Steam – Page 20 – F3 Knoxville

Tour de 11s in the Fog

March 11, 2020 Steam

THE SCENE: Dark, gloomy, foggy, ruckers and their headlights popping in and out of the gloom coming to the AO.

FNG – Kyle shows up with Skeletor early

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith

My name is Steam and I’m ready to get steamy.

Couple of things before we begin:
- Not a professional
- You’re here on your own volition
- I don’t know any injuries you may or may not have – so with the PT we do today, modify as you need but push yourselves and the men around you when at all possible.
FREE.99

WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH: 11 x 4 IC

4 Count Merkin: 11 x 4 IC

Mountain Climber: 11 x 4 IC

Rockette: 11 x 4 IC

Squat: 11 x 4 IC

Baby Arm Circles: 11 x 4 F & 11 x 4 B

THA-THANG:

PT (Tour de 11s)

(Mosey to Playground)

[ 11s X ]

10 merkins + 1 pull-up
Rinse and Repeat 11x
When you’re done – flutter kicks

(11 count)

[ Classic 11s ]

@ playground: 10 squats
@ top of Bermuda Triangle: 1 lunge
Rinse and Repeat (9/2, 8,3, etc)
When you’re down hold the squat
ALL PAX: Execute 11 more squats <— push through it moment

11 count)

(Mosey to splash pad)

[ 11s Down ]

11 box jumps/step ups
- Tap-Out literally made one of the benches tap-out. Tap-Out: 1 Bench: 0
11 dips
THEN —> 10 box jumps/10 dips
So on and so forth
When you’re done hold merkin plank
When all PAX are done – execute 1 good merkin and recover

(11 count)

(Mosey back to Bermuda Triangle)

[ 11s Pyramid ]

Battle-Buddy Up
11 merkins straight up (1 count)
4 SSHs (1-count)
- The Q messed this count up sorry – wrote down one thing but my mind was telling me another – it sucked either way. In a good way.
Take a lap around the Bermuda Triangle with your BB
Rinse & Repeat: 10 merkins straight up + 4 SSHs + take a lap

(Q realizes it’s 6:05 – instructs Battle Buddy teams to do one more round and then all PAX will complete 3 more rounds all-together) <— basically a smoke sesh.

MARY:

Flutter Kicks: 25 x 4 IC
LBCs: 25 x 4 IC
American Hammers: 10 x 4 quick // 10 x 4 slow // 5 x 4 slow
Recover

[ Stretching with Steam ]

Slow Cherry-Pickers
- Try and raise up one vertebrae at a time

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

14 PAX + 1 FNG

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

[ Ebeneezers In Your Life ]

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.””
- 1 Samuel‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭ESV‬

“Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where GOD helped us.””
- 1 Samuel‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Reading these two different verses because I like they way they both paint a picture of the Lord’s faithfulness – but with a little different wording.

A big part of my story is deliverance by the Lord – from a world where I was unconsciously in self-destruct mode. My first 2 years of college (and the previous 3 years or so) was all about me. Me. No one else. I did what I wanted, with little to no regard. The faith component was there, but as a backup….funny. When the Lord really gut punched me and stirred up my convictions (the Holy Spirit really went to town) I walked through some fire, some intense, really hard, annoying, “doesn’t make sense,” pissed-off fire. HOW IN THE WORLD could this turn to something good? The Lord delivered me from a crumbling and crippled world I had built for myself in my first couple years of college in Chattanooga and brought me back to Knoxville. An angry young man at the series of events I had just left, I found myself literally saying “God what are you doing.”

And yet I didn’t realize His faithfulness was more powerful than my faithlessness.

Looking back, that fire I walked through, I wasn’t walking through it alone. I would ask myself years after, “How in the world could God possibly use this screwed-up circumstance for good in my life?” What a laughable thought.

2 years later – I get to share the Lord’s faithfulness in the midst of a dark and confusing time with college men and women that were in that same arena I was in just the past couple years.

In the Message version of the passage above it says: “This marks the place where GOD helped us.”

Whether it is a physical/emotional/mental/spiritual testament of a time the Lord provided and came through, went to battle on my behalf, reached down and INTERVENED so that I could draw nearer to Him – that’s an Ebeneezer. And driving home from F3 this morning I thought – dang, if none of that had happened I might have never found F3. I might have never been brought to such a place of desolation where all I could muster was to look up and remember who He is. There are countless Ebeneezers in my life – and I’m sure you have yours too. If we serve a God of 2nd and 102nd chances – take a look back at the places that He’s come through and intervened on your behalf, for HIS glory. Even if you can’t see it yet. Mark those down, write them out, remember them, cherish them. The God that came through for you that time is the same God that will come through for you next time, and time again. How could He not?

So the questions was asked: What marks that place in your life? Share those in boldness! With your family, your friends, F3 brothers, co-workers. Afterall, we were all sad clowns once. And there was someone that spoke life into you just like you are expected to speak life into someone else.

I’ts a haunting thing for me as a young man – 4 years deep into F3 – I might have never found you guys if the Lord hadn’t found my heart first. F3 has changed the trajectory of my life as a young man. Literally. How can I do anything else but be thankful and remember the ebeneezers in my life.

I’m an open book – questions? Hit me up.

Iron. Sharpens. Iron.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

10 for 10 + Yoga

March 10, 2020 Steam

THE SCENE: 60s – orange tape everywhere. The Big Ball’s beloved AO meeting spot (World’s Fair Park fountains) was sectioned off by orange tape and construction cones for what I can only assume is the work of an overzealous TN Vols fan.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith

My name is Steam and I’m ready to get steamy.

Couple of things before we begin:
- Not a professional
- You’re here on your own volition
- I don’t know any injuries you may or may not have – so with the PT we do today, modify as you need but push yourselves and the men around you when at all possible.
Because check it out – most people in the world aren’t out here – I think that’s a pretty accurate statement. But you are – make it count

WARM-O-RAMA:

4 Count Merkin: 10 x 4 IC

Mountain Climber: 10 x 4 IC

Rockette: 10 x 4 IC

Squat-Bender: 10 x 4

SSH: 10 x 4 IC

THA-THANG:

[ Theme of 10s for the day ]

(Mosey to Big Ball Stairs)

[ 10 for 10 ]

All 10 exercises will be done here at the bottom of the stairs

1st 5 Xs: execute together – bear crawl up this first flight of stairs – and run around to the right until we’re back here.

2nd 5 Xs: execute together – run to the right and around – bear crawl down the stairs right back here
- (Modification after 1st round of 2nd 5 Xs –> rain comes down and makes the stairs slick so walk down the stairs and execute 5 squats instead)

The Xs
- 1st 5:
  - 10 merkins (down/up)
  - 10 V-Ups (1 count)
  - 10 wide merkins (down/up)
  - 10 spider-mans (1 count)
  - 10 4 count merkins

( 20 Seconds in between the 1st 5 and 2nd 5 )

2nd 5:
- 10 squats (down/up)
- 10 plank jacks (1 count)
- 10 iron mikes (1 count)
- 10 Oblique crunches (1 count)
- 10 lunges (1 count)

( 20 counts of rest )

“Sometimes the only way you can go is up – so up we go)

(Mosey up the full flight of stairs to the top)

(Mosey to WFP entrance across bridge on the Left)

[ Level Up ]

In a circular fashion around the monument at the entrance to WFP
- 5 incline merkins on lowest level
- push-up hands to the second level — 5 incline merkins
- push-up hands to the top level — 5 incline merkins

[ DimeLight ]

Alternating lights, execute 5 SSHs or 5 merkins (all 1 count) until you get to the other side of the bridge – Al Gore
Tired? Sore? Push a little longer – and pull one of these guys with you to push as well

(PAX is spent – but still rocking)

(Mosey under the bridge by the water)

Battle buddy up
Battle buddy teams against either side of the tunnel/bridge below the Big Ball

[ 1 more + 5 ]

BB1: handstand against wall
BB2: Bear crawl to the middle (ruck as a point of contact)
- Execute 1 merkin
- Bear crawl back to recover BB1
BB1 & BB2 switch roles
- However – BB2 now does 2 merkins
- Same thing next time, except BB3 does 3, so on and so on
When BB team finishes 5 merkins total – hold the wall-sit

(Rest = 5 SSHs in cadence)

BB teams back on the wall
BB1: Wall Sit
BB2: Long jump to the middle (ruck)
- Execute 1 burpee
- Long jump back to recover BB1
BBs switch roles
- Same deal as above

(10 SSHs all together)

Single file line going towards AO
American Indian run back to ShovelFlag

[ At ShovelFlag/Next to AO ]

MARY:

[ Quarter-Pounder ]

25 flutter kicks (4 count)
25 LBCs (4 count)
25 American Hammers (4 count)
25 Mountain Climbers (4 count)

^^^Holy crap that’s a core killer ^^^

[ Yoga with Steam – 5 Minutes ]

Why? Because I’m getting old and sore and don’t stretch at all pre or post F3. And apparently it’s good for you, idk. It was a worthy endeavor.
Worked through a variety of slow movements – exposing and manipulating muscle groups that were worked today

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

12 PAX – No FNGs

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

[ What do you do when you don’t get the results you want? ]

MOLESKIN:

Training for Army OCS, and yesterday I didn’t get the answer I wanted. I was off by 4 points on my testing. Missed it by that much. I was pretty pissed. 4 points are you kidding me? I racked my brain going through what I could have done better, playing out hundreds of scenarios in my head – of what I thought would be a very different turnout.
So what now?

And yeah – it’s disappointing but I have 2 options – (1) take it as a crushing blow and count myself down and out or (2) absorb the blow – get back up on the horse and move forward – realizing the work I need to do to make it happen next time.

Regroup. Get back up. Stay in it.

Question/Challenge to all of us is this: when you don’t get the news or results you want – what’s your initial instinct and how do you pick yourself up and move forward.
- Maybe a bigger question is not what your initial instinct is but who/where do you run to?

Motivational Statement from a timeless classic: https://youtu.be/umSlEYfYzK4

Just 5 More

March 8, 2020 Steam

THE SCENE:

Chilly and a slight bit windy (30s)

Title9 and Steam get back from the pre-ruck as guys are pulling in and getting ready.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith

My name is Steam and I’m your Q in charge this morning

Let’s get a couple things out of the way before we begin:
- I’m not a professional
- You’re here on your own volition
- You know your body and any injuries you may have – I don’t. If you need to modify anything we do this morning feel free to do it. But push yourself and the men around you!

FNGs?

The name of the game for the next 58 minutes or so is “5 more.” Look at one of your hands – how many fingers? Hopefully 5. When you’re beat down, tired, cold, asking yourself why am I out here in the freezing cold, tell your mind and your body “5 more.” Whether it’s 5 more breaths, 5 more steps, or 5 more seconds of suffering, it will pass and you will push through. AYE?

WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH: 10 x 4 IC

Rockette: 10 x 4 IC

Baby-Arm Circle: 5 x 4 (F) & 5 x 4 (B)

Mountain-Climbers: 10 x 4 IC
Cherry-Picker: 10 x 4 IC
Windmill: 10 x 4 IC

THA-THANG:

[ 10s ]

Battle buddy teams will run to the next light post
1 BB will hold the feet of the other, as they execute 10 BB sit-ups
Run to the next light – same thing
The BB that is executing sit-ups will roster every light
Go to the street
Once at the street – execute flute kicks

(10 count)

[ 5s ]

Same type of deal – we’re going to go back down this path

Every light = 5 battle buddy merkins together

[ Flying EH from Hooker – Mahamoud (FNG) ]

- Hooker picks up a runner named Mahamoud
- Mahamoud knows who we are – he sees us every Saturday running around the park.
- Joins PAX in finishing up “5s” exercise – PAX gives a warm welcome and Lillydipper sticks with our new FNG
Finish in that parking lot where we started – squats until 6 recovers

[ Parking Lot Obstacle Course ]

3 points of contact: middle + 2 perimeter sides
- PAX bear crawls to one side – executes 15 x 4 SSHs
- PAX bear crawls back to middle – executes 10 x 4 SSHs
- PAX bear crawls to opposite side – executes 15 x 4 SSHs
- PAX bear crawls back to middle side – executes 10 x 4 SSHs

(15 count)

(Mosey to Cardiac)

[ Blackjack/21 ]

New Battle-Buddy
Push each other through this evolution

3 points of contact on Cardiac
- Top
- Curve (middle)
- Bottom lamp post

Top: 10 x 4 Mountain Climbers

Curve (Middle): 10 x 4 Merkins (Army)

Bottom: 10 x 4 SSHs

Run back Up to Top and hold the plank until 6 is up

[ All PAX does Blackjack/21 together – finishing at the bottom ]

[ Mahamoud is still with us! ]

(15 count from PAX)

(PAX moseys to covered pavilion facing lake below baseball fields)

[ 5 More ]

All-Together
- 5 incline merkins on bench
- 5 dips
- 5 decline merkins on bench
Rinse & Repeat 3x
- EXCEPT – 1 evolution = 10 reps each – Mahamoud answered the questions “How many fingers are on your hand” with 10 – so 10 it was.
PAX push through 1 more set of 5 together

(Mosey to big pavilion next to morning AO)

[5s]

All Together
5 pullups under table
rotate to the right
5 incline merkins
rotate to the right
5 pullups under table
rotate to the right
5 decline merkins

( Rinse & Repeat – Q asks PAX for just 5 more )

(PAX mosey to morning AO parking lot)

Q leads PAX in cool-down drills
- karaoke, frankenstein stretches, side-shuffles, jog/merkins across the lot and back

(New Battle Buddy Teams)

Q releases each battle buddy team to sprint it out and finish up the hill to the Saturday AO parking lot

(30 seconds left)

5 final SSHs

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

12 PAX – 1 FNG

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

[ What Are You Fighting For ] [ 5 More ]

MOLESKIN:

[ What Are You Fighting For ]

(LOTR – The Two Towers)

Frodo : I can’t do this, Sam.

Sam : I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened. But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo : What are we holding on to, Sam?

Sam : That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for

This pivotal question halfway through the story-line of Lord of the Rings must be asked and called out. What are we holding on to as High Impact Men? What are you holding on to?

When you’re in the suck (whatever that is for you), remind yourself of this crucial question. That YES, THERE IS evil in the world and it’s not always a good and fair place BUT YES, THERE IS some good left in this world and it absolutely is worth fighting for. It’s worth going toe to to with men at 0530, it’s worth being the leader of your family day in day out, it’s worth that conversation, it’s worth pushing your battle buddy and reminding them of this truth as well.

Biblically – I think this ties in extremely well with Sam’s truth that he speaks in the midst of a hellish and seemingly impossible mission.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Note the similarities in this rhetoric. Not ideal situations BUT/YET – the reminder of hope appears.

[ 5 More ]

Take a look at your hand at some point in time this week and look at how many fingers you have. 5 (hopefully….)
I encourage all of us to push ourselves and the people around us this week with this simple challenge: Can I give 5 more?
- 5 more breaths
- 5 more steps
- 5 more reps
- 5 more minutes
- 5 more_____________
Tell your mind that you’re going to push harder, go further, and give 5 more this week.

Big Ballin’ Monday

March 2, 2020 Steam

THE SCENE:

The Big Ball Ruckers just got done, cars started pulling up, the weather was cooked to perfection.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith

Name is Steam and I’m honored to be your QIC this Monday morning

Any FNGs?

Let’s get a couple things out of the way before we jump in:
- I’m not a professional
- You’re here on your own volition
- I don’t know what injuries you may or may not have so while this is a workout I planned – no one is going to make you do every single rep to perfection so if you need to modify anything we do this morning feel free to do so!
Here’s the challenge with that – push yourself and the men around you – let’s get to work this morning.

WARM-O-RAMA

( The 1st exercise is________ )

( Ready position: Move! )

( In Cadence: Exercise! )

SSH: 20 x 4 IC
Imperial Walker: 15 x 4 IC
Rockette: 10 x 4 IC
Merkin: 5 x 4 IC

THA-THANG:

[ Ring of Fire – Inside AO ]

Assemble battle buddy teams

As a team:
- 50 Incline Merkins
- 50 Dips
- 50 pole-pulls
- 50 box jumps

BB1 is executing their exercise while BB2 is taking 2 laps around this ring because we’re 2 days into March

If you get done: flutter kicks on the bench

(10 count please)

(Mosey to the top of Amphitheater)

[ 11s ]

Top: chin-ups/pull-ups
Bottom of your respective side: Squat (1 count)
- Start with 1 chin-up :: 11 calf-raises
Recover on the stage when you’re done
PAX executes core work and then picks up the 6 team

(Mosey to Big Ball Stairs)

– PAX bear crawls up 2 flights of stairs and then holds the squat until everyone bear crawling is on top

*1 of the PAX goes down – breathing and conscious, but just some lightheadedness*

Everyone recovers back at the bottom of the stairs.

Q instructs Swanson to lead PAX up stairs again while Q and north provide support for downed PAX member.

Q talks and provides minimalist support while Abort sprints back to cars to get water. Q had a ruck with medical gear & CPR but made the final decision before leaving the car to not bring water in the ruck.

LESSON: You don’t need it until you do. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Downed PAX recovers, slowly, drinking water, and the rest of the PAX finish from bear crawl stairs.

Abort and Jenner provide support as Q leads PAX in 1 final bear crawl/merkin charge up the stairs and beyond and back. When they arrive back down where Abort and Jenner and downed PAX member is, the decision is made for one final exercise and to hold the COT here, instead of moseying back to AO, taking into consideration the recovering PAX member (Great suggestion by G-6).

PAX circle it up and execute 20 down/up merkins. Done.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAM

17 PAX – No FNGs

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

(1) 2 Timothy 1: 1-7 & (2) 2 Timothy 4: 6-7

(1) You then my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

(2) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

My aunt read this to us at the dinner table this past weekend and it made the hairs on the back of my neck step up. It challenged me to ask myself a few thought-provoking questions (TPQs) such as:

What do I allow myself to get entangled in throughout the week that is preventing my from being who God is calling me to be?
Who am I aiming to please this week // Who is enlisting me?
- Work? Circumstances? Jesus? Etc Etc Etc…

The run you race as a man is a long one. It’s one that is righteous, but it is one that is long and difficult as well sometimes. I love in 2 Timothy 4:6 that it says “I am already being poured out as a drink offering…” You are being utilized for the Kingdom and for the Lord already, in your home, in your relationships, in your work, in every sphere of influence He has uniquely placed you in. To bring glory to Him – keep running that race, keep fighting that good fight, and keep the faith, even when the race gets dark and heavy, remember to look up and realize the name of the game is one foot in front of the other.

MOLESKIN:

It’s okay when things don’t go to plan. You must learn to react and adapt swiftly and appropriately, especially when there is potentially a life at stake/a downed PAX member

You will never be 100% prepared for every single scenario that you might encounter. HOWEVER, it is important to be as prepared as you can. I did not put water in my ruck when I left my car and walked to the AO this morning. It was right there and I left it in my car. And a time came when one of the PAX under my command/responsibility needed it and I didn’t have it on-hand. You don’t need it until you do – and it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. This was a great example of that this morning.
This is what High Impact Men do – step up, react, and adapt. Special shout-out to Abort and Jenner and Clark for doing just that this morning.

Sweet, Steamy 16

February 28, 2020 Steam

THE SCENE:

Colder than a polar bear’s toe-nail in the middle of winter in Antarctica – BUT GOOD TO BE ALIVE

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith
Name is Steam and I’m honored to be your QIC this morning

Couple things before we begin:
- Not a pro
- You’re here on your own volition – you made a choice to be here this morning: make it count!
- If you need to modify anything we do this morning feel free to do so but push yourself and those around you. They deserve it and so do you.

I will have my phone, water, CPR and a med kit inside my ruck just so everyone is aware as well. If you got keys/wallet/whatever go ahead and throw em in there

WARM-O-RAMA:

SSHs: 12×4 IC
Rockette: 12×4 IC

Windmill: 12×4 IC

Baby Arm Circles: 6×4 F & 6×4 B

Mountain Climbers: 12×4 IC

Army Standard Merkins (shoutout to Soot): 12×4 IC

THA-THANG:

(Mosey to new small track)

The 50 Cent

Battle Buddy up

Execute 10 BB sit-ups (only 1 BB)
- Take a lap together
Execute 10 BB sit-ups (other BB)
- Take a lap
Rinse & Repeat until each BB has completed 50 total BB sit-ups
- As a team y’all will switch who is executing the BB sit-ups before the lap = 10 laps total as a team

(15 count)

(Q calls on the 2 FNGs to share a fun fact about themselves as PAX are catching their breath)

(mosey to closer side of the small bridge over WFP water)

- Battle buddy up
- 1 side of the water/abyss: merkins (1 count)
- Roundabout (other side): lunge (1 count)
- Start with 26 merkins here :: 1 lunge there

(Q reminds PAX that it’s okay if the plan doesn’t go exactly as planned – push hard for 10 minutes and see where we are together)

PAX gets down to 20 merkins together and CRUSHES 10 minutes of 27s

(PAX mosey up the stairs towards the big ball and then back down facing the greenspace)

2 columns
BB American Indian Run back to the AO
- BB team in the back sprints up and recovers to the front
A Big Ball Classic: Cadence Call on the mosey back home aka Call & Repeat
- “F3”
- “Good for You”
- “Good for Me”
- HOOAH”
- “HA-HA”
- “HOOAH”
- HA-HA”
- “1 2 3”
- “I love F3”
- “4 5 6”
- “Picking Up Sticks”
- ” 7 and 8″
- “F3 is great”
- “9 and 10”
- “Let’s do it all again”
- “HOOAH”
- “HA-HA”

MARY:

(PAX circle back up in the AO with 60 seconds left in the game)

SSH: 20 x 4 IC

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

14 PAX – 2 FNGs

PAX: G-6, 8 Seconds, Clark, Swanson, Backdraft, Post Man, Half-Calf, Abort, Amazon, Dovetail, Bubblewrap, Reverb, Walrus, Steam

FNGs: Juice Box and Waco

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

[ The Process of Pruning ]

MOLESKIN:

John 15:1-2 = “I am the true vine and my father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Definition = “to trim by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to increase fruitfulness and growth”

Wikipedia: The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants

This is not an easy process or even a fun process for the tree I’m sure.
Thinking about the process of pruning, think about this: The pruner cares too much/loves too much to let their tree/shrub be covered with structurally unsound or diseased/damaged limbs. The Father loves us so much – that He would lead us into the fire and walk with us through it as He continually prunes us and refines us as High Impact Men for HIS glory.

Keep the Faith & Fight the Good Fight men!