“I’m miserable, I would like to become a Christian but I don’t know how.” Those were the words of young Charlotte Elliott, of Clapham, England. “Hearing her concern, Dr. Cesar Malan asked her, “Why don’t you come just as you are?” At first she was offended. But after pondering his words, she became a true believer, and years later, she wrote the words, to the song ‘Just As I Am.’ Though published in 1836, it did not become well known until sung around the world in Evangelist Billy Graham’s Crusades. Since then, millions have sung, “Just As I Am without One Plea.. O Lamb of God I come,” understanding that coming ‘just as we are,’ in our sins weaknesses and failures is the only way we can become Christians. Christ said “Whoever comes to me I will never cast our.” ” “Just as I am” is the only way anyone can come to Christ.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I’d rather text than talk.” Ever hear that thought expressed or felt that way yourself? Shirley Turkle, in her book “The Power of talk in a Digital Age”, points out the dangers of letting our relationships slip while we disappear in what she calls the “absent presence” of our screens. This is having a negative effect on interpersonal relationships especially in the family. Empathy, discovery, patience, debate and mentoring all thrive in conversation, but are not doing well with today’s technology. But as important as it is to communicate with our family and friends, the most essential relationship is that which we all need with our Heavenly Father. And we don’t need a smart phone to reach Him. He invites each of us to “Call upon me and … I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” That’s a conversation we all need.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Millions around the world have seen the movie “Gone With the Wind.” A Pulitzer Prize winner, which sold one million copies within six months, it was translated into 40 languages. It was based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, The Christian faith is based on the greatest Book of all time, the Bible. It tells of God’s plan for all creation, of Jesus God’s Son, who died that we might have eternal life. When we accept God’s gift of forgiveness, cleansing and salvation, the Bible becomes guide for living. The Psalmist wrote, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” God’s Word, the Bible can be trusted in these uncertain days for time and eternity. One New Testament book says, “The Word of God is living and powerful…a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Why not acquire a Bible,, study it and let it guide your life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A Russian scientist has made a bizarre claim linking ancient bacteria to immortality. Anatoli Brouchkov, the head of the Geocryology Department at Moscow State University, injected himself with what he claims is a 3.5-million-year-old bacteria. Brouchkov believes it may be the key to finding eternal life. But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who allegedly thought it would be found in Florida. Nobody has succeeded. But while we all must someday pass from this life, we can all live forever. Paul affirmed that while “the wages (or the payoff) for sin is death,“ the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That’s because Christ died to make forgiveness and eternal life possible for all who admit their spiritual need and open their lives to Him.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Why care about what is happening on Mars, when there is so much to worry about here on earth?” That question was posed by Tanya Harrison in a recent Globe and Mail article. She continued, “Why spend a lot of money to find out about the red planet? What’s the big deal? Later Harrison concluded “It is to find out if we are alone in the universe.” Interesting comments. It is true, at this point, no one knows if there is life on other planets. But the Psalmist David reminds us, “From heaven, the Lord looks down…He watches all who live on the earth.” There is an intelligent Designer- Creator who watches over His creation and His creatures. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” We are not alone. The kind heavenly Father watches over His children..

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Terry Shafer, while shopping in Moline, Illinois in September, found just the right Christmas present for her husband David. Because she thought her husband needed the gift, she decided not to wait until Christmas, and gave it to him right away. The next month, David, a patrolman, got a call that a drugstore robbery was in progress. In the line of duty, he was shot in the abdomen with a .45 caliber pistol. Terry, shocked at first then relieved when she learned that though David was in hospital, he had received only a bad bruise. Terry realized that because she had not waited until Christmas, her timely gift probably saved her husband’s life. The gift? A bullet-proof vest. And God’s timing was also perfect, when He gave His Son- the greatest Christmas gift ever. Paul was inspired to write “…when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…to redeem.” That gift is available to all every day.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Mrs. Bertha Adams, 71 years old, died alone in West Palm Beach Florida, earlier this year. The coroner’s report read: “Cause of death . . . malnutrition.” She had wasted away to fifty pounds. But surprisingly, amid her belongings, officials found two keys to safe-deposit boxes at two different local banks. In all, she was worth well over a million dollars. When they buried her, she didn’t take a penny with her. Her sad story reminds us that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” And though we do not know what her spiritual condition was when she passed away, we are moved to remember Jesus’ rhetorical question, “What shall it profit a man if he should gain the world, but lose his own soul?” Bertha Adams life and death encourages us to live with eternity’s values in view.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In Canada and the rest of the northern hemisphere, the first day of the Fall season is the day of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward, on September 22 and 23. Clouds bring rain and shade. Who taught them how to vaporize and pick up fresh water and carry it to places which need it? Is snow just a winter decoration, and why does it melt at just the right temperature for the young crops to drink? It’s all accidental right? That’s what some say. But what an amazing series of millions of miracles folks who believe that, must explain to themselves. The Bible says, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And The Creator can perform a life transforming miracle in our lives today. Are you a broad-minded person? Are you “well read”? If so, please add the world’s best seller, the Bible to your reading and there learn of Christ. You will be amazed at how it can broaden one’s horizon!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Oscar Wilde was an Irish author, playwright and poet. He became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. One of his many insightful quotes attributed to him is “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.” None of us can eliminate his or her past. Our deeds are deeply ingrained and refuse to be dismissed. We may call our wrong doing mistakes or miss-steps, God calls them sin. King David of old yielded to his fleshly passions in a moment of temptation. He then had only regrets afterward. But he wisely recognized the futility of trying to “buy back his past.” Instead, he cried out to God for forgiveness, He prayed, “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. “ By the grace of God, his sin was forgiven, and the nagging sense of guilt removed. That mercy is guaranteed for anyone who sincerely acknowledges transgressions and asks God for forgiveness. Because Jesus promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Someone recently asked, “Can you imagine a textbook written by 40 different medical professionals from different countries, speaking different languages, writing independently of each other, written over a period of more than 1500 years? Imagine superstitions of 1500 years ago, mixed in with the latest scientific methods. Would you like to be treated by someone who used such a text for guidance? “ Well, there is a Book, written by over 40 different authors, from different countries over 1500 years. Astonishingly, nobody has ever been able to prove a single error in its original text. It is the Bible. Its accuracy and authenticity can only be explained in one way- God is responsible for its construction and preservation. “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Yes, we can trust the Bible, and there learn the great truth, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only. Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” What a book! Read it lately?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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