We are officially in 2016. Events of the past year will be reviewed over and over again, with predictions for this new year. 2015 is gone, and all we can do is learn from it. The future is before us, though we have little or no control over it. But God knows what will happen. Dr. Luke, in the book of Acts wrote, “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” And the Psalmist added, “ … I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God. My times are in Your hand…” That truth is in a song by Ira Stanphill-“I don’t About tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine, for it’s skies may turn to gray, …Many things about tomorrow- I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds, who holds my hand.” Gene MacLellan, from PEI, wrote another song on the subject, urging all, to “Put your hand in the hand of the Man Who stilled the water.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Tomorrow will be New Years Day. As we enter 2016, we do so with many different philosophies, expectations, and for some, even dread. These attitudes are naturally conditioned by what has been happening in our lives. For some 2015 has been kind and brought good memories. For others, 2015 has brought unpleasant events causing fear for the future. Whether we take good or bad memories from the past year, we all have one thing in common- we do not know what the future holds. Only the Heavenly Father knows what is ahead. Isaiah the prophet was inspired to enlighten us as to God’s knowledge of the future, with the words, “I am God, and there is no other; … I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” Song writer Ira Stanphill summarized this with the words, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.” Great advice. And that’s,,, a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A large Maritime store has closed this month, putting over 50 people unexpectedly out of work. This fall a young man learned he has diabetes type 1, affecting his livelihood. Christmas trees are down, or coming down. Colourful lights are being turned off. Visitors and family members have left, or soon will be leaving. For many, the stresses and worries of 2015 will be carried into 2016. How do we handle our anxieties? If we depend on human resources, we’ll find them fragile and inadequate. We all need God in our lives, so that when the pressures and problems come, we can then turn to Him. Then, facing the uncertainties of the new year, we can apply God’s promise to believers – cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” We need to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” in 2016. “ And that’s…a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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There is serious trouble in Syria, Iraq, and violence is spreading amongst free-world countries, such as Malta, France and Belgium. In addition, our world is in a spiritual and moral mess. Almost one out of every two marriages now ends in divorce, with all its heartbreak and conflict. Pornography is rampant and destructive. Why? Because we have left God out of our homes, our schools, our universities, our governments and our lives. How did this all happen? Pretend it isn’t so, or not, mankind is a fallen race. Paul described our spiritual condition, when we ignore God as being “without Christ…having no hope and without God in the world.” We are paying a huge price. But there is an answer. We need to get back to old fashioned Bible Christianity in 2016. Though we cannot force God’s Word on the world, we can, one by one become Christ followers and be like early Christians who “have turned the world upside down.” We can change our world one person at a time. And that’s…a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“The Power of Talk in a Digital Age.” is the title of a new and informative book by Sherry Turkle. She says that American adults check their phones approximately 150 times a day, and that in Canada, 224 million text messages are sent every day. Many disappear into their screens and relationships slip., producing a negative effect on families and interpersonal relationships. This is a real problem in society. But there is a more serious one- our relationship with our Maker. Our first parents, ( Adam and Eve) were created for fellowship with the Heavenly Father, but because of neglect, selfishness and disobedience, that fellowship was broken. Paul explains, “therefor just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” But fortunately, we are told Paul also noted that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And that’s… a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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It’s Christmas 2015, a time of giving gifts to others. Suppose you receive a really special gift, and immediately thank the person who gave it to you but then try to pay for it. It’s normal to accept gifts freely with appreciation, without attempting to pay for them. At Christmas time, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given- Jesus Christ. John, in his gospel wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But Suppose someone were to say, “What a nice thing for you to do Lord. I will pay for it by turning over a new leaf, giving to charities, and going to church every Sunday.” Would anyone do that? Yes, many try to work their way to heaven by good works, or performing religious activities. Paul explained that the way to forgiveness, and to heaven is “not by works of righteousness that we have done…” The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” And That’s a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Parents, grandparents and friends were waiting expectantly for the Christmas Concert to begin. The theme chosen for the year was “The Star of Christmas.” As the children gathered on the platform for the first exercise, the teacher passed them the letter for the word S T A R. But unfortunately, when they turned around, the audience read not S T A R but R A T S. The little ones had mistakenly reversed the order. It got everyone’s amused attention. Christmas is supposed to be all about Jesus. Its message is supposed to be, “Today a Saviour is born, He is Christ the Lord.” But instead, as the little children, we often reverse the order and place something else front and centre. Too often, Christmas becomes all about getting, not giving, about self-indulgence and self-pleasing. One Old Testament writer reminds us, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord.” This Christmas, let’s not forget the Jesus is indeed, the reason for the season, and make Him the centre of our celebration. And that’s a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“It wouldn’t be Christmas without this,” the radio announcer said, then played the classic “White Christmas” by Bing Many of us have happy memories of Christmases that spell magic for us: a crackling fireplace with family gathered around, the glistening Christmas tree dressed in its best, and a snowy night while church bells ring out the old familiar carols. But Christmas isn’t really primarily about gifts, snow, or carols. Christmas is about giving. God gave His Son as the Babe in Bethlehem. Paul wrote to the Corinthian people of his day, calling Jesus “God’s indescribable gift.” The Bible makes it very clear when it says, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” One can celebrate Christmas without hearing Bing Crosby singing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”, but we cannot truly celebrate Christmas without Christ, though many of us try. If we really want to have Christ in our Christmas, we need Christ in our hearts. That’s a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“I was like wow! Experiencing all those colours for the first time was indescribable!” Those were the words of Devyn Vasseur, a colour blind man, after he tried on special glasses made to correct colour blindness. An estimated 2.6 million Canadians are colour blind, and can’t perceive as many colours as those with normal vision. But now, a U.S. company claims they have created glasses they call EnChrome, that can open up a world of colour. Some vision experts are skeptical and not sure the new glasses really work. Sight is important, especially when it pertains to spiritual sight. Paul the Apostle wrote, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; … because they are spiritually discerned.” The “natural man” speaks of those without Christ. Until He is in our lives, Bible promises such as “by grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works …“ sound like “foolishness” to us. But they are still true. That a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“We are very proud of our Island athletes that have achieved the highest level within their sports. We have five athletes that have attended the Paralympic Games and three have earned medals.” That was a recent comment from Tracy Stevenson, the Executive Director of ParaSport and Recreation PEI, a non profit charitable organization established in 1974. The organization is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, whose mission is to provide recreation and sports opportunities for Islanders with a physical disability. They do not seem to regard people with disabilities as disabled, but as ordinary people who happen to have disabilities, and they treat them as full equals to all the rest of us. They see people with disabilities just a God sees us all. Dr. Luke, wrote in the Book of Acts, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” or , “God shows no partiality.” How good to know that the One Who made us all loves us all equally, regardless of our colour, race or problems. That a minute of truth!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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