Students at the university of California in Los Angeles were asked to submit a short statement that was to be read when they received their degrees. One student, Christiana Popa’s statement read in part, “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” But the student affairs advisor for the department objected to the reference to Jesus, and asked her to substitute it with “I want to thank God.” When Ms. Popa protested, the administrator told her the only other option would be to forgo any statement. But later, the decision was reversed and Christina was able to thank Jesus. I salute this courageous young lady for standing up for her Savior. May her numbers increase. It was important to her because she knew that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A police officer in a small town noticed a number of bulls eyes painted here and there. Right in the middle of every one was a bullet hole. Learning the identity of the shooter, the officer commented that it must have taken hours of practice to shoot so accurately. But the young man said, “No, actually it was quite easy. I shoot first, then draw the circle later.” And some act like that covering up dishonesty, immorality or unfaithfulness Attempting to avoid feeling guilt, they excuse themselves by “drawing the circle” afterwards like the shooter in this story. Often they call their actions “preferences” or “my way of doing things.” But it is still sin, the game at which nobody wins. And God still says, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. “ The only response to wrong-doing is genuine repentance and turning to God for forgiveness. If we mean it-He gives it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The Salvation Army, began its work in Canada in 1882. It described itself as a Christian movement that would reach out to the unloved and disadvantaged in society. An example of the selfless and godly people who make up its numbers took place on May 29,1914 when the Empress of Ireland sank in the St. Lawrence river near Rimouski Quebec. One thousand and 14 passengers and crew were lost. Among those who perished were one hundred and twenty-nine Salvation Army Officers. Survivors told how these servants of God, when informed there were not enough life preservers to go around, removed theirs and gave them to people they felt were not prepared to meet the Lord. They exemplified their Savior, of whom we read, “… God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now that is love!

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Undertakers are now morticians, janitors are custodians and garbage men are sanitary engineers? Those name changes are apparently intended to rid the occupations of a lack of dignity. Another word that has been pushed aside and avoided is SIN. We are embarrassed by it, feel that is is old fashioned and rather strong, and politically incorrect. Somehow we’d be more comfortable admitting mistakes, errors or lapses of judgment. Anything but sin. But morticians are still undertakers, custodians are still janitors, sanitary engineers are still garbage men. And sin is still sin, no matter what we call it. God’s Word, the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ”there is none righteous, no not one.” And “all we, like sheep have gone astray.” But though “the wages of sin is death,” remember the positive- “the gift of God is eternal life, in Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer, entrepreneur, business man, author and pacifist. .He was the inventor of dynamite, from which he made a vast fortune. Born on October 21, 1833, in Stockholm, Sweden, Nobel left 31 million dollars (265 million in today’s money) to fund prizes for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the Nobel Peace Prize for work in peace. God’s expression of peace to the world was the giving not of money, but His Son. The Bible speaks of two kinds of peace- first- “Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” is ours place when we enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ. Then after we have peace with God,” we receive “the peace of God …” But remember please, we only have the peace of God when we have made peace with God.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The unemployment rate on PEI is 11 %.Many are tired of looking for work. Nearby are the many rejection slips. For some, they all spell the same word – failure. Most of us know how it feels to fail at something that’s important to us. But no matter how many times we fail in life, it does not need to be the final chapter in our biography. Many successful people had to endure rejection and failure before they achieved success. It is always too soon to quit. And please remember that Jesus Christ loves failures. We don’t need to be successful in the eyes of others, before we can invite Him into our lives He still gives all of us what we need, not what we deserve. He invites us with the words, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If you come, He will re-make you and give you true success where it really matters.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A Federal Cabinet Minister brought greetings at the dedication service for a new church building. To break the ice, he told of a jogger who had fallen off a cliff and was hanging precariously from the branch of a tree. He prayed, “Lord, you’ve got to help me.” A voice from above said, “Let go of the branch and trust me.” The jogger looked below. Seeing it was a long way down, He asked , “Will I let go with both hands? “Yes” came the reply. The jogger paused, looked down again, then cried out “Is there anyone else up there?” Though told in jest, the story illustrates our attempts to negotiate with the Lord on our own terms, rather than obeying Him. Some of us ,when hearing the words “all have sinned” and “You must be born again,” like the stricken jogger, seek an alternative way, and cry out “Is there anyone else up there?” But Jesus’ “I am the way…”still stand.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A friend from Southeast Asia gave me an ordinary looking ball point pen. Later, after I had lost it, I was shocked to learn that it had cost $500. The same person gave my wife an average looking purse which cost $700. I have since learned that many wealthy people in that part of the world put very high values on certain items and are willing to pay what we would consider ridiculous prices for them. I never cease to be amazed at the value which some people put on temporal things. They live for this life only, and seldom think of the next. Jesus once said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” He then urged, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Later he said, “For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Remember we are going to live somewhere forever. Are you making preparations?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“The creation of the body of a caterpillar into the body and wings of a butterfly is one of the wonders of life on earth” according to one butterfly expert. Another experts added, that this metamorphosis is “rightly regarded as a miracle.” Truly, the butterfly is one of the most stunningly beautiful of God’s creatures. But it’s not just a thing of beauty. The Monarch can travel 3,000 miles, on its migration to Central America and end up at the same tree its parents landed on a generation or two earlier. This did not happen as the result of the unproven theory of evolution. The Psalmist was inspired to write, “O Lord, how manifold are Your works. In wisdom you made them all. The earth is full of your possessions. “Remember that the Creator of the Monarch butterfly is our Creator too. And Paul reminded us that one day, “…each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Do you wash your hands with the product provided when you go to the hospital? Well after more than 40 years of study, the U.S. government says it has found no evidence that common anti-bacterial soaps prevent the spread of germs. Scientists are now even revisiting the safety of triclosan, the sanitizing agent used in these products. It is upsetting and confusing to learn that products once considered good suddenly become harmful. So it is comforting to know that God’s essential nature is unchanging, His precepts are trustworthy. The Book of Malachi tells us, “I the Lord do not change.” And the writer of Hebrews says, “You Lord, remain the same and your years will never end.” To believers there is stability in this chaotic, ever changing world. And perhaps best of all, the way to heaven never changes. It is still, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell