Last month a young man murdered nine people in a church in Charleston South Carolina, as they met for Bible study and prayer. Surprisingly, the response of many family members of the victims was not threatening with revenge, but offering forgiveness. These heart-broken people, were following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. When He died, on that old rugged cross, not for wrongs He had done, but for the sins of the world, He cried out, “Father forgive them.” In their response, these bereaved people delivered a strong message of a great biblical truth: God’s love and forgiveness toward undeserving people. When Jesus died for the sins of the world, Peter was inspired to explain, “… Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Villagers in Indonesia refused to leave the area around Mt. Sinabung, an active volcano that has been on high alert for quite a while. An Indonesian official Subur Tambun said, “Only about 10,000 of 33,000 have gone to safe shelters. .” These people believe that bad things only happen to others- not themselves. They are not alone in ignoring high alert warnings. Many ignore the repeated warnings given in the Bible, such as one by Solomon in Proverbs, “boast not about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Jesus, once spoke to a group refusing to face spiritual danger and to accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life. He said, “you are not willing too come to me that you might have life.” The villagers of Indonesia would be wise to go to safe shelters. And it would be wise for all of us to heed Amos’ words, “Prepare to meet your God.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Well, we have another marvel of the technological age- a Robot with a “Heart.” It is designed to recognize and react to human emotions! It can simulate anger, joy, irritation and responds to being praised or stroked. Its creators say, “our vision is to offer a robot with love.” It will be available next year. Sometimes we may wish we could program others. But God did not create programmable robots. We all have a God awareness and the ability to choose. We can’t change others, but when we submit ourselves to the Heavenly Father, He can, and will change us. Paul wrote of this spiritual change- “… if anyone is in Christ he (or she) is a new creation, old things have passed away…all things have become new.” If we allow Him, God will satisfy the longings of our hearts, without a robot.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Atlantic Canadians, are noted for their generosity, especially when tragedy or catastrophe strikes their neighbors or others. Food Banks and used clothing stores have become a reality in our day. Donations of food and clothing are always needed and appreciated, and we all should support as we are able. Doctor Luke, in his gospel, was inspired to give Jesus’ words, ““He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Jesus was the greatest example of sharing. Paul explained, writing, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might be made rich.” Jesus did that by His death on the old rugged cross, providing eternal life to all who believe. He left the riches of heaven to make it possible.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Time marches on.” “Time waits for no man.” So go the slogans about time, one of our greatest assets. Every morning, the good Lord gives us 86,400 seconds. We cannot store them for future use, nor retrieve them from yesterday. We must use them in the present or they vanish. Therefore it is important to invest that time well. As we consider this daily gift of time from God, it is well to remember what He has told us. He inspired Hosea to write, “It is time to seek the Lord.” He inspired Paul to warn, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. And He inspired the Psalmist to remind us, “my times are in your hands.” He wants us to use the time we have left to make our peace with Him, by turning to His Son Jesus for forgiveness and peace.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Astounding!” that’s how York University professor Bridget Stutchbury described a tiny bird, the Blackpoll Warbler. Recent studies have proven that the 12 gram bird is capable of completing a non-stop migration over open water for a distance of 2700 kilometers. “We were totally amazed when we found out,” said Ryan Norris, a biologist at the University of Guelph. Job exclaimed, “How great is God? Beyond our understanding.” But we don’t have to understand it to embrace our Creator’s love and kindness. Paul described this amazing power exemplified in the gospel, calling it “the power of God to salvation, to everyone who believes…” Later He explained why and how this is possible with the words, “…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. No wonder millions sing, “How Great Thou Art”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A while back, a Rhode Island hospital was fined $150,000 when it had its fifth wrong site surgery. And they are not alone in operating in the wrong place. “Wrong site” surgery is becoming more common, often with tragic results. But hospitals are not the only places where “wrong site” situations occur. Often people try to treat spiritual problems without locating the “seat of the problem.” Education and improved social conditions are very important, but God says that it is our hearts that need changing. Jesus said, “… out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” But thankfully, God gives a wonderful promise, saying, “I will remove your heart of stone…I will put my Spirit in you and I will be your God.” The wise will seek forgiveness and accept God’s gift of eternal life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Psychologist Dr. James Dobson, says, “Loneliness is not only an isolation, but an insulation. Perhaps because of abuse, misunderstanding and hurt, we withdraw from people and though we hide behind a cheerful smile, we are really asking someone to understand, someone to heal our hurts.” The feeling of loneliness is common to the human race. King David, in one of his Psalms, expressed the experience of many, when he wrote “I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.” Jesus Himself was once described as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” John Peterson’s song says, “No one understands like Jesus, He’s a friend beyond compare; Meet Him at the throne of mercy, He is waiting for you there. No one understands like Jesus, When the days are dark and grim; No one is so near, so dear as Jesus, Cast your every care on Him.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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In a strange twist, Rachel Dolezal resigned last month as the president of the Spokane chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. She did so after a furor over her racial identity, when her parents revealed that she has been posing as black when she is actually white. The uproar involved not only racial authenticity, but professional honesty. Many people hide behind false faces and some are never discovered, at least in this world. But Paul the Apostle warned, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man (or woman) sows that he will also reap.” We may fool other people, but we cannot fool God. He knows all our secrets. The Psalmist who declared, ”O Lord, You have searched me and known me…You perceive my thoughts …You are familiar with all my ways.” Adam and Eve tried to fool God. They failed.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“Home equity debt is one of the fastest growing in our world today.” That warning was made last month by the Financial Consumer’s Agency, saying , “Don’t borrow more than you can afford.” Debt can easily get out of control and we find ourselves unable to pay. There is a parallel to that pertaining to eternal matters, because we all have a sin debt we are unable to pay. God’s Word states it clearly, “There is none righteous, no not one.” But thankfully, we learn that God has provided a way out of our heavy debt. While informing us that “the wages of sin is death,” (both physical and spiritual) we are also given good news- “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When we accept His offer of forgiveness, He cancels all of our sin debt. Why would anyone turn down that gracious offer?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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