F3 Knoxville

Children of God

THE SCENE: Insert info about the weather, etc.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Run half way around parking lot and Bernie Sanders the other half, Motivators starting with 7, 10 Mountain Climbers, 10 Tempo Merkins, 7 Cherry Pickers, 7 Windmills, Little of This and That.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the roadway that head toward the Admin Bldg.  We will stop to do 20 Rocky Balboas and 20 American Hammers.

Mosey to the Stop Sign at the Northeastern Corner of the Admin Bldg.  We will be heading along the road that semi-circles around the Admin Bldg.  We will stop at each cone to do the exercises listed and then move to the next cone according to the directions given.  Here are the exercises at each cone.

  • Cone 1:  10 Burpees.  Bear Crawl to Cone 2.
  • Cone 2:  20 Hello Dollies (4 ct). Bernie Sanders to Cone 3.
  • Cone 3:  20 Diamond Merkins.  Sprint to Cone 4.
  • Cone 4:  Go down stairs by Bat Cave then head south and run up summit of Everest to roadway and Cone 5.
  • Cone 5:  50 Baby Crunches.  Karaoke Right to Cone 6.
  • Cone 6:  20 Bobby Hurleys.  Karaoke Left to Cone 7.
  • Cone 7:  20 Imperial Walkers (4 ct).  Sprint to Cone 8.
  • Cone 8:  20 Smurf Jacks, 20 Big Boy Sit-ups, 20 Merkins, 20 Squat Jumps, 20 Flutter Kicks (4 ct), 20 Shoulder Taps, 20 Iron Mikes, 20 Bicycle Kicks, Rinse and Repeat.

Run down Mt. Everest and back up again.

At incline at top of Mt. Everest we will do Sevens starting with One Star Jump on the roadway and Six Burpees where incline flattens.

Mosey to small parking lot below and south of Coliseum. We will do Doras with partners changing after one partner has run upstairs, south, and back down road to parking lot. The other partner does exercise. Each set of partners will do the following exercises as a team:

  • 100 Dead Bugs (4 ct)
  • 100 Imperial Walkers (4 ct)

Mosey to Coliseum.  We will run counterclockwise around the loop.  Starting at 6 o’clock we will do 20 Squats.  We will do 20 squats at 3 o’clock.  We will run up and down stairs of the Admin Bldg. at 12 o’clock.  We will do 20 squats at 9 o’clock.  We will stop at 6 o’clock where we started

Mosey to AO via the route past Haslam Rock.

MARY:
Absominals.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
We had 12 men with no FNGs.  It was great to have Lebowski back with us.  We were also honored to have Sanctions visiting us from Franklin, TN.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
My best friend growing up was a fellow named Neil Deutsch.  We were next door neighbors in Dallas, Texas when I was age 3.  I cried the day Neil and his family moved to Memphis, TN.  Neil and I had just finished 3rd grade.  But, we stayed in contact.  Sometimes I would go to Memphis to visit him and sometimes he would come to Dallas to visit me.  The two of us decided to go to the same University – Baylor University – after completing high school.  Neil decided to go even though he was Jewish.  Baylor actually was one of the less expensive universities in Texas that Neil could attend as an out of state resident as it had great alumni support which drew down tuition.  Neil has remained a best friend to me.  I was best man at his wedding and he was best man at mine.  Pele got to meet Neil when both of them attended the wedding of my son, Bennett (aka Puddle).

Going back to our preschool years, Neil and I did all kinds of things together.  I remember playing “guns” at his house with his Uncle Steve who was about ten years our elder.  Whoever was “it” went to hide in the house and also got to possess Neil’s toy machine gun that sounded awesome when you pulled the trigger.  The pursuers had to count and then come hunting.  They had the lesser guns but also were allowed to possess one hand grenade (the grenades were actually boxing gloves).  Uncle Steve made sure everyone played fairly.

On Saturday mornings Neil and I would sit in front of the TV set with our cowboy hats on and watch westerns. We filled his dad’s shot glasses with Red Kool Aid and called it “Red Eye”, slugging the shots down like true cowboys.  We might also go outside and climb fences.  One of our favorite places to climb was a fence between my house and another neighbor’s.  It was a high spot and Neil and I liked to see who could pee the furthest from the top of the fence.

Now best friends do fight when they are young boys and Neil and I had our fights. Since I was about ten months older and was taller by nature than Neil, I always won the fights . . . that is until we had our great great fight of Religion.

Like I said, Neil was Jewish.  I was Christian.  One fine day we were playing on the See-Saw in my back yard and started talking about religion.  I, as a Christian, claimed that Jesus was the Son of God.  Neil, being Jewish, and not being as familiar about the son of God business, claimed that Moses was the son of God.  Well, I flat out told him he was wrong and he flat out told me I was wrong.  The conversation got more heated while we went up and down on the See-Saw, which was on of those flat board like structures.  When I was down on the ground and Neil was high up in the air on the other side of the See-Saw, I, in my anger, decided to scoot off the seat of that See-Saw.  When I did, there was absolutely no weight to hold Neil up in the air.  He came crashing down with a great Kerbannnnggg!

That boy who had never beat me in a fight was mighty angry and if he were David he would have certainly slew Goliath.  He came running after me and grabbed after me by pulling on my shorts.  I fell to the ground with my shorts down and my buttocks exposed.  What did Neil do?  He bit my butt!! He bit hard!! I ran to the house crying and screaming, with Neil following me, in tears himself.

Imagine my mother, hearing both of these boys crying and telling her what happened.  And then this Christian woman was asked by each of us, “Who is the son of God?”  My mother looked at me and looked at Neil, each with teary eyes and questioning faces.  She paused and then put her arms around both of us.  Her answer to us?   “We are all the children of God.”

Gents, take comfort in that.  Isn’t it good to know that each of us, no matter what our backgrounds or beliefs are the Children of God?

MOLESKIN: 
Prayers for safe travel for Sanctions as he had on with his trip to North Carolina today.  Prayers for Dung Beetle who is in the process of looking for a new job.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Shamrock on July 8.  Be on lookout for special Ruck opportunities that will be announced on Slack.

Pre Workday Beatdown

THE SCENE: Cooler morning, partly cloudy. Very nice.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

15 Side Straddle Hops

5 Cherry Pickers

10 windmills

10 baby arm circles each way

Little bit of this and that

5 burpees

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the Caribbean:

Circling fully around doing exercises listed starting at 5 and then adding 1 each island going around the full circle.

  • Bobby Hurleys
  • Big Boys
  • Merkins
  • Squats
  • Flutter Kicks
  • Plank Jacks

Head back towards AO and everyone grab a coupon and gather around the flag. Do 25 together of each exercise:

  • Overhead press
  • Rows
  • Squats
  • Curls

Head to Pavilion. Do 11s, 7s, 5s, whatever needed for time. Exercises are table pullups in pavilion and step ups/jump ups at the playground.

MARY:
Finished on time
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Use the TAGS on right-side to record PAX (BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURSELF) in attendance. Be sure to select the AO in CATEGORY above TAGS and then delete these notes!
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Recently came back from a long road trip seeing the country, it was something I have long wanted to do and hoped at least one kid would be interested enough to do it also. This was something my parents never did with me and I wanted to be better and give a bit to my kids that my parents didn’t give to me. I also am getting no younger and didn’t want to run out of time by saying I will get there eventually.

Basically my message is close to something I shared with the PM group before heading out on this trip, but just to pick something this summer you have long wanted to do, whether it be a trip some thing local, or even something you wanted to try and do it. Answer the challenge this summer and do it. Share it with your kids or a loved one if you can and just do it. Don’t wait.

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lakeshore workday was following this workout. Dragon boat race coming up on 6/17

Gladiator Bear

THE SCENE: Beautiful morning with the BSIA.  60 degrees, sunny, low humidity.  Aahhhhh….
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Performed adequately.
WARM-O-RAMA:

-Motivators (5-count, descending)

– 10 Rockettes (4-ct, IC)

– 10 Tempo Merkins (4-ct, IC)

– BAC forward and backward (4-ct, IC)

– Bolt 45s

– 10 Cherry Pickers (4-ct, IC)

– Little of this and that

THA-THANG:

MOSEY up Baby Everest to trail that leads to Lyons View entrance

Nickel/Dime Quarters!

Run 1 light do 5 reps, run 2 lights do 10 reps, run 5 lights do 25 reps.  Stop at base of Everest.  Exercises:

  1. MTN CLIMBERS (4-ct)     2. MERKINS  3.  FROGGY JUMPS

BASE OF EVEREST:

BERNIE up Everest until you hit failure.  When you do, do the Failure Ritual of Shame: 20 Merkins/20 Big Boys/20 Squats.  Run up the Summit to the road.  LBCs until the 6 catches up.

MOSEY to Small “Dora” parking lot.

5/10/15s: Get a battle buddy, while one BB jogs back and forth in the bullpen, the other runs up to the stop sign to do two exercises 5x.  Switch off.  Next time 10x, then 15x.   3 Rounds:

ROUND 1:  PETER PARKERS/BOTTLE OPENERS (both 2-ct)

ROUND 2: BIG BOY SITUPS/GAS PUMPS

ROUND 3: BOBBY HURLEYS/IMPERIAL WALKERS (2-ct) (We didn’t finish the “15” round of this last one)

MOSEY TO FIELD BELOW:

ULTIMATE FRISBEE! Divide into two teams.  Rules:

  • Frisbee hits the ground, team that drops it does 2 Deconstructed Burpees. The other team CANNOT START until those are done.
  • Score a touchdown, Scoring team does 5 CHEERLEADERS while losing team does 5 DECONSTRUCTED BURPEES and runs to the other side to receive kickoff
  • WINNER of contest gets a 20 second WALK MOSEY Head start back to the AO. When losers catch them, AYG back to the AO.

MARY:
American Hammers, Hommer/Marge
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
14 Strong + a poochie (Tank)
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I’ve watched two very different shows recently that highlighted some of the same key attributes of leadership that I’d like to talk about today a little bit.  I’ve never considered myself a particularly strong leader, more of a leader by example, but I’ve been trying to improve my leadership skills here and there, and by seeing examples of how it can be done helps give me some pointers.

The first example is a show called BEAR, about a chef who has absolutely climbed the ladder globally, and was working at one of the best restaurants in the world when his brother dies, leaving him a run down Italian beef joint in downtown Chicago that is nearly bankrupt.  All the other workers there are blue-collar types who have worked there for years, and even though he’s “family”, they think of him as a snob, an outsider, and a disruptor.  The way he leads the group to try to get the restaurant back on its feet is impressive, and I wanted to mention a few things specifically.

  • Right off the bat he calls everyone “Chef” as a sign of respect. Everyone is in the same boat, everyone equal.
  • He observes and sees each worker’s strengths and gives them the freedom to pursue their passions within the confines of the restaurant. One guy really loves baking and making desserts, and he allows him to pursue that passion.
  • He does the dirty work. Literally. He’s on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor after everyone else has gone home.

Then there’s a scene in the movie Gladiator, when Russell Crowe’s character, who is an ex-commander of the Roman army that has been wrongfully imprisoned and trapped in the world of the gladiators, is released into the Colosseum in Rome with other criminals to be slaughtered for entertainment by a much better-armed group of gladiators.  His leadership qualities immediately kick in.

  • Before the battle begins, he asks who else has served in the military. A few nod, and he asks for their help.  Makes them feel important.
  • Right before combat, he tells his group to stick together and cooperate. It will give them a better chance to survive.
  • He is one of the first to engage the enemy group. He organizes and inspires his fellow gladiators and they end up winning the battle.

Some commonalities between the two scenarios.

  1. Give others belief in themselves and their unique abilities. Find out what makes them tick, what their skills and passions are, and recognize and encourage them.
  2. Lead from the front. When it’s time to get your hands dirty, be the first to stick them deep in the mud.
  3. When it’s crunch time, whether during a crisis in the kitchen or if you find yourself in a life and death battle in a gladiator arena, step up. Give others confidence.

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Asylum cleanup next Saturday 9 am!

Forg3 2023 Tour – Asylum AM

The Scene (Info about the weather, etc.)

  • High 50s

F3 Welcome + Disclaimer

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith 
  • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning 
  • A few things before we begin: 
    • I’m not a professional 
    • You’re here on your own volition
    • You know your injuries if you have any so if you need to modify anything we do today feel free to do so, but push yourselves and the men around you. They deserve it and so do you. 
  • FNGs?

Warm-o-Rama

  • SSH: 10×4
  • Cherry Picker: 5×4
  • Imperial Walker: 10×4
  • Cherry-Picker: 5×4
  • Rockette: 10×4
  • Cherry-Pickers: 3
  • ATMs
    • 15×4 shoulder taps 
    • 10×4 merkins 
    • 10 merkins 

The Thang (What went down during the workout)

(Mosey to The Island) 

(1) — Work, Sprint, Work, Mosey

  • 2 sets of cones – on either end of the island 
  • Also — 2 sides of the island  
    • Right: Sprint
    • Left: Mosey 
  • Do 1 of the exercises
  • Sprint 
  • Do 1 of the Xs
  • Mosey 
  • Rinse and repeat for a total of 3x, when you complete all 3 Xs on both sides of the island

Done? —> LBCs

Mary (Insert information about any additional post-Thang work)

  • On the curb
    • Skips down / mosey back 
    • Rockettes down / mosey back 
  • ATMs
    • 15×4 shoulder taps 
    • 10×4 merkins 
    • 10 merkins 

COT (Circle of Trust)

Count Off

  • 12

Name o Rama

  • Dung Beetle, Cosmo2, Coolio, Gibbler, Sawdust, Fabio, SlimShady, Doublewide, Cat Gut, Rainbow, Matlock, Steam

Word — Forg3 Is Coming Sept. 22 – 24

  • I have 2 definitions for you 
  • Forge (v.) – to shape and mold into a new condition, by heating in a fire / to move forward gradually and steadily.
  • Forg3 is a weekend retreat created for F3 men, by F3 men. 
  • Forg3 (n.) – an invigorating 40-hour weekend retreat to challenge and encourage F3 men in their pursuit of high impact manhood. You can expect to engage with other men in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd F sessions, to better understand who you are, whose you are, and the High Impact Man God has called you to be. You’ll have opportunities throughout the weekend to seek adventure, to rest, and to sharpen iron with other F3 men physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. 
  • We want to engage together for a purposeful and relationally-driven weekend to step further into the men God has called us to be. And I want to invite you into this experience with us. 

To find out more about Forg3 2023, and to secure your spot, click or tap here! 

  • Also check out the #forg3 channel in Slack

EVERYTHING IS AWESOMEEEEEEEE

THE SCENE:

  • Overcast
  • 60s
  • BSIA was hiding this morning.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith 
  • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning 
  • A few things before we begin: 
    • I’m not a professional 
    • You’re here on your own volition
    • You know your injuries if you have any so if you need to modify anything we do today feel free to do so, but push yourselves and the men around you. They deserve it and so do you. 
  • FNGs?

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH: 10×4
  • Squat: 10×4 
  • Merkin: 10×4 
  • Rockette: 10×4 
  • Imperial Walker: 10×4 

THA-THANG:

(Mosey to the rock pile by the gates)

(1) Quarter Pounder

  • 4 rounds of the quarter pounder: 25 reps 91 ct) of an X with a rock, than take a lap around the lot
    • R1: 25 curls 
    • R2: 25 chest presses 
    • R3: 25 rows 
    • R4: 25 squats
  • Circle up 

(Mosey to the Pavilion)

— Warm o Rama #2 — 

Why? Because just like Legos, w’re building something together this morning. 

  • Mountain Climber: 10×4 
  • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 (F)
  • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 (B)
  • Carolina Dry Dock: 10×4
  • Calf Raise: 10×4 

(Mosey to the New Pavilion)

(2) The Double Trouble

  • 2 rounds – 5 Xs – all 20 reps (1ct) – rinse and repeat 1x
  • The Xs for both rounds 
    • Incline Merkins
    • Dips 
    • Squats 
    • Box Jumps 
    • Pull-ups
  • Circle Up

— Warm o Rama #3 — 

Why? Because we’re STILL building something together this morning.

  • SSH: 5×4
  • Squat: 5×4
  • Merkin: 5×4
  • Rockette: 5×4
  • Imperial Walker: 5×4
  • Mountain Climber: 5×4
  • Baby Arm Circles: 5×4 (F)
  • Baby Arm Circles: 5×4 (B)
  • Carolina Dry Docks: 5×4 
  • Calf Raises: 5×4

— RIP / fellowship walk to The Island —

(3) The FP

  • Get into teams of 4

MARY:

SWS (Stretching With Steam) + 1 lap around the parking lot

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Count-Off: 19

Name-o-Rama: Matlock, Crispr, Crawdad, Veggie, Jumbo, Dung Beetle, Brick, Short Sale, Turtle, Musk, LuLu, Waffle House, Swimmies, Cheatsheet, Pusher, Pele, Abacus, Choir Boy, Steam

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Lego Movie Takeaways From This Past Week 

I was watching The Lego Movie this week (no shame) – and surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, I took a lot from it. Man I used to love Legos. And I still do, but haven’t bought any in a while. But there were two specific things I wanted to share this morning, from the movie. 

(1) A quote that invites a powerful mental shift — “You don’t have to be the bad guy. You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe. And you are capable of amazing things.”

  • I think there are a ton of people in our lives that need to hear this, more than we think. 
  • Take the word “bad” out and replace it with what fits — “Hey you don’t have to be the lonely guy anymore.” “You don’t have to be the addicted guy.” “You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe. And you capable of amazing things.” 
  • Maybe they’re not the most talented or interesting or extraordinary person to you, but to the Creator of the universe? Absolutely they are. And they need to know it.
  • There’s a whole generation of people walking around like Emmet from The Lego Movie – thinking they’re just a normal, boring, uninteresting, life form that’s taking up space. That because of nature or nurture don’t know that God above uniquely created them to be capable of doing amazing things. 
  • I mean think of the power that something like this might have on a person? To intentionally say this to them? “Hey I know you’re this person, or you were this person, but you don’t have to be anymore. You were created to be talented, interesting, and extraordinary. And you’ve been created to do amazing things”………wow. Now that’s the power of helping someone unlock some things. 

(2) What are you building?

  • I think a lot of times life can be a lot like Legos – there’s an infinite number of pieces out there, all with different connectors and functions, and intentionally-designed characteristics.
  • And we’re all building something. Even if you don’t think you are, or if you can’t see it yet, you’re building something. So what did you build this week? And what can you build next week?

Final — We have a great opportunity to take everything we do in F3 – and engage in a intentional and relationally-driven weekend together this fall – something called Forg3 – a weekend retreat created by F3 men, for F3 men. And I’d love to just  invite you into this space with us this fall, as we head to DRG September 22nd – 24th, to focus on why our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd F efforts are so important in the context of community as we continually pursue high impact manhood. 

To find out more about Forg3 2023 and how to get plugged in and register – click here!