It is New Year’s Eve. And a ‘Doomsday’ moment will take place in 2014 – and will determine whether the 21st century is full of violence and poverty or will be peaceful and prosperous, according to Professor Nicholas Boyle of Cambridge University. He says that in the last 500 years there has been a cataclysmic ‘Great Event’ of international significance at the start of each century, occurring in the middle of the second decade of each century. Time will tell if he is correct. Only God knows the future. But we can face 2014 with confidence if Christ is in our lives, and can say with the Psalmist, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” Ira Stanphill wrote a gospel song saying, “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said. And today I’ll walk beside Him for He knows what is ahead.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

For decades, identification papers have been standard the world over. Often a driver’s license is all that is required. But India has now gone a step further and is giving everyone a unique identification number which is permanent. When we sincerely recognize our spiritual poverty (since all have sinned) and invite Christ into our lives He gives us our identification papers. I know that because John, in his gospel wrote, “ …as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” we then receive forgiveness, cleansing, and assurance that we are, indeed identified as part of His family. Later John wrote, “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.” That’s an identification worth having.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A Christian doctor, knowing his World War II veteran patient had only about a week to live asked him if he was afraid. When he said “no,” the doctor thought it was a “tough guy image” response. Then he heard the man’s real story. The veteran told of his “tough as nails” reputation, of a life lived with reckless abandon. Then he told of one day he happened to hear Chuck Swindoll’s radio program, “Insight for Living.” He had accepted Christ into his life. His fear of death was gone. Although formerly one of those described as being “through fear of death … all their lifetime subject to bondage.” He became the beneficiary of Jesus’ words,, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Another Christmas has come and gone. This week Boxing Day sales lure thousands looking for big deals on merchandise. Many are looking for the very best bargain possible. But r sadly, many fail to recognize the best deal of all. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Ho everyone who thirsts. Come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat, yes come buy … without money and without price.” He was referring to the gift of eternal life. And why is it a gift? How can it be free? Because we could not afford it, and because Jesus Christ paid for it when He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish….” What a bargain. What an offer. It is waiting for you right now. Just pray this simple prayer- “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

I read recently the story of a young boy who read a bedtime story with his father. It described what the world would be like if Jesus had not come. On Christmas morning, to his surprise, the boy found no Christmas decorations. Going for a walk, he found all the stores open, even though it was Christmas day. Saddened, he ran home and picking up his Bible, saw that the New Testament was missing. Then he awoke and realized it had been a dream. He prayed, “Oh dear Lord Jesus, I am so glad that you did come. Help me to tell others about you. Bedtime reading can influence dreams. A world without Christ is indeed a sobering thought. How good to know that the angel spoke truth to the shepherds when they said, “…behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

It is Christmas Eve, 2013. Many have Christmas trees in their homes. Under the tree are gifts for ones who will be home. Other gifts have been sent to loved ones and friends not present. It is unlikely that any of the gifts will be left unclaimed. On the first Christmas, over 2,000 years ago there was a gift made available to every single person in the world, given by Him whose birthday we celebrate tomorrow. The gift has not been withheld from anyone. Some, sadly, have left the package unclaimed. Some have accepted the gift, but only carry it around, never removing the wrappings or looking inside to discover the hidden splendor. The packages are all alike: in each is a scroll on which is written the words, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Have you accepted the greatest gift you could possibly receive?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Do you ever think back over your Christmases and the gifts that meant so much to you? When I was growing up on a farm in the Annapolis Valley, money was scarce, so gifts had to be inexpensive. One year my parents gave me a hockey stick.. It cost one dollar and ten cents. I had never owned a new one, so this was very special. How I enjoyed that stick.. I thought it was the greatest gift I had ever received. But when I was 17 years old, I received the greatest gift of all. I had been taught that you had to earn your way to heaven by good works. Then someone showed me from the Bible that though “the wages of sin is death, the gifts of God is eternal life, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” That gift included forgiveness of all my sins, the presence of God in my life and one day a home in heaven. Have you received that greatest of all gifts?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Christmas is just a few days away, and you don’t have all your presents for your loved ones yet? Well here are some ideas. Author Dr. Charles Swindoll, in his book “Seasons of Life” suggests a list of things to give away this Christmas. Some of his suggestions are- Give encouragement to an older person. Write a long overdue love note to someone dear. Release a grudge. Find the time to keep a promise. Forgive an enemy. Give an apology if you were wrong. Offer to babysit for a tired mother. Gladden the heard of some child. Yes, Christmas is a time of giving. But some gifts cannot be bought, they involve giving yourself. Jesus, God’s Son gave Himself on the cross to open the door to heaven for you and me. What a gift. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Three coyotes have been caught in Summerside’s Rotary Park. A woman working near Merritt B.C. barely escaped when approached by five aggressive wolves. Scary! But as frightening as these coyotes and wolves may be, Jesus warned of more dangerous kinds of “wolves.” He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous “wolves.” .Everything we hear from religious leaders needs to be compared with the Bible. Luke, travelling with Paul, paid tribute to the Christians of Berea who only accepted Paul’s teaching after they compared it with biblical truth, writing “they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these thing were true.” Remember please, that God never directs us to believe or do anything contrary to His Word.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Katie is a beautiful, independent young woman, now 21, a university student. When very young, often, when offered help to do something, her words were “ I can do it myself.” And that is not bad. From the moment we take our first spill, instead of running to pick us up, they told us to do it ourselves. They were teaching us self- reliance. So we began to think, “I can do it myself..” And there are lots of things we can do and should do for ourselves. But one thing we cannot do is face our creator on our own. Nobody is good enough or strong enough to make it into heaven without help. The Bible says,- “…when the kindness and the love of God our savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…” When it comes to becoming a Christian, please don’t say, “I can do it myself.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell