“Crazy. I am shocked. And I still haven’t fully processed it because it’s a huge deal, ”Those were the words of 19 year old Kelsie, from New Brunswick, when she learned in May, that she had just won seven million dollars in a lottery. Many long for riches. The truth is that we are all rich. Suppose your Bank credited you each morning with $86,400, and carried over no balance at the end of the day. What would you do? You’d draw out every penny each day. Well everyone has such a Bank. Every day God gives each of us 86,400 seconds. Each day a new account is opened and each night no balance is carried over to the next day. Each day is special, and is never repeated. So what should we do? Draw out or make proper use of every second. Paul, in the New Testament reminds us that “now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation,” and urged his readers to make their peace with God before it is too late with the words, “redeem the time…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Two young New Brunswick boys decided to make a little fire in the woods near their homes – just for fun, with surprising and frightening results. They didn’t take into account the fact that it was a windy and very dry day. Before they knew it, the underbrush was on fire and a large tree burst into flames. Fortunately for them although the fire was out of their control, it was easily extinguished by the fire department. How like so many of us! Sometimes it begins with indulging in what we see as a “harmless habit.” We progress to ignoring God’s standards of morality and then it’s easy to substitute our ideas of right and wrong for God’s clear instructions. Suddenly, our lives are out of control. Wrong-doing always brings consequences. Thankfully, God invites us to “seek the Lord while He may be found…” We do not have to be enslaved by harmful habits. Jesus said “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“I can’t help you. I have no troops” That was part of an encrypted six line message dated July 4,1863. It was part of a dispatch which offered no hope to doomed Lt. General John C. Pemberton, who was forced to surrender to Union Forces led by Ulysses S. Grant. It ended the siege of Vicksburg Mississippi, in what historians say was a turning point midway in the American Civil War. The situation which Pemberton found himself in reminds us of the fact that there are times in our lives when we reach the end of our resources and are hopeless. It is then that we must look beyond ourselves and to another source of deliverance. The psalmist spoke of such a situation when he wrote ot those who “reel to and from and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wit’s end.” But he added, “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble and He brings them out of their distresses.” If you are at your wit’s end today, I urge you to cry out to the Lord. He will hear you and He will help you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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You’ve probably heard several versions of the humorous story of the father who wanted his daughter and son to come home for Thanksgiving. So he called and told them that he and their mother were getting divorced, after 45 years of marriage. The kids were shocked and asked him not to do anything until they got home. Hanging up the phone, the father said to his wife with a smile – “honey the kids will be home for Thanksgiving and they’re paying their own way.” It’s probably a fictitious story, originating from different locations but it reminded me of the Heavenly Father, who also wants us to come Home to Him. But unlike this humorous story where the children pay their own way, Our Heavenly Father has paid for us to come Home. He gave His Son, who paid the price for our sins at Calvary. Paul wrote, “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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“I attended a prestigious college, but 35 years later I have no job. I’m in debt, depressed and battling many phobias.” Those words were written to an advice column. The writer was complaining that her Facebook friends only wanted to hear “positive things” and even planned to deactivate her Facebook until she felt better. Our society puts great emphasis on success and achievement. Everyone, it seems, loves a winner, but are not to fussy about hanging out with those they consider to be losers. But thankfully, there is One who stands with us whether we succeed or not, win or not. I refer to Jesus Christ, He is the One of Whom it is written that He “sticks closer than a brother.” He is the One of whom the Psalmist wrote, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.” To the discouraged, defeated, and friendless, our Lord says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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On May second, 1915 a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander, Major John McCrae. Because the Chaplain had been called away, as the brigade doctor, McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for his friend Alexis. After the burial, Dr. MacRae wrote his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”, which serves as a reminder to all of the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. May we never forget their sacrifice.. And those who died for others are imitators of the One who died at Calvary for us all. Paul spoke for all who trust the Savior as the One “who loved me and gave Himself for me.” This Remembrance Day, 2014, let us remember the brave ones who died for our freedom, and let us also remember our Savior who died for the world and to offer forgiveness and eternal life to all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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There are only two religions in the world- the “do” and the “done. ”Yes there are many different religions groups, but all “do” religions may be lumped into one, because they all tell us that by doing good works, joining their particular branch we can prepare for the next life beyond the grave. They all teach that to be pleasing to God- become a member of our religion, or, do penance for your sins, Do good deeds and you will please God. In stark contrast is the “done” religion. It’s teaching is that you and I can do nothing on our own to impress God. How do I know this? It’s all in the Bible, which many of the do religions profess to follow. The Bible clearly tells us that all of us are sinners by nature and by choice. And the evidence for that is worldwide. The Bible tells says that Jesus has done everything we need. When He died , He cried out “It is finished.” Paul wrote of our salvation that is “not by works of righteousness that we have done. The “done”. Do you belong to the “do” or the “done” religion?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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According to one expert in the field, it is “One of the greatest discoveries in the history of science”. He was referring to new data that seem to offer, for the first time, direct evidence of the entities Einstein predicted in his general theory of relativity gravitational waves. If it holds up, sheds new light on … the origins of the universe. The word “discovery” means “to bring to light, to find or see for the first time.” The challenge of discovering new worlds, new ideas and new frontiers has captivated every generation. Sir James Simpson who discovered the use of Chloroform as an anesthetic the artificially induced insensibility to pain was once asked, what was his greatest discovery. Without hesitation the brilliant man replied, “That I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ is my Savior.” He believed Dr. Luke, who wrote in his gospel, the “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” That’s you and me!

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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The famous photo “Wait For Me Daddy” shows Private Jack Bernard saying goodbye to his son Warren Bernard, 5, as he leaves for the Second World War in New Westminster B.C, in 1940. It illustrates what, next to the loss of life and serious injuries is probably the worst result of war- separation with all its heartache and pain for families. And much is said in the Bible about separation, not only between humans, but also between the Creator and us. Clearly the Heavenly Father created us to be in close fellowship with Him, not to be separated from Him. Isaiah of old explained why so many are not in a proper relationship with our Maker. When he warned, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you…” As unpopular as the word sin is, we live in a world that is full of examples of its reality and its presence. So it is heart-warming to read James invitation-“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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Erin Greene probably would have died if it had not been for a very brave man. Bill Ayotte who is 69 and retired, ran out armed with only a shovel when he heard the screams of Greene, who was being attacked by a polar bear in Churchill Manitoba.. He distracted the animal so she could get a way, but the bear pounced on him and started to drag him around. The bear finally fled when someone took a run at it with a pickup truck. Ayotte has received one of Manitoba’s highest honors- the Order of the Buffalo Hunt in recognition of his action. This man risked his life for another. His selfless actions remind one of another who not only risked His life, but gave His life. I refer to Jesus, our Lord and Savior of whom Paul, in his letter to the Romans, wrote, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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