“Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.” Those words were part of a dramatic speech by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II. The British Isles represented the last line of resistance against the sweep of Nazi oppression in Europe. Churchill was appealing for help with Great Britain’s desperate need for military supplies. From then neutral USA American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, first provided help with arms. Then the USA entered the war, after the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Often we are inadequate for troubles life throw at us. But with Christ in our lives, we can , “… come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ”And our greatest need for outside help is in regards to forgiveness, cleansing and a home in heaven. Because it is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy…” that we can enter God’s family.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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It’s October, and World Series time again. It was July 2009 when Pitcher Mark Buehrle, now a Toronto Blue Jay, was playing for the Chicago White Sox. It was the 9th inning, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Buehrle was closing in on a no-hitter, when Gabe Kapler hit what looked like a home run. But then, White Sox Fielder Dewayne Wise made a spectacular leaping catch at the wall to rob Kapler of a home run. Buerhle then closed out the 18th perfect game in major league history. It was a magic performance. But there was another much greater moment in history, with not just a no-hitter in danger. It was when the destiny of all fallen mankind was at stake. Out of eternity came the Great One. Jesus left heaven and went to the cross to die for the sins of the world. He cried out dramatically, “It is finished,” having done everything necessary to save us from eternal damnation. And anyone, willing to repent and receive Christ can be forgiven, cleansed and receive the gift of eternal life. Just ask for it.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Niagara Falls is a city in southeastern Ontario, Canada, a port on the Niagara River opposite Niagara Falls, New York. The city overlooks the Horseshoe Falls, the crescent-shaped cataract which is 54 Metres or 177 ft. high. Before the Welland River joins the Niagara, it’s quite safe for boating. But fixed to a bridge over the river is a warning which asks “Do you have an anchor? Do you know how to use it?” The sign reminds one that even in the quietest life, there can be turbulent currents ahead. And we all need an anchor. The writer of the Book of Hebrews makes reference to those who have fled from the storms of life to the Lord for refuge, “to lay hold of the hope set before us.” Then speaking of those who have cried out to God in their trouble, and found their refuge in Jesus Christ, he says, “this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” So the warning near the Niagara Falls is one for each of us to ponder- “Do you have a spiritual anchor? Do you know how to use it?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Doris Louise Seger opened the door to her office and found her precious violin in pieces. She was crushed. It had been a high school graduation gift from her parents. A week later police found the vandal and Doris went to his home. When she saw the skinny blond 11 year old sitting next to his father. Louise knew that the real tragedy was not her shattered violin, but a young life, headed for a shattered future. She said, “I forgive you, and God will too, if you ask Him.” A few days later that boy came to a Pastor’s office asking hesitantly, “Is there any work that I can do at the church to pay for the violin? Sensing his repentant heart, the Pastor shared the gospel with the boy, who received Christ as His Saviour. Doris purchased a new violin, but thinking of Paul’s words, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” she wrote, the new violin “would never compare with the ‘new creature’ in Christ Jesus.” And all heading for a shattered future can have a changed life by turning to the Saviour.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I recently read a story about a 72 year old Sydney Australia woman who had collected more than 300,000 beer bottles and given the proceeds to charity. Later she said, ”Now I’ll have a bit of time to relax. I’ve tried to build a ladder to heaven.” Sounds good, but unfortunately she has a distorted understanding of how one goes to heaven, which contradicts the only reliable source about the next life- the Bible. Somewhere , she has been misled, thinking that she could build a “ladder to heaven” by her good works which is what many, who have not studied their Bibles, believe. The Bible however, is crystal clear. The Book of Titus states that it is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy” that God saves us. And Paul, writing on the subject, reminds us that it is “by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves.” Jesus is the only “ladder to heaven.” He 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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Dr. Paul Antrobus, a psychologist, has said that churches make people feel unnecessarily guilty. He believes that fear is the real evil, and love the real good. It’s a little bit like saying that medical professionals who inform patients that they have a serious disease, or police officers who tell people they are breaking the law, are making people unnecessarily guilty. We may not want to hear bad news from our doctors, when we are ill or from policemen when we are caught breaking the law. But we need to hear the truth. Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” As long as we try to hide from the truth, nothing good can happen. But when we acknowledge our condition, or wrong-doing, we can receive help and find a remedy for our spiritual needs. Jesus said, “ I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” And since we are all sinners by nature and by choice, He came for all of us and offers forgiveness and new life to sincere seekers.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In September, 2006, well known crocodile hunter, conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin was killed while filming on the Great Barrier Reef. The barb of a stingray pierced his chest. But there is a bright side to this tragic event. According to reports from Australia, Steve’s wife Teri and their two children had been attending a small church in Beerwah, where they lived. Just a month or so before he died, Irwin started accompanying his family to church and accepted Christ as His Saviour. He later said these were the best weeks of his life. Little did he realize that they would be the last weeks of his life. His passing has an important message for us all. We never know when we will pass from this life. Even young people can be called into the presence of their Maker unexpectedly. The only way to be prepared is to make our peace with God now. Paul wrote of this, saying, “… being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” You and I are going to live somewhere forever.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Photo credit: “Steve Irwin” by Richard Giles, aka User rich115 on Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardgiles/78439513/. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Irwin.jpg#/media/File:Steve_Irwin.jpg

“I knew I had made a valuable contribution to mankind, not because I was brilliant but because God chose me to convey this gift to the world.” That’s what Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph said. He would have had every right to feel proud of his accomplishment, but he thought differently, giving the credit to God, His Maker. Somebody once said, “ It is amazing how much you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit, as long as God gets the glory.” The first words ever sent by telegraph were, “What God hath wrought!” That should be our attitude about any successes we may have had. God makes it all possible. Paul wrote, that “in all things, He should have the preeminence.” This is especially true in regards to becoming a true Christian. Paul wrote, “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.” We should all say with the hymn writer, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to your cross I cling.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A young man complained to his father that most of the hymns sung in his church were old fashioned. His father said, “If you think you can write better hymns, why don’t you? ”The young man accepted the challenge and wrote “Joy to the World” and “When I survey the Wondrous Cross. ”That young man was Isaac Watts. As someone has wisely said, “It it better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” It is true, there is much that is wrong in this old world. There are problems everywhere. But rather than just complaining about our world, it is far better to try to do something about it. Visit the sick. Give to good charities. Encourage the down and out. Be an example in your community. And most important of all, instead of concluding that because we are weak and prone to doing wrong, rather than wallowing in the mire, turn to the Lord Jesus for a changed life. As Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Many years ago, Geoffrey Chaucer, famous author of the Canterbury Tales wrote “Time and tide wait for no man.” More recently, the late Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple, once said “My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” Have you thought much about time lately? We can’t see it, can’t touch it , yet it is there every moment of our lives. We can turn the clock back, forward, or stop it, but time we cannot alter. Whether young and looking forward to many years, or older and looking back on our lives mostly spent, one thing is sure, we don’t exist in the past or the future. We live only in the present. That is why we should consider this verse from the Proverbs, “Boast not yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” and with that in mind, think about Paul’s timely admonition, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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