F3 Knoxville

Author: Steam

Q101 + GrowSchool

F3 Q101 + GrowSchool

  • 9.25.21
  • 0700-0900
  • AO: Asylum

[ The Scene ]

Dark. Chilly. Foggy. The creaks and moans of men arriving are accompanied by the wake up calls of Creation.

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness-Fellowship-Faith
  • My name is Steam and I am honored to be your Q this morning
  • This will be a Q101 + GrowSchool:
    • Q101:
      • For the next 60 minutes, we will be doing a Q101 — walking through how to lead an F3 workout with tips and tricks along the way. If you haven’t led an F3 workout yet — you have what it takes to lead. This will be a great learning experience and catalyst for your leadership.

      • For those of you that have led an F3 workout, this is not a time to coast, but a time to work and sharpen your skills.
    • GrowSchool: An intentional time of leadership development in the form of an extended BOM after the Q101.

5 Principles of an F3 Workout:

  • Be free of charge
  • Be open to all men
  • Be held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
  • Be led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
  • End with a Circle of Trust

Many of these seem self-explanatory but can get lost in the moment:

  • Start on time. Wear a watch. End on time.
  • Be prepared for your lead to be more strenuous physically than you think.  Counting cadence while you exercise can make it harder to breathe.
  • Remember you have help. If for any reason you want someone to grab a part of the workout even while you are out there, speak up.
  • When you screw up or fail, keep calm and drive on… count louder and push forward. As Dredd says, “When falling, dive!”
  • Every man thrashed, no man left behind. To promote “you versus you” but also to keep the PAX together, offer extra credit to the frontrunners via burpees, planks, merkins, etc.
  • Don’t take unnecessary risks or do stupid stuff. The Pax is looking for leadership and will follow often before thinking if they’re getting a great workout.
  • If your region has the Q do the shoutout, think of CoT words in advance.
  • HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

Disclaimer and Notice — From f3nation.com

“F3 Nation, Inc. (“F3”) is a peer-led, zero-cost non-profit workout group. F3 makes no representations with regard to the skill level of workout leaders, the safety of the exercises performed during workouts or the hazardousness of the premises upon which workouts are conducted. The men who lead F3 workouts are not paid to do so and no representations of any kind are made by F3 about their skill level. The premises upon which F3 workouts are conducted are not owned or maintained by F3. F3 makes no representations of any kind regarding their safety. Although F3 workouts vary widely in intensity, all F3 workouts tend to be rigorous and are undertaken upon uneven ground during periods of limited visibility. Therefore, there are certain dangers inherent in participating in an F3 workout. Participants must be 18 or older and are assumed to have made their own reasonable decision as to whether they should so participate. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a father or male legal guardian. F3 disclaims any and all responsibility for any individual’s decision to participate in an F3 workout. By participating in an F3 workout, an individual assumes the risks inherent in doing so. This Disclaimer and Notice is made by F3 on its own behalf and on the behalf and for the benefit of any person leading an F3 workout and/or otherwise acting for the benefit of F3.”

  • Another and way easier of saying this is:
    • Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith
    • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning
    • Few things before we begin:
      • I’m not a professional
      • You’re here on your own volition
      • You know your body better than anyone, so if you need to modify anything we do this morning, feel free to do so, but push yourself and the men around you — they deserve it and so do you.
  • FNGs? — always check for FNGs. This helps with identifying them to the PAX so they can help them throughout the Q.

[ Warm o Rama ]

Think of muscles like taffy… when cold, snapping happens easier. When warm, nice and smooth.

This is probably the trickiest part for new Qs. Calling Cadence in the F3 style serves a number of purposes:

  • Creates rhythm which distracts the mind from the task at hand
  • Builds teamwork by synchronizing PAX and creating focus
  • Not knowing the number of reps discourages budgeting of effort; you get used to going as long as you have to
  • Cadence
    • “The next exercise is…” [pause] “Side Straddle Hop!” (or name of other exercise)
    • “Starting Position…” [pause] “Move!”
    • “In Cadence…” [pause] “Exercise!” (begin count 1..2..3)
  • There is not a magic # to hit for how many reps you should do. You’re the Q, you choose the # of reps. But be strategic in this effort as well (i.e. not leading 300 squats right out of the gates)
    • SSH: 25×4 IC
    • Rockette: 20×4 IC
    • Squat: 15×4 IC
    • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 IC (B and F)
    • Merkins: 5×4 IC

For how to lead a cadence — see here: https://youtu.be/xRTitxnE-mI

[ The Thang ]

KISS = Keep It Simple Superstar

If you’re a planner, “schedule” more exercises than there is workout time. Time will pass faster than usual, most likely.

Usually you’ll want something that’s a time-eater after a warm-up, search for “routine” in the exercise DB and remember the “pearls on a string” concept. You stop, do something, run to another place, so something else.

(1) 4 Corners

  • 2 Points of contact
    • Parking Lot Corners (4)
    • Pavilion
  • Parking Lot Corners: 10 squats
  • Pavilion: 10 incline merkins
  • Run down to the pavilion, do our 10 incline merkins, and come back up here to 1 of the corners and execute our 10 squats. We will rinse and repeat that process until we hit all 4 corners up here.
  • Recover up here in the parking lot after you finish your 4th corner — merkin plank

(20 seconds and talk)

(Mosey to Cardiac Hill)

(2) SlingShot

  • Battle buddy up
  • 3 points of contact
    • Top
    • 1st curve
    • Bottom (light post)
  • The exercises for cardiac hill is the big boy sit-up + mountain climber
  • One battle buddy will run from the top to the 1st curve — execute 10 big boy sit-ups while battle buddy #2 is at the top executing mountain climbers.
  • Once battle buddy #1 is is done with his 10 BBS at the 1st curve, he will come back to the top and now both battle buddies are running to the 1st curve.
  • This time, the BB that was doing the mountain climbers the first time will run from the 1st curve to the bottom and execute 10 BBS, while the other BB stays at the 1st curve and executes mountain climbers.
  • Once his BBS are complete, he will come back to the 1st curve and BOTH BB will run to the bottom and execute 10 BBS and 10 mountain climbers on a 4 count together.
  • Both BB are going down cardiac, but taking turns being the slingshot

(20 count and talk) — Pause for the Cause

  • Huge learning experience with this
  • The failure or success of an F3 workout is ultimately on the Q and his communication and leadership.
  • Halfway through the “Slingshot” workout, it became clear that there was a miscommunication between the Q and the PAX.
  • This is on the Q. Let me say this again — this is on the Q.
  • The Q circled everyone back together and restated the instructions of the workout and the PAX completed the workout all together until the end.
  • After a 20-count, the Q went through the above bullet points with the PAX — learning experience.

[ Mary ]

Post-beatdown, usually some core Xs or cool down, depending on the Q

Core 4

  • Flutter Kicks: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • LBCs: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • American Hammers: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • Cockroach: 25

Run across the lot and back

Stretching with Steam

  • Q led the PAX in light stretches to end the Mary portions before the COT.

Takeaway from the Q101:

HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

[ COT ]

  • # off — start and finish with the same # of guys 
  • Name o Rama
    • Hospital name, age, F3 name
    • 50 = Respect
    • 60 = Double Respect
    • 70 = Triple Respect
    • 80+ = basically immortal
  • FNGs — none
  • BOM (GrowSchool)

The BOM is a time for the Q to share something that’s on his heart with the men. An encouraging quote, a motivational story, something from the Bible, as long as it is something positive, encouraging, and challenging to the growth of the PAX, that’ll do.

The Q shared a few points from the GrowSchool portion at the COT, and then the PAX converged to Coffeteria at Panera to continue.

Q Source: The F3 Manual of Virtuous Leadership

Foundation: Disruption

Socratic Qs // TPQs

  • What do leaders do?
  • What effect does leadership have on the status quo?
  • Is there a common characteristic shared by leaders who leave a legacy?

Disruption = a disturbance to the status quo

The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for action, a recognition by the leader himself that that status quo is something less advantageous than some other place — a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers.

Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption, or a disturbance to the status quo.

If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership.

Like the agitator in a washing machine, leadership dislodges things long embedded in people’s emotional fabric.

A Leader is a person who influences movement to advantage.

A great leader’s legacy is built on love, because a great leader’s focus is always upon his followers rather than himself.

He views leadership as a craft that must be honed through continual study and application

It is their (the followers) advantage, not his (the leader’s) to which he initiated movement.

Takeaways

  • Leaders influence movement to advantage
  • Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption
  • A great leader’s legacy is built on love

For everything about your first Q — check this out: https://f3nation.com/q101/

 

#NeverForget2021

[ The Scene ] 

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith
  • My name is Steam and I will be your Q this morning 
  • Few things before we begin:
    • I’m not a professional 
    • You’re here on your own volition – meaning you are here on purpose 
    • I don’t know any injuries you may or may not have so feel free to modify any of the exercises we do this morning as need be. 
    • FNGs? — No
    • I’m going to go back to the modify clause for a second.
      • Just because you can modify, is not an excuse to do so
      • Today is not the day to half-ass anything we do………
      • Here’s why: 20 years ago….
        • 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights
        • 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning
        • 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift
        • 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for their morning patrol
        • 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift
        • None of them saw past 10:00am on September 11th, 2001
        • #NeverForget

[ Warm o Rama ] 

SSH: 20×4 IC 

Merkin: 20×4 IC 

Squat: 20×4 IC

Imperial Walker: 20×4 IC

Mountain Climber: 20×4 IC

[ The Thang ] 

(The flag will always stay out front of us this morning)

(Mosey down to the bottom of Mini-Cardiac)

  1. Back Up Again
    • Battle Buddy teams of 4
    • 2 POCs (Points of Contact)
      • Bottom: SSHs
        • Execute 25 SSHs (1ct) and then hold the plank for 20 seconds until your team of 4 is recovered to go up top 
        • THE FLAG WILL ALWAYS GO TO THE TOP
      • Top: Merkins
    • In battle buddy teams of 4, farmers carry the 2 40lb Sandy’s up to the top — everyone executes 10 merkins (1ct)
    • Farmers carry back down to the bottom (other 2 in the battle Buddy team)
  • Rinse and repeat until every battle buddy group has gone up and executed merkins (550 —> 2 locations (275) —> 40 merkins

(Mosey to the bottom of Pickett’s Charge — WITH 2 40lb sandbags)

  1. Pre-Across and Up
  • 2 40lb sandbags 
  • 1 60lb sandbag
  • 2 120lb sandbags
  • 2 POCs
    • Sandys 
      • Rotate between 
      • Curls
      • Deadlifts 
      • Rows
      • Execute 10 reps (1ct) of one exercise and run across the field
    • Across the field 
      • Squats (10)
  • Once you complete your curls, deadlifts, and rows — pick someone who’s not done and run with them. Do not stay behind and do not hold a position here — pick up with someone 

(15 count) 

  1. Across and Up 
  • 2 40lb sandbags 
  • 1 60lb sandbag
  • 2 120lb sandbags 
  • Describe the situation 
  • Get in battle buddy teams of 2-4
  • Our mission is to get these items to safety across this field and up to the Colesium. 
  • When you can’t lift it anymore, your battle buddy should step in and help you carry it
  • Finish at the flat area of the bottom of the Coliseum
     
  • PAX say the pledge of allegiance and knock out some SSHs

(Movement to the bottom of Everest – battle buddy carries and drags the 2 120lb sandbags, 1 60lb sandbag, and 2 40lb sandbags)

  1. Up Everest 
  • with Sandys (gear) 
  • Flag up front always 
  • Plant it at the top
    • 25 SSHs
    • 25 Big Boy situps
    • 25 Merkins
    • 25 squats
  • Make our way back to the AO (flag out front)[ COT ]
    • # off 
    • Name o Rama 
    • FNGs
    • BOM

    Where was God?

Millions of people asked this question on this day 20 years ago, and years later as well. God where were you when those towers fell and these innocent people died?

He was right there with them. He was at the Pentagon, He was in those two towers, He was on Flight 93, and He was right there with them. 20 years later, as we honor the men and women and children and heroes that were killed on this day, we remember that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. We also remember that on that day and the days afterwards as well, something changed, even for a little bit –> faith, religion, politics, credence, country affiliation aside — we were reminded of our humanity. We were reminded that no matter what we call ourselves or how, we are all humans first and foremost.

So if you remember where you were that day, don’t forget your location – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And if you don’t remember where you were that day, ask someone who does.

And yet the question remains 20 years later — “God, where are you? Do you not see what’s happening in our world and country? Where are you?” Each man must wrestle with this question, daily. We must choose to see God and seek Him out. At our coffee shops, in our conversations, in our workouts, in our places of work, in our families, in our wife and children, in our friendships and relationships — He is there. I have a hunch that if you make the ask of “God where are you,” He will reveal himself in ways that only He can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Fallen 13

[ The Scene ] 

Ruckers just getting in from a pre-ruck sesh. The quiet before the storm looked like light stretching and mumble chatter.

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness, Fellowship, Faith
  • Name is Steam and I’m honored to be your Q this morning 
  • Few things before we begin: 
    • I’m not a professional 
    • You’re here on your own volition 
    • If you need to modify anything we do this morning, feel free to do so, but push yourself and the men around you, they deserve it and so do you! Hang in there with me and them for a solid 45 minutes.
  • FNGs?

[ Warm o Rama ] 

  • SSH: 30 (1ct)
  • Mountain Climber: 30 (2ct)
  • Baby Arm Circles: 20 (F – 1ct)
  • Baby Arm Circles: 20 (B – 1ct) 
  • Rockette: 10 (4ct)
  • Windmill: 10 (4ct)

[ The Thang ] 

(Mosey to the track) 

  1. Honor the 13
    • 13 fallen heroes in Afghanistan
      • David L. Espinoza
      • Nicole L. Gee
      • Darin T. Hoover
      • Ryan C. Knauss
      • Hunter Lopez
      • Rylee J. McCollum
      • Kareem M. Nikoui
      • Johanny Rosariopichardo
      • Humberto A. Sanchez
      • Jared M. Schmitz
      • Maxton W. Soviak
      • Daegan W. Page
    • 13 laps with an exercise in between
    • Each lap will be dedicated to one of the slain heroes 
    • Laps will be ran in silence
    • Lap 1 — Marine Corps Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza
      • “David Espinoza, a Laredo native Marine killed in Afghanistan, embodied the values of America: grit, dedication, service, and valor,” Cuellar wrote. “When he joined the military after high school, he did so with the intention of protecting our nation and demonstrating his selfless acts of service. I mourn him and all the fallen heroes in Afghanistan.” We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: 13 merkins (up/down)
      • Run the lap
    • Lap 2 —  Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
      • Just days before her death, Sgt. Nicole Gee posted a photo on Instagram of herself in uniform while holding a baby in Afghanistan with the caption, “I love my job.” We owe her our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: 13 big boy situps (up/down)
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 3 — Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
      • “Staff Sgt. Hoover served valiantly as a Marine and died serving his fellow countrymen as well as America’s allies in Afghanistan,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. “We honor his tremendous bravery and commitment to his country, even as we condemn the senseless violence that resulted in his death.” We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: SSH: 13 (4ct)
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 4 — Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss
      • Ryan was a fellow Knoxvillian and Tennessean, and we own him our gratitude for his sacrifice. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: The Bend and Reach: 13 (4ct)
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 5 — Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez
      • Lopez is the son of two Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officers, Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. The department announced Lopez’s death on Friday. Sheriff Chad Bianco said on Facebook that Lopez planned on following in his parents’ footsteps and joining the department as a deputy when he got home from his deployment. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: Squat: 13 (4ct)
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 6 — Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum 
      • McCollum’s father, Jim, told The New York Times that McCollum was helping with evacuations and guarding a checkpoint when the attack at the airport happened. His father said this was McCollum’s first deployment and that he had gotten married recently. His wife is expecting with their first child. McCollum’s sister Cheyenne told East Idaho News that her brother was “going to be the best dad.” Cheyenne said her brother was the youngest of four siblings, her single father’s only son, and that he knew he wanted to be a Marine from a young age. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: Imperial Walker: 13 (4ct) 
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 7 — Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola 
      • Cpl. Dylan Merola was a graduate of Los Osos High School, according to ABC 7 of Los Angeles. Students honored him at a football game on Friday night by wearing red, white and blue, the TV station reported. He was only 20 years old. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: Mountain Climber: 13 (4ct)
      • Run the lap
    • Lap 8 — Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui
      • “My understanding is that he rescued – per a sergeant that wrote the family – he rescued three families,” Bash told the TV station. “And he was in the process of saving children, translators that had worked for the U.S. government. He passed off a child and went back into the crowd and that’s when the bomb went off.” “He really loved that [Marine Corps] family,” Steve told The Daily Beast. “He was devoted—he was going to make a career out of this, and he wanted to go. No hesitation for him to be called to duty.” We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: LBC: 13 (4ct) 
    • Lap 9 — Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo
      • Johanny was 25 years old and from Lawrence, Massachusetts. We owe her our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice. 
      • The X: The cherry picker: 13 (4ct) 
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 10 — Marine Corps Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez
      • Humberto was only 22 years old and from Logansport, Indiana. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice. 
      • The X: The Iron Mike: 13 (1ct) 
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 11 — Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
      • His father told the St. Louis radio station KMOX that his son had always wanted to be a Marine and that he had “never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be.” We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice.
      • The X: Flutter Kick: 13 (4ct) 
      • Run the lap 
    • Lap 12 — Navy Hospitalman Maxton Sonika
      • His family says that Max was most proud of being a Navy Corpsman and “devil doc” for the Marines. The statement said Max leaves behind a big family of 12 brothers and sisters. “Our nation mourns the loss of Navy Corpsman Max Soviak, whose uncommon courage in the face of unfathomable danger ensured the safe passage of countless civilians,” Kaptur said in her statement. “We will never be able to repay the debt we owe him, but we will be forever grateful for his willingness to serve when America needed him most. Our hearts go out to his family during this time, and we lift them up in prayer that they may find comfort in his memory.” We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice. 
      • The X: Plank Jack: 13 (4ct) 
    • Lap 13 — Marine Corps Corporal Daegan W. Page
      • Daegan was 23 years old and from Omaha, Nebraska. We owe him our gratitude for paying the ultimate sacrifice. 
    • Run one more lap together in silence in honor of them all

(Mosey back to the AO)

[ Mary ]

Moment of silence for the fallen.

[ COT ]

  • # off — 12
  • Name o Rama
  • FNGs? — No
  • BOM
    • Everything in life will fail you at some point in time. The tragic loss of life that was seen last week in Afghanistan was an incredibly visible failure of leadership and ownership. Your government will fail you, your president will fail you, your country will fail you, your friends will fail you, your family will fail you — at some point in time everything will fail you to some degree.
    • But God.
    • But God are probably two of the most powerful words in the world. But God will not fail you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you).

Remember and Honor the fallen.

Clocks, Rocks, and Bowl Movements

[ Welcome + Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness, Fellowship, Faith
  • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q tonight
  • A Few things before we begin:
    • I’m not a professional
    • You’re here on your own volition
    • You know your bodies better than anyone, so if you need to modify anything we do this evening, feel free to do so! But push yourself and the men around you. They deserve it and so do you!
  • FNGs?

[ Warm o Rama ]

  • SSH: 25×4 IC
    • 5 Merkins on your own
  • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 F IC // 10×4 B IC
    • 5 Merkins on your own
  • Imperial Walker: 15×4 IC
    • 5 Merkins on your own
  • Cherry Picker: 10×4 IC
    • 5 Merkins on your own
  • Motivator: 5
    • 5 Merkins on your own

[ The Thang ]

(Mosey to the Coliseum)

1. Rocking Around the Clock

  • Look at the Coliseum like a clock
    • 12, 3, 6, 9
  • 12 –> 12 SSHs (4ct)
  • 3 — > 3 Man-Makers
  • 6 –> 6 Mountain Climbers (4ct)
  • 9 –> 9 hand-release merkins (Army 4ct)
  • Rinse + Repeat 2x
  • Finish up at the 12 (top) + execute flutter kicks

(Mosey to Rock pile below Coliseum)

2. Murder Bunny Shuffle

  • Grab a rock
  • Line up facing towards the parking lot by the retaining wall
    • 10 curls (1ct)
  • Murder Bunny 5 spots
    • 10 presses
  • Murder Bunny 5 spots
    • 10 squats
  • Murder Bunny 5 spots
    • 10 triceps
  • Murder Bunny 5 spots
    • 10 rows
  • Murder Bunny 5 spots
    • 10 flutter kicks with rocks overhead
  • Return rocks to rock pile

(Mosey to the Bowl)

3. We’re About to Take a Bowel Movement

  • Battle Buddy Up
  • The Core 4 — 4ct
    • Flutter Kicks
    • LBCs
    • American Hammers
    • Up + Outs
  • 1 BB — will execute 1 of the core 4 here
  • Other BB — will take a bowel movement
    • Run around the bowl
    • Bench – 5 merkins
    • Top – 5 merkins
    • Side – 5 merkins
  • Rinse and repeat until both BBs have completed all of the core 4
  • Go in this order — Flutter kicks, LBCs, American Hammers, Up + Outs
    • No number to hit – work on form and execute correctly until your BB recovers you

(Mosey back to the AO)

[ Mary ]

  • Stretching with Steam
    • Head
    • Neck
    • Shoulders
    • Chest/Back
    • Legs

[ COT ]

  • # off
  • Name o Rama
  • FNGs?
  • BOM
  • “My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or evil, before this is over.”
  • “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
    • “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo besides that of Evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.”
    • “Oh! It’s that way!”
  • Proverbs 12:21 — “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
  • Joshua 24:15 — “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors  served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the Gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

A few things:

  • (1) You have some part to play yet — for good or evil. God’s not done with you yet.
  • (2) You have a timeline you’re on. Make the most out of it. You are exactly when and where you’re supposed to be.
  • (3) There are things that are going to happen that we wish didn’t happen. How you respond will make all the difference. There are other forces are work rather than just the ones you see on TV or out in the world.
  • Re-framing things provides direction.
    • Just like Gandalf, when we reframe things, direction will come.
    • The best way to re-frame things and seek direction is Biblically.

SteamRolled

[ The Scene ]

– Hot, sunny, minimal clouds or cloud coverage

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

1 – Welcome to F3: Fitness, Fellowship, Faith

    • Name is Steam and I’m pumped to be your Q tonight

2 – Couple of things before we begin

    • I am not a professional
    • You are here on your own volition
    • If you need to modify anything we do this evening feel free to do so but push yourself and the men around you!

3 – FNGs? — No

Theme of the day: “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones”

Whatever got you to this point today, whatever your experience was at work, in your spheres of influence, your relationships, your family, let that pass. You’re here now. Lock in with me for the next 45 and everything that you’ve walked through today fade away.

[ Warm o Rama ]

  • This will be a true warm O (circle) Rama
  • SSH: 20×4 IC
    • Run down to the R tree = 1 burpee
    • Run back
  • Baby Arm Circle: 10×4 F + 10×4 B IC
    • Run down to the L tree = 1 burpee
    • Run back
  • Imperial Walker: 10×4 IC
    • Run down to the R tree = 2 burpees
    • Run back
  • Cherry-Pickers: 10×4 IC
  • Windmill: 10×4 IC
    • Run down to the L tree = 2 burpees
    • Run back
  • SSH: 24×4 IC

[ The Thang ]

(Mosey down to The Bowl)

(1) 90 Degree Pyramid of Strength

POCs: Point – Sign on the other side of the street // Top Corners – 2 benches

  • Point: 10 SSH (1 count)
  • Top Corners: 10 Dips/10 Incline Merkins (1 count)
  • R+R 2x for a total of 90 reps
  • All end up back at the sign
  • Done? Pickup the 6

-10 count-

(Mosey to the next shaded tree — curb)

  • Rocky Balboas: 15×4 IC
    • Back peddle across the street
  • 15 down/up squats
  • Walk up to the curb — Rocky Balboas: 10×4 IC
    • Back peddle across the street
  • 10 down/up squats
  • Walk up to the curb — Rocky Balboas: 5×4 IC
    • Back peddle across the street
  • 5 down/up squats

(Mosey to below the coliseum rock pile)

(2) Rock It

  • grab a rock
  • 1: mosey to 2nd rock pile with it overhead
  • Execute 10 curls on a 4 count IC + drop
  • 2: Get another rock from rock pile 2 + walk back to rock pile 1 bear hug style
  • Execute 10×4 chest presses IC + drop

-10 count-

(Mosey over to Haslam Rock)

  • Wagon wheel if necessary 
  • end up at sidewalk across the street in the middle of tree coverage

-10 count-

(3) Lunge Plunge

  • Lunge to the tree (pine on ground)
  • 10 squats (1 count)
  • Side shuffle back
  • R&R 1x — shuffle with opposite leading foot coming back

(Battle buddy up)

(4) FP

  • BTTW to the bat cave (get flag on the way

[ Mary ]

  • Core 4
    • American Hammers: 10×4 IC
    • Flutter Kicks: 10×4 IC
    • LLBCs: 10×4 IC
    • Cockroaches: 10×4 IC
  • Stretching With Steam
    • breathing stretches (lower body/back/neck/shoulders)
    • flexibility stretches (core/chest/legs)

[ COT ]

  • # off
  • Name o Rama
  • FNGs
  • BOM

 Discernment + Humility

If we have no desire to be discerning, we won’t be discerning. Proverbs 2:3-6 says,

If you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

If we are driven by a yearning to be happy, healthy, affluent, prosperous, comfortable, and self-satisfied, we will never be discerning people. If our feelings determine what we believe, we cannot be discerning. If we subjugate our minds to some earthly ecclesiastical authority and blindly believe what we are told, we undermine discernment. Unless we are willing to examine all things carefully, we cannot hope to have any defense against reckless wandering faith.

The desire for discernment is a desire born out of humility. It is a humility that acknowledges our own potential for self-deception—“the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9). It is a humility that distrusts personal feelings and casts scorn on self-sufficiency—“on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:5). It is a humility that turns to the Word of God as the final arbiter of all things—“examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

No one has a monopoly on truth. I certainly do not. I don’t have reliable answers within myself. My heart is as susceptible to self-deception as anyone’s. My feelings are as undependable as everyone else’s. I am not immune to Satan’s deception. That is true for all of us. Our only defense against false doctrine is to be discerning, to distrust our own emotions, to hold our own senses suspect, to examine all things, to test every truth-claim with the yardstick of Scripture, and to handle the Word of God with great care.

The desire to be discerning therefore entails a high view of Scripture linked with an enthusiasm for understanding it correctly. God requires that very attitude (2 Timothy 2:15). So the heart that truly loves Him will naturally burn with a passion for discernment.

  • As I was reading and reflecting on this article, I noticed there were guidelines for the comments on this post, and that they tied in exceptionally well to the message. In the link above you can see this. 
  • “Blog Guidelines”
    • Respectful
    • Helpful
    • Responsible
  • And as I was thinking about the message in this post and how I have failed tremendously at discernment and how I have also improved on leaning more into God’s will for my life and using discernment and wisdom from Him, these three things are great to keep in mind as we, as HIM, work on our discernment and wisdom and choices daily.
    • (1) Is it respectful?
    • (2) Is it helpful?
    • (3) Is it responsible?
  • As HIM, we have the unique opportunity to live out this. We have the unique opportunity to exemplify Christ by making sure our choices are respectful, helpful, and responsible.

 

  • Lastly, I am thankful. I have seen these traits played out in real time in you men, you High Impact Men of F3 Knoxville. As I am still young(ish) in my journey, I am incredibly grateful to you men for showing me what responsible decision making and discernment looks like. For showing me what helpful and considerate discernment looks like. For exemplifying what responsible discernment and decision making looks like. Thank you for living this out and setting the example for me.