Will and Kate’s wedding; a Royal baby coming. Millions have an interest in royal visits or news of the royal’s activities. Recently a Canadian, Michael Ibsen, has been told that his DNA has been used to help identify the remains of King Richard the third. Ibsen is a direct descendent of the King’s sister, Anne of York – a relative of royalty. Understandably, Ibsen is still trying to process his emotions. But did you know that it is possible for anyone of us to be related to royalty? Often, Jesus is referred to as a King, or the King of Kings. When He came to this world, it was to provide a way for all to enter into a personal relationship with Him by faith. If we do, we then become what the Bible calls “Children of God”, hence we become part of the Royal family. John, in his Gospel put it this way, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to them that believe on His name.” Now that is royalty of the highest order.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Jenny Lind was the best known singer in the world during her lifetime. Born in Sweden in 1820, known as the Swedish Nightingale, she had a brilliant career in opera and on the concert stage. P.T. Barnum brought her to the US in 1850, where she made highly successful tours and concert appearances, and became famous and wealthy. But in 1852, while still a young woman, she gave up opera and the stage. Considering her voice a gift from God, she is believed to have said, “I will sing for God.” This she did for the rest of her life, and donated generously to charitable and Christian causes. Her life teaches us all, as the Bible says, “our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are not our own… we have been bought with a price.” We are therefore called on to “glorify God” with what we have received. We have no right to boast of ourselves. As someone has said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” And that’s true of us all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Firefighting has always been a hard, dangerous job. Now there is a device called DSPA (Dry Sprinkler powder aerosol) which is used in places hard to access. The round metallic device, when tossed into a house, emits a cloud of potassium compound that quickly snuffs out the fire. The Bible also speaks of fire. It says “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity…it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature.” It can be used destructively and cause great hurt and damage to others – or it can be used to praise God when we give ourselves to Him. His power can then control our tongues. Even as DSPA quenches a fire quickly, so with God’s help our tongues can be tamed, we can cease from evil speaking and learn to speak the truth in love. Someone well said, “Be sure to taste your words with your tongue before you let them out through your teeth,” and “make sure your brain is engaged before putting your tongue into gear.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

It’s hard to imagine hay bales being the focus of a crime spree, but in some parts of the US, hay theft is emerging as a big problem. Some brazen thieves made off with truckloads of bales, worth thousands of dollars, while other steal one bale at a time, presumably hoping the farmers or ranchers won’t notice. This strange phenomenon reminds one of how we play games with God. We think one little white lie won’t matter, or cheating on income tax just this once surely can’t be considered a big sin. But just like those who steal hay, whether one bale or a truckload, they are still thieves. So when we break even one of God’s laws we fall short of His standard. That’s why Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But the good news is that when we admit we’ve fallen short and ask for mercy, God replies, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near….for He will abundantly pardon.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When an Australian customer complained that his “Footlong Subway Sandwich” was not a foot long, the Subway chain responded: “Subway Footlong is a registered trademark, a descriptive name for the sub, not intended to be a measurement of length.” Some asked, “Is that some kind of ‘mental gymnastics’?” God’s standard for heaven is perfection, and we know that perfection is impossible for us. No matter how good we try to be, we all fall short. The New Testament says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And “there is none righteous, no not one.” So how come we are told that God will one day take His children home to heaven? Since nobody is perfect and nobody deserves forgiveness and heaven, how can this be? The answer must be that someone who is perfect became our substitute when He took our place on the Cross and made true Christians, in God’s eyes, perfect. That is truly amazing grace.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Dr. John Stott, in his book “The Birds Our Teachers”, tells of a Manx Shearwater, a bird of the open ocean, which was taken from Stockholm and released at Boston’s Logan Airport. Twelve days later the same bird was home, a distance of 3,000 miles. It had travelled 250 mile a day. Dr. Stott called that “homing instinct.” What a wonderful God we have, to have instilled such an instinct in birds. But did you know that He has also given humans a “homing instinct”? When we are estranged from Him, we feel restless and try in vain to satisfy and fill our lives with other things. It was the wise Augustine who hundreds of years ago wrote, “our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” And the great man added, “When we come to rest in Him, He comes to rest in us.” No wonder Paul the Apostle wrote, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Are you at peace?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canada’s one cent coin, the “penny”, has reached the end of its usefulness. Minted first in1858, it ceased to be distributed on February the 4th. Its lack of present day value was the impetus for its demise. Small things often seem useless to us and we push them aside as unimportant. The Bible, God’s Word, tells us that He is concerned when even a sparrow falls. He has numbered the hairs of our heads. Sometimes you and I may feel insignificant and of little worth, just like the penny. That’s when it’s is good to know that someone loves us. John wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”, and an Old Testament records God saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” How good it is to know that this is true, even if we have done wrong and are like the proverbial “bad penny.” We are still of great value to the heavenly Father. Look up – you are loved!

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Recently, the Canadian conservative government abandoned its controversial and much – maligned internet surveillance bill, which it had hoped would help stop child pornographers. Whatever the merits or inherent dangers of the proposed bill were, its goal was commendable – to help protect children from sexual predators. Whatever one’s position on this bill, its demise will, among other things, make it possible for many offenders to stay hidden. But though we may be able to hide from big brother, we cannot hide from the all seeing eye of our Heavenly Father. The Psalmist wrote, “The Lord looks down from heaven. He sees all the sons of men…and observes all their deeds…” Somewhat disturbing? But wait – though He sees all, He is “the God of all comfort.” He is compassionate and longsuffering and abundant in mercy. Please don’t turn from Him, but let’s run to Him for forgiveness and the peace only He can give.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Taking a deep breath, Wally Mozdzierz pointed his skis down the icy slope, feeling the exhilaration common to anyone who skis. But for Wally, it’s different – he’s totally blind. Though he’s taken some tumbles, he continues to tackle some of the steepest and most challenging terrain. ”I have no fear” he says. The secret? Wally has a guide with him at all times, issuing instructions. And sometimes on life’s journey we too feel like we are blind, can’t see the future and don’t see the dangers. How different it would be if we had the Lord for our guide. He invites us to come just as we are, and accept His offer of forgiveness, cleansing and the promise of everlasting life. When we accept that offer, He becomes our guide through this life and even into the next. He once promised, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Is He your Guide?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Nancy Breberg from Minneapolis was on her way to meet her husband recently when her SUV slid off the road, down an embankment and into a pond. For 18 hours, the 67 year old diabetic was trapped, praying for help. She might not have survived, but for bicyclist Geoffrey Racette who spotted her and stopped to help. He crawled through the back window and fed Breberg some food he had been carrying, found medication and stayed with her until paramedics arrived to rescue her. Recetter recalled, “She was pretty weak. She said she wasn’t able to get out of the car and was stuck in there. She couldn’t crawl out the back.“ In other words¸ Ms. Breberg was helpless. She needed outside help. What a picture of what the good Lord has done for us. John wrote those famous words, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell