`The Book of Life”`, a computer animated film, presents a story line that sweeps us into a fantastic presentation of three worlds, the land of the remembered, the land of the forgotten, and the land of the living. A review describes it as rated PG for its mild action, rude humor and brief scary images. And did you know the Bible makes many references to the “`Book of Life”`? For example A passage in the Book of Revelation, speaking of the city of God-heaven, says, “Nothing impure will enter into it nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful but only those whose names are written in “ the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Since “All have sinned.” (only the dishonest or naïve deny this fact) Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice and substitute for us all. So when we ask forgiveness and believe in Jesus, we become “children of God” and our names are then written in “the Book of Life.” Is your name written there? It’s your decision.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Last month, Germany celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, It was erected in August of 1961 by the Communist Government to keep East Germans from fleeing to the West. Its destruction took place on November 9th, 1989. It provides us with a striking picture of the wall between us and God. Since our first parents disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, there has been a wall separating us from our Creator. That wall is sin.. Isaiah wrote- “your iniquities have separated you from your God.” As long as the wall of our sins stands, we can have no freedom or fellowship with the Heavenly Father. Paul explained that before we become Christians, we are “without Christ…having no hope and without God in the world.” But thankfully, he added, “But now, in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been brought near …. For He Himself is our peace…and has broken down the middle wall of separation. “ When we turn to Christ, the wall separating us from Him is gone.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Last month, a PEI man returned to the parking lot to find all of his car’s windows rolled down, and the sun roof open. He had left them all closed. He was puzzled, because without the keys, this could not happen. Later he learned of a special feature of that particular automobile. Designed for hot days, all windows can be opened remotely, when a certain button on the ignition key is held down. Unknown to the man, something must have pressed against that button while the keys were in his pocket. He had neglected to read about it in the car’s manual. More seriously, when not reading information about God’s forgiveness and salvation, many miss out on these great treasures. One New Testament writer asked rhetorically, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Jesus invites, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” Please read the instructions in your Bible.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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A recent copy of the cartoon “Family Circle “ by Bil Keane showed the four children gathered around a broken lamp. The caption read, “Okay, whose turn is it to take the blame?” Most of us are quite adept at the blame game! Trying to cover up for wrong doing has been a characteristic of human nature ever since Adam blamed both his wife Eve and God for their disobedience in the Garden of Eden, saying it was “The woman You gave me.” But every decision brings a consequence and we must all take responsibility for our actions. An Old Testament writer warned, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” And a New Testament writer commented, “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess“ to God, some day. We reap what we sow. Thankfully, John was inspired to write, “If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“You only get what you pay for.” That is a common saying, often made by those who’ve tried to save money by buying the cheapest item they could find, only to learn that it was of poor quality. While this is certainly true in the world of commerce, when it comes to acquiring things in the spiritual realm, it does not hold true. That’s because none of us can buy forgiveness or a home in heaven. Thankfully though, the Lord Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, justification and peace of mind as a free gift. A New Testament writer put it as follows- “Grace and peace to you from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins.” In other words, God’s grace is not for sale. He offers us “free grace.” He seeks us, saves us, satisfies us and secures our future. Yes, it is difficult to wrap our minds around this, but it is true. And Jesus still invites us, “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Recently I heard of a God fearing man who was asked the following unusual question- “Did you lose anything when you became a Christian?” But it was the Christian gentleman’s answer that I found most fascinating and informative. He replied, “Yes- before, I had an old slouch hat, a ragged suit and holes in my shoes. I drank to excess and quarreled with my wife. I lost all that.” “Yes,” he concluded, “I lost many bad things when I accepted Christ.” Paul the Apostle, writing to the Corinthian believers of his day explained clearly what really happens when anyone sincerely invites Christ into his or her life, saying, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” When this takes place, you lose your fear of death, and your guilty conscience. In their place, you receive the forgiveness for all wrong-doing. That is surely the best bargain ever offered. Have you taken it?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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There was a Provincial election recently in New Brunswick. There will be a Federal election next year. There are always promises, and more promises as we get closer to election day. Politicians of all stripes hold out hope that there will be lots of money to deal With education, infrastructure, and the ever present need to solve health care problems. Unfortunately, a large percentage of political promises are never kept. Thankfully, there is One Who always keeps His promises. I speak of the Heavenly Father. The Psalmist declared, “The Lord is faithful to all His promises.” And Joshua adds, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken…all came to pass. And with regards to one’s personal relationship to God, and our future, we are promised, “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” God keeps His promises.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Last month, two young Canadian soldiers were murdered, adding to a growing number of terrorist related atrocities. Often people look at the violence and heartbreak in this world and ask, “why does God allow these terrible things to happen? If we are thinking people, we must remember that much of the violence and heartbreak comes because we have been given power to choose. And man has, for the most part, chosen rebellion and disobedience to his Creator, resulting often in harm coming to innocent people. From the beginning, we cannot deny the existence of evil or the main source of evil itself- Satan, called in the Bible, “the god of this age.” As a matter of fact, the Bible declares, “if our gospel is veiled, to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded…lest the light of the glory of Christ should shine on them.” Say, isn’t it time to stop blaming God for what mankind has brought on ourselves?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Dr. W. Gifford Jones’ M.D. says that medical advances now make it possible for doctors to predict ailments before they strike. He says that blood studies can now show a pre- diabetic state. Then helpful and appropriate steps can be taken. Like our medical condition, it is also possible to know our spiritual condition, as diagnosed by God. For example the Bible states clearly that every single person is a sinner, by nature and by choice- “There is none righteous, no not one!” That, is a hard pill to swallow. But when we honestly accept that fact, we can move on to acknowledging that on our own, we are incapable of pleasing God. Then, when we’ve admitted that humbling truth, we are ready to make the greatest decision of our lives- explained by John, in his gospel- “…as many as received Him,(Jesus) to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name.” That’s the diagnosis and prescription of Jesus, the Great Physician.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“…there will be distress of nations, with perplexity…men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on earth.” The events in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now right here in our country, confirm and illustrate the truthfulness of these words from the gospel of Luke. Around the world the threat of terrorism has indeed produced great fear, because it seems that there nowhere can one be safe. Into this crisis Jesus the Son of God comes, with these comforting words, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.” So many today give lip-service to God, or a god, but do not believe in the Jesus of the bible. That is a fatal mistake in light of Jesus’ later words, when He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As world conditions worsen, and fear increases, Jesus tells us that we can have peace when our hearts are troubled, by becoming personally related to Him by faith.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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