F3 Knoxville

Digging for Treasure? Find it in Christ Alone!

THE SCENE: 47F and clear. Great workout weather.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Administered. Hopefully social distancing requirements will be lifted soon!
WARM-O-RAMA:

IC Moroccan Night Club x 10
IC Tennessee Rocking Chair x 10
OYO Forward Lunge x 5 ea leg
OYO Side Lunge x 5ea leg
IC Tempo Merkin x 10
Pickle Pounder x 10
Pickle Pointer x 10
Reach for the sky ~10-15 seconds
Let it hang ~10-15 seconds

Mosey around the parking lot toward the pavilion near the walking path. Today we’re digging for treasure! Let’s see if we can find some

THA-THANG:
Dig Site #1 – At the Pavillion – ~5 minutes of AMRAP of the following (10 reps each)

Step Ups
Incline Merkins
Squats
Dips

Mosey to Dig Site #2 – the CMU Pile ~ 10 minutes AMRAP of the following (10 reps each)
Hodor
Bent Over Rows
Blockees

The plan was to run down and back to the tree next to the pathway leading up to the CMU plie after all 3 exercises, but the Hodors and Blockees proved to be so difficult after the first round the Q suggested a modification of running after each exercise set of 10 reps and I think it worked better.

Mosey to Dig Site #3 – The Fish
Bear crawl the fish. 30 second wall sit. Repeat 1x.

Rounded it up with 10 x Pickle Pounders + 10 x Pickle Pickle Pointers

Falling Indian Run (aka a modification of a do-ah-diddy) Dig Site #4 – Shovel Flag
Man in the front of the line peels off and does squats until the end of the line reaches him. New man in front of the line counts to 3 (originally had it planned for 5 but we didn’t have very far to run so I wanted us to get plenty of squats in) while running and then peels off. Repeat until destination is reached.

MARY:
Dig Site #4 – Shovel Flag – Q gave the option of doing something hard (my version of the Thunderstruck routine, doing something flexible (Dealer’s Choice), or doing something that makes you think (Mary Go Round) and the first two tied, so we did something hard (20 reps minimum) of Dealer’s Choice.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
15 Treasure Hunters!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today we went searching for treasure. And we found a few gems we might have to take out and repeat our long gaze at the future!

This past year has caused us all to ask the question:
Where is your treasure? Matthew 6:19-21 (and also Luke 12:32-34) answers it:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So again I’m going to ask: Where is your treasure? Is it in this world? In the security of making good financial decisions? Are you trusting in the perceived security of a relationship? A friendship? A hope of something you’ll experience in the future? Or even a felt vindication for the past? Where is your treasure? Further commentary from Jesus continues in Matthew 6:22-23

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

What are you taking in that is driving your treasure? Consider well -we know GIGO. But do we apply it to our eating habits? To our treatment of our friends? Does how we act, what we say, and why we do it point to a treasure in heaven or a treasure in ourselves? Where is your treasure?

Last Jesus points to the most obvious dichotomy in Matthew 6:24

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[f]

This is where the rubber soundly meets the road. There are many ways to fall and only one angle at which you can stand straight. Is your treasure in money, your financial security to provide for yourself and your family? Or is it with God in heaven? Jesus says you can’t have them both as the place you’re putting your treasure? So once more:

Where is your treasure? I pray it’s wholly, daily seeking to be in Heaven, Where Christ Is.

MOLESKIN:
Prayed for Jordan, Clickbait, Corey, & Interpol. Also this was my first time leading at Shamrock and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope the PAX were well-served.

Step up and lead a Q (or ask me or Mermaid or another guy to co-q with you!)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Big Ball June 12th (time not yet announced but I anticipate 7am start). Bring your 2.0’s + breakfast and a work day at the Wesley House after!

Be Prepared for 7-11’s and a Pyramid Scheme

THE SCENE: 56 and somehow no rain during a Pool Boy Q.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER – Given. Hopefully we can get make this COVID precaution disclaimer a thing of the past soon.
WARM-O-RAMA:

10 x Moroccan Night Club IC
10 x Tennessee Rocking Chair IC
5 each leg x Forward Lunge
5 each leg x Side Lunge
10 x Tempo Merkin IC
5 x World’s slowest burpee (aka Slurpee!)
5 x each side Rainbow drop
Reach for the sky
Let it hang

THA-THANG:
Falling Indian Run – Front of the line “falls off” to the side and does squats until the end of the line gets to where you are.

We found a 7-11 on the hillside across the road next to the upper lot corner and just had to stop! We had 3 each rounds of breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

7-11 Bottom (7 reps) Top (11 reps)
Round 1 LBC (4-ct.) OHC (4-ct.)
Round 2 Merkins Squats
Round 3 Slurpees Lunges

A core exercise was led by the first PAX done until the 6 finished the last round of the current meal. A 15-count was given between rounds and a 30-count was given before moving on to the next round.

Next mosey about 50 steps to the upper lot actual big parking lot and the Q asked “who likes Pyramids?” (to no one’s surprise no hands were raised because they knew where I was headed haha).

The 1-2-3-4 Pyramid (see previous backblast: Repeatedly Building a Pyramid):
Bernie to 1. Do 1. Run to Start. Bernied to 1. Do 1. Bernie to 2. Do 2. Run to 1. Do 1. Run to Start. Build to 4 and then go back down.

Big parking lot pyramid – Bernie there, run back
Exercises (x 10)
Parking Spaces Line 1 Tempo Squat
Parking Spaces Line 2 Carolina Dry Dock
Parking Spaces Line 3
Mountain Climber
Parking Spaces Line 4 Rainbow Drop

I’d hoped we’d get all the way up and down from 1 to 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 back to 1 but only got through 1-2-3-4 then had one of the PAX call a core exercise and then recover when the 6 arrived.

MARY:
Mosey back to the Shovel Flag, 1 wagon wheel. Dealer’s choice until time was called (see the Moleskin for a fun story).

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 PAX including 3 Rushers

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I signed up for this Q yesterday evening when there wasn’t one signed up yet. But I prepared it a couple of weeks ago when 5k stepped up and grabbed a Q that was open. Lately we’ve had a bit of Q-lethargy, so I thought having a “pocket-Q” (but really more than just a pocket Q but a fully pre-prepared Q) would be helpful. This is what came to mind when thinking about what I should have ready to say as well as I hope will be an exhortation and challenge to those at any point in the process of consistently taking the next step aka growing in sanctification in Christ in all aspects of life:

1 Peter 3:1515 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

There are 3 things we can take from this:
1. Diligence & study – We need to be working not only to lead but lead well and develop skills so that we’re prepared for what is coming, not just hanging on to the present day’s troubles but really getting ready for battle:
2 Timothy 2:15 – 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (see Jeremiah 12:5 for the extra mile challenge of the OT):

2. Availability – Not only do we need to slow down and have time to be available, but we also ought to consider what we should be doing with even our “rights” to things so that we boast only in Christ and are available for others at a sacrificial point. Paul is an example here for us:
1 Corinthians 9:15 – 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

3. Gentleness & respect – When we are prepared and available, we don’t have to resort to the lower forms of argumentation (and we know this really isn’t argumentation but simply “trying to win or get the other person to stop making an argument), but instead can actually address the higher forms of argumentation. This is why the follow scripture actually cannot be argued with or as v.23 puts it “against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Application questions:
Q1. What is the Gospel? Can you explain it in 60 seconds or less when asked ‘what do you believe?’ (see Interpol’s BOM challenge for more on this)
Q2. Are you living in such a way to be asked for the hope that you have?
Q3. How are you doing in these 3 areas of application to giving a reason for the hope that you have?

MOLESKIN:
Several PAX led Dealer’s Choice including Erector who returned from Rush and called out just about every core exercise we had already done today. It was so much fun to see him brainstorming and then he ended up with calling “side crunches” and my 6:15 watch alarm went off and I jokingly called “time!” but then Booster said “I don’t want a 3 pack”. So I let us finish even though it was a *little* bit past time haha. (also Erector after trying not to repeated his “10 crunches on each side” from his ImpromptQ on Monday (way to step up and embody exactly what I talked about today!)

Prayed for Scott (Spotter’s Uncle who’s having a biopsy today so pray for him there), Chaco’s family (sister passed away from addiction), and Wanderer’s son (congrats on your HS graduation, Leonard!)

After this BB guess what I’m doing next? 1. Preparing for my Q at Shamrock on Friday and then making another “full pocket Q”. You can do it too!

Also also, I’m willing to co-Q or do whatever part of a Q you want me to lead just reach out and we’ll jump in the Pool together – get it?! 😀

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Big Ball June 12th – from Judge Judy:
On June 12 we will have a special Convergence at Big Ball. We will have a workday afterwards at Wesley House. 2.0s (boys and girls) will be invited to both the workout and the work day – to observe their Dads in action. We will workout, then meet at the WH for coffee, food and a speaker. Then we will do some cleaning, painting, landscaping for as long as guys can stick around.

JUCO Parking Lot Pain

THE SCENE: Pleasant 63 degrees – very nice.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH
1 Burpee
Tempo Squat
2 Burpees
Tempo Merkin
3 Burpees
Freddy Mecuries
4 Burpees
Imperial Walkers
5 Burpees

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the large parking lot
10 Thrust Merkins
9 Iron Mikes
8 Elbow Planks
7 Body Builders
6 Squat Jumps
5 Should Taps
4 Round the Clock Merkins
3 Monkey Humpers
2 Big Boy Situps
1 Diamond Merkin
Run to the other side of the Large Parking Lot
Knock off the last exercise
Repeat forever…or until about 6:10

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Job 38: 1-11

1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8“Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

MOLESKIN:

F3 = Unit Cohesion – Appreciate the fitness, but cherish the fellowship, encourage others to take up the mantle of leadership with the Q community

Trust in our sovereign Lord – He is in control of everything even we don’t see/feel it

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Booster mentioned going to the Quacken on Wed evenings to support the AO.

Choose Your Partner for War Wisely

THE SCENE: The rain held off for a 65° windy perfect morning
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Delivered
WARM-O-RAMA:

Tempo Squats, High Knees, Let it Hang, Reach for the Sky, Cherry pickers, inch worm merkins and 2 SSH.
THA-THANG:
Indian run to the big parking lot dropping for 5 merkins.

  • Slalom each median in the big parking lot with a burpee every time your cross the “road”
  • 11’s in the pit by the far entrance with squats at the bottom and merkins on the road.
  • Mosey to the outer loop behind lake
    • 10 floor tricep dips, and 10 inch worms
    • run the loop
    • 20 flutter kicks and 20 pickle powders
    • run the loop
    • 30 lunges and 30 squats
    • run the loop.
    • on each loop is 5 burpees, 10 4 count hello dollies, and 15 bobby hurley’s
  • found a rope laying on the ground, so we played tug o war, of course

MARY:
Flutter kicks, Pickle pointers, Mountain Climbers, Freddie Mercury 

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Psalm 27 verse 4, it says “Though an army May encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.” 

David saying he has lot things against him, an Army, and a War, but David says “my heart shall not fear and, in this I will be confident”  in response.

How does he do that?  FAITH. David has outstanding faith. When David was fighting Goliath, King Saul giving David his armor; but David did not want it because he had faith that God would protect him. How do we get that faith that David has? 

James chapter 1 verse 2 Says “Count it all to Joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

David no doubt has had trials that tested his faith, like fighting Goliath, ruling nation, running from king Saul when Saul was trying kill him. The trials grow your faith. I bet none of us are going to fight a giant, rule a nation, or run from king trying to kill you, but I bet most of us will or has had trials like temptations, relationships, or even COVID.

Thinking about going into battle, if you get to choose 1 guy you guys wouldn’t choose me; not yet at least.  I’m going choose you big guys.  You’re all a lot bigger than me and I look up to you and I know you’d protect me. God is infinitely bigger, infinitely stronger.  One way we show this in our prayer life is to get our knees, like we do here, and say with our posture that we are small. 

I challenge you pray to Jesus privately on your knees and ask Him to grow your faith so you could be confident in trials, and even pray for trials so you could test your faith. David knows that his God can do the impossible. God wants us to believe that he can do impossible. All the big problems in our life are tiny to him. Our God is bigger than our understanding. 

Did not count

THE SCENE: 65 and prefect
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Explained that YHC can’t do 3 things at once.  Exercise & Count & Pray for ya’ll and the day.  So today we just worked out based on time it took others to do stuff.  No counting required.

High Knees -while: Explained the above
Side Straddle Hop-while: Each HIM did 1 Burpee in sequence
Plank (High, Right, Left, 6 inches)-while: Each HIM ran the outside of the circle 1 at a time
Moroccan night club, Overhead clap, Arm circles -while: Each HIM ran the outside of the circle 1 at a time
Flutter Kicks -while: YHC Bear Crawled the inside of the circle
THA-THANG:

Mosey to the close guardrail where one HIM did prison-cell-merkin-burpee’s while everyone else did guardrail dips. Then Clap Merkins on the guardrail while each him did one burpee.

Mosey, with a little Bernie, to the coupon pile (which was nicely cleaned up) where we played “Simon Hey Ho He”  Each guy added one CMU exercise to a sequence and if we got it wrong we had to do a burpee (which in the end seemed far easier than the sequence, and made counting seem super simple.)

Dora

Mountain Climbers While partner:
Pull Ups AMRAP
Advanced CPR Leg Lifts
BBS Wall Touch
Merkins Tree Touch
Wall Hang on brick wall with holes Sprint for Sign

MARY:
Let others try out the inner circle bear crawl while they called out a Mary Exercise.  Hello Dolly, Flutter kicks, Freddie Mercury, Low plank

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

22 quality HIMs: 7 were rushers

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Today we didn’t count exercises but I want to talk about making today count.

My good friend from college, Julien, does an awesome job of making every day count.  He is perhaps the smartest guy I know and when he isn’t turning a company around or becoming the CEO of a bio tech company he is rehabbing a 300 year old barn by hand.  The guy works amazingly hard.

A few years back he was down in Mexico at a conference and took some clients out deep sea fishing.  They didn’t catch anything.  When they returned to the harbor they see a local fisherman and his son in a tiny dinghy with 3 huge fish.  Julien, impressed at the catch asked him: “Sir, How did you do that?  How long did it take you?”

“Señor, it’s what I’ve done for years.  My son and I caught these in a little less than an hour.”

Julien responded, “That’s amazing!  Are you going out to catch more?”

“No Señor.  This is more than enough for my family and I’ll sell one at market.  Tomorrow is soon enough.”

Julien, a bit confused but intrigued by this mindset asked, “Can I ask, what do you do with your time?”

The Mexican fisherman replied, “I get up early and spend some time with God, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip a glass of wine and play guitar with my amigos: I have a full and busy life, señor.”

Julien offered to help the fisherman make a business of this man’s fishing talent.  “My name is Julien and went to the best business school in the US.  I’m a CEO and love making business succeed.  I want to invest in you.  Can I help you build a business of this?  You could take clients fishing, get a bigger boat, heck a fleet of boats, then make a business of it.  We’d sell the extra catch direct to the distributer, cutting out the middle man, you could make millions!”

“What would this take señor?  How long would it take?”

“You’d move to Mexico city and run the business, in 15, no maybe only 10 years, you bring the company public, huge IPO!  You’d have enough money to do whatever you want.  What would you do with that kind of freedom?”

The Mexican fisherman looked off to sea and smiled as he thought of the possibilities.  Then locked eyes with Julien. “Julien, I know just what I’d do.  I’d move to a small coastal village, much like this one.  I get up early and spend some time with God, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip a glass of wine and play guitar with my amigos.”

And from that day on, Julien lived his life differently.

Okay, I’ll admit, most of that isn’t a true story.   Julien is a real friend, talented hard working CEO. I don’t know if Julien has ever been to Mexico. The parable, you may have heard before, I heard years ago.  But it speaks to the scripture I want to share for today:

Psalm 90:12 “So, Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

The “so” points back to the first 11 verses that give us God’s perspective on time.  He was before the mountains were formed and our lives are but a breath.  But then it goes on to ask for God’s favor, wisdom – for Him to satisfy us and make us glad and see Him for who He is.

God’s perspective on time is very important to ponder. Take some time today to realize God’s eternal nature and his perspective.  What are you striving after? Your past doesn’t matter; you plans don’t matter.  What matters: Where is your heart with Jesus right now and are you willing to do more with Him?
Maybe that means to spend extra time with your wife or kids. Maybe it’s difficult, but life altering conversations.  Maybe it’s just helping a neighbor in need.

Read Psalm 90 and consider these things.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Get those Save Haven donations in before the month is up and check out Spotter’s May challenge- I encourage you to join.