F3 Knoxville

Check Your Hearing

THE SCENE:  35 and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

Moroccan Nightclub
Overhead Claps
Tempo Squats
Up/Down Dog
Black snake to the back lot
Bernie the length of the lot
Lunge/broad jump/lunge the length of the lot

THA THANG:

Five Lines spaced ~50’ apart. 

  • Bear crawl to 1st line.  40 merkins.  Sprint to the 5th line and back to start.
  • Bear crawl to 2nd line.  30 merkins.  Sprint to the 5th line and back to start.
  • Bear crawl to 3rd line.  20 merkins.  Sprint to the 5th line and back to start.
  • Bear crawl to 4th line.  10 merkins.  Sprint back to start.

Lunge walk/mosey to the coupons

Diego

P1:  Up the steps – touch the wall – come back
P2: Exercise

100 – Uneven Merkins
150 – Overhead press
200 – Heavy LBC
250 – Curls
300 – Coupon Squat

Mosey to the benches – Bulgarian split squats x 20 each

Mosey home.

MARY:

PAX Choice with some Dolly, American hammer, heels to heaven, plank

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

9 + 5 Rushians

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today is International Ear Care Day.  Last year’s theme for IECD was “Check Your Hearing” – and that’s what we are going to talk about this morning…checking our hearing

What do you think about when we talk of “listening for the voice of God”?  What does that look like?  What does God’s voice sound like?  Should we expect an audible voice? A flash of lightning? A vision in the clouds?  I’d love to hear an audible voice – but I don’t expect it.  Instead, I think about hearing God’s voice when I “listen” with my heart and my spirit.

In the book of Jerimiah…starting in Chapter 7 the prophet is standing at the gate of a city and relaying God’s words to the occupants.  As he reminisces on the Israelites experience after they left Egypt, Jeremiah says (speaking from God’s perspective), “I have spoken to you time and again, but you wouldn’t listen and I have called you but you wouldn’t answer” (vs 13). Later (vs 24), “(I gave) them this command, ‘Obey me, and then I will be your God, and you will be my people. Follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you”.  Then, “but they harkened not, nor inclined their ear.”

The Hebrew word from this passage which we translate as “inclined” is natah.  Traced to its Semitic root, you find it is a musician’ term, used for the tightening of strings on an instrument to tune it.  The Hebrew word for “ear” is ‘azan, which means ear – but also in the Semitic, it is a term used for a musical instrument.  So, the idea of “inclining one’s ear” is really a word picture of tuning a musical instrument so that it is in harmony with other instruments.  “Hearing the voice of God” might be a matter of tuning the strings of your spirit or heart…so that you are in harmony with His mind and heart.

How do we tune our hearts?

By doing many of the things that we talk about in this circle!

  • Through prayer and guided meditation (hat tip Spotter, Pool Boy, Erector, others…) we commune with His Spirit and, over time, become more in harmony.
  • Through reading and studying scripture (hat tip Guardrail, Wanderer, others…) we learn about His character.
  • Through living obediently (hat tip Archie, Hound Dog, others…).  Because disobedience is a sure sign of living out of tune.

Check your hearing!  Maybe the way you come to know God’s will is by tuning your heart to be in harmony with His heart.  Work at this by prayer, mediation, studying scripture, and living in obedience.

MOLESKIN:

Prayers for Wanderer’s family as they grieve a loss and make plans to travel.

Prayers for Butterknife’s wife as she courageously steps out to look for employment that she is passionate about.

Borrowed most of this from a Word that I did back in October – apologies to Snaggletooth, who heard it twice!

Hat tip to Chaim Bentorah for inspiring this Word.  Read more about natah ‘azan.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Lean on HIM but also me when you need help!

THE SCENE: 55 & rain…pretty perfect for the gloom
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Mosey for cover at the Clayton Center
  • Cherry Pickers (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Windmills (IC) X 10
  • Baby Arm Circles Forward X 10 (IC) w/ Michael Phelps
  • Baby Arm Circles Backward X 10 (IC) w/ Michael Phelps
  • Overhead Claps (IC) X 10
  • Tempo Squats (IC) X 10
  • Tempo Merkins (IC) X 10
  • Tennessee Rocking Horse X 10
  • Mosey to the Library

THA-THANG:

Library

  • 20 Merkins, 20 Big Boys, 20 squats X 3 rounds
  • 10 Diamond Merkins, 10 lunges per leg, 10 4-ct Flutter Kicks X 3 rounds
  • 20 Wide Merkins, 20 reverse lunges, 20 American Hammers X 3 rounds w/ running the courtyard in between
  • Any Upper Body, Core & Lower Body Exercise OYO X running the courtyard in between (3-5 laps on average)

MARY:Part of Q

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

10 men trying to get better

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak, but it means you are strong and wise. Being proud is a sin and that is why many people fail to ask for help even when they desperately need it. Continually ask the Lord for help and strength daily realizing it’s impossible to live the Christian life without Him.

We also need to lean on each other, ask for help, prayers, etc.  We are not and should not feel alone but occasionally we do.  Let’s all realize that we can and should lean on each other when needed.

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22 Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 20:18 Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Sign Up To Q/VQ
  • Street Hope Project – copy paper, napkins & 55-gallon trash bags
  • New AO in Blount County – The Arsenel – starts this Saturday at Sandy Springs Park

Another Lap

THE SCENE: 37°F  and an Amazing Moon set to watch
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

Cherry Pickers, Hill Billy Walkers, Plank Dips 10 each side, Side Straddle Hops, 12 Clockwork Merkins
THA-THANG:

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 sit ups

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:  Then do it in reverse, Bear Crawl, Squats, Diamond Merkins, Hot Lava over and back and then back as time allowed.

We made it farther than last time then ran to the big parking lot and did merkins on each line, leaders doing more till the PAX was all together.

This time we had time for guardrail dips OYO, then bear crawl together across the street and finished with 10 guardrail dips in cadence.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
20 HIMS (8 were rushing)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Repeated a Q from 2 weeks ago… because:

1) Leading doesn’t have to be hard – redo something you did or enjoyed doing, sign up and make it awesome
2) It’s also a picture of our spiritual walk
Consider the 3 main disciplines: Prayer, Reading the Bible and Worship
A) Prayer
Familiar (in a good way) or caught in a routine rut?   1 Thes 5 17 Pray without ceasing
Repeating yourself; been there done that attitude; or persevering, improving? Even if it feels like the same thing God wants to hear your heart. Consider the honor: You are communicating with God

2) Read God’s word: Psalm 119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Is it life giving or If it’s routine or boring ? Move from discipline>Desire>Delight
You don’t stop because it’s hard and you didn’t always love doing this

3) Worship: Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Personal and Corporate worship: are we being Spirit led?
Was it your favorite or was it not not what you wanted it to be?
Not seeing the growth you want? Maybe it isn’t about you. Phll 2 In Humility, consider others of greater importance than yourself.
For Jesus Christ to be the main thing you can’t be the main character. Get okay with that and love others well like He did

The best corporate worship is when individual worshipers come together and magnify the name of Jesus together. Bring your best to the Lord; prepare your heart John 4:24 God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth

Don’t let Church be the only worship time of your week. If you only worked out once a week it’s not going to grow you. Likewise, find ways to worship God in Spirit and Truth all the time.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
New AO location in Maryville coming early March

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

50 Days Until 50 – Do I Deserve HIS Respect?

THE SCENE: 23 and a bit chilly in the gloom
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Jog in Place
  • Side Straddle Hops (IC) 15
  • Cherry Pickers (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Baby Arm Circles Forward X 10 (IC) w/ Michael Phelps
  • Baby Arm Circles Backward X 10 (IC) w/ Michael Phelps
  • Tempo Squats (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Merkins (OYO) X 20
  • Tennessee Rocking Horse X 10
  • Mosey across the street to JUCOLeConte

THA-THANG:

JUCO LeConte

  • 20 merkins at the bottom, run, 20 merkins in the middle, run & 20 merkins at the top
  • 20 squats at the top, 20 squats in the middle & 20 at the bottom
  • Rinse & Repeat X 3-4 laps (most did 3, some did 4)
  • Mosey in front of Valley Church property

Sidewalk in front of Valley Church Property

  • 20 monkey humpers facing Hardin Valley Road
  • 20 merkins
  • 20 Big Boy Situps
  • Mosey to Maple Street Lot

Maple Street Lot

  • Grab a large stone
  • 20 curls
  • 20 bent over rows
  • mosey to AO

MARY:

  • 50 calf raises
  • 20 Hello Dollies – 4 CT
  • 20 Pickle Pounders – 4 CT
  • 20 Heals to Heaven – 4 CT
  • 20 Pickle Pointers – 4 CT
  • Planks (one arm/one leg & switch)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

14 Men

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Francis Chan is an American Protestant author, teacher, and preacher. He is the former teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church, an Evangelical church in California, founded by Chan in 1994. He also founded Eternity Bible College in 2004.  Lots of the following words come from his devotionals F3 is going through right now.  Good stuff and I plan to read his book Crazy Love.

Our hope is that you will see that the only sane response to God’s love is wholehearted devotion to Jesus. And that the crazy people in this world are those who experience God’s love and remain complacent, not those who let go of all they have and follow Him completely.

Even though I glimpse God’s holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all.

Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ?  Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?  Unfortunately, those words fit me on most days.  I want to become on fire for God, every second of every day.

I go to church, I volunteer and give to charity, I am moved by stories of faith but don’t change.

I turn 50 in 50 days so I’m going to go through a physical, mental and spiritual journey.  I’m going to ruck at least 150 miles with this 50 pound rucksack and I’m going to do at least 15,000 push-ups during that time.  I’m going to be raising money for Valley Church’s new campus construction.  While I’d love your financial support, I want you to pray for me and our church.

I’m going to use that hour or so a day to pray, think, and create a plan to move forward in my life with God being the focus.

Chan encourages us to make a faith action plan, do something that scares you, step out into a holy adventure that we can’t control. See all others as Christ.

MOLESKIN:

  • Reach out to ExciteBike and sign up for the daily devotionals…they are powerful!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Sign Up To Q