Butterflies were not always the beautiful creatures we see flying around our gardens. They started life as caterpillars, then moved to the cocoon stage, finally emerging as what they were meant to be by their Creator. Scientists call this metamorphosis. What an exciting process. The Bible tells us of an even greater transformation. When we confess the reality of our natural tendency to do wrong, which God calls sin, (since God has told us that there is “none righteous, no not one”) and invite Christ into our lives as Savior, a miraculous spiritual metamorphosis takes place. Paul the Apostle describes this, writing, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things pass away, behold all things become new.” Unfortunately, many are still wrapped in their cocoon of unbelief. But when we believe with our hearts on the Lord Jesus, He makes something beautiful of our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A plaque on the iconic lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove outside of Halifax Nova Scotia warns “Injury and death have rewarded careless sight-seers here.” But in spite of various warnings being posted, tragedies still occur. People are careless about many important things. One of the most serious is neglecting the entering into a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus. When the boisterous waves of life crash around us, if we have accepted Christ as our personal Savior, the bible, God’s eternal Word assures us, “this hope we have as an anchor both sure and steadfast.” Only then can we sing with confidence, “We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll. Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love. “We need to be geared to the times, but anchored to the Rock.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In the USA, tax cheating amounts to billions of dollars annually. Attempting to respond, the IRS established a special program where, if the conscience of cheaters kicks in, they can repay their debt anonymously. God has placed in each of us a moral faculty designed to distinguish right from wrong. In fact, the Bible, God’s inspired Word, speaks of a “seared conscience” and exhorts us to keep a “good conscience.” If you or I have a conscience that is still active, and we have not seared it, we should be very thankful to God. If we desire to have a good conscience in God’s eyes, we can have one by sincerely acknowledging that since there is “none righteous, no not one,” and that we are in need of God’s forgiveness. That’s because “Christ died for our sin”, to make that possible. Remember please that “our conscience is not our guide unless we have truth for our standard.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Discovery is a popular television channel. The desire to discover new things seems to be an innate part of human nature and many life-changing discoveries have been made. Among them, consider anesthesia—artificially induced insensibility to pain. Sir. James Simpson discovered the use of chloroform as an anesthetic, but when asked the question, “what is your greatest discovery?” without hesitation, the brilliant man answered, “That I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ is my Savior.” You and I will probably never make a discovery of that magnitude, but we can all discover what Sir James did, and he learned it from the Apostle Paul when he testified, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” Paul also revealed how to be “in Christ,” with the words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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John Henry Young a forty-year-old unemployed truck driver from Arizona gave a ride to two hitchhikers. But when he did not have money to buy them a drink, they pulled a knife, beat him up, put a rope around his neck and strung him up to a sign. Fortunately, he was able to free himself and get to a hospital. Now that’s ingratitude! But, aren’t many of us like that with God? He gave us life and went to the cross in our place to pay our sin debt. Sadly, many of us ignore Him and leave Him out of our lives, except when we need His help. Luke tells the story of ten lepers whom Jesus healed. They had cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” But only one leper returned to give Him thanks. Jesus asked, “Where are the nine?” Today, let’s thank God for all He has done for us, invite Him into our lives and live for Him

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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More than two hundred years ago, the noted atheistic philosopher Voltaire boldly stated that the Bible was discredited and would become a museum piece within a century. To prove his claim, he enumerated forty-five points he claimed were known facts of science on which the Bible and science disagreed. A few years ago, a curious university president, did some research and found that present day facts of science disproved every one of Mr. Voltaire’s forty-five points. He also learned that not a scientist of our day would agree with any of the noted philosopher’s forty-five points. God’s Word claims “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” So whenever you hear someone questioning the authority of the Bible, please remember Voltaire’s mistake and don’t repeat it. The Bible is still with us; it’s still changing lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Many commercials offer quick solutions to stress, urging buyers to ’take a pill’, ‘go on a vacation’, ‘buy a car.’ But according Howard Bracco, a psychologist with the Kentucky Department of Mental Health, “Life isn’t really that way at all.” Bracco concludes, “Fear of the unknown is the basis for most stress.” He’s right, and the greatest fear of all is the fear of death. Many are in denial and convince themselves that there is no God, no after life, while nagging suspicions that they are wrong persist. But we can know for sure where we are going after death. Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Then to illustrate His power over death, He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A cartoon shows a little guy with a bat in his hand, speaking to his father. He says “I need you to get me a new bat, Daddy, this one doesn’t hit anything.” The cartoon, gives an insight into our human tendency to shift the blame. This practice first appeared in the Garden of Eden when Adam was caught disobeying God. Asked by God, “Have you eaten from the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat? he did not admit wrong-doing or ask forgiveness. He blamed others, saying “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate.” Adam did not get away with it, and neither can we. But Christ offers us all an alternative, promising “Seek the Lord while He may be found… Call upon Him…And He will have mercy …. He will abundantly pardon.” .

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Dr. Clyde Narramore an eminent Psychologist from California, believed spiritual conversion, the new birth is scientific. He wrote that to measure up to scientific methodology, certain criteria must be met. First– a large sampling is needed. Millions attest to their spiritual conversion. Second– testing must involve a variety of life conditions. New birth has come to people in every conceivable condition in life. Third– Sampling must include many races and cultures. Christians can be found worldwide. Fourth– Scientific method requires test representatives of all age groups, and people of all age groups experience the new birth. Fifth– scientific method requires measurable consistent results. Dr. Narramore concludes that changed lives meet these criteria. Spiritual conversion is scientific. Jesus said “You must be born again.” .

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Recently bought a new car? Moved into a new home? Maybe you have welcomed a new child into your family! New things bring excitement. So what would you think of having a new life? By natural birth, we all joined the human family. But the Bible teaches that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that “there is none righteous, no not one.” How good to know that Jesus, by His death on the cross bridged the gap between us and a Holy God, making a spiritual re-birth possible. Jesus taught this, saying “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.” A new birth happens when we acknowledge our fallen nature, and invite Christ into our lives. Then “old things are passed away, all things become new.” .

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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