F3 Knoxville

Do you remember that time we did Picketts and Everest the same day?

THE SCENE: Perfect July Morning ! Temp was about 74. Had rain over the weekend. Dew on the grass, did not see or smell any skunks.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Reminded everyone that I was worse than any professional. Monitor and modify..etc. Covid disclaimer – do not spit on each other!

WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Cherry Picker, Butter Fly ( Included Coach Dunn’s advice) , Shoulder Stretch, Arm Circles, 50 % pace lap around parking lot.
THA-THANG:
Mosey down to playground

  • set of 11s – Box Jams and Decline Merkins

Mosey to Picketts Hill

  • Set of 7s – Run 1/2 way up Picketts and do Burpee with Carolina Dry Dock on bottom.
  • 10 Count Recovery after 7 set complete.
  • Run up Picketts Hill

On Top of Picketts Hill – 10 count set of Squats followed by Mosey to bottom of Everest.

At Bottom of Everest

  • 10 Merkins, 10 4 Count Flutter Kicks, then run to stump that is approximately 1/3 up Everest. Repeat this 3 exercise set 5 times.
  • Run to top of Everest and then 10 count recovery. Followed by mosey to AO.

At AO

5 minutes game of Duck Duck Goose with Pax doing core exercises while the “Ducker” goes around the circle to finish.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 Pax got better today.

 

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Shared today the contrast of the story of  Job vs the book of Proverbs. Proverbs gives us practical wisdom and advice for living our life. The story of Job is a story of a good life gone bad as God gives Job the many challenges he has to face. You could argue that these two parts of the Bible are so different that you would wonder if they are in the same book! So much of our lives we have been fortunate to have lived in a Proverbs world. However all of us will from time to time find ourselves in a Job world through challenges in our personal, professional, spiritual or physical ( health ) life. In the current world – pandemic, economic, political , racism etc.. it seems like we ( our country/ community, world) have all been going through a Job phase. As leaders we need to keep that focus like Job. There is another side and it is up to HIMS like us to help and be strong for our community and Pax.

After the Proverbs / Job word I shared that I had found an old book about change that I had lost. The book “Who moved my cheese” was a successful book 20 years ago about change in the workplace and how to adapt. The book is a 10 minute read and I recommend it in our quickly changing world – here is a summary I found online:

Who Moved My Cheese Summary

Have a great week everyone

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Code Brown reminded that there were still a couple of Qs left for the week.

The Giving Tree

THE SCENE: Mid 80s, cloudy, humid as all get out.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER 

Welcome to F3, Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. F3 is a free workout program designed to improve fitness, share some camaraderie, and foster male leadership in the community.  I’m Pele and I will be your Q today.  I am not a professional, and I do not know your fitness level or injury history.  Please push yourself, but modify the workout as necessary to avoid making any existing injuries worse.  The goal is to get better together!  Some additional COVID-19 considerations: keep your distance between you and other members of the PAX and any other folks that we pass during moseys, etc. to 6-10 feet.  We will be splitting up into groups smaller than 10 if necessary.  We need to set good examples and be good neighbors out here at this public park, especially with so many folks out and about.

WARM-O-RAMA:

-Motivators, 7-CT decreasing

– 10 Windmills, 4-ct IC

– 25 Grady Corns , 4-ct IC

– 10 Imperial Squat Walkers 4-ct IC

THA-THANG:

MOSEY to Coliseum circle in front of admin building:

Modified KRAKEN with 4 cones (“X”s on sidewalk).  Do 5 reps of each exercise, then run around circle PLUS ONE cone, do 10 reps, etc. increasing the reps by 5 at each cone until you finish with 20 of each at the last cone.

  • EXERCISES: PLANK JACKS / SHOULDER TAPS (2-CT)/ Carolina Dry Docks

MOSEY to the dingy little parking lot to the south.  Get a BATTLE BUDDY for THREE BY FIVES.  One partner will be in the “bullpen” slowly running back and forth, while the other partner runs to the Stop sign and does two exercises, then runs back.  Start with 5 reps of both exercises and increase by 5, for three trips doing 5x/10x/15x of the exercises.  The three sets of exercises are:

  1. Peter Parkers (2-ct) / Half-Burpees
  2. Star Jumps / Iron Mikes
  3. Gas Pumps / American Hammers

Mosey to the edge of the lawn in front of the admin building.  25 AMERICAN HAMMERS (4-ct, IC)

BERNIE to the steps of admin building

40 CALF RAISES on steps, OYO

AYG back to the AO.

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

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein was one of my favorite books when I was a child.  It was about a boy and a tree, and their special relationship.  Early on, the boy swings from the branches and eats apples provided by the tree and loves the tree so much that he carves “Me + Tree” into the bark.  As he gets older, he still comes to the tree, but less often, and not so much for friendship, but because he wants things.  Apples to sell.  Wood (which he chops down) for a house and boat.  The tree is happy to give everything for the “Boy”, but is also sad because they spend less time together, and the Boy leaves as soon as he has what he wants.  When he is an old man, he comes back to the tree one last time.  But the tree has nothing left to give, as it is only a stump.  The old man says that’s all he wants, just a place to sit down.  The tree has is able to give him this last gift.  And for that, it is happy.

Some see this story as an allegory for selfless Christian love.  Pope Francis recently said the following about how natural entities do not benefit from their own qualities themselves, but rather provide for others (from Jan Neece, Lilydipper’s wife’s FB page):

 Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.

Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other.

No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”

From Tank’s FB page… (Matt 22:34-40)

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Challenge for today: go show some love to a random person today by being kind and doing something for them.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Mrs. Lilydipper as she completes her chemo.  Happy 18th Birthday to Curveball’s daughter.  Prayers for Steam and his dad as they lead the effort for some community improvement efforts in Johnson City.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Lukewarm

THE SCENE: Equalizer It was warm but a little cooler than it has been. The tennis courts would like a hot stone treatment
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH, merkins and such
THA-THANG:
Hit the track. At each cone do exercise listed Qty 20 on first lap, then subtract 5 each lap. Exercises are:

  • Pull ups
  • Squat jumps
  • merkins

detour into tennis court. Do bear crawl from gate to gate. Then get back on track

  • Lunges Each leg
  • Dry docks
  • imperial walkers
  • dips

mosey to tennis court for some suicides with Merkins. Nine lines.

MARY:

We circled up on the tennis courts for some dealers choice at work including marine Burpee’s, flutter kicks, hello dollies, etc.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Get out your hot plate people.

Lukewarm

I’m going to describe some people….

  • Attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go.
  • Give money to charity and to the church… as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so.
  • Desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.
  • Don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.
  • Are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers.
  • Rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
  • Gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.
  • Say they love Jesus, and He is a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, money, thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives.
  • Love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.
  • Love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.

* How many of these “lukewarm traits” resonated with how you’re living your own life?

i know a few of those hit me in the mouth. I am Lukewarm a lot of the time.
jesus said:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:15-16‬

so, let’s get out our hot plates and warm up our faith, our actions and our spirit

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mend house clothing drive

Q101 in the Scorching Fake Gloom

THE SCENE: Hot enough to melt your face off… think of that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the bad guy sees the ark’s contents. 97 degrees at LEAST with probably a 110 degree heat index. It sucked.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Introduced myself as Q and Lilydipper as Co-Q for a Q101 beatdown that will include some commentary during the workout to reinforce the F3 standards of what we do and why we do it.

Done, with explanations as to what the components are and why we do it, including:

– Call out TIME WARNING (2 mins, 1 min) and START ON TIME.

– Carry a WATCH and PHONE!

–  WELCOME to F3! FITNESS, FELLOWSHIP, AND FAITH!!

INTRODUCE yourself! You will be leading these men for the next 45 minutes to an hour, establish yourself as their Q!

– IDENTIFY ANY FNGs

  1. Make sure they understand the disclaimer (get a nod of understanding)
  2. Make sure you demonstrate exercises that may be unfamiliar to them.
  3. Make them feel welcome! Pay special attention to their status during the workout.

–  Include LEGAL DISCLAIMERS:

  1. I am not a professional
  2. You are here on your own volition, and participating at your own risk
  3. F3 is a free program open to all men
  4. Know your limits, and modify if you need to, but do the best you can! ALWAYS GIVE 100%… UNLESS YOU’RE DONATING BLOOD!  Ha Ha Ha.
  5. Additional COVID-related disclaimers. 1. Limit of 50 PAX, 2. No sharing of equipment; gloves recommended, 3. If you’ve been sick, or around someone who’s sick, please stay home. 4. Maintain social distancing.


WARM-O-RAMA:

Performed exercises that would demonstrate various counts and focused on 1.) getting the heart rate up, 2.) stretching the legs, and 3.) stretching the arms.

– TAKE CHARGE!

  1. Make eye contact
  2. Use your “outside voice”
  3. Use GOOD FORM
  4. Bring great ENERGY and ENCOURAGE!

– The Warm up usually consists of 4 to 5 exercises designed to get the heart rate going and provide some stretching of the arms and legs. Call out:

  1. The NAME of the exercise
  2. Whether it’s single count or in cadence
  3. “Ready position”… “Exercise!”
  4. Change cadence on the final rep.

-20 Side Straddle Hops (4-ct), in cadence

– 10 Cherry Pickers (4-ct), in cadence

– 10 Steve Earls (4-ct), in cadence

– 10 calf raises, SINGLE COUNT

– Little of this and that

THA-THANG:

THA THANG is the main part of the workout, and usually consist of 3 to 5 “stations”, where you mosey to and then do an exercise (“String of Pearls”). Keeps the PAX together and provides some variation.

– PLAN OUT the workout ahead of time!

– Keep an eye on your TIME

– EXPLAIN CLEARLY and ENCOURAGE

– If you can’t Q it, don’t do it!  Not a “clipboard” program where the Q sits out

– Be FLEXIBLE!

– Make sure everyone is always ACTIVE! Give the rabbits something to do if they finish first.

– Situational awareness! Pay attention to the PAX. Sweep back to get the 6. NO man left behind!!

MOSEY to the parking lot below the Coliseum.

DORAS: These are a common type of exercise used in F3 where you pick a battle buddy and work towards a cumulative goal, like reps of an exercise.  RABBITS, Help out with the reps of others!

One partner runs a loop up the stairs and around while the other starts the exercises.  Each pair shall complete the total number:

  • 100 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 100 Big Boy Situps
  • 100 Lunges (2-count; only count the left leg)

** Turned the beatdown over to the great and powerful Lilydipper!!**

Mosey to the shaded parking lot across the street from the Northern Ball Fields Entryway parking lot.

We will do four corners with the following exercises:

Corner 1:  20 Star Jumps.  Then Bear Crawl to Corner 2.

Corner 2:  20 Big Boy Sit-Ups.  Then Bernie Sanders to Corner 3.

Corner 3:  20 Merkins.  Then Lunge to Corner 4.

Corner 4:  20 Flutter Kicks (4 ct).  Then Sprint to Corner 1.

Rinse and Repeat.

Next we will take a short mosey to beginning of the Dragon Tail.  We will do Route 66 up the Dragon Tail with the following exercises. (Note:  Those finishing the last light of the Dragon Tail will sweep men back to start the Dragon Tail again with the next exercise.)

  • Squat Jumps
  • Dive Bombers
  • Iron Mikes (both legs = 1)

(We only finished the first one due to time). Mosey to Shady Tree area by stoplight at northeastern corner of Admin Bldg.  20 American Hammers.

Mosey to AO.
MARY:
20 Hello Dollies

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:

One thing that many of us worry about in regarding to Q’ing a workout is giving the message, the BOM, at the end of the workout. We might think “I can’t speak the way that some people can.”  “I don’t have anything wise or good to say.”  “I’m not religious enough.”  “I will screw it up.”

You don’t have to deliver a long speech for the BOM.  Also, you need not know the bible well or deliver a message that must pass religious muster.  Just speak about something you have learned, something important to you, something that might help others.  Not everyone will respond the same way but I can almost guarantee that some of your brothers will get something out of your message.  I personally love hearing what different brothers have to say, the little pearls of life wisdom they can share with me.  And, as for your ability to speak well, thing about Moses, the great leader of the Israelites that led them from Egypt to Isreal:

From Exodus 4: 10-12

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

As to worrying about screwing up, your brothers are on your side no matter what.  And, screwing up is what we do.  Think of Abraham Lincoln.  The following list is from an article by Ron Kurtus:

A common list of the failures of Abraham Lincoln (along with a few successes) is:

  • 1831 – Lost his job
  • 1832 – Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
  • 1833 – Failed in business
  • 1834 – Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)
  • 1835 – Sweetheart died
  • 1836 – Had nervous breakdown
  • 1838 – Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
  • 1843 – Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
  • 1846 – Elected to Congress (success)
  • 1848 – Lost re-nomination
  • 1849 – Rejected for land officer position
  • 1854 – Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
  • 1856 – Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
  • 1858 – Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
  • 1860 – Elected President (success)

The fact is that we are supposed to screw up as leaders.  That is how we learn and how we grow.

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
GrowSchool to immediately follow the workout.  CSAUP this week-end at the Dog Pound, 6:30 am Saturday. Asylum PM is trying to break the attendance record on Tuesday to send Title IX out in style!

An Ode to Rocky I

THE SCENE: 73 degrees of pure East TN humidity.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH x 15

Imperial walkers x 10

Little Baby Arm Circles x 20 (10 both ways)

THA-THANG:
Mosey to Mt. Crumpet via the water fountain.

– Round 1

– 10 merkins at the bottom, bear crawl to the top.

– 10 BBS, mosey to the bottom.

– 10 burpees at bottom, bear crawl to the top.

– 10 squats, mosey down.

-Round 2

– 20 merkins at the bottom, bear crawl to the top.

– 20 BBS, mosey down.

– 20 burpees at bottom, bear crawl to the top.

– 20 squats, mosey down.

– Round 3

– 30 Merkins at the bottom, bear crawl to the top.

– 30 BBS, mosey to the bottom.

– 30 burpees at the bottom, bear crawl to top.

– 30 squats, mosey down.

– If additional rounds needed, add to the exercise by 10. Rinse and repeat.

MARY:
– 20 LBC’s OYO.

– Plank until time ran out.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
17 Hims.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Jesus says in John 15:2 – “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

The point of what I believe Jesus is driving at is that God the Father has to prune us or cut some things out of our lives if we are going to remain connected to the vine that is Jesus.  This pandemic, this global trial, is something that we shouldn’t waste, but rather ask God to use this time to show us some idols or sinful patterns that we need for Him to cut out of our lives.  It reminds me of when Rocky Balboa has gone several rounds with Apollo Creed, and he asks his trainer Mick to “cut him,” to open up his eye so he can see to finish the fight.  To be a HIM that is effective in this world, in our homes, and in our churches, we need God to do the same thing.  We need him to cut out and remove sin so that we can go the distance and finish the fight in a way that glorifies Him.  We need to invite God to do that through repenting of sin, and trusting that Jesus died to atone or pay for the sin in our lives.  Yes, when God starts working in your life, sometimes that is going to involve pain, but pain usually accompanies most things that are worth doing.  God bless you men, and see you soon.  Soli Deo Gloria.
MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.