FBI agents must be able to recognize counterfeit currency. To do so, they thoroughly study genuine money, to identify fakes by their difference from the real thing. And when seeking to know the difference between a real Christian and a mere professor, we need to see God’s definition of real Christians. If we are trusting in our good works, we need to learn that salvation is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to God’s mercy He saves us.” If we think we are good in God’s eyes, we need to learn that “There is not a just man (or woman) on earth …who does not sin.” When we admit that we need someone outside ourselves to forgive us and take us to heaven, we are ready to “call upon the name of the Lord”.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A story is told of a famed cabinet maker who decided to surprise a life-long friend with a gift. For months, he worked to produce a beautiful table, and delivered it to his friend’s home. Then, to his surprise, his friend, with a piece of sandpaper walked toward the table planning to add his efforts to the masterpiece. The master craftsman cried out, “Please, stop. There is nothing more to do. It is finished.” Similarly, Christ on the cross did all that was necessary for us to receive the gift of eternal life. We don’t need to help by doing good works. Because on that old rugged cross, as He died, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” Paul later explained, it is” not be works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that we are saved.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Recently I read about a strongly built, husky young man who fainted just before he was to get a needle. He was experiencing belonephobia, a fear of sharp objects, especially needles. Happily, there are needles as short as four millimeters and as fine as 32-gauge needles to take the fear away. But wouldn’t it be great if there was a needle to take away all fear, such as fear of failure, ill health, the future, and other concerns? Well our Heavenly Father promises to remove fears. He said in the book of Isaiah, “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you…” When we have Christ in our lives, we find that “perfect love casts out fear.” So, let’s take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Psychological Science, the flagship publication of the Association for Psychological Science, is one of the most influential journals in psychology today. It has reported on three experiments carried out about lying which revealed that low light or wearing dark shades creates a sense of anonymity that makes it easier to lie. Their findings agree with a biblical truth, where we read, “And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” In view of this unpleasant fact, it is good to know that “Christ died for our sins.” And forgiveness is available to every sincere seeker.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The advertisement says, “You’re Richer than you think.” There is a sense in which we are all far richer than we may realize. Every morning we are credited with 86,400. Whatever is not, used is gone forever. What are we talking about? Every morning the good Lord credits us with 86,400 seconds of time. Paul urges us to “Redeem the time for the days are evil.” Since every one of us is going to live somewhere forever, we need to get ready to meet our Maker. We have been warned, “Prepare to meet your God.” The only way to be prepared is to acknowledge our fallen nature, since in God’s eyes, “There is not a just man (or woman) on earth …who does not sin.” Then we need to ask God for forgiveness and invite Christ to become our personal Saviour.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“One hundred years from today, the Bible will be a forgotten book.” That was the prediction of Voltaire, famous French philosopher and atheist, who died in 1778. Today the Bible is still the most read, most published and most translated book in the world. It changes the lives of those who believe it and apply its teaching. Voltaire also claimed to have found what he called 45 “known facts of science” of his day which proved the Bible to be untrue. But an examination of these so-called scientific facts reveals that not a scientist of our day would agree with any of them. Matthew, in his gospel wrote, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. It is the world’s most amazing book.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Man wants to be happy… but how? We don’t want to think about our frail lives and the fact that someday our lives will end, so we fill our lives with toys that…help us forget.” Those are the words of Blaise Pascal, a brilliant mathematician, physicist, inventor, and writer, who lived in the sixteen hundreds.” Pascal was correct. Pretending there is no afterlife, using diversions is not the answer. But when we face the reality of the next life, it is comforting to hear that Jesus our Saviour promises, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, shall live.” Blaise Pascal believed that, and so should we, because it is the truth. Jesus offers us the gift of eternal life, since He died and rose again to make that possible.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A kindly couple adopted two baby wolves, took them to their home and for a while, the wolves acted like friendly puppies. But when they grew older, the wolves attacked their masters, who barely escaped with their lives. Their wolf nature eventually became evident. Similarly, all humans have been born with a nature causing us to do wrong. God’s Word tells us that we were all “shaped in iniquity…” and that, “there is one righteous, no not one.” It cannot be erased. We need a new nature, and God promises that if we sincerely seek it, we can have one. Jesus taught, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Paul, describing this “new nature” wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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It’s called “21st Century learning” and it’s happening in educational centres in several Canadian provinces. But Margaret Wente, writing about it in the Globe and Mail describes this kind of learning as a “fad” that downplays factual knowledge, grades and testing.” To date, there is no evidence it brings better results. For some, values that are old, must be replaced suggesting for example that there are many ways to become a true Christian. Wrong! Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Yes, there is room for creative thinking, innovative methods, but truth never changes, not now, not ever. God and His inspired Word never change. He has said, “I, the Lord, do not change.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In the cartoon “Blondie,” her husband Dagwood said that according to a study, hot tea is a healthier beverage than coffee. So, Blondie asked, “Do you want to start drinking tea Dear?” “Nope,” said Dagwood, “I like coffee. I’ll just stick with coffee and wait for a study that I can live with.” And isn’t that often the way many of us respond when faced with life’s choices? We wait for that which pleases us, because we want to do it our own way. But that can be a very unwise response, especially when it pertains to things eternal. Wise Solomon once said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” And Jesus, referring to the next life said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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