BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Mike! This was Mike's first Helmet of the Btln Season! It is so good to have Mike at Btln and it is good to see him get his first Helmet of the year!

This week we played G*I*T*D Basketball! Anything glow in the dark is visually appealing! It always makes me think of the movie Tron. Team Orange had several opportunities to win when it was next basket wins at the end of the game, but were unable to convert. Team Green sunk the winner after a few tries to take the win!

In Bible Study we looked at Paul's conversion. (Acts 9, 22 and 26)

The question is, why is Paul's conversion recorded three times in the book of Acts? If God is repeating himself, then there must be something very important about Paul's conversion.

 

1 Timothy 1:12-17   I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Paul calls himself a blasphemer, persecutor and a violent man. God saved Paul even though he was a terrible man! Paul was not searching for God, but God was searching for Paul! Paul's conversion was an example of God's immense patience, grace and love. None of us can say that we are beyond God's capacity to forgive!




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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Riley! This was Riley's third Helmet of the Btln Season! Riley has moved back into a tie for second place with Josh in the Winston Standings!

This week we played Handball. I have come to the conclusion that we don't play Handball enough. Have I mentioned how much I love Handball? The game was a close battle, the lead changing multiple times. We ended the game with next goal wins that had close calls on both sides, before the ball bounced off of Mike between my legs for the game winner.

This week Ben was in charge of the Bible Study. Our topic was, "What is our Mission?"

Acts 2:42   They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Colossians 4:2-6   Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Peter 3:15   But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Our mission has to be devoting ourselves to prayer and study of the Bible. After we have studied we need to share with others what we have learned about the gospel. We need to make the most of every opportunity and always do it with gentleness and respect!

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BTLN BIRTHDAYS - JANUARY

I am finally getting the birthday post done, but January isn't over yet! So many good, pictures, memories and men! I feel so blessed to know each of these men!

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!


JEREMY FEDDERSON - January 2
COURTNEY FRIESEN - January 4
JACOB COLIN - January 8
BRYCE PETERSON - January 9
JASON HAYASHI - January 10
MAXWELL NICHOLSON - January 10
TRISTAN HARVEY - January 15
ALEXEI TUBRETT - January 20
OWEN SPISAK - January 23
GEOFF MARTENS - January 31

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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Caleb! This was Caleb's second Helmet of the Btln Season! It was fitting that Caleb would win on what was probably his last night of Battalion. Caleb graduated early and will be moving to Kamloops to start his welding apprenticeship! Good luck and God bless to Caleb as he moves onto the next stage of life!

This week we played Mike 23 for the last time this year. The scores rise and fall with each mini game. It is hard to know who will win until the final mini game is over! Nathan's Team had a big early lead but ended up in a distant third!

Mike 23 Final Scores

Ryley's Team - 11

Coady's Team - 10

Nathan's Team - 7

Ben's Team - 6

In Bible Study our topic was Anxiety.

Proverbs 12:25   Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Having anxiety is something that we all deal with. We all have differing levels of anxiety. What we know for sure is that anxiety is not good for us according to this passage. I'm sure that most of us can identify with "Anxiety weighing down our hearts". The thing that we need to remember is that we don't have to deal with anxiety all alone!

Psalm 139:23   Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Psalm 94:18-19   When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Philippians 4:6-7   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

God wants us to cast all of our anxiety on him! He doesn't want us to have to deal with it on our own. We just need to bring him all of are concerns, whether big or small!

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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Josh! This was Josh's third Helmet of the Btln Season! Josh has now moved into sole possession of second place in the race for Winston!

This week we played Stickball at Battalion. I know that I say this every time, I think that this was the best Stickball that Btln has ever played. Instead of wondering about the rules, the guys have started to figure out strategy for Stickball. The game ended in a three way tie! Isaac winning the tie breaker for his team with a win in rock, paper, scissors!

Stickball Final Scores

Jason's Team - 8

Nathan's Team - 8

Coady's Team - 8

Ben's Team - 4

This week Ryley prepared and lead the Bible Study! The topic that Ryley chose was Sacrifice.

Romans 3:25   God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Hebrews 7:27   Unlike the other high priests, he (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Ephesians 5:1-2   Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Jesus sacrificed his own life on the cross for our sins! Jesus sacrificed everything for us to save us from the penalty of our sin!

Romans 12:1   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

2 Peter 2:4-5   As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus sacrificed everything for us, the right thing for us to do would be to sacrifice everything for him! We should offer our lives as living sacrifices!

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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Neighbour! This was Isaac's fourth Helmet of the Btln Season! Isaac is starting to open up a gap between him and the rest of the pack in the race for Winston!

This week we played Murderball for one of the last times this year! We only played three games, but they were all epic! In the first game my team battled back from one man left to win! The next two games were close, but in the end my team was unable to win again, losing 2-1!

In Bible Study our topic was God's Word. We looked at different passages that described God's Word as Eternal, Living, Active and Flawless. We read other passages that told us that God's Word was useful for attaining wisdom, teaching, correcting and able to keep us from sinning.

If God's Word is so important and useful then why would Israel have misplaced the Law?

2 Chronicles 34:14-21   While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”




The people of Israel had lost the God's Word in plain sight! The Law was right where it was supposed to be! It was in the temple! Having our Bible on our night stand and not reading it is like losing it in plain sight! I love what King Josiah did next. King Josiah read the Law to all the people from the least to greatest! We need to do the same!




2 Chronicles 34:29-32   Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.
Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.




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13TH ANNUAL BTLN ALUMNI NIGHT

This year we had 31 men at the 13th Btln Alumni Night! One of the highlights of Alumni Night is giving away the Sergeant Jersey. This year it was Courtney Friesen's turn. Courtney was the 10th Sergeant of Battalion 3739. Courtney was the Sergeant for two years. Courtney was Sergeant for the 1995/96 and 1996/97 Btln Seasons. Courtney wasn't able to be with us on Alumni Night. Courtney will be the 22th Sergeant to receive his Jersey in our  "One forward and one back" Sergeant Jersey program! Congrats Courtney!

This year we didn't add any names to the Btln "Ring of Honour". After losing Aaron this year, I felt like we should wait a year before we added any names.

Like any other year we played Murderball. This post is so late that I cannot remember the results. All I know for sure is that it was good times!

We finished the night visiting in the Youth room. It was so good to watch the guys sharing stories and laughing together! I can't wait until next year!

Thanks to everyone that came out to Alumni Night!


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2018 BATTALION ALUMNI NIGHT PREVIEW

It will be the 13th Btln Alumni Night on December 27th, 2018! It is always a different mix of guys, but is always a lot of fun! We will play some games in the gym and then like last year, move down to the youth room to hang out afterwards. So many good men and so many good memories! I can't wait to see who will be at the 13th Annual Btln Alumni Night!

Anyone in grade 11 or 12 and all Btln Alumni are invited!


Dec. 27th at the G.C. at 7:00 p.m.


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BTLN BIRTHDAYS - DECEMBER

We are almost halfway through December and I am finally getting caught up on the blog! So many good things happening in December! We had the Three B's early in the month and we still have Christmas and then there is Btln Alumni Night on the 27th!

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!


MIKE TRAINER - December 4
COADY WALT - December 6
KEVIN HAYASHI - December 9
DEVIN CHURSINOFF - December 10
DYLAN ZORN - December 19
LUKAS BOSCHMANN - December 19
CALVIN PETERS - December 21
STEPHEN LAWRENCE - December 23
REESE HOGARTH - December 25
JEREMY MARTENS - December 28
ZANE LAWSON - December 31

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BTLN UPDATE - THE THREE B'S 2018

Congrats Deshawn! This was Deshawn's second Helmet of the Btln season! Mike was in the final two with Deshawn. Both Deshawn and Mike were taken down on the final round, Deshawn making it farther across the gym than Mike, taking the Helmet and the win!

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

This year there were 36 guys at the Three B's! The guys devoured 8 large Battalion Baconator pizzas, 3 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 we played four games and my team lost every game! Better luck next year?

Thanks to my mom for making the Bonuts!

Special thanks to all the leaders 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 9, 2019!


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BTLN PREVIEW - THE THREE B'S

This week is the Three B's Btln Christmas party! Like in the past, there will Be the Btln Baconator pizzas, Beans, rootBeer and Bonuts! Can't wait to party Btln style!

Wednesday, Dec. 5th at 7:00 p.m.


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BTLN BIRTHDAYS - NOVEMBER

Last Day of the month and I am finally getting this done! It is good to look back at these pictures and remember all the good times that we have had together over the years!

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!


MITCH BRON - November 6

MATT BARG - November 9

DAN TRITHARDT - November 9

LUKE MARTENS - November 10
NATE KLASSEN - November 17

DEVAN ENGLAND - November 19

NATHAN BALL - November 20

  

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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Riley! This was Riley's second Helmet of the Btln Season! Riley has now won two Helmets in the last three weeks, making a late charge in the race for Winston!

This week we played Stickball for the second time this year. I am always amazed how easily the guys are confused when we play Stickball. The confusion adds an element of humour to the game. This time around Isaac's and Dolan's team were tied. We used Rock-Paper-Scissors to break the tie, Dolan winning for his team!

Stickball Final Scores

Dolan's Team - 8

Isaac's Team - 8

Riley's Team - 6

Luke's Team - 4

In Bible study our topic was the Compassion of God.

Matthew 9:35-36   Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 15:32    Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Mark 6:32-34   So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Luke 7:11-15   Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Jesus was and is still is compassionate! Jesus healed everyone that asked, fed them, taught them and even raised them from the dead! Jesus has compassion on us as well! That is why he died and rose again for our sins!

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BTLN UPDATE - THE 24TH BATTALION OLYMPICS

Congratulations to Isaac Holitzki! Isaac is the 2018 Battalion Olympic Champion! In the five events Isaac finished with a first, three seconds and a third place finish for a total of 25 points! After finishing second last year, Isaac was able to win it all in 2018!
This year we had 19 competitors in the 24th Battalion Olympics! Three out of the five event winners were first time winners. Riley, Caleb and Josh were all first time winners. Deshawn recaptured his Football title and Isaac won Arm Wrestling for the first time. (Isaac has won Football in the past.)


24th BATTALION OLYMPICS (Final Scores for the top three)

(#1) Isaac Holitzki  - 25 - OLYMPIC CHAMPION
(#2) Joshua Martens - 21
(#3) Jacob Colin - 20


ARM WRESTLING CHAMPION
Isaac Holitzki

BASKETBALL CHAMPION
Riley Leighton

BENCH WRESTLING CHAMPION
Caleb Tomilin

BOX HOCKEY CHAMPION
Joshua Martens

FOOTBALL TOSS CHAMPION
Deshawn Dennis


Congratulations to all the winners!


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BTLN 3739 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS

BTLN 3739 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS and margin of victory

Courtney Friesen - 1995/96 - 1 point
Courtney Friesen - 1996/97 - 3 points
Aaron Friesen - 1997/98 - 1 point
Aaron Friesen - 1998/99 - 1 point
Derek Taylor - 1999/00 - 5 points
Justin Bekker - 2000/01 - 4 points
Justin Bekker - 2001/02 - 0 points
Justin Thompson - 2002/03 - 4 points
Dan Neufeld - 2003/04 - 0 points
Ben Jepsen - 2004/05 - 2 points
Ben Jepsen - 2005/06 - 2 points
Cam Thompson - 2006/07 - 0 points
Devin Chursinoff - 2007/08 - 5 points
David Podovinikoff - 2008/09 - 1 point
Zach Gobbett - 2009/10 - 1 point
Dalton Shore - 2010/11 - 4 points

Zach Gobbett - 2011/12 - 3 points

Gerrald Nicholson - 2012/13 - 1 point

John Van - 2013/14 - 2 points

Lukas Boschmann - 2014/15 - 3 points

Zach Donovan - 2015/16 - 3 points

Jacob Speta - 2016/17 - 2 points

Luke Martens - 2017/18 - 2 points

What name will we be adding to this list? Can't wait to find out! Good luck to all!

 

 

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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Riley! This was Riley's first Helmet of the 2018/19 Btln Season! Another close finish in Bulldog! It looks like we are going to have another close race for Winston!

This week we played Murderball. It is not often that my team is dominant, but this week my team won the first two games before losing the third. Still winning the series 2-1! We should play Murderball more often!

We often mix the message of salvation into the Bible Study, this week we took a direct look at it. The Roman's Road was our focus. I didn't want anyone to leave Battalion not knowing how to be saved from their sin!

Romans 3:23-24   For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23   For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10   If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

It is so simple, we have all sinned, and the wages of sin is death, but while we were still sinners Christ died for us! All we have to do is believe that Jesus died and was resurrected for our sins!

Acts 16:29-31   The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”



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BTLN UPDATE

Congrats Danny! This was Danny's first Btln Helmet ever! So many firsts this year at Btln! It is so good to see someone win for the first time!

This week at Btln we played Handball for only the second time this year! Because we still don't have lines on the gym floor, we decided to try something different this time around. The Basketball key is usually reserved for the goalie and his defenseman. This time we made two long lines across the gym instead of the key. This meant that most of the play was on the outside, and passing was more important. Not sure that I liked it better than the old way, it was just nice to put a different spin on an old game. We played last goal wins and my team managed to get the winner! (Can't remember who had the winning shot.)

In Bible Study our topic was "God is still in control".

Job 1:6-12   One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.


2 Corinthians 12:7-10   Because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


In both of these stories God allowed Job and Paul to be tormented. It is hard to understand why God would allow us to be tormented until we read the end of the second passage. Paul tells us that God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When we allow God carry us through the tough times in life, then we allow God to show his power in our lives!


Philippians 4:6-7   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.




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BTLN BIRTHDAYS - OCTOBER

October has been over for nearly two weeks and I am finally getting the October birthday post done! (I just can't keep up anymore!) So many good friends and so many good memories!

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!


HARLEY KOVACS - October 1

TALON HARSHENIN - October 4

TYLER COUPLAND - October 5
DALTON ERIXON - October 6

DREW BROWN - October 6

ROBBIE WARK - October 6

DARTAGNAN BUTCHER - October 12
KENNY JOHNSON - October 14

JOSHUA MARTENS - October 14

KAYLON SIEBEN - October 15

CAM VOIKEN - October 17

TYSON SOOBOTIN - October 19

SPENCER HENDERSON - October 23
GERRY NICKEL - October 31

  

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