“It is very shocking.” That was the reaction of Summerside PEI Fire Chief Jim Peters, upon learning that less than 25% of homes in his city have properly working smoke detectors. Mr. Peters added, “It is still the best firefighting tool we have.” Smoke detectors sound the warning, and neglecting them costs the lives of many people in Canada and the US every year. And just as neglect can affect our physical safety, so neglecting warning signs concerning our spiritual state can be disastrous. The New Testament writer of Hebrews asked, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?” The answer is obvious – we won’t escape. As important as it is to have a properly working smoke detector in your home, it is far more important to make sure that you are at peace with God. How can that happen? That peace has already been made by our Savior at Calvary. He said, “Having been justified by faith, we then have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A 56 year old man is grieved and tormented and asking advice. Should he confess that he stole from a close family member 30 years ago to pay for a drug habit? Well AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization that helps many, has a 12 step program for recovering alcoholics. One of those steps is to make amends to the people you have hurt. Sadly, some of those people will remain angry and unforgiving. But regardless of the response, it is still important to sincerely apologize for wrong-doing. However, I am glad that there is One whom all of us have hurt by our actions and unbelief, who never turns His back on us. When we come to him with sincere and humble hearts, admit our failures and sins, He opens wide His arms and forgives and forgets. How do I know that? It’s in the Bible, where Jesus invites all, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…and you will find rest for your souls.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A friend of mine has a neurological disorder which causes one of his hands to tremble. He said that a small girl of 8 or 9 was telling him a story. As she spoke, she noted that his hand had a tremor. Without asking him why, or in any way embarrassing him, the little child quietly took his hand between her hands, stopped the tremor, and continued her story. My friend has never forgotten that “random act of kindness.” It reminded me of the kindness of another. Matthew’s gospel records that on one occasion, Jesus was travelling about all the cities and villages. Then it says, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd.” That child illustrates the compassion of Jesus. Whoever you are, whatever your situation, please always remember that when Jesus sees us, He is “moved with compassion.” Today, reach out to Jesus. He’s reaching out to you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The Family Herald and Weekly Star was a paper in operation until September 1968, after almost a century of operation. Many of its readers wrote interesting letter to the editor. One, a farmer, announced that he was an atheist, and that in his community, most of the farmers were Christians. He wrote that his lifestyle was decidedly non-Christian. He believed the Christian farmers were wasting their time denying themselves certain pleasures he enjoyed. He poked fun at their church going. Then, as proof of the correctness of his godless position, he announced “this October my crops were the largest of any in the community.” The editor’s classic response, short and to the point was “Dear sir, God does not s settle all of His accounts in October.” That atheist should have heeded the Apostle Paul’s warning, “boast not yourself of tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth.” Let’s hope the famer followed the advice of the prophet Amos’ warning, “Prepare to meet your God.” Good advice for us all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

I read a cute story recently about a little guy who woke up about 4 o’clock in the morning, unable to sleep. He went to his father’s room and asked for a drink. Receiving it, he lay quietly for a while. All was quiet for a while, and then, in the darkened room, the boy asked, “Daddy have you got your face turned toward me? “Yes, son” was the reply. Comforted, the small boy fell asleep. Sometimes life is like the darkness that frightened that little boy. But like him, we can be sure that our Heavenly Father’s face is turned toward us. In one Old Testament book of the Bible we read, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” When we are God’s children, even in the dark times of life, we can know that He is watching over us. And we become His children by inviting His Son into our lives. Open your life – He’s waiting to come in.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

We are told that Ponce De Leon went to Florida in the 1500s to search for a spring with waters having the power of restoring youth. People have always been obsessed with the idea of physical immortality. Dr. Phillip Minton of Stanford University wrote in his book “The Immortality Enzyme” that in the near future there will be an enzyme on the market that will be used to fight aging, cancer and heart disease. Medical science is making remarkable advances in the fighting of disease and adding years to the average life. We cannot achieve immortality on our own, but an immortal state is freely available. Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live…” So, Fountain of youth; medicine that produces immortality? Not going to happen. But receiving eternal life? That can happen if we trust in the One who promised, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” So, does anyone want to live forever?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The headline screamed “The curse of the affordability delusion.” The recent article then stated the obvious, that though car prices have been moving higher, you won’t see that reflected in the down payments or in the monthly loan payments. Why? Car loans are being extended to as long as eight years these days. The longer the loan, the easier it is to afford a car – on a monthly basis. Then columnist, Rob Carrick concluded, “Where we get into trouble is by believing the cost of debt is measured only by our monthly payments. That’s delusional.” This thoughtful article reminded me that it is not wise to sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate, and also of Jesus’ rhetorical question when He asked, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?” While it is true that for some, taking out a long term loan is the only way to acquire a new car, as a general rule of life, the wise think not only of the present, but live with eternity’s values in view.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“How you are perceived effects how people treat you.” That’s the conclusion of the lead researcher of a recent study. Apparently baldness has its virtues. The study out of the University of Pennsylvania found that men who shave their heads bald to the bone, like famous actor Bruce Willis and Basketball star Michael Jordan, are actually viewed as more powerful and confident than their counterparts with full heads of hair. But the Bible has something very different to say about our appearance. When the search was on for a King in Israel, God surprisingly chose a very normal looking younger man who became King David. In a revealing statement, Samuel the prophet was told by God, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature… the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” God knows what you and I are really like on the inside. That can be scary or comforting, depending one’s our relationship to Him. What’s your reaction?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Two very interesting signboards stand side by side near a freeway interchange on the outskirts of a large city. Each sign flashes the time of day and the current temperature. One day one of the signs read temperature 86, but the other said the temperature was 82. Clearly, either one or both were wrong. But what an illustration these were of “relativism,” and “subjective truth.” Because of our moral and spiritual conditions, on our own we cannot establish correct guidelines for moral conduct. When we try, we often come up with different readings. One who attempts to conform to these varying patterns of life will be very confused and frustrated. And man is hopelessly lost without an object source of truth, outside of himself. That can be found only in the eternal truth laid down in the Word of God, the Bible. Read the Bible. Obey it. Let it be the standard for objective truth in your life. Give God your heart and He’ll take the kinks out of your head.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Childhood obesity is now epidemic in Canada. The number of obese children has tripled in the last twenty five years. And yet The Canadian Medical Association reported only 9 percent of parents are willing to acknowledge weight problems in their children. They seem to prefer to compare their children with others, rather than the reading the scales. How so like human nature many of us are. When faced with a problem, we just put our head in the proverbial sand. Unfortunately, many are like that when it comes to things spiritual too. The Bible, just like a properly working scale, is a trustworthy standard. But it seems easier and less painful for us to say, “I’m as good as the next person”, forgetting that the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and that “there is none righteous, no not one.” The wise among us will acknowledge our spiritual need and turn our lives over to the only Savior – Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell