An Alabama man, who buried his beloved wife in the front yard of their home, has been ordered to remove the body to a proper cemetery. “Our hearts go out to him” an official said, “but laws prohibit people from using their yards for burial within city limits.” Death comes to all. It is inevitable- dividing soul and spirit from the body and separating loved ones from each other. No matter how hard we try, we cannot conquer death. But there is One who has defeated death. I speak of Jesus, God’s Son. The author of Hebrews wrote, “…we see Jesus, …for the suffering of death…by the grace of God might taste death for everyone.” And Paul, acknowledging “the sting of death,” wrote, “…thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So although we all must die, Jesus, in John’s gospel, explains- “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A recent article in Time magazine entitled “The Forgotten Prince” explores the nature of Prince Charles’ personality. Described as a mass of complexities, “he appears to be engaged yet aloof, indulged, yet deprived, surrounded by people yet profoundly alone.” He is quoted as saying “my greatest problem in life is that I do not really know what my role is life is.” Did you know that there is another “forgotten Prince”? Jesus, God’s Son, the Prince of Peace.” In contrast to Prince Charles, He knew His role in life. It was to live a sinless life and die for the sins of the world on a Cross. Luke’s gospel records His words, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Now, having paid the sin debt for us all, He offers eternal life to any who believe in Him.Is He the forgotten Prince in your life?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

In a recent survey, 50% of respondents admitted removing the batteries in their smoke detectors, leaving them inoperable. Perhaps this is the same mindset that some have who never read the Bible or listen to its cautions. They chose to discredit it and simply do not believe it is really God’s inspired Word. But this “head in the sand” attitude will prove fatal just as ignoring smoke alarms can. John, in his gospel tells us that Jesus promised something very good to those who do not ignore His warnings. He said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life.” Clearly, Jesus was wanting us to know that faith in Christ alone is the key to forgiveness and a home in heaven, not our works. That’s because none of us is good enough and can’t do enough to earn our way to heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Being on P.E.I. has given me peace of mind…. I am following my dream “Those were the words of Leek Deng Ayuel as he became a Canadian citizen with 41 others at a recent ceremony in Stratford PEI. Born in Sudan before emigrating to Kenya, Ayuel came to P.E.I. five years ago to study at UPEI. His goal is to eventually become a doctor. This is a beautiful picture of what happens when we give our lives to Christ, ask His forgiveness and accept His gift of eternal life. John wrote of this, with the words, “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” And Paul wrote of this experience to the church of Ephesus, saying “… now therefore you are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens…of the household of God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A drug-smuggling tunnel equipped with electricity, ventilation and a rail system has been found connecting San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico. Authorities seized more than eight tons of marijuana and 325lb (147kg) of cocaine in the discovery of the recently finished tunnel, believed to be near Tijuana’s airport. More than 75 such secret tunnels have been discovered since 2008. It is amazing what greed will cause people will do. To gain riches, they will disregard the law and ignore the fact that they are harming others. And similarly, often people try to get around God’ laws and gain what they want while disregarding the clear truth. Jesus reminded us to "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter

Pastor Alex Rockwell

6,600 people search for the term, God’s Power, through Google every month. Major changes in scientific outlook have caused many scientists to review their ideas about the miracles of the Bible. Dr. John R. Brobeck, professor of physiology at the University of Pennsylvania medical school believes that many scientists now admit the possibility that Christ raised the dead, and that Moses did order the parting of the Red Sea. He says the one factor that could account for the miracles of scriptures is a source of energy unknown to the scientific system. He added, “In the Bible, it is known as the power of God. The Bible does have much to say about God’s power, such as “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” No wonder Paul was inspired to write, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation for everyone who believes”.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

13 year old girl Gracie Johnson said her father, Dwayne Johnson, 46, shielded her as boulders crashed down on them on a Colorado hiking trail. Rescuers dug her out of the rubble after a slide. When the huge boulders were coming down on top of them Gracie’s father covered her up and protected her, which saved her life. In the tragic incident, Gracie’s parents and sister and two cousins were killed. What a selfless sacrificial act by this father, saving his own daughter. But there was an even greater sacrifice which our Savior performed for us all. Paul wrote of it in his letter to the Romans, saying, “…perhaps for a good man, someone would dare to die. But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” No matter how we have lived, Christ loves us and His arms of love and forgiveness are always open to receive us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Martha Cothren, a high school teacher in Arkansas, wanted to teach her children a history lesson. When students arrived, there were no desks to sit on. She told them they could not have a desk until they could tell her how they earned the right to sit at a desk. None answered correctly, so they had to sit on the floor. Television crews started gathering. When the final period came, Cothren opened her door and several war veterans walked in, each carrying a chair. The teacher then explained to the students that they had not earned the right to sit at desks, the veterans had. They had paid the price so the students could get an education. And nobody earned the right to call himself a Christian. Jesus did. Paul described The Savior’s sacrificial act for us all, when he wrote, “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Someone rocked a boat to see if it would tip. It did. Someone looked into the barrel of a gun to see if it was loaded. It was. Someone smelled escaping gas and lit a piece of oily waste to find the leak. He found it. Someone lived all his life rejecting Christ and the gospel to see if there really was a hereafter. There was. In each case, those involved were taking a chance, gambling. They lost. It may be that you never buy lotto tickets, never visit the casinos or never gamble. But if you are leaving Christ out of your life, staking everything on the idea that the hereafter and the need of the new birth to get to heaven are just silly myths, you are taking the biggest gamble of time and eternity. You will lose. You are betting against the integrity of Jesus Christ Himself, who certified them as true. He asked, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Officials in Forrest Park Illinois say a commuter train was likely unmanned when it crashed into another train outside Chicago during morning rush hour. Video from the scene shows no driver at the controls of the empty train that crashed into another train injuring almost 50 persons. That unmanned train reminds us that often our lives can be out of control with nobody at the helm. You wonder what to do. You don’t know what is happening. Well it does not have to be that way. We all need direction, and God wants to be our Leader. Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Someone once said, “Give God your heart, and He’ll comb the kinds out of your head.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell