Recently, I read the creed of a famous movie actor as it was given to a newspaper. In his own words, he summed up his philosophy of life. He said, “ I’m going to do as I please. I don’t need anybody in the world. I did it myself.” How said. Tragically, that is the unspoken creed of all to many people. They consider themselves self-made individuals who worship their supposed creator- themselves. This comes from pride and arrogance. But it is a foolish philosopohy of life. We have been created by God, and we are only alive because He allows it. If we have any gifts or talents, it is because he has bestowed them even our preparation for the next life in His hands. He has said, “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, lest anyone should boast.” Everyone of us has a philosophy of life, whether we realize it or not. What is yours? Is it that of the famous but foolish actor, or held with eternities values in view?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The card came to me by regular mail, saying “there is only bridge to PEI.” Then the card said, there is only One Who has bridged the way to Heaven. My attention caught, I read on- “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” It was an invitation to attend old fashioned gospel tent meetings. These good people have it exactly correct. There is, indeed only One who bridged the way to heaven-the Lord Jesus, who said in John’s gospel, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Now you can reach PEI, by boat, plane or even swimming, but there definitely are no other ways to heaven, such as good works, sincerity, being baptized, joining a church, or sincerely believing in falsehood. The only authentic source for spiritual direction- the Bible, makes it clear. Nobody has ever, or will ever make it into heaven except through faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

”Most people tend to avoid looking ahead to their end of days.” Those were the words of a newspaper commentator. The writer was correct. It is a very common habit to put off the making of important decisions regarding the future. It’s as though we think we have plenty of time, we’ll always be young and healthy, or that we will never die. Sickness, some muse, only happens to others. And many have the philosophy, “ why think of tomorrow, just live for today.” But the reality is that we all get older, all will have health issues, and we will eventually pass from this life. The question is, have I made preparations? In an Annapolis Valley cemetery, there is an interesting grave stone. On it is written the person’s name, time of birth and death, and then, the Bible text, “Prepare to meet thy God.” Excellent advice. And to prepare, we need to put our faith in Jesus , who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

You may have recently had a similar experience to a High school Teacher. He had been married for 27 years. when told by his wife, “ I want to go it alone.” She was leaving him. He was in shock. Is anything in life more crushing than rejection? How do you cope when it slams into your life? First, it’s important to admit to yourself that you are hurt. And don’t be ashamed to shed tears. Healing can’t begin until you admit that a problem exists. Remember emotional wounds won’t heal over night. It may take a long time to live through a rejection until you come to accept it. Above all, talk to God about your rejection. After all, He knows how it feels when friends turn away. He felt the sting of Thomas’ doubt and Peter’s denial. Yet the risen Christ offers strength to cope with rejection when you invite Him to come into your life and become your personal Savior and Lord.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Jackie Scott has been waiting for years to be officially accepted by her country. The 68 year old woman who was raised in Ontario is the daughter of a Canadian serviceman and a British woman. But because she was born before her parents were married, and her mother was not a Canadian citizen, and a tangle of old immigration laws, she had been denied citizenship in the country she loves. In 2004 when she applied for a passport, she discovered that she wasn’t Canadian simply because she’d been born out of wedlock. How good to know that God does not deal unjustly, or in a discriminatory manner. Regardless of our background, gender, or what our parents may have done, God loves us and welcomes all into His family. All who trust Him, and come to Him in humility and sincerity can say that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last month, in a Bank lineup, someone said, “Guess who died this morning?” Immediately he had the attention of everyone nearby, as he gave the name of a prominent Islander who had died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 60Dr. Michael Chan, a Cardiologist, says that currently 600,000 Canadians are walking around with heart failure, many not aware of it. That’s because many heart conditions do not reveal themselves until well along in the illness. Unfortunately, lack of awareness does not help, or lessen the danger. The word heart is often used in the Bible to represent our true nature. It is mentioned no less than 743 times. The Bible says that God searches the heart, and that it is deceitful and desperately wicked.” Are you walking around with a sick heart that could result in your missing heaven? While there is no known cure for physical heart disease, there is a cure for spiritual illness. It comes by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last month, an individual with a remarkable story to tell was in Charlottetown, speaking at the Canadian National Gideon Convention. Describing his new life. His name is Rick Osborne, who once was a hardened criminal, involved with drugs, crime and biker gangs. He has spent 23 years in prison. While there, he was often violent and nasty, and spent much time in solitary confinement. But his life changed dramatically when a Gideon Bible was left in his prison cell. He became a new man after reading the Bible and inviting Christ into his life. He is now leader of a youth organization called Truth4 Teens, a ministry to troubled youth, based in Ontario. His story is mind-boggling and an illustration of a promise made in the New Testament, which says, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” While most of us are not hardened criminals like Rick, but we are all in need of a Saviour. What God did in his life, He can do in ours.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“I have recently been hired for a job as a counselor for troubled teens.the problem is that when I was in a dark period of my life, I was a cutter, and have deep scars on one arm.” ….how do I handle this now that I’m in the pshycological field? … It’s hard to avoid with hot summer weather here and my past literally “on my sleeve.” This person with her deeply troubled past cannot hide the scars of her former lifestyle. We may not have those kind of scars ourselves, but many of us do have deep emotional scars from our past that affect us today. Only by opening ourselves to the love and forgiveness that God offers us can we be healed. Consider these beautiful words about our Saviour from Isaiah. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…by His stripes we are healed.” If you have the marks of past indiscretions, heed the words of the song, “Reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

He told me “I do not believe Bible is true.” Imagine 40 different physicians from many different countries, speaking different languages, writing over a period of 1600 years to compile a textbook for the treatment of a disease? How would you like to be treated by a doctor who was guided by that kind of a book? And yet the Bible, was written over a period of 1600 years, by writers who lived at different times and spoke different languages. And though many critics have tried, nobody has ever been able to prove one single error in the Bible. There is only one sensible feasible reason for the truthfulness of this life changing Book. We are told that “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. “ God was the author, and He inspired humans to write what He wanted written. We can trust the Bible when it tells us that God offers forgiveness and cleansing, and to fit us for heaven. A loving God urges us to “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“I was absolutely gobsmacked when I got the email saying someone had found it. I couldn’t believe it.” Those were the words of Eirian (eye-ree-ian) Evans. The newly-wed lost his wedding ring while snorkeling in Australia, during a honeymoon diving expedition with his new bride Bethan, (beth-ann) .The disappointed young couple flew back to Britain. He said, “They asked me to leave my contact details with them. but I was convinced I would never see it again.” But Eirian was stunned after the cherished ring was found by a scuba diver – at the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef, lodged in coral. It’s always exciting to find a long lost possession. Luke’s gospel tells the story of a shepherd who left his flock of 99 to search for one sheep that was lost. He found the lost sheep and carried it back with rejoicing. Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Are you lost? Jesus, the good Shepherd is looking for you today!

Pastor Alex Rockwell