frustrated, no matter what our positions in life.  At such times, it is good to think of God having our six, being there for us. God knows we will have tribulations.  But He is there for us.  He has overcome the world and he can certainly help us overcome what we are dealing with.  He asks us to fear not.  He tells us that he will strengthen us.  He says he will hold us in his righteous hand.  We can think on these comforts during frustrating times.  It may not answer our questions immediately, nor take away all the pain, but knowing that he watches out for us, loves us, and has plans for us, certainly helps.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
3rd F event on Saturday, December 11, 8:30 AM at the Outlook.

Pierced by Grace

THE SCENE: Partly cloudy, sometimes raining, temps in 40’s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Planks, 20 Side-Straddle Hops, 10 Mountain Climbers (4 count), 10 Cherry Pickers, Little of This and Little of That
THA-THANG: 

Mosey to upper parking lot at northern end of park.  Each man picks up two bricks that will be in the parking lot.

Mosey on perimeter trail toward Lyons Bend Entrance of park.  Then go east on the trail that crosses road near the park entrance.  Twenty Imperial Walkers.

We will run with bricks for three lights, then stop to do 5 mini-man-makers.  We will do the same two more times along the trail.  Those who finish first do curls with bricks until all men have finished.  Then we do ten standing body twists (four count).

Next, we run for two more lights with bricks and stop to do 20 overhead presses.  Rinse and repeat twice along the trail.  Those finishing do curls again until all have finished.  Then we do ten tempo squats.

Next run for one more light with bricks and stop to do 20 wing claps with bricks.  Rinse and repeat twice as with other exercises.  Those finishing first do curls.  Then we ten tempo merkins.

We will be close to the parking lot where we picked up the bricks.  Put bricks back where they were.

Mosey to Pavilion by northern ball parks.  We will do a tadpole (doing the following exercises in ascending order, adding one exercise each time until we do all five, then dropping first exercise etc until we do only last exercise.  We will do each exercise for 30 seconds with a 30 second break after each set of exercises.  The exercises will be:

  • Burpees
  • Decline Merkins
  • Picnic Table Pullups
  • Bench Jumps
  • Bench Lifts

Next, team up into partners of two.  We will do Doras with partner running twice around the pavilion while the other partner exercises.  Then partners switch.  We will do the following exercises:

  • 300 Baby Crunches
  • 200 Squats
  • 100 Big Boys Sit-ups

Mosey to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Eight men, no FNG’s.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The following message is taken from a sermon given by Matt Howell, director of RUF at UTK.  He was visiting speaker last Sunday at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

Bible Reading from John, Chapter 13, verses 1-9.

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

When we read these verses, we may think Peter is being humble when he tells Jesus not to wash his feet.  After all, the Lord is taking on the role of a servant, performing a task that those of menial positions did in those days.  But, looking more closely, Peter is also displaying a veiled pride.  He is saying, I am beyond having my feet washed by you.  My God cannot take on such a subservient role.  I will have no part of it.  Jesus, in turn, is saying that if you cannot accept my loving you like a servant then you can not really share me fully. ( If we cannot accept God’s love in full, we miss out on God, we do not share in what he wants to give us.)

If we humans look at ourselves fully, we see that we, like Peter, have this veiled pride.  Look at how we accept compliments:  with great difficulty.  We generally shun them, getting uncomfortable, joking the compliment off, or saying it is not true.  Us men are also bad on accepting gifts or physical signs of grace from others.  Look at men at a restaurant:  First man:  I’ll get the bill.  2nd man:  No, no, let me take it.  First man:  No, I insist.  In some ways we do this out of courtesy but we also do this out of pride.  We do not want to be the “lowly person” who has his meal paid for.  Also, how do we accept help from others?  We usually shun it, too proud to ask for help.  Finally, we are too proud to accept our brokenness and need for God.  Or we may say, my sins are too great for God’s help, as if our sins, verses those of others, are too great for God.

Matt Howell, in his sermon, used two interesting quotes in his sermon from famous writers.  The first was from Victor Hugo, who said, “Grace is a most formidable assault.”  The second was from Flannery O’Connor, who said, “Grace must wound before it can heal.”

We must get over our veiled arrogance to accept God’s grace for us.  We must accept His assault on our pride, realizing we are broken and that we need his love.  We must get through the embarrassment of recognizing we need Him that much. We must get beyond the fear of His kind of intimacy.  We must let His grace pierce us before we can be truly healed.  Otherwise, as Jesus said, we do not really take our share of Him.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
3rd F on Saturday, December 8 at Outlook by UT strip, 8:30 AM.