F3 Knoxville

Dora B.L.I.M.P.S – Strength Under Control

THE SCENE: 55 and clear skies. The gloomiest of glooms.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Dutifully and “unprofessionally” administered.

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH x15
  • Knoxville Cherry Pickers x10
  • Abe Vigoda x10 
  • Willy Mays Haze x9
  • Tempo Merks x10
  • Tempo Squats x10
  • FLBAC x10
  • RLBAC x10
  • Grady Corn x10
  • Moroccan Night Clubs x10 (This is where the wincing *read growth* began.)
  • Chattanooga Cherry Pickers x10
  • SSH x10

THA-THANG:

Mosey for 11s on the “Little Baby Hill”. Hurleys at the bottom. Big Boys at the top.

Mosey to the fountain.

Grab a battle buddy for Dora. Pax one performs exercises below. Pax two bear crawls to the fountain and mosey back.

  • 50 Burpees
  • 100 Lunges (double single count)
  • 150 Imperial Walkers (double count)
  • 200 Merkins
  • 250 Plank Jacks
  • 300 Squats

RTB

MARY:
Flutter Kicks (IC – 15)
Basilisk (IC – 10)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Often when a word is translated, we get the meaning but lose the all the underlying intent. The Greek word for “meek” is praus. We usually interpret that as gentle or humble, which it does mean that. But the background to the word Praus is actually loaded with something like,  “strength under control”.  It’s original use comes from something close to meaning a powerful horse that is tamed.

Matthew 21:5 says, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble (same word – praus) and mounted on a donkey.” This doesn’t mean weak. When we think about it, Jesus was the epitome of “strength under control”

Today, if we’re honest, guys typically struggle with taming their behaviors/habits, appetite (Hello, Halloween candy), thinking (negative self talk), bodies, temper, ego, sexual desires, worldly desires (spend money), etc.

How does one bring strength under control? Discipline.

3 Types of Discipline

  1. Reactive Discipline – when you’re tempted or drawn into something
    (eh hem…Halloween candy last night?). It’s important to know when you’re weakest and what to avoid.
  2. Structural Discipline – routines and habits that make you better.
    The best way to create a habit is to link it to something else.
  3. Expansive Discipline – opportunities for growth, “doing it anyway”
    In the face of fear, hesitation, difficulty, etc.
    Almost always thankful I did what I was most afraid of
    The more dread, the more reward.

Exercise meekness (praus) in your life.
Cultivate and strengthen the 3 types of discipline in your life – Reactive, Structural, Expansive. Know you have the strength to do what needs to be done. Know you have the discipline to control it.

MOLESKIN:
Welcome FNG – Blindspot! Prayers for Ocho finishing up doctoral work deadlines and for Mathlete traveling for work.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Brolympics – Nov 5! Get signed up! See Slack for details!
Christmas Parade is happening! We’re signed up! Watch Slack for details!

What needs to go?

THE SCENE: Crisp, clear autumn morning. Couldn’t hope for better.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Slow windmills
  • Imperial walkers
  • Cheer leaders
  • Cherry pickers
  • Tempo Merkins
  • Up dog/Down dog
  • Right plank/left plank

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey to pool wall for 10 Wall-pees
  • 4 rounds:
    • 20 jungle boi squats
    • 5 pull ups
    • 20 merkins
    • 5 wall-ups
  • Mosey to amphitheater and do 3 rounds
    • 20 LBCs
    • 20 flutter kicks
    • 20 Freddies
    • 20 awkward turtles
    • Bear crawl up the hill
    • 5 burpees
  • Mosey to fountain and do 2ish rounds until time
    • 20 dips
    • 20 step ups
    • 20 dry docks (or Der-docks for +)
    • 20 BBS
    • 20 Iron Mikes
  • RTF

MARY:
Pulled in Erector for Heels to Heaven and Skewer for some Hammers
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

In my pre-blast, I mentioned the need to make hard choices over the next couple months, and I wanted to expand on this just a bit.

I, personally, have been buried with too much stuff. After the relative low of the past couple years, my self-regulation was totally out of whack, and I have said yes to WAY too many things. All good things that bring value when done right, but doing it right requires time to think and plan, which is impossible when there isn’t even enough time to drive between them.

While this is partly a result of a desire to be generous, that isn’t the whole story. When I really scrutinize my inner most thoughts, there are also elements of self-importance, image, and arrogance.

Self-importance in the sense that it is affirming to feel responsible, to have others look to me.

Image in the sense that I want people to see me as the guy who “does it all”. To say things like “I don’t know how you do it”

Arrogance in the sense that I have rather too high an opinion of my own ability and how it compares to others.

In short, it’s ME focused. In F3 we are peer led, not just to make it easier, but because when I give someone else the lead, it gives them an opportunity to develop their skills. It also diffuses the tendency of groups to orbit around strong personalities.

The image that I should be most focused on is the one I project to my 2.0s. I sought involvement because I saw my father as being uninvolved, but now I see that I can be just as disconnected from them when I’m too involved. My attention for them is sacrificed when I must attend to the group.

So now, I find myself working through the new problem, what needs to go.
MOLESKIN:
Just great to be back with the pack.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Halloween event Thursday, 6-8 (setup at 4). Brolympics Nov 5. Christmas parade December 10.

HEAVY PT @ JUCO

THE SCENE: 41
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Done.
WARM-O-RAMA:

  1. Projectivator x7
  2. Squats 5 Tempo + 5 4-ct
  3. Merkins 5 Tempo + 5 4-ct
  4. Mountain Climbers x10
  5. Growing Baby (LBAC) x10
  6. Moroccan Nightclub x10
  7. 5 Cherry Pickers
  8. 5 Burpees OYO
  9. Stretch OYO
  10. Mosey to Physical Plant
    THA-THANG:

Mucho Chesto: 10 Merkins, 10 Diamond Merkins, 10 Wide Merkins, 10 Stagger Left Merkins+10 Stagger Right Merkins=50 Merkins (2 Rounds)

HEAVY Lazy Dora: Partner up, 1 CMU/pax

  • 100 Merkins on CMU (switch every 10) while battle buddy holds plank on CMU (Both take CMU to the top of the stairs and back down)
  • 200 Heavy LBC holding CMU above head (switch every 20) while battle buddy does 6″ leg hold w/ CMU above head (Both take CMU to the top of the stairs and back down)
  • 300 Heavy Squats (switch every 25) while battle buddy holds Heavy Al Gore (w/CMU)(Both take CMU to the top of the stairs and back down)

MARY:
PAX CHOICE

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10STRONG

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
God is Holy – set apart, altogether different, perfect, yet He reveals Himself to us through creation, through the Scriptures, through beauty, family, the church, our circumstances. In Jesus, He shows us who He is, and I’m amazed that He reveals Himself to me as a Friend. Not a casual acquaintance, or a buddy, but a Friend – One who laid down His life down for us. “A Friend loves at all times, and a Brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). “A man of many friends may come to ruin, but there is One who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). These verses point to the need of a man for friendship. Few men are willing to admit they are lonely. Some men acknowledge they are searching for friendship, and F3 meets that need for several. Some find in their wives a best friend. But we find in Jesus, a Friend that fulfills the kind of true love and intimacy that we need and search for, and God created us for. Friendship may sound unnecessary, or trite, but this need in me is a way for me to understand God’s love for me.

Ephesians 3:14-21 is a powerful and beautiful passage that contains so much, but it also speaks to me of God choosing me for love and intimacy:

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

There’s nothing better…

MOLESKIN:
Great to spend time with my JUCONIAN BROTHERS! 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Brolympics next weekend – check Slack for details

Heavy PT @ The Project

THE SCENE: 31
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  1. Lap around Parking Lot
  2. Projectivator x10
  3. Squat (4-ct/IC) x10
  4. Tempo Merk x5 + 5 Merkins
  5. Mtn Climber x10
  6. 10 Burpees OYO
  7. Stretch OYO
  8. Mosey to Recruiting Ctr

THA-THANG:

  • FLORA 1-2-3 (partner up, 1CMU/PAX)
  1. Upper: P1 – 100 Diamond Merk (switch every 10), P2 – Plank on CMU, P1+P2 Lap Parking Lot with CMU
  2. CORE: P1 – 200 LBC (switch every 20), P2 – Hold legs 6” w/ CMU above head, P1+P2 Lap parking lot with CMU
  1. LOWER: P1 – 300 Squats w/ CMU (switch every 25), P2 – Al Gore with CMU, P1+P2 Lap parking lot with CMU
  • S-L-O-W CMU Rifle Carry Indian Run – last pax 2 blockees, then “sprint” to front of line towards AMSE or Tinseltown stairs
  • Partner CMU Stairs @ AMSE or Tinseltown Stairs – Partner 1 does CMU exercise, while Partner 2 takes the stairs and back (with or without CMU)
  1. Curls
  2. OHP
  3. Single-arm Rows

[didn’t have time for the rest of this good stuff! next time…]

  1. Tricep extensions
  2. Squats
  3. Lunges
  4. Flutterkicks
  5. Good Mornings

MARY:
PAX CHOICE

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
6STRONG

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

A few verses about the Friendship of Jesus and intimacy with Him that we’re made for.

A Friend loves at all times; a brother is born for adversity.
A man of many friends may come to ruin, but there is one who sticks closer than a brother.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

MOLESKIN:
Been a long time since I’ve Q’d at the Project…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Oak Ridge Halloween, Brolympics, see Slack for all the goods

Hot Pursuit

THE SCENE:   31 and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Skipped for you bunch of veterans
WARM-O-RAMA:
 

  • Michael Phelps
  • RFTS / LIH
  • Growing arm circles
  • Imperial walkers
  • Squats
  • Down/up dogg
  • Merkins
  • Mosey to the pool wall for 10 wall-ups

THA THANG:

Mosey to the playground;
Max pull-ups
Partner-up:  Max sit-ups in 1 minute

Mosey to the bell
Max merkins in 1 minute
1.5 miles for time

MARY:

Max burpees in 5 minutes

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 9 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Once upon a time, I was dating a real hottie – the whole package; legs…hair…figure…smart…her sense of humor…  Incredibly – she seemed into me as well.  It was 18 years ago yesterday that we shared our first kiss on the patio of the Student Union at Oklahoma State.

I was crazy about that 19-year-old girl…and I did crazy things because of how I felt about her.  Like the time I drove to Houston just to spend a few hours with her – then turned around and drove back.  Or the time I tipped a mariachi band the entire contents of my wallet – a few hundred dollars – to play some songs at our table.

Back then, I was crazy about that young woman – who is now my wife.  I was nuts about her and was pursuing her to be my wife (mission accomplished!).

The Word we talked about this morning was “pursuit”.  We looked at two passages in Genesis.

First, in Genesis 2, God creates Adam – then Eve.  Adam writes this impromptu poetry about his wife saying, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”.  Scripture then says, this is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.  We often hear this passage read during marriage ceremonies…

and is united to his wife…”  Some other translations say “hold fast to his wife” or “bonds with his wife” – the Hebrew word there is from the root word dabaq.  That word is used 54 times in the Torah – often in the context of a CHASE.  In other context, the same word is translated “in hot pursuit” (1 Samuel 14), and “pursued hard after” (Judges 20).

When I was enamored with that young woman, “debaq” could have described our relationship – I was in hot pursuit!

There is another story of pursuit later in Genesis – this time in Chapter 29.

Jacob was looking for a wife – he meets and falls head over heels for Rachael.  He makes a deal with Rachael’s father to work for him for seven years in exchange for his daughter.  He does – he works for seven years and at the end of those years, Laban pulls a fast one and gives Jacob his other daughter, Leah.  Jacob complains “no, I’m supposed to marry Rachael” – and Laban agrees to give him Rachael as well – in exchange for another seven years of work.  And here’s the thing… Jacob gets Rachael – then continues to work for her after he already had her as his wife.

How amazing would our marriages be if we continued to work for our wives after we’d already married them?  What if we continued to be in hot pursuit of our spouse, like we were when we were dating?  If you want your marriage to THRIVE, pursue her like that again.  Pursue her mind.  Pursue her heart.  Pursue her spirit. 

If you are scrambling for ideas – here are some tips from the internet (written by a woman, so I suppose they are expert tips 😊)

  1. Write her a special note
  2. Plan some quality time with her and let her know in advance
  3. Tell her how you feel about her. Compliment her. You can never compliment her too much
  4. Tell her often that you love her or that you miss her
  5. Text her when you are thinking about her.

But also, men, nobody should know better than YOU how to pursue your wife.  You should be the world’s foremost expert on that.  Ending with a quote from John Piper…

“Don’t marry so you can stop pursuing women. Marry so you can perfect the pursuit of ONE woman for a lifetime.”

MOLESKIN:

  • I’d love to hear how you pursue your wife’s heart today – drop it in Slack or DM me!
  • SKEWER – you crushed your spring scores today, brother.  Nice work!
  • Everyone made improvements – good work all around!
  • Hat tip to my lovely wife for being the inspiration for this Word
  • Hat tip to Craig Groeschel for the Hebrew background info
  • Hat tip to Shanti Landon for the pro tips above

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Oak Ridge Halloween party – next Thursday evening!  Bring your kiddos to trick or treat.  Come staff the F3 tent!
  • Brolympics Nov 5