F3 Knoxville

31 Degrees of Exercise

THE SCENE:

Clear, 31 Degrees, Nice crescent moon

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

WARM-O-RAMA:
1. Cherry Pickers (x5) 2. SSH (x20), 3. BACF (x10) 4. BACB (x10), 5. Merkins (10 OYO), 6. Tempo Squats – (x10),

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the guardrail. Do 31 Dips. Football Mosey (Run and Pass duos with drops to do 2 Burpees) around Career Path Way to CMU pile. Grab CMU and do 31 Curls.

Circle back around to the far east lot (next to the big duck pond). Regroup at the curb. Bear crawl to the first line and back to start as 1st exercise, mosey to 2nd line for 2nd exercise, back to start, etc. (see below)

  1. Bear Crawl to 1st line and back

2. SSH (x31)

3. Squats (x31)

4. Merkins (x31)

5. Heels to Heaven (x31)

6. Iron Mikes (x31)

7. Carolina Dry Docks (x31)

8. Freddie Mercury’s (x31)

9. Monkey Humpers (x31)

Mosey back to COT. Sty called out American Hammers.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

7 HIMS including 3 RUSH

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Contending for the Faith

A few years ago I attended a worldview conference at my church. During that weekend, I listened to a Christian apologist and radio show host named Greg Koukl. An apologist is defined as a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial. In this case the controversy would be Christianity.

The weekend was centered around gaining an understanding of the Gospel and helping Christians think more clearly about why they believe what they believe. There were sessions about the types of challenges Christians face, how we can respond gracefully, and how we can challenge others to think more critically about their own worldviews. I loved it! I am a truth seeker. Always a believer, but at that time I was still really struggling with my own faith and what it meant for my life. I needed purpose and understanding.

Recently, I found an article by Mr. Koukl that reminded me of this Timothy theme, which is central to a men’s group I’m in (The Good Fight), but also sounded a warning and a challenge (which we also do here). Jude v3 says “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

First of all, Jude points to a specific message and content, the “faith once for all handed down”— which is the foundation of “our common salvation.” Second is the recommendation to “contend earnestly” for that faith—to proclaim it, guard it, and defend it. And then, Jude reminds us that it has been “handed down” to the saints—passed on from the disciples to the next generation in the church.

Here is why those three elements of Jude’s council are critical for you and me right now. We are engaged in a cultural and theological fight. The attack is coming from many directions. Atheists are tearing down God’s Truth and the integrity of our authority base, The Bible. Our children our under attack. The moral rulebook is being rewritten; Right has become wrong, and wrong is right. It’s clearly seen! These challenges are coming from not only our culture but even in some Christian denominations, the Gospel is seen as a message of hate.

2 Timothy was Paul’s spiritual last will and testament. It was the last thing he ever wrote. He was very clear and to the point in addressing the challenges for that day and practically to the ones we face today. Second Timothy gives the answer to our question about guarding the gospel, because that is the book’s theme, found explicitly in chapter 1, verse 14: “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” That message is absolutely vital to each one of us today because he tells us exactly what it looks like in any century to “contend earnestly for the faith”.

The early church was under a great attack in that culture. Christians were falsely accused and tortured (and still today in some places). Paul’s response and message was simple…

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14–17)

Simply put, Paul tells Timothy to guard the gospel by continuing in the truth already revealed. When all else fails, read—and follow—the directions. But, there’s more…

In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, American runners suffered a humiliating defeat in the 4 X 100 relay. In the anchor leg, Darvis Patton handed the baton to Tyson Gay, but Gay never got it. In the middle of the handoff, they dropped the baton.

Tyson Gay was our best sprinter. We had the fastest team. It didn’t matter. They dropped the baton, so we lost the race. In fact, we never even finished that race.

Paul told Timothy, “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2:5). In other words, Paul said, “Timothy, you cannot drop the baton.” And we cannot drop the baton, either. If we do, we lose.

As Husbands, Fathers, Sons, Brothers, Co-workers…we do 2 things; We continue in the things handed down and second, we pass the baton.

If we disregard Paul’s solution, we should not be surprised when we remain children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:14).

If we don’t pass the baton, we should not be surprised when we will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have our ears tickled, we accumulate for ourselves teachers in accordance with our own desires, and turn away our ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths (2 Tim. 4:3–4).

If we are to survive the current spiritual onslaught, we 1) Guard the gospel by continuing in the truth already revealed then 2) we pass the baton. Proclaim the truth faithfully, guard it diligently, and pass it on carefully.

MOLESKIN:
Praying for Cosmo’s mother as she enters hospice care.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Low low temps for Friday! Be smart and safe out there and Happy Christmas to All!!

Choices at JUCO

THE SCENE: 45 and soggy

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: administered


WARM-O-RAMA:

All exercises done IC

  • 20 – SSH
  • 10 – windmills
  • 10 – baby arm circles forward and back
  • 5 – cherry pickers
  • 10 – merkins
  • 10 – squats

THA-THANG:
Mosey to parking lot, then bear crawl to first set of parking spots and do 5 BBS . After that, alternate between lunges and bear crawls at at each set of parking spaces across the parking lot with 5 BBS in between. Bear crawl for the final one and perform 5 BBS to finish.

Mosey to the coupon pile and partner up for a DORA. One partner will rifle carry (farmer carry or other carries acceptable also) around first median at end of parking spots while other performs an exercises as follows:

  • 100 – Swings
  • 150 – Curls
  • 200 – Rows
  • 250 – Goblet Squats

Mosey towards the flag and stop for some Spicy Dragons along the way.

Spicy Dragons – Same as Welsh Dragon, but do a low plank before each merkin instead of should taps for a lil’ spice.  Remain in plank position the whole time. Bear crawl forward 4 steps, do 1 low plank, 1 merkin, and 1 plank jack. Repeat adding 1 rep to each exercise each time – bear crawl forward 4 steps, do 2 low planks, 2 merkins, 2 plank jacks, … etc. Go until you get to 10 reps each, you’ve covered 30-50 feet, or until your arms fall off – whichever comes first

MARY:
Two rounds led by Guardrail and one round of Imperial Walkers to finish.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 HIMs and a 2.0 (S.O.S.)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Each of you made the decision to be here today. You took advantage of an opportunity to be better. You made deliberate choices like laying out clothes and setting alarms. You had advance notice about it…workouts are the same time every time on MWF. For each of us, these deliberate choices are creating habits in our lives.

There are other opportunities that will present themselves throughout our daily lives and it is up to us to make the right choice. We won’t have as much advance notice or even time to contemplate whether or not it’s worth the effort to say yes to it. For me, one of these choices came this last Saturday when my son and I made a trip to the dump. I was given an opportunity to help an older lady in front of me with her trash and in doing so teach my son a lesson in helping others, but failed to make the right choice and missed the opportunity before me.

I’m confident that I’ll do better the next time I have an opportunity come up, but I encourage each of you to learn from my mistake and take advantage of the opportunities before you.  Often we think that teaching our children how is in BIG moments or in manufactured ones this time of year, but often it’s the small, organic, teachable moments of everyday life where there is a small window of time to make a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of our children.

Remember these words from Jesus as opportunities present themselves to each of you.

““Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.25.37-40.NLT

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Check out the Kick Flip’s Nant’an newsletter for all the Christmas happenings going on around F3 Knoxville.

Up, Down, and Around

THE SCENE:

Few clouds, 39 Degrees and dry

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

WARM-O-RAMA:
1. Cherry Pickers (x5), 2. BACF (x10) 3. BACB (x10), 4. SSH (x20), 5. Mountain Climbers – (40 on your own), 6. Toe Merkins (30 OYO)

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the coupon pile with 3 stops for Mary (Boxcutters, Freddie Mercury’s, Flutter kicks).

At the coupon pile, grab a CMU (for some exercises). Will start with 10 burpees and then run a lap around the Physical Plant building. Will lap after each exercise group, so after first lap you will do 20 OHP, lap, etc.

(10) Burpees

(20) OHP

(30) Curls

(40) SSH

(50) Squats

(40) second plank

(30) Tricep Press

(20) Merkins

(10) Upright Rows

Mosey back to COT with 3 stops for (Bear Crawls, Scissor kicks, Imperial Walkers)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

19 HIMS including RUSH

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Thankful to be back after a week + absence. I went to Nashville for a few days to visit my parents. Thought I had avoided the local school bug being gone but it turned out that I caught a case of the flu anyway. It was a very mild case but I did have fever on and off for two days. I worked from home and recovered over the weekend.

While away and as we move into a time of Thanksgiving, I thought about how fortunate I was to have a job that allowed me some flexibility while I was sick. I was thankful to have loving parents to visit, thankful for my kids, and my close friends here in Knoxville. I’m also thankful for the men continuing to lead and encourage here at F3.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

In 1st Thessalonians, Chapter 1, Paul is writing to the church there in Thessalonica and gives thanks to them for their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in times of great suffering and persecution. They became examples and encouragement for other Christians in the area and they did this with the “joy of the Holy Spirit”. Paul was thanking God for them. At the end of the chapter, Paul says “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

In many ways, you guys today are encouraging others with how YOU lead and serve. And I want to thank God for each one of you. You are being an example and positive influence to me and those around you. That makes a difference and it deserves recognition. So take some time to think about that. Think about and be thankful for how God has chosen you to be his sons and how he has called you out to shine light. Remember that as sons we have already been delivered from the wrath to come. Take that reality into the upcoming holiday season. Keep your eyes on Him and you will not only be more thankful for his blessings, but you will also continue in your blessing of others.

Howl

THE SCENE:  Cool, moist, dark
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Phelps
  • LIH
  • Moroccan Nightclub
  • Werewolves
  • O.A.T. Planks
  • Doubletap squats

THA THANG:

Mosey to King College lot for “Toss O’ War”.  Form 2 teams for a competition.  There are two lines of cones separated by 200’, and a 20# medicine ball in the middle.  Perform exercise at your cones, sprint to the ball, and throw it as far as you can toward the other team.  You cannot touch the ball while it is in the air, but once it hits the ground you can stop it.  Play for 5 minutes, then call a winner.  Exercises were;

  1. 25 Carolina dry docks
  2. 30 O.A.T. Planks (15 each side)
  3. 25 4-count flutter kicks
  4. 20 Iron Mikes
  5. 40 Merkins
  6. 20 Doubletap squats
  7. 20 mountain climbers
  8. 35 LBCs
  9. 15 Shoulder taps (4 ct)
  10. 30 Imp lunges (15 each side)
  11. 25 Star Jacks
  12. 15 Donkey Kicks

Mosey to AWW Hill for “Wolves Hunt the Rabbit”.  There are 14 trees going up the hill.  One PAX – the “rabbit” – starts at tree #5 and does 2 burpees per tree, then sprints to the next.  The rest of the PAX – the “wolf pack” start at tree #1 and does 1 burpee per tree and sprint to the next.  Will the wolves catch the rabbit?

Mosey to the steps to nowhere.  One PAX names a core exercise, then sprints to the top of the steps and back.  Continue until all PAX have gone.

2 rounds of Howling Monkeys.  Run back down.

Run back for another round of Toss O’ War.

MARY:

2 minutes left – dealers choice

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 15 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Wolves are both fierce and tenderhearted.  We should be as well.

  • “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).
  • “Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial” (James 1:12).
  • “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

When life requires it of you, be ready to spring into action with zealousness – fierceness – intensity! You should be alert, vigilant, fearsomely protective, fiercely loyal to your pack…   Continue to be strong in the ways that count.

But simultaneously

be soft in the ways that count.

  • Be tenderhearted with your loved ones (Ephesians 4:32).
  • Show humility.  Have sympathy for those less fortunate.  (1 Peter 3:8)
  • Avoid arguing.  Speak evil of no one.  Be gentle and courteous (Titus 3:2)

Be approachable and relatable for your kids – and be patient with them.  Show affection and make yourself emotionally available to your wife – pamper her.

To be a wolf is to be a fearsome warrior, but it is also to be tender nurturer.  You are called to be both.

MOLESKIN:

Prayers for Wanderer and his father, Solomon

Prayers for Data

Prayers for Booster and his family

Hat tip to Levi Lusko

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

One Generation Away

THE SCENE: Low 60’s and beautiful
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

25 SSH (4-count)

5 Cherry pickers

10 Tempo Merkins

10 Tempo Squats

10 Flutter Kicks (4-count)

THA-THANG:

Mosey to the coupon pile with a stop for 3 rounds of the Loading Dock up and overs 

Draw a card; do number in reps of:

  • Clubs – Curls
  • Spades – American Hammers
  • Diamonds – Overhead Press
  • Hearts – Raisers
  • After each round, up the stairs to touch the rec center

Mosey to the stadium

11’s – 10 Twinkle toes, 1 squat

Mosey towards the quad 

Burpee Freeze Tag

Mosey to the flag with stop for hello dollies (10 – 4 count) and a lap around the parking lot to help two HIMs finish their IPC.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

We are considering the concept of Family Discipleship this week. Kickflip talked about the power of moments and discipling around milestones in your children’s lives. I was given the less sexy topic of consistent intentionality which goes something like

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

What is the opposite? If you don’t train your child, you do not know the path he will take. 

How many generations is any family, my family, your family from faithlessness? One

Judges 2:7-12 (abbreviated by Commission) The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

11 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served other gods, 12 and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers.

This is near and dear to my heart. My parents are first generation Christians. I grew up in a moral household but not a spiritual household. My parents talked about right and wrong but never studied the Bible with me, never quoted the Bible to me. When I went to college, I had my conscience as a guide and it didn’t turn out well for me – Bad company corrupted good morals. They weren’t intentional with my faith so I wasn’t intentional with my faith. 

If you want your son to be a baseball player, you throw the ball with him. If you want your daughter to be a soccer player, you kick the ball with her. If you want your kid to get good grades, you do homework with them. Intentional actions with intentional outcomes. 

Take them to church, but know that that is not enough. Take them to youth group but don’t rely on the youth minister to make them a believer. If you want your child to be a Christian, you open the Bible with them. If you aren’t a strong teacher yet, share thoughts from a devotional. As you mature, begin to give specific lessons or work your way through a book of the Bible explaining to your kids who God is and what he expects from us. 

Intentional actions have intentional outcomes.