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

CNN’s Breanna Hare says “Online, you can project whatever identity you like. But for some people, it’s easier to have no identity at all.” She reports that “A new social networking site caters to those who prefer anonymity . The site’s creator, not surprisingly identified only as M.K., says such people “don’t have to worry who’s going to read it or what’s going to happen.” Well it may appear attractive to people who want to vent anonymously, but in the real world everyone is responsible for what they say and do. That includes responsibility to our Maker for our decisions. And the most important decision any of us can make in this life is whether or not to accept the gift of eternal life, offered freely by our kind heavenly Father. Jesus once said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through Jesus Christ, everyone can have a proper relationship with God.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Probably the last gas pump in Canada to issue fuel by the gallon was at Carritt’s Eckville Super Service in Alberta. In 1970, Canada had begun converting the country to metric. But the Eckville station continued to sell by the gallon. In 1984 the “metric police” came to shut them down. It didn’t happen, and the Carritt family continued to sell gas by the gallon. Eventually the underground tank had to be replaced, and the change was made. It reminds one that enforced change often brings resistance. Only when we change on the inside can effective results come about. That’s true in marriage, and also concerning our attitude toward the Heavenly Father. When we’ve done wrong and are genuinely sorry for it, it always involves changing on the inside. Paul the Apostle put it this way – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Need a heart change?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Recently, horsemeat has found its way into the food chain in Great Britain. Burgers have been removed from shop shelves after testing revealed horse DNA in the burgers. This meat was flying under false colors, not having been properly labeled. It seems we have to be very careful what we eat these days. And likewise, it’s a good idea to be vigilant, what material we read and view. A lot of falsehood is “masquerading” under the guise of truth. The Psalmist of old reminds us that “truth endures to all generations.” Yes, some may believe that truth is only subjective, not objective – and that it depends on one’s perspective. But that would mean there is no horsemeat in our burgers if we are unaware of it, or that there is no moon unless we can see it. No, truth is truth, error is error. To suggest there are no absolutes can lead only to chaos in our thinking and what we believe.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The Canadian news headlines proclaimed, “Metis and Non-Status Indians declared ‘Indians’ under Constitution Act: Court. Up until now many non-status or Metis people have been denied access to many rights – such as funding for post-secondary education services because of their parentage. By a judicial act, the courts have said these people have now been “declared” Indians, with all the added rights and privileges. And that beautifully illustrates an even greater declaration made by God for Christians, when He says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This Justification, for those who have received Christ as Savior, is the legal act whereby God declares us to be innocent of our wrong-doing. We are not now sinless, but we are "declared" sinless in God’s eyes because of Christ’s death for us on the Cross. What wonderful news.

Pastor Alex Rockwell