Many health conscious people have regular medical checkups. Sometimes this involves an electrocardiogram, whereby a picture is taken of the movements of the heart. Health professionals are then able to detect any abnormalities and be alerted to possible danger signals. Did you know that God also performs electrocardiograms on our hearts? I am not referring to the physical heart, but to the centre of our emotions, wills and affections. God says, “I search the heart.” Then later He gives us the results, telling us that the heart of man natural is too diseased be fixed. There can be no spiritual by-pass, or stent. But thankfully, God promises, “I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you.” In other words, we need to be spiritually re-born. Jesus explained, “Except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God.” This new heart comes when we acknowledge our spiritual need and invited Christ into our lives to perform a spiritual heart transplant. That by the way, is what it means to be born again.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Michael Wagner, father of the Kingston Ontario twin girls who underwent potentially life saving liver transplants, couldn’t hold back tears as he thanked the anonymous donor who made surgery possible for the second girl, Binh. Doctors called it “ an incredible gift.” In a news conference last month, Wagner expressed gratitude to the stranger “who did this for someone they had never met and changed our lives forever.” What a beautiful picture of sacrifice and love for an unknown child. Jesus once said, “Let the little children come to me.” He took them in His arms and blessed them. He gave His life on the Cross not only for children, but for all of us. And John explained that “all who received Him, to those who believed on His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.” What a picture of sacrificial love! That love is available to you, and me, and all people, tongues and nations, regardless of our education, skin colour, or ethnical background. What a wonderful heavenly Father we have

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A mother was helping her young son with his spelling assignment. She came to the words “conscious” and “conscience” so she asked the boy if he knew the difference between the words. “Sure Mom- conscious is when you are aware of something and conscience is when you wish you were not.” An interesting perception by the boy. Though many of us deny wrong-doing in our lives, God keeps us aware of it by means of our conscience. One Old Testament verse puts it concisely as follows- “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.” Many live guilt-ridden lives and are filled with anxiety and pain. But we don’t need to live with guilt. Jesus, by His death at Calvary, offers forgiveness and cleansing so we can live lives of peace and security. Paul was inspired to write, “Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And that peace and security is found at the foot of the old rugged cross.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A young naval officer was given an opportunity to display his ability to get the ship on which he was serving, underway. He soon had men running in all directions and the ship was steaming out of the harbor. He had accomplished a remarkable feat and had set a new time record. Then he was approached with a message from the Captain of the ship. It read, “My personal congratulations on completing your exercise. However, in your haste, you overlooked an unwritten rule- make sure the Captain is on board before getting underway.” The captain had been left on shore. It’s like many of us on the voyage of life. We rush, we plan, we forge ahead, but neglect to make sure that the Captain of our souls, the Lord Jesus Christ is aboard. In our eagerness and ambition to succeed in life, we sometimes leave out the most important of all- a proper relationship with Christ. Jesus Himself said, “…no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Is the “Captain of our salvation” on your ship of life today?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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You are facing adversity at your job. Or is it at home? With family members?. So maybe you could use a few suggestions from someone who experienced his own adversity, handled it well and wrote about it. He had been wrongfully convicted and was in prison when he wrote these inspired and very helpful words from a prison cell. He said some surprising things, considering his situation. First, he said Don’t worry about anything. His words were “Be anxious for nothing.” Then he said to pray about your situation and do so with a thankful attitude. His words were, “let your requests be made known to God.” Then he assured those to whom he wrote that peace would come, right in the midst of the adversity and stress. His words were, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds.” By now you may have guessed who the writer was. Yes, it was Paul the Apostle. And he explained that all this was possible with three words, “through Christ Jesus.” Will you give Him a try?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The Jura clock was given to Quebec City by Switzerland for the city’s 400th birthday. The beautiful clock is sleek, modern, and rises more than eleven feet and displays a constellation of gleaming gears and cogs moving seamlessly together. But the famous, or infamous clock has a huge problem- it does not do what it’s supposed to do-keep proper time. It reminds one of religion. Famous for cathedrals, elegant and expensive edifices, anthems, colourful costumes. But religion, like the Jura clock, does not work Why? because religion is too often the effort of people attempting to make themselves look good in God’s eyes. But true biblical Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship between our Lord Jesus Christ and people who humbly accept God’s assessment of their spiritual condition, and need of a Saviour. This wonderful relationship take place when we accept Jesus’ invitation, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” And billions have found that Bible Christianity works.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Myopia (near- sightedness) is increasing at staggering rates. As many as 80-90% of people in parts of East Asia are believed to be afflicted. In the United States nearly 42% are near-sighted, while Canada is at about 30%. When vision is out of focus, it affects the whole person and steps must be taken to remedy the condition. Our perception of things pertaining to God and our relationship to Him often become blurry as well. Some examples of such misunderstanding are- “as long as I am sincere, I’m sure I’ll be okay.” Or “There is more than one way to get to heaven.” Man’s ideas about God are many and varied, but only God’s Word provides the final truth. The Apostle Paul warns us that “…the natural man (referring to unbelievers) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” But by coming to Christ by faith, we are cured of our spiritual myopia and understand what God is saying to us. It no longer sounds like foolishness.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.” Sounds like a children’s camp song, but John Helliwell, a leading happiness researcher says he often makes this quirky request when speaking to people about happiness. He believes there’s a three part secret to happiness. 1- trust. 2- generosity. 3, collaboration. Helliwell says Satisfaction with social relationships is one of the best indicators of people’s happiness. Very good advice, and it makes sense. But as well as our relationship with people, it is important to be rightely related to God, through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus made two important comments in this regard. On one occasion He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Another time He said, “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Our true happiness depends on our relationship with a Person, and that Person is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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His little face flushed and streaked with sweat, the young boy tugged at the stone, which wouldn’t budge. His father asked, “Are you doing your best?” “Of course I am” the boy replied. “It’s a big stone.” “But are you sure you are doing your best? You haven’t asked me to help you and I am big enough to lift the stone.” Like this little boy, we often struggle, trying to become Christians by our best efforts. But we fail because the Bible, the final authority on the Christian life, says, “By grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works lest anyone should boast.” And in addition, we are told that becoming a Christian is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but it is according to God’s mercy He saves us.” We cannot become Christians by turning over a new leaf or doing good deeds. We need to turn to Jesus Christ, Who, speaking of our salvation as He died on the cross, cried out, “It is finished.” He did everything necessary to forgive us and prepare us for heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“You won’t amount to anything, you’ll never earn a university degree.” Those words were spoken to Toronto high school dropout Toni Morgan by her Vice-Principal. Toni, was for four years a homeless person., living in shelters. Then, she settled into the YWCA and saw “ a chance to turn her life around.” A grad of Ryerson University with a B.A., she has now been accepted into prestigious Harvard University. Needing tuition fees, as she studies for a Masters of Education degree, Tonika raised more than $60,000 through an online campaign. And the same God, Who helped her, has plans for our success in the future too. He told Jeremiah to write, “…I know the thoughts I think toward you… to give you a future and a hope.” How does this happen? – “…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.” As in Toni’s case, with God’s help, You have “a chance to have your life turned around.” Ready to accept the challenge?

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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