Abicides

QIC: Chappie

DATE: 03/10/20

14 HIM beat the lag from the new hours of Daylight Savings Time and posted at CHOP in Milton, DE for some ab work. Plus, the PAX got in their fair share of Merkins for March Merkin Madness (actually only 147 total).

WARM-O-RAMA: (Intended for Phyfe but he couldn’t make it because of working the Blue Light Special today – no worries, we’ll get him on the schedule again.)

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Swartzjack – 18 IC
  • Smurfjack – 18 IC
  • Plankjack – 18 IC
  • Crabflippers – 18 IC

THE THANG:

PAX lined up single file at the edge of the field which had 6 cones lined up evenly from one end of the field to the other (lit up with chem-lights – you gotta admit it was cool looking!)

  • RR Tracks to the far cone (approx. 175 yards)
  • Cone #1 – COP Hello Dolly – 50 IC (…and the mumble chatter begins)
  • Mosey to parking lot – 6 Merkins OYO
  • First 3 guys back to lot had to grab a Restrictor Plate (Sandbag)
  • Mosey out to Cone #2 – COP X’s & O’s – 18 OYO
  • Mosey to parking lot – 12 Merkins OYO (from here on Restrictor Plates were voluntary, at least for the most part. Well, see what happened was…instead of mumble chatter there was some “mumble yelling” by the enforcer, Leatherman, to get everyone to step up and shoulder 1 of the 3 sandbags (i.e. some guys appeared to be bypassing the bags)
  • Mosey out to Cone #3 – COP 4-Count Freddies – 25 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 18 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey out to Cone #4 – COP Box Cutters – 30 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 24 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey to Cone #5 – COP Dying Cockroaches – 30 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 30 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey to Cone #6 – COP American Hammers – 30 IC

This is how it went…back and forth like suicides, only for abs instead.

PAX circled up for 3rdF:

One of the more popular Bible verses referred to in F3 circles is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Most of us have shared that verse as part of a 3rdF, and if not, all of us have at least heard it because it’s been shared regularly.

Iron sharpening iron is a pretty simple concept. We all get it—I think that’s why its included in the Book of Proverbs—its masculine practicality speaks to the hearts of all men!

I’m referring to it today in terms of the leadership principle/practice of ACCOUNTABILITY. By very definition, without accountability there’s no iron sharpening iron. Having no accountability makes you about as useful as the file hanging by itself on a hook in my shed. (P.S. – proper use is critical!)

The question I want to pose is this: In an age when there is so little accountability (i.e. men refuse accountability) do you have someone to whom you’ve MADE YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE—willingly? I’m not talking about your workplace, where you’re subordinate to a supervisor or to someone who holds your paycheck. But I’m talking about a brother in the Lord, a brother in this circle, or another man, who, in any given circumstance can not only encourage you but call into question a decision, a motive, a response, a reaction, or a path you’ve taken? Have you made your heart receptive to the counsel of someone who might even wound you so that you’ll continue to grow and mature as a man, a husband, a father, and friend? Earlier, Proverbs 27 also says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” (27:6). If you don’t have that other piece of iron in your life (I think Mr. T’s words might be for you: “I pity the fool!)

The term ACCOUNTABILITY as its defined in our F3 lexicon is: “Submitting to a standard through enforcement and consequence. To practice Accountability, there must be a STANDARD (and objective measure of performance or behavior…p.s., you’re NOT it!), ENFORCEMENT (an external force to apply that Standard), and CONSEQUENCE (the result of the Enforcement of the Standard). This is certainly a larger definition by context than just a friendship with a brother from another mother, yet it still applies to iron sharpening iron.

That verse means that when iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it SHAPES and SHARPENS it. Similarly, we as men, can help each other become better by our discussions, criticisms, suggestions, ideas, and accountability. As HIM we should not only provide that kind of influence, whether good or bad, but we MUST welcome it as well!

The verse implies both the pleasure and advantage of accountability. Accountability means you have wise and profitable discourses by which you sharpen and are sharpened. I.e. something is added—you are filed, made smooth, or are given a good edge by accountability with another High Impact Man (HIM)…or other High Impact Men (plural). One last question: Do you have the MORAL COURAGE to make decisions for which you will be held accountable?

(Sources: QSOURCE by DREDD, F3nation.com Lexicon, & TBKC)

THE THANG #2:

PAX moved to the wall for a short game of Merkin Dice. PAX took turns rolling the BIG dice to determine the number of Merkins to be done between 10-Count BTTW’s. It went a little something like this:

  • Roll #1 – 10 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count
  • Hand Release Merkins – 10 OYO
  • Roll #2 – 5 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count
  • Tempo Merkins – 5 IC
  • Roll #3 – 6 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count, courtesy of Leatherman. Recount courtesy of Doubtfire
  • Prison Cell Merkins – 6 OYO

Times up…and good thing because somebody’s pain was starting to become “special.” Lol. Plus, PAX had to have time to name our FNG>

COT/BOM:

  • Number-Rama
  • Name-O-Rama
  • Naming of FNG – Welcome FNG Jeff Chorman, now known in F3 circles as Woodstock
  • Announcements:
    • Softball games Saturday in Milton to raise support for Delaware Food Bank: Bring your non-perishable food items to the ball fields (Suggestion: You could ruck them to the ball fields.)
    • 2nd Annual Shamruck: Family Ruck this Sunday (3/15). Stepping off from the Big Lot’s parking lot in Milford at 3:17 p.m. Rucking 1 mile to McDonald’s for Shamrock Shakes. Rucking 1 mile to return to parking. Bring a ruck (40 lbs if you weigh over 150, 20 lbs if you weigh under 150. If the kids can’t ruck pull ’em in a wagon, bring friends, etc. Let’s just enjoy some time together under ruck and having some quality 2ndF and giving our families the opportunity to get to know one another.
  • Prayers: Stafford Family, effected by cancer. Family of Trion’s M’s uncle, Roger. YHC’s friend, undergoing brain tumor removal tomorrow. Other PAX’s families battling for the marriages, etc. P.S. – don’t forget to pray for Quattro, who is sick.

Grateful for the beautiful weather and the amazing full moon to workout under. More than anything, YHC is grateful for the HIM who posted and the accountability that is available (for all who are willing) through this special esprit de corps among F3 brothers. Thanks for posting men!

~ Chappie, out!

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Superman’s Bombjacks

F3 CHOP 2/6/2020

QIC: Quattro

WARM-O-RAMA

  • 20 SSH IC
  • 20 Cherry Pickers IC
  • 20 Windmill IC
  • BOLT 45 because we all love FIREPLEX
  • 15 count playboys each side (to keep the sniper away)
  • 7 Pretzel Merkins each side IC

THANG

  • Mosey down Union St to Magnolia St, 6-inches for the 6
  • Jailbreak to Mulberry St
  • Carry-Ockie to fishing pier parking lot switching legs halfway across bridge
  • 50 4-count American Hammers IC on wooden ledge
  • 50 foot-elevated Big Boys OYO on ledge
  • Move to grass, 6-inches for 6
  • Superman-Bananas IC 5-count front, flip 5-count back, flip, Rinse and Repeat BEWARE sniper! Start off on your belly, in this case embracing the suck, arms out in front slightly raised, legs straight behind 6-inches off the ground (looking like superman flying). After Q counts to 5, PAX yell BANANAS! Then immediately flip onto 6 in a banana-like curve (arms out and slightly up, legs out feet 6-inches) Q counts to 5, PAX yell SUPERMAN! Immediately turn over. Rinse and Repeat as needed.
  • Wosey to base of Governor’s Walk
  • Indian Crab Walk up Governor’s Walk [mumble chatter was epic at this point!]
Indian Crab Walk UP Governor’s Walk
  • Wosey back towards CHOP while 3rd F was shared: an exerpt from “The Masculine Mandate” ‘God’s Calling To Men’ By: Richard D Phillips
  • Mosey once 3rd F was complete
Chapter 3, Page 18,19

10 BombJacks as a moral booster and simple accountability

Count-O-Rama

Name-O-Rama

COT

Then we were out… like fat dudes in dodgeball

~Quattro

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You Da Bomb

Date: 02/04/20

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE.

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 25 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

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

Windmills – 15 IC

Burp & Merk – Burpee with Ascending Merkins up to 10

Chilly Jacks – 25 IC

20 lunges (10 each Leg) – OYO

20 split Jacks (10 each Leg) – OYO

The Thang 

B.O.M.B.S. – 50 Burpees, 100 Overhead Claps, 150 Merkins, 200 Big Boy Sit-ups, 250 Squats.  PAX partnered up and worked on exercises while their partner ran a “Chairman Lap” out the back driveway of the CHOP parking lot, left toward Union Street, and then left back to the CHOP.  The distance per circuit is approximately .25 miles.  Pax switched off with their partner after each lap.  Each PAX completed their half of the listed exercises before moving on to the next exercise. The entire “Thang” was complete before a break was taken for the F3 Message.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Prayers were offered for multiple needs within the attending PAX, but please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

 F3 Message 02/04/20 – From Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

A BUCKET OF WATER, OR A THREE-ALARM FIRE – #7744

I’m a tornado and hurricane kind of guy. I mean I don’t like them but, I’ve lived where you learn about those things. I’m not an earthquake kind of guy. I’ve never lived where those mattered much. But when I was in San Francisco, I was where earthquakes are a big deal! Most people there still have dramatic stories to tell about what happened during that big quake in 1989, the one that interrupted the 3rd game of the World Series. Some of the heaviest damage and injury was in the Marina District of San Francisco.

Well, actually, I was doing a youth radio program back then, and we went there to record part of it. In fact, we were right on the comer of Beach Street and Divisadero where several buildings collapsed or burned, including one that had been totally consumed by fire. One of the neighbors described the scene for us, one very different from this quiet neighborhood with beautiful rebuilt homes. The night of the quake was total chaos. This neighbor described that awful fire with the unbearable heat that had destroyed the building on the other comer. He said, “The fire started out with a gas leak. It was small. If I could have gotten over there, I literally could have put it out with a bucket of water. But then it started to spread and pretty soon there was no way to stop it.”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “A Bucket of Water, or a Three-Alarm Fire.”

God believes in fighting fires when they’re small, when you can still put them out with a bucket of water. He talks about it in Ephesians 4:26-27, our word for today from the Word of God, and some of the most insightful verses in the Bible for preserving relationships. Here’s what God says, “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Could it be that you have let a fire smolder in some relationship in your life? Let it go, let it grow and you will have a blaze on your hands you cannot control.

Maybe there is a strained relationship in your life right now, between you and your mate, or you and a child, you and a co-worker, you and your parent, you and a spiritual brother or sister. Maybe there’s trouble in your marriage and so often, honestly, it’s the guy who’s the last to admit that anything’s wrong. Men – let’s face it – tend to be postponers when it comes to dealing with relationship difficulties. But I’m telling you, the fire isn’t going to stay the same size. Relationships of all kinds burn down when someone lets the small fire just go, until it becomes this uncontrollable inferno that can do so much damage.

In fact, the Bible says that when you let conflict or strain or anger go longer than a day, you literally give the devil himself a place to get into your relationship. Four verses later, in Ephesians 4:31, God lists the kind of ugly things that come from letting relationship fires go unaddressed: “All bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, every form of malice.” Look, can you see some of those flames maybe right now growing in a relationship of yours.

Don’t wait another day to do something about the fire. It’s as small now as it’s ever going to be. Gently confront what you have to confront, forgive what you have to forgive, apologize for what you need to apologize for, and overlook what you have to overlook, but deal with whatever is between you, whatever is breaking or broken.

Because I’ll tell you this, the devil is standing there with his gasoline can ready to pour gasoline on that fire so everyone involved will get burned. You need to come running with whatever water it will take to put it out now. A bucket of water now is a whole lot better than a 3-alarm fire later.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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The Super Sheldon Cooper Mamba Style

Date: 01/30/20

AO: CHOP, Milton DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 24 IC

Cherry Pickers – 24 IC

Bobby Hurley’s – 24 OYO

Bolt 48’s IC (4 Count) – 16 squats to halfway down.  16 squats halfway to full down.  16 full squats.

Windmills – 24 IC

Jiminy Crickets – 8 OYO

Mosey .5 miles to “Oh Hill No” by way of the Black “Mamba” Snake Run

The Thang

The Super Sheldon Cooper Mamba Style.  Inch worm or “Mamba Slither” up the hill, run down and complete 8 Burpees, 8 Squats, 8 Merkins & 8 Big Boys.  Plank for the 6.  Dragon Crawl up the hill, run down and complete 8 Burpees, 8 Squats, 8 Merkins & 8 Big Boys.  Plank for the 6.  Crawl Bear up the hill, Bear Crawl down and complete 8 Burpees, 8 Squats, 8 Merkins & 8 Big Boys.  Plank for the 6.  I had a few more “Mamba Hill Slithers” planned had time allowed.  Break for the F3 message.  See Message Below….

Mosey .5 miles back to CHOP by way of the Black “Mamba” Snake Run

F3 Message 01/30/20

CP CURRENT PAGE: VOICES | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020

Kobe Bryant’s death reminds us life is not fair

By Greg Laurie, CP Contributor (The Christian Post)

I could hardly believe the news this weekend: Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers basketball superstar, had died in a helicopter accident near Los Angeles. Eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, also perished in the crash.

How could a champion like Kobe, so vibrant and full of life, suddenly leave us?

Kobe Bryant was among the very best to play in the NBA. He played 20 seasons with the LA Lakers, won 5 championship rings and finished with 33,643 career points. At 41 years old, he was a living and breathing legend that even other NBA stars were star-struck by.

He even picked his own nickname, “Black Mamba,” after the fastest lethal snake in the world — and passed it on to his daughter Gianna, a budding basketball star, whom he called “Mambacita.”

The truth is, the vast majority of us didn’t know Kobe personally. Maybe we went to one of his games, but that was the extent of our relationship with him. Yet his death somehow has touched millions of Americans deeply. I believe it’s because it suddenly jolted us to the reality that life is not fair.

Why are people like Kobe and his daughter and the other passengers aboard that fateful flight taken while others will wake up tomorrow to face a new day?

There are no easy explanations, but here are three things we should keep in mind as we reflect on Kobe’s passing:

1.  Life Is Precious

I have a smartwatch. Periodically, I will get a message on it that simply says, “Breathe.” Funny thing is, I was breathing already, but it’s reminding me of something that I should never take for granted.

Every day is a gift. Every single heartbeat and every breath you take is a blessing. Don’t take it for granted. And don’t take your health or your family for granted either.

The Bible reminds us, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT).

Kobe was a very successful man with many beautiful things, but I am certain he would have traded it all for one more precious day of life. He was not given that choice.

2. Don’t Ask ‘Why?’ — Ask ‘Who?’

I remember the day 11 years ago when my wife and I heard the devastating news that our son Christopher had died in an automobile accident on his way to work. It was as if all the air was sucked out of the room and time stood still. I felt as though if words could kill you, I could have died on the spot that day.

In my time of pain and darkness, I called out to God, and He was there for me. The Bible says He is “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Sometimes things happen in life that are unfair, and we will never get a satisfying answer for why they happened. At times such as these, I have learned that the right question to ask is not “Why?” but “Who?” Who do you turn to at a time like this?

You turn to God and ask Him for the strength you need to go on another day. And you cry and mourn.

The Bible says, “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 NLT). Many people wept with us when our son Christopher died. Right now, Kobe’s family needs support and love.

We need to remember to pray for Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, and his children, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. Kobe is also survived by his father Joe and his mother Pam. I cannot imagine the devastation they are all feeling over the loss of both Kobe and Gianna. We must also remember to pray for the families of the seven others who died as well. Their names are:

●       John Altobelli, 56, Orange Coast College head baseball coach

●       Kerri Altobelli, John’s wife

●       Alyssa Altobelli, John and Kerri’s daughter, who was Gianna’s basketball teammate

●       Sarah Chester

●       Payton Chester, Sarah’s daughter and another basketball teammate

●       Christina Mauser, girls basketball coach at Mamba Sports Academy

●       Ara Zobayan, pilot

3. We Must Prepare

Death isn’t a respecter of people. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor; religious or not; famous, infamous or unknown; or even the great Kobe Bryant, who had vast resources and money at his disposal. It knocks at every door, and sadly one day it will knock at your door and mine.

But death is not the end. The Bible talks about an afterlife — a concept even many people who are nonreligious believe in. Jesus spoke about it.

He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

It’s because of this hope of eternity that followers of Jesus do not “grieve like people who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). If we believe in and follow Jesus, we can rest assured that death will not get the final word but we will be in Heaven with Him.

Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist and a best-selling author. His books include “Hope for Hurting Hearts” and  “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon.”

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

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Kobe

Date: January 28, 2020

QIC: Wildwing

WARM A RAMA: SSH x 20, Cherry Picker x 20, Goof Ball x 20, La La Leggy x 10, Joe Lewis x 20

The Thang:

Sixteen workout stations were set out in two lines 40 feet apart. Each station had a separate exercise that continued for 60 seconds. Pax would do Bobby Hurleys or a Fiddler Crab walk as they rotated to a new station.

Exercises included: box cutters, iron mikes dips, dirkins, lbc, wheel of merkins, groiners burpees, coupon jump, elf on shelf, bolt 45, windshield wipers, big boy, war hammers, Alabama ass kickers

Third F:

While PAX were on 6s doing bicycles, QIC recited Kobe Brant sayings such as: “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” He also talked about leaving the game better than you found it. “When it comes time to leave, leave a legend.”

“Leaving the game better than you found it” echos the concept of seeking a “more perfect union.” So we closed the message by recalling Rear Admiral Black’s opening prayer at the Trump Impeachment trial: “Sovereign God, author of liberty … remember that Patriots reside on both sides of the aisle….Give all senators a civility built upon integrity that brings consistency in their beliefs and actions, we pray in your powerful name, Amen.

(A person can hope anyways.)

Number a Rama, Name a Rama, COT

Respectfully and hopefully submitted: Wildwing

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