F3 Knoxville

Uphill Service

THE SCENE: 60, damp but not raining!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side Straddle hops, moracan night clubs, Imperial Squat Walkers (botched the counting on that one)
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the guardrail for 20 dips.

Then 20 Merkins followed by 20 BBS, then 15, then 10, then 5 of each.

Black snake the long way to the handy CMU pile where we grabbed a CMU for every other HIM.  Guantanamo Circle for 1 round holding the cmu off the ground.

Mosey to Jucomojaro and partner up for a dora.

  • 20 Moving Blockies
  • 40 Tricep Curls while walking uphill
  • 60 OHP while walking uphill
  • 80 Squats moving uphill
  • 100 Curls while walking uphill

Partner would run up to the next street drain with headlamp and shovel or rake and clear the debris from the clogged drains.  running back down to swap with the partner.

The water will now run down Juco so much better.  might even be dry next time.

MARY:
Hello Dolly, Crabby Rockets, Superman, Freddie Mercury, LBC, Heels to heaven
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I recently had a chance to talk to some newly married couples and they were to ask us questions about life and marriage.  A) this made me feel old, but that’s okay.  The first question of 10 we pulled out was a great and hard question:  How do you interpret Phil 2:12 that says “to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling?”  Not the question I was expecting, but it taught me 2 things:

  1. People are hungry for opportunities to talk truth.  Challenge: Make those conversations happen.  Ask hard questions, find someone to mentor, join a men’s group, read and discuss a book with a group.   Serve the community by making this happen.  Service isn’t just clearing drains on Jucomojaro or giving to the poor.  Give to your brothers by talking truth with them this year.  23 days left.  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
  2. I’m encouraged by young people in the church asking great questions.  Learn from them and ask good questions.  Don’t fly over familiar passages like they are just nice sayings or familiar text.  Wrestle with it. In fact, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  If you are in Christ, given your life to Him by putting faith in Jesus alone for your salvation, the work and fear and trembling isn’t over if you are saved.  That work is finished, but since you are saved, take the work of responding to God with the greatest level of seriousness that you have – it matters to the Kingdom and it matters to God.

MOLESKIN:
Thanks brothers by serving each other by being out in the gloomy mornings to encourage us to grow.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Dec 21, Climb Clingmans with HIMs for the latest sunrise of the year.  See Kickflips email or ask me for details.

How the Grinch Stole Juco

THE SCENE: 31 degrees and ultra-gloomy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side-Straddle Hops; Cherry Pickers; Tempo Squats; Froyo (Frozen Yoga); Tempo Merkins
THA-THANG:

Rugby shuttle run to the CMU pile

The mission: Gather the required hash (tally) marks for each exercise group.  Most hash marks required multiple reps to count, and approved modifications to earn a tally were included.

** This time the grinch was there!  He made someone carry a ~12.5 lb weight vest for a lap around the building and hand it off the ‘fun’ to a different victim.  Stop drop and burpee for all if the vest stops moving or someone does two laps in a row!

  • Bodybuilders
    2 burpees (w/ merk) : 1 BB
    3 burpees (no merk): 3 BB
    1 hash = 5 BB, 10 with, 15 w/o
    20 hash marks required
  • Pull-ups
    10 Bent Over Rows : 1 PU
    1 hash = 5 PU, 50 BOR
    40 hash marks required
  • Running Laps
    1 hash = 1 lap
    20 hash marks required
  • Clean & Press (with CMU)
    2 squats : 1 C&P
    4 OHP : 1 C&P
    1 hash = 10 C&P, 20 squats, 40 OHP’s
    40 hash marks required
  • Heels to Heaven
    2 Big Boys : 1 H2H
    5 LBC : 1 H2H
    1 hash = 10 H2H, 20 BB, 50 LBC
    40 hash marks required
  • Spidermans
    20 merkins : 1 SM
    30 knee merkins : 1 SM
    1 hash = 1 SM, 20 m, 30 km
    40 hash marks required

** Ahh, but the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.  He took the weight vest back and cut the number of required hash marks in half.  It’s a Christmas Miracle!  Thanks to the grinch’s kindness, the mission got accomplished just in time!

Victory Rugby Shuttle Run back to the flag

MARY:
Did some Freddies in the middle of our shuttle run back, but arrived at the flag right at time.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Daily Bible Verse:  “Sink your roots in him and build on him.  Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving.”   Colossians 2:7 (GW)

Attitude of Gratitude (by Rick Warren).  An attitude of radical gratitude is God’s will for you because it develops your faith.

How does gratitude develop your faith? It happens when times are tough—when things don’t make sense, when you can’t figure it out, when your prayers are unanswered, when everything is going the way you didn’t want it to go. It happens when you can say in those circumstances, “God, I know you’re in control. I know you love me, and I know you can bring good out of this. I’m thankful that you’re bigger than my problem.”

Anybody can thank God for good things. But if you can thank God even in the bad times, your faith will grow stronger as your roots go deeper.

Habakkuk was going through tough times. He said, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV).

In the midst of all the bad things that went wrong, Habakkuk rejoiced. What caused his gratitude? He decided to find joy in God: “I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

When everything else stinks in life, you can be grateful because the Lord is your Savior. He will pull you out. You are not alone. He hasn’t abandoned you. Give thanks to God!

Can you thank God when life stinks? That is the ultimate test of the depth of your faith. When you’re going through tough times, don’t look at what’s lost. Look at what’s left—and be grateful for it!

You can be thankful to God just for who he is. He has promised to see you through those tough situations, and your faith will grow even stronger because of it.

Colossians 2:7 says, “Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving” (GW).

God’s will for you is radical gratitude—giving thanks in all things. Radical gratitude honors God, creates fellowship, and develops your faith.

Prayer:  Sovereign Lord, “though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, through the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,” may I sing joyful praise to You. Because I’m counting on Your Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. Amen.

MOLESKIN:
Props to Wanderer for coming out while working through the ankle injury.  Prayers for those sick and injured.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None

JUCO Circuit

THE SCENE:   25ish and clear.  Perfect for a beatdown.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Phelps
  • RFTS/LIH
  • Turkey wings
  • Projectivator
  • Grady corns
  • Squatting Grady
  • Merkins
  • Bouncing Y

THA THANG:

Mosey to the big lot.  Sprint across, turning 90 degrees at each line.  (sprint, side shuffle, bernie, side shuffle). Mary at the end.

Mosey to sophomore hill.

  • 10 iron mikes
  • 15 star jacks
  • 20 squats
  • Sprint to the pull-up bars – max pull ups.
  • Sprint to the coupons
  • 20 shoulder presses
  • 25 curls
  • 30 triceps
  • Sprint back the beginning
  • Repeat the circuit

 

Mosey to freshman hill – tip the scale

10 burpees, run up the hill, 10 merkins, run down the hill

9 burpees…11 merkins

8 burpees…12 merkins, etc. until recover is called.

 

Mosey to the docks.

10 carolina dry docks – jump off the dock and run to the other

10 bobby hurleys – jump off the dock and run back to the other.

Repeat a few times.

 

Mosey to the courtyard.  Broad jump the length of grass.  Bear crawl back.  Repeat.

MARY:

Guantanamo

PAX choice

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 11 of the best men I know.  One 2.0

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

From Psalm 78, “I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.”

The Word this morning was repurposed from this week’s F3 newsletter.  The newsletter talked about how the purpose of F3 is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of YOUR leadership – in your communities, churches, workplaces, and – most importantly – in your home.

Whether or not he intends to, every father is discipling his children to something.  What we want to be doing is discipling them to virtue.  To know the character and instructions of God.

I shared part of my story – how for years I felt like a failure at discipling my family.  I would begin reading them Scripture or a Bible study…then stop when circumstances interrupted our routine or when it no longer “felt right”.  I would pray with them regularly…then have long seasons of drought.  I felt unsure of what exactly I was supposed to be doing – and unqualified to do what I thought family discipleship meant.  In my confusion, I became resentful about the whole thing.  I knew I was not leading my family well but couldn’t find a form and rhythm that felt like it worked.

Can any of you relate?

It’s just a little thing – but what finally clicked for me a few years ago started with a book.  A short story that is meant to be read during the Advent season – one chapter every night.  Our family developed a routine: everyone gets a blanket, a hot drink, and piece of candy, then gathers on the couches in the living room.  I’d read one chapter from the book, Jotham’s Journey.  Each reading also includes a few questions related to the narrative – but also tying in discussions about God, living righteously, and Jesus’s birth.

We enjoyed that time so much, we did not miss a single night during Advent.  And here’s the key…at the end of those 25 straight nights, our family had formed a new habit.  We sustained our rhythm after that Advent season and to this day – five years later – we follow roughly that same pattern almost every evening.

There are a thousand different ways you can intentionally mentor your sons and daughters about the most important things in life.  This is just one thing that worked for me after a hundred other things failed.  Establishing a lasting routine.

If you are, as I was for a loooong time, confused and frustrated with trying to find a routine to lead your family, maybe you’ll try the path that worked for me.  I have five of those books to give away.  There is nothing special about this book – but I’m sentimental about it because of my own experience.  If five men will read them to their families, please take them.  Advent starts on Sunday.  Read it every night with your kids until Christmas.  Work to have a new family habit take root.

It does not have to be profound or complicated.  Read a passage of Scripture – do one of the hundreds of free family studies on the YouVersion Bible app.  Find a way to lead your family in virtue.

MOLESKIN:

If you didn’t get a book and want one, DM me on Slack with your address and I’ll have it shipped to you.   

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Christmas party at Butterknife’s home Dec 3rd – sign up!

Lucky Circuit

THE SCENE: A crisp 22 degrees and a moon with a great smile!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side straddle hop in cadence 20
10 Windmills in cadence
Arm rotations thumbs up in cadence
Reverse thumbs down in cadence
5 burpees on your own
Cherry Pickers
Tempo squats

THA-THANG:
Mosey to Tomo Poke for circuit workout stopping for 20x Merkins and 20x Flutter Kicks on the way. Perform below exercise for 45 seconds and then run the parking lot advancing to the next station:

  • Fighter Push Ups
  • 8 lb Sledge Hammer swings on the tire (hijacked from the Fitness Center and returned afterward)
  • Flutter kicks
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Squats
  • CMU Curls
  • Burpees
  • CMU Tris
  • Jump rope
  • Double CMU Rows
  • Run stairs

Mosey to JUCOMANARO. Divide into two groups for a Dora

  • Group 1 runs up the hill for 1 minute while Group 2 bear crawls up.
  • When Group 1 returns, we switch excercises and repeat.
  • Rinse and repeat 2 times.

Mosey back to the flag.

MARY:
No 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:
The warrior ethos (AKA Jedi Training) consist of 13 pillars: commitment, honor, respect, prepared, faithful, fighter, hungry, humble, lover, teachable, firestarter, truthful, and generous.
Each one is tied to a Bible verse.

Prepared: the 4th pillar
The verse for this pillar is 2nd Timothy 4:2

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”
—2nd Timothy 4:2

Personally I love this pillar! Don’t get ready, STAY ready!!

Someone asks about your faith, be ready to confess the love of Jesus. Something happens and messes up your plans, pivot and keep going!! Someone doesn’t show up to their Q. Own it, and lead the workout!

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”
1 Peter 3:15

It goes on to say in verse 16, to do this in a gentle and respectful way… So let’s make sure we’re acting with Grace.

Thanksgiving is coming up and may of us are very blessed. Unfortunately the holidays aren’t happy for everyone. Remember to count your blessings, smile a lot: someone needs it, have patience, kindness, and grace: especially for those in the service indusrty. Be the light!

I have a lot of respect for you gentlemen. Being out here with you keeps me ready, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Thank you!

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Hardship Hill, 4 Christmas Parades, 1 Christmas Party, and make sure to read Kick-Flip’s email!

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.