F3 Knoxville

Pressing through the Pain, Praying in the Rain

THE SCENE: 47°F and drizzly
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Administered + COVID reminder
WARM-O-RAMA:

Moroccan Night Club x 10 IC
Overhead Clap x 10 IC
Seal Clap Squat x 10 IC
Tennessee Rocking Chair x 7 IC
Stationary Lunges x 5 each IC
Reverse Lunges x 5 each IC
World’s Slowest Burpee x 3
Hillbilly x 10 each IC
Prayer Squat x 10s on, 5 off, 3x

THA-THANG:
The good news is today you’ll be exercising under an overhand. The bad news is that YOGWO (You Only Get Wet Once) doesn’t apply. We’ll be doing a Timed DORA and in between the sides where we exercise, we’re running in the rain.

If we have an odd number of PAX, that man partners with a pair of men. This is going to be repeating DORA in the rain. Each round of DORA is for time.

PAX#1 jogs to the other overhang and does the ARMs exercises while PAX#2 (and PAX#3 in possibly group) does the Legs exercises listed below. End of time called all PAX gather at one overhand, do 1 CORE exercise, HOLD, and rest while the next round of DORA is completed.

Timed DORA #1
Arms
5 Tempo merkins + 10 sec plank hold + 10 sec rest
Legs Lunges
Core Dolly
30 sec of Rest
Holds Reach/hang 15 sec
Praying Squat 15 sec
Plank 60 sec
Timed DORA #2 Arms 5 Burpees, 10 sec rest
Legs Reverse Lunges
Core LBC
30 sec of Rest
Holds Seal Clap /OHC 15 sec
Wall Squat 15 sec
Forearm Plank 60 sec
Timed DORA #3
Arms 5 Burpees, 10 sec rest (again)
Legs Reverse Lunges
Core V-ups

Hold – Forearm plank with 1 rainbow drop each size every 5 seconds for 30 seconds total. Mosey to ERC overhang and make a Dealer’s Choice Circle.

MARY:
Mary-Go-Round (aka Rotating Dealer’s Choice) – making a normal MARY circle for Dealer’s Choice, each PAX calls out a 4-count IC exercise . After going around, each PAX does 10 IC reps of the exercise on the Q’s lead. Then each PAX does the exercise the PAX to his right did. Q calls out the cadence and the PAX again do 10. Repeat for a chosen length of time or at the end during normal “MARY” part of the workout. If PAX complete all exercises in the full circle, go back to the left instead.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA13 PAX

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Booster’s post and tag about him rucking and praying challenged me and it’s really got me thinking and pondering about prayer and of course praying more.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing,
Simple yet impossible right? Sometimes we all think of prayer like we’re endlessly climbing a mountain that never ends with our prayers doing little more than the echo bouncing off the ceiling our voice causes

But we have to reframe prayer. A few quotes on prayer:
What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use, men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer. – E.M. Bounds

A family without prayer is like a house without a roof, open and exposed to all the storms of heaven. – Thomas Brooks

We don’t drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We do not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must set aside time to do nothing but pray. What we actually do reflects our highest priorities. That means that we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words – D.A. Carson

Prayer is paramount to our daily spiritual vitality. We may be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, but if we are not communing with God then we cut off our spiritual nutrients. So do you pray? How often? Only at mealtimes? Only at Bible Study. Let’s circle back to our verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing,

3 ways to apply this (surely there are more)
1. Walk with God each day in a spirit and attitude of prayer.
Turn things over to Jesus (1 Peter 5:7)
2. Ask God in your prayers to give you a desire more to pray
This also includes letting other men in your life know regularly where you are struggling. How much more does God desire to give you good things (Matthew 7:11)
3. Plan to pray.
Set aside time specifically that isn’t busyness, hurried to be alone with God.

There are many systems like ACTS for personal prayer as well as Operation World for world missions. But whatever you do, pray without ceasing.

MOLESKIN:
Welcome back Sergeant Slaughter!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Guardrail and I prayer walk sometimes and bear each other’s burdens. It’s a great way to spend time and it’s so edifying. If you want to do a prayer walk, just shoot me a DM on Slack or text me if you have my number and let’s make a time to walk, talk, and pray together.

Eskimo Shoulder Shutter

THE SCENE: Low 20’s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side straddle hop x 25, Cherry pickers x 5,  Tempo merkins x 10, Tempo squats x 10 , Wine Mixer x 10
THA-THANG:

  • Up the hill and grab fist sized rocks at the shopping center
  • Motivator – 12
  • 30 sec wall sits on the minute with arms in front
  • Dora – Bear crawl down, Bernie Back

    150 Hillbillies (four count)

    150 Swimmers (four count)

    150 Twinkle Toes (four count)

    150 Flexors (single count)

    150 Kickbacks (single count)

  • 4 corners (only got 3)

    10 burpees

    10 squats

    10 four count American hammers

MARY:

  • Arm circles forward, over head clap, seal clap for last minute

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
17 HIMs – 11 Juconians, 6 Rushers
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Exodus 17:8-13 8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 Joshua did just as Moses [i]told him, [j]and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand [k]down, Amalek prevailed. 12 And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 And Joshua [l]defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

When you get tired battling for the Lord, who is your Aaron, who is your Hur? Who places a stone under you. Who will support your hands so that they will be steady until the sun sets? No one is called to fight the good fight alone. Spend yourself in battle yet surround yourself with good men who will support you so that we always take the fight to the enemy. Today, if you feel the fatigue in your shoulders, say their names, the names of those who support you. If you don’t have someone YET, then pray for a name to be revealed and the confidence to bring them alongside you.

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

BLACKJACK

THE SCENE: 30s and soggy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:
😎👌
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Cherry 🍒 Pickers, Windmills, Tempo Merkins, Tempo Squats, Mosey to East Parking Lot…….
THA-THANG:
Time for some Blackjack (21s) on a moderate incline:

  • Merkins <————> Squats
  • Lunges  <————> Plank Jacks

MARY:
Flutters, Box 📦 Cutters, LBCs
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 Strong
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Every Timothy needs a Paul. Get a mentor if you don’t have one.  Characteristics I look for in a mentor: 1) Maturity – at least a decade or more older than you, someone who has walked where you are going, 2) Firm foundation in God’s Word, they love the Bible and know it well, 3) they don’t do anything in excess- alcohol, anger, material possessions- they are tempered, and 4) this is a bonus – they have experienced suffering.  A good mentor is better than gold.

Proverbs 24 – “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.”

MOLESKIN:
Hound-dog arrived on time.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
N/A

Be That Man

THE SCENE: 39 and a little drizzly.  Perfect!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:
 

  • Moroccan nightclub
  • Squats
  • Finkle swings
  • Seal jacks
  • Mosey to the small lot
  • 10x Mountain climbers then suicide – line 1, 2, then 3
  • 20x BBS then suicide – line 1, 2, then 3

THA THANG:

Mosey to the big lot

Catch the RabbitEight lines spaced about 60’ from each other.  One PAX is the Rabbit – the rest of us are trying to catch him.  All PAX do an exercise then advance to the next line.  The Rabbit starts with a head start but has a disadvantage…  Any PAX that catch the rabbit advance at the same pace as the original rabbit….

Round 1:  PAX do 2 burpees then sprint.  Rabbit (starting at line 2) does 4 burpees then sprint.

Round 2:  PAX do 5 BBS then sprint.  Rabbit (starting at line 2) does 7 BBS then bernie.

Round 3: PAX do 8 bobby hurleys then sprint.  Rabbit (starting at line 3) bear crawls.

 

Racing Quarter PounderTwo Teams.  One team runs the QP forward – the other Team runs it backward.  Which team will finish first?

  • Sprint 25 yards, 25 Merkins, sprint back
  • Sprint 50 yards, 50 Squats, sprint back
  • Sprint 75 yards, 75 mountain climbers, sprint back
  • Sprint 100 yards, 100 SSH, sprint back

Mucho chesto

  • 10x diamond merkins
  • 10x merkins
  • 10x werkins
  • 10x staggered merkins L
  • 10x staggered merkins R

Railroad run back to the shovel flag

 

MARY:

Jelly legs:  30 sec Al Gore, 30 squats, sprint…  Repeat

Another Mucho Chesto

 

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

13 Strong!

 

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

In anticipation of the upcoming holiday on Monday, I want to give you all something to think about over the weekend.  That’s right – Monday is…World Hippo Day!  Do you know there’s only two places in the world to see hippopotamuses is in the wild? One is Africa. The other is Columbia, South America.

The former Columbian drug lord, Pablo Escobar (not a HIM!), was killed by police almost 30 years ago.  With a net worth of around $30 billion, he was believed to be the seventh richest person in the world.  He used that wealth to buy houses, cars, islands, TWO submarines… He also started his own personal zoo, with elephants, rhinos, lions….and hippos.

In 1991, Escobar surrendered to authorities and the Columbian government seized all his assets and wealth.  They turned over his exotic animals to the Colombian Zoo, but there were four hippopotamuses they didn’t know what to do with because the zoo had no infrastructure for them.  So, authorities decided to just release them into the Magdalena River.

In Columbia, hippos have no natural predators.  There are no seasonal droughts, like there are in Africa.  There is an abundance of food.  Today, the hippo population is exploding in Columbia.  The conditions have been described as a “Hippo Heaven” and estimates suggest that there will be thousands of hippos in Columbia within a few decades.

As the seventh richest man in the world, Pablo Escobar had tremendous potential to impact his family and his community.  He could have done so much good with his wealth and talent!  But just 30-years after his death the lasting legacy of this man, who once lived like a king, is that he inadvertently created a Hippo Heaven.  That’s it.  That’s it?!?  What a ridiculous legacy!

So, here’s the question that I want you to reflect on this weekend;

What will be said of your life 30 years after you are dead?

That day is coming.  What will your children and grandchildren say about your memory?  Will it be something inadvertent and ridiculous…because you just let life happen?  Will they say nothing at all – because you lived an unremarkable existence?  Will they remember you in a way that you wish they would not?  Or, during the short time you have on earth, will you live with intentionality and have a passion to leave a great legacy?

For generations after you are gone, will they tell stories of your greatness and of how your life and faith was such a blessing to the family?

If you want to know how to leave a meaningful legacy, start by reading Psalm 112.  It tells us “the generation of the upright will be blessed” and “the righteous…will be remembered forever”.

Psalm 112 describes the characteristics of a memorable man, a man who will leave a legacy of greatness.

Read through this list, and reflect on each trait.  Ask yourself how this characterizes your life – or what, if anything, you will change starting today

The man who will leave a legacy of greatness…

  • He lives a righteous and blameless life (Psalm 112:4)
  • When others disappoint him or don’t meet his expectations, that man…gives them grace (Psalm 112:4).
  • When others wrong him, that man….shows mercy (Psalm 112:4).
  • With his time and money, that man….is generous (Psalm 112:5 and 9)
  • That man…loves justice (Psalm 112:5)
  • That man…is not afraid of the future because he trusts in the Lord (Psalm 112:7-8)
  • To those who are less fortunate than him, that man…shows compassion (Psalm 112:4)
  • That man…fears the Lord (Psalm 112:1)

That’s a description of a man that I would certainly tell stories about long after he were gone.

Be that man!  Be a little more like him today than you were yesterday!  Be that man!

 

MOLESKIN:

Psalm 112 (ESV)

1  Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

2  His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3  Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

4  Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

5  It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

6  For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.

7  He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

8  His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

9  He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

10  The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!

 

Read more in the F3 QSource, Q4 Leave Right

Hat tip to Levi Lusko for turning me onto the crazy story about Pablo Escobar’s hippos.

Read more about Pablo Escobar’s Hippos; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Escobar%27s_hippos or check out the National Geographic documentary, Cocaine Hippos.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Set your alarms Monday morning.  The Judge will be on Q!

Wacky Wednesday

THE SCENE: 44° clear calm and perfect
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Cherry Pickers, Plank Left/Right, Merkins, Hill-billy walkers, Clockwork Merkins, Jumping without rope and Tempo Squats
THA-THANG:

12 Hims, 4 Pre-Ruckers, +5 Rushers.
2 line indian run to Sophomore Hill, Bernie up the hill to Pull up bars.  6 stayed at the bars and did

  • 5 Pull Ups
  • 10 Leg Raises
  • 15 BB situps

Mosey down the stairs to where the first team started for

  • 5 4 count Australian Mountain Climbers
  • 10 Heavy Squats
  • 15 (or till the group finished) CPR (Curl, Press, Tricep ext)

2 Rounds of that.  Then everyone grabbed 2 CMU’s and headed to the bottom of the stadium hill

Hot lava across the street (stepping from one cmu to move the other and never touching the street)

Carry 1 CMU up the hill for 10 Diamond Merkins on the block. Run to the top corner of the stadium for 20 Squats

Crawl bear down the hill to run the curb: 25 Ski jumps up and down the curb.  Then do it in reverse, Bear Crawl, Squats, Diamond Merkins, Hot Lava over and back and then back up to 10 Diamond Merkins and 20 squats as time allowed.

Fun run through the Courtyard.  Obstacles included a summersault roll, Jump off a pole, inverted handstand, Ski jumping the brick wall, crawling under a bench (thanks for the dirty knees Footsie), Stair bears and more)

Ran out of time for Mary or even a visit to the Guardrail.  Next time.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

We talk a lot about Scripture as a guidebook to life and it is.  It is also so much more than this.  There is power and God’s promise in it and how He speaks to us.  But it is also this incredible opportunity for us as humans… sinful broken humans… to give back to God.

It is a song book and should stir emotions.  Take the gift of scripture, give it to God by reading it.  Don’t hesitate to shout out! Get Excited about it!

Take a listen to this video of an old friend reciting this Psalm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCQ3ehcC15U

Psalm 96

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

If that last part about judgement seems like a change in tone that scares you, see Galatians 2 and 2 Cor 5:21 (below) that shows us that it isn’t our own righteousness but the Righteousness of Jesus

  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him

My challenge to you is to speak scripture in your home this week.  Maybe it is out loud when you are alone, maybe it is to your whole family.  Speak scripture into your life!

MOLESKIN:
Continued prayers for Brian, Wanderer’s brother-in-law in the ICU with COVID