Globe and Mail Columnist David Tabachnick (tar barch nick) has written a thoughtful article recently on how technology has affected the relationship between work and leisure. He says that at one time it was thought that technologies would free us from work and give us more leisure. But the reality is that smart phones follow us golfing, or to our kids soccer games. Rather than freeing us from work, technology turns everything into work. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, stated, “There is a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to laugh, a time to mourn.” We all need both work and leisure. But most of all, in this frantic modern society, we need time to be quiet. The Psalmist said it well, “Be still and know that I am God.” In other words, get your mind of work and other cares, and take time to reflect on things eternal, knowing that the universe is unfolding exactly according to His plan.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Just 20 years ago, astronomers didn’t know there were any planets at all outside our own solar system. But two years ago, NASA scientists using the powerful Kepler space telescope, found well over 1,000 new planets and now they believe our galaxy alone is filled with literally billions of planets. As predicted centuries ago by Daniel, “knowledge shall increase.” If you are convinced there is no God, no hereafter, please consider what if, in that vast field of information still unknown, God really exists? What if He is a personal God as the Bible says He is? What if He holds us responsible for the truth in His Word, the Bible? Should we wager that we know everything, or that outside our knowledge there is no personal God to whom we will one day be accountable? Remember please the Psalmist’s words, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.“

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Jeremy Britt, a 23 year old Banker from Rochford, Michigan was the winner of TV’s “The Biggest Loser Season 13”. Britt lost 199 pounds over the course of the season, going from 389 pounds to 190 pounds. Those who have also tried over the years to lose weight understand what a tremendous effort this young man made to lose that much weight. He saw he needed to change, and he physically became a brand new person. Few people could accomplish what he did. But what happened to Jeremy on the outside can also happen to anyone on the inside. The Bible puts it this way, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.” Do you see the need to change your life? Then surrender it to the One who made you. He will forgive, transform and make a brand new person of you on the inside, with a lasting impact on the outside.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Three people were killed last month in a helicopter crash while filming for a new reality TV show for the Discovery Channel. The show is one of the more popular TV channels today, with millions of viewers. The challenge of discovering new worlds, new ideas and new frontiers has captivated every generation. Some of the discoveries have been amazing, For example – anesthesia – the artificially induced insensibility to pain. What a huge difference it has made in the lives of those who go through operations. Sir James Simpson who discovered the use of chloroform was once asked, “What is your greatest discovery?” His reply- “That I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ is my Savior” – a smart but humble man. Sounds like Paul who wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to saved sinners, of whom I am chief.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A new report from Canada’s largest school board in Toronto says that more than half of the nearly 103,000 students surveyed say they worry about their future. While their worries are about this life, they illustrate a larger picture – concerns about the next life. Blaise Pascal, a brilliant Christian mathematician and physicist who lived in the 1600s, had insights for today. He wrote “Man wants to be happy … but how shall he go about it? The best thing would be to make himself immortal, but as he cannot do that, he has decided to stop himself thinking about it. We don’t want to think about our frail lives, the fact that someday our lives will end, so we fill our lives with toys that numb our minds and help us forget.” And Pascal was absolutely correct. Pretending there is no afterlife, and using diversions is not the answer. But Jesus promises, “I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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