Victor Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist. He was the author of the famous novel, Les Miserables. He died in 1885. If he were alive today, he would be shocked and surprised at how wrong his prediction was, regarding the future. He prophesied that in the 20th century, in his words,” War will be dead, the scaffold will be dead, hatred will be dead.” But two world wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, along with today’s wars, murders, immoral lifestyles and more, dramatically contradict Hugo’s optimistic predictions. Our world is like it is, because most are in denial regarding original sin. But Isaiah was inspired to correctly state the solemn truth that, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way…” And events of the real world are indisputable evidence that we are all part of a fallen race. Paul spoke of the Savior this world needs, writing, “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…to redeem.” Christ is the only answer to this hurting world.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Childhood obesity is now epidemic in Canada, tripling in the last twenty-five years. And yet, only nine percent of parents are willing to acknowledge weight problems in their children. They prefer to compare their kids with others, rather than what they see on their bathroom scales. And many of us are like that when facing problems, putting our heads in the sand. Sadly, many act in a similar manner in regards to our relationship with God. It seems easier and less painful to say, “I’m as good as the next person” and ignore the truth that informs us that “there is none righteous, no not one.” The Bible, like a properly working scale, is the only reliable standard. The wise among us will admit our innate tendency to do wrong, and turn our lives over to the Savior, who said, “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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“The devil made me do it.” Those words became a national catch phrase in the 1970s when comedian Flip Wilson used them in his comedy acts. Woody Smith, a Kentucky man, who murdered his wife, tried to blame it on excessive caffeine from sodas, energy drinks and diet pills. Adam, our first father, tried to shift the blame to his wife Eve, and even to God, for his disobedience in the garden of Eden, saying that it was “the woman You gave me.” But John, in the letter bearing his name warned, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” But later, he was inspired to introduce hope, writing, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So let’s stop blaming the devil, or someone else, for our wrong-doing, and humbly turn to Jesus for forgiveness.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Two signboards stood side by side near a super highway. Each sign is supposed to flash the current temperature. But on day, one of the signs read-temperature 86 Fahrenheit, while the other read- temperature 82 Fahrenheit. Clearly one or both was wrong. Similarly, because of our moral and spiritual condition, as part of a fallen race, on our own, we cannot establish correct standards or guidelines for living. This results in confusion and frustration and much disagreement as to what is right or wrong. So we need an objective source of truth. That can only be found in the inspired Word of God, the Bible. Of it we read, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…” And in addition, “The Word of God is living and powerful…” In that wonderful book, we find the unvarnished objective truth, not man’s subjective ideas of truth. Please allow it to be the standard of truth in your life. Or, as a wise college president once said, “Give God your heart, and He’ll comb the kinks out of your head.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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He was found lying in a heap, bruised and with a deep gash in his throat. An alcoholic, all he wanted was a drink. He had lost all hope. He died penniless three days later in Bellevue Hospital, New York, still unknown until a friend identified him in the local morgue. His name- Stephen Foster. Before his tragic death, Foster wrote over 200 songs, including such famous ones as “Oh Susanna”, “Beautiful Dreamer” and “My Old Kentucky Home.” Sadly, many, like Stephen Foster have lost hope. But there is hope for all. Mathew was inspired to write in his gospel, Jesus’ invitation— “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy lade, and I will give you rest.” Today, if you are down and out, please don’t give up. Reach out to Jesus. He’s reaching out to you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A farmer, who was an atheist, wrote to the editor of a farm newspaper. He spoke about his godless lifestyle and stated that the Christian farmers in his area were wasting their time denying themselves certain pleasures, which he enjoyed. He said he had done as much of his work on Sundays as possible, and poked fun at their church-going, and boasted, “this October my crops were the largest in the community.” The editor’s classic brief response, printed following the letter, was “Dear Sir, God does not settle all of His accounts in October.” Unfortunately, the atheist farmer was ignoring the warning, “boast not yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Let’s hope he later acted on the good advice of Amos the prophet, “Prepare to meet your God.” Just because we seem to be getting away with wrong-doing does not necessarily mean that we are.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A while back, the Abbotsford British Columbia police department sent out greeting cards to prolific criminal offenders in that city, saying, “It’s never too late to make a better choice for your life.” They encouraged recipients to decide that the year ahead should be the year to choose a new and better life. This is a commendable effort. But people often lack the ability to reform. Fortunately, we can turn our lives over to the Lord. The Bible makes two wonderful promises. First- “If anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Then we can begin living a successful life because “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” That Abbotsford police letter said, “It’s never too late.” As long as there is life there is hope. With Christ in our vessel, we can smile at the storms of life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Someone has been telling you that almost no intelligent educated people believe in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible? Don’t believe them. They are wrong. Sir William Hershel, discoverer of the planet Uranus, father of stellar and galactic astronomy wrote, “All discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths in sacred scriptures.” Nicholas Copernicus, responsible for the idea that the earth orbits the sun, wrote, “My salvation lies only and alone on…Jesus Christ.” These statements came from Dr. Martin Gaskell, of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California at Santa Cruz. And they are simply a recognition of the words God inspired David, the Psalmist to write, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Yes, we can trust the Bible, we can trust Jesus to do what He has promised to do- namely to forgive, cleanse and prepare us for heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Harold Clayton Urey was an American physical chemist w hose pioneering work on isotopes earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1934 for the discovery of Deuterium. This brilliant man once made the following surprising statement, “I myself am a man who is afraid. All the wise men I know are afraid.” There is such a thing as healthy fear which moves us to do something about problems when we face them. For example, we buy insurance when we see uncertainty in the future. The Bible tells “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” When we have a healthy fear or awe of God, this should lead to repentance. If we recognize our innate tendency to do wrong and ask for God’s forgiveness, He promises, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near…He will have mercy…He will abundantly pardon.” Now that is the best offer you or I will ever get.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last year, Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister of Canada. This year, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are competing for the presidency of the USA. The goal is power and all that goes with that power. There are many different kinds of power in our world. But the Bible also speaks of an often ignored power that is greater than all earthly powers. It is called “the power of God.” As a matter of fact, the Bible describes itself as follows- “The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Paul the Apostle was inspired to explain the life changing experience that takes place when we acknowledge our spiritual need, give our lives to Christ, and accept the gospel. He declared that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation, for everyone who believes.” So the Word of God and the gospel of Christ together represent the greatest life-changing power on earth or in heaven. And it’s available to all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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