Abraham Lincoln’s nephew failed at faming in Illinois, so he planned to sell his farm and move to another farm in Missouri. Wise Abe Lincoln inquired, “Is the soil any better in Missouri than it is in Illinois? Is the climate any better in Missouri than it is in Illinois? You do not need a change of location to succeed as a farmer, what you need is a change of heart.” That advice applies to us all. There is overwhelming proof for the biblical claim that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and we were born with a sinful nature, causing us to leave God out of our lives. Once. Evangelist Billy Graham was approached by a young man after a crusade. Saying, “Dr. Graham, according to your message, I was born wrong.” Graham replied, “That’s right son, you need to be born again.” We all need a change of heart. It comes when we receive Christ into our lives by faith.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last month the Canadian Space Agency announced that an intense burst of energy from the sun was heading towards earth and was expected to make for spectacular conditions to see the northern lights across Canada. Many living in rural areas enjoy the splendor of the milky way and the celestial wonders above. unfortunately people who live in the large urban areas are not so privileged. Artificial lights distract and make it difficult to see the night sky. It is similar with our lives. Often the cares of this life, our ambitions, goals, careers and other things distract us so that we do not look up. Jesus once said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” I urge you to look up. A gospel songs suggests, “turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

30 year old Tanya St. Arnauld sustained terrible scars from injuries in an acid attack during the summer of 2012. In spite of skin grafts, rounds of burn treatments and rehabilitation, the damage remained severe. Then Dr. Jill Waibel of Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute in Florida learned of St. Arnauld’s plight and St. Arnauld was offered a free course of laser treatments. Tanya burst into tears of joy at the news. Now she says, “I look like I never had an accident.” But as wonderful the news was for Tanya, there is even more wonderful news that all our sin scars, our guilt and misery can be erased by Jesus, the Son of God. The Psalmist David was inspired to write, a prayer we can all pray, “create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” If we sincerely pray that prayer, God will remove our spiritual and emotional scars.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Call us a fast society, an efficient society, but don’t call us a personal society. We communicate via email, and text messages, gas up with credit cards, make deposits online and buy over the internet. We can cycle through a day and never say “hello.” We are set up for isolation.” Those are the words of author Max Lucado, in his book “Outlive your Life.” Happily, that is not so when it comes to communicating with our Heavenly Father. He says, “Call unto me and I will answer you.” And when we do call on the Lord, John, in the New Testament reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He….will forgive us our sins.” It is also good to know that we will never be bothered by an automated response from Heaven, telling us that God is too busy to talk to us. And when anyone calls on the Lord for His forgiveness, and desires to become His child, this simple prayer is all we need- “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

This has been one of the coldest, snowiest winters in Canada for a long, long time. On boxing day alone, over 100,000 people were without power. Thousands of people in several provinces waited in the dark for power to be restored after each vicious storm. it has been a very uncomfortable time for Canadians. The only thing that dispels darkness is light. Light and darkness do not co-exist. As serious and unpleasant as it is to stumble around in physical darkness, it is worse for those who stumble around in spiritual darkness. Their lives are confused and they don’t know which way to turn. Thankfully, there is hope, and there is light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We don’t have to go to church to receive this “ light of life.” It is available to all, for the asking.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Researchers at McMaster University found that some people carelessly heed the health advice of famous people, even when it is contradicted by medical professionals.. Steven Hoffman, a health policy professor at McMaster said, “This can be dangerous when celebrities promote something that is not backed up by science.” When considering others’ advice, there is nothing more critical than advice about our spiritual health. Paul the Apostle speaking of this, wrote of wise people who “… received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Please remember, when studying a passage in your Bible to always read what comes before and what comes after. Jesus warned “… take heed what you hear,” and promised that “ if anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know if the teaching is of God…”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Do you remember when ‘grass" was mowed,’ "coke" was a cold drink, ‘ "pot" was something your mother cooked in and’ "rock music" was your grandmother’s lullaby.’ "Aids" were helpers in the Principal’s office,’ "chip" meant a piece of wood, ‘hardware" was found in a hardware store and ‘ "software" wasn’t even a word. The English language has always been in a state of change, words changing their meanings, new words added regularly. So it is refreshing to find certain essentials which never change. For example- God never changes. Truth never changes. Jesus, the Savior never changes, and the way to heaven never changes. Jesus said- “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He also said, “ I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

As the judge sentenced a young man who cashed stolen checks and committed other petty crimes, he also gave him some wise advice. He told the 25 year old, his “ past wasn’t great, but there was no reason his future couldn’t be different.” Hopefully the words of the judge will be taken seriously and will have a major impact on his life. And in a similar fashion, the words of wisdom from the Bible can transform a person’s life for time and eternity, if we listen and heed. One New Testament passage says, “the word of God is quick and powerful…” and an Old Testament verse adds, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, ….” God’s purpose is to forgive, cleanse and transform those who hear and obey.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Israel, a relatively small country is constantly in the news. The official position of the government of Canada regarding Israel says, in part, “Canada supports Israel’s right to live in peace and recognizes Israel’s right to assure its own security. Mark Twain once wrote, speaking of the Jews, “ ….His contributions to the world’s list of great names …are away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers.” But the greatest of all names which have come out of Israel is the One of whom it was written, “you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Thankfully He came for all people. We read, “whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And today, in 2014, Jesus still invites all , saying “behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.

Pastor Alex Rockwell