F3 Knoxville

100 Years of Virtue

AO: asylum-pm
Q: Lilydipper
PAX: Lizzy, Title IX (Christian Prescott), Pusher, Glamper, SlideRule (Stephen Sloan), Sparkler, Curveball, MD Hammer, Pele (Jon Lindberg), Rooney(Carl Whipple), Tenderfoot, Crash Dummy, CRISPR, Unibráu (Nick Robinson), Duggar, Brick
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
WARMUP: 1 All-Important Burpee, 10 Imperial Walkers, 10 Iron Mikes, 20 Plank Jacks, On back leg and arm stretches, 10 Tennessee Rocking Chairs, 10 Tempo Squats, 10 Little Baby Arm Circles Forward and 10 Backward

THE THANG: Mosey to end on parking lot with nice restrooms. We will do 20 American Hammers.
Mosey to the Amphitheatre. We will bear crawl on grass, step up to next level and continue to the top. Run back down through parking lot below and rinse and repeat.
Mosey to Haslam Sign at Ball Fields. We will do 20 Hello Dollies.
Mosey to nice pavilion past ball fields. We will do Doras. While one partner runs around the pavilion, the other does exercises. Then partners switch. Here are the exercises:
100 Picnic Table Pull-ups.

100 Incline Merkins

100 Bench Dips

100 Decline Merkins

Mosey to ball field with artificial turf. Then run past the ball field and up the hill to the street.
Mosey east on road to the encircled garden by roadway circle. We will do 20 Rocky Balboas on curb surrounding garden.
Mosey to the Coliseum. Next, we will run counterclockwise ¾ of the way around the loop, stopping at each ¼ to do 15 Carolina Dry Docks. Those finishing the third ¼ first sweep everyone back.
Mosey to Haslam’s Rock. Here we will have a 20 Second Sky Gazer.
Mosey to AO.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Smokies Convergence this Saturday in Seymour. Hot Toddy Triple Q at Asylum on January 11.

COT:
Message
On December 29, Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100 years old, the longest living president in the United States. He served one term as president, losing the race for president to Ronald Reagan the next election. Losing the race for presidency hurt. But, Carter continued to serve our nation and the world in many different and powerful ways after he lost the election. He established the Carter Center to expand human rights and promote health around the world. Through the Carter Center he helped to practically Guinea Worm Disease, a disease that haunted Africa for centuries and affected 3.5 million people. He monitored more than100 elections around the world. Through Habitat for Humanity, he helped build over 1000 homes in over a dozen countries. He had many other accomplishments as well and because of the accomplishments, became the only president of the United States to earn the Nobel Peace Prize.

While achieving all this, he continued to preach Sunday School at his Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. He taught his church members but also had many visitors for his class. Some would come because he was president or because of his post-presidency accomplishments. But, as President Barack Obama noted, “I’m willing to bet that many . . . were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.”

The following words are directly from President Obama about Jimmy Carter:

Elected in the shadow of Watergate, Jimmy Carter promised voters that he would always tell the truth. And he did – advocating for the public good, consequences be damned. He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion. Because Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image.
Whenever I had a chance to spend time with President Carter, it was clear that he didn’t just profess these values. He embodied them. And in doing so, he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. In his Nobel acceptance speech, President Carter said, “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.” He made that choice again and again over the course of his 100 years, and the world is better for it.

So brothers, we have lost a good man. Let his legend live on and inspire us. May we each yearn for and learn to live the life God created us to live: one of grace, dignity, justice and service.

Prayers
Prayers for our brother, Sparkler, as he makes decisions regarding his upcoming treatment for Prostate Cancer. Prayers for Brick’s children after the divorce this past year. Prayers for all suffering mental or physical pain, including those who suffered injuries or the loss of loved ones in the recent incident in New Orleans. Prayers for those who work for the City of New Orleans.

100 Years of Virtue

AO: asylum-pm
Q: Lilydipper
PAX: Lizzy, Title IX (Christian Prescott), Pusher, Glamper, SlideRule (Stephen Sloan), Sparkler, Curveball, MD Hammer, Pele (Jon Lindberg), Rooney(Carl Whipple), Tenderfoot, Crash Dummy, CRISPR, Unibráu (Nick Robinson), Duggar, Brick
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
WARMUP: 1 All-Important Burpee, 10 Imperial Walkers, 10 Iron Mikes, 20 Plank Jacks, On back leg and arm stretches, 10 Tennessee Rocking Chairs, 10 Tempo Squats, 10 Little Baby Arm Circles Forward and 10 Backward

THE THANG: Mosey to end on parking lot with nice restrooms. We will do 20 American Hammers.
Mosey to the Amphitheatre. We will bear crawl on grass, step up to next level and continue to the top. Run back down through parking lot below and rinse and repeat.
Mosey to Haslam Sign at Ball Fields. We will do 20 Hello Dollies.
Mosey to nice pavilion past ball fields. We will do Doras. While one partner runs around the pavilion, the other does exercises. Then partners switch. Here are the exercises:
100 Picnic Table Pull-ups.

100 Incline Merkins

100 Bench Dips

100 Decline Merkins

Mosey to ball field with artificial turf. Then run past the ball field and up the hill to the street.
Mosey east on road to the encircled garden by roadway circle. We will do 20 Rocky Balboas on curb surrounding garden.
Mosey to the Coliseum. Next, we will run counterclockwise ¾ of the way around the loop, stopping at each ¼ to do 15 Carolina Dry Docks. Those finishing the third ¼ first sweep everyone back.
Mosey to Haslam’s Rock. Here we will have a 20 Second Sky Gazer.
Mosey to AO.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Smokies Convergence this Saturday in Seymour. Hot Toddy Triple Q at Asylum on January 11.

COT:
Message
On December 29, Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100 years old, the longest living president in the United States. He served one term as president, losing the race for president to Ronald Reagan the next election. Losing the race for presidency hurt. But, Carter continued to serve our nation and the world in many different and powerful ways after he lost the election. He established the Carter Center to expand human rights and promote health around the world. Through the Carter Center he helped to practically Guinea Worm Disease, a disease that haunted Africa for centuries and affected 3.5 million people. He monitored more than100 elections around the world. Through Habitat for Humanity, he helped build over 1000 homes in over a dozen countries. He had many other accomplishments as well and because of the accomplishments, became the only president of the United States to earn the Nobel Peace Prize.

While achieving all this, he continued to preach Sunday School at his Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. He taught his church members but also had many visitors for his class. Some would come because he was president or because of his post-presidency accomplishments. But, as President Barack Obama noted, “I’m willing to bet that many . . . were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.”

The following words are directly from President Obama about Jimmy Carter:

Elected in the shadow of Watergate, Jimmy Carter promised voters that he would always tell the truth. And he did – advocating for the public good, consequences be damned. He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion. Because Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image.
Whenever I had a chance to spend time with President Carter, it was clear that he didn’t just profess these values. He embodied them. And in doing so, he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. In his Nobel acceptance speech, President Carter said, “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.” He made that choice again and again over the course of his 100 years, and the world is better for it.

So brothers, we have lost a good man. Let his legend live on and inspire us. May we each yearn for and learn to live the life God created us to live: one of grace, dignity, justice and service.

Prayers
Prayers for our brother, Sparkler, as he makes decisions regarding his upcoming treatment for Prostate Cancer. Prayers for Brick’s children after the divorce this past year. Prayers for all suffering mental or physical pain, including those who suffered injuries or the loss of loved ones in the recent incident in New Orleans. Prayers for those who work for the City of New Orleans.

[genesis-ruck] Nightmare Before Christmas part 2

AO: genesis-ruck
Q: Brick
PAX: Single (Ryan Chambers), Mermaid, Lizzy
FNGs: None
COUNT: 4
WARMUP:
SSH
LBACs
Cherry Pickers
Merkins
Squats

THE THANG:

10 manmakers
50 plank pull throughs
Ruck up the trade route
10 manmakers
50 ruck pressed lifts
Ruck 1 big lap
10 manmakers
50 ruck twists

MARY:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Steam and Megan
Eliza
Sparkler
The holidays

COT:

She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7 (NASB)

Consider this: The fact that the innkeeper didn’t make room for Jesus did not stop Jesus from being born. History is his story. When the innkeeper said, “No room,” it didn’t hurt God. But the innkeeper missed what would have been the biggest blessing of his life. He missed the privilege of housing the Son of God.

Luke 2:7 says, “She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (NASB).

You don’t change God’s plans when you don’t make room for him—but you miss out! Jesus wants to give you purpose, peace, and power. But for him to do that, you have to make room for him in your heart.

First, Jesus wants to give you purpose. Do you ever feel something is missing in your life? It’s because you were made for purpose and significance, not just money or success. Success is not enough; it doesn’t satisfy.

The Message paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 6:12-13 says, “The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way . . . Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!” The antidote to unfulfillment is to make room for Jesus and what really matters! Don’t shut him out.

Next, Jesus can give you the kind of peace the Bible calls “the peace . . . which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ESV). That means you can have unexplainable peace even when everything around you is in chaos. That kind of peace comes only from Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Finally, Jesus wants to give you power too—the kind of power that allows you to have self-control. It’s interesting that the more control you give to Christ, the more self-control he gives you.

You’ve probably found that sometimes your best efforts aren’t enough; you don’t have enough willpower to overcome your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. You need the Spirit of Christ who gives you the power to have self-control

Do you want the purpose, peace, and power that only God can provide? You need to make room in your heart for Jesus!

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over

When have you missed out on a blessing because you didn’t make room for Jesus?
Can you see areas in your life today that God could bless if you just made room for him?
Is there an area of your life today that could use a boost of God’s purpose, peace, or power? Ask him for that right now.
The first step towards having God’s purpose, peace, and power in your life is to trust in Jesus.

God’s great generosity is reflected in his gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Your sins separate you from God. And it is only God’s grace, through Jesus, that can get you back into right relationship with him.

The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Journey part 1

AO: shamruck
Q: Eliza
PAX: Fabio (Joe Hamilton), Glamper, Lizzy, Mermaid, Oscar Meyer, Ribbed (Joshua Sagraves), slappy, Baby Boomer, Eliza, Honeydew
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
3.56 mile ruck

COT: Today I shared my diagnosis with a small brain tumor (hopefully and most likely benign) and asked for prayer for me and my family as we find out next steps.

[genesis-ruck] Nightmare Before Christmas…. Part 1

AO: genesis-ruck
Q: Brick
PAX: Mermaid, Single (Ryan Chambers), Steam, Lizzy
FNGs: None
COUNT: 5
WARMUP:

SSH
LBAC
Cherry Pickers

THE THANG:

.2 mile shuffle
10 burpees slick
10 sit-ups w ruck
10 4C flutter kicks w ruck
10 merkins w ruck
10 squats w ruck
10 4C mountain climbers w ruck
10 4C SSH

Rinse and repeat 4 more times

Rucked up Moto Hill for a wonderful view of the pool

MARY:
No time

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Polar Bear Plunge
Smokey Convergence
Hot Toddy Triple Q
Forge

COT:

God’s Most Successful Setback

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11)

Christmas marked the beginning of God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order to win strategic victories.

In the Old Testament, Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was promised glory and power in his dream (Genesis 37:5–11). But to achieve that victory he had to become a slave in Egypt. And, as if that were not enough, when his conditions improved because of his integrity, he was made worse than a slave: a prisoner.

But it was all planned. Planned by God for his good and the good of his family, and eventually for the good of the whole world! For there in prison he met Pharaoh’s butler, who eventually brought him to Pharaoh, who put him over Egypt. And finally, his dream came true. His brothers bowed before him, and he saved them from starvation. What an unlikely route to glory!

But that is God’s way — even for his Son. He emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Worse than a slave — a prisoner — and was executed. But like Joseph, he kept his integrity. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9–10).

And this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure.

But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20).

You fearful saints fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head.

>From “Joseph and Jesus: God’s Successful Setbacks”