BTLN PREVIEW - MIKE NIGHT

 

 

That's right this week is Mike Night at Battalion 3739!(And perhaps a Random Bible Check!)(Check out the old school photos!)

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

 

 

Sorry that this is late but life has been a little crazy lately. This week we played the Btln Trifecta. (The Trifecta includes Murderball, Handball and Extreme Bulldog.) Jeremy and Ben's team destroyed my team in Murderball, I'm thinking the games were 4-1 or 4-0, not sure all i know is that we got destroyed. It looked like things were going to be the same for Handball when Ben and Jere's team got out to a 6-2 lead,(The game was first to seven.)but my team battled back to take Handball with a 7-6 victory! I have never won Extreme Bulldog and things didn't change for me this week, it was close at the end but Jeremy and Ben's team won Bulldog and took the Trifecta. (The Captain 3, Jeremy 2)
Jeremy started our Bible study series "Entrust to reliable men" with Job.(Read Job chapters 1 and 2) What a great example of a reliable man Job was! God was so impressed with Job that he brags about him!

Job 1:8 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."

God allows Satan to take everything away from Job to test him.(Job loses his wealth,health and children.)

What was Job's response?

Job 1:20-22 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:9,10 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

It is amazing to see how Job responded to all of the trouble! If only we would respond this way! Job knew that God was still in control and that God still loved him no matter how bad life was!

Zach was in the middle for Bulldog, so this week he wasn't going to add to his Helmet total! This week it was Daniel winning his first career Helmet! Congrats Daniel!

(The second picture is Zach with his D.Q. coupon for winning the Belly Floop Competition. Check out Jordan in the background.)

Remember, Battalion is like Heaven, there is always room for one more! So bring a friend!

I have added Sammy's new blog to the list of blogs. Check it out!

THE CAPTAIN

MEET THE NATION - LEIGHTON FRIESEN

In this edition of "Meet the Nation" we will get to know Btln Legend Leighton Friesen. Leighton was the 8th Sergeant of Battalion 3739. Leighton was the Sergeant for two Btln seasons, 1990/91 and 1991/92. Leighton and his wife Sarah have three kids; Sadie, Sawyer and Sullivan.

RANDOM QUESTIONS
(1)Who is your favourite band/artist?
(A)Phil Vanderveen
(2)What is your favourite song?
(A)Standing with Giants
(3)What is your favourite style of music?
(A)Worship/Gospel
(4)Do you shave with an electric razor or a blade?
(A)Blade
(5)What would you rather grow? A beard or a moustache?
(A)Beard
(6)What would you rather drive? A big truck or a fast car?
(A)Both
(7)Ford, Chevy or Dodge?
(A)Ford
(8)How many times have you crashed a vehicle?
(A)3
(9)What would you rather wear? A ball cap or a toque?
(A)Ball Cap
(10)What size hat do you wear?
(A)Large?
(11)What is more important before you go to bed? Brushing your teeth or watching the sports highlights?
(A)Brushing my teeth.
(12)What is your favourite G.F. summer activity? Bridge jumping or tubing down the river?
(A)Bridge jumping
(13)What was your favourite class in school? Shop, P.E. or Band?
(A)P.E.
(14)What would you rather watch live? Your favourite band or your favourite sports team?
(A)Sports team
(15)What is your favourite sport?
(A)Hockey
(16)What do you like better? Skiing or snowboarding?
(A)Skiing
(17)If you could be a superhero for a day who would you want to be?
(A)Superman
(18)What would you rather come face to face with? A lion or an Anaconda?
(A)Lion
(19)If you could be anyone for a week who would you want to be?
(A)One of Jesus' disciples.
(20)Why?
(A)To be in Jesus' presence and listen to his teaching.
(21)What is your kryptonite?
(A)Material possessions
(22)What is your dream job?
(A)To be a CEO.
(23)Do you have any nicknames?
(A)LT
(24)What is your favourite quote?
(A)"Christianity, if false, is not important. If Christianity is true, however, it is of infinite importance. What it cannot be is moderately important." - C.S. Lewis
(25)If I had a million dollars....
(A)Nothing in my life would change.
(26)Something that you don't know about me is....
(A)One of my middle names is Lucius.
(27)I have always wanted to....
(A)See the Vancouver Canucks win a Stanley Cup!
(28)I will never....
(A)Cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(29)I really dislike....
(A)The Toronto Maple Leafs.

BATTALION QUESTIONS
(30)What is your M.M.M. from Battalion?
(A)Probably the Battalion campout at Christina Lake every May Long Weekend.
(31)What do you miss most about Battalion?
(A)The floor hockey
(32)You arrive at the boat launch on your way to the May Long when you realize the boat doesn't have enough room for both your tarp and your food. What do you leave behind, your tarp or your food?
(A)The tarp
(33)How did you spend most of your time at the May Long? Fishing or playing Cribbage?
(A)Fishing
(34)One big block of cheese, the outhouse or a fallen tree?
(A)The Cheese
(35)What is your favourite Battalion tradition?
(A)Being able to yell out "Attennnnnntion!" and actually have people listen.
(36)How long have you been a part of the Btln 3739 Nation?
(A)Since 1988(Leighton's answer) (Captain speaking here, I think it was actually since the 1986/87 season. That would be 25 years!)

FOOD QUESTIONS
(37)What is your favourite restaurant?
(A)Il Caminetto
(38)Menu item?
(A)Pasta
(39)How do you like your steak?
(A)Medium-Rare
(40)What is your favourite vegetable? Beans or potatoes?
(A)Potatoes
(41)Deep fried or barbecued?
(A)Barbecued
(42)What do you like better? Burgers or pizza?
(A)Pizza
(43)What size pizza could you eat in one sitting? Individual, small, medium or large?
(A)Small
(44)What is your favourite flavour of chips?
(A)Salt & Pepper
(45)What do you like better? Coke or Pepsi?
(A)Diet Coke

G.S.F. QUESTIONS
(46)Was there ever a time in high school that you would have climbed into a cage with a hungry bear rather than call the girl that you liked?
(A)No
(47)Have you ever been shafted by a girl?
(A)Yes

SERIOUS QUESTIONS
(48)What is your favourite book of the Bible?
(A)Romans
(49)What is your favourite Bible verse?
(A)Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.
(50)Who is your favourite Bible character?
(A)Simon Peter
(51)Where do you work?
(A)North West Rubber
(52)What are your plans for the future?
(A)Travel around the world with Sarah and the kids.

Thanks to Leighton for taking the time to answer all of these questions! By the way, it has been five years for the blog, so after 950 posts and over 56,000 visitors I thought that we would celebrate with this edition of "Meet the Btln Nation"! Once again thanks to all who visit the blog!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - POOL PARTY

 

 

 

The Pool Party is at the beginning of the Btln year but it is always one of the highlights of the whole year! The new diving board and the Zorbs were great additions. Guys were flying through the air and landing on top of the Zorbs, it was amazing!(I should have gotten a picture of it.) We ate nearly all of the 48 Menno dogs(around 6 left.),played in the Zorbs and Btln Pool Football(Always a favourite.) and of course the Btln Belly Flop Comp. The Belly Flop Comp. was awesome, Nathan Klassen nailed a sweet flop that really got everyone pumped. Later Zach got even higher and had a huge smack to take the lead with three tens. Last up was Ben Nicholson the reigning champ that also nailed three tens to the chant of Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben...... So Zach and Ben, already red chested went back to the diving board for a second round. Zach got up even higher the second time,(estimates were between 8'-10')(Check out Zach's superman pose in the collage.)getting another three tens. Ben missed on his second attempt making Zach the Belly Flop Champ! Congrats Zach! Zach is two for two Helmets to start the Btln Season!

Hope Jordan is okay, he hit the sidewalk pretty hard.

Next week we are back at the gym.

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN PREVIEW - POOL PARTY!

 

Pool Party!!! That's right, it's time to head over Abe's for some water football, Menno, grapes, Belly flops and for the first time, the Zorb! We have tried the Zorb on the water and it should be a lot of fun! Anyways show up early, around 6:30 p.m. to get a little more time in the pool.

The Pool Party is at 6715 18th street. See you in the pool!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE - FIRST NIGHT

 

 

First update of the year! Battalion 3739 is up and running! Super excited for this year! Zach is our Sergeant again this year and we have Jeremy, Joe and Ben helping out for the full Btln Season!(God always provides!) We played some American 21 and then on to Murderball were Ben's team beat Jeremy and Joe's team 4-2!(I was on Ben's team! The Captain 1 - Jeremy 0) After Murderball it was Bible study time. I am still unsure of our topic this year but was thinking about "Entrust to Reliable Men" as our theme. This week we looked at man's need.

We tried to answer 3 questions.
1)What can man change on his own?

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

A)Like Adam our actions can only bring sin and death.

2)Can we save ourselves from sin and death?

Ephesians 2:11 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A)Without God we are dead in our sins, but we can be saved by his grace! (Remember it is God that is doing the work, we are God's workmanship!)

3)If we don't have the power to save ourselves, can we at least keep ourselves saved?

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

A)It is God that began the good work in us, and he will finish it!

We still had a lot of time left after Bible study so we played Handball. We were going to play to seven but started to run out of time when it was 3-3, so it was next goal wins. Like in Murderball Ben's team got the win! (The Captain 2, Jeremy 0)
Next was the first Bulldog of the year and the first Helmet win for Zach! Congrats Zach! This is Zach's 17th career Helmet win!(Yes it is a record.)

Next week is the Pool Party!(At Abe's pool.)See you at the pool!

THE CAPTAIN

BATTALION 2011/2012 BEGINS!

The 2011/2012 Battalion 3739 Season begins Wednesday Night(September 7th)at 7:00 p.m.! See you at the gym!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN BIRTHDAYS - SEPTEMBER

 

It's September again and that means that it is the beginning of a new Battalion 3739 season! (Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 p.m. is First Night!) So many guys having birthdays this month! It is amazing to look at the names of the guys having birthdays this month, so many good memories!

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

NATHAN KLASSEN - September 1
ZACH GOBBETT - September 3
JONATHAN FOJT - September 9
LANCE MARTENS - September 13
RYLEY HEPPNER - September 16
SAM JEPSEN - September 17
NOAH MAKORTOFF - September 17
CHARLIE LANGIS - September 20
BRUCE JEPSEN - September 24
CAM TYSSEN - September 25
CAM THOMPSON - September 25
DAVID PODOVINIKOFF - September 26

Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!

THE CAPTAIN

KENNY AND CRYSTAL

Apparently I can't keep up with all of the good news! (Not that I am complaining!) Congrats to Kenny and Crystal on your wedding engagement! God continues to bless the Btln 3739 Nation! For those of you that don't know Kenny, he graduated in 2004 and has been a part of the Btln 3739 Nation for 13 years.
As I was thinking about marriage again I thought back to the story of Jacob and his love for Rachel.

Genesis 29:18-20 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than some other man. Stay here with me." So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

May we love our wives as much as Jacob did! We pray that God will bless your marriage!

THE CAPTAIN

BEN AND SHAYNA

 

I realize that this is old news but I thought that I needed to write something anyways. Congratulations to Ben and Shayna on your wedding engagement! For those of you that don't know Ben, he was the Sergeant of Battalion 3739 in 2005-06 and is the new Youth Pastor at the Gospel Chapel!(He is starting in September.)

Genesis 2:18 - The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

We are so happy that God has brought you together! May God bless your marriage and your ministry!

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN BIRTHDAYS - AUGUST

 

Birthday greetings to all of the Btln 3739 birthdays in August! (Ya I'm late again!) Anyways Happy Birthday and may God bless you again this year!

2 Timothy 2:22b - Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Owen Knopp - August 1
Steven Feenstra - August 13
Ryan Floesser - August 22
Mike Hughes - August 25
Alan Martens - August 25

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN UPDATE

 

I figured it was time to mention some of the good work that some of the Btln 3739 Alumni have been a part of this summer. Both Ryley and Joe have taken turns preaching at the Gospel Chapel.(Joe was also baptized this Sunday!) Ryley and Jason have both been working up at the Pines and Blake was speaking at the Pines this last week. Ben has been working at Camp Imadene and in the fall Ben will be the Youth Pastor at the Gospel Chapel!

Keep up the good work! You are great examples to us all!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011, THE WRAP

I am never sure how any road trip is going to turn out, ya even Creation. This year wasn't any different especially with our numbers slipping from 12 guys last year to six this year.(Ryley, d-Pod, Zac and the Kelowna boys couldn't make it this year.) This year we had Bent, Drew, GeRRald, Max and we added Jonathan Fojt to the fold.
After the guys all got their travel insurance we packed the trailer and headed for Colville. We are never in a big rush at Wal-Mart, but some how this year it seemed like we were in the store for a very long time. This year we added a few things to the menu like Cross Trax, Pizza Bread and Breakfast Sandwiches. (GeRRald, Max and Jon didn't know what Cross Trax were, we had them convinced that Cross Trax was a Band that was playing on the Fringe stage!)
Our next stop was in Spokane at Red Robin. Apparently it was Johnny's first time in a Red Robin because everything seemed to confuse him. (The waitress brought him a refill for his bottomless root beer float and he looked at us with this funny look and all he could say was "I'm confused, what is going on?") I am not sure if I have ever laughed as much as I did that first day in Red Robin.(We weren't even tired yet!)
After Red Robin we were back on the road and on our way to Seattle. We arrived in Seattle early enough that we could set up camp before dark.(So much better that trying to set up in the dark like last year.)
Wednesday morning is relaxing cause things don't start until 5:00 p.m. so we slept in and played a lot of crib and horseshoes(A Creation first for 3739! GeRRald and I slayed at horseshoes, right Drew?) Wednesday was also the day that Johnny realized that we didn't buy any vegetables prompting him to ask "Where's my vegetables?" Johnny later explained to me that he couldn't think clearly without his vegetables.(We did bring Potatoes-fries, chips and hash browns and beans in the chili.)
Shonlock started Creation it was a good way to kick it off, the rotating drummers and the back flip off of the bass drum were the highlights. Next up was speaker Nick Vujicic, his story was very moving.(He was born without limbs.)
The Newsboys added the rotating drum set and the mini stage(This stage rises 30 feet above the crowd.)in the middle of the crowd for Michael Tate to the set that they had last year. The Newsboys always bring it, it is always a lot of fun.
Thursday was Hawk Nelson, Red, Tenth Avenue North and TobyMac. What can I say about Toby that hasn't already been said? He doesn't need all kinds of gear like the Newsboys or Skillet, he has a presence on the stage that most wish they had. "He is a marketing genius!"
Friday was the best day it had KJ-52,(See the sweet picture we have with KJ in the Friday collage.)The Almost, Thousand Foot Krutch, Switchfoot and Aaron Gillespie.(Aaron did a worship set at the Late Night Stage. Definitely a highlight.) Switchfoot is always amazing, probably my favourite right now! (Saturday night was also candlelight, pretty cool although not like it was at the Gorge.)
Saturday was slow getting going so we had Johnny and Max playing bigger or better so that we could get rid of excess food and get us some sweets. I had a change of heart about "Fun Size" chocolate bars after the boys returned with a bag of them. Earlier in the week I had said "Fun Size?! What's so fun about them? Ben wouldn't even taste them!"
Saturday had Brian"Head"Welch, Emery, David Crowder(Never really liked Crowder before, but loved his concert this year.)and Skillet. After watching Skillet I am sure that they will be closing Creation for the at least the next few years. They add something to their show every year, it was unreal! After the Skillet show Creation ended with fireworks, it was a great way to end an amazing week!

Random Thoughts about Creation 2011
1)We missed a set list for the first time in six years when we couldn't get one at the Switchfoot concert. We didn't get one at Newsboys either but they only had one and it was laminated so they weren't going to let us have it.
2)We got the only set list from the Skillet concert. It was off of Jen's drum stage!(It was a spinning drum stage!)Johnny(Our buddy the security guard.) finally helped us out!
3)The security guards at Creation in 2011 were overworked, or so it seems! (They must have been tired because they were grumpy. Except Johnny of course!)We had a couple of run-ins with them this year. The one told us "I will win!" when we took a picture of Aaron Gillespie after he had told us not to.
4)Aaron Gillespie(The Almost), Jason Dunn(Hawk Nelson) and Michael Barnes(Red) all became honorary members of Btln 3739 after we gave them all a Btln Medallion.
5)The Btln 3739 formula at Red Robin is almost unattainable, I am not sure if we have ever completed it since the first time we tried it.
6)I bought Mamba on the way home. Mambaaaaaaa!!!!!!
7)Creation signed a ten year lease with Enumclaw.
8)Creation 2012 is July 18-21! It is going to miss my anniversary again!
9)Creation 2012 will be year 9 for Bent and The Captain!
10)Ryley, Jason and Drew might be back for 2012?
11)Max rolled 100 yards for 2 dollars!
12)Johnny(Our Johnny)told me he can't wait until next year!
13)We will have to buy vegetables next year!
14)GeRRald is spelled with two R's!
15)Only 349 days until Creation 2012!
16)How was Creation 2011? Amazing!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

 

 

Saturday was the last day of Creation and it was headlined by Skillet, David Crowder Band and Emery.(The Skillet show gets better every year!) Enjoy the pics!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011, FRIDAY

 

 

Friday was probably the best day, the bands included Switchfoot, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Almost, KJ-52 and Aaron Gillespie. Enjoy the pics!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011, THURSDAY

 

 

More pictures, this time Thursday. Tobymac, Red, Tenth Avenue North and Hawk Nelson all performed. Enjoy!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

 

 

We have been back from Creation 2011 for a day now, so it is time to start posting some pictures!(What an amazing trip!) These pictures are from the first two days. Enjoy!

THE CAPTAIN

CREATION 2011

 

 

Creation is only four days away! Here is a list of some of the bands that will be at Creation this year!

Main Stage

Tobymac
Skillet
Switchfoot
Newsboys
Thousand Foot Krutch
David Crowder Band
Red
KJ-52
Tenth Avenue North
Shonlock

Fringe Stage

The Almost
Emery
Disciple
Hawk Nelson

THE CAPTAIN

BTLN BIRTHDAYS - JULY

 

Battalion Birthday time! I feel so blessed to know so many good men! Anyways, Happy Birthday guys and may God bless you again this year!

1 Thessalonians 3:12,13 - May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Dan Neufeld - July 7
Blake Chursinoff - July 14
Aaron Friesen - July 24

THE CAPTAIN

PINES BIBLE CAMP

 

 

Forgot to post this earlier, but better late than never! Just wanted to remind everyone that Battalion 3739 totally supports the Pines Bible Camp and we would like to encourage all the guys from 3739 to spend at least one week up at the Pines this summer. Remember if you cannot afford to pay the registration fees then we would like to pay for you! Please take us up on this offer.

Teen Camp starts next week! So don't delay! (July 18-23)

THE CAPTAIN