BTLN UPDATE - THE THREE B'S 2019

Congrats Josh! This was Josh's fifth Helmet of the Btln season! Aran was in the final two with Josh. Both Josh and Aran lasted three rounds together! On the fourth round Josh finally outlasted Aran, taking the Helmet and the win!

Three years ago we made the switch to Jones Soda with custom Btln labels! Once again, the Btln Jones was a big hit! Some of the guys took the Bottles home to put on display.

This year there were 45 guys at the Three B's! The guys devoured 10 large Battalion Baconator pizzas, 4 cases of Jones rootBeer, over 100 Bonuts and two huge pots of Beans!

At the Three B's we are always short on time, but we always make time for Murderball! This year my team won the first three games! Jeremy's team avoided the skunk by winning the last game, but lost 3-1!

Thanks to my mom for making the Bonuts!

Thanks to Jeremy for making the Bean pot!

Special thanks to Ben, Jason and Coady who have helped out so much in the First Half of the Btln year! We could not have Btln without you!


The Second Half of the Btln year begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2020!



THE CAPTAIN


BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Anthony! This was Anthony's fourth Helmet of the Btln year! John, Alexei and Jacob were all vying for their first Helmet at the end, but could not beat Anthony this week! Anthony has now tied Josh for first in the race for Winston!

This week we played Stickball for the second time this half. We still had a bunch of guys that have never played Stickball (or Baseball?), so there was a bit of a learning curve. It is still so much fun to watch the guys playing Stickball! It was probably the closest finish that we have ever had!

Stickball Final Scores
Luke's Team - 12
Ben's Team - 11
Coady's Team - 11
John's Team - 8


This week in our Bible Study we looked at Caleb and Joshua, and focused in on how they trusted in God and not on their own abilities. (Numbers chapters 13 and 14)

Caleb and Joshua were among twelve men chosen from among all the men of Israel to spy on the land of Canaan.

Numbers 13:27-28   They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.

Numbers 13:31-32   “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.


The other ten men that were sent to spy on Canaan were afraid, and did not trust God for help to conquer the land of Canaan.

Numbers 13:30   Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

Numbers 14:5-9   Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Caleb and Joshua knew that with God's help that they could not lose! After watching all of the miracles that God had done to lead the Israelite nation out of Egypt, they knew that he would do the same as they entered the Promised Land!



Psalm 56:3-4   When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - THE 25TH BATTALION OLYMPICS

Congratulations to Joshua Martens! Josh is the 2019 Battalion Olympic Champion! In the five events Josh finished with three firsts, one second and a fifth place finish for a total of 30 points! After finishing second last year, Josh was able to win it all in 2019! Josh's 8 point margin of victory is a new Btln Olympic record! The previous record was 5 points. (Derek Taylor, 1999/00 - 5 point margin of victory) (Devin Chursinoff, 2007/08 - 5 point margin of victory) Danny finished second this year and Jonathan finished in third!

This year we had 28 competitors in the 25th Battalion Olympics! Anthony and Colton were both first time event winners. Anthony winning Basketball and Colton winning Football Toss! Josh won the other three events, winning Box Hockey for the second year in a row and winning Arm and Bench Wrestling for the first time!


25th BATTALION OLYMPICS (Final Scores for the top three)

(#1) Joshua Martens - 30 - OLYMPIC CHAMPION
(#2) Danny Macmaster - 22
(#3) Jonathan Martens - 21


ARM WRESTLING CHAMPION
Joshua Martens

BASKETBALL CHAMPION
Anthony Scow

BENCH WRESTLING CHAMPION
Joshua Martens

BOX HOCKEY CHAMPION
Joshua Martens

FOOTBALL TOSS CHAMPION

Colton McNevin


Congratulations to all the winners!


THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - SERGEANT INDUCTION NIGHT

Congrats to Joshua Martens, the 32nd Sergeant of Btln 3739! Josh officially became Sergeant this Wednesday night at Btln! Ben Jepsen (2006), Jason Hayashi (2007), Luke Martens (2018) and Isaac Holitzki (2019) were there to present Josh his Jersey! Josh is the 20th Sergeant to receive his jersey.

Congrats also to Anthony on his third Helmet of the Btln Season! Josh was there at the end with Anthony, battling it out for Bulldog supremacy! This week it was Anthony's turn to take the Helmet! 

Last year on Sergeant Night we played Mike. Without planning it, and by random chance this year we played Mike again on Sergeant Night. There were quite a few guys that had never played Mike, making it more exciting this time around! The scores were close for the first half of the game, but at the end it was Ben's team pulling away and winning big! Ben's team were + 22 on the last round!

Mike Final Scores

Ben's Team - 70

George's Team - 56

Jason's Team - 53

Coady's Team - 44

This week we looked at Moses in our Bible study.

God saved Moses from dying when he was a baby (Exodus 1) because he had a special plan for Moses' life. 

Exodus 3:7-11   The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God wanted Moses to lead the Israelite people out of Egypt and to free them from slavery. Moses' didn't think that he was capable of doing what God had asked him.

Exodus 4:1-17   Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

“Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.

Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.”

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Moses was filled with doubt in himself. Moses was also doubting God. God offered to help Moses speak, gave him signs to show the people and even sent Aaron (Moses' brother) to help. In the end, Moses did go to Egypt and helped free his people from slavery. Moses needed to realize that God was going to be with him along the way to help him! God also helps us in our daily lives. God has things that he wants us to accomplish and he will help us as well! We just need to trust God and believe that he will help us do great things for him!

BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Jaxon! This is Jaxon's first Btln career Helmet! The final round was between Jaxon and Aiden. Jaxon gained about five more yards on the last round to take the win and the Helmet! First time Helmet winners are the best! Congrats Jaxon!

This week we played Handball for only the second time this year. Most times when we play Handball, we use two Murderballs. This week we had so many guys that we added a third ball! Two balls is hard for the goalies, but when we add a third, it is total chaos for the goalies! In the overtime Ben's team dominated, winning 3-1!

This week our Bible study focused on the life of Joseph. Ben took the lead this week, guiding us through the story of Joseph.

Genesis 37:17-28   Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.


Joseph's brother plotted to kill him, but changed their minds, and decided to sell him into slavery instead! After being sold into slavery, Joseph was falsely accused of attempted rape and was thrown into prison. (Genesis 39:1-23) It looked as if God had forgotten about Joseph. Through an amazing set of circumstances, (that only God can set up) Joseph (with God's help) interpreted a dream for Pharaoh. Pharaoh then put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt!

Joseph's brothers went to Egypt to buy food because there was a famine in the land. Through another amazing set of circumstances, they had to ask Joseph for permission to buy food. At first they didn't recognize Joseph, until he revealed himself to them!



Genesis 45:1-7   Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

It would have been easy for Joseph to get his revenge on his brothers, but instead he showed them compassion! Somehow, Joseph knew that God allowed the bad things in his life to save the lives of his entire family! This is the kind of compassion that we all need! This is the kind of compassion that God shows to us! Like Ben said, "Joseph never complained when things were going wrong in his life."  We can't always see the big picture like God does, but we know that he is still in control!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - G*I*T*D BASKETBALL

Congrats Josh! This is Josh's third Helmet of the Btln Season! Josh has moved into sole possession of first place in the race for Winston! Aaron was there at the end with Josh, finishing second for the first time! Aaron will eventually win if he puts in the huge effort like he did this week!

This week we played G*I*T*D Basketball! It is visually pleasing and a lot of fun to play! The game was evenly matched, but Reese took over in the overtime, scoring two of three baskets for his team! Team Green winning in the overtime 3-1!


This week our Bible study was about Jonah.


Jonah 1:1-5   The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

God asks Jonah to go to Nineveh, and instead Jonah disobeys and tries to run from God.

Jonah 1:11-12   The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Jonah 1:16-17   Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

God saves Jonah with a big fish, and gives him a second chance to do the right thing!

Jonah 3:3-5   Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Jonah 3:10   When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 4:1-2   But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Jonah should have been rejoicing that God was gracious and compassionate! God had given him a second chance, why wouldn't he do the same for the people of Nineveh?

Psalm 130:3-4   If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Ephesians 4:32   Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

We should be thankful that God is gracious and compassionate with us! We should also be kind and compassionate to others because of what Christ has done for us!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - ROYAL RUMBLE 15

Congrats Aiden! Aiden Burch is the 2019 Royal Rumble Champion! Twenty-nine guys competed in the fifteenth Royal Rumble! We had ten more guys then we had last year!


We always start the Royal Rumble with the Lightweights Division. This year, we didn't have the Lightweight and Heavyweight divisions. We started with the grade sevens, then eights, nines, tens and elevens. We changed it up because there were not enough Heavyweights this year. It actually worked really well, so we might go this way in the future.

The final four were Aiden, Bryce, Brennan and John. It didn't take long before John was out and we were down to three. Aiden and Brennan were working together, but Brennan slipped and fell out of the ring. Now we were down to the final two! For the first time ever, we had a grade eight and nine in the final two!

Aiden and Bryce battled it out for a long time, in the "Final Two-Ropes Down" tradition that we started a few years ago. I was sure that it would be over quickly, but it actually lasted quite a long time! There isn't any place to hide when the ropes are down, making for an exciting finish! In the end, Aiden was able to force Bryce's hand out of the ring for the win! Aiden is in grade eight and is the youngest Royal Rumble Champion we have ever had!


Congrats to both Bryce and Aiden, it was an amazing finish!


2019 Royal Rumble Champion - Aiden Burch


Special Thanks to Ben, Jason, Coady and Luke for all of their help! The Royal Rumble is not possible without your help!



THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Anthony! This is Anthony's second Helmet of the Btln year! In the end it was Anthony and Josh battling it out for the Helmet. Anthony and Josh have a good rivalry building!


This week we played Murderball Defender. Ben's team dominated the night, winning all three games. It wasn't until the final game that my team was able to make it close, but in the end Ben's team was just too much for us!


This week our Bible Study was about Thanksgiving.

For the most part we are thankful people, but it is always good to have a reminder to be thankful.



Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.


Psalm 136:1-3

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

1 Corinthians 15:57
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Jesus died for our sins so that we could spend eternity with him in Heaven! We have so much to be thankful for!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Bryce! This was Bryce's first Helmet ever! Bryce has been so close in the past, but now he has his first Helmet! I am always so happy for all the first time Helmet winners! Way to go Bryce!

This week we played the New Btln Trifecta! We started with Btln Sumo Wrestling! We used the exercise balls from Mike 23 and the head gear from Btln Boxing. Both teams each had a team of two working together each round in the octagon. At first it looked like Josh's team would win big in Sumo, but Alexei's team would end up taking the win and the 1-0 lead in the Trifecta!

Btln Sumo Final Scores

Alexei's Team - 6

Josh's Team - 4

The second game of the Trifecta was Fire-Fever-Flood. The game was very fast paced. Everyone was exhausted at the end of the game! The final two were Luke for Alexei's team and Jonathan for Josh's team. Luke taking the win, giving Alexei's team the 2-0 victory in the Trifecta!

In the Bible study we did a character study on Peter.

Matthew 14:22-33   Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I have always loved Peter because he isn't cautious. Peter was one of those guys that you would always know what he was thinking, because he would tell you! Peter often gets a bad wrap because of his compulsive nature, but he was the one that actually got of the boat during the storm! Peter's passion for following Jesus and his trust in Jesus is something that we can all emulate! Peter's mistake in the passage is not getting out of the boat and trusting Jesus, it was taking his eyes off of Jesus. It isn't any different for us! We need to continually keep our eyes on Jesus, and always trust him!

Hebrews 12:1-2   Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Josh! This is Josh's second Helmet of the Btln Year! Bryce was second this week and has been close in the past. My prediction is that we will have a first time Helmet winner next week at Btln!

This week we played Mike 23. Mike 23 is Btln Chaos at it's very best! There are 23 balls flying all over the gym in 6 mini games. I don't know if we have ever had a closer game end in a bigger blow out than we did this week! The scores were close up until the very last round!

MIKE 23 Final Scores

Coady's Team 9

Jason's Team 6

Riley's Team 3

Isaac's Team -3

In the Bible Study we looked at the story of Abraham when he was tested by God.

Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

God promised Abraham that he would make his descendants into a great nation. God also promised that all peoples on the earth would be blessed through Abraham and his descendants.

Genesis 22:1-3

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

God promised Abraham that through Isaac his son, that he would make a great nation. Then God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac! What happens next is amazing. Abraham doesn't question God, he just packs his bags and prepares for the sacrifice! If only we would trust God like Abraham!

Genesis 22:7-8

Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

All along Abraham believed that God would supply the sacrifice that was needed.

Genesis 22:11-13

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

God provided the sacrifice that was needed for Abraham and Isaac and he has done the same for us! 

When we were dead in our sins, Jesus took our place on the cross and paid for our sin! It was through Jesus (Who was Abraham's descendant.) that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - SHIRT NIGHT

Congrats Anthony! This was Anthony's First Helmet ever! Not the first for Anthony's family though! Austin and Mike have both won multiple Helmets, now it is Anthony's turn! Alexei was there at the end with Anthony and almost had his first Helmet. Better luck next time Alexei!

Handball was the game of the week. With so many new guys it took a while for the guys to figure out the rules and the strategy of the game. The game was actually very even right up until the end when Aiden scored the winning goal for my team by swatting the ball out of the air!

In the Bible Study we looked at the story of David and Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:32-37

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

1 Samuel 17:45-47

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

The thing that stands out about David is his confidence in God and not in his own abilities. If only we would put our trust in God like David! If only we would be confident because of what the one and only true God has done for us!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Josh! This is Josh's First Helmet of the Btln year! Greenwood was there at the end with Josh, but was not able to win his first Helmet. I have a feeling that a Helmet is in Greenwood's future. 

The game of the week was Stickball. It seems like everytime we play Stickball there are a bunch of guys that haven't ever played. This time around the grade sevens had to learn. Even with a bunch of rookies the game was so much fun, Stickball is becoming one of my Btln favourites. It was one of the closer games that we have ever played.

Stickball Final Scores

Ben's Team - 10
Isaac's Team - 9
Jason's Team -8
Coady's Team - 8


In the Bible Study we looked at Noah and the Flood.


Genesis 6:5-9   The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

This is the account of Noah and his family.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

It is amazing how the righteousness of Noah stood out next to the wickedness of the world! If we choose to live like Noah then we will also stand out next to the world and will find favour with God.

Genesis 6:3   Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

1 Peter 3:20   God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved.

This story is often portrayed as one about God's wrath. It is a story of God's wrath, but it is also a story of God's grace! God gave the human race 120 to turn from their sin and to choose to follow him. 

Ezekiel 18:23   Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

2 Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3-6   This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Isn't it comforting to know that God does not find pleasure in the death of the wicked? Even more amazing is that he wants all men to be saved!

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BTLN UPDATE - POOL PARTY

Congrats Colton! Colton is the 2019 Btln Belly Flop Champion! Josh, Mathijs and Jonathan joined Colton in the Belly Flop Final with awesome flops in the first round. Josh had a good flop in the second round, but Colton would not be denied, winning his first Belly Flop Competition and his first Helmet ever!

There was Menno on the BBQ and ice cream cake from DQ, chips and pop in the basement after we were done swimming.



Btln 3739 Belly Flop Champions
Jordon Walsh - 2005
Jordon Walsh - 2006
Drew Brown - 2007
Andrew Eyre - 2008
Sam Schiesser - 2009
Ben Nicolson - 2010
Zach Gobbett - 2011
Dartagnan Butcher - 2012
Maxwell Nicholson - 2013
Jonathan Fojt - 2014
Nathan Mckenny - 2015
Caleb Hiebert - 2016
Caleb Hiebert - 2017

Caleb Hiebert - 2018

Colton McNevin - 2019



THE CAPTAIN

BTLN PREVIEW - POOL PARTY!

Pool Party this week at Btln! There will be snacks (Ice cream cake from DQ, chips, and pop.) and of course the Belly Flop Competition!

Wednesday night 7:00-8:30
Show up early (6:30) if you want more time in the pool!

The party is at Abe's pool. 6715 18th street


THE CAPTAIN

FIRST NIGHT OF BTLN

Congrats Dolan! Dolan has the first Helmet of the new Btln season! It was an amazing beginning to the new year! So many guys in the gym!

We started the year with a single game of Murderball! That's right, you heard me right, we only had time for one game of Murderball! The game went back and forth several times, both teams each having a chance to win. Finally Ben's team grabbed a big enough lead that my team could not battle back. Ben's team winning what was probably the longest game of Murderball in Btln history!

Caleb Tomilin missed the Btln grad ceremony on Last Night of Btln. Caleb was back at Btln this week, so we had an impromptu grad for Caleb! It was good to have Caleb back and so nice that his brother Linden was there to watch Caleb receive his Bible!

This week our Bible study was about Daniel.

Daniel 6:1-5 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Daniel stood out among the 120 satraps because of his exceptional qualities! What an amazing example for us to follow! Daniel was trustworthy and neither corrupt or negligent!

Daniel 6:6-7 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel was faithful and continued praying to God even though he knew that he would probably die!

Daniel 6:19-23 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”


The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel 6:25-27 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God
and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

In the end, because Daniel was faithful all nations learned that the God of Daniel rescues and saves! Will we be faithful like Daniel?

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BTLN BIRTHDAYS - MAY & JUNE

I am way behind again with the Btln Birthday posts! Now I am finally catching up with a combined May and June birthday post.

Late again, but not forgotten!

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!


May Birthdays

James Podmoroff - May 1

Zac Thomas - May 2

Tyler Hanson - May 7
Derek Taylor - May 7
Brad Pauls - May 9

Jakob Boschmann - May 9
Ben Nicholson - May 14
Dalton Shore - May 19

Keegan Kenyon - May 19
Joel Feenstra - May 21

Tyson Tiller - May 21
Rik Brown - May 23

Gabe Glas - May 24
John Van - May 28
Cody Harp - May 29
Sam Schiesser - May 31

June Birthdays

Landon Condruk - June 2
Joe Kraftchick - June 5

Jacob Bolster - June 7

Dolan Weltz - June 14
Parker Steadman - June 16
GeRRald Nicholson - June 20
Nathan Klassen - June 21
Stephen Kalnin - June 21

Jacob Speta - June 26
Jordon Walsh - June 27


THE CAPTAIN

2019 BTLN MAYLONG CAMPOUT PREVIEW (FRIDAY MAY 24TH - SUNDAY MAY 26TH)

 

 

 

So here is what you need to know about the 2019 Maylong Campout. The campout has been moved from Treadmill Beach at the north end of Christina Lake to PV Ranch. PV Ranch is 26 kilometers up the Northfork. We are also moving the date for this year to Friday evening, May 24th - Sunday, May 26th noon. PV Ranch was booked for Maylong weekend so we have moved it ahead one weekend. We are looking forward to the new location and the new memories!

 

Camping Supply List Suggestions

tent & tarp
sleeping bag
flash light

frying pan
chair
bathing suit and towel
fishing pole & license
Jacket, hat & toque (warm clothes)

extra shoes
lighter

 

Count your meals and plan accordingly.

If you arrive Friday you will have 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 suppers.

Food List Suggestions

hamburgers

hot dogs

steak

beans

chips

trail mix

pop

coffee

juice

water

bacon and eggs

cinnamon buns

THE CAPTAIN

ISAAC HOLITZKI - 2019 BTLN 3739 WINSTON CHAMPION

Congratulations to Isaac! Isaac Holitzki is the 2019 Btln 3739 Winston Champion! Isaac had six Helmets this year. Six Helmets is the second highest total ever for one year! (Zach Gobbett had eight Helmets in 2012!) Riley and Josh were tied for second with four Helmets. Isaac's four Btln Majors in one year is a Btln record! (The previous record was three Majors in one year.) Isaac was also the first one to complete the Career Btln Grand Slam! (Isaac is the first to win all five Btln Majors!) Congratulations to everyone that won a Helmet this year!

BTLN WINSTON CHAMPIONS

2008 - DREW BROWN

2009 - DREW BROWN

2010 - SAM SCHIESSER

2011 - CHRIS HENDERSON

2012 - ZACH GOBBETT

2013 - GERRALD NICHOLSON

2014 - MAXWELL NICHOLSON

2015 - LUKAS BOSCHMANN

2016 - NOAH MAKORTOFF

2017 - JAKOB BOSCHMANN

2018 - JAKOB BOSCHMANN

2019 - ISAAC HOLITZKI

2018/19 BTLN MAJOR CHAMPIONS

ISAAC HOLITZKI - Royal Rumble (Wrestling)
ISAAC HOLITZKI - Btln Olympics
ISAAC HOLITZKI - Winterslam (Boxing)
ISAAC HOLITZKI - Btln Ping Pong
DOLAN WELTZ - Btln Masters (Golf)


2018/19 FINAL WINSTON STANDINGS

ISAAC HOLITZKI - 6 Helmets and 4 Majors
RILEY LEIGHTON - 4 Helmets

JOSH MARTENS - 4 Helmets

DOLAN WELTZ - 3 Helmets and 1 Major

DESHAWN DENNIS - 3 Helmets

MIKE WALKUS - 3 Helmets

CALEB TOMILIN - 2 Helmets

CALEB HIEBERT - 1 Helmet

DANNY MACMASTER - 1 Helmet

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