Author: jeremiahtan963404

Please read (or at least scroll) to the bottom of this e-mail to see important prayer requests & announcements, including Vacation Bible School starting June 27th , and church Blood Drive & Car Show events.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

June 15th, 2022

“Many who heard [Jesus] were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him?’” Mark 6:2

In addition to the many societal problems we seem to be enduring recently (which I discussed in last week’s devotional), we seem to be in a renewed period of “culture wars”, debates over issues covering everything from sexuality/gender to reproductive rights to political vilification. I have to be transparent that, in addition to the personal level, I experience trepidation on a pastoral/professional level in trying to anticipate navigating questions and conversations about such topics. So many of them are not really discussed in the Bible, yet, we are called to “be ready in and out of season” (2nd Timothy 4:2).

So I look to Jesus. What would Jesus say? How would he navigate such issues? The obvious answer is deftly and wisely, perfectly! But how does that play out on the practical level?

So I ask myself: What were “culture-war” type issues in Jesus’ time and place during his ministry? And upon looking, we find many. There was the issue of the Roman occupation of Israel during this time. There were issues between the Jewish subgroups of Pharisees & Sadducees. And there were debates as to just how to enforce Moses’ law in such an environment.

We’re likely familiar with the stories in which people tried to ‘trap’ Jesus in impossible scenarios. But each of the ones we’ll look at below have to do with these “culture war”-type issues. The first is the time Jesus was asked about paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:20-26), the second is Jesus being questioned regarding marriage in the afterlife (Mark 12:18-25), and the third is about Jesus being grilled regarding stoning a woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3-11).

So, first: regarding the tax question and the issue of Roman Occupation: Jesus is presented with a seemingly impossible binary choice: to affirm the paying of exaction of pagan occupiers or not? To answer the one way would be popular with the people, but attract the ire of Rome, and certainly distract from Jesus’ Spiritual purpose in his preaching. To answer the other way, however, would be to offend everyone from the Pharisees to the Zealots. But Jesus does an amazing thing: rather than simply answer “yes” or “no”, he nimbly evades their ‘cage’ of merely two answers by affirming God’s supremacy, and putting money in its true place: ‘If Rome cares about these pieces of metal so badly, then give them their pieces of metal’ (my paraphrase). He contrasts that with what God is due, and how much that is more important (many times over!). The people are, rightly, astonished and impressed by his answer, and question Him no more.

Then, the issue of marriage in the afterlife: the Pharisees and Saducees had perpetual debates about whether an afterlife existed at all: so a group of Saducees presents Jesus with, again, a seemingly impossible scenario, in which a hypothetical multiple times-married woman ends up with multiple husbands in the (supposed) afterlife. Jesus rebukes the premise of their question and responds that people will be similar to angels in their non-marrying status in heaven. Again, his critics are silenced, and slink away sheepishly.

And finally, Jesus is publicly pressured to answer as to whether a woman caught in adultery should be stoned, as Moses’ law insists. Again, rather than go with the seemingly necessary “yes” or “no” diametrically-opposed choices, Jesus takes some extra time, subtly pointing out the woman’s accusers’ secret sins to them (Desire of Ages p. 461), and stating that whoever had no sin could rightly throw the first stone. And the woman’s accusers backed away, ashamed and humiliated. (Interestingly, using this metric/standard, Jesus Himself very well could have done so himself! But he didn’t, living out the principle of John 3:17, that he had come to the world to save rather than condemn people).

So what do we see in each of these 3 cases? Rather than submit to his accusers’ pre-packaged “boxes” of binary choices, Jesus impressively chose a 3rd way which elevated principles upward and forward, rather than conforming to presumed conclusions.

Could we, as church members, be called to do something similar in the current ‘culture war’ environment of society? “Are you for or against Black Lives Matter?” “Are you for or against the LGBTQ movement?” “Are you for or against abortion?” “Are you for or against gun rights?” “Are you for or against Trump and the narrative of what happened at the last election?”. Notice: with any of these, if we say a simple “yes” or “no”, we’re going to make friends of some and enemies of other (and no-doubt the forcefulness of the ‘dislike’ of the one group will be stronger than the ‘like’ of the other).

So what if, in each of these (and other) scenarios, we rather directed people’s attention upward to God and positively forward to understand the issues in a new context? This would no-doubt take supernatural wisdom, creativity, and nimbleness beyond what we naturally possess. But the Bible clearly says that God/the Holy Spirit can supply wisdom, and even words, when asked for! “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5. “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26. “Do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:11-12. Admittedly, that last quote is about more serious situations of arrest, and defending oneself/one’s positions publicly, but couldn’t it also be true in a lesser sense in individual situations? Is this not something we should pray for in personal interactions?

I can’t spell-out for you how you should answer any of the societally difficult questions posed 2 paragraphs up; your responses will of course need to be determined by what you know of the person asking you the questions, and just how they’re posed. But I think to depend on Jesus’ example, and the Holy Spirit’s wisdom are the only way to rightly navigate these discussions.

God of course would not have us get distracted and “into the weeds” of these societal debates and issues. We cannot let them distract from the main purpose we have as Christians: to witness well to a loving God who plans to solve all issues shortly. We need to have a God-honoring, encouraging response to all of these issues, and we cannot let them take our primary purpose, our “eyes”, off of God’s great plan of salvation and promise to rescue his faithful people at Jesus’ 2nd coming. Let any discussions on the topics above be bridges to speaking positively of God, His Word, and His will in our lives, and may we be faithful in honoring Him in all we do and say.

As I leave you today, I want to quote a verse that, as read, deals with temptation. Study Bible footnotes will contain a note here that says the word can also be translated as “tested”, so I have put it that way in the example below. Again, I ask if this principle couldn’t also be true for giving wise, creative, and “out of the box” answers that open up people to higher considerations and conversations in daily life?

“No test has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1st Corinthians 1:13

I hope that we can always be praying for, looking for, and finding, those “ways out”, both in our temptations, and in our “tests” of giving good answers as Christians, to tough issues.

May God bless the remainder of the week for you and your families.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Please be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this e-mail to see important prayer requests and announcements, including resumption of Dr. Maria’s discipleship series at a neighboring church, and VBS prep meeting for our big week at the end of the month!

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

June 8th, 2022

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 4:24-26

It is incredible: sometimes I don’t know how society manages. I thought we were careening on the edge of breakdown before the pandemic, and then when it came, I thought “this must be the end-all, be-all of what society can handle.” But as the urgency of that crisis has waned, other crises (some inevitable, others manufactured), have come up in its place. Angst, turmoil, and potential chaos are everywhere. We’ve got serious concerns about financial crisis, mental health crisis, war crisis, ecological crisis, immigration crisis, political crisis, crises of drug use, gun violence, etc. I really wouldn’t blame someone for having a nervous breakdown in light of all these things.

And yet, into all that fray, Jesus speaks peace to us. “Peace I leave you. My peace I give unto you. I do not give it as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and be not afraid.” John 14:27

Upon hearing such words, we have two possible reactions. One is to angstily cry back to him “How can you expect us to calm down in the light of this, and that, and this other thing?!”, as we continue fretting, worrying, getting ourselves into a tizzy over all the stuff.

The other option, of course, is to believe, and trust, and shut the door to the panicked voices inside our heads, telling them “Jesus is the Lord of my head-space, and he has assured me it’s okay to trust and be at peace.”

In choosing which option we take, perhaps it’s helpful to remember that Jesus himself was at his highest level of crisis as he uttered this to his disciples. This was in the same time period in which he’d said “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” (John 12:27) It was the same time he knew he’d be betrayed into the hands of sinful men (John 13:11). It was the same night he agonizingly prayed, to the extent that drops of blood emanated from his forehead (Luke 22:44).

So, if Jesus could assure his beloved friends of peace, and that God would see to their preservation, while in his own hour of ultimate crisis, how can we do any less than believe him? Jesus truly had every excuse/reason to disbelieve, as he could not supernaturally see beyond his tomb (Desire of Ages, p. 753). Yet he held firm, emerged victorious, and we are part of the subsequent movement of faith in Him who now has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

As I reflect, and look out the window just now, I see that, simultaneously with all those problems listed above, we live in a nearly paradisiacal community of peace and prosperity. And I think: would it be such a crime if we just switched-off the perpetually panicked news cycle and lived locally? Just, interacted with people who came into our sphere of immediate contact, like people did (had no choice but to do) before the advent of technology?

And I remember that these news companies depend on viewers/listeners staying tuned-in & attentive. They need financial success like any other company, and advertisers pay more for more people tuning in. So that financial situation fosters a necessity of sensationalizing the news. Something in our psychology is more attuned to pay attention (and to consume/buy products) when we are scared/nervous than when we are at ease.

So, while I don’t want to wave away any of those crises listed above, as they are truly concerning and meritorious of attention, and while we should be aware of the ‘signs of the times’ as prophecy is being fulfilled, I perceive that we as Christians cannot let those things unseat our inner peace.

So I think it’s more crucial than ever that we take some quiet time with Jesus each day, let him orient our compasses as to what’s truly urgent and worthy of our attention & concern, and go forth with other things in light of that.

And I remember Jesus’ very profound (& likely perceived as very backwards by many) advice in the sermon on the mount: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I think this, accompanied with Philippians 4:4-9 quoted below, is a heavenly prescription for peace that is so needed just now! Read this final passage, and pray God’s peace into your heart.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

May God bless you all this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

June 1st, 2022

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay.’” Romans 12:19 (quoting Deuteronomy 32:35)

Lately I have been reading through the life of King David, and I have been remarkably impressed that, though given the chance, he did not take the lives of those who were pursuing him and wanting him dead. Twice he had the opportunity to kill Saul, but didn’t (1st Samuel 24:4, 26:11-12), and also didn’t want his men to kill his son Absalom, who was trying to pursue and kill him!* (2nd Samuel 18:5)

Though king David repeatedly prayed in the Psalms for his enemies to be avenged (Psalm 3:7, 55:15, 68:21), he seemed to not want to take the advantage into his own hands! How paradoxical!

And Jesus, of course, talked of being peacemakers, and of turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:9, 39), but so much more valuable than simply giving the instruction in the abstract is putting it into practice! Jesus, amazingly, “walked the walk” of his own teaching: not calling down obliteration on his enemies (though he could have – Luke 9:54-55, Matthew 26:53), but praying forgiveness for his persecutors (Luke 23:34). We similarly see this benevolent principle exemplified in his followers as well, as Stephen cried out in Acts 7:60 while being stoned.

While we likely wouldn’t want anyone dead in our daily lives, nor would we physically harm them if we could, we can certainly sympathize with those who do, as we ourselves have likely indulged in fantasies of enemies’ demise.

But to turn away from harming, or even of wishing harm upon enemies is not weakness, rather it is great faith and confidence in God setting things straight in the long-run.

This is not to say that we shouldn’t pursue justice: the Bible has the principles of fair penalty for crimes committed, and even the death penalty for murderers (Genesis 9:5-6, Leviticus 24:17-22). But in such cases justice is to be meted out by a ‘disinterested’ authority, not by the vengeance of those offended. In fact, God established “cities of refuge” where people could run from avengers, and ensure examination of their case to determine guilt or innocence (Deuteronomy 19:1-3, Joshua 20:1-9).

But this idea, of refraining from vengeance (of all forms) takes both huge restraint and huge trust. It involves looking to God, seeing our situation from God’s viewpoint, asking ourselves how God would like to see the situation resolved, rather than just basedly following our own desires.

So I consider this in the case of the war in Ukraine, and in the recent mass shootings that have devastated communities near and far (not that those people shouldn’t be stopped by force, but) the revenge, the final payment, must be God’s.

Those who give up on God’s justice having the last say are left with 2 alternatives: 1) to despair that numerous injustices will go unaccounted for as time marches on, or 2) to take revenge, to try to ‘right’ perceived wrongs themselves.

I see it as a huge freedom to let go of grudges, envies, interactions filled with animosity (though I admit, mine are small compared to some). I would just rather live my life at peace and with the promises of God in my purview than harboring perceived slights and wrongings, that only clutter up the mind.

I similarly pray for you, that you and your loved ones would be on a path of peace, helpfulness, encouragement, and delight as we bask in the warming rays of God’s love, sharing fellowship with each-other (1st John 1:5-7).

I pray that your day, your week, your overall path of life would be as King Solomon wrote in the Proverbs: “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (4:18).

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

*In fact, in both cases, when Saul and Absalom did die, David mourned them loudly, causing others to despise him and say “you love those who hate you and hate those who love you!”(2nd Samuel 1:11-12, 17-27, 18:33, 19:4-6). The picture under the heading above is an artist’s depictions of one of those mournings.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

May 25th, 2022

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:18

“Woe to those who plan iniquity,to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out, because it is in their power to do it.”

Micah 2:1

The above are the faces of those who will never be in 5th grade. Their lives were cut short with no warning, and through no fault of their own. Dear Jesus, please remember them and restore them when you come in glory.

Meanwhile, we’ve been going through our week, pretty normally probably, when, once again, our hearts were impacted and our minds shocked with the tragic news that there has been another school shooting, this time in Texas, in which over 20 people died. 4th graders! Innocents! Getting ready to wrap-up the school year soon, and then horror and devastation decimate this small-town community. I tell you, I’m sick to my stomach about it!

I send up a prayer for those devastated families, and the community at large. While this shooting, as others have, will fade into the background of the national consciousness, a wound has been opened that will not be resolved for years, decades, in that small Texas town of Uvaldi. Lord: grant them consolation! Wrap your arms around this community going through unimaginable loss. And this, in addition to two more hate-fueled shootings last week, at the grocery store in Buffalo, and the Taiwanese congregation in South County here. Lord Jesus…

With hardly any delay, people start pointing fingers at who’s to blame. While seeking causes is of course useful in the sense of trying to prevent future disasters of this kind, too often fault-finding and political finger-pointing seem to become an end in-and-of themselves.

Obviously, the deranged shooter is to blame: to harbor homicidal thoughts and act on them rather than pre-emptively turning himself in for help or merely taking his own life, is unthinkable and evil beyond words. But then, who else is to blame as well? The family, for not ‘blowing the whistle’ on him to authorities? For letting him have access to a military style weapon in a household setting? The school? For not harboring bullying or not seeing warning signs and acting? Politicians? For being on the ‘wrong side’ of the gun debate? Violent video games? The Internet? Several or all of the above?

I’m afraid those who look for merely societal reasons for atrocities like this find themselves metaphorically hitting their heads on the glass ceiling of the fishtank: The mental, emotional, and spiritual disease that is at the root of all the contributing factors listed above is sin. Sin, in its thousands of manifestations, is the cause of all human strife, turmoil, and struggling. We will never solve the problems of society unless we can properly diagnose what is its source. And the majority of those in power have willingly turned a blind eye to it.

Yet… many of us (Christians included) also make a friend of sin: get comfortable with it, let it into our households and into our minds. Cobble together a way of life that includes some light and some darkness. We rationalize. We justify. We forget that the author of these “fun” or “harmless” sins, is also the inspirer of depraved homicidal intent. Of Torture. Of Warfare. Of Genocide and rape, the list goes on. I tell you, I want no part of it! I want to hate sin in every shade of its existence. Because, to accept violent movies or video games is to say that beholding it, entertaining it in the abstract is somehow fundamentally different than endorsing it in reality.

Many people, from social media users to politicians, are and will be voicing both their heartbreak and outrage (probably more tipped on the latter). But any of the proposed solutions that exist on merely a societal level will be merely putting a band-aid on the situation.

We need repentance. We need revival. We need loving Christian communities who embrace and hold up people who feel excluded, bullied, & alienated. We need a worldview of loving service to all children of God. Yet will this be publicly called for? I think it’s more likely that airport-style security will be called for at schools instead. And perhaps arming teachers (I shudder).

Many lose their faith in a future Kingdom of peace and glory because the malaise of societal murkiness encloses them. But this is when we need to cry out the most: “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” This is why we need a Judgment day: for the innocents to be affirmed & rewarded (Daniel 7:22), and for the guilty to be punished (Revelation 20:14-15). Too often in this world the opposite happens, and to give up hope in the tables being righted is, in my view, to give up to utter despair in the grandest sense.

Our daily yearning should be “come quickly, Lord Jesus”, and our task, in the meantime, is to band together, to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn” as Paul says in Romans 12:15. To invite people to the community of God and the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9, 22:17).

I… can’t believe people get comfortable in this wretched world. As nice a bubble as we can make for ourselves, its still in the midst of the stenchy quagmire from which we need rescue.

Let us never (and I write this with tears in my eyes) lose hope that Jesus will come to save, that God has a different, a better reality for us, in which “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Hug your loved ones a little tighter this week. May God bless and keep you until we next meet.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

May 18th, 2022

“What you intended for evil, God intended for good” Genesis 50:20

Have you ever encountered a detour? More than in your car trip to a destination, but in your life? My life had a ‘detour’ that wasn’t funny at the beginning, but which I can now look back on with a smile and a chuckle. I ended-up getting a job in 2011 which I had interviewed for 7 years earlier, in 2004! Though a slightly different job description, it was at the same place, with the same boss. After the fact, I joked with her that my kids owed their existence to her! Because it was in that intervening period that I became fluent in Spanish, went to South America, and met my wife. 🙂 So both professionally & romantically, that turned out okay. 🙂

But man: as I read the scriptures, and consider our world’s history, I see that humanity has been on a series of detours, delays, setbacks, fits and starts, and changes of direction that are on the one hand depressing, but on the other hand inspire me to consider how God hasn’t given up on us time after time, though we’ve deserved it.

Our quote above comes from Joseph’s 15-ish year span of detour from the journey he & his father had intended, but things turned out fine for him & his family (for a time). Then there’s Israel’s 40-year delay in the wilderness before entering the promised land, sparked by Israel’s rebellion after the spying out of the land of Canaan (Numbers 13-14). Still, that situation ended up ‘okay’, as God did lead them to their destination of the Promised land to dwell in (book of Joshua).

But then, though the Israelites should’ve learned the lesson from their previous deviation & delay, they departed from God’s plan again when they urged Samuel to give them a king to rule them (1 Samuel 8). Though Samuel urged them not to, they insisted & pressed him, and he conceded after God gave him permission.

But then, a few generations later, God’s original plan was again thwarted when Israel split into the northern & southern kingdoms over a disagreement of leadership. The northern kingdom tobogganed pretty quickly into rebellion and eventual loss of their kingdom, while the southern kingdom of Judah held on somewhat better and had spurts of faithfulness in its history.

But even so, they were not faithful in the long-run, and had to be subjected to 70 years’ exile in Babylon (I think it’s important to note that, through this series, though many of these things were prophesied ahead of time, it doesn’t mean they were God’s will. Had they been faithful, the journey could’ve been pretty quick from Egypt to Canaan, the 12 tribes staying together, and the Messiah eventually coming to it). They needed a generation-long ‘time out’ to consider what was important regarding countryhood, and daily faith-life, and being covenanted with God.

When Jesus came some hundreds of years later, the Jewish leadership of course rejected him, and Christianity, after the first century or so, had to grow exclusively in the Gentile world. God’s “plan A” of the nation of Israel being the means by which people were educated of Him & His salvation had to be jettisoned.

Over the next several centuries, Christianity became incredibly corrupted as it experienced political success, wealth, & power, to the point that the institutional church became a persecutor of those trying to live by a simple, Biblical faith. (Once again, though this was prophesied to happen, it doesn’t mean it was God’s will for it. It serves to show us, though, that God does know what choices will be made and what eventualities will result, even as He disagrees with them. It also hugely endears us to him for continuing on, despite the numerous frustrations.)

So God raised up the Protestant Reformation to bring people back to the centrality & primacy of pure faith, dictated by scripture, rather than by the institutional church (see chapters 4 through 15 of The Great Controversy for details on this). Bibles being available, services being held in the common language, and missionaries going forth were returns to pure, primitive faith, which stood out in marked contrast to the corruptions, bloating, and power-wielding that had occurred within Catholicism.

But even Protestantism has a checkered and blotched history. Infighting, dividing into factions, and not fully giving-up man-made doctrinal errors meant that the work of reform was left only partially done.

But, praise the Lord, the scripture twice in Revelation discusses an end time group (called the ‘remnant’), who exemplify purity: including keeping the commandments of God & holding to the faith & testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17 & 14:12). And we believe God called up Seventh-day Adventism to spark that final, worldwide message that is represented by the 3 angels’ messages of Revelation 14.

But now, after skipping stones through history & its many detours and divergences, now that we come to ourselves, the question us begged: will another bout of unfaithfulness and backsliding necessitate another ‘detour’ either of time (as we saw twice in the Pentateuch), or direction (as we saw with Christianity going to the Gentiles & later the Protestant Reformation)? Or will we be ‘onward to glory’ sooner than later, as we cooperate with God & He works through us?

I, for one, feel for God, having been let-down, frustrated, and disappointed time and time again through history. He has been so faithful & long-suffering despite our race’s infidelities! Praise the Lord for the truth communicated in 2nd Timothy 2:13: “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”, for without it we surely would be without hope.

I for one want to be part of a generation and a movement that makes him proud. We have all received this faith and this narrative from the generations who’ve gone before, but it is up to us & our generation if we will treasure it & pass it on to the next.

You have likely, as I have, suffered losses of some beloved family members, who we hope to see at the glorious resurrection. But imagine how we’d feel at the resurrection if we rose to learn it took 500 more years and three more movements on the part of God to finish the work!

I really believe, and want, this to be the last movement, and indeed the last one or two generations that exist on earth before Jesus comes. I want everything & everyone to be renewed, restored, and recreated to glorious perfection! And I don’t want to be like 50 generations before me that have compromised in some fashion or other.

I pray that our response to this historical truth would be two-fold: firstly, that we would marvel at God for His enduring faithfulness through all our ficklenesses & frailties, and secondly, that we would resolve in our hearts to, with God’s help, stop the trend of sliding toward compromise & corruption. That we could be a generation God is truly proud to call his own. May He brag over us in the heavenly courts as he did over Job! But may we learn those lessons & character developments without the suffering & discipline so many have needed before us.

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

May 11th, 2022

“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13

Well, we’ve just come through Mother’s Day, and I hope it was a lovely one for you and your loved ones. If you are a mother, I hope you know (not just this past recognition day) how treasured, valued, and essential you are for the rest of us.

Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t speak of mothers as often as it does Fathers (surely a reflection of the patriarchal society it was a part of), but in prophecy, there are a couple of crucial ‘mothers’ that are discussed. These contrasting mothers are found in Revelation chapters 12 and 17, respectively, and each represents a system to which people can choose to belong.

Revelation Chapter 12 describes a resplendent woman dressed in white, giving birth to Christ, then being pursued by a dragon who is revealed to be Satan. Satan is continually thwarted in his attempts to catch her, so he turns her attention to ‘the rest of her offspring’ or ‘descendants’, who are described as “Keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (v. 14). While the idea of being pursued/persecuted isn’t pleasant, the Bible makes clear that it’s better than being a descendant of the other woman.

Contrastedly, Revelation 17 shows a luxurious ‘harlot’, or ‘prostitute’, riding a seven-headed beast, which represents corrupted earthly powers. She is getting drunk, imbibing the blood of martyrs as she joyously rules and persecutes. She has the title “Mother of harlots” written on her forehead, as well as mysterious blasphemies & abominations. The scripture further describes in chapter 18 that merchants, seafarers, and kings are united with her for international trade and profit.

On the surface, and in the short-term, it would seem more advantageous to belong to the second woman, living luxuriously and selfishly, than to be a descendant of the persecuted yet pure woman. Each of these represent a body that is either aligned or opposed to the principles of God, and, we see in daily life where people put their priorities to belong to.

We who choose God’s community, to belong to God’s virtuous woman as our ‘mother’, are in it for the long-term, having confidence that the promises which are prophesied will come true.

What are those promises? Well, firstly, the harlot of Revelation 17 has a great fall in chapter 18, so stunning and shocking to her allies that they mourn and wail. But the pure woman of Revelation 12 becomes “The bride of Christ”, whom he comes to rescue, marry, and take home in glory (kind of like a ‘prince charming’ from a Disney move, but much grander, truer, and more glorious!). (See Ephesians 5:25-27, and Revelation 21:2, 9).

So we are called to put off immediate eases, comforts, and rewards for the sake of latter, greater ones. This doesn’t mean God wants us to suffer in the meantime, by no means! Jesus speaks of the “abundant life” in John 10 as current, but it must be understood on more than a surface, material level.

In all areas of life, it is tough to put off gratification for the sake of the future, but it is always the wiser course. This is true with economics, education, relationships, etc. But it is also true with Spiritual matters, and with God.

“Patient Endurance” is another of the characteristics of the woman’s offspring, the faithful remnant of the last days. We must exercise it now as much as ever. As I’ve often seen students “check out” and more-or-less give up in the last moth of school, and their grades suffer for it, we must remain firm and steady now, to not negate all we’ve worked for and invested in thus far. As the Apostle Paul says: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Cor. 9:24-25

So make your decision. “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” Joshua 24:15. As for me, as for my house, as for my community of faith, we will choose the Lord, and his faithful body, his bride, striving and perseverant for the culmination of prophecy.

I pray that you have a good week, and if you haven’t yet expressed appreciation to the mother(s) in your life, be sure to do so! And live to be worthy of their (and God’s) love and appreciation.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

May 4th, 2022

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise.” Proverbs 6:6

This past weekend, I had a wonderful time at the Pathfinder campout, worshipping, learning, hiking, and playing with several dozen (perhaps a hundred?) young people from around Orange county. Our church members Joel, Cledy, and Allyson Milla, along with Jenny Hastings, really did a wonderful job with the organization of it! And local club leader Margarito Gonzales and his crew of cooks & volunteers deserve recognition as well. Praise the Lord, it all came together in a beautiful weekend of nature, togetherness, fun and faith in a community context. It will be a highlight in my memory for some time (even as my forehead sunburn fades :-p)

After finishing our last meeting on Sunday morning, our group packed up its tents and the kitchen provisions and pulled-out. I decided to stay for about an extra hour, just enjoying the serenity of the place, now that my speaking responsibilities were through. The campsite was really lovely – though Caspers Wilderness park is struggling with dryness (none of the plumbing was working, because the water table has dropped and their wells had gone dry), the hills and trees were quite green. So I enjoyed the tranquility of the place as I prayed and recapped the weekend in my mind.

As I sat there being still for some time, I saw that nature was really coming alive around me. I saw the wingspans of large birds circling overhead, and heard little ones chirping in the trees above and behind me. I saw a gopher sticking his head up out of its hole periodically to survey what was around, and saw a lizard darting to and fro, doing its little push-ups. I saw rabbits scampering in the underbrush of some bushes, and had heard coyotes howling in the early morning, but what really impressed me was the ants.

Though we’d seen some ants at our campsite during the weekend, they hadn’t been a significant bother. But now that the place was emptier, the ants really came out in force! And not just one kind of ant- I saw ants that were as tiny as a pinpoint, and others that might have been a half-centimeter long – something like 5x the size of the small ones! But they were all bustling by each-other, each hurriedly on their way somewhere without giving much notice to the others. The very surface of the dirt seemed to come alive with them, and it was really something to observe – kind of like how freeways & side-streets must look from helicopters. And some of them had bits in their mouths – the large bits being as big as some of the small ants – and I remembered how I’ve heard it said that ants can carry many times their own weight. Amazing!

The whole lively community of nature really fascinated me: here in this serene and oft ignored place, was a veritable metropolis of nature! Various species bustling to and fro, all scampering for food, or seeking to find a mate, etc. Obviously I knew it wasn’t a ‘utopia’, as there were certainly violent and deadly altercations on a daily basis out there, but observing the whole thing as a silent observer fascinated me. Here was a whole world of activity, existing independently of humanity and its concerns: they had no concept of wealth or poverty, trade-wars, macroeconomics or climate change or warfare or political bickering (which has since raised to a fever pitch with the recent news out of the supreme court), and I just thought it incredible. I was marveling!

It almost felt like this stuff was more ‘real life’ than the constructed realities we make for ourselves as humans. I remember that it was this natural world that characters of Bible times more lived in, rather than the ‘cement jungles’ we’ve created for ourselves in the past couple hundred years. I remembered how so many illustrations and lessons, including Jesus’ parables, came from nature’s rhythms, and how those lessons can be largely lost to our modern generation in its constructed framework.

And I just thought about how nature still reveals God’s character. Though it’s corrupted, though evidences of sin are there too, just what I beheld there for that hour or so was incredible. Hustle and bustle, organization, home-making, diverse creatures living in a structured community.

I really love reading the sections of books like Isaiah which describe some of what nature will be like on the New Earth. I’ll finish today with an some quotes from chapters 11 and 65:

Isaiah 11:6-9:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze;

Their young ones shall lie down together;

And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,

And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord

As the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 65:21-25:

“They shall build houses and inhabit them;

They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;

They shall not plant and another eat;

For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,

And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

They shall not labor in vain,

Nor bring forth children for trouble;

For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord,

And their offspring with them.

“It shall come to pass

That before they call, I will answer;

And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,

The lion shall eat straw like the ox,

And dust shall be the serpent’s food.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,”

Says the Lord.

I pray that you get a chance to enjoy the tranquility, yet fascination, of God’s creation sometime soon. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20, nature reveals God’s attributes, so that people are without excuse regarding knowing about Him or His principles.

May God bless you and your loved ones this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

April 27th, 2022

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

I’m not sure if you’re aware, but this past Sunday Easter was observed in the Eastern Orthodox Churches*. And, I couldn’t believe it when I heard it, apparently Vladimir Putin attended a Midnight Mass in Moscow. The hypocrisy seemed so obvious, so biting to me, like a slap on the face. Here is one who is currently urging his military forces to bombard, destroy, deny exit, and refuse to extend any mercy to innocent civilians in Ukraine, who is simultaneously feigning piety and virtue in a religious service commemorating both Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sins, as well as his glorious resurrection from the grave?!

Upon hearing this, I was filled with disgust. The whole thing made me want to spit for the bad taste in my mouth. I couldn’t help but huff in repulsion at such a hideous display (between bouts of tearfulness).

The apparent acceptance of such evident hypocrisy comes from a misunderstanding, and ultimately a bad theology, of what taking the Mass actually does. Sacramentalists (which both Catholics and Orthodox Christians are, nearly 2/3 of Christians around the world) believe that the Mass (and other sacraments) are exclusive avenues of God’s grace. While they would certainly agree with principles like praying being authentic communication with God, and mercy being extended out of God’s heart of love, they would say the sacraments are the way grace is conferred. So, perhaps an extreme example of a distorted conclusion one could come to is: I can kill and maim during the week (or command others to (who will of course bear their own sin as well for following those orders)), but if I bow my head to the church authority and accept the Mass, I’m good before God.

Though that exact form of hypocrisy didn’t exist in Jesus’ day, another form did which Jesus addressed. You likely remember the story of the Good Samaritan recorded in Luke 10: in the first two examples, pious people compartmentalized their religion, not permitting it to stretch out/blend into real-life compassion and mercy. They thought their ceremonial/ritual purity was what kept them right with God. Jesus emphatically emphasized in his conclusion: no it doesn’t! True, authentic religion permeates, pervades life, touching all aspects. An authentic faith is a helping faith, a healing faith, a compassionate faith. If it’s not these things, it is just a hollow shell, or a clanging gong (see 1st Corinthians 13).

Though the forms of hypocrisy have changed, the root of it is absolutely with us today, as evidently exampled by the show of piety by Russia’s war criminal of a leader (blechh.)

But: how are we to respond? How are we to act? Are we to only point the finger outwardly? Obvious cases of hypocrisy & religious falsehood are out there, but what is going on in my own life that I might be blinded to, in self-rationalization?

What does Jesus say? Don’t point out the speck in your brother’s eye: examine yourself first. You very well may have a plank of wood in there! (See Matthew 7:3-5).

So yes: though there are definitely worse cases out there that we need to be clear-eyed about, we also need to be self-examining and humble, and resist that temptation to get up on our high-horses of self-righteousness as we condemn others.

Do I, in smaller ways, commit rationalized sins throughout the week, then come to church to put on my ‘happy Christian face’ and pretend that everything is good between me and God? Do I continue to practice this week after week, year after year? To angelic observers, do I look more similar to how Putin looks going to church this last weekend, or different?

I pray that every one of our church services would be a place for authentic searching, repenting, purifying, and resultant joy in the Lord for being so gracious to us.

Let’s let there be no hint of falsehood in our religion. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

I pray that we would permit God’s Kingdom principles to permeate us so thoroughly that it oozes out of our pores! “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is Near”, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Philippians 4:5, Matthew 5:14

May God bless you & your loved ones this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

* As a remnant of the “schism” between the eastern and western churches over a millennia ago, there is, interestingly, a continued disagreement on how to determine the date for Easter. About 2/3 of the years the two sides disagree. A chart of dates can be found here (about halfway down) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter