Recently I read a fascinating story of a man who, through a microscope, was shown the bacteria in the polluted water which he had been drinking. He did not like to see the tiny organisms wriggling around in his water, so he angrily took a heavy club and smashed the microscope to pieces. “Silly man” we say. But wait- the Bible, God’s Word, reveals the ugliness of sin hidden in our hearts. It says, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” And how do we respond? Some try to destroy its credibility or ignore its message completely. But we cannot change truth by neglecting, attacking, or refusing to believe it.. Others pretend they are too intelligent to accept the inspired Word of God, often without even examining it. But that does not change the truth, nor excuse them when they stand before their Maker someday. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Finance Guru Gail Vaz-Oxlade in her book “Never too Late” offers guidance for retirement planning. She advises using your money for the sold and secure rather than the bright and shiny, or saving for the future rather than spending for the present. She believes there will always be an excuse for why the time isn’t right to save, so her advice is “start right now.” Good advice for retirement planning, but also for those who have given little or no thought about preparation for the next life. That’s vital , since we are all going to live somewhere forever. Jesus speaking of our future said, “lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. “ He also asked rhetorically, “what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul.” We all need to invest in the “solid and secure” rather than this world’s “bright and shiny” toys.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

According to National Geographic, we carry around a three-pound mass of wrinkly material in our heads that controls every single thing we will ever do. It enables us to think, learn, create, breath, and causes our heart to beat.. This fantastic control center is our brain. It is a structure so amazing that a famous scientist once called it "the most complex thing we have yet discovered in our universe." And as only God can make a tree, only God can make a brain. No wonder the Psalmist praised God, saying, “I am fearfully and Wonderfully made.” The Creator has a claim on each one of us because He made us, but also because He bought us. Paul the Apostle said, we are ”bought with a price.” That price was paid at Calvary, when Jesus died for the sins of the world. So God has a double claim on every one of us He made us, and He redeemed us. Have you considered those claims on your life?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

What do the following have in common? The Bible, Son of God, God’s Not Dead, Heaven Is for Real, Mom’s Night Out ”? They are movies made in recent years that have a connection to God and the Bible? Johanna Schneller writing in the Globe and Mail asks “So why is God so hot right now?” Actress Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond fame (who says she is a Christian), says, “There’s money to be made. That’s the no.1 goal in Hollywood.” But Heaton adds, “There’s clearly a hunger for people wanting some deeper meaning or hope in the world today, where there are a lot of terrible, difficult things going on.” Perhaps your world has been turned upside down recently. Jesus Christ is the answer. He invites, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden …learn from me…for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The Civil war that raged across the United States from 1861-1865 was a terrible event. An estimated 750,000 soldiers, and an undetermined number of civilians were killed. 30% of all white males living in the Confederate states lost their lives. But surprisingly, in the midst of the carnage, some beautiful songs were written. Recently Randall Foster has collected many and published them in Divided and United (songs of the Civil War) Many today, when faced with the reality of war, disaster and disease, ask “why?” We may never know all the answers, but when suffering comes, many turn more to God for comfort. Isaiah the Prophet wrote, referring to our Lord Jesus, wrote, “The Lord has anointed me to … heal the broken hearted…to give comfort to those who mourn.” If you are hurting, reach out to Jesus today. He waits for you to call.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

It was “raining money recently in Sackville NS. Motorists there stopped to retrieve cash, cheques and the wallet from which they had come. A New Brunswick man had left his wallet on top of his car, and driven off, scattering over twenty-five hundred dollars. Fortunately, the motorists behind him turned the money over to the RCMP. In this case, right prevailed. But we all know that within us, there is the inclination to do wrong, to deceive, lie, cheat, gossip and worse. Although we all stand as sinners before a Holy God, there is good news for those who invite Christ into their lives. David the Psalmist reminds us that God “has not dealt with us according to our sins…for as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” That’s God’s answer to our depravity.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last month we had a royal visit from Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Visits by royalty are enjoyable times for many, and always make the headlines. But there is another visit coming, that is hardly ever mentioned by the media, except as a joke. That, in spite of the fact that this coming Royal visit is mentioned at least 60 times in the NT alone and by all nine New Testament authors. I refer to the return of Christ, the King of Kings, to this earth. When He comes, the Bible says, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” It will be a command performance. How much better to bow the knee in sincere worship now, accept His offer of forgiveness, cleansing and a home in heaven now and give to Him our full allegiance. Those who do that, receive Him as their Savior, not as their Judge.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Nothing, it seems, really takes place in the dark anymore. Police in Buffalo New York are being investigated after being caught on camera beating a handcuffed man. The cruel act which took place in the dark, was filmed by a passerby and uploaded to You Tube. Someone has said that the idea of an all-seeing conscience is no less troubling now than it was when most people believed in a God Who is ever present, all powerful and and all-knowing. John, in his gospel wrote on the subject with the words, Bible where the whole verse says, “ men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” How good to know that John also says, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Our kind Heavenly Father is “ not willing that any should perish.” He sent His Son so that need not happen to any.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Today, June 6th is the 70th anniversary of D-Day. On this day in 1944 Allied forces landed in Normandy France, then occupied by the Nazis. It involved 24,000 British, US, and Canadian airborne troops. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and contributed to an Allied victory and the end of the Second World War. We salute those who fought, and remember those who gave their lives. It reminds us of another and greater day in history. That was C-Day, or Calvary Day when Christ was crucified for all mankind. Paul described it as follows- “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”. Today we honor those who fought for our freedom on D-Day.. But as we remember Calvary, let’s honor the One who died for us by accepting His substitutionary death for us and the gift of eternal life it brings to all who receive it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“What happens to private morality when the camera is watching?” Elizabeth Renzetti asked, in an insightful article in the Globe and Mail. After noting the troubling situations of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and basketball team owner Donald Sterling, both caught on camera, Renzetti comments, “there was a time in the West when a healthy fear of God kept people in line…” She’s right. The Bible warns of a day when “the dead, small and great” will be “standing before God.” The books of our lives” will be opened,” and people will be judged by God “each one according to his works.” God has always recorded our private lives. Those considering this merely a myth held by superstitious and religious zealots take a terrible gamble with tragic and eternal results. Isaiah invites, “seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell