F3 Knoxville

Category: The Project

Egypt Coming and Going

THE SCENE: Wet and still a bit windy, perfect 60s gloom.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Running warm-up – lap around the lot
    • High knees, butt kicks
    • Shuffle
    • Karaoke
  • Tempo squats
  • Moroccan night club
  • Tempo squats, I mean merkins
  • Right arm up/ left arm up

THA-THANG:

I suppose you could think of this as a string of pearls.

  • Mosey to pool wall, 5 wall-pees
  • Mosey to playground, 5-7 pull-ups
  • Mosey to amphitheater, 10 box jumps
  • Up past the police station to badger, sprint up 12-day hill
  • At the top, 30 merkins
  • Mosey to the bottom, 30 merkins
  • Mosey to ORAU loop
    • Quick DORA – 150 squats, 100 heels to heaven, partner runs the loop
  • Mosey to the old peace bell, 30 merkins
  • Mosey to the new peace bell, 35 merkins, 10 box jumps
  • Mosey to the parallel bars
    • 20 inverse rows
    • 20 2-ct flutter kicks
    • Repeat
  • Dash to the pool wall, 5 wall-ups
  • Mosey to playground, 5-7 pull ups
  • Mosey to amphitheater, 2:10 plank
  • Quick back to the flag

MARY:
No time
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Genesis 47:5-6

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Genesis 47:27 – Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.

Exodus 1:7-12

But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.

When we have a good experience, it’s easy to associate that with a place or person or activity, etc. Then I have a tendency to expect that good experience to be a fixed reality, and I keep coming back to recreate the magic. But this is a trick. This is shown in the early narratives of the Torah. When Joseph finds himself in Egypt, God turns that place into a refuge from death and famine. Through Joseph’s obedience, God leads his chosen family out of the land where they will die, down into a land of blessing, where they can be fruitful and multiply, just as he promised Abraham they would. But time goes on and things change. Under Joseph’s guidance, the famine works to concentrate all the wealth of Egypt with the Pharaoh until all the people of Egypt sell themselves into servitude (see Genesis 47:13-25). It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this concentration of power eventually produces in Egypt rulers who are fearful and jealous. Soon the environment in Egypt is distinctly oppressive for the Israelites, and God, hearing them cry out, leads them out.

But for the remainder of the Torah, there is this recurring theme of the Israelites looking back at how good things used to be in Egypt. We’re thirsty, we always had water to drink in Egypt. We’re hungry, we always had meat in our pots in Egypt. The worst form of nostalgia.

Things change. The place/practice/work/whatever that worked last year or last week might not be what works today. We have to resist the desire to constantly seek novelty, but we must also avoid clinging to the past, dreaming of how things “used to be”. This has been beaten into my awareness by raising kids. No year is ever the same. This three-year-old is not the same as the last three-year-old and the fourth three-year-old is still, somehow, different from all three of her predecessors. The best I can do is to keep my eyes open, pay attention to the real situation, and use my past experiences as a source of ideas, not solutions.

What are you holding on to that you need to let go? What is the Egypt that you need to Exodus?

MOLESKIN:
I thought since Booster gave us a legit heavy beatdown Tuesday, I would circle back and do a proper boot camp. Plus, you should have checked all three boxes of the Kickflip challenge.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Camping tomorrow, hiking Saturday, Rampart next Saturday, Family Q the next Saturday, CSAUP coming up May 6. Also, Equalizer on April 15th.

Danger Zone at the Project

THE SCENE: A blisteringly hot day with scorching sand, glistening tans, and government issued Ray-Bans…perfect for beach volleyball “with the boys”! …or it was just dark and 42 degrees. You pick.

F3 WELCOME & DISLCLAIMER: Roger that, Ghost Rider.

WARM-O-RAMA:
An assortment of Project classics that included the following:

  • SSH x 15
  • Willy Mays Hays x10
  • Tempo Squat x5
  • Knoxville Cherry Pickers x5
  • Forward LBACs x10
  • Reverse LBACs x10
  • Moroccan Night Clubs to the beat of 10
  • Chattanooga Cherry Pickers® x10
  • Up-tempo SSH x15
  • 25 Merkins OYO (for KickFlip Stuff™)
  • Mosey for touch and go at the fountain for 25 more Merkins – OYO
  • Mosey to the Thang!

“Let’s turn and burn!”

THA-THANG:
Pax formed a circle with CMUs around the speaker blaring the Top Gun Soundtrack.

Pax performed a slightly modified “Top Gun” routine – 10 reps each of 5 coupon exercises for 10 minutes. The 5 coupon exercises are repeated for the entire 10 minutes. The Danger Zone happens every 2 minutes when PAX drops coupon and perform 3 Burpees, then pick up where they left off on the coupon exercises. The “Top Gun Motion Picture Soundtrack” only moderately numbed the pain.

    • Round One: Curls, Rows, CMU Swings, OH Press, Squats, rinse and repeat for 10 minutes with 3 burpees every 2 minutes
      • Mosey a lap around the lot
    • Heavy Hammers, Heavy Freddies, Heavy Crunches, Heavy Dollies, Heavy Flutters, rinse and repeat for another 10 minutes with 3 burpees every 2 minutes
      • Mosey a lap around the lot

Pax then performed 25 more merkins and a 2 minute plank

RTB
KickFlip had “a need….for speed!” and called jailbreak when “Danger Zone” played. No one could resist.

Total for Push, Pull, Plank Challange:

  • 75 merkins + 30 burpees = 105
  • 2 minute plank complete
  • 0 pullups

MARY:
Pax arrived at base at exactly 06:15. We fly by the seat of our pants. No time for Mary.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

The Real Danger Zone is not getting enough rest.

YHC recently took a test for a couaching group and found out he is high on “restlessness.” I realized how much I struggled on vacation; always looking to the next thing, irritable when we’re not accomplishing something. I have a hard time actually resting.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, in his book Rest says, “I argue that we misunderstand the relationship between work and rest. Work and rest are not polar opposites. Rest is not work’s adversary. Rest is work’s partner. They complement and complete each other.”

When we work out, we’re not building muscle. It’s the rest and sleep that are VERY important to the process. This is where the building of muscle actually happens. 

Pang continues, “Further, you cannot work well without resting well. Some of history’s most creative people, people whose achievements in art and science and literature are legendary, took rest very seriously. They found that in order to realize their ambitions, to do the kind of work they wanted to, they needed rest. The right kinds of rest would restore their energy while allowing their muse, that mysterious part of their minds that helps drive the creative process, to keep going.”

  • Albert Einstein’s day dreaming and mind experiments led to the Theory of Relativity. They came when he stopped overworking the math.
  • Winston Churchill took naps every day – pajamas and all.
  • In seminary, I would work hard on gathering information and forming the structure of my paper. I would then take a nap and wake up with how it all ties togetyer. This is very often true for my sermons each week as well.

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
the Lord guards the city,
    the guard keeps watch in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives sleep to his beloved.

It takes a certain amount of FAITH to REST.
Are you trusting the Lord enough to rest?
Are you caring for your work and family with rest?
Are you caring for your mind, body, spirit with rest?

MOLESKIN:

  • YHC: “If you’re going to watch Top Gun, you have to endure the volleyball scene.” Mathlete: “What do you mean ‘ENDURE’?!”
  • Three-Peet momentarily saw his spirit leaving him during heavy crunches and “Memories”. (Goooose!)
  • Extra Top Gun points to Tuba for pulling out the aviators for COT

Workout Soundtrack:

  • “Top Gun Anthem” by Harold Faltermeyer
  • “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins
  • “Playing with the Boys” by Kenny Loggins (sufficiently endured)
  • “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers
  • “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis (“Hey Goose, you big stuuuud!”)
  • “Mighty Wings” by Cheap Trick
  • “Memories” by Harold Faltermeyer (Goooooooose!!!)
  • “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
  • “Lead Me On” by Teena Marie (I admit… this was a bad choice. My bad, guys.)
  • “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. New AO “Rampart” (Kingston) OTBs THIS Saturday as well as 4/9 & 4/23 at 7AM
  2. No Family Workout Sat Apr 2
  3. Check Slack channel @TheProject for details on Family Camping April 1-3 (1 more camp site available – BEST ONE!) OR hiking Devil’s Racetrack on Sat, Apr 2
  4. Planning for 1st Project CSAUP May 6 – see Slack channel for signup and details on Google Doc

12s at The Project

THE SCENE: 49
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

 Lap around Parking Lot
 Projectivator x7

 Squat (tempo+4-ct) x6+6
 Tempo Merk x10
 Mtn Climber x10

 LBAC F/B X6+6
 Moroccan x6
 Grady Corns x6
 Chatt Cherry Pickers x6
 6 Burpees OYO
 Stretch OYO
 Mosey to Playground

THA-THANG:
12s@Playground+Amphitheater
1. Playground: 6 Burpees+6 Pull-ups+lap around playground
2. Amphitheater: Merkins – BBS (11+hill+1, 10+hill+2, etc)
3. Step-ups/box jumps – Squats (CUT FOR TIME)
4. LBC – Merkins
5. Lunges – Bonnie Blairs
6. 120 second Plank
7. Playground: 6 Burpees+6 Pull-ups

MARY:
PAX CHOICE: Freddie Mercury x10, Squeaky Dolly x10, X-Men Crunch x10

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

9STRONG

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
It has been 3 weeks since my last day at work. What has it been for? What is God saying to me? What is God doing in me? What am I learning about God, myself, marriage/family, work/responsibility/calling, others/service, etc?

What am I struggling with/working through this week?
 order/rhythm, productivity/sense of accomplishment,
 leading my family rhythms while I am failing to lead myself,
 serious time to be with and talk with God,
 understanding this season of in-between

I’m going to submit myself to a process called the Daily Office. It’s a rhythm of prayer throughout the day that gives space for quiet before God that allows the doubts, thoughts, and the movements of my heart and soul (that are most often ignored or overlooked) to rise to the surface. The practice of daily silence/prayer/journaling will help (force) me to articulate those thoughts and feelings.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

MOLESKIN:
Good hustle today – We completed this Week 12’s challenge for today: 12 pull-ups, 120 push-ups, and 120 seconds of plank. Praying for Kick’s bro-in-law David with possible MS symptoms/work stress/effect on family; Bambi’s Baby Alina recovering from heart surgery at Vandy; Tuba and family’s custody of son and stepson

  1. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    New AO Rampart (Kingston) Kickoff! Sat 3/26 7AM
  2. No Family Workout Sat Apr 2
  3. Check Slack channel @TheProject for details on Family Camping April 1-3 (1 more camp site available – BEST ONE!) OR hiking Devil’s Racetrack on Sat, Apr 2
  4. Planning for 1st Project CSAUP May 6 – see Slack channel for details on Google Doc

Family Workout

THE SCENE: Clear, beautiful, 50s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Side Straddle Hop
  • Tempo squats
  • Merkins
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Cherry Pickers

THA-THANG:

2 of our 2.0’s helped lead this workout:  Chicken Lady and Kitty Cat.

  • Infection
  • Partner work (bell)
    • Dips(10)
    • Step ups(10)
    • Burpee hi-fives(5)
  • Playground
    • Climb and slide(3)
    • Wallups(5)
    • Snake
  • Theatre
    • Bear crawl crab infection
    • Big boys(10)
    • LBC(20)
    • Flutter kicks( In Cadence)
  • Hill
    • Bear crawl up
    • Crab walk down
  • Parking lot
    • Skip
    • Burnie
  • Back to field Indian run
    • Relay races

 

MARY:

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Chicken Lady read Matthew 3 about the Baptism of Jesus.

Setback. Move Forward

THE SCENE:  Extra gloomy – just how we like it.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Nah.
WARM-O-RAMA: 

  • OHC
  • Phelps
  • Moroccan Nightclubs
  • Andrew, The Matador
  • Squats
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Cobra / Down Dog
  • Walking lunges

THA THANG:

Mosey to the recruiting center and grab a CMU

  • Roll the die. Complete that number of exercises in the sequence. (e.g., roll a 3 – complete exercises, 1, 2, and 3)
  • Roll the die again and complete that many exercises, starting where we left off. (e.g., roll a 2, complete exercises 4, and 5).
  • Roll the die a third time – this time we go back that many exercises (e.g., roll a 4, complete exercises 5, 4, 3, and 2).
  • Repeat until the set is finished. Two rolls move us forward, every third roll sends us backwards.

Exercises were;

  • 5          Blockees
  • 20        Toe Merkin Triceps
  • 20        Goblet squats
  • 16        Side pulls (8 each side)
  • 10        1-arm thrusters (5 each side)
  • 5          Irky Derkies
  • 12        Good mornings
  • 10        High pulls (5 each side)
  • 10        Heavy Lunges (5 each side)
  • 15        Curls
  • 4          Burpee jump overs
  • 15        Heavy LBCs
  • 10        Alpos
  • 15        CMU Swings
  • 20        Squats
  • 5          Walkover merkins
  • 15        2-arm rows
  • 10        Lunge thrusters (5 each leg)
  • 10        Heavy freddies (4 count)
  • 5          Blockees

MARY:

No time!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 3 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

We’ve been talking the last couple of weeks about bricklaying – and about forming habits.  Part of that discussion was centered around “what causes us to stop our pursuit of a new habit?”  Last week, we ended the discussion talking about boredom and short-term perspective as two habit-killers.  Here’s another – maybe it’s because we have an “all-or-nothing” mindset.  If we fail one time, we think we are a failure.  When you are implementing a new habit – remember to give yourself some grace, big fella.  Being consistent is not the same thing as being perfect. 

With these new habits that we are forming – and old habits that we are leaving behind – if you miss a day (WHEN you miss a day) – what do we do?  If you take two steps forward, only to take one step back, what do we do?  We lean forward again and keep progressing toward the objective.   

Maybe you’re trying to start a healthy habit

  • …exercising everyday…
  • …praying with the wife everyday…
  • …reading something that uplifts your soul everyday…
  • …leading your family spiritually everyday…

“I had a goal to start ____ but I’ve lost track of that goal and it’s been 2 months”.  START AGAIN – keep pursuing it.  One day off does not spoil your journey.  Keep pressing on!

Maybe you’re trying to stop an unhealthy habit

  • …raging at the kids…
  • …spending money frivolously…
  • …looking at fake pictures of fake naked women…
  • …drinking not to relax, but to withdraw…

“I really want to stop doing ____ but I did it again”.  Time to restart your streak!  Keep resisting!  One slipup does not change the objective to rid your life of this vice. 

“A setback only paves the way for a comeback.” – Evander Holyfield

In Romans, Paul says, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”  Romans 7:15 (NLT).  I can relate!

BB Reader: I hope you being challenged to accelerate your fitness, your fellowship, and your faith.  I hope you are striving each day to be a better father, husband, and friend.  I hope you’ve been setting up new habits and systems in your life to achieve those goals – but today’s takeaway is this…  WHEN you have a setback in chasing that new objective…don’t give up on it – one failure does not make you a failure – KEEP AFTER IT.  Momentary failure is just part of the process.  Missed one day?  Did that thing again?  Okay…identify your vulnerability and shore it up… Now, START AGAIN toward your goal. 

MOLESKIN:

  • Hat tip to Blindside for his BOM last week that inspired this BOM.
  • Throwing dice with 3 of my favorite men in the world – no better way to start a day!
  • Who is that lady at Dunkin… Doesn’t she know that is our table? 🙂
  • At this moment, I hope to never do another Irky Derky for the rest of my life.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • March 26:  OTB Workout at Fort Southwest Point in Kingston – 7:00 AM.  Our own Bobbitt will be planting Knoxville F3’s newest AO, Rampart.  Come help us spread the word and demo a workout for Kingston men who want to see what this F3 thing is all about.
  • April 1-3:  Family Camping Trip.  Cove Lake State Park.  Come one night or both.  (I have an extra site – site 27, right on the water – let me know if you want it!)
  • April 2:  Family Hike.  Devil’s Racetrack near Caryville.  If you are not camping, meet us at the swimming pool parking lot at 1:00 PM.  We’ll carpool to the trailhead.