Tag: Fireplex

0.0 Mike Mikes

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Date: 9/25/18

QIC: Chappie

Once again a “dirty dozen” HIM posted in the Gloom, even with the threat of rain. That shouldn’t be surprising. After all we post rain or shine, hot or cold. That’s a great lesson for life in and of itself–i.e. circumstances and conditions should not be given a whole lot of power over us.

The Backblast title says “0.0”—this was as a result of a request by one of the PAX who injured an ankle and needed a low-run to no-run workout. Well, there you have it. But it was a workout nonetheless! Here’s how it went down:

Warm-O-Rama:

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Parker Peter – 10 IC
  • Crazy SH (CSH) – 18 IC (Thanks Mr. Swartz, YHC’s elementary school gym teacher. He always taught is SSH’s this way! Addition to the Exicon? Who knows.)
  • Plank Jacks – 18 IC
  • Calf Raises – 30 OYO (toes in)
  • Calf Raises – 30 OYO (toes out)

The Thang:

PAX paired up after counting off by 2’s as instructed by YHC for some unknown reason. Duh, huh, huh! Anyway, after a brief intro to the workout stations around the AO parking lot, PAX commenced to the no “mike, mikes” (slang for miles) beatdown.

Here’s the list of stations:

  • *Timer: Box Jump Squat – 10, Curb Steps – 10, Flying Squirrel – 10, Side-to-Side Line Touch – 10 (*This station was used in lieu of a timer, upon completion, PAX rotated to next station–approximately 2 mins. per round)
  • Ruck – OH Presses/Ruck – Curls, AMRAP
  • Ruck – OH extended while woseying around lot
  • Bearcrawl/Crawlbear – Around parking space, AMRAP
  • Log Press/Log Upright Row – AMRAP
  • Sandbag Sit-ups – AMRAP
  • Parking Line Burpees – AMRAP
  • Single Leg Hip Thrusters – AMRAP (on park bench…this was punishing)
  • Paver Drive – AMRAP (Also punishing, they burn! PAX held pavers straight out and turned left/right, like driving, for the duration of the round. YHC hopes the messages motivated some push.) Here’s an image of the infamous pavers…

3rd F Message shared a couple of rounds in:

As much as those in the military experience that in training and in battle conditions, and as much as athletes experience it while training and more so in competition, and as much as we experience here in the Gloom, those thoughts are made real as we experience them day-in and day-out—they’re lived out by us all.

In fact, I would even add that it is those real-life experiences of suffering and hardship that are really training us to be faithful.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:3-9,
“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.”

I love that, Paul, here in Scripture, speaks in terms that we can understand. Here’s the takeaways on this one. Paul was talking about Kingdom values vs. World’s values. He said,

▪Suffering/hardship is normative, not just in training, but in everyday life (in ministry!). Can you imagine that? Well, it’s the rule rather than the exception!
▪ We endure it, however, because we understand there’s a greater purpose behind ALL suffering. So wherever it’s taken you, focus on the bigger purpose, the eternal—do your job in order to please the ONE who is carrying you through it.
▪It’s meant to sharpen and purify you. To strengthen you. It’s meant, in the context of this passage, to make you a greater witness to Jesus Christ. “No guts, no story!” Right?
▪After all, if you won’t quit and walk away when things get tough, others are gonna want exactly what you have. Add to that, no cheating! No short-cuts!
▪Pain IS only temporary—that’s a reality taught us EVERY TIME we show up in the gloom and workout. Here it’s only 45 mike, mikes. In life it may be a day, a week, a year, etc. Enduring it builds muscle, but in greater ways than just physically. It builds muscle emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and in return WE BECOME BETTER LEADERS AT HOME, AT CHURCH, IN THE WORKPLACE, AND IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE.

That’s why we use slogans like:
▪DFQ – “Don’t Freakin’ Quit!”
▪”Embrace the suck” (Embrace it because it is normative! Paul: “Suffer hardship with me”)
▪”Find an Excuse to Win!”
▪And, yes, “No guts, no story.”

That’s about it. The pain actually was temporary—it only lasted 45 mins! Well, actually, post-workout chatter implies that it’s lasting throughout the day. Yep! YHC will take that as a compliment! It was great to see everyone pushing hard today, even as we partnered up it was still a “you against you” kind of day.

COT/BOM:

~Announcements: Get your flyers for the Grace Church Father/Son Campout ~Prayers: Lifted up Chris and Lifted up Bethany, along with other young people trying to figure out life.

Chappie, out!


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7

The Bear Did What on the Hill?

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Date: 09/18/18

AO: Milton, De.

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 25 IC

Windmills – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Bolt 45’s – IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.  Actually this was BOLT 46’s as Q lost count…:)…

Mosey Indian Run Style .14 miles to the Wesleyan Church Parking Lot to complete Happy Jacks which were completed as 5 SSH IC followed by 2 Bomb Jacks.  Pax completed 4 evolutions completed in succession.

Bataan Death March – Indian run with a twist to the hill by the water tower around .4 miles.  The last person in line drops and completes five Burpees, then runs to catch up to the front of the line tapping the last person in line on his way by.  The last person drops and completes five Burpees, etc. etc. until reaching the hill by the water tower.

The Thang

At the base of “Oh, Hill No”, PAX teamed up to complete 100 merkins, 200 LBC’s & 300 squats.  One team member will crawl bear up the hill and bear crawl down while the other works on the exercises.  The hill is approx. .02 miles up and .02 miles down.  Here is the twist, each PAX must complete half of the designated exercises.  Once you have reached 50 merkins, 100 LBC’s and 150 squat’s, you will plank until your partner has completed his ascent and descent of the hill.  Continue the rotation until your team has completed the full amount of exercises.

Mosey .5 miles back to the AO for the Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please continue to keep Chairman’s Mom in your thoughts and prayers and all those affected by Hurricane Florence.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.

F3 Message

We don’t always understand why God allows things to happen a certain way, or why our prayers are not always answered in a manner that is the most convenient for our earthly lifestyle.  We must always trust that God’s plan for our lives far exceeds anything that we could ever begin to imagine.  I found this poem by an unknown author that speaks to the fact that in all things God gives us everything that we actually need.

I Asked God – inspirationalstories.wordpress.com

July 25, 2007 — inspirationalstories

(Author Unknown)

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me danger to overcome.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted and I received everything I needed.

Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James version (NKJV) – 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [a]direct your paths.

Philippians 4:19 New King James version (NKJV) –  19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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4

Dirty Dozen Beatdown

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10 HIM posted at the CHOP in the misty gloom for the dirty dozen circuit course

Date: 9/13/18

QIC: Chattahoochee

WARM UP– 20 SSH, 20 Windmills, 20 Cherrypickers all in cadence followed by 10 arm circles forward 10 backwards OYO

THE THANG–  12 stations set up in the parking lot at the AO

1) weighted run 20 lb weight vest run the back entrance to the street and back the runner was the timer for the other stations.

2)  Dips on the bench

3)  Box jumps

4)  Slosh pipe lunges

5)  Flutter kicks

6)  Rowing Merkins with 15 lb dumbells 

7)  Squats

8)  Bearcrawl

9)  Abyss Merkins 

10)  WWII situps

11)  Burpee

12) Tire flip

We completed 2 complete rounds

Message for the day was a poem by 

Robert J. Robicheau titled the Eleventh of September.

COT: Prayers for Chairmans mother, All of the people in the path of Florence, Waterfall and family , Leatherman and Ruxpins Ms in their upcoming women’s retreat

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2

Logout

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Date: 9/11

QIC: Chappie

It was truly the Gloom for this workout–parking lot lights were not functioning and on top of that the fog was swimmable. The Gloom lived up to its name for this 9/11 workout. YHC was honored to Q it for that reason, along with the fact that it’s youngest 2.0’s 16th birthday. Here’s how it went down:

Disclaimer given

Warm-O-Rama:

SSH – 9 IC, 11 IC

GofMerkins – 9 OYO, 11 OYO

Rev. Lunge – 9 OYO, 11 OYO

Seal Jack – 9 IC, 11 IC

Plank Jack – 9 IC, 11 IC

Windmill – 9 IC, 11 IC

Calf Raises – 9 OYO, 11 OYO

The Thang:

So…we have this log at the CHOP. A log purchased just for F3 workouts, but one we tend to avoid because, well, THAT SUCKER IS HEAVY! (Guesstimation from a log measuring app–yes, it exists!–is about 250 lbs.) Well, avoid it no longer, we finally got the logout for this workout. Mosey to the other side of the parking lot to get the log and pickup a few Cindy’s too. Here’s a pic of what it looked like:

8 PAX: 4 on the log, and 4 on Mary – Switch after each round of 11x reps on the Log (L to R, R to L = 1 Rep – shoulder to shoulder)

Log to Mary AMRAP:

Dolly

American Hammer

E2k – 11 each leg, switch AMRAP

Flutter Kicks – courtesy called by Chattahoochee

Took a breather here for 3rd F Message: YHC briefly shared how his youngest was born. When his M conceived the due date for their 3rd 2.0 was 9/11/02, the one year anniversary of the attacks. Simon, was actually born on his due date, and YHC shared how that blessing actually put a new face and a new outlook on the day. The interesting part was that he (2.0 Simon) was born at home. THAT was NOT the plan. Long story short, after some miscommunication with the hospital (2x!), 911 was called and Simon was born while 6 first responders looked on, and 2 church deaconesses delivered him. One of the first responders was an ordained minister heading to the Pentagon later in the day to marry a couple who’d survived the attacks there the year before. What a start to the day! And what a wonderful blessing! Now for the planned 3rd Word:  The mission of F3, represented by the shovel-flag at every AO is: To plant, grow, and serve small workout groups of men for the invigoration of male community leadership.

Invigorating leadership is our bread & butter. Because of that and because of ongoing commitment to F3 and gaining ground in our own leadership abilities, we tend to have our ears tuned to leadership talk and leadership principles whenever and wherever we hear them.

The idea, however, is to put what we hear and what we learn into practice. After all, “LEADERSHIP IS AN ACTION, NOT A POSITION.”

One of the leadership concepts I heard recently on a GoRuck video caused me to stop the tape, back it up, and listen to it again so I could write it down (and share it with you guys). Plus, if I write something down I’m more prone to remember it, and, therefore, more apt to apply it. Here’s what caught my ear:

“In order to have high performing teams, you have to have high performing individuals who are selfless and committed to the cause.”

[WE CERTAINLY THINK ABOUT THE FIRST RESPONDERS ON 9/11 AS HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS/INDIVIDUALS.]

First things first: Are YOU a high performing individual? Do you represent your team well? Do you represent your community well, as a high performing individual?

Secondly, and this applies to each member of a team, whether they’re the leader of the team or not; if you’re going to be a high performing individual as part of a high performing team, you must check your ego (because, likely, it ain’t about you), and, as they say, you gotta get in the zone!

If you want the guy to your right and the guy to your left to be guys who are aware of the standards and take those standards to the next higher level, then YOU have to be the guy on their left or right who’s aware of the standards and takes those standards to the next higher level. This means [to the best of your ability] knowing what is ahead of you and being prepared for it — physically, mentally, spiritually, materially, etc.

Scripture records that “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17); we’re all familiar with that verse, but the outcome is obvious: that of becoming a high performing tool (a sharp team member, husband, father, athlete, community leader, etc.) because YOU sharpen and are being sharpened. High performing teams could also be likened to the “chord of three strands that is not easily broken” (Ecc. 4:12). Each strand performs at a standard, if you will, when he is selfless and committed to the cause.
HOME causes?
CHURCH causes?
WORKPLACE causes?
COMMUNITY causes?

No matter the cause, be a high performing member by finding out the standards, upholding them, AND taking them to the next higher level. Aye?

*Changed Log reps to 9x

Gas Pumpers

LBC’s

Both groups of 4 PAX got in their fair share of rounds on the log (6 rounds); seems to YHC that the last round we might have been going down, ducking under the log, rather than actually lifting it up from shoulder to shoulder… Time for one last set of Mary. PAX partnered up for…

Cindy Sit-ups/Block Big-boys: 9x (PAX interlocked feet to perform big-boys while exchanging Cindy back and forth when in the up position)

That’s a wrap – time to logout!

COT/BOM:

Announcements: Later today at Crossroads a special “5 to 10” service with 1st Responders in memory of 9/11, 10 am; Delmarva Christian School fundraiser, Oct. 5; Grace Church Father/Son Campout, Oct. 5-6

Prayers: Several items entrusted to the Lord of behalf of the HIM present.

Anybody else’s shoulders screaming? Whew! Great push by HIM, men who I’d call High Performing Individuals. And yes, it’s ’bout time we use that log. Fartsackers, y’all missed out! Think we might have to name her!

~Chappie, [Logged] out!

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14

Patriot run-story time.

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9/6/2018. Nugget on Q. 7 HIM posted for a beat down in Milton, DE.

Warm up.
20 SSH.
15 cherry pickers.
15 windmills.

Patriot run with the flag ((for election today) with last man doing 1 burpee before he runs to front of line), to Spruce St. for first of 3 ‘story time chats’.

***Instead of one third F message I broke it up into 3 story time chats where i gave some personal background and thoughts on how we can be HIM in our home, businesses, community etc, while we all held a squat.

Patriot run plus burpee to baseball field for 2nd story time chat/squat.

Patriot run to water tower hill for pain station on hill.
All IC. Bear crawl up hill. At top do 10-4ct big boys while declined. Then do 10–4 ct flutter kicks while inclined. Do 10–4 ct inclined merkins. Then 10–4 ct declined merkins. Crawl bear down hill.

Patriot run to fire hall for final story time chat/squat.

Patriot run to AO, made it in right on time!

Ended in COT.

Thanks for coming out today men!

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    2

    Dora “Not” the Explorer

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    Date: 09/01/18

    AO: Aegis at Georgetown, De.

    QIC: Fireplex

    Warm up

    Windmills – 25 IC

    Cherry pickers – 20 IC

    Bolt 45’s – IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

    Happy Jacks – 5 SSH IC followed by 2 bomb jacks.  5 evolutions completed in succession.

    Merkin Mile – each ¼ mile Pax stopped and completed 25 merkins.  Pax completed half a mile on the way to the site of the “Thang” completing two sets of Merkins.  Pax completed the second half of the merkin mile with two sets of merkins in returning to the Aegis.

    Chappie rolled in hot after Rucking around nine miles to the Aegis.  The man is a beast.

    The Thang

    From the Exicon – Doracides – Two Pax worked together to reach exercise reps of 100, 200, 300, & 400 of 4 different exercises.  One Pax worked on the exercises while the second Pax completed suicides to three designated waypoints.  The extra twist is at the waypoint of each suicide run; the Pax completed 1 burpee, then 2 burpees, and finally 3 burpees before returning to the starting point.  Once all three suicide sprints were completed, the Pax switched stations until all reps of each exercise were completed.  The exercises completed are as follows:  100 American Hammers, 200 Merkins, 300 LBC’s, & 400 squats.

    Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Continue to pray for Chappie’s family, the Savini family, the Draper family, Vanilla’s co-worker, and for our Nation as we approach another anniversary of 911.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

    F3 Message – Q shared the Third F before returning to the Aegis.

    I was thinking hard about the upcoming anniversary of the death of my boss, my friend, and my mentor Thomas H. Draper.  He died on September 08, 2017 after suffering injuries sustained from a motor vehicle hitting him while riding his bicycle.  There is no easy way to handle the passing of those close to you, especially when you want to understand why God allows such tragedies to happen.  We are fast approaching the 17th anniversary of 911 where many lost their lives in such a horrific act of terrorism.  Why does God allow this?  I found this article by John Hawkins on Townhall.com that he had written after the Sandy Hook mass shooting that offers wisdom and insight as to why God allows tragedies.  I hope you find the same comfort and peace as I did when I read Mr. Hawkins words.

    5 Reasons God Allows Tragedies Like the Sandy Hook Massacre To Occur by John Hawkins as written on Townhall.com

    Posted: Jan 01, 2013 12:01 AM

    “As a Christian, it can be difficult to reconcile all the evil that happens in the world with an all knowing, all powerful loving God who could stop it if He wants, but chooses not to do so. If our hearts break for the innocent children who were senselessly murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary, how can a God who loves us not feel the same way? If any of us had known what Adam Lanza was going to do, we would have done anything in our power to stop him, so why didn’t God? All too often we tend to quote some arcane scripture, chalk it up to God “moving in mysterious ways” and shrug our shoulders. While none of us have the authority to speak for God, there are plausible explanations for why God would choose not to intervene to prevent a tragedy.

    1) He gives us free will: God didn’t make robots who were designed to execute His will. Instead He gave us the freedom to make our own decisions. He lets us choose between being right and wrong, good and evil or wise and foolish. We can follow Him or scorn Him. We can obey Him or ignore Him. We can take His advice or go our own way. It’s our choice…and sometimes choices have terrible consequences. But, of course, how could it be otherwise and still be a choice?

    2) It’s a necessity for faith: “If God wanted to remove all doubt about his existence, He could do so — but, He doesn’t because the cornerstone of Christianity is faith. Imagine what would happen if bad things DIDN’T happen to good people. What if when an airline crashes, only the non-Christians die while all the believers walk away unscathed? What if the moment someone becomes an atheist, he is immediately struck by lightning and killed? What if every rape, murder, robbery, and painful illness only happens to non-believers? If that were the case, then no faith would be required to be a Christian.” 

    3) He has a different perspective: Our God gave “His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Imagine being in his place as Jesus was jeered, whipped and had to suffer and die in agony on the cross. What would run through your mind as your Son was crucified and uttered the words, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” when you had the power to free Him, heal His wounds and strike down His tormentors at will. Our God made that sacrifice for each and every one of us so that we could be saved. That’s how much He cares for us. Yet and still, God has known the hopes, hurts, loves and secret dreams of all of us who’ve come into this world, lived our lives and passed on. After watching billions of people He cares for die and shouldering responsibilities we can’t even begin to fathom, God doesn’t see the world through the same eyes as we do.

    4) We often turn to God in times of tragedy: One of the sad truths of human nature is that when we’re happy, healthy, loved, secure and our pockets are full, most of us think we already have all the answers and don’t turn to God. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” It’s not that God wants us to ache, causes it, or wishes for it to happen, but He realizes that’s often what spurs us in His direction. A long pleasant existence full of leisure, contentment and pleasure that ends with a trip to Hell because there was never a need to reach for God is a failed life.

    5) Ultimately it’s about Heaven, not earth: What we do with our lives is no small matter. We should try to make the most of our talents, do what we can for others and make the most of what we have. But, it’s worth remembering that Billy Graham was right when he said, “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.” Our lives seem long and crucially important because it’s all we can see, hear, and touch, but God knows there’s an eternity that stretches beyond our time here. It can be incredibly painful when our time here ends with those we care about, but God gets to see the reunions in the next lifetime.”

    John 16:33 New International Version (NIV) –  33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

    John 3:16 New International Version (NIV) – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

    Respectfully Submitted,

    Fireplex

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    2

    500 flutter kicks?

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    7 PAX rolled in ready to get their sweat on this Gloom.    A lot of chatter about two strong Qs back to back with Fireplex and Leatherman bringing the heat Tuesday and Wednesday.    Pressure was on…
    • Warm-a-Rama
    SSH- 15
    Cherry pickers – 15
    Moroccan Night Club- 15
    Bolt 45s- IC
      Standing to half way- 15 .
      Half way to full squat- 15
      Full squats -15
    SSH- 15
    • Mosey to Ace parking lot.
    Split into 2 groups.
    1st group – 4x4s oyo
    2nd group – Nur across lot. Lt Dan back.
    Groups switch once all Pax return
    Rinse and repeat for 2 rounds.
    • Mosey  to Dr office lot.
    Pair up
    One partner stays and does exercise while other runs circle around dr office. Switch when partner gets around circle. Group Totals. PAX keep count.
    Total of 150 dips on curb.
    Once finished dips move on to total of 500 flutter kicks.
    • 3rdF-  I had a message typed out that was on my heart.  About consistency in all areas of life and how true High Impact Men stay consistent to develop trust, always add value and lead from the front.   But when I arrived to the AO this morning I opened up F3 nation and when I selected QSource a message popped up from nearly two ears ago written by ‘Dancing Idiot’ on ‘the Q’
    Immediately when I read it I thought of our local leader , Chappie , who with out him I wouldn’t be here today at 5am preparing to start my day with other Men who likely have been influenced by him as well.    We  are grateful for you leading the way in your Chappie style. And excited to expand F3 throughout the state with your guidance.  Maybe it was fitting he was on vacation today, but we all appreciate your vision and have grabbed ahold of it ourselves.  Each of us are better because of it.
    • Full 3rdF message is below –
    https://f3nation.com/2017/02/02/the-q/
    • Mosey back to CHOP
    To the Wall
    10 count wall sit
    10 diamond merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 wide merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 ranger merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 wide merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 ranger merkins
    10 count wall sit
    10 hand release merkins
    NAME-A-RAMA
    COT
    Go dominate your day.
    SUMMIT
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    4

    Super 21 – “Rump Skin” or Ruxpin

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    Date: 08/14/18

    QIC: Fireplex

    Warm up

    SSH – 21 IC

    Cherry Pickers – 21 IC

    Prisoner Squats – 21 IC

    Windmills – 21 IC

    Patriot Run around the block – .48 mile

    The Thang

    The Super 21 as it appears in the Exicon.  1 Merkin to 1 Big Boy Sit up.  2 Merkins to 2 Big Boy Sit-ups.  3 Merkins to 3 Big Boy Sit-ups, etc., etc., etc.  But wait there is a twist….after each set completed of #1 though #5 complete 21 Imperial Walkers.  After each set completed of #6 through #10 complete 21 Mountain Climbers.  After each set completed of # 11 through #15 complete 21 Monkey Humpers.  After each completed set of #16 through #20 complete 21 Prisoner Squats.  After the final set of 21 Merkins & 21 Big Boys then finish strong with 21 Burpees.

    Q received multiple reports of the loss of “Rump Skin” due to PAX choice of completing the set on the asphalt instead of the available wet grass that was just steps away.  I think our FNG dodged the bullet on this one when he received his F3 name…:)…Welcome Ruxpin…..

    F3 Message

    Q spoke about several characteristics of leadership as gleaned from an article by Thomas A. Merrill as it appears on fireengineering.com.  “Mr. Merill  is a 35-year fire department veteran and a former chief of the Snyder Fire Department in Amherst, New York. He is a fire commissioner for the Snyder Fire District. He served 26 years as a department officer including 15 years in the chief officer ranks. Merrill recently completed five years as chief of department. He has conducted various fire service presentations throughout the Western New York area as well as at FDIC. He also is a fire dispatcher for the Amherst (NY) Fire Alarm Office.”  Mr. Merrill stated that ” it is important for leaders to exercise good judgement and strive to lead their department in a positive manner; otherwise, so much of what I call wasted energy is invested in leadership quandaries that can truly bog down an organization and prevent good work from getting done.  It can also cause good people to leave.”  This observation can be applied to any business, group or organization.  Mr. Merrill went on to identify 8 “must have” traits that all leaders should possess.  The first is ownership and responsibility for any success or failure.  The ability to admit mistakes, be accountable, and move forward.  The second is consistency.  “A good leader will do jobs for which he is responsible in a consistent and regular manner, all while maintaining a positive attitude.  The third is being tired.   “All leaders should expect to be tired.  Simply, if you are doing your job as a leader, you will be tired.”  You may need to put in the extra time and effort to accomplish tasks with excellence.  The fourth is a positive example.  “All great leaders have learned to lead by their own personal example.  “Learn to lead by the power of your example, not by examples of your power.”  The fifth trait is organization.  “All leaders need to develop an organizational plan that works for them.  Find a system that works for you and strive to be as organized as possible.”  The sixth is Integrity.  “People are watching you all the time; they pay attention to what you say and how you handle yourself.  Once it’s lost you may never get it back.  A leader without integrity is certainly not a professional in any organization.”   The seventh identified trait of a great leader is honesty.  “Coupled with integrity, honesty is equally as important. Don’t ever think your people won’t know if you lie to them. Similar to losing integrity, once you are branded a liar, it sticks to you forever and your people will lose all trust and confidence in you. It’s okay to not have an answer to a question. It’s okay to not know how to do something. It’s not okay to make up answers and pretend to be something you are not. Be upfront and honest with your membership at all times, and don’t ever lie to them.”  The last trait identified by Mr. Merill is trust.  “All good leaders are trustworthy. Your members must know that you have their backs at all times. They need to know that when you tell them you will do something or get an answer for them, you will follow through and do it.  Learn to gain your members trust, and more importantly, work hard to maintain it.”

    Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, possessed all of the traits identified by Mr. Merill and so many more.   As a leader and teacher he was judged and scrutinized mercilessly.  He humbly served and provided the ultimate sacrifice in laying down his life so that we might have the opportunity to choose everlasting life.  Is he your President, Chief, Chairman, CEO…..??

    James 3:1 New King James Version (NKJV)  1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

    James 4:10 New King James Version (NKJV)  10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

    Matthew 20:26 New King James Version (NKJV)  26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

    Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Welcome to FNG (Ruxpin).  Prayers the Savini Family, Betts Family, and Sanders.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers as we go about the business of being HIM.

    Respectfully Submitted,

    Fireplex

    https://www.facebook.com/F3FirstState/videos/515858145502708/?t=62

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    5

    Yea, Though I [Mosey to] the Valley…

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    Date: 8/7/18

    QIC: Chappie

    What happens when you buy sidewalk chalk at Family Dollar (not a commercial) and pick up a prescription next door at Walgreen’s (not a commercial)? You discover a yet-to-be-minted F3 pain station. YHC couldn’t believe these two walls separated by about a 20′ alley-way had somehow been overlooked for the past 2+ years, even after working out in and around the parking lot so many times. How’d we miss this grand station of a beatdown location? Who knows! YHC noticed it a few weeks ago and could hardly wait to get his Q on and personally introduce it (like a new found friend) to the rest of the PAX from the Milton Mustard Seed CHOP AO – Semper anticus! Well, this little “canyon” or “valley” IS ON THE MAP NOW! YHC will tell you all about it. In meantime, what say ye, men? Shall we call it The Valley of the Shadow of Death (even though there really was no “walk” through it) or Death Valley (because it was so doggone hot and there was no air)? The place will live up to its name either way. Here’s what it looked like after the Gloom — YHC had to go back and get a shot for this post:

    Well, call it what you will…here’s how it all went down:

    Warm-O-Rama:

    SSH – 18 IC

    MNC – 15 IC

    Shell Picker, Crab Flipper, Cherry Picker – 10 IC

    Hillbillies – 18 IC

    Flying Squirrel – 10 OYO

    Calf Raise (toes in) – 20 OYO

    Calf Raises (toes out) – 20 OYO

    The Thang:

    Mosey to the new station (The Valley of the Shadow of Death  or Death Valley): Steady Mosey interchanged with a Picked-Up Mosey, switching between power poles/light poles all the way to Food Lion parking lot, ending in front of Walgreens:

    Between the Walls (in the valley) – all OYO

    5 Mike Tysons on one wall

    10 Bombjacks in middle of alley

    5 Mike Tysons on other wall

    15 Burpees in middle, and so on…

    5 Mike Tysons

    20 MJB’s

    5 Mike Tysons

    10  Count/Breather (PAX had to get out of the valley because it contained no air!)

    Back between the walls…

    BTTW – 10 Count

    People’s Chair – 10 Count

    BTTW – 10 Count

    PC, Leg Up (L) – 10 Count

    PC, Leg Up (R) – 10 Count

    YHC  forgot all who counted, but some counts were brutally slow. But, hey, it was in the valley of the shadow…

    3rd F Message – a Brief Shared By YHC:

    One leadership principle I’ve been pondering lately is this: “OUR REFERENCE POINT IS CRITICAL.”

    Years ago I heard someone say that “if the whole world stinks, check your mustache.” The idea being that if there’s some old moldy cheese or other leftover food in your stache and that’s all that you’re able to smell, then from THAT reference point the whole world is going to stink. The metaphor is clear. It may not be the whole world at all; it might be your perspective, the reference point from which you “smell” [see] the world.

    HOW WE SEE ANYTHING DEPENDS ON OUR REFERENCE POINT. I shared that thought in a recent sermon, but I think it’s just as applicable here, in F3. In fact, part of what we do here at O-GAWD-THIRTY (the Gloom) just about every day of the week, in some measure gives us a reference point for leadership. We get up very early; that’s the hard thing to do. We Q and prepare workouts and 3rd F messages hoping to inspire one another in spiritually, mentally, and physically in leadership; that’s the hard thing to do. We push ourselves and each other past self-imposed limits; that’s the hard thing to do! And we do all this and more, not just because of the fitness but because it does make us better leaders.

    How does all this make us better leaders?

    I believe one of the ways it makes us better leaders is that doing the hard stuff gives us a reference point. Let me explain, Mark Batterson mentions that psychologists refer to this as the contrast effect: If you lift a really heavy weight, then lift a lesser weight, it will seem lighter. We do this simply enough by doing really hard workouts. We do this with sandbags and cinderblocks. We do this with our rucks especially — we carry around 40lbs and then when we carry around 30lbs or less and everything else seems lighter. The reference point is the 40lbs or its the hard workout before anything else in the day comes along. Having that reference point is to help us to see things from a different perspective, one that is meant — in terms of leadership — to give us the reference point that just about everything else that follows throughout the day will not seem all that tough or difficult because we’ve already done something incredibly harder by comparison. This, again, is called the “contrast effect.”

    The practice of Q’ing a workout also leads to the same outcome: We practice that leadership here regularly, and, in part, that practice carries over where it ought to most (it’s supposed to) — at home, in the workplace, and in the communities in which we serve.

    In real life, it might bring about a different reference point after going through difficult circumstances. We are to see them differently after God carries us through them. (Point being that He is the One, then, who actually carried the weight…POINT BEING that Christ must be our reference point.) That’s why we cling to verses like Romans 8:28, “AND WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD…”

    Those words of Scripture and the experience or fulfillment of them train us and give us perspective — and how you see anything depends on your reference point. When we’ve been through something, tough circumstances, and we can see how God turned them around for our good, it gives us a new critical reference point. Doing the hard thing here, carrying the extra weight here (in the Gloom) trains our bodies and our minds with the reality of these truths.

    Back to work:

    YHC’s failed attempt at the Hands of Time (one of his favorites, but its been awhile and he forgot how to do it. Oh well, still got in some ab-burn)

    Steady mosey return to the AO.

    Meanwhile, back at the AO…

    GFerkins (Good Form Merkins) – 10 OYO

    Mary, all 9 PAX got in a round but YHC can’t recall all that was chosen

    Time’s up, only thing we missed on YHC’s Weinke was a round of Partner Push; next time. It’s all good, the Valley of the Shadow of Death (a.k.a. Death Valley) took a good bit out of us.

    Great push by all the PAX.

    COT:

    Announcements:

    Everyone is welcome to join Grace Church’s Warriors for Him men’s ministry for a hot dog cookout at The Home of the Brave this evening at 6. Home of the Brave is a homeless shelter for our veteran’s. Join us for some dogs and a few rounds of cornhole as we serve those who’ve served us.

    Thursday Gloom we’ll have a guest Q – Nunchuk will be here serving up the beatdown and getting his F3 Passport stamped; let’s make a good showing in support of our brother from York, SC!

    Prayers: Prayed for the substance abuse blanket to be lifted from Sussex County; prayer for others…

    BOM

    Welcome back Ying Ying, we’ve missed you brother! Good to see you. It was a privilege to lead all the fine HIM who broke the hold of the Fartsack and posted! Humbled and honored to lead the way.

    ~Chappie, out!

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    6

    Monkeying Around

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    6/23/2018

    QIC: Vanilla

    AO: CHOP: Milton, DE

    PAX: Chappie, Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Hideous, Skipper, Summit, Vanilla,

    Warm-O-Rama

    SSH – 20 IC

    Seal Jacks – 20 IC

    Smurf Jacks – 20IC

    Plank Jacks – 20IC

    Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

    Windmill -20 IC

    A “Friendly” Patriot Run to Milton Memorial Park

    The Thang: Monkeying Around

    PAX rotated between 5 stations doing as many reps as possible for as many rounds as possible. Rotation happened when PAX running at station 5 completed their loop.

    1. Pull Ups
    2. Swerkins w/ Tuck (Complete a merkin with feet in swing then pull feet in for a tuck – BRUTAL!)
    3. Box Jump to Incline Merkin
    4. Forearm Plank
    5. Run loop around gazebo

    3rd F Message: Extreme Ownership

    “On any team, in any organization, all responsibility for success and failure rests with the leader. The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame. The leader must acknowledge mistakes and admit failures, take ownership of them and develop a plan to win. The best leaders don’t just take responsibility for their job, they take Extreme Ownership of everything that impacts their mission.” – Jocko & Leif, Extreme Ownership

    “As individuals, we often attribute the success of others to luck or circumstances and make excuses for our own failures and the failures of our team…Total responsibility for failure is a difficult thing to accept, and taking ownership when things go wrong requires extraordinary humility and courage. But doing just that is an absolute necessity to learning, growing as a leader, and improving a teams performance.” -Jocko & Leif, Extreme Ownership

    “You can’t make people listen to you. You can’t make them execute. That might be a temporary solution to a simple task. But to implement real change, to drive people to accomplish something truly complex or difficult or dangerous you can’t make people do those things. You have to lead them.” -Jocko & Leif, Extreme Ownership

    Thoughts from QIC: Extreme Ownership is a man in the mirror mentality. In every and all situation, regardless of “fault,” the only thing we as leaders can control is our attitude and actions. Taking extreme ownership sets an example that will trickle down into your team, family, subordinates, etc. As a byproduct those that look to you for leadership will start to apply extreme ownership to their own selves. If you want to see change in those around  you, as a leader, they need to see change in you. This means 100% extreme ownership in all situations.

    Patriot Run back to AO

    Site Q Handoff from Chappie to Chattahoochee (See Video Attached)

    Ended with Number-Rama, Name-O-Rama, & COT/BOM

    Humbly Your QIC,

    Vanilla

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