F3 Knoxville

Travel through Time

AO: asylum-daybreak
Q: Waffle House (Brady Greene)
PAX: Dain Bramage (Will Olson), Veggie (Rylen Huddy), lebowski, High Heels (Henry Ritchie), High Heels, Pele (Jon Lindberg), Doubtfire (Nick Bond), Lizzy, Double Wide, F3 Pluto ( Hugh Nystrom), Proton, Pusher, Crawdad (Robbi Dickens), Lilydipper, Jason Sutton
FNGs: 1 Jason Sutton
COUNT: 15
Triple Q Fail, triple confessions:

1) I would like to say I was following in the footsteps of my predecessor Crawdad (Robbi Dickens) and I took the week to meditate on last week’s Q before posting the backblast. But the truth is I went home after the workout and immediately started working on the yard, which I do not care about. Spent all day on it and was too tired to post this.

2) I like to get a little chatter going when I’m Qing, you know? But we went up everest and were generally on the move so much that I was out of breath and couldn’t say a whole lot. And we didn’t even get to the Jack Webb I had planned 🙁

3) I forgot our FNG’s name. Little Roll? Double Wide his potential brother in law will have to remember if/when Jason Sutton comes back.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Proton! Great October surprise

COT: High Heels (Henry Ritchie) requested prayer for his write-in campaign to become Weasel Shaker

The Long and Winding Road

AO: asylum-pm
Q: Lilydipper
PAX: Lizzy, Brick, Rooney (Carl Whipple), Pusher, Curveball, Crash Dummy
FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
WARMUP: 20 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Burpees, 10 Windmills, 5 Burpees, 10 Cherry Pickers, 3 Burpees, 7 Twistees, 2 Burpees, 10 Tempo Merkins, 1 Burpee, 6 Pterodactyls Forward, 6 Pterodactyls Backwards.

THE THANG: Mosey to Front Steps of Admin Bldg. We will do 20 Regular Calves Raises, 20 Calves Raises with right foot on higher step, and 20 Calves Raises with left foot on higher step.
Mosey past Cul-de-sac at southeast side of Admin Bldg and run to raised garden at intersection of roads. We will do 15 Rocky Balboas off garden curb.
Mosey to West Side of New Pavilion by ball fields. We will do 15 Merkins.
Mosey to the trails behind the Ball Fields area. We will then mosey to the pier area by Lake Inlet. We will break into groups of three. Each group will start at a different cone to do first exercise, then rotate clockwise to do first at next cone, then go to 3rd cone for first exercise, then back to cone the group started at. They will go through the same sequence with the second and third exercises. Here are the exercises at each cone:
Cone 1 at benches near pier: 20 Bench Dips, 20 Incline Merkins, 20 Decline Merkins

Cone 2 back on trail near ball field parking lot: 20 Star Jumps, 20 Smurf Jacks, 20 Squat Jumps

Cone 3 at Rocks Pile: with rocks 20 Overhead Presses, 20 Curls, 20 Rows

Mosey back to Ball Fields area and street. We will do sevens from outfield in small ball field area to street up the hill. Start with six plank jacks on field and one squat on street.
Mosey back to intersection with raised garden. We will do ten more Rocky Balboas off curb of garden
Mosey to Coliseum. We will do 10 Bench Jumps on steps.
Mosey to Stop Sign at Northeast Corner of Admin Bldg. We will stop to do 20 American Hammers.
Next, we will Bernie race toward first no parking sign toward the AO. Next, we will sprint race to the AO.

MARY: Stretches

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Brolympics November 16 at Asylum

COT:
Prayers
Prayers for all those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Message
These words come from Wendell Berry in his book, Jayber Crow:
If I could do it, I suppose, it would be a good idea to live your life in a straight line – starting, say, in the Dark Wood of Error, and proceeding by logical steps through Hell and Purgatory and into Heaven . . . But that is not the way I have done it, so far. I am a pilgrim, but my pilgrimage has been wandering and unmarked. Often what has looked like a straight line to me has been a circle or doubling back. . . I have had my share of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by ways of mistakes and surprises. . . I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led – make of that what you will.

Guys, do you feel like Wendell Berry, like your life is anything but a straight path forward? So any of you feel like you are somehow being led?

These words come from Paul Tournier in his book, Reflections:
He leads us step by step, from event to event. Only afterwards, as we look back over the way we have come and reconsider certain important moments in our lives in the light of all that has followed them, or when we survey the whole progress of our lives, do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us.

Guys, I am 67-years-old. I am a psychologist and people often look to me for answers. I can tell you that when it comes to the difficult dips and turns in life – the conflicts where we just don’t know the way to turn – I generally don’t have “The Answer” whether that be for me or you. So I pray. I pray for guidance. And, that guidance often doesn’t come to me in crystal clear messages cut in stone. But, at age 67, I look back at me life and I see that God has been guiding me. He has provided beautiful answers for me without my recognizing it at the time, blessings that I am so thankful for. Those blessings often came after significant hardships.

Each one of you is on your own journey. Sometimes the path will seem clear. You know exactly what to pray to God for. At other times, the path will be unclear and arduous. You may not know what to pray for other than HELP. So, pray for help. Pray that God will direct you. God is mysterious, but he is powerful. And, although your prayers may seem unanswered, he is listening and he is guiding you.

At the end of your rope / 4x100ft Tug Ropes

AO: brickyard
Q: Spellcheck
PAX: Appleseed, Biohazard (Jay Shepherd), fast-n-easy (Nate Votta), Lizzy, Otis, Simmons, Spellcheck, Manilow (Brent Hunter), (2.0) Bruce Lee, (2.0) DuckHunt
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
WARMUP:
Oil cans
Cherry pickers
Tempo squats
Thai fighters
SSHs
Overhead claps
Seal claps
Tempo Merkins

THE THANG:
100s… (4-5 rounds / 2 to 3 men in a group)
Pull the 100ft rope, 100 yards / down & back
Squat Thrusters (while waiting)
BBS (while waiting)

Rope Pulls / Run Down / Bear Crawl Back
CMU lunges (while waiting)
LBC’s (while waiting)

Battle Ropes
8 rounds 2 for each man.
1 man at the end of each set of ropes
1min battles 15sec to run to the other end of the rope for another 1min battle

10 Rounds 4 for each man (repeat)
30sec battles 10sec to run to the other end of the rope for another 30sec battle

100 yard Quartered Rope Carry
Fold the rope in half four times throw it over your shoulder, mosey 100 yards, follow the leader pass the rope at the other end of the field. Two rounds for each man.

MARY:
Flutter kicks

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
runsignup.com/streethopetn
In 2020, a group of men made it their mission to help push back the darkness of child sex trafficking in St. Louis. What started as a virtual 5K, turned into a weeklong event logging miles anyway we could. Running, cycling, rucking, walking, swimming…
Four years later, more than 2,600 participants logged more than 78,000 miles. We’ve raised more than $488,000 to help survivors of trafficking.
This year, F3 St. Louis has challenged pax of F3 Nation to raise awareness of sex trafficking in their local communities…
and the men of F3 Knoxville have answered the call.

COT:
Believe 1st, Obey & Follow…

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Irony

AO: asylum-pm
Q: Lilydipper
PAX: Lizzy, Brick, High Heels (Henry Ritchie), Curveball, Rooney (Carl Whipple), MD Hammer, Crash Dummy, Doubtfire (Nick Bond)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 9
WARMUP: 20 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Mountain Climbers, 10 Tennessee Rocking Chairs, 10 Rockettes, 7 Twistees, Little of This and That

THE THANG: Mosey to cones. We will do 15 Yard Bear Crawl from one cone to other, then Three Burpees and Three Broad Jumps until back to other cone
Next, each man goes to CMU. Do following exercises:
20 Sideways Jumps over CMU (ten to left and ten to right).

20 Overhead Squat Thrusts with CMU

20 Bonnie Blairs (ten each leg)

20 Hand Release Merkins

20 Big Boy Sit-ups

Next, do 360 meter run and then repeat the 15 yard Bear Crawl and Burpees then Broad Jumps routine. Then repeat exercises at CMUs but do 15 of each exercise.
Next, do 360 meter run and then repeat the 15 yard Bear Crawl and Burpees/Broad Jump routine. Then repeat exercises at CMUs with 10 of each exercise.
Next, do 360 meter run and then repeat the 15 yard Bear Crawl and Burpees/Broad Jump routine. Then repeat exercises at CMUs with 5 of each exercise.
Those finishing above work way back up ladder with the run, Bear Crawl and Burpees/Broad Jump routine and 10 of each exercise, etc.

MARY: 15 Side Straddle Hops, 15 Hello Dollies, Stretches.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Brolympics on November16 at Asylum.

COT: Prayers
Prayers for sister and sister-in-law of Lizzy who are in Florida and will face storms from hurricane. Prayers for all those who will cope with hurricane and storms from hurricane. Prayers for safe travels for Pele who is on a ten day trip in Midwestern United States.
Message
This is a quote from the theologian, Rebecca Manley Pippert, about Jesus Christ:

“What do you do with a man who is supposed to be the holiest man who has ever lived and yet goes around talking with prostitutes and hugging lepers? What do you do with a man who not only mingles with the most unsavory people but actually seems to enjoy them? The religious accused him of being a drunkard, a glutton and having tacky taste in friends. It is a profound irony that the Son of God visited this planet and one of the chief complaints against him was that he was not religious enough.”

Gents, think about that the next time you judge someone else. Also, think about that the next time you feel like you are not good enough for God. God is here for us, even in the Fake Gloom, even through our mumble chatter, even at our Board Meetings. And you know what? He probably enjoys us. This holiest of holies is on our side. So, let’s feel good about that and let it give us the energy to go about our days working to be true HIMs.

Let’s Go To The Beach

AO: asylum-pm
Q: Steam
PAX: Doubtfire (Nick Bond), Lizzy, Pusher, MD Hammer, High Heels, Brick, Rooney (Carl Whipple), Switchhitter (Tony), Colonel (Alex Wallace), Pele (Jon Lindberg)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
WARMUP
– The Mosey: to the Coliseum overlook
– Squat: 12×4
– The Mosey: down to the rock pile
– Curl: 25 up/down
– Chest presses: 25 up/down
– The Mosey: to the big tree
– Baby arm circles (F + B): 12×4
– The Mosey: to the road
– The SSH: 12×4
– The Mosey: to Muscle Beach

THE THANG
Muscle Beach Mania
(1) 10s
– POC: Muscle Beach + Pavilion
– Xs: Inverted Rows + Dips

(2) BB Pyramid
– Get a BB
– POC: Muscle Beach + Pavilion
– Pyramid: 3 levels (all reps as a team)
– L1: 400 LBCs
– L2: 200 knee-ups (Modification: Imperial Walkers)
– L3: 100 flutter kicks (2 count)
– While one BB is cranking out reps here, the other is running around to the other end of Muscle Beach and then knocking out 10 reps on one of the machines + coming back
– If you get done – help another BB team finish their reps

Time crunch — left Muscle Beach NLT than 6:18pm to account for the travel time back to the AO.
– Get a new BB
– Somewhere between here and the flag — share 1 thing that was good in your week and 1 thing that was challenging.
– Stopped 2x and asked different guys to share what they learned.

MARY
– ATMs
– Light stretching

ANNOUNCEMENTS
– The 2024 F3 Knoxville Leadership Survey is LIVE and the RDT (Regional Direction Team) wants to hear from YOU. Head over to the announcements channel or check your email to learn more about “the why” behind it and complete this year’s survey. Reach out to me with any questions/issues.
– 9 Year Anniversary Convergence: Saturday, November 16th @ The Asylum. More details to come. If you want to be on the planning team to help with this – let me know.

COT
>From The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
Check out the passage I read from the book in this message thread for context.

Mini-Word built inside the Word — from the last line that I read: “The Enemy (God) wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct.”
– It’s an election year — tensions are high and you don’t have to look far to see how deep the division and emotionally charged rhetoric goes.
– Even though we are united in Christ (if you are a Christian) or united under the banner of F3, we are still distinct beings with unique thoughts, opinions, and world-views. This is good, btw.
– That being said — F3 is not the place to blast your political views out there in a way that isolates or excludes others. That’s anti-F3 mission. Respectful conversations? 100%. During the workout, let’s be about the workout and be about challenging and encouraging each other – not our political views. After all, F3 Core Principle #2 is that F3 is open to all men.
– Dark Helmet said it best when asked the question “What is F3’s position on this?” Relating to something political, viewpoint, etc.
– We don’t have a position as F3. The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership.
– If I can find this video/audio clip or message from him I will share it.

The part in there that really stands out for me is the line “He wants servants who can finally become sons.”

– John 10:10 — A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

– Galatians 5:1 — For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
– The word “again” stands out to me and causes my focus to shift to the last part of Romans 7 and beginning of Romans 8

– MSG (22) Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better me every time. (23) It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I lease expect it, they take charge. (24) I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope, Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? (25) The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

– Romans 8:1 — Therefore, (meaning because of everything I just stated) there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

– Why? Romans 8:2 (MSG) — Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

We are men are continuously learning what it means how to be a true son. And as He invites us further into redemptive sonship, we step further up and further into the men we were always called to be.