Gottlob Schmidt has lived on his family’s farm outside of Hanna Alberta for 80 years. Now the 91 year old is retiring. He has no children to inherit the farm, so plans to give it to the Province for a Provincial park. A private buyer offered him more than a million dollars, but he wants to bequeath it to all Albertans. He says, “The money, I can’t take with me.” One Old Testament patriarch, Job, put it this way, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return.” Jesus once said, , “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Wonderful advice. In other words, “ live with eternity’s values in view.” And the place to start is by entering into a personal relationship with Christ by faith and being ready for the next life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

General Douglas MacArthur once said, “Men, since the beginning of time have sought peace.” And yet from the beginning of time, the world has seldom seen peace. Man’s fallen nature results in aggression, selfishness, and greed. There is only one answer to man’s personal sin problem. That is to know, accept, love and serve Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The prophet Isaiah, when prophesying the coming of the Savior, announced, “…unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…and He will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” But while nations will not bow to the Prince of Peace, you and I, as individuals can, and by doing so, experience true peace because of the promise, that when we invite Him into our lives, “…being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A reader wrote to an advice columnist expressing anger with TV preachers who urge people to buy books, Bibles and other things, even in some cases, a place in heaven. The columnist replied , “I can tell you that a place in Heaven is not for sale, there are no shortcuts or free passes to the pearly gates.” She was correct in saying that a place in heaven is not for sale.” But she erred when she said there are no free passes. Because while nobody has the wherewithal to buy a way into heaven, Someone else has paid the price for us. Paul wrote “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, and “there is none righteous, no not one.” None of us can buy his or her way into heaven. But Paul also said that “ There is a “free pass” for sincere seekers. Jesus knocks on the door of our lives saying “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

In the year 1900, Galveston Texas was swept by a hurricane driven tidal wave that caused great loss of life and property damage. Subsequently, a group of engineers, known as the Robert Commission was charged with building a sea wall. The immense sea wall was built by 1904 and has withstood many weather events since that time. It still stands, a national Civil Engineering landmark, providing a barricade against Atlantic storms. As we travel through life, we too are subject to massive storms of sickness, fear, disillusionment and more. But when we build our lives on the Rock, Christ Jesus, we can withstand the storms of life. Isaiah wrote, “You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you.” When storms come to us, we can cry out, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

I read recently of an incident when several $100 scratch and save cards were stolen from a print shop and sold for $50 each. But when too many of these cards were being cashed in for large purchases in the same area, police were alerted and the racket was uncovered. Greed had over powered better judgment. These criminals had forgotten a Biblical principle- “Be sure your sin will find you out.” And they unknowingly illustrated the truth that “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies…” A college President once said, “What you would do, if you could do, in the sight of God you have already done.” But happily, when we do wrong, we are promised, “If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That’s a wonderful offer!

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Increased commercial shipping, seismic surveys and military sonar have caused so much noise pollution that dolphins and whales are finding communication difficult. This is an ever increasing threat to these endangered animals. An unfortunate situation like this reminds us of the disruption of communication between God and man. We were created to have fellowship with the Heavenly Father but the prophet Isaiah reminds us, “…your iniquities have separated you from God, ” Thankfully though, there is hope for communications to be restored, if we are willing to accept Christ’s work for us on the Cross. Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, “…it pleased the Father…by Him (Christ) to reconcile… all things to Himself…having made peace through the blood of His cross.” And with reconciliation, communication is restored between us and our Lord.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

With Internet video footage, we now can view scenes that otherwise we might never expect to see in a lifetime. Some feel that their lives are insignificant, compared to the excitement of others. But “in the process of reaching for the firsts, the bests and the biggest, we miss so much.” These insightful thoughts in the Charlottetown Guardian were written by columnist Russell Wangersky recently, who added, “But don’t forget that there’s great worth in the small and the discrete.” Remember too, that God, our Creator is mindful of small things. The Bible tells us “He sees a sparrow that falls to the ground.” and, “He clothes the lilies of the field.” We learn that He even “numbers the hairs of our head.” A gospel song answers the question, “How big is God? He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough to live within our hearts.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Anonymity is a stern test of character. When we feel faceless and unidentified it is temptingly easy to do things we otherwise wouldn’t…If we wore name tags all the time, our living habits might undergo a renaissance.” That is the opinion of well known author Jane Goodsell. And there is an element of truth in her words. It is a trait of our fallen human nature to push the limits when we think no one is watching isn’t it. But we should not forget that God is watching. The Psalmist reminds us of this fact, writing, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…you understand my thought afar off…and are acquainted with all my ways…” Yes, the all-seeing eye of God sees us even behind our masks. But Like the Psalmist, we can pray, “Search me O God and know my heart… and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Actor Michael J Fox once said, “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.” That is an insightful comment. The Bible tells us that although God gave us the 10 commandments, He did not do so, so we can keep them and earn our way to heaven. Rather, He gave them to show us His standard of righteousness, and to make us aware of our spiritual needs. Though we may excel in many things, we cannot be perfect- that is indeed, God’s business. And that’s why Jesus, the perfect Son of God came to die on the cross, “the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God.” Paul explained that though “a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ… “ He added, “the law was our tutor, to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A letter has been found, dating back to the third century, believed to have been written to a friend named Donatus. Its author is unknown. It reads as follow: “It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a company of quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not: they are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians,—and I am one of them.” If this is a true description of early believers, it’s a great example for believers today and a goal to strive for. Doctor Luke, in the book of Acts wrote of early believers as follows- “Now when they saw Peter and John they marveled and realized that they had been with Jesus.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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