Holy Wednesday

The big moment of the today was when Judas agreed to betray Jesus.  Judas would have betrayed Jesus for 30 coins of silver and this was the price of a slave. On that day Judas fulfilled another prophecy this one found in Psalm 41:9 “even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food has turned his back on me.”

They leading priests and teachers were plotting how to kill Jesus but they were afraid of the peoples reaction. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve disciples and he went to the leading priests to discuss the way to betray Jesus to them. So he agreed to everything and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Holy Tuesday

On this day a number of events occurred.

Jesus returned to the temple sat down and began teaching the Good News to people that were there. Elders and priests approached Jesus and questioned his authorityin the temple. Jesus responded by saying “let me ask you a question first.’Did John’s authority to baptise come from heaven or was it merely human?’” 

They talked it over and replied that they didn’t know.

After this Jesus returned back to his teachings. Watching for an opportunity the leaders tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus saw through their trickery and replied “show me a roman coin; whose picture is on it?” Caesars they replied. “Well then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and five to God what belongs to God.” So they failed to trick him and were amazed by his answer.

Holy Monday

Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them;

“It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers.”

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Probably one of the most important days in the christian calender. But whats it all about?

Holy week is the remembrance of the week prior to Jesus’ death on the cross.

On Palm Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people layed their coats and palm leaves on the ground. He was heading to Jerusalem for the Jewish passover festival.As He passed the crowd shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David”. The donkey was a symbol of peace and the branches were a symbol that the King was arriving victoriously.

Palm Sunday is the start for Christians to prepare their hearts and minds about the time that is to come both Jesus’ death and His Glorious Resurrection.

Sorry its been so long since posting but im back on track now =)

Early season at Mount Seymour we didn’t receive a great amount of snow so in the backs of our minds we were praying it wouldn’t turn into last season of no snow. It has now come to a point were the snow keeps falling every day and every night and we aren’t sure when it’s going to stop. So thanks be to God for His provision.

Work has started to quieten down however it won’t be long til spring break and the chaos can continue. Over the Christmas period I had never seen so many guests on the mountain. It was beautiful weather, great snow, and i’m thinking last years Olympics has a key part in people’s enthusiasm. During this break a few of us are going to travel around BC and check out other mountains so stayed posted for that!!

This week is our staff trip to Hemlock which is just down the valley however they are closed Mon-Wed and then reopen on thursday with a prediction of 90cm fresh!!!! I cannot wait. Every run, every turn will be even better than the previous.

This past week I received 2 pieces of news. One of my classmates from school died and then the tragic happenings in New Zealand. New Zealand is a country close to my heart and to hear that they are having a 9-11 just makes me feel helpless as im sitting here in my warm sheltered home. People in Christchurch are exhausted, emotionally unstable, physically hurt, to the point where they dont know where to go. Its bad! Buildings that were there from the beginning are now in ruins, nothing but rubble, people homes and in ruins or unlivable, and alot of people have just had enough. The earthquake in September hit the population hard but this recent aftershock has just done it for the country. People are discussing about upping and leaving NZ for good.

Please pray for New Zealand that good will come from the worst disaster it has ever seen. I pray that people will be strengthened to continue the great work they are doing such as Pastor Dave and his family.

I have reapplied to Mount Hutt in New Zealand for this up and coming season. I hope my application is accepted and that I can go back to New Zealand to be a source of energy for the communities there.

John Butler - Oceans

New Zealand (south island)

Whether it was earthquakes, black outs, deaths, avalanches, storms, closed days, waterfalls, sheep, wine, no internet, powder, worship evenings or even Kea’s (the Parrot!) New Zealand presented an amazing 4 months of my life.

Before i went to NZ i didn’t get my hopes or expectations up about anything I just wanted to go for my own perception and first hand view. With its long roads going into vast countryside or whether it was citylife with starbucks the south island had a lot. Everytime we turned a new corner I could help but say “wow” at the beauty and creation that God provided. Despite the amount of photos i snapped up none of them could define the creation of New Zealand.

When i arrived and got settled in it was time to go on the job hunt to Mt Hutt and after much consideration and thought I was offered a position in their Snowsports school which i was more that happy with. Just getting this position got my foot in the door and also meant i got to meet lots of amazing people too. After a few solid lessons i found my feet on the mountain and really enjoyed the lifestyle up there and the vibe people were giving off. Alot of my friends from work and I rode together everyday and just explored so much of the mountain, just challenging each other in everything we done.

Slightly later into the season i got offered a position on the Terrain Park Team aswell and this was definitely an amazing end to my season. The crew working there just helped me to develop so much in my own personal riding and also showed me the ropes for terrain park setup too. It was really great to hang with all those guys everyday and just have fun together.

As well as being on the mountain i did have a life off the mountain too lol. I found a great wee church in the centre of town which met my needs for the season. It was a shred/farmer church (completely different i know) that met every sunday night to share great cooked food together, heard the Word being read and a short talk afterward. We took Feed (church) to the mountain as well to ask people different questions just to get their minds ticking over and take their focus off snow for just 2 min and this then brought on some of the best conversations of the 4 months.

So while i was in NZ we had a 7.1 earthquake which was probably the scariest thing ive experienced, just not being in control of that sheer power. It was 4am and the earthquake hit and it woke us all up. At first i thought it was wind as we had been having a few storms earlier that week but then when i seen the whole house swaying i knew it was something more. Obviously cause im from a country where earthquakes exist once in a blue moon I had no idea what to do. So my roommate Andy told me to get in the door frames and wait. My heart was racing and then for the rest of the night we just lay in bed and experienced aftershock after aftershock. Right up to the day i left NZ there were tremors.

New Zealand definitely was a chapter of my life and I thank God for the people i met and the time I experienced while i was there.

New Zealand here i come - Got my flights booked last night (about time) and ill be heading off to Christchurch in a few weeks so im super stoked. I decided to go mainly because im not sure when an opportunity like this will arise again. Im soo excited to see my mate Andy again (the steeziest rider from down under) and board with him on his home turf.

Ill have to dust off my camera and get the blog videos under way again so keep an eye out =)

This week i’ve been playing alot of guitar, just working on a new style of playing and just really trying to feel the guitar work for me. If I could play like anyone it would have to be Trace Bundy. Ive always admired his work and creativity on the guitar.

The other night I was able to have an amazing convo with Dave C from New Zealand and it has really boosted my enthusiam for going and I know that God definitely has a place for me there in Methven. He was also saying that the Kiwi’s aren’t great singers so i hope that being there this year will encourage them to worship God with music and praise alot more.

So yeh if you dont know who Trace Bundy is here is a little link for you to enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IQYpopq6jA 

Damien Walters - Eat your heart out!   Simply incredible gymnastics!