They perch on cliffs. They pose beside wild animals. They play chicken with oncoming trains. They do it while taking pictures of themselves, called selfies. And sometimes they don’t make it out alive. One of them said, “It’s all about me …when I post a selfie, I’m getting confirmation from other people that I’m awesome…not thinking about the consequences of the action…” Since 2014, 49 people have died while trying to photograph themselves in daring and dangerous positions. Self-absorption seems rampant these days. One Bible passage reminds us of the importance of our inner self, rather than what we look like on the outside. Samuel wrote, “…the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” A wise person suggested, “Perhaps a ‘heart selfie’ is in order” When we see ourselves as God sees us, recognize our need for forgiveness and a Saviour, we’re on the right track.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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If it had not been for his cell phone, Jonathan Hambler would probably not have survived. On a frigid night, he had jumped aboard a freight train to get across town a little quicker than walking, thinking when the train slowed down, he would jump to safety. Instead, it increased its speed. Fortunately, his wild ride ended fairly happily, because he used his cell phone to call 911 and was rescued. Hambler’s story reminds one of so many, who hop on the wrong train along life’s highway. They get into drugs, alcohol and their unholy relatives, only to find themselves trapped and unable to get off. In Jonathan’s case, his cell phone was the instrument that saved him. And when you and I find ourselves on life’s train, going in the wrong direction too quickly, we too can have a direct line to our Maker. He has promised, “Call upon me and I will answer you.” And Jesus promised, “the one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last month I read the fascinating story of an unfortunate man who made a big mistake because of what he did not know. He came across a copy of the Bible in German. Since he did not know German, he discarded the Bible, saying, “It had this name written in the front- some strange name I’d never heard of. “ Later, the Bible sold for thirty thousand dollars. The signature was that of Martin Luther, the famous reformer. What the man didn’t know hurt him financially. There are also important facts which, if ignored can hurt us very badly. One- You and I are estranged from God. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Old fashioned, but still true! Two- Jesus died on a cross to make forgiveness possible for everyone who ever lived, no matter what we have done. And three- Jesus is the only way to connect with God. He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” I hope you won’t let what you didn’t know hurt you. You know now!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The men who signed the US Declaration of Independence consisted of lawyers, farmers, merchants, physicians, ministers and politicians. They knew the penalty of their act was death by hanging. Of the fifty six signers, nine died as a result of the war with England, five were imprisoned, and many lost homes and entire families. Not one defected. That freedom, purchased on July 4th, 1776 came at a high price. But there is One other Who purchased freedom for all mankind at a higher price. Jesus left His place in Heaven, suffered shame on earth, and then died on a cross to pay the debt of sin, so that all may be free. Paul the Apostle was inspired to write in the New Testament book of Romans, the following beautiful description of our Saviour’s act. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Himself said, “If the Son therefore shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last month, 25,000 refugees were expected to arrive in Canada. Millions of desperate families are seeking to find freedom and safety as they flee from terrible atrocities in their war-torn home countries. Unfortunately several countries have had to close their borders to these destitute people because they simply cannot handle any more. It is a sad and heart-breaking situation. But in the midst of this global tragedy, how good to know that there has never been a case in the history of mankind when a sincere person came to Jesus Christ and was turned away. Referring to such individuals, Jesus Himself said, “…the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” And do you remember Jesus’ words to the dying, repentant thief on the cross, when he asked for mercy? Jesus graciously said, “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Into our troubled, needy world walks the Son of God, with mercy and grace for all who humbly seek it from Him.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A High School student in Hawaii, had an uninvited guest. While eating his cafeteria lunch, he discovered a snail sharing his meal. Life, too, sometimes serves up unpleasant surprises. Some, searching for pleasure, find themselves chained to destructive habits, such as drinking, drugs, or pornography. Some pursue fame and fortune but instead of satisfaction, they find only emptiness. But the most disastrous choice of all is to decide not to believe in the truthfulness of the Bible, and in the God of the Bible. For example, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” Or “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is… a rewarder of those who seek Him.” John relates believing to our future, writing, “He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe, is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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An estimated one billion people- that’s one out of every seven, don’t have daily access to safe drinking water. It’s causing serious problems on every inhabited continent in rural areas and major cities alike. An unprecedented combination of high temperatures and scarce rainfall all have scientists predicting serious drought. Alarms are being raised world-wide about the lack of water. We would do well to stop, look and listen. We all know the value of water- in fact, water is life. Jesus spoke about water as symbolical of eternal life. John wrote “Jesus stood and cried out saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink’.” Then He explained what He by meant by this, saying, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Later, Paul urged a man who was hungry for God, saying “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Certain acts–such as lying, premarital sex, adultery, or even murder–might be morally right, depending on the circumstances. That was the view of author Joseph Fletcher as expressed in his controversial book, Situation Ethics, written in 1966. He wrote, “all laws and rules and principles and ideals and norms, are …only valid if they happen to serve love…” He believed that the end justifies the means. Do you suppose that belief explains how so many today justify their immoral lifestyle, and disguise it as love? But it is totally at odds with Bible truth. Paul the Apostle strongly condemned the view, “let us do evil that good may come.” Our Lord Himself said, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” As long as we hold to so-called situation ethics, we can never be free, never distinguish between right and wrong. We need to turn to the One who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Those who have long lists of awards and accomplishments cannot take them with them when they die. We brought nothing into this world when we were born and we will take nothing with us when we leave.” Those sobering, thought-provoking words are from a Guest Sermon by retired minister Jim Murchison, from Charlottetown, recently. Many good talented and compassionate people receive recognition from time to time. These earthly honors may be well deserved, but Mr. Murchison puts them in their proper perspective. He is in line with Bible truth in asserting that none of us will take our awards with us when we pass from this life. Nor will our earthly accomplishments help us make it into heaven. That’s because, as we find in the New Testament book of Titus, it is “not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to God’s mercy” we get to heaven. It is all by God’s undeserved grace, not because of our works.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last month, the sudden death of US Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia shocked the nation, and has had a major impact on America. The choosing of his successor to the polarized Supreme Court is affecting November’s Presidential election. But there is another death which has had, and continues to have, a much greater impact on the whole world. I refer to the death of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “…when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Later he added, “…God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ’s crucifixion, followed by His miraculous resurrection, changed and continues to change the lives of millions when we accept His finished work on the cross. That transformation takes place when we “confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus” and “believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead…” We are then saved for time and eternity.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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