“One must never lose hope, always look forward to tomorrow because it’s a brand new day and anything is possible.” Marilee (Merrily) Arsenault of Tignish PEI made that comment last Fall, after PEI health authorities added Revlimid and nine other new medications to its provincial High Cost and Catastrophic Drug program. It was wonderful news for Marilee and her family. Her husband Gary suffers from multiple myeloma and can now receive appropriate treatment with this drug. Often in this old world, we lose hope and conclude there are no answers to our problems. If you are in what seems like an impossible situation please remember Marilee Arsenault’s words, “one must never lose hope…anything is possible.” Jesus once said, “ with God all things are possible.” When we are in a right relationship with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, He walks with us through our problems, He knows what is ahead and gives us His grace to help in time of need. Reach out to Jesus- He’s reaching out to you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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The Cape Bear Lighthouse was constructed in 1881 in Cape Bear, on the southeast cliff of Prince Edward Island. Last month, it was relocated off that cliff to a more secure site. This spring it will be moved to its new site on the property once owned by the two former keepers, Thomas Munn and Luther Jorden. Wallace Jorden, who lives in the area, has been involved in the relocation, and said recently, “Plans are to develop a Heritage Project that will preserve the traditions and values of the forefathers to the enjoyment and education of present and future generations.” Pastor Jorden adds, “lighthouses remind us of God’s love. Like the bright shining beam of a lighthouse, His love reaches out, piercing through the darkness and dangers of the fiercest storm.” Our Lord said “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” Whenever we see one of these shoreline beacons, let’s remember that Jesus is the ultimate Lighthouse.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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It has been called “The moment that changed America on November 22, 1963. In a matter of seconds beloved John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States was dead. Shot by a bolt action rifle. America would never be the same again. It was indeed a life changing, historical event. But there was another death which has produced even greater change, not only for America, but the entire world. I refer of course to that dark day in Israel, when Jesus died on a cross. Peter wrote, “…Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death …” Isaiah explained, “ He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Paul put is simply, “Christ died for our sins.” And John tells how to access that death, with the words, “..that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” That moment at Calvary changed my life. It can change yours too!

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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The cover of Time Magazine said “Broken Promises”. The story quotes a promise made by President Obama when introducing the infamous Obamacare. He said, “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” Many Americans, including former President Clinton, now know that promise was not kept.. Many politicians make promises they do not to keep, resulting in deep mistrust of those who hold office. But how wonderful that we have a heavenly Father who always keeps His promises. Joshua wrote, “…you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you; all have come to pass.” One promises made to Israel, while they were still scattered throughout the world. was that He would one day restore them to their own land-Palestine. That promise was laughed at by scoffers until May of 1948 when the State of Israel was formed, just as the Bible prophesied. We can trust God in this life, and for the next one. He promises, “whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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"We are unable to provide coverage for any medical expenses incurred… Those words from a health insurance representative were received by a medical centre in Honolulu. They referred to a Saskatchewan couple, Jennifer Hucalak and her husband Darren Kimmel. As a result of the Insurance company’s decision, the couple has been hit with nearly $1 million in medical fees, after the premature birth of their daughter Reece, and other medical complications, resulting in a prolonged stay in hospital. Unable to pay, the couple was considering bankruptcy. Let’s hope for a happy ending. This unfortunate incident reminds us that every single one of us has a debt we are unable to pay. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, by nature and by choice. Face it- you and I are spiritually bankrupt, unable to pay our debt to God. But our story can have a happy ending, since God’s Word says that, while true that “the wages of sin is death” the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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He went to a grocery store and picked up a nice looking fruit basket. But to his surprise, he learned it was not for sale- because it was not real fruit, just an imitation for demo purposes. This was amusing, but provides some important reminders. Sometimes imitations look like the real thing. They are good to look at, but bring only temporary satisfaction. These reminders are important with life in general, but even more so when pertaining to things eternal. John in his letter, cautioned, “… do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” The major area where false prophets err is teaching that doing good works opens the door to heaven. They hide clear Bible verses such as this one – “…not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” The clear truth is “by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“It can be by design, accident, choice or habit…there are those among us who live very solitary lives… some even in isolation.” That is a story about Maritimers who, for whatever reason, live lives as “loners” or as they are now described, “outliers.” Sometimes this is a result of ageing, bereavement, disability, or just personal preference. While it is true that we are social creatures, we also crave by times, quietness and time for reflection. No matter what type of person we are, our ultimate peace and rest will be found only through a proper relationship with the Heavenly Father. The Psalmist wrote of this as follows- “My soul rests in God alone; my salvation comes from Him…He alone is my rock and my salvation…” Then the Psalmist urges all, to “trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge.” What a beautiful invitation from the Lord. Come to Him with your heartaches, your burdens, yes, even your sins. He is ready to forgive and welcome home, the humble and sincere of heart.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Someone recently sent me the story of a little girl who wanted to know what the United States looked like. So she kept asking her father. Finally, wanting to get back to his reading, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the USA. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to her and said, ”Go into the other room and see if you can put this together.” Soon, she returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The surprised father asked how she had finished so quickly. ”Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together.” There is an important lesson here. When we give Christ His rightful place in our lives, everything else comes together. Paul urged, “that in all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence.”( Or first place) in our lives. And Jesus, said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Undertakers are now called morticians. Janitors are now called custodians, and garbage men are referred to as sanitary engineers. Those, and other name changes are apparently intended to rid those respectable occupations of a supposed lack of dignity. But in spite of the new titles, the work is the same. Another word that is being pushed aside is the little word “sin.” We are embarrassed by it, think it’s old fashioned and politically incorrect. Some are more comfortable admitting mistakes, errors or lapses of judgment. Anything but sin. but the reality is that sin is still sin- a transgression of God’s laws. The Bible does some straight talking that cuts through our little word games. It reminds us- “Be sure your sin will find you out,” and “the soul that sins shall die.” The prudent acknowledge sin’s reality and ask God’s forgiveness. I urge you to stop playing word games with God. Admit your sin and turn to Jesus Christ, the answer to the sin question.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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By Pastor Wallace Jorden, Murray Harbour PEI, Canada

John 1:1-3, 14

Who is Jesus? Some say that Jesus was a great religious teacher; others an esteemed prophet; and still others a great moral model! Many dismiss him as a liar or lunatic. But, millions hail him as personal Lord and Savior. Whatever way people respond, nobody can deny that he stands at the center of human history.
The biblical record says that Jesus was born to a virgin; lived a sinless life; taught throughout Palestine for some three years; was crucified; and then rose again the third day from the dead. In addition to the women followers and his disciples, St. Paul records that more than 500 believers saw Jesus alive after his resurrection. How could a mere man have lived such an unique life? The miracles Jesus performed; his death on the cross; his resurrection from the dead; and his ascension to heaven; all bear witness that he was more than merely a man.
In his book “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis, an intellectual giant of the 20th century, makes this statement, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg–or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”
This question, “Who Is Jesus,” has renewed importance in our day and times, when radical Islam is on the march for world dominance, when anti-Semitism is on the rise and when the Christian Church of the 21st century is enduring fierce persecution in many world nations, comparable only to the 1st century.

In such an hour, it seems to me that the present-day followers of Jesus need to be clear and convinced about who Jesus is and committed to his gospel and world mission. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit indwells each believer as the divine Advocate of the God’s word and will. The Scriptures are given for our guidance and encouragement. So, let us address the question, “Who is Jesus,” through the testimony of the Prologue of John’s Gospel

John introduces Jesus in chapter 1, verse 1 with three profound statements: “In the beginning was the Word,” “And the Word was with God,” “And the Word was God.” In this one simple verse, we have the most precise statement of the divine revelation of Jesus.

We see, firstly, that Jesus is Eternally God.
John begins his Gospel in an unusual manner: ”In the beginning was the Word…” Whereas the Synoptic Gospels began their accounts within the historical context of the 1st century, John began within an eternal context. Matthew traced the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham, while Mark began the life of Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke presented the story of Jesus’ birth in the context of the political power of Rome, vested in King Herod of Judea and with a priest, Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth who became the elderly parents of John the Baptist. The Beloved Apostle, however, transports us back before creation, before mankind and time itself to eternity: “In the beginning.”

The word, translated “beginning,” is a time word for us, but not so for ancient people. Psalm 90:1-2 can help us to understand this word from a biblical view: “LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

The word “everlasting” in the Hebrew, literally means, “from one vanishing point to another vanishing point.” As far as you can go back through generations and recorded history, from vanishing point to vanishing point, God was and is! What a majestic thought: “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

John’s use of the term “In the beginning” certainly appealed to his Jewish readers as a direct reference to the Book of Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” When you reach back as far as the beginning of creation, God already was!

John says, “in the beginning was the Word,” not “is the Word.” The Word did not begin in the beginning. The verb, “was” is in the imperfect tense, meaning “continued action.” In fact, the sense of the entire verse is “In the beginning, (i.e. of God creating the heavens and the earth), the continuing Word was with God and the continuing Word was God.” Eternally, the Word was with God and was God, even before the beginning of creation.

Note John use of the word, “Logos,” from which we get our English word, logic! It occurs four times in verses 1 and 14: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

Why is Jesus called the “Logos?” John identified Jesus with the ”Logos,” in keeping with the mindset of his readers, both Jews and Greeks. To the Jews, “word” was something concrete and closer to what we would call “deed.” What happens when God commands? The command is done. God said: “Let there be light and….there was light.” (Gen 1:3) To the Greeks, however, the ”Logos” represented the very soul of the universe. It was the rational principle, from which everything existed and made sense–the creative force of the universe. Jesus is the Divine “Logos” who is Eternally God….

Secondly, He is Equally God: “… and the Word was with God…”
“The word was with God,” literally means “face to face” with God. This suggests that Jesus, the “Logos” is distinguishable from God, the Father, and from God, the Spirit. In these simple, yet profound words, John offers us a glimpse of the Divine Trinity. Jesus is: “the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (vs. 14) This description of Jesus as ”the only begotten,” expresses the eternal union and intimate love-relationship between the Son and the Father.

Although the actual term, “trinity” is not found in Scriptures, the teaching is evident from its earliest revelation. In Genesis 1:26 we read: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” The most common name for God given in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word, “Elohim,” which has a masculine plural ending. The word is always used in the singular to mean, “God,” not “gods.” However it does allow for plurality within the Godhead! Jesus is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father. He is both eternally God and equally God!

And thirdly, He Is Essentially God. “…and the Word was God.” The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!”
This means that everything that can be said about God the Father can be said about God the Son. Jesus is, in every way, God, in his incarnation of perfect and sinless humanity.

John states that his glory is seen as “the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Apart from faith in Jesus, mankind has no perfect understanding of God or salvation. It is impossible for man to come into communion with the Father, except through the crucified, risen, and glorified Son. In Jesus only, man finds the full and final revelation of the Father. Thus, the glorified, ascended Jesus is the sinner’s true and only God. Jesus is eternally God, equally God and essentially God!

From this divine revelation, the question, “Who is Jesus,” is the most important that you and I can ever face. It is important, because Jesus asked this question of His first disciples before predicting his impending death and resurrection: “Who do you say I am? “ (Matthew 16:15) It is important, because man’s eternal destiny hinges on this question. In answering the question, it is important that our minds and hearts to be filled with the grace and truth of “the only begotten of the Father.” As believers, we are to lift Him up in word and deed, so that others might believe through faith.

Let me conclude with the story of Thomas, one of the Twelve disciples (20: 24-29). Thomas was not with the other disciples when they met in a room on Easter Sunday evening with the door locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came, stood in the midst and greeted them, “Peace be with you.” The disciples were overjoyed to see the Lord. They then found Thomas and said: “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas replied: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, Thomas was with the disciples as they meet in the same room with the door locked. Jesus comes again and says, “Peace to you!” Then turning to Thomas, he says: “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” Thomas responded in simple faith: “My Lord and my God.”
“My Lord” is a confession of the absolute sovereignty of Jesus. Thomas’ expressed full submission to the risen Lord. But the second word reveals the true nature and character of who Jesus is. Not only “My Lord,” but, “My God!” Thomas bowed before the risen Jesus and said: “My God,” confessing Jesus’ Deity and worshiping him.
Note Jesus’ reply: “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed!” Jesus was speaking through Thomas to you and me today: “Do not be unbelieving but believing.” May we today through heartfelt faith confess like Thomas who Jesus is: “My Lord and my God.” Blessings!

Pastor Wallace Jorden