She came from a poor family and worked in a call center to help with her college expenses. On December 16th last year she and a friend were brutally attacked on their way home from a movie. She was left naked and bleeding by the side of the road and later succumbed to her injuries. Her murder at 23 in Delhi India has rocked the world. What a somber testimonial to what has been called “man’s inhumanity to man.” Jesus speaking of mankind once said, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses and slanders.” While all of us do not do all of these mentioned, we all have the potential, and we all are guilty of wrong-doing. That’s because as much as we try to deny it, all of us are, by nature, prone to wrong -doing, or just sinners by nature and by choice. That’s why Jesus once told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Every human being ever born needs a spiritual re-birth. Without it there is no hope of heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Canada, it seems, is a place where many from other countries would like to live. Some even try to sneak in. Recently the crew of the Newfoundland Lynx discovered three stowaways – two men and a woman – on board the trawler after leaving Iceland. They’ll be interviewed by federal officers, and then what happens to them will depend on the documentation provided by the stowaways. They could be sent home. In like manner, many try to illegally enter heaven. One of the most popular methods tried is entrance based on good works or religion. But it never works, because none of us is good enough to make it on our own. The Bible informs us that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” And Jesus said “no one comes to the Father except through me.” So, in other words, only as we have a personal relationship with Him can we have the assurance of a heavenly home. There will be no stowaways in heaven.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

In a vault in suburban Paris sits a little lump of metal that is the official “kilo”, the yardstick, the 124 year old standard, from which numerous other measurements are derived. The problem is, it’s getting heavier. Even in the controlled environment, contamination has built up. So various cleaning methods are being tried for even an miniscule change in the Kilo will cause significant problems in the scientific community. But though this standard of measurement and many other earthly standards have changed, the standard of truth has stood through the ages without change. The truth of God’s Word, the Bible will never change. That’s because God Himself never changes. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.” And of His Son we read, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.” Millions have been blessed by the words in Henry Francis Lyte’s hymn, “Change and decay in all around I see, Oh thou who changest not, abide with me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“A Friend Fades Away” was the headline of a recent story in the Globe and Mail, written by Kerry Lynn Wilson about a friend with crippling osteoporosis, a progressively failing memory, and now in a retirement home. Such places, she writes, are inhabited by folks who were mothers, nurses, teachers, workers, had families. Now many have failing memories, mobility problems and someone else is responsible for their well – being. Their life-long possessions dispersed, and now a few pictures remain to remind of a life that once was. Ms. Wilson says, “This is where my friend waits for God.” But it is encouraging to know that, as the Psalmist wrote, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” All who have made preparation for the next life by recognizing their spiritual need and invited Christ into their life are not just waiting for God. For God is waiting for them.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Diamond specialist Dr. Leonard Reiffel believes the value of diamonds depends on their perfection. He wrote, “Flaws are particularly distressing when an imperfect diamond is turned into a finished gem.” But now, science offers hope even for flawed diamonds. An application of a laser beam can eliminate flaws in natural diamonds. A hole is drilled at the location of the flaw and chemicals or other methods are then used to remove the flaw. This beautifully pictures how the human race has been flawed by sin and no amount of polishing or cutting can remove the sin problem – only the laser beam of God’s light can do that. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” When you and I are willing to admit that we are spiritually flawed, the next step is to ask God to shine His laser beam of light into our lives. Then He will make something beautiful of our lives.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A while back, Dr. John Grebe, one time Director of both Nuclear and Basic Research at Dow Chemical in Midland Michigan made an unusual offer. He would give anyone $1,000 who could prove an error in the Bible. Although the offer was made in 27 different countries, the money is still uncollected. Nobody has been able to collect, and if courts and judges do their jobs honestly and properly and fairly, it will never happen. That’s because the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is the inspired word of God and has been preserved from error through the centuries. You and I can trust and depend on the Bible, God’s Word. I hope you will read it, because there you will learn the answers to life’s most important questions, learn our true nature, and best of all, learn of the Savior, who came to forgive, cleanse and fit us for heaven. Please don’t judge this book by its cover. Read it and it will change your life forever.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Recently thousands of people were told that personal information about them, held by the government, has gone missing. Letters were sent out notifying them of this privacy breach and what steps should be taken. Understandably, many of them are very upset. We all value our privacy. Many have secrets which, if revealed, would be very embarrassing. But the truth is that there is One from whom it is impossible to keep secrets. The Heavenly Father is all knowing. The Psalmist wrote, “He knows the secrets of the heart.” The writer of Hebrews wrote, “…all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” That can be scary or comforting. If we have no relationship with Him it is scary. But when we have invited Christ into our lives by faith, we have nothing to fear, even when He looks into the privacy of our hearts.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Jean Tremblay, the Mayor of Saguenay Quebec, is in court fighting for the right to open city Council meetings with prayer. His arguments are based on the first words of the 1982 Constitution Act, which states, “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law….” Mr. Tremblay is trying to reverse a decision banning prayers before meetings. Whoever wins, one thing is certain – any individual who sincerely turns to God in prayer will never be turned away. God has promised in His Word, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” I do not know why Mayor Tremblay wants prayer, and I don’t know why his Council is against it, but I do know that prayer is the greatest source of power and strength in the world. English poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson correctly wrote, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” God is only a prayer away.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Someone stole a cell phone, put it up for sale for $300 on Kijiji. An alert employee of the store from which it was stolen saw the ad, and confirmed that it was the stolen cell phone. A police officer then made contact with the would-be seller, arranged to see the phone at a Tim Horton’s, and an arrest was made. The fine was $1,000, plus an additional $150 for the victims of crime fund. That was an expensive cell phone! Let’s hope the individual has learned a lesson. Although we often think we can get away with wrong doing, eventually every action has a consequence. If we abuse our bodies we will have to deal with the results, bad health and in some cases physical death. If we ignore His Word, the Bible, and neglect His offer of forgiveness and cleansing, we will face unpleasant consequences. But no matter how much we play mind games, God is real and His love is extended to all who will receive His invitation to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Even after Canadians are diagnosed with a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes, they rarely make lifestyle changes that could prolong their lives.” That is the surprising finding of a recent Statistics Canada report. It seems that, even to maintain good health, it is difficult for us to change our ways. I heard somebody say once, “I can quit smoking any time I want to. I’ve quit 14 times already.” When it comes to our spiritual health, it is a different matter. Our best efforts – self-reformation, good works, getting religion or similar actions, cannot effect permanent change. The good news is that when it comes to making a permanent change in our lives, and being prepared for the next life, it is “By grace, through faith and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God.” For our physical health, we need to do something. But for our souls, it has already been done for us. All we need to do is humbly accept that gift by faith.

Pastor Alex Rockwell