Bald is beautiful according to a study out of the University of Pennsylvania. It found that men who shave their heads bald, like famous actor Bruce Willis and Basketball star Michael Jordan, are viewed as more powerful and confident than their counterparts with full heads of hair. “The Bible, though, has something very different to say about our appearance. When the search was on for a king in Israel, Samuel the prophet was inspired to say to the king searchers, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature…the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God knows what you and I are really like on the inside. That can be scary, or comforting, depending on one’s relationship to the Lord.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Frequently people learn that personal information held by government or a business has gone missing. Naturally, they are very upset. We have a right to not want others to know about our personal private matters. But there is One from whom it is impossible to keep secrets. The Psalmist wrote that God “… knows the secrets of the heart.” In the New Testament we are told “…all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Now that can be scary if we have no relationship with God. But when the dear Lord Jesus is in our lives, we need not fear, because He has forgiven true believers of all wrong. God promised, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Frequently we hear warnings about contamination and recall of certain products. Foods, water, cosmetics and similar products have all been taken off the market at times and declared unfit for use. While we cannot always trust our supposedly safe products, we can always trust the God of the Bible. He is all knowing and all powerful. He never makes mistakes, never says oops and never changes. His Word is true, reliable and available. David the Psalmist wrote, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Please read your Bible. It is the greatest book ever written and the world’s all-time best seller. If you do not have one, the Gideons, a wonderful organization, will be happy to provide one for you at no charge.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I once read about a man who unknowingly had been drinking polluted water. When shown the tiny organisms in the water through a microscope he angrily smashed the microscope. We say, “what a dummy!” But are we any different? The Bible, reveals the ugliness of our wrong-doing saying, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” What is our response? Some try to destroy the credibility of the Bible or ignore its message. But we cannot change truth by neglecting, attacking or refusing to believe it. Paul the Apostle, after speaking plainly to some people of his day and receiving a negative response asked, “Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Jesus affirmed, , ”You shall know the truth and the truth shall se you free.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Finance Guru, Gail Vaz-0xlade, in her book “Never Too Late” gives guidance for retirement planning. She suggests using your money for the solid and secure rather than the bright and shiny and save for the future rather than spend for the present. Summing up, she writes, “Start right now.” Most people have given some thought for retirement planning, but an astounding number of people never think of preparing for the next life. Since we are all going to live somewhere forever, we should heed Jesus’ advice, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” He also once asked the rhetorical question, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul.?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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It is believed that the last gas station in Canada to issue fuel by the gallon was Carritt’s Eckville Super Service in Alberta. Though Canada began converting to metric in 1970 the Eckville, station continued to sell by the gallon. In 1984 the “metric police” tried and failed to shut them down. Eventually the underground tank had to be replaced and the change was made. Change often brings resistance. Many have pre-conceived ideas concerning getting to heaven, thinking we can do it our ourselves. But Jesus said plainly, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We all need a heart change, and we all need to make sure we are in line with what the Bible says.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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An orchid that unfurls at night and loses its flowers by day has been found near Papua New Guinea. Flowers that do that are found only in a few remarkable plant species. Similarly, dark times come to our lives. We wonder why, and sometimes blame God. If instead we would turn to Him for comfort, He could make a beautiful flower unfurl in the night darkness of our lives. Perhaps today you are going through a dark time in your life. You’ve lost someone dear to you, or you’ve had a bitter disappointment. Jesus promised, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness.” And He invites us, in those dark times, “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Yes, Jesus can turn our darkness into light.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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No such thing as right or wrong? Some think so. Researchers at University of Cambridge in England don’t agree. Professor Olof Wikstrom, professor of Ecological and Developmental Criminology at Cambridge, led the study, and observed, that teens who avoided crime did so because they saw it as “wrong” but that teens with little sense of right and wrong were responsible for most juvenile crimes. And the Bible agrees. Stating, “be not deceived…whatever a man sows that he shall also reap.” The answer to wrong-doing is to acknowledge it, confess it as wrong, and turn to Christ for forgiveness. God’s Word says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The value of a diamond depends on its perfection. Diamond specialist Dr. Leonard Reiffel, has written, “Flaws are particularly distressing when an imperfect diamond is turned into a finished gem.” But interestingly, by means of a laser beam, flaws in natural diamonds can now be eliminated. We are all “flawed diamonds” in God’s sight. He sees us with all our imperfections, but also sees what we can become. Then He enables us to become what He desires us to be. Polishing ourselves won’t do that. Only Christ’s death for our sins at Calvary can make us like perfect diamonds to God. Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness.” When we admit our wrong-doing, God can make something beautiful of us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Two signboards stand near a freeway interchange, flashing the times of day and temperature. One day one of the signs gave the temperature as 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the other as 82 degrees. Obviously one or both was wrong. Some people now believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. They say truth is subjective–what may be wrong for me may be right for you. But God’s Word tells us there is absolute truth and it is knowable. John’s gospel states, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Elsewhere the Bible declares, “The Son of God has come and…has given us an understanding that we may know Him Who is true…and His Son Jesus Christ.” Please give that some thought.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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