The CREC, the 51st State, and Banff National Park, Day One
Some scattered thoughts of day one in Canada!
I just returned yesterday from the vast, diverse, and beautiful "Great White North." It was my first time back in 25 years. As a Senior in high school, the experience was mainly directed to the Niagara Falls. The first visit was more to see the spectacle, but this second visit, a much more aged version of me, saw the splendor of the beautiful mountains and the culture of the people.
Only a few weeks ago, President Trump infuriated Canadians by offering to annex them to our great country. Of course, many Canadians did not take well to Trump’s invitation to incorporate their splendid land into American soil. Trump is a troll by nature, and his ways are validly bombastic to those on the receiving end. But to those with an eclectic sense of humor, there is a tremendous common sense in the observation. There is, after all, a great deal of commonality between our nations.
As soon as I landed, there was a great sense of continuity with my experience in the U.S. Calgary reminded me of the Pacific Northwest, maybe Seattle or Portland. The massive exception is that Calgary is considered one of Canada's most conservative major cities. And they are not interested in bowing down to Prime Minister Carney. Albertans are ready to take the next step:
Some Albertans frustrated with almost decade of Liberal power want independence from the country, and Cameron Davies, a leader of the breakaway movement…
Our visit to Calgary was only a few days after the election. Many I spoke with blame Trump for the mood shift. They argued that Trump’s tariff threats and the desire to annex Canada as America’s 51st state triggered a severe reaction in favor of Carney and in opposition to Poilievre, whom many viewed as Trump’s ally.
Whether true or not, one can only blame the Canadians for their own votes, and the Christians in the country who accepted another term of liberal policies, electing a former banker to the highest place in Canadian politics.
Visiting Banff
We arrived late Thursday evening and woke up the next morning to a car ride with two of the funniest humans. I’ve known these brothers personally for years, but it was the first time I saw them together. They not only kindly drove us to various places, but we also had the opportunity to catch up on a lot of history and prepare to make some new ones. These humorous men love each other but have led seasoned ministries for decades. I admire their work from afar, and it was a delight to watch their work closely.
Several folks were invited to join us, and we took a beautiful walk around the lake at Banff National Park. I am grateful to Rev. Chris Cousine for setting up the agenda for the day.
I had met some of these dear saints before. Most of the men were CREC officers representing several Canadian churches who came with their families to discuss the role of the CREC in their country. It was a joy to hear their stories of God’s kindness in bringing them to the Reformed faith and leading them to the CREC.
The scenery and the weather were stupendous! We walked up to the historical Fairmont Banff Springs and enjoyed the view and conversation.
It’s easy to be overcome with emotions when looking at God’s visible artistry. Snowy toppings gently caressed everything. Banff is known for its mountainous surroundings and natural hot springs. There was so much to contemplate—almost too much in one sitting.
We later enjoyed a blissful lunch in downtown Banff.
Discussion Concerning CREC Canada
The men met in the evening to discuss all things Canada. The discussion was a fruitful opportunity to lay the groundwork for some remarkable future projects. All those present acknowledged a strong harmony of thought as we planned for the future of the CREC in Canada.
If you want to keep up with the work of these Canadian brothers, follow Rev. Nathan Zekveld’s work on Substack. Nathan has been an important voice connecting me to Canadian voices and keeping me aware of the work taking place.
Our first full day in Canada was a creational and theological gift. I hope to offer some additional thoughts about the conference and worship, and make my first lecture recording available on the centrality of the church.
Notations
What does it mean to live a resurrection life? What does it mean to live with the hope of the resurrection? Paul seems to deal with this question extensively in I Corinthians 15. He ends that long passage by stating that our labors are not in vain in the Lord. We are called to pursue all that we do with gusto. We ought to labor with our eyes fixed on the gospel because all we do ultimately is for the sake of the world.
One of the main differences between our living and the unbeliever’s living is that we live as if there is a future resurrected life in the New Heavens and New Earth, and they live in disbelief of this future life. If you have no belief in a future life, there is room for immorality and unethical practices. In the words of Matthew Henry, “We can live like beasts, and eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” But for us in covenant with God, every time we fall into sin, it is a sign that we are disbelieving the resurrection with our actions. We have the resurrection because we are resurrected saints, baptized in the Triune Name, created unto good works.
To live the resurrection life is to live it with our heart, mind, and soul. So, let us labor in the Lord. Then we will eat, drink, and feast, for when we die, we will live forever in the presence of our Resurrected Savior.
Nuntium
I will be in town for Vespers but will be headed to Moscow early Thursday for a board meeting and NSA’s graduation ceremony.
Christ is Risen, indeed!
Uriesou T. Brito
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Thank you Uri. Sounds like a really great trip. Your comments around resurrection were particularly timely for me. Perhaps I'll see you at Andrew's 25th event in SF.
Thanks for coming up to meet us. The whole weekend was a very great blessing. Both I and my wife felt quite refreshed in the wake of this.