Milford

Walk this Way

, , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By

DATE: 8/27/20

QIC: Chappie

3 PAX jumped into action at the Grit Mill (1-yr-old AO) after winning TFB (THAT FIRST BATTLE…the fight with the fartsack) and posting for a Chappie beatdown. Nothing re-invented here but a good one (mumble chatter says) with the 4 x 4 borrowed from the CHOP. The 4 x 4 is a simple tour around the block, executing 4 exercises on each of the 4 corners, with select transitions in between. YHC introduced this routine a few years ago at the CHOP AO in Milton; it has since become a bit of a measurement for PAX to determine personal progress. YHC brought it to the Grit Mill…well, because it requires grit!

WARM-O-RAMA
• SSH – 18 IC
• Low-Slow Squat – 10 IC
• Calf Raises – 15 OYO
• Calf Raises – Suzanne Somers style 15 OYO
• Grit Millkins (Hold plank for cadence, down/up for rep) – 18 IC
• Superman/Rip-cord – 3 rounds each (10 count)

THE THANG – Grit Mill 4×4 (4 corners x 4 exercise each for total body workout)

Corner #1: Upper body
• Drydocks – 5
• Wide-arm – 10
• Regular – 15
• Derkins – 20
Transition to corner 2: Lt. Dan

Corner #2: Abs
• Hooch Nightmares – 9 each leg IC (Borrowed from F3Naperville)
• 4-Count Freddie’s – 18 IC
• X’s & O’s – 18 OYO
• American Hammers – 18 IC
Transition: Bearcrawl/Crawlbear to pedestrian sign, Karaoke rest of the way to corner 3

Mid-Point break in action for 3rdF — An updated version of message from a few years back; here’s what YHC shared:

The words, “O well” were the trademark words of DS Allen, one of my Drill Sergeant’s in basic training. DS Allen was a SFC (platoon sergeant) and any time there was an issue or we got ourselves into a pickle of sorts, that’s what DS Allen would say…”Oh well, private!” He always said it real slow and cool, of course.

DS Allen taught me to walk circumspectly and to be watchful–a good discipline for all leaders…for all HIM.

Once while we were in the field the chow hall had trucked hot food out to us for lunch, a precious commodity especially in that stretch of winter where for about 2 weeks the average windchill was about -30. After eating chow I went to dump my trash in the trash-can, and as I was doing that, I kind of had my head down and wasn’t paying much attention to who else was around me. Another soldier came up and starting stuffing his trash into the can, but he was stuffing it down in between the trash-bag and the trash can instead of inside the bag. I distinctly remember trying to stop the guy, saying with a commanding voice, “Hey! Hey! Hey!” The other soldier put his hand firmly on top of my Kevlar helmet and promptly lifted my head. It was at that point that I discovered the “other soldier” was DS Allen! Oh man, I must have turned 10 shades of red or white as a ghost! I’m not sure. And while I was close to it, I’m still glad I didn’t come up swinging!

And DS Allen, well, he just stood there looking at me face to face, eye to eye. He cracked a “possum eatin’ crap” grin and then without saying a word, he turned and walked away. In that moment he taught me a lot about being a good leader, he could’ve really busted my chops but didn’t (he wasn’t worried about his own ego). Also without saying a word, he taught me yet another lasting leadership lesson: Walk circumspectly, be watchful and alert. Know who’s around you and what’s going on around you at all times.

Here’s how this applies: In Galatians 5:16 Paul wrote, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Here the Greek word for walk is “peripateo“; it is from this that we get our English word parapet: A barrier which is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof or terrace. This is a protective wall that keeps one from going over the edge. Paul was likening that to the Holy Spirit who the Lord has given to help us to walk circumspectly, to keep us from going over the edge.

Here’s what is really neat: In the same chapter in v. 25, he goes on to say “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” But in this verse he uses a different word for walk. Here it is “stoicheo.” This word means to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier; to go in order. So the Bible says that living and walking by the Spirit is like marching precisely in formation, staying in step with the One who is leading us, the Spirit of God.

In both cases the Bible says, Walk this way. But in both instances in the passage, it is a walk that offers both the protection and leadership of the Spirit of God. Just some crucial things to think about which will help us to be the HIM God has called us to be. But whatever you do, don’t say, “Oh, well!”

Back at it for the final stretch…

Corner #3: Legs
• Sumo Squats (real ones) – 18 OYO
• Mexican Jumping Beans – 18 OYO
• Monkey Humpers – 18 IC
• Smurfjacks – 18 IC

Transition: Prison Break to corner 4


Corner #4: Full body
• Burpees – 18 OYO
• Mt. Climbers – 18 IC
• Flying Squirrels – 18 OYO
• Mule kicks – 18 OYO …Ouch!
Transition: Mosey return to AO

COT/BOM:

  • Announcements: Family Day at Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club is this Sat., 9/29 from 10-5; Leadership Pow-Wow Wed. 9/2 at Summit’s from 6:30 till (Dogs/Chips/Snacks, RSVP to Chappie ASAP)
  • Prayers: For F3 First State PAX and families; for Waterfall & Felicia as they work to resolve challenges with Dietrich; for YHC’s nephew, Aaron who is currently deployed; etc. God is good, what YHC forget, God did not–He’s got it covered.

The 4 x 4 proved it’s worth at the Grit Mill as well. Great push by the PAX, especially near the end to finish strong. Afterall, its not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Aye!

Chappie, out!

Post Workout Trip Home – who would want to miss this?

The 300 x1000

, , , / Leave a Comment / The Grit Mill / By

Warm o rama 

20 ssh

20 imperial walkers

20 crab flippers

20 grady corn

The Thang

Spartan

After Warm-o-rama PAX moseyed to the desired workout location, on the way we found 2 Milford Police officers in a nice sized parking lot and decided to change direction to workout in front of the police. We began by doing 30 Monkey humpers in front of the cops, one got out and tackled Chappie, lol jk we did not do monkey humpers and chappie did not get tackled, but we had a blast in the parking lot, this is where we completed the Spartan.

PAX line up and sprint 100 yrds, do 10 exercisesat the finish and walk back to the start all together. Q starts each sprint race with a verbal call. Continue until you have done 30 x100 yrd sprints and 10×30 = 300 exercises. PAX will be nursing home walking for several days. 

30 burpees

30 merkins

30 squats

30 flutterkicks

30 ssh

30 lbc

30 hand release werkins

30 lunges

30 American hammers

30 shoulder taps

30 mountain climbers

squat potato

With 2 minutes remaining in the GLOOM QIC Gump grabbed a sandbag and we completed the squat potato.

Hot potato in squat position. PAX form a circle with everyone facing out. PAX then pass a heavy object around the outside of the circle while in squat position until the Q says halt. Add more objects in depending on the size of the circle

F3 message

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

John 15:18‭-‬25 NKJV

Merkin Courage

, , / Leave a Comment / DE, Milford, The Grit Mill / By

Warm-a-Rama
20 seal jacks i/c
20 seal wave i/c
20 Imperial walkers i/c
20 plank jacks i/c
20 ssh i/c
20 Windmill i/c

THE THANG

Merkin mosey to Church of God – mosey for 2 minutes, do 2 merkins, mosey 2 more minutes, do 3 merkins…..

3 rounds
20 hanging knee raises
10 swerkins
25 reverse crunch
15 big boys

3RD F

Play The Man • Devotional
https://bible.com/reading-plans/4023/day/7?segment=0


Merkin mosey back to AO

25 derkins
30 urkins

Number Rama
Name Rama
COT
3 HIM showed today: Semi, Chappie, Gump

Super 21 sandbag special

, , , , / Leave a Comment / The Grit Mill / By

WDARM-O-RAMA

  • 20 SSH
  • 20 windmills
  • 20 crab flippers
  • 20 grady corn

THE THANG

All the HIM were thrilled to hear we werent going to spend the morning running our guts out this morning instead we stayed right where we warmed up and completed the Super 21 sandbag special

Super 21 DEFENITION: Do 1 merkin followed by 1 situp; 2 merkins / 2 situps; 3 merkins / 3 situps, etc., etc. ……. up to 21 merkins/ 21 situps (total of 231 merkins and 231 situps). Insert other exercises in between to allow for recovery

 Super 21 #1 – #10, Bear crawl across parking lot come back and complete Monkey Humpers x 21 IC,

Super 21 #11-#13, We were lucky enough for the town of Milford to leave us a nice pile of sandbags at the Library, so we all grabbed a sandbag and LT DAN across parking lot and DAN LT back where we preformed Mountain Climbers x 21 IC,

 Super 21 #14-#16, then sandbag side lunge across parking lot and side lunge the opposite direction back followed by squats x 21 with sandbag OYO

Super 21 17-20 then we held sandbags overhead while we toy soldier marched across parking lot and we held sandbags above our heads and high knees back (suck). We skipped the extra exercise for time sake

Finished super 21 (21 MERKINS 21 BIGBOYS) bear crawl across parking lot crawl bear back. Finished up the morning with 21 Burpees OYO (no sandbag lol)

F3 MESSAGE.

When a man’s ways please the Lord , He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

Proverbs 1:5 NKJV

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 13:20 NKJV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 NKJV

The fear of the Lord  is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

James 3:17 NKJV

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 NKJV

The Soupy Deck of Death. Kinda.

, , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By

Date: 07/09/20

QIC: Chappie

Us four and no more cut through the soupy fog to post at the Grit Mill and cut through the soupy humidity–all the way around it was a thick soupy Gloom!

Warm-O-Rama:

  • SSH – 10 IC
  • Albatross Wings – Single Count IC
    • 20 x Forward Arm Circles
    • 20 x Backward Arm Circles
    • 20 x Seal Claps
    • 20 x Overhead Claps
  • Swartzjacks – 10 IC
  • IW – 20 IC
  • Compass Squats – 10 IC (Squat while jumping to turn N, E, S, & W = 1 rep.)
  • Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Patriot Chase to Milford Church of God (Parking Lot) – 1 PAX ran ahead with the Shovel-Flag, while rest of PAX did 3 Burpees. PAX would then run to catch the flag, and slow down til all PAX caught up. PAX rotated through carrying the Shovel-Flag and doing Burpees (rinse & repeat) til destination was reached. Soupy Patriot Chase!

The Thang: (Had to break out the brand-new Workout Deck purchased during the quarantine–YHC couldn’t wait any longer…)

Upon arriving at the MCOG parking lot, PAX did mosey variations (Mosey, Nur, Side-Shuffles, etc.) back and forth across lot, taking turns drawing cards from the F3 Workout Deck (i.e. “Deck of Death”) at the starting point each time.

YHC Shared the following 3rd Word (3rdF) somewhere around mid-workout:

In Mark 10:17-22, we read: “As Jesus started on his way, a [rich] man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?”Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

——————————————

This portion of Scripture is not just about a [rich man]. Too many people read it and conclude, “I’m not rich, so it doesn’t apply to me.” But the passage is about so much more: As the man approaches Jesus, he’s got one thing very wrong. He wants to know what he must do. (I.e. what he can do to gain eternal life.)

After Jesus points him to God and begins to list the commandments, the man grows perturbed. His response: “Teacher all these I have kept since I was a boy,” tells us he was oozing with self-righteousness. He’s worked hard; he’s kept all the rules; he’s tried his best.

But Jesus sees things differently. Jesus’ response is key: “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

YHC wants you to see what Jesus’ love looks like in this story: He loves the man too much to allow him to continue in his self-deluded little world of sweat, hard work and determination. He is not willing to stroke the man’s ego and tell him how wonderful he is. Instead, Jesus issues a command. It’s a very poignant moment: Jesus loves the man–and He lets him walk away. He doesn’t chase after him or lower the bar. He doesn’t negotiate and settle on a lower figure that the man will be willing to give. Jesus demands it all.

That is the command and there’s no budging. It’s not just hard. It is an impossible command. Jesus set the bar so high precisely because He loves this man. The point is this, and it is the point for us all: The man had reduced eternal life to SOMETHING HE COULD ACHIEVE, that it was within his power to gain–yes, I can do that!

But now he was confronted with something that was absolutely beyond him. He was brought to a place of realizing he could not do what he thought he could do.

Jesus loves us too much to stroke our egos as well, and tell us how fabulous we are. Instead, He issues commands that are far beyond our ability to obey in order to drive us to him.

Don’t run from that. It doesn’t feel comfortable; it doesn’t give us warm fuzzy feelings about how great we are. But in that moment, in that place of weakness, we can learn to whisper these two words: I can’t. And THAT honors God far more than you’ll ever know.

The man’s right response to the command would be to fall on his knees and speak the words, “I can’t do it.” Only then, with his self-confidence and self-righteousness in tatters and his heart exposed, would he be ready to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. (Mark 10:15)

Perhaps the best summary YHC can give you of what I’m sharing today, is found in Titus 3:8, “He [God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

Truly, HIM have whispered these two words: I can’t. And in that very moment they’ve not only expressed trust in God, but have found Him to be the One who can!

With that, we got in a couple more rounds, then us four and no more mosey’d back to the AO. It’s a wrap!

COT:

  • Announcements – PAX invited to get in on the “Suns Out Guns Out” ruck this month.
  • Prayers: Chappie’s mom; Chairman; etc.

Soupy day with the fog and the humidity/heat, but the PAX showed up and cut right through it like a deck of cards–a Workout Deck, that is! PAX didn’t quite make it through the deck so it was only kinda a Deck of Death. No worries, YHC will break it out again soon!

Always grateful for the opportunity to Q!

~Chappie, out!

COVID-19 Comz

/ Leave a Comment / Aegis, CHOP, Georgetown, Lewes, Milford, Milton, DE, The Grit Mill / By

DATE: 03/17/20

Men of F3 Nation,

Our country and countries across the world are being greatly affected by COVID-19. Here is the “official” statement from F3 Nation on what is happening right now.

We are a #Starfish. Our mission is explicitly to invigorate male community leadership. Our hope is that we, to some degree or other, have done this. Therefore, we urge you to look locally to your Nant’ans for guidance on what you may want to do on the ground where you are. From Charlotte, we can’t know what the best practice is for Omaha, nor would we pretend to. Omaha will know what to do for Omaha, the same is to be said for regions across the Nation. 

Be smart. We’ve all likely seen by now the many practices that are recommended by the CDC and other experts. In fact, very many of the great Leaders and Nant’ans of F3 have already put out guidelines for how they suggest things be handled locally in their regions. For example, in Puget Sound, where the virus made US landfall, they have been adjusting their COTs to not include a BOM, encouraging men to stay home if they feel sick, no partner work, etc. Again, look local for what you all might do to avoid spread of both the virus and any panic that may surround it.

LEAD. It is times like these that we now get to put into practice all this stuff we’ve talked about over the years. We have attempted to get ready for the expected, while staying ready for the unexpected… this is truly unexpected, unprecedented even… Lean in, do good, find a way to be useful and of service to your family and your community (even if that truly is staying home because you aren’t sure if you’ve been infected) and then articulate your vision of how you intend to help people… persuade them to join in the help, and exhort them as necessary.

Men, THIS is the kind of thing that we were made for. THIS is the kind of thing that you’ve been getting ready for by posting and living third. Go make cool stuff happen… we will get through this just fine.

We love you, and if the Nation can help in terms of resources, communication or otherwise, on a level past your local region, let us know. We will.
ISI,

Dark Helmet (The Darkest of All)

21 and the Tomb of the Unknown

, , , , , , / Leave a Comment / DE, Milford, The Grit Mill / By


QIC : Semi

Warm-a-Rama

21, All i/c
Seal jack
Seal wave
Cherry picker
Capri lap around parking lot, side shuffle up, nur across, and side shuffle down
Ssh
Plank jack
Windmill

The Thang

Mosey to bridge by park
21 lt. Dan across bridge, if not all the way across mosey to end
21 burpees
Nur across bridge
21 dan lt. across bridge, if not all the way across mosey to end
21 big boys

3rd F
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=905045086538659&id=359432224433284

21 meekins
21 e2k leftside
21 diamond merkins
21 e2k rightside

Mosey back to ao

1 round of banana, superman, ripcord

7 HIM showed; Semi, Chappie, Ruxpin, Gump, Woodstock, papa bear, and visitante

Number Rama

Name Rama

COT

21’s & 4 Years

, , , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By

DATE: 02/13/20

QIC: Chappie

The Grit Mill was 5 solid this morning with HIM who won THAT FIRST BATTLE by overcoming the fartsack, dropped the DRP, and posted in some soggy weather. It was a celebration beatdown at the hands of YHC for a 4-year “Manniversary.” (Details will follow in the 3rdF below…read on!)

WARM-O-RAMA:

If you don’t know Jack, you do now…

  • SSH (a.k.a. – Jumping Jacks) – 18 IC
  • Smurfjacks – 18 IC
  • Swartzjacks – 20 IC (forgot to stop at 18!)
  • Plankjacks – 18 IC
  • Splitjacks – 18 IC
  • Sealjacks – 18 IC
  • Sorry Fireplex…no Crabjacks.

Mosey to Arena’s parking with 2 sandbags being swapped between PAX along the way. Here’s a freebie: YHC explained along the way that parking at the Milford Senior center was completely filled last night, as were surrounding streets, and the entire lot at Arenas. YHC had to park a block-and-a-half away to get to the NRA-ILA meeting held at the Senior Center–proud that it was very well attended!

Upon arriving at the Arena’s parking lot (now all but empty) YHC explained the concept of “21’s”. At one end of the lot PAX would perform 20 Merkins, at the other end PAX would do 1 Gas Pumper. Rinse and repeat all the way down to 1 Merkin and 20 Gas Pumpers.

  • EXTRA RULE: PAX could not pass a sandbag. If a bag is free carry it to the other end of the lot. If you carried one there, you didn’t have to pick one up. Good tool to extend the suck a little. Here’s what it looks like on paper:
  • 20 Merkins – mosey to other end of lot – 1 Gas Pumper
    • mosey back picking up sandbag…
  • 19 Merkins ………….2 Gas Pumpers
  • 18 Merkins…………..3 Gas Pumpers
  • 17 Merkins…………..4 Gas Pumpers
  • 16 Merkins…………..5 Gas Pumpers
  • So on and so forth to we got to…
  • 1 Merkin…………….20 Gas Pumpers
  • When PAX got to 10 Merkins and 11 Gas Pumpers YHC called for a breather to share the following 3rdF about his Manniversary:

3rdF:

Four years ago I walked onto the parking lot at an AO called “The Dragon.” It was the parking lot of the York Comprehensive High School near where I lived in SC, and I’d showed up for my first F3 workout, after being EH’d by my buddy Wade — whom I would come to know by his newly minted F3 nickname, Nunchuk.

Wade had called me after his first workout and said, “You gotta come check this out!” He told me, “It’s a military style bootcamp workout. They do a lot of the exercises in cadence, etc. and it’s a great group of guys.” He was actually EH’ing me. Though I didn’t know it then, I would come to learn that an EH is called an Emotional Headlock. If you want to see F3 grow right here in Milford, the most effective way to make that happen is for you to make contact with other guys you know and invite them personally.

So anyway, I posted with my buddy Nunchuk and I was hooked! And it’s true: The fitness brings men out, but the fellowship is the glue that keeps them coming back.

That first time I was lost! I was familiar with exercising in cadence because I had served for nearly 12-years in the Army National Guard, but a lot of the exercises/names really threw me off (for instance, the Imperial Walker), so I spent a lot of time watching guys next to me in the COP’s.

That first day after the warmup, our Q ran us around to the other side of the high school where in a long alley-like concrete stretch between two wings of the high school we did 21’s!. It was tough! I wasn’t out of shape but I certainly wasn’t in shape either. In fact, I never finished the 21’s that day because the Q finally moved us on to something else. Thank God! I was gassed! Yet I was invigorated at the same time.

Here’s the thing that got me: The whole time guys were running past me going in the same or the opposite direction, they kept encouraging me by saying things like, “You got this! Good job! Keep it up! DFQ! Hang tough.” I knew in that moment I’d found a special brotherhood because they demonstrated that they’d never leave anyone behind. I’d found out they called it “picking up the 6.” That Saturday…I WAS THE SIX!”

Somewhere mid-workout the Q circled us up and shared a brief devotional message. Then he shared a little bit more about F3 mission, which is: “To plant, grow, and serve small workout groups of men for the invigoration of male community leadership.” Every aspect of what I was experiencing was exactly what I was looking for as a man! The physical fitness, the camaraderie with other men who are striving to be a better men and better leaders at home, in the workplace, and in the communities in which they serve, and the opportunity to lock shields and be strengthened and sharpen one-another in our faith “as iron sharpens iron” (Prov 27:17). And the Coffeeteria that followed was as awesome with about 10-12 guys.

So this week marks my 4 year manniversary! I’d only been in F3 for 4.5 months before I’d move here to Delaware, but for that period F3 became such a part of my life that I knew I had to bring it to Delaware where it didn’t exist yet. The group of guys I was leaving behind threw me and my wife a going away party, at which time they also gave me a shovel-flag and said, “Go plant that thing in Delaware!”

Here we are 3.5 years later, with 4 AO’s and a day dedicated to rucking: Roving RuckF3st Friday. F3 First State has touched the lives of more than 50 guys so far, we are seeing nearly 20 guys working out regularly, and we’re growing because HIM like yourselves continue to value the fitness, fellowship, and faith. We’re growing because HIM like you continue to own the mission by striving to be better leaders at home, in your workplaces, and in the communities in which you serve. F3 First State exists because of HIM like each of you! So keep up the good work! DFQ! Keep EH’ing guys around you, not necessarily so that F3 First State will grow (it will), but because you know that through F3, MEN will grow and become better leaders. “Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him!” LET’S KEEP PLANTING, GROWING, AND SERVING, MEN!

After the 3rd F, PAX got back to it and continued 21’s through to 1 Merkin and 20 Gas Pumpers.

Mosey’d back to the AO.

COUNT-O-RAMA

NAME-O-RAMA

BOM/COP:

Announcements: Annual “Shamruck” will take place on Sunday Afternoon. March 16. Details to follow but this is a family ruck to a nearby McDonald’s to get Shamrock shakes for St. Patty’s Day.

Prayers: PAX circled up and prayed for Chairman, Doubtfire, and Chauffeur and their “home fires”… Prayers also for Leatherman and for everyone else to stay healthy.

YHC appreciates all the PAX who posted in the sogginess of this Gloom; humbled by the opportunity to lead! Thanks men!

~Chappie, out

P.S. – Following the workout, YHC did Eh the Milford Police Officer who was observing our workout from across the street. He took a few cards to share with his peers, said he was watching us, and that it sounds good!

One More for Two – Four!

, , , , , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By

DATE: 1/30/20

QIC: Chappie

While dreaming earlier this morning YHC was guided to another world. Time and time again when that happens, at sunrise YHC fights to stay asleep ’cause he doesn’t wan to leave the comfort of this place (name that tune). Nonetheless, it was time to rouse and post at The Grit Mill, for yet another beatdown in the name of #Two-Four…Kobe Bryant. Almost all the reps today were done with a Two-Four rep count simply to remember and honor one of the best ballers to ever play the game in our generation. The idea: Adopt the Mamba mentality which Kobe was so legendary for. Here’s how it want down:

WARM-O-RAMA

  • SSH – 24 IC
  • Squats – 24 IC
  • [Legit] Crab Flippers – 24 IC
  • Motivators – by the 10’s (Shout out to @sunspot and the Lanco PAX)
  • Calf Raises – 24 OYO

Alternating 2 baby sandbags (20-pounders) between one another, PAX Mosey’d to 4′ wall near east end of Gigante International Market parking lot. On this beautiful newly-discovered structure PAX did the following…

THE THANG:

  • Derkins – 24 OYO, Dragon Crawls – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 5 (return to wall)
    • Somebody mentioned going to Kobe’s first jersey number (8) to ease the pain. Lol! Nope!
  • Irkins – 24 OYO, Bear Crawl – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 10 (return to wall)
  • PC – 12 count 2x, Crawl Bear – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 15 (return to wall)
  • BTTW – 12 count 2x, Bear Crawl – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 20 (return to wall)
  • Iron Mikes – 12 OYO, Lt. Dan -24 Steps, MJB’s – “Two Four” (Return to parking lot)

3rdF BREATHER

This morning I’m sharing some thoughts adapted from Jocko Willink’s LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES & TACTICS. A portion of the book is about “The Power of Relationships” (48-51). In it he writes, “Leadership requires relationships. Good relationships with people above you, below you, and beside you…are critical for a strong team. The better the relationships, the more open and effective communication there is. The more communication there is, the stronger the team will be.”

He first talks about having a good relationship with those above you (i.e. your boss/bosses/managers, etc.) and gives this advice when it comes to building a trustworthy relationship with superiors:

▪ The first, most obvious way, (often overlooked) is PERFORMANCE. Your boss expects you to complete certain tasks. So COMPLETE THEM. On time. On budget. Without drama. Get the mission done.

▪ There will be things you might not be in 100% agreement with, do them anyway. It will always serve you well. If the boss wants you to fill out extra paperwork — Do it. If the boss wants you to cover a shift for someone else — You’ve got it! Does the boss want you to clean up an administrative mess that got spilled? — You’re on it! Even take on the nasty, low-reward missions that need executing — Get all over it.

▪ With each set of problems. Be the solution. With each problem you solved, the level of trust the boss has in you goes up.

▪ Over time, as you do what needs to get done, your boss/bosses will know that you’re the man who can be trusted to make things happen; you gain clout with the boss.

▪ Gaining clout with the boss allows you to give feedback or criticism of their plans if that becomes necessary (when time is right, and only when ego is set aside). So ultimately this leads back to one of the most powerful tools you could have as a leader and in the workplace — a good relationship with your boss. This will always lend itself to your team’s ability to BETTER accomplish the mission.

As followers of Christ, this ultimately (first) has everything to do with our relationship with God. God’s Word tells us,

“Whatever you do, do it heartily (with all of your heart), as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Col.3:23-24)

▪ Personal experience. Years ago only a couple of years after I’d joined the Army Nat’l Guard, I got stuck with KP duty (“kitchen police”) during Annual Training at Ft. Drum. I’d been in a few years by this point so quite frankly I felt that it was beneath me to pull KP duty, after all I was a high ranking PFC! KP sucked in a regular mess hall, but what was worse was that we were in the field. The next morning my Sergeants roused me from my fartsack at O-Gawd-Thirty and took me for about a 15 minute drive to the location of our field kitchen. As we traveled the road, images of M*A*S*H episodes were flashing through my mind as I bounced around on the dew-covered back seat of that 1/4 ton Jeep. But it was far from humorous–I was cursing under my breath for getting stuck with a duty that NO ONE EVER WANTED to get stuck with. I was mad as a hornet. As about a “3-yr-old” Christian, I knew the things I was saying under my breath were wrong. Plus, I dared not voice them aloud because I didn’t want to be insubordinate toward either of my Sergeants. Yet, God heard them! Then, about 5 minutes into the ride, the Lord spoke to my heart (His voice came alive in my heart by His Word being hidden there) and I heard that verse: “Whatever you do, work heartily at it, as for the Lord rather than for men…“

Those words hit my like a ton of bricks and changed my perspective and attitude in an instant. As I was dropped off I went to work on KP duty, which turned out to be about a 16 hr day. I did everything you can imagine and washed ever pan, and cleaned everything that didn’t move, etc. in that field kitchen. And I did it as if I were working for the Lord. Enjoyed it. Embraced the suck, if you will. By the end of that non-stop day, when my Sergeants came to pick me, the Mess Sergeant , along with the rest of the Mess crew said I’d done such a great job that they were begging for me to come back the next day. As much as I enjoyed my response was a quick “Uh, no thanks.” Yet two things happened: (1) I’d left a good impression on both the mess crew and with my Sergeants (my “bosses”), and, (2) I’d left a good testimony for serving my Lord — the ultimate pleasure in all of life is giving glory to His name!

Back at it…

Mosey return to AO, alternating baby sandbags between PAX.

Partial round of Mary:

  • LBC’s – 24 OYO (Courtesy YHC)
  • Dolly – 24 IC (Courtesy Ruxpin)
  • E2K – 24 Single Count (Courtesy Loose Wheel)
  • X’s & O’s – 24 OYO (Courtesy Waterfall)

COT/BOM:

  • Announcements: Planning on putting a Site-Q meeting together sometime in Feb to plan into the year a bit.
  • Prayers: For Waterfall, Felicia, and Dee Dee; for both Chauffeur’s and Doubtfire’s families; and for Papa Bears daughter sitting for her nursing boards near future.

Lots of 24 count reps to remember and honor Kobe Bryant. The Mamba Mentality gave us some good motivation to go beyond normal rep counts. The reminder to build relationships with those above us, based upon serving the Lord, gave us good motivation to go above and beyond even what is expected of us.

Always honored to bring the beatdown. Thanks for the opportunity HIM!

~Chappie, out!

MLK Library Laps

, , , , / Leave a Comment / DE, Milford, The Grit Mill / By

Warm-up: (20) SSH IC, (20) Cherry Pickers IC, (20) Wind Mill IC, (20) Plank Jacks IC, (20) Shoulder Taps IC, (20) 4 Count Superman IC.

Take a lap around the library hitting every flight of steps. Meet at the Amphitheater seating area for a 6 pack of exercises.

10 WMD (10 wide merkin, 10 merkin, 10 diamond merkin)

20 Dips

20 Box Jumps

20 Lunges (rear leg elevated)

20 Reverse Crunches (bum on the bench; legs hanging over)

20 American Hammers (bum on the bench; legs hanging over)

Take a lap hitting every step. Wash, Rinse, Repeat x3.

Third F:

Before he was assassinated at age 39, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, organized the 1963 March on Washington, advocated for civil disobedience and non-violent protest, and became one of the most influential figures in American history.

Fifty years after his death, here’s a look back at some of the civil rights leader’s most memorable speeches.

“I Have a Dream” – Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963

In his most famous speech, King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and called for an end to racism in the United States before a crowd of more than 250,000 people.

“Our God is Marching On” – Selma, Alabama, March 25, 1965

Delivered after the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery, historians consider King’s triumphant deliverance of his “Our God is Marching On” speech to mark the end of the civil rights movement’s first phase focusing on legal and political rights. The movement would later focus on fighting for economic equality.

 “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence” – Riverside Church in New York City, April 4, 1967

Exactly one year before his assassination, King condemned the Vietnam War at a time when a majority of Americans still supported the effort. King was criticized for the speech, considered one of his most controversial, and lost supporters for being too political.

 “The Other America” – Stanford University, April 14, 1967

Just 10 days after declaring his opposition to the Vietnam War, King spoke to a crowd at Stanford University and advocated for economic and social equality. In his “Other America” speech, King described “two Americas” to highlight the growing poverty gap in the United States as a root of inequality. King gave a similar version of this speech at Michigan’s Grosse Pointe High School on March 14, 1968.

“I’ve been to the Mountaintop” – Memphis, Tennessee, April 3, 1968

In his final speech, King addressed a church filled with striking sanitation workers who were protesting their low pay and working conditions. King emphasized the importance of unity and nonviolent protest in the fight for justice, no matter how painful the struggle.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”

Number-Rama, Name-O-Rama, COT

Scroll to Top