12 gathered around the planted flag.  Italian Job led off and moseyed the PAX to the parking lot for a Patriot style warm up…

To the serene tune of birds chirping in the background:

• 20 SSH
• 20 Imperial Walkers
• 20 Moroccan Night Clubs
• Various stretches (L over R, R over L, Wide, Butterfly, a few others)

On to grab some wall and in the seated position tap the head, knees, and ground – 20 in cadence.

….the serenity began to fade.

Mosey (the long way) to the football field where entrance was gained one way or another. Don’t tell the law man (we trespassed).

Handoff to Peach

20 Minutes of Blackjack with Merkins and LBCs…50 yds in between (20 Merkins/1 LBC, 19 Merkins/2 LBC…all the way to 1 Merkin and 20 LBCs).

…serenity is now long gone. The humidity has caught up with us. Mumble chatter has ceased.

The PAX give a strong showing and once we are thoroughly drenched Peach passes to Geppetto.

Using the football field it was 4 corners

• Lunge 100 yds
• 25 Low Slow Squats at the corner
• Bear Crawl to the next
• 25 Mtn Climbers at the corner
• Side shuffle 100 yds to the next
• 25 Low Slow Squats at the corner
• Burpee Broad Jump to the next

4 corners again..this time with sprints in between.

• 25 Heels to heaven
• 30 Side Crunches (15 each side)
• 35 Flutters
• 50 LBCs

Back to the COT for count off, Name-o-Rama, Announcements (most of which were about various events where one is required to run long distances for no particular reason), and prayer requests.

Great day at the Patriot, and a perfect start to the weekend…serene or not.

-Geppetto

Posh led 14 men through a hotbox sweatfest at Old Town. Here’s what we did.

Warm Up

• SSH
• Windmills
• SSH

The Thang

Long Mosey down Main Street to the hotbox parking garage. We performed the following exercises:

• Run to the top
• Sprint to the wall and back (x4)
  • Merkins in between
• Sprint back to ground level
• 35 Merkins on level 1
• 30 Merkins on level 2
• 25 Merkins on level 3
• 20 Merkins on level 4
• 15 Merkins on level 3
• 10 Merkins on level 2
• 5 Merkins on level 1
  • American Hammers until the 6 was in
• 35 Squats on level 1
• 30 Squats on level 2
• 25 Squats on level 3
• 20 Squats on level 4
• 15 Squats on level 3
• 10 Squats on level 2
• 5 Squats on level 1
  • American Hammers until the 6 was in
• 35 LBCs on level 1
• 30 LBCs on level 2
• 25 LBCs on level 3
• 20 LBCs on level 4
• 15 LBCs on level 3
• 10 LBCs on level 2
• 5 LBCs on level 1
  • American Hammers until the 6 was in, a few Hello Dollies, and 5 more LBCs to finish us out.

NMM

As always, it was a pleasure to get stronger with the PAX of Rock Hill. Great impromptu Q by Posh this morning. Welcome FNGs Beaker and Quick Silver (Choir Boy’s 2.0). Today marks another week of double digit posts for the Rock Hill AOs (though I fear that streak will end with 66 of the Fort’s finest doing final preparation for the Palmetto 200). Per usual, Burgundy and York led the PAX with newcomer Beaker hot on their heels. Reborn and Schrute were both pushing YHC to try to catch up with them. TClaps to Quick Silver for putting in the work this morning and keeping up with the gazelles. Big time respect to 2^nd week poster, Pistol. 57 never looked so fast! Don’t think the improvements Blueprint, Van Wilder, and Choir Boy are making aren’t being noticed. We see you guys getting stronger and faster. Great leadership and epic mumble chatter from our 6 by choice, Apache. Boots, you’ll be missed – even if Creed says you won’t.

Something big is happening in RH. Keep bringing FNGs – they don’t know how much they need what you have discovered. #GiveItAway

Prayers

• Boots will be leaving for boot camp in two weeks
• Posh’s M will be giving birth sometime this week
• PAX running in the Palmetto 200
• The homeless men and women of Rock Hill (shelters closing)

Announcements

Read the weekly email

Well YHC was reminded by the one and only Chief Turkey Puncher, Apache that I was on the Q for Petra at 830pm. so behind the 8 ball I remembered that Petra was a #slowburn AO So what I put together on the fly was going to be slow and burn quite a bit. 15 PAX showed up in the gloom

THE THANG:

WARM UP –

• STRETCH those old bones and muscles – CSPAN would be proud
• WM (IC) X15
• SSH (IC) X15
• MNC (IC) X15
• CDD (IC) X15
• SEAL JACKS (IC) X15
• STRETCH a little more
• PLANK for 30 secs.
• HONEY MOON from the Plank to yes again stretch the back out.

MOSEY – One full lap around the parking lot

LET A BEAR BE A BEAR!

Bear Crawl Merkins – Up hill the parking lot bear crawl to each parking spot line then do one merkin. Turn around and Bear Crawl Merkin back.

This looked really good on paper but the slow burn really burned and produced some mumble chatter.

ZOMBIE RUN –

• 2 rounds – Zombie Run is like an Indian Run but you lunge walk while the 6 runs to the front of the line. Good old mumble chatter and groans with this one. SLOOOOW BURN.

LET A BEAR BE A BEAR again –

• Bear Crawl Merkins – This time 5 rows – up and back

We did a set of high knees & butt kickers to the cross walks of the parking lot

Another full Mosey around the Parking Lot

LET A BEAR BE A BEAR again –

• Bear Crawl Merkins AGAIN this time 10  rows up and back.

However, I did stop to explain a little bit about the lines.  Marcus Latrell the Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor how when he was under fire in the mountain side of Afghanistan – he took a rock and drew a line in the sand, and said he would drag himself until his feet crossed the line. When they did, he did it again.  All with his back broken and shot. for 8 to 12 hours.

So YHC told the PAX when they have that point in their day, especially after lunch on a Friday where they want to phone it in for the day, picture Latrell and draw your “line in the sand” and just get to that point and do it all over again.  — 60 count over —

After the Bear Crawls we became Zombies once more

• Zombie “Ran” for another round.

Mosey back to the front of the Bingo Hall to circle up for a round of

• 5 Captain Thors – (Jack Web for abs)
• Next Dealers choice for Ab lab to the end.

Thanks to the PAX for allowing me to lead them today even though I was not fully prepared. I hope I didn’t disappoint.

16 Pax met on this glorious spring morning to study Jude. Italian Job crossed the Catawba river to attend today’s session. God asked Stang to pray for Anchorman during our study for reasons that exceed our level of understanding. God called him to bless our brother. Stang’s response was an honorable demonstration of his obedience to our Father. #Goosebumps…

Here are takeaways from today’s discussion.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Jude 3 ~ I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.

Takeaways:

• Learn the bible so that you’re able to discern whether what others say is founded in truth.
• Establish a personal relationship with Christ through prayer and serving others.
• Do you defend the word of God when someone twists the gospel for their personal benefit?

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Jude 16 ~ These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

Takeaways

• The act of complaining shows that we don’t appreciate God’s plan for us.
• What would you do if a person always complained after you gave them something? You’d stop giving them things which is why we should not test God with complaints.
• If you complain, you remain.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Jude 23 – Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Takeaways:

• Sinners who are lost don’t know it so don’t judge them.
• Your Godly actions/reactions will be observed and hopefully adopted by lost sinners.
• Hate their sins but love the sinners.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Moleskin:

The Gospel is ours to defend so be on guard. Replace complaints with thanksgiving. The best gift that you can give to a sinner is the presence of God’s love. We are blessed by God’s grace and mercy so pay it forward.

Gorgeous Saturday morning in the Carolinas and it was slowly getting brighter as the sun rose above the horizon. 13 men posted to The Fort, the original AO for Fort Mill in Sept 2012. It is a Classic AO and deserves all the respect and honor its earned. Many of PAX have started at The Fort and have posted there over the years. Double D being a founder of The Fort and YHC starting in fall of 2012 as well remember the workouts when we never left the park, but always felt the pain. Today The Fort region has become a run club and in search of creative pain mechanisms, however Double D and I chose to honor our AO and make it a “Classic” workout this day.

Double D thinks of Classic songs when he hears the word “Classic”. I could not help but think of classic cars and for me the 1967 RS/SS Camaro Convertible was always my favorite. Someday…..I keep saying of when I’ll own one, but until then….I just keep on truckin!

The Thang:

COP —

• Double D- Mosey to Springs small lot SSH, IW, Mtn climbers, Slow Sumo Squat
• Cake Boss- Peter Parkers, Plank, Parker Peters, Low Slow Squats, Carolina Dry Docks(CDDs)

Double D-

• “Ring of Fire” — Merkins, diamond merkins, wide arm merkins, stagger right, stagger left, CDDs
• “The Wall” — People’s Chair, wall pull ups, BTW (rinse & repeat)

Cake Boss- Mosey to Playground & partner up.

YHC brought up  the idea of Classic cars and the restoration process. if we think about how old cars are driven, worn and torn. Some left in barns or fields only to rust out and then land in a heap at a junk yard or crushed for recycle. Someone finds these cars and brings them in, saving it from the “heap” and sees the beauty in it and begins the process of making the car new again. They strip the car down to its frame, piece by piece rebuild it and one day roll it out of the garage brand new and Restored!

We as men live a similar life. We grow up after years of school and such, get jobs have familes and living the so called “dream” only to feel worn, torn and beat up some days. Looking at the calendar or the schedule to determine what is my day or week going to be like and how am I going to survive?? Well, for no reason other than living, Jesus takes us in and begins the process of making us new again. Through a relationship with him, he “Saves” us from the heap by stiping us down to our core…..our hearts…..he makes us new again and our gifts, beauty shines again. We become fully restored when Jesus comes again, but in the meantime we can rest in knowing he took us in, walks with us and talks with us and someday we will be in the best showroom condition ever. We just need to answer the door when he is knocking. To know more about this, reach out to Cake Boss.

• ROUND #1 Pullups, Dips, Step Ups while partner takes lap around playground.
• ROUND #2 Pullups, Dips, Step Ups while partner runs to path and back

Double D-

• “Stairway to Heaven” — fwd lunge walk, 5 burpees, backward lunge walk, 10 burpees (rinse & repeat to top w/fwd and backward bear crawls for last 2 lamp posts)

Cake Boss- Mosey to sunshine on side of hill for 6 min of Mary

• LBC (Elvis style)
• Rosalitas (In Spanish)
• Superman
• Hello Dollys
• Parachute
• Freddy Mercury’s
• Supermans
• Flutter Kicks

COT:

Many prayers and testimonies of what F3 has meant to various men. It says a lot to hear the positive effects of fellowship and faith on men’s lives and their families.

We had a great Classic workout. I know I felt it Saturday night and Sunday all day. Thanks to MacGyver for the Q and Double D for teaming up with me. I truly am humbled and honored to lead and be a part of such a great group. You all are leaders and inspire me each day. Thank you!

Cake Boss

Nine #HIM rolled out of the #fartsack on a Saturday morning fully aware that YHC and Walker were on the Q at the Patriot. Even with the warning of Walker on Q everyone in attendance swallowed the #redpill and sailed full steam into the storm ahead of them.

YHC took the first half with the following

THE THANG:

Warm up:

• SSH X15
• WM X15
• IW X15
• MNC X15
• MERKINS X15
• MNC X15
• SEAL JACKS X15

MOSEY to Suliivan Ampetheater, in route we did:

• High Knees
• Butt Kickers
• Bear Crawls

After finding a piece of wall the PAX did

• IRKINS X20
• DERKINS X20
• MERKINS X20
• DIPS X20

Mosey to the hill of pain, from there we commenced with a up hill Black Jack

• Bottom of the Hill MONKEY HUMPERS
• Top of the HIll MERKINS
• The original plan was to go to 20 however YHC called an #Omaha at 10, and thankfully I did, because when Walker took over… Well I’ll just let you read for yourself the pain he had in store.

Starfish 40

• Center 40 merkins 40 squats
• 40 fist merkins
• 40 wide arm merkins
• 40 diamond merkins
• 40 staggered arm position merkins (20 each side)
• Oh it ain’t over folks Rinse and Repeat but this time Starfish 20

Next we circled up to do the following… You guessed it… Merkins

• 10 merkins with back of left hand down right hand palm down
• 10 Merkins with back of right hand down , left hand palm down,
• 10 merkins with back of both hands down (these exercises strengthen the tendons).

This was followed by A Walker specialty – ISO work.

• Chest squeeze for 10 count
• Bicep pull/ tricep push for 10 count
• Left deltoid pull for 10 count
• Right deltoid pull for 10 count (2 rounds of ISO work)

Mosey back to COT.

If you are trying to count all that maddness, according to Boots who kept score for the merkins, we ended up doing 555 (Tiple Nickle!) merkins with both Q’s totals added together. Thus the title of the BB.

MOLESKIN: YHC talked about how South Carolina is in the middle of the political spotlight for the last month. No matter what side of the line you follow, or which ever Saturday you voted; remember what happens in the race for the White House has very little effect on what happens in YOUR house.  The small changes you make in your life do matter. Telling your 2.0’s you love them daily, Telling your M you love her daily. Taking your 2.0’s to a Daddy Daughter Dance or a ball game.  Also getting your physical house (body) in order. Small steps! Last year when I started F3 I was a 280 lb. wad of chewed up bubble gum and blood pressure that was topping out in the 130’s / 80’s. Now after a year of getting my rear in gear and with the help from ALL of you keeping me motivated I’m now 25 lbs lighter and my BP yesterday was 118/68 (In your face heart disease!). If you think anyone that hold office can make your life better, you are fooling yourself. As Tinker Toy mentioned at ManU this week the circle of change starts with you! Aye!!

I know I have been absent from The Patriot for several weeks getting F3York off the ground, but thank you for allowing me to lead you HIGH IMPACT MEN today.

Pax:

Over the last several months, several Pax across the Charlotte Regions (and some in SC too) have come together to build out a series called The Foundation.  This series was intended to help prompt discussion and topics that would help in developing High Impact Men as they seek to go deep into the Third F.

There have been 3 in the series at this point.  The first was on Accountability, the second on finding a life of significance in a world of success, and the third was developing high impact goals, D2X, and One Word to capture the essence of this work for the year.  We have plans to continue these on Topics (March 15) on Fatherhood, and another on Finances (April).  Basically, any topic that we can speak truth, honesty, and no BS into the lives of other men.

We chose to record these 2 and share them with you as a resource for you and your region.  If you are reading this you probably care about this already and wondering what you can do to get this rolling in your region.  Simple.  Do it.  We are just taking steps one session at a time.  Find the biggest, messy, scary topic about life, faith, and family and then go after it.  If you want more information on it, we are here to help.

Below are two links.  (A big special thanks to Dark Helmet and his video/recording prowess)  The first is recorded out of The Fort on a sleeting morning in February.  The Fort tackled the idea of Accountability with a group of nearly 50 men.  Stinger, Chicken Hawk, Rebel, Repeat, and Santini talked about Whetstone, accountability and how it looks in a Man’s life.

The second was recorded on January 26th at Christ Church.  Jedi, Santini, & Dredd walked men through HIM, D2X, and One Word.