A news report says that an orchid that unfurls its petals at night and loses its flowers by day has been found on an island near Papua, New Guinea. Flowers that open at night are found in only a few plant species. That’s a remarkable flower. That news clip reminds us of the dark times that come into our lives. We wonder why, and sometimes even blame God for our loss and pain. If instead, we would turn to Him for comfort, He could make a beautiful flower unfurl in our darkness. Perhaps today you are going through a dark time in your life. Maybe you’ve lost someone dear to you, or you’ve had a bitter disappointment. Jesus once said, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness.” And He invites us in those dark, painful lonely times; “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He can turn our darkness into light.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

George Dryden, who bears a striking resemblance to former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, has been is trying to prove he is Diefenbaker’s son. But the latest exhaustive DNA tests have proved inconclusive. Even though some markers matched, it was impossible to come up with a definitive profile. I hope Mr. Dryden’s quest to prove his paternity succeeds. In the same manner, lots of people claim to be Christians. They may resemble Christians, do some of the things Christians do, but unless the spiritual DNA matches the Bible’s definition of a Christian, they cannot rightly claim God as their Father. John’s gospel tells us “…as many as received Him (Jesus) to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Then John added, “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” It is essential to know our spiritual paternity in this life. Do you know who your spiritual father is?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“We will fix what your husband fixed,” was the sign on an auto repair shop. Those of us who have tried to fix something ourselves and messed it up will appreciate that. Lesson learned – when a problem arises, it’s often best put it in the hands of a professional. And it becomes more serious when we’ve tried again and again to fix our broken lives, but failed. When it comes to living a clean, productive and useful life, we all need help. And God is the only one who can make us whole. Jesus once said, “Without me you can do nothing.” But Paul wrote, after his life- changing encounter with the Lord on the Damascus road, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Are you tired of the rat race where the rats always win? Are you tired of trying and failing to overcome bad habits and addictions? Then I urge you to turn to the Master. Jesus Christ can turn our lives around. We don’t have to try to “fix it” ourselves.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Have you ever heard the story of events that supposedly happened in Alabama the night that Nat King Cole passed away? For years it was reported that his wife had a happy encounter with a kindly driver who helped when her car broke down, enabling her to get to the hospital before her dying husband passed away. But the truth is that Nat King Cole passed away in a hospital in Los Angeles, not Alabama, with his wife by his bedside. This fictitious tale reinforces the importance of knowing the difference between fact and fiction, and especially in the most important area of all – preparing for the next life. There is only one authentic source – the Bible. It reveals the true spiritual condition of all – “There is none righteous, no, not one.” And it shows way to a proper relationship with the Heavenly Father, as seen in Jesus’ words: “I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Even in all that mess, the ring looked just beautiful…” Those were the words of Mildred Fello of Miami Beach. She had accidentally discarded her four thousand dollar diamond ring in a plastic laundry bag. She realized what had happened minutes after the garbage men had picked it up. Miss Fello then went to the dumping center and sorted through the refuse. Together with the garbage crew, she finally came upon the blue bag with the diamond intact. Her relief and joy are understandable – and her searching and finding of that valuable diamond reminds me of an even greater search. Dr. Luke, human author of the Gospel bearing His name, speaking of the coming of our Savior into this world, wrote, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” As valuable and desirable as a diamond is, it does not compare with the value of a soul. As Jesus once asked, rhetorically, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

World famous cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven straight years. Over the years he was accused of doping – which he vigorously denied – even as his accusers and evidence against him mounted. But last year he was stripped of those titles, and banned for life from competitive cycling. Although he never admitted to the use of performance-enhancing drugs until recently, he had a change of heart and admitted that he cheated, deceived and denied but now has admitted his wrong-doing. In a way, all of us act in a similar manner, albeit not as famously. Equipped with a conscience, we know our own weaknesses, failures, and yes, let’s say it, sins. But often try to deny it, even to ourselves. Then we realize that our lives are an open book to our Maker. Denial is fruitless. Isaiah has a word for all: “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near….He will have mercy…He will abundantly pardon.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

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