Senior Pastor @Calvary_Grace.| Happy Rodeo Dad| @albertareformer
Alberta
Joined October 2010
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Christians and the Referendum
1. Referring back to the Referendum, it was interesting to note @JeffreyRWRath arguing that the other Independence leaders didn't add to the APP constituency that had already been built. I would argue that the work of @tim__stephens and Michael Wagner added a new constituency from among Evangelicals that were not necessarily a part of the original APP petition work. Some overlap existed, but at the events I spoke at with Michael and Tim, there were many people in attendance who had not made up their minds about the Referendum and were looking for guidance.
2. The integrity of Christians in the Referendum discussion was overall respectful, thoughtful and challenging. Those that held different views on the Referendum questions often made real arguments, for and against all of the motions, including the 10th question regarding independence. This willingness to make arguments was something lacking at times in the general discourse of others. I'm grateful that Christians can still speak the truth in love (Eph 4.15).
3. Of all of the developments in the Referendum campaigns, the call to prayer and repentance by Pastor Jeff Gooderham, (that was falsely maligned as echoing KKK slogans), was nevertheless one of the most positive things to happen in the province. Regularly governments would issue thanksgivings to Almighty God for harvests and deliverances from calamity. The distinctly Protestant call to prayer revived a practice which has lain dormant for too long.
4. A movement of prayer could be the positive outcome of the Referendum since little structural change has been offered from the status quo side, and the side wanting the change toward independence lost.
5. It is hard for our secular age to imagine, but there was a time in the past when governments would issue, as was done in 1838, a prayer proclamation such as this: "appointed by proclamation for a day of public fasting and humiliation before Almighty God, and to supplicate his mercy, that he would be graciously pleased to put an end to the troubles which agitate the province and restore to it the blessings of peace and tranquillity."
From @OfficialNHSRA Knox Humfrey at National HS Finals Rodeo @CinchJeans talent show.
So this post had over 17000 views. Thank you to the people who interacted with it, including those who think I'm an idiot. 2 Cor 5.13.
Thoughts on Referendum Day 2026
1. I will see this Day as a hinge of history, not because I think any vote will be decisive. Rather, it will mark the last regional protest against the coming post-national order.
2. I think historians will look back and see the decadence of the aging retiree class, the incumbent political class, and the internationalist business class as forsaking their children in favor of their class being vindicated, secured and heeded.
3. I think that the collapse of the Conservative movement in Canada has been the most surprising thing to see in this campaign. Harper's endorsement of Carney, the federal Conservatives active campaigning for Liberal Prime Minister, and the "separatist" Premier Smith giving up all of her provincial leverage in order to get some paper promises, desperate for crumbs from the federal table. Smith's actions, and those of the federal Conservatives are viewed as a major betrayal of their western base.
4. The "uneven weights and measures" of the campaign have been vivid for anyone to notice. The Lukaszuk campaign against the independence choice, was permitted to continue without following any of the campaign rules for third party advertisers (TPA's). Meanwhile the small band of merry warriors on the Independence side were headshy with concern for audits and accounting for their TPA's. "Rules for thee, etc"
5. Never in my lifetime have I seen the full court press of media, all politicians, the courts, and conglomerate businesses to oppose the self-determination of a people in Canada. The co-ordination has been epic, with at times, shades of Mao. Meanwhile, Louis Riel is a hero, and Indigenous bands are "first nations".
6. I am dumbfounded by the lack of resistance, or even critical analysis of the Prime Minister's aim to have Canada join the European Union. It is by definition, a post-national decision, while the Prime Minister campaigns against Alberta self-determination on a platform of nationalism. Nationalism leading to Post-nationalism does not sound like fidelity to the citizens of the nation.
7. The exhaustion of civilization in the West is illustrated by the gasping (but unintelligible) grip on the nostalgia of stability, rather than the exertion needed to honestly grapple with doing something new. Arrogance in wanting control, but not wanting to lift a finger to help, echoes the indictment directed at the Pharisees by Jesus, 'They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.'Mt 23.4.
8. A positive feature of this moment has been the willingness of many people to be stigmatized for desiring a better future on better terms. To fly the blue bore a public cost. To fly the nation-state flag cost nothing. Many made their choice on either side with thoughtful deliberation and they are to be respected. Others chose safety merely because the tall poppy will be cut down. This latter motive is not a good sign for society.
9. I have been deeply grieved to see professing "Christians" demoralize, stigmatize and shame simple Christians who want change for the better, believe in prayer, and want to offer a better life for their families. The fact that these simple Christians were shamed by the political class Conservatives (!) illustrates what Jesus said, "a person's enemies will be those of his own household."Mt 10:36.
10. I am just as confident in the vigor and victory of the kingdom of Christ today than I was yesterday, and I will have the same confidence tomorrow d.v."Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journeys run" (Watts)
"If sacred or metaphysical order is necessary for cultures to remain stable and coherent, then we currently face an indefinite future of flux, instability, and incoherence." - Carl Trueman.
Thoughts on Referendum Day 2026
1. I will see this Day as a hinge of history, not because I think any vote will be decisive. Rather, it will mark the last regional protest against the coming post-national order.
2. I think historians will look back and see the decadence of the aging retiree class, the incumbent political class, and the internationalist business class as forsaking their children in favor of their class being vindicated, secured and heeded.
3. I think that the collapse of the Conservative movement in Canada has been the most surprising thing to see in this campaign. Harper's endorsement of Carney, the federal Conservatives active campaigning for Liberal Prime Minister, and the "separatist" Premier Smith giving up all of her provincial leverage in order to get some paper promises, desperate for crumbs from the federal table. Smith's actions, and those of the federal Conservatives are viewed as a major betrayal of their western base.
4. The "uneven weights and measures" of the campaign have been vivid for anyone to notice. The Lukaszuk campaign against the independence choice, was permitted to continue without following any of the campaign rules for third party advertisers (TPA's). Meanwhile the small band of merry warriors on the Independence side were headshy with concern for audits and accounting for their TPA's. "Rules for thee, etc"
5. Never in my lifetime have I seen the full court press of media, all politicians, the courts, and conglomerate businesses to oppose the self-determination of a people in Canada. The co-ordination has been epic, with at times, shades of Mao. Meanwhile, Louis Riel is a hero, and Indigenous bands are "first nations".
6. I am dumbfounded by the lack of resistance, or even critical analysis of the Prime Minister's aim to have Canada join the European Union. It is by definition, a post-national decision, while the Prime Minister campaigns against Alberta self-determination on a platform of nationalism. Nationalism leading to Post-nationalism does not sound like fidelity to the citizens of the nation.
7. The exhaustion of civilization in the West is illustrated by the gasping (but unintelligible) grip on the nostalgia of stability, rather than the exertion needed to honestly grapple with doing something new. Arrogance in wanting control, but not wanting to lift a finger to help, echoes the indictment directed at the Pharisees by Jesus, 'They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.'Mt 23.4.
8. A positive feature of this moment has been the willingness of many people to be stigmatized for desiring a better future on better terms. To fly the blue bore a public cost. To fly the nation-state flag cost nothing. Many made their choice on either side with thoughtful deliberation and they are to be respected. Others chose safety merely because the tall poppy will be cut down. This latter motive is not a good sign for society.
9. I have been deeply grieved to see professing "Christians" demoralize, stigmatize and shame simple Christians who want change for the better, believe in prayer, and want to offer a better life for their families. The fact that these simple Christians were shamed by the political class Conservatives (!) illustrates what Jesus said, "a person's enemies will be those of his own household."Mt 10:36.
10. I am just as confident in the vigor and victory of the kingdom of Christ today than I was yesterday, and I will have the same confidence tomorrow d.v."Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journeys run" (Watts)
The association of a prayer meeting by the most tenuous of links to something sinister like the KKK breaks the 9th commandment.
Another pejorative comment about Christians from the former Premier. Forgetting the partisan politics, this would be Islamophobic or antisemitic if spoken about a different religious gathering. Praying for you sir.
October 16th is an important day to remember the question posed by JC Ryle, "Why Were Our Reformers Burned?"
Latimer and Ridley were martyred in Oxford on this date in 1555.
The reason, Ryle deduced, was their defense of the sufficiency of Christ's atonement versus Ritualism, the Church of Rome, and by application, 19th century Anglo-Catholicism.
Among many folks who are rejecting bleak modernity, I would urge them to be wary of falling into another ditch of the Ritualism that Ryle and the Reformers forsook.
reformedperspectives.org/art…
This was a very callous and derogatory comment coming from the former Premier caricaturing Southern Baptists, and disregarding the arrests of pastors exercising basic conscience rights. His comments reflect the kind of rage-baiting that he accuses his opponents of. cf. Eph 4.29.
Jason Kenney says @EzraLevant got "Southern Baptist grandmas in Alabama" to give "10 bucks off their Mastercard" for billboards in Alberta calling him "dictator Kenney" over pastor arrests during COVID.
Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isaiah 52.1
Some thoughts from last nights event with @tim__stephens and Michael Wagner:
1. Lots of concern about mail in ballots. People worried about election integrity. A Chinese woman was very worried about this.
2. Confusion about "No to the 9". It seemed like elderly people were targeted by the algo, as they all cited "social media" as the source. Independence supporters were unclear about the 'strategy' whereas the speakers essentially supported yes to the 9 and option 2 for the 10th.
3. One gentleman offered an anecdote to me of visiting Plymouth, Mass. and being inspired by the hope of a godly community that built something from nothing. Very encouraging perspective.
4. A woman stated that her 'Christian female friends' say that due to Alberta's riches we ought to give to foreigners and immigrants from poor countries. I replied that their is a lot of charity in the churches, families, and neighborhoods of those women. Young couples do not feel 'rich' at all. I also stated that for most folks, it is far easier to give a quick gift to someone you don't have to personally deal with (foreigner) than to deal with people in close proximity. That is why many people support mass immigration, so long as it doesn't affect their own neighborhood. It keeps their housing values up, and soothes their conscience. She said her friends support MAID. I said I don't think that they are Christians.
5. Wagner made the point that Harper as Prime Minister advocated personally and vigorously to restructure Canada by seeking senate reform. He was thwarted by the courts. Wagner's point was that if Harper couldn't do it as Prime Minister, then Premier Smith certainly can't. The history of Alberta has us sending our best to Ottawa with no structural change. Very good overview of the history from Michael.
6. Stephens argued for an Augustinian ordo amoris (which I did as well) to show the legitimacy of an Alberta first approach. Excellent argument from Tim.
The crowd was diverse in ethnicity, age and background. It was encouraging to see old and young meeting together to discuss things of real importance for Alberta.
jeremiah29.org/event/for-the…
Looking forward to talking about these important questions with Tim and Michael. Join us!
Are "Alberta first" policies selfish and unchristian?
Are open borders the best way to love our neighbors?
Is independence something Christians should support?
Join us next Tuesday as we consider the upcoming referendum through a Christian lens!
jeremiah29.org/event/for-the…
Agree. This is why I advocate for Christian immigration, since Christian immigrants are best at assimilating to the Canadian context with its Christian foundations. And the orthodox churches bind together all in the unity of which you speak so well of. Thank you Nathan.
The state must never underestimate the role of orthodox, Biblical, godly churches as a unifying force in the midst of the nation, when she is free to do her task in obedience to Christ and protected from attacks. Especially as we consider the devastating consequences of multiculturalism in Canada, the church is a guide to show the way back to unity under the Lordship of Christ. The state of course, must implement law & order, but they must also seek the wisdom of the church in truth, beauty, goodness.
People in my church are deeply concerned for this brother’s welfare.
突发：王怡牧师健康状况令人严重担忧
对华援助协会紧急呼吁中国政府立即安排其父母、妻子和儿子会见
（美国德州米德兰，2026年9月28日）——对华援助协会近日从中国境内多个消息来源获悉，成都秋雨圣约教会创会牧师、目前正在四川服刑的王怡牧师，可能罹患晚期肝癌。这一令人极度忧虑的消息，使外界对王怡牧师的生命安全、目前真实健康状况以及他能否获得及时、充分的医疗救治产生严重关切。
由于王怡牧师目前与外界联系受到严格限制，家属也无法正常、充分地会见，对华援助协会目前尚无法独立核实有关“晚期肝癌”诊断的全部细节以及王怡牧师当前的具体病情。
然而，鉴于消息的严重性和紧迫性，中国有关当局有责任立即公开王怡牧师的真实健康状况，并允许其家属与他会面，以确认他的生命安全及医疗情况。
王怡牧师是成都秋雨圣约教会创会牧师。2018年12月，他在当局针对秋雨圣约教会的大规模抓捕行动中被捕。2019年12月，成都市中级人民法院以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”和“非法经营罪”判处他有期徒刑九年。目前公开资料显示，王怡牧师正在四川省金堂监狱服刑。
对华援助协会创始人兼会长傅希秋牧师（Bob Fu）就此发出紧急呼吁：
“我们对刚刚获得的有关王怡牧师可能罹患晚期肝癌的可信消息感到极其震惊和严重关切。如果这一消息属实，在这样的重大疾病面前，每耽误一天的有效治疗、每延迟一天的家属会见，都可能带来攸关生死的严重后果。
“我紧急呼吁中国政府、四川省监狱管理局以及金堂监狱，立即安排王怡牧师的父母、妻子蒋蓉和儿子与他本人见面，并向家属如实、完整地说明王怡牧师目前的身体状况、医学诊断以及正在接受的治疗。
“无论中国政府对王怡牧师案件持什么立场，都没有任何理由剥夺一名身患重病的在押人员获得充分医疗救治以及与家人会面的基本权利。对华援助协会呼吁立即恢复家属会见，允许独立、可靠的医学检查，并确保王怡牧师能够毫无延误地得到一切必要的医疗救治。
“国际社会正在密切关注。绝不能让王怡牧师在与家人隔绝、外界无法得知真实情况的状态下死于监狱。王怡牧师的家人有权见到他，有权知道他的真实健康状况，也应当能够了解并参与有关其重大疾病治疗的安排。我们敦促中国政府本着最基本的人道原则立即采取行动。”
美国国际宗教自由委员会（USCIRF）目前仍将王怡牧师列为宗教良心犯，其公开资料亦曾记录有关王怡牧师在狱中医疗待遇及健康状况的关切。
王怡牧师目前已进入九年刑期的最后阶段，按照原判刑期预计将于2027年刑满。在这一背景下，任何严重疾病以及医疗延误的消息都尤其令人担忧。
对华援助协会紧急呼吁国际社会、各国政府、驻华外交机构、国际宗教自由与人权组织以及世界各地教会，立即关注王怡牧师目前的健康和生命安全，要求中国政府澄清其真实病情，并立即保障其父母、妻子和儿子与他会见，同时确保他获得充分、及时和符合医学标准的治疗。
对华援助协会将继续核实最新获得的信息，并将在取得进一步可靠资料后及时向国际社会公布最新进展。
Had baptisms in the courtyard of the church yesterday. The congregation surrounded the baptismal tank and the pedestrians paused to look in wonder. Children splashed their fingers in the pool. Testimony to the gospel was made before the watching skyscrapers.
Great to see my friend Tim bring his Calvin research to conclusion.
Op 28 september 2026 hoopt T.J. (Timothy) Soots om 15.00 uur te promoveren aan de TUA. De titel van zijn proefschrift is 'John Calvin’s Understanding of Hospitality in His New and Old Testament Commentaries: A theological and sociological analysis of Calvin’s thought and its impact on the refugee crisis of sixteenth-century Europe’. Promotor is prof. dr. H.J. Selderhuis. Verdere informatie over deze promotie is te vinden op de website: tua.nl/nl/agenda/promotie-t-…
