F3 Knoxville

Untitled Tuesday @ The Project

THE SCENE: Nice.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Same old (IMPORTANT) stuff. (One day, I’ll say everything the right way – without help from the PAX.)

WARM-O-RAMA:

  1. 15 SSH – 4ct, IC
  2. 15 Arm circles – 4ct, IC (both directions)
  3. 15 Squat – 4ct, IC
  4. 10 Iron Mikes (2ct, rt leg) – OYO
  5. 15 Merkins – 4ct, IC
  6. 5 Burpees – OYO
  7. 10 Cherry Pickers – 4 ct, IC
  8. Mosey to ORHS Track

THA-THANG:
1. Bataan Death March@ORSH Track: Last PAX does 5 Burpees, then catches up to the front of the line. 2 ROUNDS AROUND TRACK. 2nd time around, 3 Burpees instead of 5. Mosey to K25 Hill.

2. Doras@K25: 1 partner starts on 100 merkins, 100 BBS, 100 squats, 50 Burpees, while other partner starts up hill. (We did ALL. OF. THIS. Kept wondering “What time is it? Surely, it’s time to head back to the Shovel Flag…”) Mosey to Friendship Bell.

3. Lunges from Friendship Bell back to Shovel Flag. (There’s been lots of mumble chatter about sore butts and thighs from the F3 Greenwood Iron PAX Challenge, Week 0. So, what better way to be ready for that kind of punishment than to keep up the pain? However, I know that I will totally regret saying this with all the mumble chatter about Iron PAX Challenge, Week 1…)

MARY:
Everyone had a chance to lead in 1 Mary exercise: Flutterkick, Freddy Mercury, Right Side Crunches, Left Side Crunches, Star Crunches, and HELLOOOOO DOLLY (“waddup girl?!” – Booster quote)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
6 STRONG: Erector, Chaco (RESPECT-RESPECT), Trolley (RESPECT), Rocket, Samaritan, and Snaggletooth on Q

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
There are several friends in my life, men who are struggling – and some of them, not winning – yet: battles with their own character/integrity, marriage, family, work, etc. But I have this hope for them (and for you and me) in God:

“Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes.
Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure,
feasting on his faithfulness.
Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life,
and he will provide for you what you desire the most.
Give God the right to direct your life,
and as you trust him along the way
you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!” (Psalm 37:3-5, TPT)

MOLESKIN:
Always a joy…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Iron PAX Challenge, Week 1; TTTP (but apparently, no longer Trucking TO the Pound…)

Disappointed?

THE SCENE: 71 degrees and rainy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered 
WARM-O-RAMA:

Windmill – x10 IC
Tempo Squats – x10 IC
Seal Claps – x10 IC
Motivators – x8

THA THANG:

Perform each exercise for 45 seconds – 15 second rest

Grab a CMU and mosey to the field, where we will PAUSE

P             Pickle Pounder
A             Al Gore
U             Upright Row
S              Squat Press
E              Everest w/ CMU (lunge, squat, lunge, squat…)

Mosey to the bell to RECOVER.

R             Racoon Crawl
E              E2K (Left)
C             CMU Curls
O             Outlaws
V             V-Ups
E              E2K (Right)
R             Ranger Merkins

Mosey to the playground, where we will TAKE IT EASY

T              T Merkin (Merkin – one arm straight up to make a “T”)
partner up for the next two exercises;
A             Al Gore (together with Farmer Carry)
K             Kettlebell Farmer Carry (together with Al Gore)
E              Eccentric pull-ups (jump up, let yourself down)
I               Iron Mikes
T              Triceps Extension
E              Eccentric chin-ups
A             American Hammer
S              Scorpion Dry Docks
Y              Yurpee (Burpee with a clap merkin and two tuck jumps at the top)

Mosey to the amphitheater for a BREAK

B             Bernie
R             Rosalita
E              Everest
A             ABCs
K             Kraken Burpee (burpee with three hand-release merkins)

Mosey back to the shovelflag and CHILL

MARY:

C             Colt 45s
H               Heavy Freddies
I                 Imperial Walkers
L              LBC
L              LBFC (flutter kick crunch)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA:

9 HIMs!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Many major and minor disappointments in my life I can attribute to one thing – expectations…unfulfilled expectations.  Sometimes it’s the major, “Why didn’t I get that job that I wanted?” or “Why wasn’t this person healed?”.  Sometimes it’s the minor, “Why didn’t my son pause the video and say ‘hi’ when I got home from work?”  My expectations don’t always line-up with the way things play out – and that, inevitably, leads to disappointment.  However, in moments of clarity I can see that my unmet expectations were nearly always unfounded and/or unreasonable – that my often lack of resilience is a telltale mark of self-centeredness – and that my disappointment when big things don’t work out the way that I planned is a lack of faith that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Much of the book of Isaiah is a description of the character of God.  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” –Isaiah 55:8-9.  The God of the universe does not think the way that we think – and does not act the way that we act.  His plan for our life is much greater than ours.  His purpose is not to make us comfortable and spoiled, but rather to redeem us so that we can bring glory to Him.  Thank God we don’t get everything that we want – or we’d be spoiled brats.

As men who plan and live purposeful lives, we are going to have expectations – and that, in and of itself, is not the problem.  However, our uncompromising attachment to that expectation can cause a problem.

Imagine you are holding a precious fragile object in your hand (that represents part of you – your expectations).  If you let go of it, it will smash to the ground and be shattered.  But, imagine you are holding it palm upwards.  You open your hand, and the object (your expectation) stays where it is.  The “expectation” is still there…but you are no longer attached to it.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be cheerful no matter what”…“In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God”

Where have you been disappointed in life?  Was it because your expectations were unrealistic or selfish?  You can replace your rigid expectations with intentionality and curiosityThink, speak, plan, and act with intention – be curious about what will happen – but be flexible about the outcome – and show resilience when things go another way.

MOLESKIN:
Hat tip to Archie for the inspiration for this Q and Word (now, RECOVER!)

Hat tip to Jeremy Marchant for some of the CoT content: https://www.emotionalintelligenceatwork.com/resources/short-piece-dealing-ones-expectations/

I really thought this Q would be harder than it was…you guys barely broke a sweat!  (unfulfilled expectations….)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Iron PAX challenge
JUCO shirts
Brolympics II

Taking the Scenic Route

THE SCENE: 73°F, Clear sky with a bright moon
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH x20 IC 4-count
  • Burpees x4 OYO
  • Imperial Walker x15 IC 4-count
  • Burpees x6 OYO
  • Imperial Squawkers x10 IC 4-count
  • Burpees x8 OYO

THA-THANG:
Mosey to the ORAU pond walkway (scenic route)
Run laps around the pond:
Before the lap, OYO

  1. Merkins x20
  2. Squats x20
  3. Shoulder Taps (4ct) x10
  4. Smurf Jacks x20
  5. Scorpion Dry Docks x20
  6. Burpees x10
  7. Mountain Climber 4ct x10
  8. Heels to Heaven x20
  9. Jump Squats x20
  10. Plank Jacks x20

Mosey to the Bell
11s- box jumps and derkins

Mosey back to SP

MARY:

  • Flutter Kicks x20 IC
  • American Hammer x20 IC

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
7- Rocket, Erector, Kick-flip, Samaritan, Chaco, Snaggletooth, Archie (QIC)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The struggle with Pride is real. It can cause us to react to others negatively because we are comparing ourselves. We are competing with those around us.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
‭‭Philippians 2:3 ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/php.2.3.esv

Untitled (Ambitious) Workout

  • THE SCENE: 67 and humid – good for sweating
    F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
    WARM-O-RAMA:

    SSH (IC) – 15
    Tempo Merkins (IC) – 10
    Burpees (OYO) – 5
    Imperial Squawkers (IC) – 15
    LBAC (IC) – 10 (FWD/BWD)
    Cherry Pickers (IC) – 5
    Mosey to Playground/High Knees/Butt Kickers/Lunges
    THA-THANG:
  • 1. 5:40 (5 min)Pull-Ups @ Playground/Dips @ Parallel Bars
    • 3 Rounds 20 – 15 – 10
    • Hold Plank @ Parallel Bars when done
    • Mosey to Amphitheater
  • 2. 5:45 (10 min) Doras @ Amphitheater
    • 100 Merkins, 200 BBS, 300 Squats on Stage
    • Hold Al Gore @ Stage when done
    • Mosey to East Parking Lot (near library)
  • NO TIME FOR BURPEE BEAR CRAWL OR THE BEAST – SO WE BEAR CRAWLED TOWARD SHOVEL FLAG WITH A FEW BURPEES SPRINKLED IN. SAVING THOSE PUPPIES FOR NEXT TIME!

MARY:
No time for Mary. We had to squeeze in some LBC on the way back to the shovel flag.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
5 HIMS got Tuesday off to a good start. Some of us were still moaning about Erector’s workout yesterday. Hopefully, we got a chance to balance out all those descending ladder of squats… Good job Archie, Erector, Kick-flip, and Samaritan for pushing through and not outright rebelling against me and leaving the AO altogether!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
• As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Prov. 27:17, NLT)
• A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. (Prov. 17:17, NIV)
• A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24, ESV)

MOLESKIN:

I’m very blessed and count myself fortunate to have brothers and friends like these guys at F3. I am a better man for being a part of such great company. And I believe that my marriage and family, my work and ministry, and my relationships and outer concentrica all benefit from this hour I spend with you guys. Many thanks to all of you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence at Big Ball on Saturday 7:00-8:00, 3rd F at Redeemer Church following Convergence 8:30-9:30, Abscess on Q at JUCO tomorrow

Be a High-Impact Friend

THE SCENE: 70 and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

Cherry Pickers – IC
Windmill – IC
Tempo Squats – IC
Motivators – Single count
LBAC (F/R) – IC
Tempo Merkins – IC

THA-THANG:

Everyone partner up with a “friend” (a.k.a. a CMU) and mosey to the Friendship Bell (a monument at Bissell Park) for the CMU Deck Workout (hat tip to Cap’N Crunch!)
– Draw a card and perform the exercise.  First one finished draws the next card and starts immediately.
– Work at the pace of the fastest man.  If you are lapped, skip the next exercise and get back in rhythm with the PAX.
– For all suits with a card value of A-5 = run that number of laps around the Friendship Bell (with your “friend”, of course)
– For the rest of the deck, perform the number of reps based on the value of the card according to the list below:

Card Value Reps
A-5 Run that many laps around the bell
6-10 Reps = Face Value
J, Q, K Reps = 15

 

Card Value Exercise
Hearts 4-count curls
Spades Step ups
Clubs 4-count flutter kicks (arms extended w/ CMU above chest)
Diamonds 4-count shoulder press

 

Next up….45-second intervals.  Perform each exercise for 45 seconds – 15 seconds of rest in between sets.

Flutter Kick w/ CMU
Merky-Derky
CMU Iron Mike (or lunge)
Dips w/ CMU in your lap
Lion Kings
Crunch-press w/ CMU
Curls

Mosey back.

MARY:
Heavy Freddies
Derkin Pyramid

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8 HIMs

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

In April 2011 the General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 30 as official “International Friendship Day”.  I’m thrilled to be standing here this morning with one of my oldest and dearest friends (Archie) and six of my newest and dearest friends.

William Penn was a Quaker and a writer in pre-revolution America.  Notably, he was an early advocate for democracy, founder of the colony – later state – of Pennsylvania, and planner of the city of Philadelphia.   He wrote a book titled “Some Fruits of Solitude” – a collection of sayings (similar in tone to Ben Franklin’s Farmer’s Almanac).  It is included in Volume 1 of Harvard’s Non-fiction Classics.  In this book, Penn wrote of pride, of education, of justice, of fidelity…and of friendship.

About friendship, Penn wrote;

“A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.”

That’s what I would call a “high-impact friend”.

Let’s zoom in on those first two characteristics.

One:  As a high-impact friend, you must be advising your friends justly.  This means speaking candidly into the lives of your friends who are falling short of a high standard.  It means giving straight talk to those men around you who are acting foolishly, who are harming themselves and others around them, and who are temporarily blind, ignorant, or uncaring of their foolishness.  Our culture will accommodate, and even encourage, their foolishness.  If you are their friend, you owe it to them to show courage and speak correction and truth into their lives.

Proverbs 27:6

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern]…”

Two:  In order for you to have any credibility whatsoever to speak candidly to a hurting friend, you must first consistently unbosom yourself freely to him – which is an old-fashioned way of saying “open your heart to him”.  You must be candid about your own struggles, fears, insecurities, shortcomings, dreams.  Only then have you earned to right to speak truth to him about his struggles.

As high-impact men, you are set apart from your peers – held to a higher standard.  Friendships built on common interests alone are cheap.

I challenge you today, on International Friendship Day, to unbosom yourself to a friend (share your heart) and to speak courageously into the life of a friend who is headed down a destructive pathUncomfortable as it may be at first, be a High-Impact Friend and you’ll be valued and cherished by those who are dear to you. 

 

MOLESKIN:
Praises for Samaritan’s 20th anniversary and for the safety of KickFlip’s friend’s daughter – who nearly drowned over the weekend.  Prayers of peace for Erector’s friend.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Do your friends a favor and invite them to F3!