Oh no! A parking ticket on my windshield. We rush back to the car only to find it’s too late-the ticket under the windshield wiper is already there. The meter man is exacting justice for breaking the law. A few weeks ago in Charlottetown, a man watched as the tickets were being given out. So he ran ahead and popped a quarter in the next expired meter. It was his good deed for the day. What a great illustration of law and grace. The broken law demanded punishment, but the unsuspecting car owner was given grace. Someone intervened. He was given grace- an undeserved favor. Similarly, God’s law demands punishment for our sins, but His grace extends unmerited favor because “Christ died for our sins” He intervened so we don’t have to face judgment. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest anyone should boast.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Someone wrote, “Like a camouflaged soldier, the big bird stood un-moving and nearly unseen in the bare oak. I took a step closer, and its head rotated slightly. I found myself looking into a pair of penetrating dark eyes.” Owls are fascinating creatures. Their fixed stare, spine chilling hoots and shrieks tend to intimidate. The owl’s head is on such flexible bearings that it can rotate at least 180 degrees. Thus an owl’s body can be facing in one direction, and its head in another. John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress, mentions a man called Mr. Facing Both Ways. He tries to sit on the fence. But nobody can do this continuously. We must make a choice. Jesus reminded us that “No man can serve two masters…” And Josuha in the Old Testament urged, “Choose yourselves whom you will serve.” Then he added, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Are you trying to sit on the fence in regards to your relationship to God?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The world’s most successful lawyer wrote, “I have spent more than 42 years as a defense trial lawyer in many parts of the world….and I say unequivocally, the evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt.” The writer was Sir Lionel Luckhoo of the Guinness Book fame for his unprecedented 245 consecutive defense murder trial acquittals. This brilliant lawyer and international statesman’s research has brought him to the conclusion that Jesus did, in fact rise bodily from the grave. If you are pinning your hopes on the vain idea that Jesus did not rise from the grave and that there is no life after death, no accountability before God, I hope you will give some serious thought to Sir Lionel Luckhoo’s research and conclusion. Paul reminded us that one day, “…every knee shall bow…and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When a prominent Maritime Cabinet Minister had a heart attack a while back, he called it “a life changing moment.” And when people come face to face with death, many make serious lifestyle changes. It is time to realize that sooner or later, this life is going to end. When that happens, we will experience what the brilliant Daniel Webster once said was the greatest thought that had ever crossed his mind, “My personal accountability to my Maker.” Have you had a face to face encounter with serious health issues lately? If so, I urge you to make your peace with God and get ready for that inevitable meeting. You can do that by acknowledging your spiritual bankruptcy and invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and become your Savior. No matter how you have lived, He will accept you. Because He promised, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Horrible”, “awful”, “inexcusable” describe the findings last month that approximately 1,000 cancer patients in Ontario and New Brunswick were unknowingly given diluted chemotherapy. There is no assurance it will not endanger or shorten lives. This is very disturbing, and the result of incompetence or neglect. These patients trusted a system which failed them and gave them a false sense of security. Let’s hope steps will be taken so this never happen again. And in an even more serious vain, when it comes to our eternal well-being, we need to make sure we are not putting our confidence in a religious system, if based on falsehood. The only trustworthy person to put one’s trust in is the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, not one comes to the Father except through me.” And the only trustworthy source of information is the Word of God, the Bible. Please read it and obey it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Éxperiencing death has made me appreciate life more keenly.” Those strange words were spoken by 22 year old Zeng Jia, a student from Wuhan China, who staged her own funeral, so she was able to enjoy it while still alive. She spent a lot of money for the service, including mourners, flowers, and photographers. After lying in state for an hour, Zeng got up to join her own wake. Just when you think nothing will ever surprise you again, something like this happens. But her bizarre act serves to remind us that we are all going to die some day. And just as she now continues to experience life after her make believe death, if we have Christ in our lives, we can go one better. Jesus, speaking of physical death and eternal life said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

25 year old Matthew Aaron Robillard of Picture Butte, Alberta, is married and a father of a six month old child. When he experienced significant financial loss, he decided on a novel way to account for it. He faked his own disappearance to make it appear as though he had been abducted, in order to account for that loss. He did damage to his own abandoned car and to himself. Police have determined that he was not the victim of a crime. He has been charged with public mischief. Robillard is not the first person to go into hiding to avoid facing the real world, and the truth about himself. It happens every day. And our first parent, Adam and Eve tried it when they hid themselves from God. in the Garden of Eden But when we try these cover- ups, we really don’t solved anything. Paul warned, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” We should run to God not from Him. Because when we face our true selves, and admit our mid-deeds, God always understands and forgives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A Royal Ontario Museum exhibit featuring thousands of dead birds is meant to raise awareness of the perils in Toronto skies for the bird population. It is estimated that more than a million birds are killed each year by colliding with city structures. Many of the fatalities are caused by reflective windows which keep skies visible, fooling the birds in thinking they are on a clear path to wherever they are going. For bird lovers, this is a sad truth. But they provide life lessons for us all. In our head-long flight through this life, we often think our path is clear, only to crash into unseen, unexpected obstacles. We find ourselves stunned and broken, and ask the question- “Why?” King David gave us the answer in the 16th Psalm, when he wrote “You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” This promise is ours when we put our complete trust in Jesus as Savior.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The first cash register was created in the late 1800s. Since then, it has been an essential for most retail outlets. But now, it seems that it is heading for obsolescence. Smart phones, and tablets are increasingly replacing everything from books to ATMs to cameras. While any change will reduce lineups in stores is welcome, there concerns in our technological age. One is the idea that everything new is good, and everything old should be discarded.. James, in the Bible wrote, “Do not be deceived….every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning..” And the book of Hebrews says, that “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” In this ever changing world, it is good to know that there is One who never changes. Well did the hymn writer remind us, Change and decay in all around I see, Oh thou who changes not, abide with me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Recently a teen-age boy found himself adrift on an ice floe in North River PEI. What looked like secure chunks of ice turned out to be very dangerous. Because of currents and warming temperatures, ice floes are susceptible to movement and melting. Fortunately for him, the North River Fire fighters were able to rescue him. When I read this story, it reminded me of many dear people who are adrift on the sea of life. They are clinging to the ice floes of riches, success, popularity good health religion and other seemingly safe anchors. But sometimes the currents are sweeping them on and they become helplessly adrift. Fortunately, as with the teenage boy on the ice floe, there is a Savior who can rescue. His name is Jesus.” He is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come…” to Him But remember please, a call or help is necessary.

Pastor Alex Rockwell