I heard a gentle thump on the patio window. Looking up, I saw that a robin had flown into the glass. It wandered around in a daze for a while, but eventually it recovered and flew away. Windows that reflect a bird’s natural habitat, such as trees, can cause them to make the mistake of flying into hard surfaces, resulting in injury or death. This is especially true in cities with large high rise buildings and lots of glass. Things are not always what they appear to be. We too can be fooled by appearances and lured into bad habits, finding out too late that we are trapped into destructive habits because we are not seeing what is really there.. Although often humorously laughed at as mythical character with horns and a long tail, Satan is real and no joke. Paul wrote of his work on unsuspecting victims, “…whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel….should shine on them.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future.” Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of York. was responding to an apology from the London Metropolitan police. He had been confronted in the Royal residence’s garden, by police and ordered to identify himself. Two days earlier, an intruder had been discovered prowling, so the protection unit was jittery. But Prince Andrew had every right to be in the garden, since he is the son of the Queen and a member of the royal family. And all of us who have been born again into God’s Royal family receive all the rights an privileges. John, in his gospel put it this way, “….as many as received Him (Jesus) to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name. “ Prince Andrew did not earn the rights of Royalty, he was born into the Royal family. And we do not earn the right to God’s Royal family, it is “ by grace, not of works lest anyone should boast.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Someone told me recently about three elderly sisters, 96, 94 and 92. Living together. One day the 96 year old stepped into the bathtub, and stopped, wondering if she was getting in or out. Meanwhile, the 94 year old was halfway up the stairs and stopped, trying to remember if she was going up or down. So she called down to her 92 year old sister in the kitchen. The younger sister, pleased that she wasn’t forgetful like her sisters laughed and pounded on the table and answered, “Just a minute, somebody’s knocking at the door.” I also read that U.S. researchers may have found a protein, RbAp48, that plays a major role in normal, age related memory loss- and the condition could one day be treated with drugs. Whatever our age, I’m, sure we could all use some help. But did you know that God forgets too? When we sincerely acknowledge our wrong-doing He forgives, and forgets. His forgetting is described in the book of Isaiah with the words,” I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

If you have ever wondered whether our much loved Bible is trustworthy, or merely a book of fiction, please listen to this. Time magazine has written “Over the past 200 years, the Bible has been subjected to the most rigorous examination of any book in history. It has been looked at archaeologically, historically, and text critically. Not only has the Bible withstood the test, but it has actually emerged better for all the fracas” In another issue, Time wrote, "Archaeological digging continues to turn up new evidence that the Bible is often surprisingly accurate in historical particulars, more so than earlier generations of scholars ever suspected..” And Nelson Gueck an American , academic and archaeologist. once wrote, "It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference" Yes, the Bible can be trusted. And it transforms people who heed Jesus’ promise, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The infamous Tar Ponds, one of Canada’s most notorious industrial blights, was a toxic mess left behind after almost a century of steelmaking at the Sydney Steel plant in Cape Breton. But four years ago, the task of transforming one million tons of raw sewage, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and other toxins into a green space was begun. Today, the tar ponds are gone. The space they once occupied is now known as Open Hearth Park, a green area of about 96 acres of beautiful trees, green grass and public art and sports fields. It has been called “quite a transformation.” It beautifully illustrates God’s ability to transform people characterized by failure, wrong-doing, defeat and despair , if they’re willing to ask. Paul said, “…if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away, , …all things have become new.” And Jesus described this transformed life , saying, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A woman, thought to be dead, turned up alive about two weeks after her funeral and burial. The body of a woman found on a Philadelphia street had been identified as Sharolyn Jackson. Her son and a social worker who knew her had viewed pictures and identified the body as hers. This sad case of mistaken identity, is regrettable and painful for those involved. Many shy away from the subject of death and fear it,. But there is an antidote to fear. First- we acknowledge our spiritual condition and need of a personal Savior, agreeing with God’s Word that “there is none righteous no not one.” Then, we receive Christ into our lives by an act of faith, believing His promise, “…if you will confess with your mouth , the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” When you and I have taken these two steps, we can say with Paul, “ we are confident, yes well pleased, to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord .”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

At a church rummage sale in eastern Pennsylvania, Penny McKim purchased a shoebox full of coins and medals. Later, she discovered that one of the medals had originally belonged to famed industrialist and Bethlehem Steel Founder, Charles M. Schwab. She later learned that it was very valuable. Clearly someone did not recognize its true value. Similarly, there are many valuable but underestimated items in our lives. For example, the Bible, which has the power to transform lives, is often ignored and left to gather dust in our homes. Remember please that “…the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword…” But when neglected, it results in the neglecting of our relationship with God and of our personal salvation. No doubt that is why God inspired the same author of Hebrews to ask the rhetorical question, “ how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Proposed legislation in Quebec, if passed, would ban public employees from wearing visible religious symbols from turbans to skullcaps and large crosses. It is being strongly opposed. Wikipedia states that according to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world. But there are really only two religions- the “do” religion and the “done” religion. The “do” religion , adopted by most, teaches that by “doing” good works, joining a particular religion, giving to charitable causes, , we’ll impress God and have a better chance of making it into heaven in the next life. In stark contrast Jesus gave us what could be called the “done “ religion. While recognizing that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” we are told that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done..” And Paul, a representative of the “done” religion wrote, “…by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canadian researchers have treated the first patient in a clinical trial using genetically enhanced stem cells to repair damaged heart muscle after a major heart attack. The Bible has much to say about hearts too. The term “heart” in the Bible is used to denote the inner self, the real you. Philip, in the book of Acts, responding to a person who had been converted and was requesting water baptism, answered, “If you believe with all your heart , you may.” And Paul, describing how to make one’s peace with God, wrote, “If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…for with the heart one believes unto righteousness….” Repairing the physical heart is of great importance, and we salute each advance of medical science. But let’s bow in gratitude and humility to Jesus, the Great Physician, and by faith, accept the new heart He offers.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canadian Actor Don Harron, received a surprise tribute in Charlottetown last month, for his role in the creation of Anne of Green Gables-The Musical. As a comedian, at times Harron would don a wool cap, raggedy sweater and become Charlie Farquarson. Though occasionally he appeared as himself, he once said “Playing Don Harron is the toughest for me. I’m an actor and I like to hide.” And many of us like to have different faces for different situations, rather than to face ourselves courageously. Socrates is believed to have said, “Know thyself,” and the Bible teaches that God knows our hearts and what we are really like. He says,“ man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart.” Actor Don Harron knows the real Don Harron, and God knows the real me, and the real you. Thankfully, He made provision for our wrong-doing. He inspired Paul to write, “ In Him we have redemption…the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace

Pastor Alex Rockwell