A recent letter from a twenty-nine year old woman was received by an advice columnist. She had grown up in a poor family, and worked very hard during her childhood. She was told that she was a “bad girl.” When she was sixteen, her mother decided she was “too difficult a child” and happily sent her away from home to live with her twenty-one year old boyfriend. The letter was signed, “lost and lonely.” Whatever the reason for the rejection, it is always heart-breaking when children are rejected by their parents. The Psalmist wrote for all who have been rejected and forsaken by parents, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” But that same love is so broad that it is also available to all who feel rejected and broken. If you have recently been rejected and are broken-hearted, remember that the Lord will “take you up” and help fill that void in your life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Dr. Karl Menninger was an American psychiatrist who founded the famous Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. In his book entitled “Whatever Became of Sin?”, drawing from his experience with people, as a psychiatrist, he wrote, “I believe there is sin.” Menninger then added, “There IS immorality; there IS unethical behavior; there IS wrongdoing.” And he made the following insightful claim. “recognizing the fact of sin is, the only hopeful view, since it implies the possibility of repenting and correcting.” Whether he intended to or not, the good doctor was stating exactly what the Bible says, when it informs us, “all have sinned.” And his mention of “the hopeful view” is also supported by God’s Word, when it says, “If we confess our sins, He (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Yes, there is sin, but yes, there is also hope.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A recent Family Circus cartoon shows Dolly and her little brother playing in the snow on a cold day. The caption says, “look Dolly, you can see my words.” While we cannot “see” words, we can certainly see the results they bring. Today let’s do a reality check. Have our words brought kindness, appreciation, encouragement? Or have we been indulging in gossip, derogatory remarks or hurtful sarcasm. The Bible says, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies…” A very wise person once said, “We are not what we think we are, but what we think– we are.” If our words could be frozen in time for all to see, what would they look like? When God looks into our hearts, what does He see?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“We were reminded today that life is a vapor. Life is precious, life is fragile, and we must redeem the time we’re given…our boys, Jordan and Evan were bright lights…We are grieving their loss but confident of their new home in heaven.” Those were the words of Jason, Shauna and Katie, family of the twins who tragically died in a bobsled accident in Calgary last month. Their words are solemn reminders of the brevity of life, and an encouragement to redeem the time given. But in this heart-breaking event, there is a ray of hope. The boys have “a new home in heaven.” That’s because these young men, had previously come into a personal relationship with the Lord. Those family members are aware of a great Bible truth for all true Christians- “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”. There will be a family reunion.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Most news is bad news. People fight, kill, rape, and steal. Why? The following statement from a prominent and influential individual, a leader in the world-wide philosophy known as Humanism, may help with the answer. He said, “The greatest evil on earth is the concept of right and wrong and the belief in sin.” Subscribers to that view live in a fairy tale world, believe there is no right or wrong, and no absolutes. Tragically, this is also the philosophy of many influential world leaders and educators today,. But the only believable, realistic explanation for the mess our world is in is the fact of original sin, because like it or not, believe it or not- “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, and “there is none righteous, no not one.” And the only answer is to turn in faith to Jesus Christ, who took our place, and paid our penalty on the cross. “Christ died for our sins.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Concern is being raised about the level of surveillance used by some stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue. Technology includes software that can recognize faces and other sources of data on the individual. This raises questions about what is shared and with whom. We have a right to be concerned about our privacy. But we need to remember that our privacy ends with our all-seeing, all-knowing Heavenly Father. Hagar, whose story is recorded in the Old Testament, cried out- “You are the God who sees me.” And David wrote in one of his Psalms, “Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me…You know when I sit and when I rise…You perceive my thoughts…You are familiar with all my ways.” Somebody may ask, “Why is this important?” It is to teach us that while we may hide secret wrong-doing and thinking from others, we cannot hide anything from God. He sees all and He knows all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Albert Einstein, who died in 1955, is still making news. In February, over 100 years after he published his general theory of relativity, scientists claimed that they have found, and heard, what Einstein predicted as part of his theory: gravitational waves. He also had special interest in the origin of the universe, once writing, “in view of such harmony in the cosmos, which I am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for such views.” Was he pondering the famous words of David the Psalmist ? “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.” Einstein’s reference to “such harmony in the cosmos” invites the question- “is it possible to rationally conceive of a harmonized universe created without the existence of a personal, intelligent God? Please think about that today.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I read recently about an American citizen of English birth who was condemned by a court in another country to be shot. Great efforts were made by the US and England to have him spared, but they were unsuccessful. When the firing squad was prepared, the consuls of both countries wrapped the man in the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes. “Shoot if you dare”, the representatives of the two nations shouted. “This man is protected by two great nations.” The man was released unharmed. All of us are spiritual prisoners to the “god of this world.” But when we sincerely and humbly admit that we are sinners, and cry out for God’s help, Jesus Christ forgives and cleanses us, and clothes us in His righteousness. But He also declares that “our citizenship is in heaven”, and under His protection. Paul described this happy state as follows- “There is therefore now no condemnation, to those who are in Christ Jesus.” I urge you to reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Two little boys in Switzerland lived near a lake. One day, on their way across the ice covered lake to meet their father, they came to a crack in the ice. It was only a foot wide and the ice was quite thick, but their mother, who watched helplessly from the window of their home was afraid the smaller boy would try to step over it and fall in. Then, to her delight,she saw the older boy lie down on the ice, his feet on one side of the crack, his hands on the other side forming a bridge. His little brother crept over him to safety on the other side. That is exactly what our Lord Jesus did for you and me. He bridged the gap between us and heaven, caused by our sins and failures, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus, by His death on the cross of Calvary, became a bridge for all, saying, “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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Nancy Reagan, wife of late President Ronald Reagan, died last month. She is noted for her work on drug abuse and for the slogan “Just Say No.” But she will be best remembered for her real life love story with her husband. Her son, Ron Junior said, “I don’t think they ever spent a day apart where they didn’t speak on the phone…they stayed in love for fifty-two years.” They loved each other. But there is an even greater love than the marital love which the Reagans have beautifully exemplified. It is God’s love for His enemies, for wrong-doers, for those who do not love Him. The Bible is full of references to that great love, such as in John’s gospel, “God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son…” and in Ephesians, “But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us…” And that great love is available to all of us who “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It is the greatest love story ever told.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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