Pool Boy – Page 5 – F3 Knoxville

Searching for Home – Waiting for Heaven!

May 24, 2021 Pool Boy

THE SCENE: I thought it was going to be rainy but no just cool great weather for a beatdown
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Administered (oops I forgot to mention COVID. Does that mean it’s over?? I sure hope so!)
WARM-O-RAMA:
IC Moroccan Night Club x 10
IC Crabby Pickle Pointer (in Crab position do a Pickle Pointer) x 10
IC (SLOOOOW) Cherry Picker x 5
OYO Standing T-spine rotation x 5 each
IC Tennessee Rocking Chair x 10
IC Calf Raises x 20 led by Booster
OYO Hand Release Merkins x 5
OYO Superman x 10
IC Tempo Squat x 10
OYO Reach for the sky // Let it hang / additional warmup as necessary

THA-THANG:
Falling Indian Run to the Pond – Alternating Lunges
“Burpee Mile” (modified from 4x to 3x)
12 burpees 1 lap x 3
Finish waiting for the 6 with alternating:
10 x Pickle Pounders
10 x Pickle Pointers

Falling Indian Run to CMU Pile
CMU DORA
Partner does exercises at the bottom, other runs to the top and touches the brick wall. Flapjack. Go to next exercise and repeat after both partners do both exercises and run twice (I even got a partner right after I asked for one when Archie showed up!)
Kettle Bell Swing
Clock Pendulum

Put up blocks after ~3 rounds (“when you see Dart Gun” come back down is the cue we used to finish)
20 count (probably more like 40 seconds) wall sit for all PAX counted by Archie.

Walk to stop sign and we were just going to fix the cone I’d moved since we didn’t really have time for the last part but the PAX gave some mumblechatter so I went ahead and had us do 1 round of it:

At Sophomore Hill (Quick up and down)
10 x Crabby Pickle Pointer
Bernie Up
10 x Squats at the top
Lunges to the cone back down (Dart Gun beat me to cone after I called recover)

Falling Indian Run with Pickle Pounders back to the #ShovelFlag (“I see a pattern” was overheard by the Q from the PAX)
We arrived about 30 seconds later but we still finished the COT/BOM easily before 6:30.

MARY:
Ain’t nobody got time for that (such a classic meme and S/O to the EPS line workers at DMTN who let me put that as our “NG Condition” all the way back in 2013…)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
13 PAX and a beautiful sunrise! (no, not 5k’s 2.0 he wasn’t there today – we miss you if you read this!)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Waiting! Who likes it! But we’re told over and over and over in the Bible to wait. Waiting takes various aspects – waiting on ‘normalcy’ to return, waiting on God to answer our prayers, waiting on a future day of hope and joy that want to experience. And yet, God is the one in all of these that we must look to in order that our waiting would be to draw us to Him and not have us satisfied with our ‘current living conditions‘.

This is especially true for me. I’m waiting to find a house (hoepfully to buy). I’m not dissatisfied per say with where I’m living, but there is a sense that ‘a space of my own’ is what I long for and what is good and right. And yet I have to be patient. There are so many verses in the Bible about waiting for a home – God tells us to “seek first His kingdom” and “all these things will be added unto you.” God knows what we long for & in very good and healthy ways- but He commends those who looked to Heaven, Where Christ Is in order to show us where our ultimate and best home is:

Hebrews 11:13-16 talks about this – 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them & greeted them from afar, & having acknowledged that they were strangers & exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Reflection questions for you today:
1. How much stock are you putting in where you live? (both on earth and the physical house you have)
2. Is your earthly home where you’re storing up treasures (see my BB from Shamrock)?
3. Are you pointing others to your heavenly dwelling?

CS Lewis “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

MOLESKIN:
Lots of prayer requests & praises. Butter Knife got to see some extended family for the first time in a long time. Mailbox’s mom doesn’t have a torn achilles so that’s another praise. Spotter’s M is recovering but still be in prayer for her and Spotter. . Prayed for Booster’s M’s mother who cannot care for herself but may need a house on her own (see my above mention about searching for a home). Guardrail mentioned some situations to pray for regarding the PAX who weren’t present today.

I thoroughly enjoy leading this group of men. The mumble chatter is just right, the fitness and fellowship challenge me to be a better leader when I Q and better follower when I’m not. JUCO is base AO and if I had a home in F3 it would be just that.

Also had to update this a couple of times due to my rushed job to get it posted (mostly proofreading errors).

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Upcoming Convergence on June 12th is now canceled. See updates in Slack for options to reschedule / serve in other ways.

Digging for Treasure? Find it in Christ Alone!

May 14, 2021 Pool Boy

THE SCENE: 47F and clear. Great workout weather.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Administered. Hopefully social distancing requirements will be lifted soon!
WARM-O-RAMA:
IC Moroccan Night Club x 10
IC Tennessee Rocking Chair x 10
OYO Forward Lunge x 5 ea leg
OYO Side Lunge x 5ea leg
IC Tempo Merkin x 10
Pickle Pounder x 10
Pickle Pointer x 10
Reach for the sky ~10-15 seconds
Let it hang ~10-15 seconds

Mosey around the parking lot toward the pavilion near the walking path. Today we’re digging for treasure! Let’s see if we can find some

THA-THANG:
Dig Site #1 – At the Pavillion – ~5 minutes of AMRAP of the following (10 reps each)

Step Ups
Incline Merkins
Squats
Dips

Mosey to Dig Site #2 – the CMU Pile ~ 10 minutes AMRAP of the following (10 reps each)
Hodor
Bent Over Rows
Blockees

The plan was to run down and back to the tree next to the pathway leading up to the CMU plie after all 3 exercises, but the Hodors and Blockees proved to be so difficult after the first round the Q suggested a modification of running after each exercise set of 10 reps and I think it worked better.

Mosey to Dig Site #3 – The Fish
Bear crawl the fish. 30 second wall sit. Repeat 1x.

Rounded it up with 10 x Pickle Pounders + 10 x Pickle Pickle Pointers

Falling Indian Run (aka a modification of a do-ah-diddy) Dig Site #4 – Shovel Flag
Man in the front of the line peels off and does squats until the end of the line reaches him. New man in front of the line counts to 3 (originally had it planned for 5 but we didn’t have very far to run so I wanted us to get plenty of squats in) while running and then peels off. Repeat until destination is reached.

MARY:
Dig Site #4 – Shovel Flag – Q gave the option of doing something hard (my version of the Thunderstruck routine, doing something flexible (Dealer’s Choice), or doing something that makes you think (Mary Go Round) and the first two tied, so we did something hard (20 reps minimum) of Dealer’s Choice.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
15 Treasure Hunters!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today we went searching for treasure. And we found a few gems we might have to take out and repeat our long gaze at the future!

This past year has caused us all to ask the question:
Where is your treasure? Matthew 6:19-21 (and also Luke 12:32-34) answers it:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So again I’m going to ask: Where is your treasure? Is it in this world? In the security of making good financial decisions? Are you trusting in the perceived security of a relationship? A friendship? A hope of something you’ll experience in the future? Or even a felt vindication for the past? Where is your treasure? Further commentary from Jesus continues in Matthew 6:22-23

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

What are you taking in that is driving your treasure? Consider well -we know GIGO. But do we apply it to our eating habits? To our treatment of our friends? Does how we act, what we say, and why we do it point to a treasure in heaven or a treasure in ourselves? Where is your treasure?

Last Jesus points to the most obvious dichotomy in Matthew 6:24

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[f]

This is where the rubber soundly meets the road. There are many ways to fall and only one angle at which you can stand straight. Is your treasure in money, your financial security to provide for yourself and your family? Or is it with God in heaven? Jesus says you can’t have them both as the place you’re putting your treasure? So once more:

Where is your treasure? I pray it’s wholly, daily seeking to be in Heaven, Where Christ Is.

MOLESKIN:
Prayed for Jordan, Clickbait, Corey, & Interpol. Also this was my first time leading at Shamrock and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope the PAX were well-served.

Step up and lead a Q (or ask me or Mermaid or another guy to co-q with you!)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Big Ball June 12th (time not yet announced but I anticipate 7am start). Bring your 2.0’s + breakfast and a work day at the Wesley House after!

Be Prepared for 7-11’s and a Pyramid Scheme

May 12, 2021 Pool Boy

THE SCENE: 56 and somehow no rain during a Pool Boy Q.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Given. Hopefully we can get make this COVID precaution disclaimer a thing of the past soon.
WARM-O-RAMA:
10 x Moroccan Night Club IC
10 x Tennessee Rocking Chair IC
5 each leg x Forward Lunge
5 each leg x Side Lunge
10 x Tempo Merkin IC
5 x World’s slowest burpee (aka Slurpee!)
5 x each side Rainbow drop
Reach for the sky
Let it hang

THA-THANG:
Falling Indian Run – Front of the line “falls off” to the side and does squats until the end of the line gets to where you are.

We found a 7-11 on the hillside across the road next to the upper lot corner and just had to stop! We had 3 each rounds of breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

7-11	Bottom (7 reps)	Top (11 reps)
Round 1	LBC (4-ct.)	OHC (4-ct.)
Round 2	Merkins	Squats
Round 3	Slurpees	Lunges

A core exercise was led by the first PAX done until the 6 finished the last round of the current meal. A 15-count was given between rounds and a 30-count was given before moving on to the next round.

Next mosey about 50 steps to the upper lot actual big parking lot and the Q asked “who likes Pyramids?” (to no one’s surprise no hands were raised because they knew where I was headed haha).

The 1-2-3-4 Pyramid (see previous backblast: Repeatedly Building a Pyramid):
Bernie to 1. Do 1. Run to Start. Bernied to 1. Do 1. Bernie to 2. Do 2. Run to 1. Do 1. Run to Start. Build to 4 and then go back down.

Big parking lot pyramid – Bernie there, run back	Exercises (x 10)
Parking Spaces Line 1	Tempo Squat
Parking Spaces Line 2	Carolina Dry Dock
Parking Spaces Line 3	Mountain Climber
Parking Spaces Line 4	Rainbow Drop

I’d hoped we’d get all the way up and down from 1 to 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 back to 1 but only got through 1-2-3-4 then had one of the PAX call a core exercise and then recover when the 6 arrived.

MARY:
Mosey back to the Shovel Flag, 1 wagon wheel. Dealer’s choice until time was called (see the Moleskin for a fun story).

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 PAX including 3 Rushers

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I signed up for this Q yesterday evening when there wasn’t one signed up yet. But I prepared it a couple of weeks ago when 5k stepped up and grabbed a Q that was open. Lately we’ve had a bit of Q-lethargy, so I thought having a “pocket-Q” (but really more than just a pocket Q but a fully pre-prepared Q) would be helpful. This is what came to mind when thinking about what I should have ready to say as well as I hope will be an exhortation and challenge to those at any point in the process of consistently taking the next step aka growing in sanctification in Christ in all aspects of life:

1 Peter 3:15 – ¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

There are 3 things we can take from this:
1. Diligence & study – We need to be working not only to lead but lead well and develop skills so that we’re prepared for what is coming, not just hanging on to the present day’s troubles but really getting ready for battle:
2 Timothy 2:15 – 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (see Jeremiah 12:5 for the extra mile challenge of the OT):

2. Availability – Not only do we need to slow down and have time to be available, but we also ought to consider what we should be doing with even our “rights” to things so that we boast only in Christ and are available for others at a sacrificial point. Paul is an example here for us:
1 Corinthians 9:15 – 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

3. Gentleness & respect – When we are prepared and available, we don’t have to resort to the lower forms of argumentation (and we know this really isn’t argumentation but simply “trying to win or get the other person to stop making an argument), but instead can actually address the higher forms of argumentation. This is why the follow scripture actually cannot be argued with or as v.23 puts it “against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Application questions:
Q1. What is the Gospel? Can you explain it in 60 seconds or less when asked ‘what do you believe?’ (see Interpol’s BOM challenge for more on this)
Q2. Are you living in such a way to be asked for the hope that you have?
Q3. How are you doing in these 3 areas of application to giving a reason for the hope that you have?

MOLESKIN:
Several PAX led Dealer’s Choice including Erector who returned from Rush and called out just about every core exercise we had already done today. It was so much fun to see him brainstorming and then he ended up with calling “side crunches” and my 6:15 watch alarm went off and I jokingly called “time!” but then Booster said “I don’t want a 3 pack”. So I let us finish even though it was a *little* bit past time haha. (also Erector after trying not to repeated his “10 crunches on each side” from his ImpromptQ on Monday (way to step up and embody exactly what I talked about today!)

Prayed for Scott (Spotter’s Uncle who’s having a biopsy today so pray for him there), Chaco’s family (sister passed away from addiction), and Wanderer’s son (congrats on your HS graduation, Leonard!)

After this BB guess what I’m doing next? 1. Preparing for my Q at Shamrock on Friday and then making another “full pocket Q”. You can do it too!

Also also, I’m willing to co-Q or do whatever part of a Q you want me to lead just reach out and we’ll jump in the Pool together – get it?! 😀

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Big Ball June 12th – from Judge Judy:
On June 12 we will have a special Convergence at Big Ball. We will have a workday afterwards at Wesley House. 2.0s (boys and girls) will be invited to both the workout and the work day – to observe their Dads in action. We will workout, then meet at the WH for coffee, food and a speaker. Then we will do some cleaning, painting, landscaping for as long as guys can stick around.

Repeatedly Building A Pyramid

April 26, 2021 Pool Boy

THE SCENE: Mid-40’s & dry (for only like the 2nd time this year for a Pool Boy Q)
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:
Moroccan Night Club x 15 IC
Tennessee Rocking Chair x 10 IC
Forward Lunge x 5 each leg OYO
Side Lunge x 5 each leg OYO
Tempo Merkin x 10 IC
Pickle Pointer x 10 IC
Rainbow Drop x 10 OYO (5 each side)

THA-THANG:
Stop at the Rocks Behind Sherwin Williams (going the long way around to avoid the sprinklers) – grab a rock in each hand. Do the following followed by a lap around the Sherwin Williams Paint Store:
1. 10 OHP
2. 10 Dips
3. 10 BBS
4. 10 Incline Merkins

Mosey to JUCOmanjaro
Today we’re building a Pyramid! That means that we’re going to be doing the following:
Run to Cone 1. Do Exercise at Cone 1. Run to Start.
Run to Cone 1. Do Exercise at Cone 1. Run to Cone 2. Do exercise at Cone 2. Run to Cone 1. Do exercise at Cone 1. Run back to start.
Go up and go then go back down.

Summary of full Pyramid:
1, 121, 12321, 1234321, 12321, 121, 1

Bottom	Cone #	Exercise
10 Lunges	Start	–
	1	10 Tempo Squats
	2	10 Pickle Pointers
	3	10 BBS
	4	10 Tempo Incline Merkins

Mosey back to the Rocks – grab a rock in each hand. Do the following followed by a lap around the Sherwin Williams Paint Store:

1. 10 OHP
2. 10 Dips
3. 10 BBS
4. 10 Incline Merkins

Fast mosey the long way back around to the Shovel Flag for a Warm Down.

MARY:
Warm Down:
Rainbow Drop x 10 OYO (5 each side)
Pickle Pointer x 10 IC
Tempo Merkin x 10 IC
Side Lunge x 5 each leg OYO
Forward Lunge x 5 each leg OYO
Tennessee Rocking Chair x 10 IC
Moroccan Night Club x 15 IC

Bonus / extra 3 minutes at the end – dealer’s choice (we avoided me having to modify since one PAX said we should do Voldemorts (the exercise that shall not be named!).

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
14 PAX. No FNGs (keep inviting Sad Clowns out!)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Some days it feels like we do the same thing twice. Today we did!
Pyramid schemes. Bernie Madoff. The news cycle. The grind. Daily trials. Family issues.

We have to do things over and over. But the repetition can be good. Per usual, we have 3 things to consider about repetition:
1. When you do something repetitive, know it’s God who has put you in the spot for your good

James 4:13-15 – 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

2. When you something repetitive, see God’s goodness in giving good works to do.
Ephesians 2:10 – 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

3. When you do something repetitive, your goal should be one step better with the end goal being mastery
Proverbs 22:29 – Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Today we repeat. Let’s see God’s goodness to us in that.

MOLESKIN:
Prayed for Dart Gun’s coworker who up and out of the blue left his family (and prayed his coworker’s family).

Also enjoyed this one and seeing many PAX modify as needed. This means we’re growing together and still showing up through our injuries and even communicating when one of us fartsacks.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Let’s finish strong with our Safe Haven donations this month.

When You Run, Let Go of Your Burdens

March 19, 2021 Pool Boy

THE SCENE: Mid-40’s. Mostly dry (rare for a recent Pool Boy Q)
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Administered + COVID
WARM-O-RAMA:

IC Tennessee Rocking Chair x 6 (sorry I had to cut it 1 rep short for Ribbed)
IC Tempo Squat x 10
IC Monkey Humper x 10
OYO Lunges x 5 each leg
IC Pickle Pointer x 10 IC
OYO Burpee x 5

Grab CMU from the trunk of Pool Boy’s Dead Dinosaur-consuming Yaris-resembling vehicle.

OYO Goblet Squat x 10
OYO Monkey Humping Goblet Squat x 5
Demonstration Bulgarian Split Squat
IC Glute Bridge (aka Pickle Pointer) w/CMU x 10
OYO Blockee x 5

THA-THANG:
Stop #1 – Crossing before the overhang
Monkey Humping Goblet Squat x 10
Blockees / Burpees x 5
Lap around median (not Guardrail’s 2.0)
Recover + 30 count
Mosey with CMU to stop #2

Stop #2 – Modified Aiken legs w/ or w/o CMUs
10 Goblet Squats
10 Step Ups
20 Lunges (10 each leg)
20 Bulgarian Squats (10 each leg)
Run around Triangle Loop
Recover & Mosey to Stop #3

Stop #3 – From the Bottom to the top (Bernie Up, Run/Jog Down)
Bottom – 10x Rows
Top – 10x Pickle Pointers (bonus points for taking the CMU up – S/O to Dart Gun, Erector, Spotter, & Butter Knife!)
Bottom – 10x OHP
Top – 10x Side crunch (really side plank but I said side crunch so some did each). Do the other side on the 2nd time through
2x through (4x up & down) the hill then 10 x Rows + 10x OHP
Flutter Kicks x 25 IC led by Spotter. Recovery count led by Survivor
Mosey to CMU Pile

Stop #4 – Wall sit while PAX put up CMUs at CMU pile
Falling Indian Run back to the Shovel Flag. Every 5 seconds the PAX at the front of the line steps off to the side and does Squats (1st time through) / Merkins (2nd time through) until the back of the line gets to the PAX and then he falls in. 2x through then we made it to the Shovel Flag.

MARY:
Mary-Go-Round (not yet in the Exicon but I’m going to keep submitting it!)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 PAX including 3 2.0s – Kickflip, Wanderer, Survivor (2.0 Bolt), Hound Dog, Butter Knife, Erector, Ralph, Borg, Spotter, Mustard, Dart Gun (2.0’s Blow Dart & FNG Lawn Dart), Ribbed, Pool Boy

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Over the past little while, I’ve been wrestling with what to do with Q’s. I get crazy ideas that don’t work and have to rework a lot of what I say and do as well as modify mid-Q sometimes. But there’s one thing that I have been constantly working for and toward: shedding things I don’t need.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I hope my Q’s to serve the PAX and to do that best I try to think is brief but only as brief as needed.
As Einstein said “Everything should be as simple as possible, but no simpler.”

So the question is – today, what are you holding onto that you need to lay down? We have a cloud of witnesses surrounding us (whether you believe that is those who have gone on to be with the Lord before us or your F3 brothers here in the Gloom with you each morning).

1 John 2:16 says “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Which of (if not 2 or all 3 of) these things do you need to lay down?
1. Lust of the flesh – sex, food, physical cravings.
2. Lust of the eyes – money, cars, clothes
3. Pride of life – power, arrogance, self-focus

Bonus material – Watch a talk from Andy Stanley on controlling your appetite from Passion 2011.

MOLESKIN:
Prayed for Ribbed’s M, Ralph’s cousin’s husband, and for us all to seek more and more reconciliation amid the tensions of all ethnicities.

S/O to Mustard for running the ~1/2-mile each way to get it and then doing a hand off since I left my BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW PHONE (yes, I lost my old one this week) AND MY WEINKE at the bottom of Sophomore Hill. Mustard did this while I was having some post-workout mumblechatter with my sponsor , Ribbed. #SecondMileService
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sign up for a Q!