The beheading of American Journalist James Foley shocked the world last month. A frightened people watch the crises in the Ukraine, the Middle East and Syria helplessly. But there is hope, because while dictators and terrorists may think they are in charge, in reality, the God of the universe is in control of this world. The Bible affirms this and the many historical Divine interventions at just the right time in the past when God chose proves it. Listen to Paul’s words – “… the powers that be are ordained of God”. The Psalmist wrote, “…God … puts down one and exalts another.” And Daniel added, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men. (He) gives it to whomever He will….” Thankfully, one day, there will be lasting peace on earth when Christ, the Prince of Peace returns to set up His kingdom. Until that time, personal peace is possible because Paul wrote, “therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Robin looked after everyone. If only he would have looked after himself.” That was a comment from friend and fellow comedian David Steinberg, following the tragic suicide last month of beloved actor-comedian Robin Williams. He had had been diagnosed with a serious illness, had a substance abuse problem and fell into depression. Richard Corliss wrote of Williams’ passing in Time magazine-“One man with a thousand voices brought joy to millions-but could not sustain it in himself.” So often many put on a brave face c, but inside, it is an entirely different story. Thankfully we do not have to try to put on a brave face with our dear Heavenly Father. He sees us “warts and all” and loves us, no matter what we have done. David the Psalmist wrote, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for you Lord have never forsakes those who seek you.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Following a pit bull attack in April, three year old Victoria Wilcher was left with facial scars and an eye patch. At a restaurant in Jackson Mississippi, she was asked to leave because her scars disturbed other patrons. Happily, when learning of the hurtful incident, the restaurant owners donated $30,000 toward Victoria’s medical bills. The owners looked beyond Victoria’s scars. The Bible informs us: “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We often see only the physical, and judge one another on our looks. Thankfully our loving heavenly Father looks beyond unattractiveness or beauty and into our hearts. No matter what we look like, He loves us all the same. That’s because, “God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” It’s belief, not beauty that counts.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

If you have recently received bad news about your health, your finances or family and friends, I hope the following quote from Helen Steiner Rice will be an encouragement to you. She has written, “No matter how steep the mountain-the Lord is going to climb it with you.” Rice, an American writer of inspirational poetry was once acclaimed as "America’s beloved inspirational poet laureate". Her poems still hold timeless appeal, and in writing that the Lord climbs our steep mountains with us, she is in line with Bible truths, such as Nahum 1:7, where we read, “The Lord is good., a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows them who trust in Him,” and it is supported by Jesus’ promise “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

C.S. Lewis, famous for the Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia, once wrote, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” This brilliant man, and student of life never wrote anything more appropriate or practical or truthful than these words. What did he mean? Just this- until a person has made his or her peace with God, there can be no real happiness. He is saying until we acknowledge that in us there is “no good thing” (because we are all sinners by nature and by choice) and that we need His forgiveness and presence in our lives, all attempts to find happiness and peace will be in vain. But happily, when we come to that place we experience what Paul wrote to the Romans-“ Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Apart from a proper relationship with Jesus Christ- there is no happiness and peace. “There is no such thing.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

”There is no Ebola” was the cry of young men when they attacked an Ebola quarantine centre, in Monrovia Liberia last month. The 29 patients fled, but later returned to hospital. These mis-guided young men were living in a make believe world, refusing to accept well documented facts about a terrible disease. In that way, they illustrate the make believe world of many today, who say, “there is no original sin.” It is a creation of fanatical, evangelical Christians. They hold that in each one of us there is a divine spark, which, when fanned by education and the right environment, we please God They are well-intentioned, but misguided. The Bible truth that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” is well documented and undeniably real- just as real as the disease called Ebola. But thankfully, there is a cure. Paul wrote, “ God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinner, Christ died for us.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

On November 24, 1971, a man believed today to be Dan Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the airspace between Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington. He extorted a ransom which today would be over a million dollars. After landing and receiving the ransom, he ordered the plane back into the air. Then he parachuted to an uncertain fate. The hijacker has never been captured or positively identified. The action hastened the change of airport security. Airline passengers are now required to arrive at the airport 90 minutes before departure. What this man did effected us all. Two others’ actions changed the world in a far more significant way. Through Adam’s choice,.”… death spread to all men.” But Christ entered the picture. “Through one man’s offense (Adam) judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act (Christ’s) the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Poor Mark Eskelsen, a homeless man, pretended he was a Sheriff, broke into a private home in Beaverton Oregon and helped himself to the hot tub and called 911 from his cell phone. He asked for towels, hot chocolate and a hug. He did not get any of these. Instead, he was arrested. He later admitted he was not the sheriff. He said, “I just need a hug and a warm cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows in it. Well, Mark did not get what he asked for, he got what he deserved. He was charged with trespassing and improper use of 911. He got justice, not mercy, and I guess that’s the way it has to be in our society. but I’m glad that God’s grace gives us mercy when we sincerely and humbly call out to Him Paul put it this way- “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”, and Jeremiah adds, “ Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

There is no God. All creation is one gigantic accident. But…why do salmon swim upstream to spawn and die? How do European eels know they should go to Bermuda to breed? Why do the earth and other planets stay in orbit? How come the human pancreas maintains just the right level of sugar in the blood to supply energy? All a series of accidents – right? But if so, somebody who believes in that theory needs to clearly explain these amazing happenings. Or- what about the possibility that the God of the Bible is the Intelligent Designer of all things, and the universe did not create itself. Then examine the amazing evidences for the truthfulness of the Bible, especially fulfillment of prophecy, and we come to a personal relationship with the central Person of the Bible- Jesus Christ. Of Him it is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The famed cabinet maker decided to surprise a lifetime friend with a gift, his own work. He searched the world over for the best wood. Then for months, day and night he worked to produce a beautiful table. He finished his masterpiece after hours and hours of hand polishing. Finally, bringing masterpiece to his friend’s home, he is welcomed, and the priceless gift is given. But then, the cabinet maker is shocked and horrified when he sees the friend take a piece of sandpaper and move toward the table. Intervening, the master craftsman Shouts “please stop. There is nothing more to do. It is finished.” And it is just like that regarding our relationship with God. Christ did all the work for our forgiveness and the gift of eternal life by dying at Calvary for us. On that old rugged cross, He cried out “It is finished! We can add nothing to it We have only to receive it. Or as the Bible puts it, “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell