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

Thieves in Marlborough New Zealand broke into a car parked outside a local auto repair shop and began crossing wires to attempt to start the car and make off with it. But it wouldn’t start. It’s engine had been removed for repairs. There’s a lesson here for all of us. We need to make sure there’s an engine aboard if we hope to get anywhere. And most important of all, we need to make sure that we have the proper connection to God, if we hope to make it into heaven when our life on earth is over. But there is a way to know. John was inspired to write, “these things I have written to you …that you may know that you have eternal life.” And in order to have that assurance, we need a proper connection to God. We are told “He who has the Son has life.” And” If our lives are merely connect to religion, church attendance, baptism or good works, we’re not going anywhere. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Paradigm, game changer, at the end of the day, and moving forward. Those are known as “buzz words” -words or phrases used to impress or are fashionable. A buzzword used and abused today is the word, “connect,” used over, and over and over again. In his book Stop Talking, Start Communicating, Geoffrey Tumlin says “…we suffer from chronic and transmission overload- too many people weighing in on too many issues. What you want to say is only the beginning of the process- it is only completed when the recipient understands the message.” But long before today’s communication frenzy, God sent mankind the most important message it will ever receive-His Word the Bible. In it we find the answers that we need to know about God, man, sin, heaven and how to get there. But as with any message, it has to be read and understood. Jesus once said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Please read your Bible It is the greatest book ever written it can change your life..

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“…in view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited understanding am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God.” Those are the words of one of the brightest minds of the 20th century, Albert Einstein. Makes one wonder if Mr. Einstein was doing a little Bible reading and came across the Psalmist’s inspired words, “the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky proclaims His handiwork.” And for those who say there is not God, the Psalmist has some strong words when he states emphatically, “the fool says in his heart, there is no God.” I do not know what views of Christianity this intellectual giant, in this he is correct- it is impossible to rationally conceive of a universe created with such harmony and order, without the existence of a personal God. And Einstein and you and I will someday be accountable to that personal God.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Have you ever seen a diamond the size of an egg? A New York auction house is showing one that will soon be auctioned off. It is described as being the greatest stone in terms of size, quality polish and color ever to be auctioned. It is expected to bring between 26-35 million dollars. But this beautiful gem was once a bit of carbon buried deep in the earth. Perhaps as you view your life today, it appears to be worthless like the carbon. Bu t God can change all that. When we ask Him to forgive our sins and make us one of His children, He has promised to make us new. How do I know? It’s in the Bible. “therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” Song-writer and singer Bill Gaither gave us a song that expressed this change in simple terms. “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

Clint Eastwood, Kim Kardashian, Ashley Judd and Johnny Depp have all recently been divorced or separated from their husband, wife or partner. Sadly, this is common among the rich and famous. But one in every two marriages in Canada now ends in divorce. But even if a warm affection no longer exists, a dying marriage can be restored., if both parties are willing to admit their own faults,. Most marriages fail because of selfishness. God gives us the antidote to selfishness in marriage- “Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own…”.If your marriage is in trouble, please , let the gentle winds of God’s grace blow on the smoldering embers of your dying marriage, the flame of love can be rekindled. You may be thinking, I can’t forgive. I’ve been hurt too much. Then acknowledge that you need outside help. Remember that God wants your marriage to continue. First, invite Him into your life, ask His forgiveness, and then having been forgiven, begin the process of forgiving of your spouse.

Pastor Alex Rockwell