F3 Knoxville

Better Versions of Ourselves

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

25 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Mountain Climbers, 7 Twisties, 7 Windmills, 7 Cherry Pickers, 7 Pterodactyls forward and 7 Pterodactyls Backward, Little of This and That.
THA-THANG:
There will be bricks laid out by the AO.  We will split into teams of two for Doras.  While one partner starts on the exercises listed below the other runs on the road going north and east to the large shaded tree.  Do five merkins at the tree and run back.  Partners change position and the other runs.  This pattern goes on until each team has completed the following exercises:

  • 100 Overhead Presses
  • 100 Triceps
  • 100  Curls
  • Rows
  • 100 Punches (both hands = 1)
  • 100 Wings Up
  • 100 Winds Down
  • 100 Wings Out.

We will mosey with the bricks to my car in the parking lot and place the bricks behind the back of my car.  Next we will run to the steps of the Admin Bldg.  There will be a list of exercises that we will do while running around the loop.  The steps of the Admin Bldg will be 12 o’clock.  We will do the first exercise at 12 o’clock and then will run around the loop stopping to do the first exercise at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock.  The first man to finish the exercise at 9 o’clock will sweep men back to 12 o’clock.  Each time we reach 12 o’clock we will run up and down the stairs one time.  Then we will start the loop again but with the next set of exercises.  Here are the exercises:

  • 5 Burpees
  • 10  Merkins
  • 10 Big Boy Sit-ups
  • 10 Plank Jacks
  • 10 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 10 Box Cutters

Mosey Back to AO.

MARY:
Abdominals.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Eleven men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I recently attending a video seminar that discussed people with disabilities and discrimination that can occur, even from the health professions, towards those with disabilities.  Some of the best moments of the seminar were when two men with disabilities were interviewed.  One of them, a man in his forties named Matt, was born with a very rare disease that caused his bones to be deformed.  His shoulders were awkwardly small, his hands deformed and turned inward, his legs small and crooked, and other bones deformed as well.  Fortunately, the disease had not impacted his brain and he was quite an intelligent person.  Because of his deformities, he had gone through periods of depression in his lifetime but was now a man comfortable in his own skin.  He has a career in film production.

Matt had many important things to say at the seminar but one that stuck out for me and which I want to share with you regarded his physical conditioning.  He was asked what it was like growing up and not being able to do things other kids did like play kickball, run around on the playground and climb the jumble gym. He did say it was difficult and that the inability to do the things others were doing impacted his self-esteem and mood. He commented that as a younger man he was overweight.  After all, he could not do the types of things that we do in F3.  After some time, he decided to work on his conditioning.  He said he began to realize that we cannot expect, through physical conditioning, to look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but we can certainly become a better version of ourselves.  So Matt began to work on his diet, eating healthier foods.  He also began to work out doing simple exercises that he could perform, like leg lifts and raising books above his head.  He could do things to raise his heartbeat and work up a sweat without jumping or running.  For a guy with the disabilities he had, Matt looked to be in very good condition.  He had some muscle tone despite the slumped shoulders and curvature in his body.  He felt good about himself and, like I said, was comfortable in his own skin.

Gents, we do not have to look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but we can become, like Matt said, “better versions of ourselves.”  We may not have the speed of Swimmies or the all-around ability of someone like Woodshack but we can strive to increase our physical, mental and spiritual prowess.  That’s important to know for an old geezer like me who cannot keep up with you younguns.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for employees at Crispr’s workplace where some things have been happening and an employee will be fired; prayer for safe travel for Drum Major and his daughter and for Dawg Paddle; prayers for Pusher’s son as he decides on graduate school; prayers for Abacus’ daughter as she prepares for graduation; prayer for all students at the end of this school year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We will meet again to work on our Obstacles at Hardship Hill on Saturday, May 20.

Pickett’s Charges

THE SCENE: Beautiful day at the Asylum, temps in the mid-60s and sunny
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

THA-THANG:

Mosey down towards west of park, turn on mulch path and go down to culdasack.

10 Rocky Balboas in cadence

15 curb dips own

Mosey to Dora landing.

On own do 10 star jumps, 10 plank jacks and then do wall sit until everyone completes and Q releases you.

Mosey down path set that winds over to the base of Pickett’s Charge.

1st go through do following at each tier, starting at the bottom

1 burpie

2 merkins

3 squats

4 LBCs

Then run full loop back to bottom of Pickett’s and repeat, except that the exercise amounts now double each time…so:

2, 4, 8,16, 32…. Burpies

4,8,16,32,64….merkins

6,12,24,48,96…squats

8,16,32,64,128… LBCs

MARY:
Some stretching after the hard work
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
12 men
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

My son has recently had 2 friends his age pass away. One due to a car wreck, one due to cancer. It just doesn’t seem fair, but at the same time it reiterates the point that we are all lucky to still be here and we are not promised one more breath in this life. We are all lucky to be able to stand here, beat ourselves up for 45 minutes and hang out afterwards.

This summer take advantage of what little time you may have left. Try something you have wanted to try. See something you have wanted to see, Go somewhere you have wanted to go. Just take advantage.

I have long regretted not traveling more when I was younger. I figure why not take advantage now. Next week I will set forth across the country and back for more than 3 weeks. It is exciting, yet I am anxious now as I prepare to leave. It will be great though, I will see things I have longed to see for a long time and will be giving my daughter something she can carry with her the rest of her life. Think what you may want to accomplish before it is too late and I encourage you to take advantage.

MOLESKIN:
This was tough, the jump to the 32 burpie level may be too much, may try doing it pyramid style if done again and start counting back down after the 8 burpie go ’round.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Asylum Volunteer workday will be June 10th, more info coming soon. Hardship Hill May 29, Asylum PM obstacle work on Wed, May 10. Forg3 F3 Retreat coming up this fall.

Accepted As We Are

THE SCENE: Sunny, temperature about 80 degrees.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

20 Plank Jacks, 10 Burpees, 10 Twisties, 7 Cherry Pickers, 7 Windmills, 6 Pterodactyls forward, 6 Pterodactyls backward, Michael Phelps.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to Stop Sign at Northeastern Corner of the Admin Bldg.  We will stop to do 20 Rocky Balboas.

Mosey on perimeter trail toward the entrance gate at Lyons Bend then on the trail heading east.  There will be a cone out in the field nearby. We will split into teams of two for Doras.  While one partner runs up to the tree stump at the top of the hill and back, the other partner does exercises.  Then partners switch off. Here is the exercises that each team of two partners will do:

  • 100 Squat Jumps
  • 100 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 100 Hello Dollies
  • 100 Iron Mikes (both legs = 1)
  • 100 Diamond Merkins
  • 200 Baby Crunches

Mosey back up the hill and past the stump to the roadway. Then mosey to the Stop Sign at the Northeastern Corner of the Admin Bldg.  We will run on the shaded trail to sidewalk that loops in front of the Admin Bldg.  Then head east to the parking lot area.  Then run on roadway back to the Stop Sign at the Northeastern Corner of the Admin Bldg.  There will be five cones set up along the way.  Each time we run the route we will do different exercises at the cones:

  • First run:  10 squats at each cone.
  • Second Run: 10 Flutter kicks (4 ct) at each cone.
  • Third run:  10 Lunges, 5 each leg, at each cone.
  • Fourth run:  10 Bobby Hurleys at each cone.

From the Stop Sign at the Northeastern Corner of the Admin Bldg. will will race back to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 Men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I hope that F3 will always be an organization where brothers feel welcomed by all brothers . . . where a man is not judged by the job he has, by the car he drives, by how fast he runs, or how fancy the shoes on his feet look.  I think the message of F3 should be, “my man, we accept you as you are.  That doesn’t mean that we won’t mold you into a better man . . . but it means that you can be you.”

One of my F3 brothers was recently talking about coworkers at his job. These guys make good money.  But the narcissistic, self-centered attitude of some of these coworkers, the selfish boasting, and the failure to help one’s fellow man sometimes make my friend feel sick.  My friend strives on at his job but he certainly doesn’t appreciate the attitude of some of his coworkers.

I formerly worked as a jury and trial consultant for a consulting firm that was hired by law firms on pretty major cases.  I highly respected many of the attorneys I worked for.  But, there were some attorneys I definitely did not respect.  I remember a mock trial that my consulting firm conducted in Jackson, Mississippi.  Some of the attorneys on the case and I arrived at the same time at the airport in Jackson and hailed a taxi together to ride to the hotel we were staying at.  I recall the smirks, comments and laughter about the taxi driver after we were dropped off.  The attorneys made fun of his accent and his seemingly backward ways while they also made negative inferences regarding the common state of the city.  I remember thinking during that stay in Jackson that I would be much more likely to enjoy eating dinner with that taxi driver than with those conceited attorneys.  I wondered what dreams that taxi driver had, what friendships, what his family was like, how hard he might be working to make sure dinner was on the table.  He certainly seemed friendlier than the attorneys and was probably much more real.  My bet was that his “seemingly backward ways” had much more depth and poignancy than the shallow sightedness of the out-of-town observers.

God, let me be surrounded by people who can be real with one another, who will appreciate one another for who they are and bring out the best in their fellow humans.  God, help F3 Knoxville to continue to be that type of band of men.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for daughter of Glamper as she is currently ill.  Prayers for Abacus’ son who is struggling with some issues and for his daughter as she prepares to graduate from high school.  Prayer for the wonderful way our F3 brothers pull together to help each other across the finish line.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On Tuesday of next week, Justice Knox has their annual Nehemiah Action event at the Civic Auditorium.  A coalition of faith communities will meet and work to make Knoxville a better place to live for everyone.  All are invited.  We will be preparing the Asylum PM made obstacles for Hardship Hill on May 20. This will be the weekend before Hardship Hill.  Sparkler will be in charge and we can use everyone’s help.

Jesus Wept

THE SCENE: Beautiful spring day, sunny, little breeze, low 70s.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Done adequately
WARM-O-RAMA:

Bolt 45s, Tempo Squats, Motivators, El Capitans, LBAC forward and backward, Grady Corns
THA-THANG:

MOSEY to bottom of Pickett’s…

Run PICKETT’S CHARGE, Bernie-ing the slopes and running on the flat parts.

Mosey to center of colosseum.  Do Mucho Chesto, then Run to 12 o’clock position, do Aiken Legs. R&R.

Aiken Legs: 20 Squats, 20 Squat Jumps, 20 Lunges (10 each leg), 20 Split Jacks (10 each leg forward)

MUCHO CHESTO: 10 x Merkin / 10 x Wide Merkin / 10 x Diamonds / 10 Stagger Merkin Left / 10 Stagger Merkin Right

Mosey to field below Overlook.  Cones laid out in a rectangle pattern.

FIELD OF PAIN:

  • Long side 1: Suicides
  • Short Side 1: 10 merkins, Bear Crawl, 10 Merkins at opposite corner.
  • Long side 2: Bernie to ½ way cone, 20 Iron Mikes (2-ct), 20 Bobby Hurleys. Run to next corner
  • Short Side 2: El Capitan lunge , with 5 Prisoner Cell Merkin Burpees at each cover.

Mosey about 1/2 way to road, then do 7s on small hill.  Flutter Kicks and Bobby Hurleys.

MARY:
Flutter kicks and Homer/Marge
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
11 strong.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today’s Word is taken from John Chapter 11, which is a story that’s probably familiar to many of you, as it describes Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead.  It builds on Steam’s WORD about Expectations that he gave last week, which also referred to a passage that included the sisters Mary and Martha.  In John Chapter 11, Jesus travels to Bethany to visit Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died.  THREE TIMES the sisters ask “Why? Why did my brother have to die? If you had been there, he would still be alive.”  Expectations.  That question of “If I had mattered to you, this wouldn’t have happened” is a question I think we’ve all asked ourselves, and certainly for those friends and family of those killed in yet the latest mass shooting event just down the road in Nashville, that has affected some of our F3 brothers.

But I want to focus on one specific part of the passage in John 11.  It contains the answer to a great Trivia Question  When confronted with the reality of the situation, what did Jesus do?  Jesus wept.  Our God is deeply moved and troubled when his Children suffer, and when we grieve.  We have a feeling and empathizing God.

Dr. William Sloane Coffin was a famous Presbyterian minister from Boston and Chaplain for Yale for a number of years, who lost his son in a car accident a few decades ago.  He gave a sermon just 10 days later.  (How does someone DO that??)  Dr. Coffin had the same questions about his son’s death that we all would have, that Mary and Martha had.  Where were you God?  But he said in that sermon,.

He said, “For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent heads that God doesn’t go around this world with His finger on triggers, His fist around knives, His hands on steering wheels.  the one thing no one should say to someone dealing with tragedy is “I know it was the will of God”.  Never do we know enough to say it is the will of God.  When my son died, my own consolation is that it is NOT the will of God that he died, it is that God’s Heart was the first of all of our hearts to break.”  As he closed his sermon, he said “As the grief that once seemed unbearable now turns to bearable sorrow, The truths in Biblical passages are beginning to once again take hold.  ‘In this world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer.  I have overcome the world; My light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  Weeping may endure in the night, but joy cometh in the morning’.  When my son beat me to the grave, it was not because God WILLED it.  It was because for him, the Dawn had come.”

This is the key lesson of John.  What God wills is Life out of Death.  What did Jesus do in the presence of Mary and Martha when told the news about Lazarus?  Jesus wept.  This is the compassionate nature of God.  God doesn’t just see from far away our pains and sorrows.  He is WITH us in our sorrow.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for those who were affected by the Nashville school shooting earlier in the week. Prayers for Title 9 as he looks for other career opportunities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FORGE! growth week-end, end of September.  Haw Ridge and Hardship Hill coming up!

Drum Major 52nd Birthday Workout

THE SCENE: Gloomy, but rain held off
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

15 Side Straddle Hops

5 Cherry Pickers

10 rockettes

10 baby arm circles each way

Little bit of this and that

THA-THANG:

Mosey long route to top of the dragon (stop at Haslam rock area and do some rocky balboas)

Skip 66 – skipping to each light

Exercise is the plank jack

 

Doras at Parking lot by Good Restrooms (If heavy rain do this in Pavilion)

Battle buddy up

One man karaoke one way to hallway point, turn around karaoke rest of way to end and then run back, other does:

52 flutter kicks (each leg is 1)

52 Bobby Hurleys

52 Major Merkins

52 Peter Parkers (each leg is one)

52 Imperial Squat Walkers (each leg is one)

52 Big Boys

Help other teams finish after you finish

**Rinse and repeat with other Battle Buddy starting this time. Runner do high knees to halfway and then butt kickers to end before running back on this round.

 

 

Choose Your Own Adventure – Stay Dry or Get Wet – HIMs Choice run back up to AO

 

Added challenge is you must do 52 hand release merkins along the way to the flag

MARY:
Finished in 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:

Grace meaning – undeserved favor

For Christians it is the belief that God bestows this undeserved favor on us all and that we all are meant to do the same for our fellow man.

 

“Grace is the very opposite of merit… Grace is not only undeserved favor, but it is favor, shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.” – Harry Ironside

 

This belief does not need to be restricted to Christians, and I believe our world could use a lot more of this. Think of times you could offer more grace, maybe while driving, dealing with your kids, or at work and put it to practice more often in your life.

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Updates on upcoming F3 events and service opps