Author: Hush Puppy (Page 4 of 5)

Hills & Rocks

10 men climbed out of the smartsack and gathered in the gloom for the Wednesday morning red pill.  YHC flew in with 2 minutes to spare to find the Pax waiting and ready.  Startex arrived and we began with the pledge, then some SSH IC X 20, Appalachian Americans (Hillbillies) and some box cutters.  The mumble chatter began and jokes of renaming the exercise the nutcracker were made.

Next, we moseyed to the rock farm in front of KFC to pick up some coupons and headed across the grocery store parking lot towards the Elementary.  We stopped halfway for the 6 for a set of tricep extensions with the rocks over our head, then we moved on.  We safely crossed Union road and into Robinson Elementary School’s parking lot where I happened to see a wallet on the ground.  Since I had no pockets Easy Rider agreed to hold onto it and turn it in at the local BB&T (there was a BBT card inside).

Once we arrived at the School basketball court we performed some overhead presses (and to catch my breath).  We met at the top of the hill next to the playground and I called 11’s.  We started with 10 chest presses with the rock, carefully down the dark hill and 1 monkey humper at the bottom, then bear crawl back up the hill and repeat, decreasing reps each time at the top and increasing at the bottom until the final rep was 10 monkey humpers at the bottom and 1 overhead press at the top.

Upon completion we gathered back on the basketball court and I called 7’s, with 7 pushups on the basketball court and 1 pull-up of some sort on the playground.  We alternated starting points so there was not a crowd on the monkey bars and began the workout.  On about rep 2 I realized we were technically doing 8’s because it was 7 pushups 1 pull-up, etc.

Upon completion we grabbed our rocks (the coupons, not the junk) and began the journey back.  We stopped at the breezeway for some dips IC X 15, then some step ups IC X 20.  As I began to taste my coffee in the back of my throat I asked for help with the cadence and Bulldog, Sargento, and Gastone helped me call the reps.

Again, we grabbed our rocks (coupons) and headed back across the road and met back up in the grocery store parking lot for some wall sits.  Hold the peoples chair for a silent 10 count, then rocks out in front with arms extended for a 10 count, then overhead, then Defib called some overhead presses for us.

We returned to the rocks to the farm and arrived back at Startex with 1 minute remaining for a Merkin circle of fire.

Strong work to all the Men, including Poppa John (hate hate).

Announcements: Community Foundation run this Saturday, 3^rd F returns to the Schiele at 6:30am on Saturday, several fighting cancer, Bulldog and Job interviews.

Beautiful day in April, 16 showed up for a musical dance of pain and suffering.  After the Disclaimer for our FNG and a short warm up of SSH x 20 IC, Imperial walkers X 15 IC, Box Cutters, Freddie Mercury’s both X 15 IC, It was time for the short mosey to the flag pole for the pledge.  From the pledge the DJ struggled with his bluetooth but after a quick reboot, Tom Sawyer began to play.

Tha Thang:

Mosey to the Baptist Church parking lot.  Was it Heresy to play Rush in a Baptist Church Parking lot?  The only heat we were getting was from the workout.  The musical lineup:

Move by Thousand Foot Krutch: From the plank position in a large circle, every time the singer says “Move”, plank walk to the right, then when he says “step into the circle”, plank rotate in a circle 360°.  then when he says “move” again, plank walk to the left. repeato until the song ends or death.

Fatboy Slim, Right here-Right now: Lunge walk across parking lot, slightly uphill.

Dillon Francis & Dj Snake-Get low: The song says “Get low” about a thousand times.  Squat (and twirk as the beat moves you) while the song says “Get low”, trying to hold the squat as long as possible.  When the beat finally drops, do squats!. What’s lower than a squat? 6″!  Repeato with 6″ and when the beat drops, do Merkins.

For some moseying music, Outkast and Hey Yah: Mosey to soft grassy spot at the Presbyterian Church for some Tub Thumping.

Chumbawumba: Tub Thumping.  Every time he says “I get knocked down, and I get up again” you do a burpee!  In between, do SSH.

Now it’s time for a slow jam: Moby, Bring Sally up.  Squat when the song says “Bring sally down” and stand up when the song says “bring sally up”.  Simple, right?  You bet.  You’ll never forget a dance with Sally.

Next up: Theme song from Rocky:  Over to the wall for some Hip slappers IC x 10 (cadence called by Squirt), then some Dirkins IC x 10 (called by Dolf), then to the curbs for Rocky Balboa’s (toe taps) IC X 20.  Repeato!  Finished out 2 sets of these just as the song ended.

To the round about in front of the church for some Mosey-go-round.

Hearts on Fire:  Take a lap round the circle, every time you pass the Cross, do a Burpee or Merkin.  2nd time round, do 2.  3rd time around, do 3, and so on. Once the song completed there was about 8 minutes remaining and we began the mosey back to  the Schiele.

Finality:  Wall sits and overhead presses until “let the bodies hit the floor” finished, then back to the start for Mary (LBC’s, Freddy Mercury, Mountain Climbers, Dying Cockroach).

Welcome Joe, FNG Captain D!  In my dehydrated delirium I failed to get his info but I will track him down!

Announcements: Community Foundation 5K 4/8 at the Rotary Pavilion Downtown, Race begins at 9am. Plenty of time for the DRP before hand!  Mud Run in May, Sign up!

Prayer requests, Many in our sphere of influence fighting cancer.  Injured brothers, Top Hat’s family and T-Square’s Family.

As I contemplated the theme for the month of March I struggled a little bit. It’s not exactly ripe with themes like Easter or love.  I prayed and asked the Lord, “what message do you have for the Men of Gastonia this month?”.  Softly in my spirit I was reminded of Psalm 121,

“I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”

There has been much hurt in our brotherhood of late.  Brothers have lost brothers, mothers, fathers; battled cancer, stared death in the face and comforted the inconsolable.  Also, some have finished races they never imagined they would even start; some have broken ground on new adventures and stood atop mountains they never believed they could climb.  I want to remind my brothers the promise that the God gave in Jeremiah 29: ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you”-“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

The theme for March will be “The Lord is my Shepherd”.  When we have stood against what seems like hell on earth; when we have stared loss and death in the face, our only hope is to be reminded of the promise that God will be with us throughout our battles.

Week 1: 3/4/17, Read and discuss Psalm 121.  Some questions for discussion: Why does the writer say to look toward the mountain?  Why does the sun, giver of light and warmth double as a tormentor? How important is it that the Lord will protect you now and forever?  Do we think of forever, or only now?

Week 2: 3/11/17, Read  and discuss Psalm 23.  In verse 2 and 3 the Lord leads and guides.  In verse 4 we walk, and the rod and staff are referenced.  What difference do you think the writer may have been implying?  What is special about eating in the presence of his enemies?  What peace do the final verses promise those who submit to the shepherd?

Week 3: 3/18/17, Convergence week at the Yank.  Psalm 133: “133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  Unity is likened to the due on the mountains and like precious oil.  How is this applicable today, and what is the importance of the commanded blessing?

Week 4: 3/25/17 Romans 8: 31-39 “Nothing can separate us. . .” this powerful promise from the Apostle Paul reminds us of the hope we have in our salvation!  Why can we be sure nothing will separate us from God’s love?

My hope is that your faith will be strengthened in these verses; that through the shield lock you will walk in victory.  Post!  Reach out to your brothers in need and Always Be Headlocking!

Short but sweet.

Hushpuppy volunteered to Q and then remembered about 30 minutes before the workout that he had no Weinke!  What does he do?

Warmup with some Side Straddle Hops, planks with shoulder taps, then we spun in circles from the plank and waved our hands in the air like you just don’t care.

Mosey to the flagpole for the pledge, then to the church parking lot for some BOMBS.  Partner 1 does the exercise while partner 2 runs the drop off circle.  In aggregate, 50 burpees, 100 overhead claps, 150 merkins, 200 big boy situps, 250 side strattle hops.

35 minutes past and it was time to Mosey! To the steps for some 11’s, squats at the bottom of the stairs and Bobby Hurley’s at the top!  Mosey to the street and we did 15 Monkey Humpers to show Gastonians our best side!

Mosey back to the Schiele for 3 minutes of Mary.  Linus led us in mountain climbers, Gerber led us in Homer and Marge, And then for whom did the bells toll?  They tolled for us.  I hope your snot was sufficiently woggled.

Keep Billy Madison’s Mother (in law I believe) in prayers, Work day at the Rotary Garden this Saturday, and Davinci playing music this Friday at the place formerly known as Kates in Clover.

ABH.  Hushpuppy

I am honored to be your 3rd F Q for 2017.  When asked, I had all of the concerns that someone may have when taking on a new role.  “Can I live up to the example of those who came before me?  Am I really worthy to be the standard bearer for Faith in the Gashouse?”  The fact is, If I did anything when I felt worthy or “up to it”, I’d never accomplish anything.  I’d stay in the fartsack and get fatter by the year.  I’d still be on pain and blood pressure medicine, content that my best days were behind me. The TRUTH is, the best part of my life is still ahead.  the TRUTH is, that through Faith, I can do those things that I will never be worthy to do!  What will you be challenged with this year that seems too far out of reach?  How will you stretch yourself in this new year?

It is at the heart of the F3 men of the Gashouse that all men participate in both the fellowship and faith portions of F3.  You see, Fitness may draw the men in, to challenge them to be stronger and more healthy.  Fellowship becomes the glue that holds the groups together. My pastor said long ago, “men bond when they sweat together”.  Nothing builds bonds and relationships like an early morning beatdown covered in grass and sweat; your brother helping you up after what seems like an eternity of Dora.  You begin to feel a sense of mutual accomplishment.  “Brother, if you can survive this, you can survive that struggle you’re going through”.  But many never tap into the Faith aspect.  What many men fail to realize is, the Third F is the Dynamite that activates the man to be more than he thought he could be.  The source that turns his focus from himself to those around him.  To his wife, his children, and his community.

Each month I intend to share a theme for the month.  The theme for January is “New Beginnings”.  Some passages of scripture or inspirational literature will be shared in the monthly preblast and through twitter.  PAX are encouraged to review these scriptures and share them during coffee-rama.  I may post a few questions to encourage  conversation.  Each group at coffee-rama is encouraged to simply read the passage of scripture and discuss it.

These next 3 weeks, I ask you to read some passages in Acts.  The early church is one of the greatest examples of “new beginnings”.  A rough group of 12 men who no earthly leader would choose to start a movement.  Some had abandoned their Lord in His time of need; one even cursed him.  Yet here they were on the verge of a movement that would change the world.  The week of January 9-14th, Read Acts chapter 2 verses 1- 13. Some questions to discuss:

Why was it important that they were in one accord? What was the source of their power and impact? What was the response of those in the crowd?  How is it typical of something you were involved in?

The week of January 15th-21st, reach Acts chapter 2 verses 38-47. Some questions to discuss:

Who can receive the promise Peter is preaching about? What type of community formed after this event?  Did these members of the early church have any template to follow in this new endeavor?  How does this apply to your life?

January 22nd – 28th, read Acts 14 verses 21-28 Some questions to discuss:

What was the significance of strengthening the disciples?  What importance did they place on choosing leadership in the church?  In all the scriptures discussed this month, how did the church overcome the hardships they faced, and how can we apply this to our own lives?

I promise, February’s preblast  will not be this long!  Post to a workout, shield lock with your brothers, and most of all, Share your faith!

Saturday Morning in October.  It’s gloomy at the start, 12 men climbed out of the fartsack for Bombs, Bears, and Crabs.

Disclaimer
Warmup: Mosey around the parking lot twice to get the blood pumping
Plank-orama:
plank jacks
Shoulder taps
Merkins
Peter parkers
Ssh
Hillbillies
Recover!

YC Planned on a Mosey to the Library for the warmup but the gloominess had me thinking of hidden prophylactics in the dark parking lot so I opted for the sanctuary of the parking lot outside the sanctuary.  We mosey’ed up the hill to the church parking lot to set off some BOMBS!

BURPEES X 50
OVERHEAD CLAPS X 100
MERKINS X 150
BIG BOY SIT UPS 200
SSH 250

By this time 40 minutes had already passed and we were nearly out of time for the fun!

Mosey to soccer field
Crab vs bear soccer 12 mins.
Surprisingly, the most agressive player on the pitch was Monk!  With the other team up 3-1 YHC called next score wins, but no one else scored so we ended in a tie.

Mosey back to the Schiele for some Mary til we die or the bells ring. The usual exercises:
CCV’s, Mountain Climbers, Bicycles, LBC’s, Flutters, Dying Cockroaches, but JK2 mixed it up with some Box Cutters, literally drawing boxes with both legs (like hello dolly and flutters at the same time).
And the 8:01 Church bells couldn’t come at a better time!

Announcements: Register for the CSAUP!,
Prayer requests: Bacon pulled a muscle while playing soccer, Sledges father and his new pacemaker, Bandit’s mom struggling with health, YHC friend Emmanuel with kidney failure, and of course our country. God help our country no matter who is elected!