Someone said, “Busyness is the new status symbol. Keeping up with the Joneses used to be a bigger car or house, but now it’s how much you can cram into a week.” In her book “Overwhelmed,” Bridget Shutte said, “I went to the Yale Stress Center where they are doing research on the brains of normal people. They found that if you feel very stressed, your grey matter is 20% smaller in volume than those who don’t. Jack Korning wrote, “When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.” He could have added, “and with God,” Who said, “Be still and know that I am God.” When He has His the proper place in our lives we don’t feel overwhelmed. The Psalmist wrote ”Show me your ways O Lord. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all the day long.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“It was just a amazing, the closest feeling to a normal hand,” said Dennis Sorensen of Denmark, after he had volunteered to test the prototype of a robotic hand that European researchers have created. The hand has given Sorensen, an amputee, a sense of touch. As scientists research improvement to robotics, they literally hold out a helping hand to those in need. While we are not all amputees, we all need help outside of ourselves. In the area of our spiritual needs, we may think we are capable of pleasing God on our own, and earning our way to heaven. But all our efforts cannot satisfy God’s standard because we all need a helping hand outside ourselves. It is “not by works of righteousness that we have done.” Thankfully, Jesus became this helping hand, as the book of Hebrews says, “ this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” on the old rugged cross.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

World leaders are warning that the trouble in the Ukraine is the greatest threat to world peace since the Second World War. The Bible that in the last days, “there will be wars and rumors of wars. Many thinking people believe that we are nearing the end this age. For centuries skeptics scoffed at Bible prophecies that homeless, scattered Jews would one day return to Palestine and regain their homeland. In fact at the beginning of 1900, only about 25,000 Jews were living in the Holy Land. The Prophet Ezekiel was told by the Lord, "Therefore prophesy and say,…thus says the Lord God, behold, O my people, I will…bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord…” But on May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation, once again, just as God had promised. And He will also keep the promise He has given us, “I will come again.” It may be later than we think.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The Canadian government is planning to restrict the obtaining of pardons and making it more difficult to obtain a permanent sealed criminal record. Those in need of a pardon are being urged to apply before the chance for a pardon is gone forever. God’s standard for righteousness is perfection and none of us can reach that standard and we face spiritual disaster if we attempt to meet our Maker on our own. Fortunately, our heavenly Father is not only a God of righteousness and justice, but also loving and forgiving. He promises to pardon all who call on Him and accept Jesus’ payment for our sins on the cross. This wonderful invitation in the book of Isaiah says, “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near…let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A very important election is taking place today in Quebec. If Premier Marois wins a majority, many expect another referendum on separation from Canada. In a way, elections are like the accounting we all will have with our Maker. But there are also some major dissimilarities- while former members of our legislatures may resign and never be accountable, none of us can avoid accountability to God. And while no politician can know what his or her future will be before an election, it is possible for us to know here and now what our eternal destiny will be. John wrote in the New Testament, “these things I have written to you, that believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…” So acknowledging one’s spiritual bankruptcy and entering into a personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ always results in receiving everlasting life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Denzel Washington, the famous actor said recently, “I read the Bible every day. I’m in my second pass-through now, in the book of John. My pastor told me to start with the New Testament, so I did, maybe two years ago. Worked my way through it, then through the Old Testament. Now I’m back in the New Testament. ”If Mr. Washington, not only reads, but heeds the Bible, he will understand what it means when it says, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” And if he sincerely apply its truths, he will find that the Bible has the power to transform lives just as we read, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Why not give it a try. You have everything to gain.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Mary wanted only to give. That was just Mary’s way. Mary was Mary Ripley of Charlottetown She was a very special person. To some, she was known as “the bread lady” because she delivered thousands of loaves of bread during many random acts of kindness in her lifetime. Ripley did not want recognition or gratitude –she only wanted to do some good and spread some cheer. When she passed away in February, at the age of 64, many friends remembered her kindness and spirit of giving. That was her way. When we think of giving, Mary’s frequent gifts of loaves of homemade bread, we are reminded of our Heavenly Father, who gave the greatest gift, His Son, the” bread of life.” Most know that beautiful story, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, what whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The following poem was written recently by my brother-in-law Earl Clemens, who has Parkinson’s disease. It goes, “A stranger has come to my house; It looks like he’s here to stay! He’s taking over my schedule, controlling me day by day. Since this usurper’s arrival, I’ve noticed things disappear, Things of importance and value; Talents that once I held dear. Every task becomes a burden, as I struggle with the thief Who limits expressive desire And offers little relief. Yet greater than Parkinson’s plunder That leaves this house less than whole, Is Jesus who knows the challenge And daily strengthens my soul. So friend, when you come to my house And see how I struggle to cope, Pray that I’ll maintain a balance Between my frustration and hope. To those who are afflicted with this disease, or others like it, Peter invites, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Turning my life over to God was a difficult thing because it meant that I had togive Him control of my life.“ Those are the words of Olympic Champion SpeedSkater / Olympic Broadcaster Catriona Le May Doan. She held the world record in the 500 meter speed skating event for ten years, and was the first woman to break the 38 second barrier. Lemay Doan adds, “ I learned that life is better when I give everything to God’s It’s my relationship with Jesus that gives me true significance.” This remarkable young woman is living proof of Jesus’promise when He said, “ I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.,” and Paul’s affirmation “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Tomorrow is April Fool’s Day. Sometimes called All Fools’ Day it is celebrated on the first day of April every year. It is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated in various countries as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on friends and neighbors. The goal is to light – heartedly “make a fool of someone. On a more serious note, the Bible also has something to say about the word fool. Jesus told a parable of a man who lived all his life for this world, became wealthy and ignored the need to prepare his soul for the next life. His philosophy was – “eat drink and be merry.” But when it came his time to die, God said to him, “Fool. This night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have…” And the Psalmist David wrote, “ the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” Please – don’t be an April fool.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell