When the 2015 Federal Election has been decided, those who did not win, Harper, Mulcair or Trudeau will reflect on what they could have done differently. When the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, lost his majority in the 1972 election, he said, “no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” His quote was from Desiderata, a poem-sermon written in 1917 by Max Ehrman of Indiana. who went on to say, “It is a still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.” The sentimental essay sounds good but it really offers no way to be happy. In contrast, the Word of God, the Bible explains life realistically. It says, in effect, “Mankind is on a path to destruction, but God has done something about it. He gave His Son as a Substitute for us at Calvary. “Christ died for our sins.” Later Jesus said, “ I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Yes, God is in control, and no doubt the universe is unfolding just as He planned.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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When the 24th annual Augusta Armory Antiques Show was held in Augusta Maine earlier this year, it drew a strong turnout from people interested in searching for old treasures. The Show included 42 exhibitors. There is no doubt about it, nostalgia is very profitable, whether it is antique shows or garage and yard sales. Folks can’t seem to get enough, as they look into the past and try to re-live again some of those days when they were a lot younger. While we may not be able to re-live, it is possible to live again. The Bible tells us that we can have our present wiped out and have it replaced by something brand new. Jesus called it the new birth. And Paul the Apostle put it this way, ”If anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation, old things have passed away, all things have become new..” That’s what the Saviour meant when He said, “You must be born again.” The key to this new life, this living again, is being “in Christ.” That happens when we sincerely invite Him into our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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40 people lost their lives last month- suffocating in the hold of a smuggler’s ship. At least 2,100 migrants died at sea this year, trying to escape from war, persecution and poverty. These 40 or so, were poor people from Libya unable to pay for passage anywhere but in the hold of the ship. Those who could afford, it and travelled on the upper deck levels, survived and were rescued. In other words, the difference was the ability, or inability to pay for a new home, a new life. Thankfully, it is not that way in regards to who goes to heaven, and who does not. Our money or lack of it has nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, nobody can buy his or her way into heaven. Because we are all lacking in righteousness. As Paul wrote, “there is none righteous, no not one.” But the good news is that Someone who could pay, became our Benefactor. When Christ died for us, God the Father “…made Him, ” who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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At the height of his writing career, the eyesight of the great poet John Milton began to fail. A devoted follower of Christ, he did not become bitter. As the darkness closed in on him, Milton, in his sonnet “Blindness”, squarely faced the entire problem of tribulation and resolved to rise above it. The proof of God’s wisdom in allowing this hardship to happen to him may be demonstrated by the fact that after he became blind, Milton produced the great epic, “Paradise Lost.” Perhaps today you are similarly afflicted, have lost a dear loved one recently or maybe you have a serious health problem, or have had a financial setback. Whatever your situation, God’s Word tells us that when Christ is in our lives, we need not despair. When He left this earth, He promised “I will not leave you comfortless,” and He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers. Has He allowed your hardship to come to show you your need of Him? Peter urges sufferers to be” Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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He was not a very smart thief. Police in Georgia say that Fred, 19, hid in a store after closing time, and then helped himself to a new set of clothes. Shortly afterwards Police tracked him down and charged him with burglary. It was not hard to catch him. He had left his old clothes in an aisle of the store. Inside was information giving Fred’s name and address. Dumb? Yes, but the truth is that all of us are leaving tell-tale signs behind. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” A record of our lives is being kept by God and someday, the Bible says we will be judged “according to our works by the things…written in the books.” But therein lies a problem, since none of can ever be good enough to earn our way into heaven. Fortunately, Paul explained how to how to transfer our trust from ourselves to the Lord to take us to heaven. He wrote, “…by grace we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God not of works…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I read recently the interesting story of a wise elderly lady selling flowers. Upon learning the price, a prospective buyer said, “That’s quite a bit of money for something that God made isn’t it?” But the seller alertly replied, “Yes, God made these flowers, but He didn’t pick them.” The incident, reminded me of something I once heard. “God never uses the supernatural where the natural will do. He does not press your trousers or shine your shoes. He expects you to do that for yourself.” He provides for our needs, we have to take steps to acquire what He has given. We need to pick the “flowers of life.” And He graciously provided a way to heaven- “He gave His only begotten Son,” to die on the old rugged cross for us. However just as He will not pick flowers for us, you and I have a responsibility to respond by acknowledging our spiritual need and asking His forgiveness and inviting Him into our lives. He does not force Himself on anyone, but His door is always open to sincere, humble seekers.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and one of the highest-regarded courtroom lawyers of his era. He served as Secretary of State under three American Presidents. In 1957, a Senate Committee selected Webster as one of the five greatest U.S. Senators of all time. On one occasion, in response to a question, this brilliant man said, “The greatest thought that ever entered my mind, is the thought of my personal accountability to God.” In saying this, Webster was responding positively to a Biblical truth, where we are told “every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” and was setting an example for us all. Because every one of us is spiritually lost, and must stand before our Maker one day, we might as well acknowledge what the Word of God says-“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are unable ready to ourselves. We need Divine help. Remember please that we are all going to live somewhere forever. Death does not end all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Last month, a Grizzly bear crashed through a window in a Kimberley B.C. home and scared the daylights out of Niki Traverse and her family. Awakened by the family dog, Niki’s husband killed the bear with his hunting rifle. Magnificent and wild, the Grizzly bear is in trouble. Conservation experts believe that increased population forces these bears from their deep wilderness habitats… their close encounters with humans are altering their lifestyle, forcing them to seek food from humans, and making them lazy. Apparently even Grizzlies, like us love the good life,. But in the case of humans, there is a down side. The good life of plenty, pleasure and prosperity can dull the sense and cause us to forget Amos’ warning, “prepare to meet your God.” Jesus still invites us to do that, saying, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in,.” This meant His willingness to forgive and receive all who recognize their spiritual need and come to Him in faith.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Countries around the world like China and Greece are in economic trouble. Last month Greece borrowed billions of dollars from other European countries to stave off financial disaster. And the question of our the Canadian economy is being raised. Are we sliding into a recession? As individuals, we are being warned to reduce our personal debt load. The prudent will take action in regards to these matters. But even more important is our sin debt, since the Bible refers to “the wages of sin.” We all carry this debt because “all have sinned”, and we cannot repay it. But God, in His mercy sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, who by His death on the Cross paid the debt of our sin. But while He did that, we each must acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy, our inability to pay, and ask Him to cancel it out on His ledger. The Bible says, “who Himself (Jesus) bore our sins in His own body on the cross that we… might live.” Surely that is an offer that none of us can afford to refuse.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“By faith I believe that this amazing intricate universe evolved from mindless matter. I believe that order accidentally emerged from chaos over a long period of time.” Something like that is what people who have no faith in God, if honest, would have to say. However such individuals should recognize that true scientific evidence proves that order does not grow from chaos, and design points to a Designer. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, “…by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” To those who claim that our amazing universe came into existence as a result of giant accident, it should be clear that their theory is neither scientific nor logical. Contrary to what is claimed, only the Christian faith is actually compatible with logic and reason. Accepting the truth that our universe was created by an intelligent designing God, we must also face the reality of our accountability to that God

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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