“To start over, you have to know where you are. To get somewhere else, it’s necessary to know where you are standing.” Those are the words of former College President and author Dr. Charles Swindoll, in his best selling book, “Come Before Winter and Share My Hope.” Perhaps in this first month of 2016 you are assessing your life, and want to start over. Maybe you are re-thinking your present lifestyle, and preparation for the next life. If so, it’s necessary to know where you are on the inside. The Bible teaches us that all of us, apart from a proper relationship with God, are out of fellowship with our Maker, because “there is none righteous, no not one.” So we need to be spiritually re-born. Jesus made that clear when He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” When that happens, as Paul stated, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In view of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernadino, the opinion of Dr. Viktor Frankl, one time professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Vienna is relevant. He wrote that “crimes of violence…were only symptoms of a deeper sickness, which he called ‘despair over meaningless’ “. And long ago, wise Solomon, facing the issue of the broken world of his day wrote,, “I have seen the things that are done under the sun-all of them meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” He then cried out, “My soul thirsts for God for the living God … “my tears have been my food day and night.” “why are you cast down, O my soul? But his searching resulted in his finding the answer, as he urged his readers, “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him…” When we come to wit’s end corner, to the end of our rope, you and I can reach out to Jesus for the strength we need, knowing that He is reaching out to us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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One of today’s most popular channels on television is the “Discovery Channel.” The desire to discover seems to be an innate part of man’s nature. From the dawn of human history, the challenge of discovering new worlds, new ideas and other frontiers has captivated each successive generation. Sir James Simpson, was an important figure in the history of medicine. He discovered the anesthetic properties of chloroform and successfully introduced it for general medical use. But when asked what his greatest discovery was, he answered without hesitation, “That I am a sinner, and that Jesus is my Saviour.” Simpson had obviously discovered this truth in the Bible, And when we sincerely search that great Book, we find what Simpson found- “All we like sheep have gone astray” and “there is none righteous, no not one.” But thankfully, we also find as Simpson did, that “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save, that which was lost.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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As children grow, we celebrate their development toward independence. When children mature, wise parents rejoice, and gradually decrease their authority role. However, the opposite is true in the Christian life. When we understand that Jesus’ work on Calvary is sufficient for our forgiveness, and that it opens the door to heaven, we realize that we are dependent on Him alone for this wonderful gift. Thus, we grow by depending on Him. Jesus said, referring to our Christian life, “without me you can do nothing. However, we must remember that in order to grow in God’s family, we must first become a part of it by acknowledging our spiritual bankruptcy, inviting Christ into our lives, and being spiritually re-born. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “You must be born again.” Then we can say, with as Paul, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” We grow by depending on Him for strength to live the Christian life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Cecil Rhodes was believed to be the world’s richest man at the height of his career. He was a personal friend of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. In contrast to Rhodes, Booth was a poor man, since Rhodes ruled the gold mining industry of South Africa. One day General Booth asked his friend Rhodes, “Are you a happy man?” “Good heavens, no” said Rhodes. Jesus once asked a rhetorical question, “what shall it profit a man if he gains the world, but loses his own soul?” A rich man can be very poor if he does not have Christ in his life. Conversely, a poor man can be very rich, if he has Christ in his life. The Bible, God’s inspired Word reminds us, “In Him,(Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” It is wise and it is a critical decision to live our lives with eternity’s values in view, because we are all going to live somewhere forever.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The price of gold is now about one thousand and seventy five dollars U.S. per ounce. But in 2011, financial experts announced that the price of gold was on track to break $2,000 per ounce! The value of gold is often seen as a barometer for confidence in the world economy, and a favorite of investors. Gold may be the best in a shaky world economy, but frequent changes in its value reveals, it cannot offer the security many crave. There’s something more valuable than gold. Listen to what Solomon, the world’s wisest man, said about gold. “If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’ If I have rejoiced because my hand had gained much; this would be an iniquity…for I would have denied God….” Having a right relationship with God , is the only way to have real security in this world or the next. And that relationship only comes by faith in Jesus Christ, who said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Great News! We have found the Galleon San Jose,” tweeted Jaun Santos. That ship, sunk by the British navy in 1708, is believed to have treasure worth billions of dollars, in gold, silver and gems. It is always great news when something valuable that has been lost, is recovered. This story reminds one of a gospel story in the New Testament. In fact, the word “gospel” means exactly what Jaun Santos said, “good news.” And the Apostle Paul wrote about this “good news”, saying, “By this gospel you are saved,” referring to the salvation of the soul. And he went on to define the “good news” as follows: “Christ died for our sins…He was buried…He was buried,…He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” When we believe this “good news”, we have found a treasure far greater than that of the San Jose, because it is forgiveness of sin, a transformation, and eternal life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In 1995, the late actor, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. Before the accident, he played the part of a paraplegic. In his role, he often visited a rehabilitation centre and recalled thinking, “Thank God that’s not me.” But then tragically Reeve was injured and experienced first hand what he feared. Job, in the Bible, suddenly lost his health, his wealth and family. He said, “What I feared has come upon me.” But later, with the Lord’s help, he was able to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” and continued serving the Lord. How good to know that though many of us do experience physical, mental and financial setbacks, we can turn to the Lord Jesus, who was “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” and described as “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” If you have a broken heart today, I urge you to look to the One who is the Healer of broken hearts.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last month, the people of Nova Scotia thanked the City of Boston for their help during the Halifax Explosion, donating a giant Christmas tree to that city. On December 6th, 1917, the Norwegian relief ship SS Imo sliced into the side of the French munitions carrier, Mont Blanc in Halifax Harbour, causing an enormous explosion. Hundreds of onlookers gathered at water’s edge, unaware what the crew of the Mont Blanc knew, as they abandoned ship. But 18 minutes later, the first explosion rocked the city, killing many. 2,00 died, 9,000 were injured. Too late they learned that what we don’t know can hurt us. And nowhere is this more dangerous than when it is in reference to eternal things. But if we refuse to listen to the clear warnings about our accountability to our Maker, great harm will come. Please seriously consider your need to make peace with God. Amos the Prophet warned ,“Prepare to meet your God.” What we don’t know can hurt us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“A voice of certainty in a world that was growing more and more uncertain.” That was how President Barack Obama described the late famous broadcaster, Walter Cronkite. As a matter of fact, our world has grown more uncertain now than when Obama made that statement. Today there is the threat of Isis, dark economic times, wars in various parts of the world, global warming and much more. Many no longer want to watch or hear the news. We do not have any guarantees about tomorrow. But there is one place where there is certainty. When we come to know God personally, through faith in Jesus Christ, He guarantees our future. John, in one of his letters, proclaimed the often unknown truth that we can know where we are going when we pass from this life. He wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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