F3 Knoxville

Tag: Curveball

The Essential Isn’t Imposed

THE SCENE: Misty and humid, temps is 80s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Plank Jacks, 10 Burpees, 10 Windmills, 10 Toes Reaches, 7 Wide Arm Circles Forward, 7 Backward
THA-THANG:
Mosey to stop sign at northeastern corner of Admin Bldg.  20 Hello Dollies.

Mosey to perimeter trail and head west.  We will follow the perimeter trail north to the shaded tree by Lyons Bend.  20 American Hammers.

Mosey to Mt. Everest.  We will do 40 Baby Crunches, then run up to large tree, circle around it and return.

Mosey to shaded area by water bldg.  20 Flutter Kicks.

Mosey to North Shore gate and head east on trail.  There will be cones in flat grassy area to the right.  We will divide up men to start at different cones.  We will go counter-clockwise to each cone. The cones will list exercises.  We will do circle the cones three times doing the first exercise listed the first time there and continue in sequence the next time there.  However, before starting into the next sequence of cone exercises we will make a full circle around the cones.  Here are the exercises for each cone:

  • Cone 1:  1. 20 Bobby Hurleys.  2. 20 Smurf Jacks.  3. 20 Star Jumps.
  • Cone 2:  1. 20 Big Boy Sit-ups.  2. 20 Squats.  3. 20 Bicycle Kicks (4 ct)
  • Cone 3:  1. 20 Iron Mikes (both legs = 1).  2. 20 Mountain Climbers (both legs = 1).  3. 20 Shoulder Taps (both shoulders = 1)
  • Cone 4:  1. 20 Merkins.  2. 20 Carolina Dry Docks  3.  20 Diamond Merkins

Mosey to beginning of parking lot at Area 51.  We will Bernie Sanders to the curb by the grass, then run back to the starting point of the parking lot, then Bernie Sanders back to the curb again.  Next, at curb we will do 20 Toe Taps (4 ct).  Then we will run to the road up top where there is a shaded tree.  There, we will do 30 Second Leg Lift.

Mosey to bat cave.  From the bat cave we will sprint to the administration parking lot.  Each man walks back to bat cave after the sprint, then sprints to parking lot again.

Mosey to AO.

MARY:
20 Hello Dollies, 20 Tempo Merkins.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
20 men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Quote from James Finley, a theologian and former monk who studied under Thomas Merton: “That which is essential never imposes itself for love is always offered, it’s never imposed, and that which in unessential is constantly imposing itself.”

God created us in His image.  He made us for communication with Him.  We fall short in life if not with Him.  We are in need of Him.  Without Him we are thirsty.  Without Him there is something wrong in our lives.  His love is Essential.  And, as James Finley says, his love is offered freely to us.  It is not imposed, it is not forced upon us. It comes to us in so many ways: the playfulness of a child, the chance for rest or Sabbath, the words of the Bible, the laughter among friends, intimacy with a partner, the love shared by a neighbor, the smile of a stranger, the songs of the birds, the beauty of the mountains, the plains, the wind, the sky, God’s creation.  Notice how these Essential things hang back, they do not force their will on us, they do not impose themselves.  Notice how we have to truly look, to truly listen, to truly observe in order to appreciate them.  It is like pulling over to the side of the road to really enjoy a sunset.  You sit there in your car and our blown away by the beauty.  And then, after you start the car up and drive on home, you think to yourself, I need to do this more often, I need to truly take this beauty in each day.  It is like when you hear a great song that makes the hair rise on your skin and you think, how beautiful, how powerful, this song makes me want to be more than what I have been.  Or, it is like when you are at worship and hear a particular sermon that makes you almost want to cry and you think, man, I need to remember this, I need to take this into the fiber of my being . . . and, a few days later you kind of forget what the sermon was all about.

A problem we humans face is that, like Finley claims, “the unessential is constantly imposing itself” on us.  What are some of these unessential things?  Wealth, power, fame, success, popularity are examples.  Think about our daily lives.  Think about what the world says we should be.  We are constantly bombarded by shoulds in our lives. “I should do more to rise to the top at work.”  “I should work more hours so that I can make more money.”  “I should get a bigger home.”  “I should get a nicer car.”  “I need to participate in more organizations so that I am doing more with my life.”  “I gotta make that deadline.” “I should be slimmer and more fit.”  “I should spend more of my time working for charities so that people see how much I am giving to others.”  “I need to be the top salesman in my region this year”.  “I need to belong to that country club because it is populated by some of the most notable people in Knoxville.”  I am not saying that any of the above things are unworthy.  But, they are unessential.  These shoulds are often what we pay the most attention to.  And by doing that, we lose sight of God’s creation, God’s love.  We miss out on what God has made essential for us.

Lord, help us to spend more time focusing on the essential.  You have given these essential things to us because you love us.  You don’t impose them on us.  You give us free will to accept them because you know that true love cannot be forced upon us.  Help take our eyes away from what is unessential and keep our eyes on you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Prayers for Title -9 as he adjusts to living in Oregon, for Lily’s wife who will have double mastectomy surgery on Wednesday, Augut 19, for Thunderstruck’s mother as she faces chemotherapy and blood transfusions, for safety of the F3 dads and kids at camp this weekend, for the AO in Morristown that we helped start.  Steam will be going to the Morristown AO workout to support them this Saturday and welcomes anyone who would like to go with him.

Never Give Up – Shamrock

THE SCENE: Low 70s little humid
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Baby Arm Circles forward then backwards (IC) 4 CT x 15 each

Side Straddle hop (IC) 4 CT x 25

On your back Side Straddle hop 25 

Twinkle Toes  (IC) 4 CT x 15

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the CMU pile next to the field. 

Grab a CMU. 

25 Curls

25 Slow twists 

50 Bench press 

Mosey to the track. 

Line up on the 0 yard line. 

25 Curls + 25 Slow Twists then move your CMU forward to the 5 yard line

Run 1 lap

25 Bench Press + 25 Big Boys then move your CMU to the 10 yard line

Run 1 lap

25 Curls + 25 Slow Twists then move your CMU forward to the 15 yard line

Run 1 lap

25 Bench Press + 25 Big Boys then move your CMU to the 20 yard line

See how far you can go. 

Before returning CMUs we did 60 more bench presses 

MARY:
We had 1 minute left over to do merkins until 6:15AM
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Betty, Mermaid, Pom-Pom, Free Fall, Curry, Key Fob, Dumpster Dive, Slim Reaper, Sparrow, Slip-n-Slide, Music City, Cheatsheet, Curveball, Baby Boomer, Anchorman,
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

The Word:

Some quotes from my grandfather from about 25 years ago at his 50th wedding anniversary.

“Never Give Up”  –  He was talking about his 50 years of marriage and also his walk with Christ. He said there will be peaks and valleys. The pain we suffer when we are in the valleys makes us appreciate the mountain tops. 

“Be There”!  –  He looked around at over 100 family members and friends that came to celebrate their 50th anniversary. He praised us for being there, but said this may be the last time that we are all together, but it won’t be the last time up there. 

I was just a dumb 12 year kid, but his speech stayed with me my whole life. He had such a great perspective on life. He was eternally focused. I want to challenge us to be eternally focused as well.

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Revenge of CMU Later

THE SCENE: Perfect low 70’s and just a bit of steam in the air


WARM-O-RAMA:
4ct SSH x 20 (IC); 4ct Starfish Crunches x 7 (IC); 4ct Tie Fighter x 10 (IC) F&R; 5ct Catalina Wine Mixers x 5 (OYO)

THA-THANG:
Mosey to the big CMU stack in the alley and load up for some fun – encouraged to grab 2 CMU’s but allowed to modified some took only 1; Farmer’s Carry toward the top of Detention Hill with a stop half way to wait for the 6 (and to regain some feeling in the shoulders); Work stations marked with chalk to help us keep separated where PAX broke into groups of 3

CMU Hill of Pain:  2 HIMs worked through several exercises at the top while the 3rd HIM runs to bottom of Hill to perform 10 single count SSH then Bear Crawls back up Hill to rotate;  3 HIMs combine reps in order to finish all of the exercises collectively; 50 Clock Pendulums (1 block), 100 CMU Merkins (2 blocks), 150 Block Squats (2 blocks), 200 Bent Over CMU Rows (2 blocks), and 250 Blocky Balboa’s (1 block) completed by most

PAX redistributed for some COVID Shuffle – groups of 3 sent 1 HIM to each corner of a triangle course along the parking lot but the 3rd leg going down into the Gloom Valley and back up Detention Hill; Each HIM performed 10 SSH, 10 Squats, and 10 LBC’s (single count) at each corner then ran to the next corner; Kept moving until at least 4 station rotations; Farmer’s Carry to move CMU’s back to pile

PAX mosied over to Saint Patty’s Circle for some speed round exhaustion; Spread around the circle wall and several benches, PAX did 5 Dips and 5 Jump Ups/Step Ups over and over for 3 minutes;  Mosey back to the AO

MARY:
Returning to AO, had 1 minute to work in some Pickle Pounders to end the fun

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
3 FNG’s: @Slim Reaper, @Flower Pot, and @Macho Man

@Dragon Slayer not on system

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Genesis 32 story of Jacob wrestling with the God-man and not willing to stop without being blessed; Jacob’s hip was injured and ailed him the rest of his life – a scar and a reminder of his close encounter with God; Jacob was alone and fearful and trying to control his world of chaos but came face-to-face with the only thing that could truly bless him and change his circumstances; Encouraged the PAX to wrestle with God in the weighty matters of life and trust Him for change.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

My Back!

THE SCENE: High 60’s, 905 Humidity
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
30 SSH, 5 Cherry Pickers, 10 Tempo Merkins, 10 Temp Squats, 30 Second Dying Cockroach (lying on your back, extend your arms to reach your straightened legs)

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey to the coupon pile near the buses. With coupons:
    • 20 bent over rows, 20 straight leg deadlifts, 20 squats, 20 curls, 20 Raisers (raise the block on hips straight in front of you to eye level) Dying cockroach until the 6 finished
    • 15 bent over rows, 15 straight leg deadlifts, 15 squats, 15 curls, 15 Raisers Dying cockroach until the 6 finished
  • Mosey to the large parking lot. With a partner:
    • Combined 100 Imperial Walkers (4 count) while your partner Bernies to the middle and jogs back, trade
    • Combined 100 Swimmers (4 count) while your partner Bernies to the middle and jogs back, trade
    • Combined 100 Mountain Climbers (4 count) while your partner Bernies to the middle and jogs back, trade
    • Combined 100 (2 count) while your partner Bernies to the middle and jogs back, trade
  • Mosey back to the AO

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Ask yourself these two questions every day. In the morning, am I a physical being having a spiritual experience or a spiritual being having a physical experience? Before bed, was I a physical being having a spiritual experience or a spiritual being having a physical experience today? This change in perspective can have a profound effect on how we react to circumstances. Philippians 4:10-13 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Live above the circumstances. 

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Pom-Pom’s courage as he prepares to leave for bootcamp in a couple of weeks.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Press On

THE SCENE: Insert info about the weather, etc.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Side-Straddle-Hops, 10 Burpees, 10 Windmills, 10 Tempo Merkins, 10 Tempo Squats, 10 Wide Arm Circles forward and 10 Wide Arm Circles backward.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the stop sign at the Northeastern Corner of the Admin. Bldg.  We will be moving to different cones on a counterclockwise route past the admin bldg and back to where we start.  The cones will tell us the exercise and how to move to the next cone.

  • Cone 1:  20 Hello Dollies (4 ct).  Sprint to Cone 2
  • Cone 2:  20 Big Boy Sit-Ups.  Bear Crawl to Cone 3.
  • Cone 3:  20 Jump Squats.  Run to Cone 4.
  • Cone 4:  40 Shin Lifts on steps.  Run to Cone 5.
  • Cone 5:  20 Flutter Kicks (4 ct).  Run to Cone 6.
  • Cone 6:  20 Dive Bombers.  Run to Cone 7.
  • Cone 7:  20 Merkins.  Hop to Cone 8.
  • Cone 8:  20 Iron Mikes (both legs = 1)  Bernie Sanders to Cone 9.
  • Cone 9:  20 Bicycle Kicks (4 ct).  Run back to Cone 1 to rinse and repeat.

Mosey to plaza at Outdoor Colosseum area to gander at East Tennessee.

Mosey to semi-circle area close to soccer fields and housing area.  We will do following along each small fence pole along the semi-circle:  Bear Crawl for 3 poles and do 3 hand-release merkins, lunge for 3 poles and do 3 squats, run for 10 poles.  Then start again until semi-circle is finished.  When semi-circle is finished, complete a full circle by going to street and going back to starting spot to Rinse and Repeat.

Mosey to Playground. We will do elevens at benches, starting with 1 Bench Jump and 10 Bench Dips.

Mosey to Pavilion.  We will do 20 Picnic Table Pull-ups, 20 Decline Merkins and 20 seconds of regular Pull-ups at the Baseball Dugouts.

Mosey to CMU pile.  Each man grabs CMU.  We will do 20 Overhead Presses, 20 Curls, 20 Squats, and 20 Rows with the CMUs.  Replace CMUs.

Mosey to start of Mini Cardiac.  Bernie to Park Sign, Sprint to top crosswalk, then walk to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
19 men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
J.K. Rowling’s book, Harry Potter, was rejected by 12 different publishers before being accepted by Bloomsbury Publishing.  Can you imagine being one of the reviewers who rejected Harry Potter?  Talk about regretting a decision!  John Grisham’s first novel, a Time to Kill, was rejected 30 times before it was published.  Still, it wasn’t widely read.  After he published hits like The Firm and The Pelican Brief people finally read Grisham’s first book, A Time to Kill, and people ended up loving it.  Stephen King’s first published novel, Carrie, was also rejected 30 times.  Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner was famously rejected by many publishers.  He kept every rejection he ever got.  Now he is considered one of the greatest authors of all time

The message we can learn from so many authors is this:  Don’t Give Up.  Keep pursuing your vision.  Our brother, Crawdad, has already received praise for what he has recently written.  I hope he keeps on writing.  For those of you who have important goals ahead, whatever the task, don’t let falling short get you down.  Maybe that is what it takes to finally get to your goal.  Myself, at age 62:  I have never mastered the pull-up!!  I am pretty good at push-ups but, perhaps because my arms are so darn long, I can’t do a pull-up.  I recently bought a pull-up bar that I have wedged between two slats in my basement.  I figure that doggone bar may reject me 100, 200, maybe 1000 times but one of these days I am going to do a pull-up!!

When times get tough we sometimes can lose faith in ourselves and faith in God.  As a Christian, I love these words from Paul in the bible.  From Philippians 3: 13-14:

Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Don’t lose faith.  Press on toward your goal men!

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Choir Boy’s wife and Lillydipper’s wife, prayers to end racism and dissension in our country, prayers for Mermaid’s friend who hurt his back.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Workday at 8:45 am, August 8 at Mooreland Heights Elementary School.