In 1914, twenty-nine men set sail from England to Antarctica to become the first adventurers to cross the Antarctic Continent on foot. Five months into their voyage, the ship became entrapped in an ice pack and sank. The leader of the group, Sir Ernest Shackleton left his men, and with five others set out to cross the Antarctic sea in a lifeboat to bring back rescuers. Frank Wild, who was left in charge of the camp encouraged the men. Each day he would say, “Get your things ready boys, the Boss may come today.” Miraculously, one hundred and five days later, Shackleton returned and the crew was rescued. And did you know that our great Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ has promised one day to return to this earth to rescue us? John records Jesus’ own words , “ Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me ….I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself…” Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Are you prepared?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Cyber-bullying has become a household word almost overnight. Have we opened a Pandora’s box? Intimate damaging photos posted on the internet have led to a rash of tragic, unnecessary suicides of young people. Present day technology is available to a society that rejects the idea of a personal God in most educational institutions. When this is combined with the idea that there is no right or wrong, no absolutes, we reap what we sow. Paul the Apostle warned, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” But it is not too late! God is not dead. He is alive and still invites every one of us to turn away from godless lifestyles. When people, young and old understand and accept the hope offered in Jesus, change takes place, lives are transformed. Peter wrote, “…The Lord is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

The majestic powerful eagle is falling victim to lead poisoning. Hunters who use lead bullets on small wildlife are contaminating the food chain of the mighty eagle. The Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown recently rescued a sick eagle and after 11 months of treatment released it into the air- free to fly again. A heart-warming story indeed. But like that hurting eagle, there are – so many broken people in our world today, needing to know the healing love of God. Perhaps you are one of them The Prophet Isaiah, gives us these wonderful promises from God. He wrote, “ Have you not heard? The Lord God is the everlasting God…He gives strength to the weary…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles.” When you enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, you too will be free and able to soar above the problems and difficulties of earth.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Admiral Thomas Williams, in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic ocean on September 8, 1799 , felt a surprising and unexplained urge to steer toward the uninhabited Ascension island. It seemed there was no reason to do so. But he ordered a change of course. His crew did so reluctantly. Approaching the island, a sailor spotted a while flag. On the island they found more than a dozen shipwrecked men, destitute and near starvation. They had been praying for a miracle- someone to rescue them in the nick of time. It reminds one of the circumstance surrounding the coming of Christ into the world. Paul, wrote in the New Testament book of Galatians, “…when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son….to redeem those who were under the law that we might receive the adoption…” As Admiral Williams rescued those lost shipwrecked men, Christ came “in the nick of time”, to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whose death on April 8th brought forth many accolades, was known as the “Iron Lady”. She was a believer in free markets, smaller government and individual responsibility. She found a trans-atlantic friend in US President Ronald Reagan. Once when speaking with him, Thatcher, quoting Thoreau, made the statement, “It takes two people to speak the truth, one to speak and another to hear.” Another political leader, Pontius Pilate many years ago asked the question, “What is truth?” But the Bible doesn’t record that He waited for the answer. Jesus, previous to His trial, had made the statement, “ I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” Well the truth has been spoken about the most important subject of all time- our eternal destiny, and since you and I are going to live somewhere forever, the question is – have we heard? Have we responded?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Last weekend, twelve of us Christian Motorcyclist Association (CMA) Albany, Cobleskill, and Oneonta, NY members made their way down from Albany to Washington DC to attend the 26th annual Rolling Thunder demonstration. On Sunday, we participated in the event, with approximately 700,000 other bikers from all parts of the US and Canada.

For us, and many others, the 420 mile ride down on Friday was cold, wet, and windy – reminding us that we are at heart bikers, but also amplified the sacrifice that we were making to attend this important event.

The memorials and events that we saw and participated in over the weekend (Arlington Cemetery, The Wall, WWI, WWII, Korean War Memorials, and the demonstration ride itself) reminded us we are and must remain grateful to those who gave their lives, in some small way or in the ultimate sacrifice, for our freedom and country. The 25 or so CMA chapters giving out free water, coffee, snacks, bibles, tracts, and personal needs items (throughout DC over the weekend, but especially at the Pentagon Parking Lot, where we waited 5 hours, and others even longer for the event to start) reminded us of the sacrificial giving of Christ, and the model we are to follow – freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).

A number of friends from other motorcycle organizations joined us on the way back, swelling our ranks. The ride on Monday (a beautiful sunny, warm but not hot day) through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York was picture perfect – reminded us that we live in a truly beautiful and free nation.

And the weekend as a whole reminded us that God is indeed good and has truly blessed us with great family and friends! Many opportunities occurred for praying and sharing the love of Christ, in in both big and small ways. Our thanks to God for a safe, 1000 mile weekend for us all!

Bob Semp
Chaplain, Crossroad Riders of NY CMA

Radon gas is formed from the breakdown of uranium from rocks and soil, and has no odor, color or taste. It is radioactive, and exposure to high levels can result in an increased lifetime risk of developing lung cancer. It spreads harmfully in a subtle stealthy manner and can cause serious illness without our knowledge – until too late. Similarly, dangerous habits and thought patterns can develop in our lives, undetected until too late, such as subtle doubts about the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible, rationalizing an immoral lifestyle, while we convince ourselves that it isn’t serious, or that I’ll never be caught. But the Bible warns, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that he will also reap.” If you are on that road, I urge you to take stock of your life. God has promised, “He … will show us the path of life. In His presence is fullness of joy; At His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

On April 3, 1866, 70 crates of nitroglycerin exploded onboard the California-bound steamship European in Aspinwall, Panama, killing 50 people. Nitroglycerine is an explosive liquid which was first made by treating glycerol with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid, and perfected as a blasting agent by Alfred Nobel in the early 1860s. It is an effective explosive, but highly unstable. Yet in another form it’s an effective treatment for heart disease used in the prevention of heart attacks. Great power is released when these two elements come together. The Bible also speaks of two great powers- The Word of God, described as “…quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.” The other power is the gospel of Christ, described as “…the power of God to salvation, for everyone who believes…” When we hear and respond to the power of the gospel which is revealed in the powerful Bible, the result is changed lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Have you ever thought about the mystery of growth? For example, how does a seed become a flower? How is human life formed in mother’s body? We have accumulated much scientific knowledge about cells and DNA, but there is much we do not know. What pushes things to grow to a certain size and then stop? Why does a cell divide and multiply? Man cannot create life. That is a miracle that only God can bring about. Jesus said, “No one can add a single cubit to his stature…” Life and growth cannot be explained fully by men and women, no matter how intelligent they may be. Only God has the answers to life. And as He has given physical life, so He longs to give us all spiritual life. He said, “I have come that they (true believers) may have life…” and later He said, “And I gave them eternal life and they shall never perish…..”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Ruth, a former office manager for a company in Boca Grande Florida was recently charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud the company where she handled billing and payroll for over ten years. Investigators discovered that she embezzled $181, 674 from the business. Her ingratitude, in stealing from the company which employed her and provided her livelihood, reminds one of how so many of us abuse the goodness of the Lord, as we take all his benefits but then ignore Him and leave Him totally out of our lives. He provides life, health, even the air we breathe, and often we are unthankful. The “goodness of the Lord” should cause deep gratitude. Sadly, often it does not. The Good Book warns, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” It urges, “Do not be deceived, whatever a man sows that he will also reap.” God is so good to all of us. Let’s respond with gratitude, and put Him first in our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell