It pays to go to school. Statistics Canada found that more than 80% of College and University graduates had acquired full time employment within two years of graduating. In our high tech world, education is necessary for financial success. To gain knowledge through education is very laudable. But the Bible tells about an even greater goal in life? It is that of obtaining wisdom. Paul wrote to young Timothy, “But as for you,… continue in what you have learned.. how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise to … through faith in Christ.” The prudent make their goal to not only have knowledge of this world, but that true wisdom which comes from God. And the place to begin in our quest for that wisdom is to become rightly related to God by placing our faith in His Son, Jesus, because “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In the Canadian Federal Election held last month, much was made of one of the leader’s looks. Jennifer Benson Schuldt, in a recent issue of Our Daily Bread wrote, “When God looks at us, He is more interested in our hearts than our height, the state of our soul than the structure of our face. He doesn’t see us as too old, too young, too small, or too big. He zeroes in on the things that matter- our response to His love for us…” And when Samuel was called upon to select a new king for Israel, the God warned him, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” When He looks into our hearts, does He see humility to acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy, since “all have sinned …” Does He see faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus, who says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Sometimes because of language and cultural differences, even the big multi-national companies run into trouble trying to crack the international market and changes have had to be made. To illustrate this, it has been said that in Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan “come alive with the Pepsi generation” came out as “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead.” another claim is that in Chinese, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan, “finger lickin’ good” came out as “eat your fingers off.” In contrast, the Bible has been translated into over 500 languages, and over 1,000 languages have Bible portions translated. But amazingly though, in spite of language and cultural differences, its message never changes, because Jesus is “the same, yesterday and today and forever.” And its central truth is “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“A criminal record can follow you all your life.” That is part of an ad by an organization promising a guarantee of criminal record removal. This sounds like a wonderful offer. But there is a better one having to do with the more serious matter of our breaking God’s laws. The Bible clearly states, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and “there is none righteous no not one.” We all have a sin debt we are unable to pay. Fortunately, the gospel has “good news.” God offers a full pardon when we acknowledge our sin and invite Christ into our lives. Immediately after we do that, fellowship with Him is restored, and we receive eternal life. It is free pardon, since God says, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And it is a permanent pardon, since He says, “their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In 1984, the Children’s Wish Foundation began at the kitchen table of volunteer Laura Cole. Originally granting fewer than 20 wishes a year, the foundation has established the capacity to fulfill upwards of 1,000 wishes annually. They help children with life-threatening illnesses all across Canada. This is a wonderful goal and has brought great encouragement to many families. Sadly, however, sometimes it is impossible to fulfill the wishes of loved ones on this earth. But for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and a home in heaven someday, there is a wonderful promise. It is found in the last Book of the Bible. It says, “God shall wipe every tear…There will be no more death or mourning crying, or pain.” That is a wonderful hope, and it is available to all who humbly and sincerely ask for it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Graham Kerr, better known in the 1970’s as “The Galloping Gourmet” once said, “There comes a time in a person’s life when he just wants to put a finger down his throat and say “enough.” What caused Kerr to subsequently trade opulence for simplicity, possessions for charity and fame for personal healing? Simply put, Kerr became a Christian. The change that took place in his life mirrors that of Paul the Apostle, sometimes called conversion. Paul described it as follows- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Millions have made that life changing decision, and the door to that transformed life is open to all who will step through. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. “ The choice is ours.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In last month’s Canadian election, voters were given a choice. Either say “yes” to change, or “yes to “a proven record.” Someone once said “Choosing which things to say “no to is a much tougher exercise than choosing which things to say “yes” to.” And it is easier to eat chocolate cake than spinach. But these choices often bring pain later on. Pontius Pilate, during the trial that resulted in Jesus’ death, asked the question, “What shall I do then with Jesus who is called the Christ?” This is similar to the question we all must answer. “Will we go on living primarily for ourselves, ignoring the Saviour’s legitimate claims on our lives? Or will we say “yes” and admit that we need Him, and receive Him as Lord and Saviour? A gospel song asks- “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be, someday your heart will be asking, what will He do with me?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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North Americans love their “stuff.” This has resulted in TV shows such as “American Pickers,” Storage Wars, and the grandfather of them all, “The Antique Road Show.” Many people try to get rid of unwanted possessions by yard sales, while other people dream of a valuable heirloom from great grandmother’s attic. But most of us succumb to the lure of the treasure hunt at one time or another. However, the greatest treasure is never found in our possessions. Paul the Apostle, writing in the New Testament, wished that “people may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” That’s because when we are properly related to Christ, by faith, we have the twin treasures of forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. The critical question each one of us needs to ask is, “Have I discovered these treasures yet?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A while back, well known columnist Sydney J Harris wrote, “When you calculate how short is the span of life on this planet…and how we spend this span in fighting, competing, killing and hating, it seems a gruesome caricature of what civilization was intended to be.” Mr. Harris’ words sound like a lament for a fallen race don’t they. When God created us, He made man in His image, but man rebelled and we became a fallen race, spiritually dead. Paul described mankind’s condition as follows- “Therefore just as through one man (Adam)sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men…” But thankfully, one glad day Jesus left heaven and came to earth. There He allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross, taking the sins of the world as our Substitute. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who receive it. I did. Will you?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Shankar Vedantam, in his book “The Hidden Brain,” makes many startling and thought- provoking statements. He says “The hidden brain keeps us from seeing what’s important as we make crucial decisions.” While Mr. Vedantam may or may not be correct in all of his conclusions, it is difficult to argue with him when he says, “unconscious bias shapes behavior.” Solomon informed us in the Proverbs, that “there is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is death.” He also spoke of men in general saying, as a man “thinks in his heart, so is he.” And Paul warned, ”Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” In other words- close our minds to truth, allow bias, to blind us, and we reap the consequences. The good news -it’s never too late to open mind and heart, and regardless of what we have done, God loves us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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