Chicken Soup for the Soul recently had a story of a young girl’s concept of love, of meeting the man of her dreams, marriage and the birth of their three children. It described how her concept of love changed with the passing years, the children’s arrival, through times of trouble and tragedy. She concluded by saying, “suddenly forever seems like the perfect amount of time to spend with someone I couldn’t imagine living without.” While human love can be wonderful, the most perfect love anyone can know is God’s love for us, and ours for Him. Since we are all on the way to forever, the wise among us will accept God’s loving offer of mercy and forgiveness and become a part of His family. Then we can be forever with Him. John described this with the words, ”this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the … sacrifice for our sins.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When Holly Mosienko decided to cover a surgical scar on her leg, she chose a method known as scarification, a process in which one’s skin is cut, etched, burned and branded. Those who opt for it often do so for aesthetic reasons or to gain status. But more serious than physical scarring are the scars inflicted within. Many people today suffer from rejection, abuse, bullying or other forms of emotional trauma. The only permanent solution to these problems is to open our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus. Isaiah described Him as being despised and rejected by men,” “ a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Jesus understands our scars. Those who give their lives to Him can sing, ”Something beautiful, something good. All my confusion, He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas .Exposure to high levels of it in indoor air increases the risk of developing lung cancer. There are no radon free areas of Canada and all homes will have some of this dangerous gas. The only way to know if your home has a high level of radon is to test. Joanne Ings, Executive director of the PEI lung association reminds us that “..it is not too late to take action on radon. …we urge everyone to have your home tested. …now is the best time to test for radon.” Testing is simple and low- cost. Test kits are available at many hardware stores. Thisis an important warning. It reminds us all of Bible warnings regarding the next life about our spiritual health. Moses warned, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God…” Isaiah added, “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Charles Schulz the American cartoonist, best known for the comic strip Peanuts once gave a list of questions to consider. Name the following: 1 the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. The last five miss Americas. 3 last 12 Academy Award winners.4. last 10 world series winners. But their applause died. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Now try another quiz. 1. name some teachers who aided your journey through school. 2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.3. name five people who taught you something worthwhile. 4. Name some people who made you feel appreciated and special. The lesson- those who make a difference in our lives aren’t the ones with the most money or awards, but those who cared. And nobody cares for us like Jesus. To the sad and broken hearted, Peter urged, “casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

World wars I and II. Korea, Vietnam, now Syria. On and on the wars come. Victor Hugo, French poet, novelist and dramatist who lived from 1802 to 1885, famous for Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame also wrote of the future. But he and had an unreal view of mankind. He prophesied that “In the 20th century war will be dead, the scaffold will be dead… man will live and possess a great country-the earth. Now, in 2014 as we look back, clearly Hugo’s utopia didn’t come. Sadly, wars are still with us, hatred is alive and well. Man is still a fallen, sinful creature, as the Bible makes clear. However, there is hope. Paul wrote, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then later he explained, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…” this is a dark world, but Jesus is the light of the world.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“It doesn’t much matter…” the railway man said, when asked by a traveler, where to sit on the train he was hoping to take to Montreal. The official then explained, “ because this train isn’t going to Montreal.” Presumably he got off that wrong train. Sometimes we’re like that man. We ask God, “which car should I get on to go to heaven- giving money to charity? Doing kind deeds to others? Going to church regularly? Baptism? The answer, is “ It doesn’t much matter, because those trains are not going to heaven.” True, those “cars” are important and we should travel on them here on earth, but they’re not going to take us to heaven. That’s because God’s Book tells us, it’s’“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saves us.” And Jesus made it even plainer when He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

It is never too late. That was the view of Doctor Peter Selby in a recent newspaper article. He noted that many smokers who had made a New Year’s resolution to butt out for good, saw the deadline come and go. But he said that National no-smoking week, January 19-25 and Weedless Wednesday offered an encouraging reminder that it is never too late to quit. The doctor is absolutely correct. But in other areas of life as well, it is never too late to make a change in our lives. Perhaps you have planned and had good intentions to turn your life over to God, and begin over. Jesus reminds us that, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ”That means to be spiritually reborn. Paul adds, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed…all things have become new.” Quitting smoking is never too late. And turning to God is never too late.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Have you ever been on a busy highway and suddenly realize you are heading in the wrong direction? Making a U turn is illegal, so we wait patiently for the next exit ramp and turn the other way we were supposed to be going. Truthfully, we are all speeding along life’s highway. But often we experience such things as sickness, loss of a job, or a disappointment that make us slow down and wonder if we’re headed in the wrong direction. Good news! God allows U-turns. It’s called repentance, and involves us agreeing with God about our spiritual condition and our need of forgiveness and acceptance by Jesus the Savior. When we do make that U-turn, we are back on the proper destination-heaven. One New Testament writer urged,”Turn from darkness to light…that you may receive forgiveness…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Tim Jones, a former teacher and paramedic was a tireless spokesman for safety on Vancouver’s north shore mountains. In January, he suffered a medical emergency on the trail and passed away at the young age of 57.. North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Musatto described his friend with these words, “Tim was a guy you could count on to get you out of trouble.” This good man was diligent, helpful and trust worthy. In his 25 years of work, it is believed that he was involved in at least 1400 rescue operations. In the Bible, we read of a faithful shepherd who sought and found lost sheep. Those lost sheep are pictures of you and me.” All we like sheep have gone astray.” But Matthew, in his gospel writes, “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. “Jesus still seeks us when we have lost our way, and He is willing to forgive and start us on the way to heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Dagwood said to Blondie, that according to a study, hot tea is a healthier beverage than coffee. So Blondie asks, “Do you want to start drinking tea Dear? “ Nope,” says Dagwood,” I like coffee. “I’ll just stick with coffee and wait for a study that I can live with.” And that’s often the way many respond when face with life’s choices. We wait for that which pleases us, we want to do it our own way. But that can be a very poor response, especially when it pertains to things eternal. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived once said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” And Jesus, referring to the next life said,” Enter by the narrow gate; for wideisthe gate and broadisthe way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.Becausenarrowisthe gate and difficultisthe way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell