Financial institutions have been in the news for the last few years, not always for good reasons. One Canadian Bank tells us, “You’re richer than you think.” While that may make some people smile, there is one sense in which we are all richer than we think. Because all of us have a Bank that credits us every morning with 484,600 with no carry over, no balance from day to day. Every morning whatever is not used is cancelled. So would sensible people do? Common sense dictates that we draw every bit in the account. I am speaking of course of time. Every morning the good Lord credits us with 486,400 seconds. At night, He calculates as a loss, whatever of this treasure we have not used, for a good purpose. There is no drawing some out for the next day. One New Testament writer urged us, to “Redeem the time, for the days are evil.” And an Old Testament verse warns, “Prepare to meet your God.” Let’s invest our time for eternity.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” But he was only half correct. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Because there is abundant evidence of intelligent design and planning. For example, oxygen, drawn into the lungs is taken by the blood cells and distributed to all parts of the body; it is essential to the function of the mind, it burns the food in each body cell, it produces carbon dioxide and water which the lungs expel into the air. Who makes it possible for the oxygen and blood cells to do this? Some convince themselves this is all chance. It’s like saying that a clock accidentally made itself. There’s only one explanation for Creation – and intelligent, planning master Designer- the God of the Bible. Only a fool says, “There is no God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Legendary hockey player Gordie Howe, is 85! David Suzuki is in his 70s. And we are all getting older. When someone we have known about most of our lives gets old, it makes us realize that in fact, time is passing, But even if you are still young, we are reminded by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes,, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them…” When we think of people such as Gordie Howe, and David Suzuki, or hear of an elderly person who has passed on, it reminds us all, that we are not going to be here forever. And David the Psalmist knew that he was mortal, when He wrote, that God “…knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourishes, for the wind passes over it and it is gone.” The big question each needs to settle is will I spend eternity with God, or without Him?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The government is promising to search out those who cheat on income taxes. No doubt they will catch many who have tried to get away with hiding income. In the US, where their cheating on taxes amounts to one hundred and eighty billion dollars each year, the IRS has set up what it calls a conscience fund where cheaters whose conscience kicks in can return the money anonymously. God has placed in each one of us a conscience that enables us to distinguish between right and wrong. But the Bible also speaks of a “seared conscience,” or cauterized as with a hot iron – when folks ignore the voice of conscience. But thank God, if we admit our wrong-doing, and ask for God’s forgiveness, it is readily given. If you have wronged someone, make amends. We are invited to “seek the Lord while He may be found,” to “call upon Him while He is near” and…” He will abundantly pardon.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Spring is here, and with it warmer weather and a better chance to enjoy the great out doors. In his book “A Guide to the Planets”, Patrick Moore wrote of our beautiful earth- “…it is the only world in the solar system upon which we could survive.” Why did he write that? Because if the earth were smaller or larger than 8,000 miles in diameter, by as little as ten percent, all life would cease to exist. For the earth to be habitable, it must have an adequate supply of light and heat, a uniform distribution of water, and an atmosphere of proper density and composition. Our planet has all three. All of these exist in much larger quantities in other areas of the universe. Why are they so uniformly distributed on earth, making life possible? The intelligent answer is God. Perhaps that’s why He inspired King David to write in the 14th Psalm, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A police officer in a small town noticed a number of bulls eyes painted here and there. Right in the middle of every one was bullet hole. Learning the identity of the shooter, the officer met him and complimented him on his amazing ability and said ,”It must have taken hours of practice to accomplish such a feat.” But the young man said, “No, actually it’s quite easy. I shoot first, then draw the circle.” And many do it that way when carrying out unacceptable actions, like dishonesty, immorality and unfaithfulness to a spouse. To try to avoid guilt, some excuse themselves by “drawing the circle” after they have done the act, and refer to their actions a “preferences” or “the way I see it.” But that doesn’t work in the eyes of God Wrong is still wrong. And God still says, “whatever a man sows that he will also reap.” The only appropriate response to wrong-doing is acknowledging it to God, and asking for forgiveness

Pastor Alex Rockwell

God knew you before you were born – what a mind-boggling thought. Dr. David Jeremiah, in his book Sanctuary reminds us, “…in every cell of your body, there is enough information to recreate your adult person as if no other cells were necessary. He writes, “If the DNA instruction of one cell were written out, it would take a one thousand six hundred page book to put all the information down. And yet, God put this all in a cell so tiny that it cannot be seen without magnification.” In light of this amazing truth about our bodies, how dare we ignore our Creator. Like King David of old, we should all pray, “Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canadians are becoming heavier, weaker, less flexible and therefore vulnerable to illness, injury and premature frailty. Commenting on that sobering information, one Maritime newspaper wrote “sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.” And it is true. Sometimes it is necessary to appear to be cruel to be kind. Paul the Apostle echoed that truth speaking to folks about serious problems in their lives, who had reacted negatively, He asked, “Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Often when we are confronted about our spiritual condition and reminded that “all have sinned”, we react in anger and denial. When made aware of our poor physical condition, we need to take action. And how much wiser it is to face up to the facts of our spiritual need and turn to the Lord. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” .

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Dr. Les Dennis from Nova Scotia recently published an insightful article which wisely and accurately summarizes the state of religious belief in our day. Dennis points out that in many circles there is a rejection of absolutes, which has resulted in the concept of no right and no wrong. He states that “our whole sense of morality is skewed.” He adds that in the church which is now emerging, while God is not done away with, doctrine and truth do not matter. He says that proponents of this philosophy are more concerned with personal experience than about whether the message of Christianity is true. He then points out that the difference between this new kind of belief and what Jesus actually taught is that it is the truth that makes us free. And I am reminded of our Savior’s words when He said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship is one of the most popular sports in the USA. But a recent report reveals that approximately 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States, with the likelihood of serious consequences increasing with each subsequent head injury. So I ask, “Why would anyone, knowing the serious danger of getting life-altering brain damage, continue in the sport? “ The answer in some cases is that they are in denial. But in most cases – it’s the almighty dollar. But not only participants in the UFC make this choice. Millions, knowing that all of us will ultimately leave this life and enter eternity are in denial and make no preparation whatever. What good advice Isaiah gave us when he said, “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near….return to the Lord ….for He will abundantly pardon.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell