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Well, it’s that time of year! I know what your thinking-Groundhog Day! Nope. Valentines Day! Nope. It’s the time of year that the TSA (Transportation Security Administration has released their Top Ten Most Unusual items seized at airport security. You might be surprised at how crazy people are wonder why would you risk being arrested for this? The number one spot is held by someone trying to get a replica pipe bomb on an airplane at Idaho’s Boise Airport. It was pipes, wooden blocks and marked “C4” and had protruding wires. The perpetrator said, “they were items he used as training aids.” Just so you know, even replicas of explosives are not allowed on an airplane. While other items on the list may seem “accidental” like a knife in a baby car seat, pills in a shampoo bottle or bullets in a Nesquik bottle, the next one is what caught my attention. Inside traveler’s pants and bra were turtles. Now why would anyone want to put a turtle(s) in one’s pants or bra.

When I read something like this, I always think-they are stupid, but aren’t we? I am doubtful any one of you ever tried to sneak anything on a plane that you weren’t
supposed to (especially a turtle), but we do hide things and think no one will ever know. We often do this with our sin. As sinners, we try to hide what we are doing and sometimes even think we can hide or fool God, and it sounds stupid to say, but WE all do it.

It’s nothing new. We see this after the Battle of Jericho. A man named Achan took some things and after the defeat at Ai, Joshua sought to find out why. Joshua 7:19-22 says,

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

Why would Achan a man who had been with Moses, experienced the miracles, and now saw Joshua lead the Israelites to victory, do something so stupid? Often times
we act as if God doesn’t notice our sin or that He ignores our sin, but we really aren’t being honest with ourselves in that case. People tend to avoid honesty when it threatens our self-image, relationships or security. The vulnerability required to confess these types of things, especially publicly, creates a clear psychological and social risk. The risk seems too great to be truly honest with ourselves.

When we try to hide our sin, we are unwilling to trust. We are afraid to trust some one to forgive or even to trust God’s grace. We fear judgement, rejection and a loss of control of others. But I am not sure we even feel that way about God, we may just expect God’s forgiveness and don’t consider how much that forgiveness cost. The Biblical pattern is to always confess our sin because that is the only way our relationship with the Lord can grow and flourish. When we try and conceal our sin, it usually perpetuates isolation, shame and callousness. These are the dangers we are looking at in our current sermon series found in the Book of Hebrews. We as followers of Jesus Christ, should be working hard to confess our sins so we don’t drift away, or become hard hearted, because like Achan that is a very dangerous thing. So how do we avoid that hard heart? Look at what we have in Christ.

So as we come upon Valentines Day, remember the one who truly loves you and was willing to sacrifice just to have a relationship with you.

In Christ,

Brother Alan

 Dear Church Family,
As we transition into February, the air often carries a sense of expectation. While the world celebrates "love" in many fleeting forms this month, we gather each Sunday to anchor ourselves in a love that is steadfast, sacrificial, and eternal.

Before we dive into our monthly updates, I wanted to share a piece of my heart with you. This month, my world got a little bigger and a lot brighter—my daughter was recently born! Holding her for the first time has completely reframed how I understand the "Love of the Father." Seeing her tiny face, I realized that I love her not because of anything she has done or achieved, but simply because she is mine.

It’s a beautiful, humbling shadow of how God views us. We often walk into the sanctuary feeling like we have to "earn" God’s attention or perform for His favor. But just as I find overwhelming joy in simply watching my daughter breathe, our Heavenly Father delights in us simply because we are His children. This month, as we sing, I invite you to rest in that truth: You are loved by a Father who isn't waiting for you to be perfect; He’s just waiting for you to come home.

1 John 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."

This month the choir will be starting practice for the Easter cantata “ The Risen Lamb”. Of course it is a list of familiar songs that will fill the air with joyful redemption! We will also be having some specials performed by some of our choir members, so you aren't going to want to miss out! The worship team will also be performing a new song ! Hope you can make it!

Much Love,

Tyler