A great horned owl was flying too low when he got entangled in a soccer net recently. His efforts to free himself just wound the netting more securely around him. Fortunately, a caretaker from a nearby school saw him and called a wildlife technician, who cut the netting and set him free. Often we too find ourselves entangled by habits or cares of this life that keep us from giving attention to matters pertaining to the next life. We are bound by what is sometimes called the “tyranny of the immediate.” But God’s Word reminds us that “now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” We are also promised that when we reach out by faith, that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” To those entangled in the bondage of unbelief and a questionable lifestyle, Jesus promised, “ the truth shall set you free.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Many newspapers carry a daily horoscope, and millions of people read them, hoping to find what the “stars” will tell them about their future. Interesting commentary on human nature. The only authentic knowledge of the future comes from God. In the Bible, the Psalmist wrote, “from heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place, He watches all who live on earth.” Our Saviour is known as the “Alpha and Omega,the beginning and the end.” and invites us to trust Him for forgiveness of all our wrong-doing and life everlasting. A song describes what God offers us, with the words, “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 know 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
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Do you want to live long and age well? Here are the latest scientific tips to achieve that. One-daily movement. Two-challenging work. Three-connection to friends. Four-good education, and Five-sense of purpose. The Bible, “the good Book” also, has advice for a full life. ” The Psalmist wrote, “Because He loves me, says the Lord, I will protect him… answer him, be with him in trouble, deliver and honour him, and with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” That word “salvation” is an interesting one, referring usually to the salvation of our souls. We read, “And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” God’s promise of eternal life as a gift doesn’t get any better. Everyone needs it, and it’s available to us all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Elizabeth Renzetti, writing in a recent article in the Globe and Mail says that ninety- three percent of thirteen hundred people think distracted driving is a problem, but only thirty-five percent admit to doing it themselves. In other words, it’s the “other guy’s problem.” Failing to take responsibility for one’s actions is a common human trait that will not be an acceptable excuse for wrongdoing when we stand before the Lord. Paul reminds us that “… each one of us will give account of himself, or herself to God.” At that time, it will not do to give the excuse, “I couldn’t help myself,” or “It was somebody else’s fault that I did it.” The critical question each of us will face when we meet our Maker is summarized in an old hymn, which asks, “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be. Someday your heart will be asking, What will He do with me?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Giant Hogweed is a plant that has been in Canada for decades. It is a massive plant with big leaves and white umbrella shaped blooms. But it contains a toxic sap that causes burns and in rare cases blindness. It reinforces the truth that what we don’t know can hurt us. This is especially true in regard to eternal matters. When we neglect the truths that are readily available to us in the Bible we do so at our peril. That’s because as with other areas of life, we can be sincere, but sincerely wrong Jesus once said, “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” He also reminds us, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It is very important to acquaint ourselves with what the Bible tells us about ourselves, and our Saviour. Remember please that what we don’t know can hurt us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Ofelia Kirker lost her wedding rings back in the 60s, but she’ll be wearing them for her 64th wedding anniversary. The rings, lost in the 1960s were unearthed years ago, but because Ofilia and her husband had moved, it took a long time to track them down. Finally they are back with their rightful owner. Most of us have lost possessions we treasured. Relationships can be lost too. When we leave God out of our lives, we have no relationship with Him. But this does not need to continue. If we recognize that our relationship to the Lord has been broken, and sincerely seek Him with our whole hearts, He will be found. He promises, “Call upon me and I will answer you…” And He urges us, to “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” Those who have a lost your relationship with our Lord, can have it back for the asking.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Napoleon Bonaparte, the great French leader during the wars between Britain and France once said, “trivial things often decide the outcome of a battle.” And trivial things can determine how we live our lives. Unforgiveness often results in bitterness. Searching for pleasure and satisfaction in this present world will, in the end leave only emptiness. And procrastination in making life’s greatest decision, the acceptance of Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and everlasting life, will result in an eternity of regret. Isaiah warned, “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near… and He will abundantly pardon.” But God does not force His grace upon anyone, we must ask for it. We can do that by praying a simple prayer, “God be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me for Jesus’ sake.” When prayed sincerely, that request has never been turned down.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

John Denver wrote the song “Country Roads.” In it, there is a line that goes, “take me home to the place I belong.” Many of us have fond memories of our childhood home place and wish we could relive those happy times. Well we can remember, we can look back, but we can’t go back. However we can always look up. Because there is a home where our heavenly Father now lives, to which we can go, Our Saviour the Lord Jesus, once said, ”let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me….in my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.” That “place” is the heavenly home for all who have Jesus in their lives. That happens when we acknowledge our spiritual need, admit that we are sinners by nature and by choice, place our faith in Christ, and invite Him into our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

According to headlines, things in Canada are bad, and getting worse. “Not so” says Margaret Wente, writing in the Globe and Mail. In fact, she says “we’ve never had it so good.” She believes the now familiar portrait of Canadians as reckless borrowers and spenders is wrong. Stats Canada says “the average wealth of Canadian families climbed 73% in real terms between 1999 and 2012.” Every income class showed gains. Whether you endorse the “gloom and doom viewpoint or the optimistic good times is up to you. But I am happy to report to you that there is good news, and it is not debatable. Listen to Paul the Apostle, writing in the Bible. “But I want to remind you of the good news…how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day…by this good news you are saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

“Friendship is really a matter of time-time to be kind, time to listen, time to help-to do a favor, time to show you care. “ those are excerpts from a poem by Amanda Bradley. Yes, friendship is a matter of time to show you really care for another person. And it’s also giving of yourself that means so much to the lonely, discouraged people in your world. Jesus, the best friend that anyone could ever have gave time to those suffering, to the outcasts of His world. Ultimately, He gave His life on the Cross for all who will believe in Him. John wrote in his gospel of Christ’s sacrifice with the words, “ God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “ No wonder Joseph Scriven was moved to write the beautiful hymn, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files