I recently read the touching story of a couple about to move to a foreign country to retire. An accumulation of a lifetime of memories had to be packed into four suitcases. Would all the pain of sifting, sorting, selling and giving away be worth it in the end? Thought many tears were shed in the process, it was concluded that all the sacrifices that were made were nothing compared to the paradise that awaited them when they arrived at their destination. How tightly we cling to the little treasures of this life-possessions, mementoes, often never thinking of where we will spend eternity. For those who have Christ in their lives, having accepted Jesus’ wonderful offer of forgiveness, cleansing and peace, that final home will be heaven. We won’t be packing any suitcases for that trip. As the old hymn says, “nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Your cross I cling.” Jesus has said,” Let not your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you.” Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Are you prepared?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“ I thought I was the teacher, but Joanna and the rest of the students at the center are the ones teaching me.” Those are the words of Drema Sizemore Drudge, writing in a recent issue of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Drema was working at an adult education center, where many students struggle economically. One day she was approached by a an unemployed student, Joanna, and was presented with a Christmas gift, a nicely wrapped box of chocolates. Drema wanted to refuse it, but holding back tears hugged Joanna and said, “Thank-you.” This touching story reminded me of another story, with greater implications. Paul, in a letter to believers of his day, wrote, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for ourselves He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” He was speaking of Jesus’ leaving the riches of His Heavenly home, coming to live in poverty on earth and dying on a cross to pay the penalty of our sins and make us spiritually rich.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Two very frightened window washers were trapped for more than an hour last month on scaffolding, dangling from an open platform at a 45 degree angle 69 stories up the side of the World Trade Center. They were helpless to do anything for themselves and required outside help. They got it from the only ones who could have helped them. Their dramatic rescue was made by the world famous New York Fire Department. Many times, we become trapped in situations too big for us and we cannot help ourselves. We can only cry out for help from the only One who can help us. The Psalmist David understood how these men must have felt. He wrote of his experience, saying- “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…this poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Whatever our situation, that same help is available to all. But remember please- you need to ask for it.. The Lord is too much of a gentleman to force His help upon us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Christmas 2014 has come and gone. Every New Year many people find themselves worried about their debt load, having spent too much on Christmas. The emphasis on materialism has led them to spend more than they could afford. Responsible people then have to cut back until the debt is paid. Did you ever think about the fact that each one of us has a personal spiritual debt? The Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and that “the wages of sin is death. ”That debt is so great it is impossible for us to repay. It is the sin debt that can only be paid by God’s perfect Son. Paul, in the New Testament, wrote, “we implore you, be reconciled to God.” But he also tells us how that is possible, with the words, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.” What wonderful news this is. Christ paid our sin debt when He died in our place on the Cross. When we accept Him, in place of our sin, He gives us His righteousness.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Last year many Canadians had a good view of the aurora Borealis. Northern Lights are only one of many marvels of the heavens. Gazing at the sky on a clear night leaves one in awe of the immensity of the universe. Watching comets as they streak across the heavens or viewing a total eclipse should show us the orderliness that is evident in God’s creation just as King David wrote in the Psalms, “the heavens declare the glory of God…” As a matter of fact, Paul says, “Since the creation of the world, God’s eternal and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” So the next time you star gaze, remember that only an intelligent all powerful God could have created all this. And this same God loves us and has made a way for us to have a restored fellowship with Himself by the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Again Paul explains, “God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were still s inners, Christ died for us.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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We live in a violent society. Recently the 25th anniversary of the massacre of 14 young women at L’ecole Polytechnique was sadly observed. On December 2011 near Claresholm Alberta, Tanner Craswell, Mitch MacLean and Tabitha Stepple were murdered. Shayna Conway of PEI was seriously injured at the same time. Left behind are the families who must face crippling stress while they attempt to rebuild their lives. But while we live in this troubled world, we can draw comfort from these wonderful words from the Psalms- “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” And Isaiah wrote prophetically of how God the Father sent Jesus “…to heal the brokenhearted… to comfort all who mourn.” A beautiful old hymn reminds us, that “No one understands like Jesus. He’s a Friend beyond compare. Meet Him at the throne of mercy, He is waiting for you there.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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I read recently of a little girl who received a bubble set. She was fascinated with the beautiful bubbles. Again and again she chased them, and tried to hold them. But as soon as she touched them, they were gone. They were beautiful but temporary. It reminds one of folks who try to find satisfaction in pleasure. Timothy, in the New Testament described such people as those who are “lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” And the book of Hebrews identifies the “fleeting, temporary, passing pleasures of sin.” Loose living is admittedly pleasant for a while, but it cannot satisfy our inner longings. Only Jesus can do that. The Psalmist says that God “satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Fortunately, when we have grown tired of this world’s temporary “bubbles,” We have the promise- “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him…. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry….”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Driving without lights was a big mistake for a 21 year old Maritimer last month. Not only did he risk his life by not being able to see properly, but his behavior attracted the attention of police, who pulled him over and found that he was impaired. I am sure someone, perhaps a relative, is thinking- “That was a dumb thing to do!” I agree. But it is a small matter, compared to those who drive blissfully into the future, ignoring the warning in the Bible to “prepare to meet your God,” or trusting in one’s own efforts to make one’s self pleasing to God, when the Bible clearly states, that it is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy,” that we become God’s children and ready to meet our Maker. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” To those ready to allow God to open their eyes, and direct their lives, Jesus said, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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PEI. For these new Canadians it was the end of a long journey, leaving the land of their birth, beginning life anew in the country of choice, embracing new customs, language and culture. It means “following their dream” of freedom of speech, religion and politics, the beginning of a new life. Similarly, we all have the offer of a new life, made possible through the death of Jesus on the Cross. And when we believe that God has raised Him from the dead, a new citizenship is ours. Paul, writing to the Ephesian believers of his day, explained it as follows- “ …therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”Later, in a letter to the Philippians. He wrote, “…our citizenship is in heaven, …” I encourage you to leave behind the old life, embrace the new, receive the freedom only Jesus can give.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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The comic strip Family Circus featured a little guy being tucked into bed. Looking out his window into the darkness he said to his mother, “Mommy, how do we know tomorrow will be another day? That’s a pretty good question for all to consider. The quick answer is, “We don’t” and entering a new year, we all need to remember that there is no guarantee that “tomorrow will be another day,” for us. Jesus, once spoke of a rich farmer who leaving God out of his life, laid up material things for himself, planning to “eat, drink and be merry.” In other words, he planned a comfortable retirement. But in that parable, God told the man that he was being foolish, because that very night he would die. Solomon warned, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” But with an uncertain future, how wonderful for those properly related to the Heavenly Father, through faith in Jesus Christ, to be able to say, “God alone is my refuge. He is my God, and I trust in Him,” in 2015.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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