Centuries ago, Portuguese settlers built an enormous cathedral on the south coast of China, with a massive bronze cross on its front wall. A few years later, a typhoon destroyed the structure, leaving only the wall and the huge cross standing. Centuries later, there was a tragic shipwreck. Many perished, but one man, clinging to a piece of wreckage survived. Although disoriented, he was guided to land by keeping the cross in view. His name was Sir John Bowring and later, remembering that cross that helped save his life, he wrote the much loved old hymn, “In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time.” On this sea of life, it is easy to become disoriented and despair. But the cross of Christ still points the way, for on that cross, Jesus died for all mankind. Peter wrote, “Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” The way of the cross leads home.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp has an unusual space project. He calls it Mars One, and he is looking for people willing to travel to Mars – but it would be a one-way ticket. The space travelers would have to be willing to die on Mars, because the technology to bring them back to earth does not exist. The cost per traveler would be about a billion and a half – I pass. I prefer the offer of the Jesus. He said, in John’s gospel, “In my house are many mansions….I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am there you may be also.” Oh, and by the way, there is no charge for the trip Jesus offers. It is a gift. He has promised, “… the gift of God is eternal life…” So how does one sign up for this wonderful trip to heaven? You simply ask for it. Paul explained, to a jail keeper, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” And God promises that no sincere person will ever be refused.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A while back, radar triggered speed signs were installed in different places on PEI, similar to the ones you see upon entering the Confederation Bridge. As you approach, the device starts flashing your speed. It works, and probably it has saved some from serious accidents, or large fines. Perhaps sickness, financial reverses, problems in the home or business have caught your attention lately, and caused you to assess your direction in life. It may be God’s warning signals. It can be a positive thing, if acted upon. There are many flashing signals in the Bible. One Old Testament writer put it this way, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord that He may have compassion on Him, for He will abundantly pardon.” Has God been trying to get through to you lately?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“You can see anything that’s going on from anywhere in the world.” That’s the promise of the latest security system technology. It’s good news to a family member, whose basement was flooded last month, leaving a mess. He is now purchasing technology which will tell him if there is a water problem in his home, or allow him to see if intruders enter his residence when he and his family are away. Let’s hope homes will be safer because of these devices. But did you know that God has always been able to monitor our lives? He sees everything we do and even knows our thoughts. The Psalmist wrote of the all-seeing eyes of God, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up. You discern my thoughts from afar and are acquainted with all my ways.” What a great heavenly monitoring system. It is a comfort to those who are properly related to our Lord Jesus by faith, and sincerely walking in His ways. .

Pastor Alex Rockwell

One of the concerns of people protesting the controversial PEI Trans-Canada realignment project, Plan B, is the destruction of trees. And they were on the mind of Joyce Kilmer when he penned the famous poem called “Trees,” ending with the words, “Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.” Did you know that a tree has cells similar to those in a human body? A spruce tree has an estimated ten to fourteen billion cells, each of which is like a miniature factory. Why is there such a reluctance to credit God with a direct creative act and credit “mother nature?” Science tells us what happens, but not why. But Paul, in the New Testament, wrote, “…Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made….” And the God who made the tree made you and me. But unlike a tree, we have immortal souls and we are accountable to Him.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Security cameras record our movements. Drones may be keeping an eye on us. With this in mind, New York designers Adam Harvey and Johanna Bloomfield have created a clothing line called Stealth Wear. The garments are made of fabric that reflects heat to prevent the body’s thermal signature from reaching the eye of an infrared camera. In a way, you become invisible. Innocent people have a right to be concerned when personal privacy is invaded. But some try to hide and cover up for wrong-doing. After Adam and Eve in the Garden rebelled and disobeyed God, Genesis records “…and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God….” They learned that you can’t hide from God. He found them and called out, “What is this that you have done?” When we admit our wrong-doing, it is better to run to God, than from Him, because you can run, but you cannot hide.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and the International Space Station are making headline news these days. And renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has said that the colonization of outer space is key to the survival of humankind, “to avoid disaster in the next hundred years.” But in an honest admission, Hawking also seemed to cast doubt on his own prediction by saying “our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instinct…” That is really another way of describing the sin problem mankind faces. Like it or not, we are all infected with a terminal disease called sin. But while exploring outer space will not solve earth’s problems, there is still hope. Paul put it this way, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, to redeem…” Christ, not space exploration, is this world’s only hope.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A few years ago, what is believed to be a statue of Jesus Christ was discovered, near Petra, about one hundred miles from Amman, Jordan. It was exciting because people have always wondered what Christ looked like. While know little of His physical appearance, much is written about what Jesus is really like. We know He was a compassionate person because when He saw the needy we are told, “He was moved with compassion…” He was forgiving, because when religious people brought a fallen woman to Him, He forgave her, saying “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” We know He was humble, because Matthew records that He was “gentle and lowly in heart.” We know He was caring, because we are told that He was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, who spent more time with the broken – hearted than with others. And we know He was loving – He gave His life on the Cross for us all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last month Students of Stonepark School in Charlottetown PEI were able to speak with Astronaut Christ Hadfield from the International Space Station. Sue Geddes, who coordinated the special event ,said, “it’s so hard to imagine, but he has made it real for everybody. He’s brought it back down to earth.” Hadfield will return to earth in mid- May – remarkable! But there is a greater space to earth story, in which a Person from space, came down to earth, performed amazing things, and now is preparing to return to earth. Jesus, the God-Man, left heaven, was miraculously born as a baby, grew up and died on a cross for all mankind. But He’s coming back. He promised, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again …that where I am, there you may be also.” Later He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus, not a church, is the only way to heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

It may not be that sleeplessness, anger at the unfairness of life, addictions and other troubles would send you to the psychotherapist’s office. It may be the depressive realization that posh homes, super jobs, technological toys or the perfect mate just don’t cut it – and you realize that you don’t know why you are here, and feel that life is meaningless. When we were young we all had dreams, but as we grow older, many struggle to keep a balance on the sea of life – but have no anchor. I am pleased to tell you that unsatisfied longings of the human heart can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ. The hymn-writer was right on when he asked, “will your anchor hold in the storms of life”, but then answered with “”we have an anchor that keeps the soul”. One New Testament writer put it this way, ”we have this as a sure, steadfast anchor of the soul”, then he identifies the Anchor saying, “where Jesus has entered”. Does your soul have an anchor?

Pastor Alex Rockwell