Deborah Wiles was running the 10 K race at the Maritime Race Weekend, trying to improve on her personal best of 57 minutes. She was running well, but then her energy began to wane, and she was ready to give up her aspirations. She thought, “I’ll never make it- stopping would feel so good.” Then she heard a voice. “You can’t stop now!” It was another runner, Christine MacCauley. “Come on,” she said, “Just keep pace with me.” Too surprised to resist, Deborah willed her legs to get moving again and she began trotting alongside of MacCauley. It was enough for Deborah to finish in 53:19, her personal best. Life is often compared to a race and sometimes when difficulties come, we feel ready to give up. But the Lord Jesus comes along beside of us and says, “Come, follow me. I am your Friend. I have provided eternal life for you. I love you. And when we believe and accept Him, we find we are never alone for the rest of our lives. Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The ocean’s deepest point, known as the Mariana Trench, is 11 kilometers below the surface. That’s so deep it could swallow Mt. Everest and still leave over 2,000 meters of water above the mountain’s submerged peak. It is believed that over 80% of life on our planet lives deep in the ocean. A pressurized aquarium called the Abyss Box has now been developed to allow the public to see deep sea creatures in their natural environment. Understanding the deep ocean is only at its beginning stages – and is being referred to as a new frontier. But God made it all. In Psalm 104, David said, “O Lord, how manifold are your works. In wisdom you have made them all…this great and wide sea in which are living things both small and great.” A song writer has posed the question “How big is God? And then answers, “He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe but small enough to live within my heart. Now that’s something worth serious thought.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When asked on a television show what the difference is between kissing your sweetheart and your mother, one amused contestant responded, “About 15 minutes.” That’s a long kiss. But Vincent Torro, 34 and Louise Heath 26 claim to have achieved the world’s longest kiss ever. It lasted 96 hours and 32 minutes. If that actually happened, it is still not the world’s greatest kiss. In Psalm 85, verse 10 we are told “…Loving kindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” That took place when Christ died on the cross for our sins. It brought together the truth about our sinfulness and spiritual depravity and the mercy of God. On that historic occasion, our spiritual deficiency was made up for by Christ taking our place, becoming our substitute. That was some kiss! And while Vincent Torro and Louise Heath surely felt the effects of their long kiss, the world will forever feel the effect of the kiss of God. Have you allowed it to affect your life?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When asked on a television show what the difference is between kissing your sweetheart and your mother, one amused contestant responded, “About 15 minutes.” That’s a long kiss. But Vincent Torro, 34 and Louise Heath 26 claim to have achieved the world’s longest kiss ever. It lasted 96 hours and 32 minutes. If that actually happened, it is still not the world’s greatest kiss. In Psalm 85, verse 10 we are told “…Loving kindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” That took place when Christ died on the cross for our sins. It brought together the truth about our sinfulness and spiritual depravity and the mercy of God. On that historic occasion, our spiritual deficiency was made up for by Christ taking our place, becoming our substitute. That was some kiss! And while Vincent Torro and Louise Heath surely felt the effects of their long kiss, the world will forever feel the effect of the kiss of God. Have you allowed it to affect your life?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A cancellation stamp seal from the historic site of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Cavendish home has gone missing. The famous author of Anne of Green Gables had used the seal while working at the local post office in Cavendish. The item had been used at the post office for nearly 200 years. The seal is priceless to the family. The item was being kept in the bookshop museum on the site. We all have items from the past that we view as treasures perhaps because of association with loved ones. Have you ever noticed how crosses are often used as symbols? Although the Roman cross on which Jesus died was not a thing of beauty, but rather an instrument of torture and death , it has become a symbol of love and beauty to those who are Christ followers and believe that “Christ died for our sins” on a cross. One of the most famous hymns of all times put it this way-“And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Recent revelations that the U.S. Prism Surveillance of e-mails, phone calls, social networking and data storage is being viewed with consternation by many. The problem isn’t just what Prism knows, but what they will do with that knowledge. “But I’ve done nothing wrong” you say. Perhaps not, but your innocence will be determined on the basis of the compiled date. And we know there is certainly room for human error in accumulation of date. But one thing is certain. As the Bible reminds us, “The judge of all the earth does right.” When we stand before Him to give account, His records of our lives will be without error. The question will be, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ, God’s Son and His provision of forgiveness and the gift of eternal life? Yes or no? An old hymn asks that question this way, “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be. Someday your heart will be asking, what will He do with me?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

After another suicide by a young person, resulting from bullying and inappropriate use of the internet, an insightful editorial in the Charlottetown Guardian posed an interesting question. Have we suddenly stopped teaching our children what is right and wrong, or what is acceptable behavior? In this technological age, the potential is greater than ever for people to harm themselves and others, since the human heart has not changed. The bluntly describes our fallen human nature- “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked…” The only answer to evil is a changed heart. And that is possible only as we stop deceiving ourselves and acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy. When we do, Ezekiel offers hope, writing, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…” And Paul later explained with the words, “.. if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation old things have passed away, all things become new.” Are you ready for a life change?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Much has been written and spoken about time- how we waste it, how we use it, how to perform more efficiently, how to deal with looming deadlines and the like. most will agree that time is the most valuable asset living people have. However, eventually it does rung out for all of us. Procrastination is the most deadly enemy of productive use of time. The New Testament tells the story of the Apostle Paul, having been arrested, gives his defense before an official named Felix. As Paul ‘reasoned bout righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered,, “Go away now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” There is no record of that “convenient time” ever happening. It was a deadly decision. It is important to remember that “now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Please don’t let procrastination dull your sense of urgency.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

If you are 50 or more, I’m sure you have been amazed at the changes which have taken place in your lifetime. The computer is a huge factor. But think of the changes which take place in people’s lives when all the children move out, changes resulting from medical problems, changes when folks lose their employment. Then more change when we downsize, or move into a senior’s apartment. Remember the words of the old hymn ”change and decay, in all around I see”. But thankfully, in this world of enormous changes, there is one constant. The God of the Bible never changes. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.” Our Savior never changes. He is “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday and today and forever.” The way to heaven never changes, Our Lord said, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Blinded by smoke in a burning house, three firemen rescued a trapped woman inside a rural home. The three men are being hailed as heroes. Similar true event such as that occur regularly right here in Atlantic Canada, and indeed all over the world. Firemen, and in some cases firewomen are unsung heroes. Such stories warm the heart and give us insights into selfless behavior. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Romans with the following words; “One will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ’s death made His disciples sad, and His murderers glad. But God, in His great love for us provided the death of His son to take our punishment for sin. Amazing love! Have you experience it? Remember He has promised, “Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell