The English language is full of paradoxes. For instance, there is no ham in hamburgers, neither is there apple or pine in pineapple. We park in driveways and drive on a parkway. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads are meat. A wise guy is different than a wise man, and so on. Our language is a bit crazy. And when trying to express ourselves, we often don’t say what we mean or mean what we say. God doesn’t. His Word is clear, definite, flawless and eternal. He says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”So let’s not try to tell God what’s right and wrong. Or consider this- “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” So let’s not be spiritual dummies. Please-study your Bible. You’ll find it refreshingly straightforward.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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An extremely rare copy of Shakespeare’s “First Folio” has been discovered in a library of a nineteenth century Scottish mansion. The book published in 1623 has been verified as authentic. Emma Smith, professor of Shakespeare Studies, Oxford University said “It was there in plain sight but nobody quite knew what it was.” We too often overlook obvious blessings. One is our God inspired Bible. The Psalmist reminds us, ”I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great treasure.” And our Lord said that His Word “…is truth.” Perhaps in your home there is a Bible handed down to you that is gathering dust. Is it time for you to “discover” it again? In that great book you can learn how to be be forgiven and become a member of God’s family. Please study your Bible. It can change your life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The headline said “Broken hearts at a higher risk of failing.” It referred to a recent study of nearly a million people showing that the death of a life partner may trigger the risk of dying of a broken heart. This study parallels the death of Jesus, demonstrating His great love for us all. John, in his gospel, wrote, “when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead…one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” Dr. Truman Davis, writes, “We, therefore, have rather conclusive post-mortem evidence that Our Lord died, not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure…” heart failure that began… in the garden…continued to build when he was rejected by many of his disciples and came to utter fruition when his people nailed him to a cross.” Oh how He loves you and me!.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Imagine opening your mailbox to discover how likely it is that you will have a heart attack or develop cancer! Some people are already taking genetic testing to determine their risks. Dr. David Agus, renowned cancer specialist says, “Yes, it can make you afraid, but at the same time it empowers you.” Regarding our spiritual state, God has already made a diagnosis. He tells us that “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.” And further, that “there is none righteous, no not one” in God’s eyes. This too, makes us afraid, but it also empowers us. And it enables us to take action about our condition and realize that though the wages of our sin is spiritual death, “the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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It is said that when Mary Mitchell, known as the Queen of the Gypsies, died, she was buried with all the traditional gypsy ceremony, including a necklace of fifty dollar gold pieces and thousand dollar bills. Why the money? To pay her way into heaven. Many today hold this same belief, thinking they can earn their way into heaven. This is often done by generous gifts to charity and a litany of good works. Sadly, this is mission impossible. God, in mercy, sent His Son the Lord Jesus to earth. He bore our sins on that old cross, providing the only way to heaven. As He died, He cried out, “It is finished,” indicating that the price has been paid, and our salvation is a gift. Paul explained – “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Recently an Ontario man was sentenced to ten years in prison for driving while drunk, killing three children and their grandfather. Impaired driving has long been a serious and dangerous distraction. Now distracted driving, or texting, has been added to the priorities of traffic enforcement, with very large fines if convicted. If our attention is on a phone rather than the road, we are inviting disaster. And as we travel through life, we also can be distracted and permit other things to become more important than our relationship with God. So many today live as though there were no tomorrow, no God, no meeting with the One to Whom we must one day give account. Is it not time for all of us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”? Is it not time to “prepare to meet” our God? We do that by recognizing our spiritual bankruptcy and inviting Christ into our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In 1781, the planet Uranus was discovered, followed by Neptune in 1846, and Pluto in 1930. But since the Kepler Space Telescope was launched in 2009, exploration of the universe has expanded rapidly. At present 2,300 planets that orbit a star outside the solar system, called exoplanets, have been found. In the past one hundred years, knowledge has increased more than in all previous time combined. And that is exactly as the Bible prophesied. Daniel wrote in his time, thousands of years ago, “…many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” How did he know? He was inspired by God, just as the rest of the Bible is. You and I can trust that wonderful, authentic book, God’s Word, and we can trust the Saviour it presents to us. When we acknowledge our sin and invite Him into our lives, we become His followers. He shows us how to live this life, and how to be prepared for the next.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is only revealed if there is light from within.” Those thoughtful words are from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, in her book, “To Live and to Die.” This light within can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ. John, referring to our Lord, wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness.” Jesus Himself affirmed this truth, and explained how each one of us can have that light within. saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Following Jesus begins by acknowledging our spiritual darkness and asking His forgiveness. Then we have His light within.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“While women weep…while little children go hungry…while there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight…I’ll fight to the very end.” Those are the words of General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. His life was dedicated to the service of God, and especially to the needy. He believed that people without Christ in their lives were spiritually lost, and he reached them through kindness, feeding the hungry and sharing the gospel to prepare them for heaven. His life mirrors that of the One he served- Jesus Christ. Our Saviour reached out to weeping women, hungry children, and souls in darkness. His mission is described in His own words, “The Son of man has come to seek and to save, that which was lost.” It is, however, not only the poor and homeless who need the gospel, because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Maurice Chevalier, the French entertainer once said, “Yesterday is to learn from; today is to live in; tomorrow is to plan for.” Well, we live in today, and some learn from yesterday. But the most vital part of Mr. Chevalier’s statement is that tomorrow is to be planned for. And since our tomorrows all lead to eternity, it is wise to prepare for the inevitable rendezvous with our Maker. The prophet Amos advised with the words, “prepare to meet your God.” How do we do that? Join a church? Get baptized? Turn over a new leaf and do good works? Wrong! Surprised? I was, until I learned that “it is by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.” Please remember Chevalier’s wise advice, “tomorrow is to plan for.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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