A while back, the Abbotsford British Columbia police department sent out greeting cards to prolific criminal offenders in that city, saying, “It’s never too late to make a better choice for your life.” They encouraged recipients to decide that the year ahead should be the year to choose a new and better life. This is a commendable effort. But people often lack the ability to reform. Fortunately, we can turn our lives over to the Lord. The Bible makes two wonderful promises. First- “If anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Then we can begin living a successful life because “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” That Abbotsford police letter said, “It’s never too late.” As long as there is life there is hope. With Christ in our vessel, we can smile at the storms of life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Someone has been telling you that almost no intelligent educated people believe in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible? Don’t believe them. They are wrong. Sir William Hershel, discoverer of the planet Uranus, father of stellar and galactic astronomy wrote, “All discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths in sacred scriptures.” Nicholas Copernicus, responsible for the idea that the earth orbits the sun, wrote, “My salvation lies only and alone on…Jesus Christ.” These statements came from Dr. Martin Gaskell, of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California at Santa Cruz. And they are simply a recognition of the words God inspired David, the Psalmist to write, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Yes, we can trust the Bible, we can trust Jesus to do what He has promised to do- namely to forgive, cleanse and prepare us for heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Harold Clayton Urey was an American physical chemist w hose pioneering work on isotopes earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1934 for the discovery of Deuterium. This brilliant man once made the following surprising statement, “I myself am a man who is afraid. All the wise men I know are afraid.” There is such a thing as healthy fear which moves us to do something about problems when we face them. For example, we buy insurance when we see uncertainty in the future. The Bible tells “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” When we have a healthy fear or awe of God, this should lead to repentance. If we recognize our innate tendency to do wrong and ask for God’s forgiveness, He promises, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near…He will have mercy…He will abundantly pardon.” Now that is the best offer you or I will ever get.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last year, Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister of Canada. This year, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are competing for the presidency of the USA. The goal is power and all that goes with that power. There are many different kinds of power in our world. But the Bible also speaks of an often ignored power that is greater than all earthly powers. It is called “the power of God.” As a matter of fact, the Bible describes itself as follows- “The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Paul the Apostle was inspired to explain the life changing experience that takes place when we acknowledge our spiritual need, give our lives to Christ, and accept the gospel. He declared that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation, for everyone who believes.” So the Word of God and the gospel of Christ together represent the greatest life-changing power on earth or in heaven. And it’s available to all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who lived from 1861 to 1930. On his first voyage to the Arctic in 1881, he noted the line he was using to measure the depth of the ocean was not long enough. So he tied all his available lines together, but was still unable to touch bottom. In his record Nansen wrote, “Deeper than that.” His words remind us that God’s love is so deep that we can never measure it either. The gospel song affirms, “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell.” That beautiful song declares the great truth of John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “ That amazing love is extended to every one of us today.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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He came to a stop sign and looked both ways. There was nothing coming either way, so he slowed down, did not stop, but just made a slow turn. A police officer saw him and he was fined for making what the officer called a “rolling stop.” There is a desire in may of us to be free from restraints, at times even legitimate ones. But ignoring the stop signs of life usually brings the expected penalties. Many try to circumvent God’s standards by pretending they don’t exist. This results in, and explains to a large extent, the moral and spiritual chaos our world is in. god’s Word warns, “do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” The wise will avoid making “rolling turns” on the highway of life and will enter into a proper relationship with God through faith in Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Marilyn Trehearne, a twenty-two-year old London model was told that the tiger at a zoo where pictures were being taken, was tame. But when she tickled the animal, the tiger attacked and mauled her, ruining her career as a model. Often we too are tempted to tickle the tiger of bad habits, such as loose moral living, or addictions, only to be t rapped by them. Please don’t play with temptation. Turn to the One who can help you. He is always ready to listen. He promised—“call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things…” A good place to start is with this prayer of a humble man, recorded in the Bible-“God be merciful to me a sinner.” Nobody who ever sincerely prayed that prayer has been refused. Please stop wherever you are, whatever you are doing and ask the Dear Savior to come into your life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The recent funeral for the boxing great, born Cassius Clay, brought together many faiths. It is said that there are ten thousand religions in the world. But in fact, there are only two—the “do” religion and the “done” religion. One of these religions tells us we must “do” something—like join a church, give to charities, meditate, do penance, and other works, in order to please God and go to heaven. The “done” religion, which is the Bible based “old time religion” tells us “all our righteousness’ are as filthy rags” and “there is none righteous, no not one.” We are also told that it is not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to His mercy He saves us.” However, thankfully, the dear Lord Jesus did everything necessary when He died on the cross. That’s why He cried out when dying, “It is finished.” We all need to embrace the “done” religion, accepting what Jesus has already done.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Recently the story of a Japanese boy lost in a remote forest came to a happy ending when he was found in a military hut. He had survived on water alone for six days. Jesus told a story of a lost sheep who was sought for by a loving shepherd until he was found. The story is an illustration of Jesus, as the good Shepherd, who gave Himself on Calvary’s cross for the sheep. You and I are in that story too because Isaiah, referring to our innate tendency to do wrong, wrote, “all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way. The Bible also tells us that “Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.” At Calvary, Jesus made it possible for all who are willing to come to Him, to have forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. When that takes place, it is indeed, a “happy ending story” open to all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The following words were found in an underground cellar where Jewish men and women were hiding from the Nazis during World War II. “We believe in the sun when it is not shining. We believe in love even when we are not feeling it. We believe in God even when He is silent.” Belief is an essential Bible concept. God’s Word, the Bible, states, “without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” God invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” That tasting involves believing. Paul illustrated this truth when speaking to the Philippian jailer, who had asked him how to become a Christian. Paul’s answer was simple. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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