Last month the world paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrated her 90th birthday. Her long life has been remarkable. But there is a greater monarch. He is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” While Elizabeth II was born, raised in an environment of luxury surrounded by the rich, famous, and powerful, our Lord Jesus was born in a stable, and lived a life of humility, had no home of his own and surrounded Himself with the poor, needy and unknown. He died on a wooden cross, and by His death, made eternal life possible as a gift to all who sincerely seek it. The Bible states that one day He will return, at which time, “every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord.” Our relationship to Him on earth will determine whether we will meet Him as our loving Saviour, or Judge. Which will it be?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Jeff Keane, in the cartoon “Family Circus” presents a little guy crouched on his heels watching a line of ants. Called by his mother, he says, “I can’t come, Mommy until I figure out where all these guys are going.” Obviously, obeying Mom was secondary to his interest at that time. And many of us also allow the tyranny of the immediate to cause neglect of the more important. God says, “Now is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time.” Often our response is “Sometime later Lord, right now I’m busy with my job, my pleasures and my possessions.” This was the case with King Agrippa in the Bible. When presented with Christ’s claims on his life, by Paul, he responded, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Paul then earnestly urged Agrippa to be “altogether” persuaded, to make that vital decision.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

“It’s so bright… it’s so different,” That was the reaction of two California brothers, Jimmy and Jace Papenhausen when they got new sunglasses. They have been colour blind all their lives. But that all changed recently when their parents bought them a pair of sunglasses called En Chroma glasses, which makes colours appear more vibrant. Their story illustrates the problem we all face when Christ is not in our lives. Paul explained, “…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… for they are spiritually discerned.” But when Christ is in our lives, Paul writes of the transformation which takes place. “…if anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation, old things pass away, behold all things become new.” As the blind man whom Jesus healed said, ” Once I was blind, now I can see.” I’m Alex Rockwell.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

A small boy woke about four o’clock one morning, unable to sleep, fearing the dark. He went to his parent’s bedroom and asked for a drink. Receiving it, he lay for a while beside his father. Then in the dark room, the little boy asked, “Daddy have you got your face turned toward me?” “Yes son,” was the reply. Feeling safe and secure, the child fell asleep. Sometimes we too are frightened and feel just like that little boy. But when we are God’s children, by having placed our faith in Christ, we too can be comforted knowing that regardless of the circumstances, our Heavenly Father’s face is always turned toward us. We can then experience the comfort and security of his blessing, which is, “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.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Victor Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist. He was the author of the famous novel, Les Miserables. He died in 1885. If he were alive today, he would be shocked and surprised at how wrong his prediction was, regarding the future. He prophesied that in the 20th century, in his words,” War will be dead, the scaffold will be dead, hatred will be dead.” But two world wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, along with today’s wars, murders, immoral lifestyles and more, dramatically contradict Hugo’s optimistic predictions. Our world is like it is, because most are in denial regarding original sin. But Isaiah was inspired to correctly state the solemn truth that, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way…” And events of the real world are indisputable evidence that we are all part of a fallen race. Paul spoke of the Savior this world needs, writing, “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…to redeem.” Christ is the only answer to this hurting world.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Childhood obesity is now epidemic in Canada, tripling in the last twenty-five years. And yet, only nine percent of parents are willing to acknowledge weight problems in their children. They prefer to compare their kids with others, rather than what they see on their bathroom scales. And many of us are like that when facing problems, putting our heads in the sand. Sadly, many act in a similar manner in regards to our relationship with God. It seems easier and less painful to say, “I’m as good as the next person” and ignore the truth that informs us that “there is none righteous, no not one.” The Bible, like a properly working scale, is the only reliable standard. The wise among us will admit our innate tendency to do wrong, and turn our lives over to the Savior, who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

“The devil made me do it.” Those words became a national catch phrase in the 1970s when comedian Flip Wilson used them in his comedy acts. Woody Smith, a Kentucky man, who murdered his wife, tried to blame it on excessive caffeine from sodas, energy drinks and diet pills. Adam, our first father, tried to shift the blame to his wife Eve, and even to God, for his disobedience in the garden of Eden, saying that it was “the woman You gave me.” But John, in the letter bearing his name warned, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” But later, he was inspired to introduce hope, writing, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So let’s stop blaming the devil, or someone else, for our wrong-doing, and humbly turn to Jesus for forgiveness.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

Two signboards stood side by side near a super highway. Each sign is supposed to flash the current temperature. But on day, one of the signs read-temperature 86 Fahrenheit, while the other read- temperature 82 Fahrenheit. Clearly one or both was wrong. Similarly, because of our moral and spiritual condition, as part of a fallen race, on our own, we cannot establish correct standards or guidelines for living. This results in confusion and frustration and much disagreement as to what is right or wrong. So we need an objective source of truth. That can only be found in the inspired Word of God, the Bible. Of it we read, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…” And in addition, “The Word of God is living and powerful…” In that wonderful book, we find the unvarnished objective truth, not man’s subjective ideas of truth. Please allow it to be the standard of truth in your life. Or, as a wise college president once said, “Give God your heart, and He’ll comb the kinks out of your head.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

He was found lying in a heap, bruised and with a deep gash in his throat. An alcoholic, all he wanted was a drink. He had lost all hope. He died penniless three days later in Bellevue Hospital, New York, still unknown until a friend identified him in the local morgue. His name- Stephen Foster. Before his tragic death, Foster wrote over 200 songs, including such famous ones as “Oh Susanna”, “Beautiful Dreamer” and “My Old Kentucky Home.” Sadly, many, like Stephen Foster have lost hope. But there is hope for all. Mathew was inspired to write in his gospel, Jesus’ invitation— “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy lade, and I will give you rest.” Today, if you are down and out, please don’t give up. Reach out to Jesus. He’s reaching out to you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files

A farmer, who was an atheist, wrote to the editor of a farm newspaper. He spoke about his godless lifestyle and stated that the Christian farmers in his area were wasting their time denying themselves certain pleasures, which he enjoyed. He said he had done as much of his work on Sundays as possible, and poked fun at their church-going, and boasted, “this October my crops were the largest in the community.” The editor’s classic brief response, printed following the letter, was “Dear Sir, God does not settle all of His accounts in October.” Unfortunately, the atheist farmer was ignoring the warning, “boast not yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Let’s hope he later acted on the good advice of Amos the prophet, “Prepare to meet your God.” Just because we seem to be getting away with wrong-doing does not necessarily mean that we are.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
Listen to this message and others here:

Just a Minute MP3 Files