F3 Knoxville

Top Gun Exercises at Rampart

THE SCENE: The gloomiest of glooms…just the way we like it.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Dutifully executed.
WARM-O-RAMA:

We started with some Projectivators (x11) to get the Pax good and disoriented to start things off.
Tempo Squats x7
Tempo Merkins x10
Mtn Climbers x10 two count
FLBAC x10
RLBAC x10
Grady Corn x10
Moroccan Night Clubs x10
Chattanooga Cherry Pickers ® x10
SSH x16 or 17 …QIC got distracted thinking about the amazing playlist he made.

Mosey a lap around the lot.

THA-THANG:
Pax performed a modified version of the “Danger Zone” routine. 10 minute exercise cycling through 10 reps of the following exercises (Merkins, Freddy Mercury, Big Boys, Bobby Hurley, Monkey Humpers, repeat). Every 2 minutes, the timer goes of to perform 4 burpees (hence, the Danger Zone). All performed to the glorious sweaty passion of of Kenny Loggins.

As “Playing with the Boys” played, PAX moseyed a lap then went to the “volleyball court”. There they split into teams of 3. Each team had notecards with the following exercises: Carolina Dry Docks (which apparently, can be modified into Pickle Pounders merely by preference), Monkey Humpers, Big Boys, Toe Merkins, and Mtn Climbers. Teams will flip a card, perform 20 reps of the exercise and either flip a cone up or down depending on their team. At the end, the team with the most cones facing in their direction wins. PAX played two rounds. It was almost as dazzling as the movie. Next time Creeper promises to bring the baby oil (although we had plenty of Olive Oil).

PAX then moseyed to the end of the parking lot for Dog Fight exercises (or basically that rabbit hunt thing Kickflip did reinterpreted for our purposes). A single PAX would volunteer to be the hunted rabbit while the rest were the wolves. The rabbit got extra reps and a head start. Wolves worked to catch up to the rabbit. Exercises were Burpees (Olive Oil), Bobby Hurleys (Wing Man), Merkins (Piston), aaaaaaand those delightfully memorable Pickle Pounders (QIC – thanks Skeletor!).

PAX moseyed for Mary.

MARY:
Flutter Kicks (x10)
Box Cutters (x10)
Freddy Mercury (x10)
LBC (The little boys!) (x10)
Hello Dollies (x10)
10 Second Hold (x10)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Casting Your Shadow
Acts 5:5-16 says “People brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”

Psalm 17:8 – “Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

In Jewish culture, Your shadow is your realm of influence. The idea was that, we can no more detach ourselves from our influence on others than our bodies can get rid of their own shadows. Peter, through the work of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost, had gone from being a brash loudmouth with little action to back it up into a bold and influential man of God. While healing might have occurred through his shadow (hard to tell in the text), it is clear that his influence was widely known.

Are we casting a shadow of influence or “throwing shade” as the kids used to say?
A HIM understands the influence he has on other people.
A HIM uses influence intentionally to make an impact.
A HIM’s focus is always for the sake of others, not himself.

Are you intentionally using your influence FOR people?
I used to work in a grocery store at a meaningless job. The more the Lord began to change my life, the more I began to be available for people that I worked with. Eventually, I noticed that people would come to me saying something like, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but…”. I was slowly becoming someone known for helping people and giving wisdom.

In How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie says “The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking. So the rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage. He has little competition.”

What are those areas you could be intentionally casting your shadow to influence people?
Why aren’t you?
Lack of Energy?
Lack of attention?
Lack of confidence?

How do you cast a shadow? You stand in the light.

MOLESKIN:
YHC apologizes for reliving the volleyball scene three times with “Playing with the Boys”. There were many, MANY more great songs to the soundtrack though we only heard 3 on repeat. We’ll do this again in three months with the whole soundtrack, aviators, and Creeper will remember the baby oil.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

RAMPART OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES MONDAY! 7am hour-long beatdown. Bring those FNGs!
July 2nd Convergence at JUCO!

Heavy Grumble, Grumble @ RAMPART

THE SCENE: Beautiful 68 degrees, very nice
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness/Fellowship/Faith
  • My name is Skeletor
  • Couple of things before we begin:
    • Not a professional
    • You’re here on your own volition
    • I don’t know the injuries you may or may not have – so modify as you need. Push yourselves don’t hurt yourselves and push the men around you when they need it.
  • FREE.99


WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH: 10 x 4 IC
  • Tempo Merkin: 5 IC
  • Mountain Climber: 5 x 4 IC
  • 4 count cherry pickers
  • Tempo Squat: 5 x 4 IC
  • Baby Arm Circles: 10 x 4 F & 10 x 4 B
  • Moroccan night club 6 x 4 IC
  • Chattanooga cherry picker 6 x 4 IC
  • SSH: 10 x 4 IC

THA-THANG:

Carry heavy things as a team or individually to each post.

  1. Mosey to baseball field parking lot
  • 1/2 group “peoples chair” as long as it takes for the other half to finish 20 squats
  • 1/2 group 20 squats

Switch Rinse repeat until everyone gets 100 squats

2. Mosey to track sandbags have to go up and down

  • @ track 5 burpees
  • @playground 5 burpees

Rinse and repeat to 4, 3, 2, end at 1 on the track.

3. Mosey with sandbags to top of track

  • 5 merkins
  • 5 big boys

Rinse and repeat to 4,3,2,1

4. Mosey with sandbags to bottom of track

  • 5 – 4 count American hammers
  • 5  – 4 count flutter kicks

Rinse and repeat to 4,3,2,1

Lap #2

5. Mosey to mid field with sandbags

  • Pax in a single file line, plenty of space between. 1st man deadlifts the 60# sandbag and toss over head for the next man, then drop to plank the heavy bag travels to the end of the line. When all men are in plank, drag 40# sandbag under your body with opposite arm to the next man.
  • Recover, rinse, repeat. Modify to hold Al Gore, and drag the bag back up to first man between the legs of each man. 

6. Mosey with sandbags to picnic tables under awning

  • 5 – 4 count Rocky balboas
  • 5 dips

Rinse and repeat to 4,3,2,1

RTB with sandbags

MARY:

Stretch sesh with Skeletor

3 – 4 count cherry pickers extend to hold and stretch

3 – 4 count slow windmills for the stretch

3-4 count Sprinkler

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

8 strong

Bobbitt, Olive Oil, Wingman, Mathlete, Biohack, Snaggletooth, Skewer, Skeletor

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

That was a hard thing gentlemen. THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR ALL. Most men are still asleep waiting to face the day. You have already went to battle and won. The COT today is brought to you by the Apostle Paul.

Key verse Eph 5:20

Eph 5:18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,

Eph 5:19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Eph 5:20  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Eph 5:21  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

It’s easy to have a melody in your heart singing to the Lord when things are all good, but when things go wrong our flesh desires to rebel. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your situation, thank the Lord for your trials and trouble.

I love the closing thought in verse 21 as well. How do we as brothers ensure that we are holding this standard of giving thanks to the Lord? Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. That’s accountability right there. That’s why F3 exists to be a helper for your brothers.

Rom 8:35  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36  Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

Rom 8:37  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Give thanks to Him for the good, for the bad, for the mundane, for the Joy. He alone is worthy. THANK YOU LORD.

MOLESKIN:
This was my VQ, and what an honor to Q at Rampart. Looking forward to many more.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Official #Rampart AO open May 30 @7am. Invite those FNG’s  it’s a great opportunity to get them some exposure without getting up before the rooster.

Men of AO project have shown up in force to support Rampart. Let’s show them some love by making an appearance at the Project this coming Tuesday May 24th @5:30am

 

HEAVY Q @ THE PROJECT

THE SCENE: 66 and gloomy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – DONE.
WARM-O-RAMA:

2. Projectivator x7
3. Tempo Squat x7
4. Tempo Merk x5
5. Mtn Climber x10
6. LBAC F/B X7
7. Moroccan x7
8. Grady Corns x7
9. Chattanooga Cherry Pickers x7
10. Burpees 5 OYO
11. Knoxville Cherry Pickers 5-IC
12. Stretch OYO
13. Mosey to Playground

THA-THANG:

• Playground: 5 pull-ups/20 merkins (2X)
• MUCHO CHESTO @ Amphitheater: 10 – merkins, 10 – wide merkins, 10 – diamond merkins, 10 – stagger right, 10 – stagger left (hold plank – someone lead until 6) (rinse/repeat)
• Mosey to RC
• FLORA 1-2-3 (partner up, 1CMU/PAX)
o Upper: P1 – 100 Diamond Merk (switch every 10)
 P2 – Plank on CMU
 P1+P2 Lap around Parking Lot with CMU
o CORE: P1 – 200 LBC (switch every 20)
 P2 – Hold legs 6” w/ CMU above head
 P1+P2 Lap around Parking Lot with CMU
o LOWER: P1 – 300 Squats w/ CMU (switch every 25)
 P2 – Al Gore with CMU
 P1+P2 Lap around Parking Lot with CMU

Mosey to Playground – 5 pull-ups+20 BBS+5 pull-ups

MARY:

PAX Choice: Hello Dolly, Side crunches (both sides, obviously), Flutterkicks, Mountain Climbers, Freddy Mercury, Heals-to-heaven

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
6STRONG: Kick, Rocket, Biohack, Bobbit, Mathlete, and Snaggletooth

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I shared about a personal family issue that we had prayed about last week. And it necessitates the urgency of speaking to our children about things we may not feel ready to put on them. These are things that I am needing to teach to my children now:

  1. Life is hard. We are born into a world at war. We have an enemy of our souls that is ultimately behind the evil, brokenness, and tragedy in our fallen world.
  2. You are not the center of the universe – God is. And life in/with HIM is truly life – an adventure and a romance.
  3. You are not in control – but you have a role to play in how things unfold and how His Kingdom advances. Everything about who you are is created by purposeful design for such a time and place as this.

MOLESKIN:
The above COT/BOM is not original to me. I learned it from John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart and several other books. 

Thank you for your friendship and prayers, brothers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FIRST EVER VQ at Rampart tomorrow!

Family Q coming up – see Slack.

Other stuff too.

Holding on to what you have

THE SCENE: Crisp, cool May Morning with a full moon overhead
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Hairy Rockettes
  • Windmills
  • Tempo squats
  • SSH
  • Moroccan Night Clubs
  • Cherry Pickers for Three-peat

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey to the pool wall
    • 5 wall-ups
    • 4 reps of 8-ct pulse merkins
  • Mosey to the playground
    • 5 pull ups
    • 10 box cutters
    • 10 heels to heaven
  • Mosey to the Amphitheater
    • 10 box jumps
    • 30 merkins
  • Mosey to the Library
    • 5 Decline Dry-docks
    • 10 bobby hurleys
    • 10 Iron mikes
  • Hold plank for the 6, repeat 3 more times
  • Unwind going backwards through
    • Amphitheater – 10 merkins, 5 box jumps
    • playground – 5 heels to heaven, 5 box cutters, 2 pull ups
    • Pool wall – 2 8-ct pulse merkins, 2 wall ups
  • RTF

MARY:
A few sets with some PAX leading
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

In an essay titled “Membership,” which is an excellent read or listen, C.S. Lewis begins by discussing (in context I won’t attempt to replicate) the “modern” tendency to eliminate solitude. He sees it everywhere, even in the University, where he experienced an undergraduate college of 12 men who knew each other intimately. Even “before the war,” he says, “the typical undergraduate society had come to be a mixed audience of one or two hundred students assembled in a public hall to hear a lecture from some visiting celebrity.” He laments “the crowd of busybodies, self-appointed masters of ceremony, whose life is devoted to destroying solitude wherever solitude still exists.” If one of the great minds of the past were to be born “today”, he would quickly be “cured”. “And even where the planners fail and someone is left physically by himself, the wireless has seen to it that he will be–in a sense not intended by Scipio–never less alone than when alone. We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.”

This line struck me. It’s something that I have been struggling with lately. The family is busy busy busy, and I am adding stuff on top, so I am tired. And in my weariness, I have sacrificed the one time of solitude left to me, the early morning, in the name of an extra half hour of sleep. If, at the outset, I had seen this as the cost of all the activities, I might have been more discerning, but rarely are we granted such insight. So now, I stand to rebuild a habit I once had, to take time each day in solitude to spend time in reading, contemplation, and prayer.

I bring it to you today so that each man might reflect on his own trajectory. I hope this anecdote might grant you time to guard yourself from losing a hard won habit that is on the wane. Remember that nothing in this world is lasting, but if we invest in maintaining something, it lasts a heck of a lot longer.

Matthew 6:19-20

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust  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.

MOLESKIN:
By my count, you ought to have more than 200 merkins and 20 pull ups. Finish up the plank and you’ll have a trident.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Shamrock AOQ change on May 25, Rampart Skeletor VQ on May 23rd, Rampart launch May 30th.

The desire of my heart

THE SCENE: Downright PERFECT May morning. Crisp and cool.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Projectivators
  • Little baby arm circles
  • Moroccan night clubs
  • Tempo merkins
  • Mountain climbers
  • Pickle pointers
  • Tempo squats

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey on down to the parallel bars for 30 merkins and 10 dips
  • Mosey over to the pool wall for 10 wall-pees
  • Mosey to the recruiting center, grab a block
  • Circle up by the pull up bar and black betty
    • Work it circuit – 45/15
      • Black Betty dead lifts
      • Pull ups (optional chain for weight)
      • All others rotate thru:
        • Curls
        • Goblet Squats
        • OHP
        • Heavy Lunges
        • Derkins
      • After each full rotation
        • 30 flutters (4-ct)
        • 30 big boys
        • 60 second plank
      • We got through 2 rotations.
    • Mosey on back to the flag

MARY:
No time.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Desire is a powerful thing. The desire for wisdom led to the fall, and each of us today continues to cope with our own desires. There are different approaches to dealing with desire, but at the root they generally take a few forms. You can attempt to sate a desire by giving in to it, and in some cases this is appropriate. If you are thirsty and desire water, drinking water is often a good solution because slaking your thirst will truly address the desire and is ultimately healthful. In this case, the desire supports good management of my body’s needs. Most desires also have feedback mechanisms. In the case of thirst, the pleasure of drinking correlates pretty well to the need, quickly falling from ecstasy to neutrality and eventually becoming painful as need becomes glut. This desire seems to me to be well ordered, and consequently, you don’t often see folks struggling with their desire to drink water, although it isn’t unheard of.

Many other desires need to be managed more deliberately. Not all feedback mechanisms operate promptly, and sometimes by the time we see the real consequences, it is too late to turn back. In addition, other desires often ask more than an equal portion of our time and energies; it is physically impossible to sate all of my desires. If we try, they compete with each other, growing, pushing against each other. Those desires that have the slowest consequences and the provide the greatest pleasure will naturally expand to consume all they can manage. Thus, desire becomes disordered and sinful.

Romans 6:12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

This problem is further complicated by our own interference. Once we ate from the tree, we could discern between the outcomes we like and the outcomes we don’t, and this introduces the opportunity to use our power to modify the outcomes. Artificial sweeteners can modify my food to heighten the pleasure but reduce or eliminate some of the physical consequences. In the short term, this seems like a win. I can sate my desire without the trouble of getting fat. But a desire that is fed grows. While our power of discernment can be used to aid us in learning to regulate our desires, just as often we use it as a way to more fully give ourselves over to them.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Men, hear the good news. The Lord is not cruel; He does not test us in vain. He did not make us as a sort of prank, filled up with desires that we must reject to make our lives difficult. It is right for man to desire wisdom, but we must not grasp it for ourselves as we did in the garden. Rather, we must receive it from the hand of the One who made us. If we can learn to follow Him rather than our desires, He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He alone can satisfy the desire of our heart. He placed it there for that very purpose.
MOLESKIN:
Great group today! Nine was a bigger group than I expected, stretched out the rotation a bit.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CSAUP TOMORROW! Family workout moved to May 14th with Skewer on Q.