Author: jeremiahtan963404

Be sure to read to the bottom of this update to see important announcements, such as the continuation of nightly “10 days of Prayer” meetings, and suspension of indoor children’s Sabbath School. 😦

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

January 12th, 2022

“For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face” 1st Corinthians 13:12

One morning last week my family and I experienced a strange phenomenon on the way to school. We exited our house to get in the car, with the sun shining on us, and the skies clear. Then, a couple of exits down the freeway, we entered a fog bank, in which all was socked-in and drizzly. Then, a couple exits later, the sun came out again, and we could see blue sky. But as we exited and pulled closer to the school, yep: the dense grayness crowded in again, limiting our ability to see things in the distance.

What we were observing was obviously “patchy fog”, which you’ve no doubt experienced as well. But it was amusing, and led to an interesting discussion with my kids about what fog is and how weather works (I told my kids that the easiest way to think of fog was as “clouds on the ground”).

But then, inevitably, my thoughts turned to spiritual things, and I realized that I, as well as many of you I’m sure, go through periods of “patchy fog” in our spiritual life. We have those times (and praise the Lord for them) when things appear bright, crisp, and clear, and we feel like we can see the ‘goal’ of life in the distance. But then there are other times that those oppressive, drizzly fog banks roll in, and we feel we can hardly navigate for the loss of vision we’re experiencing. While we’re in those times, we may wonder which way we’re to turn for clarity, or whether there is a ‘goal line’ or ‘finish line’ at all.

Praise the Lord, most days, the sun ‘burns through’ the fog, and frequently times of clarity and vision return. Just as we don’t get too distressed about fog in the mornings, being confident that the weather will improve, I hope we don’t get too panicked about times of discouragement or melancholy in our lives. Perhaps we’re feeling a bit like this in the re-worsening pandemic trends currently – but let’s take heart – the numbers will come down again, and the ‘sun will shine’ again soon.

This is a good place to talk about Jesus! “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5 Praise the Lord, we have One who came to pierce through the gloom and permanently defeat it! It will never enshroud us if we cling to Jesus. “God is light, in him there is no darkness at all” 1st John 1:5 Praise the Lord, we have a future ahead of us that is pure brightness: no compromise with darkness or lingering shadows. Though we may not always see it with our physical eyes, with our spiritual eyes, let that great vision be always before us. “We walk by faith and not by sight” 2nd Corinthians 5:7. “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” Micah 4:8

Dear friends, I hope these verses (and many others) can comfort, inspire, and give you confidence through potentially gloomy days. This is a big part of why we need each-other, to mutually encourage each-other in times of discouragement. “Do not neglect meeting together, as many are in the habit of doing, but encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:25. Let’s be there for each other to ‘hold their hand’ through their dark or gloomy times.

As it so happened on that foggy day last week, the sun broke through, and the rest of the day was lovely and clear (albeit crisp!). May it be so with our spiritual walk as well.

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

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this update, in order to see important announcements, including 10 days of prayer effort beginning this evening, and a hike to a waterfall on Sabbath afternoon!

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

The intangible, invisible concepts of hope vs. despair have a tremendous effect on our lives: whichever we bring to the forefront of our minds will determine whether we look to the future with confidence and optimism or angst & gloom, expecting defeat. Some would say that, to lose everything, but still have hope, means one is not defeated yet. On the other hand, someone having hope in something practically impossible (such as winning the lottery to solve one’s debt problems) could be called one of the most pitiable (or, alternatively, repugnant) situations to be in, and philosophy to deal with it.

Having just come through New Year’s day, we have seen our society swell with hope & optimism. It is undoubtedly a good feeling to have! But how much does it jive with reality? Inevitably, those hopes have to come into line with our actual situation: which is still much as it was in 2020 & 2021. We still have our same health issues, relationship issues, money issues, political issues, etc. We’ve got to deal with them: and the empty prospect of “the new year’s gonna be great!” won’t get us there.

So, is despair the only alternative? What a gloomy prospect that is! Just looking over into the abyss of cynicism & pessimism makes me shudder. I don’t want naïve, cock-eyed optimism or defeat and despair! We need a third option.

I would argue that more important than the feeling/optimism of hope is the object of that hope. I can put my hope in a grilled-cheese sandwich, but if there’s no chance it can improve my circumstance (other than experiencing a delicious moment) that hope isn’t worth much.

That’s why, rather than clinging to ‘hope’ for ‘hope’s sake, we cling to Jesus, the one who has already shown us by overcoming all obstacles beyond the fathomable, that He is worthy of having our hope placed in Him!

Jesus is the One who is able to make any circumstance, no matter how seemingly impossible, resolve in a remarkable, surprising way! Though obviously not a ‘genie’ who simply grants us our wishes, Jesus is much better than that: giving us that which we would ask for ourselves if we could see from His perspective: the end from the beginning (see Steps to Christ p. 96 for some more development on this concept).

Dear friends: if our hope is rooted in Jesus: if our identity is founded in Him, and our future is united in Him, then there is no earthly circumstance that can rob that fundamental optimism that comes from that! As the Apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinthians ch. 4: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—" (vv. 8-9)

Just think of how hard a time the apostles had, friends. Furthermore, consider the hardships of the prophets before them, the Protestant reformers after them, and persecuted Christians in various places around the world today. Yet God/Christ is their refuge! Their fortress! Day-in and day-out they did/do not give up hope. For, as the Psalmist says: You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Psalm 119:104.

Friends, I hope and pray for a wonderful year 2022 for you and your families. But I know that, externally, it will continue to be affected by this sinful world. My central prayer is that internally you would know & be known by the One from whom we have all things, and to whom we are destined to be with in glory. May that hope, centrally locked in the core of your outlook, buoy and motivate us through any and all of life’s storms.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

12-29-2021

Dear Anaheim Church Family,

It’s cold now. That’s what the winter season brings. Stepping outside to feel the frosty sharp air scrape your cheeks, as it sends chills down your arms, as it reaches your feet and tickles your toes. Yes, the cold can be uncomfortable but it can also bring an awakening like no other.

The coldness of life has hit our country, county, community, and clans hard during this covid conundrum we call a pandemic. Yet in the midst of chaos, we find calm in the celebration of Christmas. It’s not a physical place, but a spiritual one.

“8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.” – Luke 2:8-9

I’m sure in the coldness of the night the Shepherds also found comfort. Yet, when the angel appeared it brought much fear, yet, it didn’t last because celebration soon followed. Jesus, the King, the Promised Messiah is now here! Hosanna in the Highest Heaven! Salvation, yes! Hope is now here!

You see, it’s not just during the physical seasons or hours of the cold that we can find awakening and celebration, but also in the spiritual ones.

Throughout Scripture we find celebration amongst the chaos. After the fall of the Israelite Kingdom, the prophet Jeremiah looked around and saw the city in ruins and lamented so grievously it become known as the Book of Lamentations. Yes, in the midst of the chaos, he paused to find reason to celebrate. It was not a physical but spiritual reality.

“22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

This is what knowing the Lord brings! He brought newness as a babe to the lives of Mary and Joseph, he brought newness of life to this dark and hopeless world, he brought a newness of life in the awareness of Jeremiah that hope is not lost as long as life persists in the LORD, and despite all the chaos we still experience today from an overbearing cold chill of calamity of covid…Jesus still brings newness of life because the New Year Reminds us that His mercies are New Every Morning. Great is His Faithfulness!

As you ponder the past, I invite you to plan anew the New Year ahead with Christ as your hope, anchor, and celebration amid the chaos. He still brings new mercies every day. Great is His faithfulness.

Merry Christmas 2021

And

Happy New Year 2022

-Church Pastors

Mark T. and Nathaniel S.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

December 22nd, 2021

“[He who
follows in the precepts of the Lord] is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalms 1:2-3

Earlier this week, while driving past a shopping plaza, I saw a Christmas tree lot, still about half-full with Christmas trees. “I wonder how many of those will sell in this last week before Christmas?” I thought. “And do they discount them more and more deeply each day until Christmas?”

I’ve heard some say that we should have nothing to do with Christmas trees, that they are of ‘pagan origins’. But I’ve heard a story from Reformation history that is much cheerier.

Martin Luther, the German monk who in the 16th century broke away from the church of Rome, suffered greatly. Being summoned to various counsels, being criticized and spied on, with threat of kidnapping…

But Martin Luther recounts in his journal traveling between one town and another on a winter night. As he looked up, he saw the trees above him, with the stars behind them, twinkling as he moved under them. He thought this very beautiful and comforting, and glorified God for sharing this with him in the midst of his angst.

We, too, through any anxieties, perplexities, struggles, can “look up” to God to receive comfort and solace. 1st Peter 5:7 says “Cast your burdens on Him, for He cares for you”. What a sweet thing, yes?, that Jesus has come to walk the hard road, and become our sympathetic high priest, and to give us mercy & grace in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

It is said that Martin Luther originated putting lights in Christmas trees to remember that symbol of God’s love & comfort. Of course, at the time, they used little candles, very dangerous in a flammable tree! But we have a safer way to do it now. 🙂

He also said “The candles remind us of the star that led Wise Men to the Christ child.”

I pray that you and your families feel God’s love & provision, particularly over this Christmas time. Let us remember to depend on him for all we need.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

P.S.: To read more of the history of Christmas trees, including Martin Luther’s contribution of putting lights in them, see https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees and https://www.premierchristianity.com/home/martin-luther-loved-christmas-he-might-even-have-popularised-having-a-christmas-tree/875.article

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this update to read important prayer requests and announcements, including our Church Christmas Party this Saturday evening!

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

December 15th, 2021

“From the mouths of children and infants, you have ordained praise”

– Psalm 8:2, Matthew 21:16

Earlier this week, I attended a Christmas piano recital my son was playing in, along with about 20 other students from Orangewood Christian school. They ranged from 1st – 4th grade, and, understandably, the pieces were very simple, with most of the kids plunking out Christmas carols with individual notes or parallel octaves.

On one hand, it would be very easy to disregard these piano pieces as basic, and barely worthy of attention (except for my own son, of course). But as kid after kid got up there and played, I considered what a profound thing was happening: to get even such simple, basic songs picked out on a keyboard, it took years of investing: feeding them, clothing them, loving them, caring for them, sending them to school and piano lessons, etc. And these many months and years later we get an “O little town of Bethlehem” or “Silent Night” melody in return. Though basic, though simple: it represents so much investment!

And then, of course, I couldn’t help but think of what all our praise means to God and the broader universe: Here we are; born in corruption and depravity, yet through years & generations of investment, we get a dim concept of God’s glory and worthiness to praise, and He gets the little promising firstfruits of basic praise from our lips.

Though the kids’ music is so simple, and though our best efforts to praise and speak about God are so rudimentary, they portend something so much greater! As parents rejoice over their kids’ first melodies, so God must rejoice over our meager affirmations, knowing that much greater things are in store. And the devil and his minions must shudder!

Like the first plant buds sprouting out of the ground, small indications herald so much more! I pray that our praise, elementary though it may be, would fill God’s heart with joy for all the investment he’s given to us and this world in general. Nothing less than His best attentions, utmost care, and irreplaceable only Son.

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

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

December 8th, 2021

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given!” Isaiah 9:6

Well, we are unquestionably in the Christmas season now: everywhere you go, you see festive lights, hear merry music, and see retailers vying for your holiday dollars. 🙂

A phrase I’ve heard a few times so far this season is “the perfect gift”. “Get her the perfect gift this Christmas.” “Still searching for the perfect gift?”, and, one I heard on the radio a couple of days ago: “Don’t let trying to find the perfect gift stress you out.”

Now: I am familiar with that feeling: the desire to get someone you love something thoughtful, useful, practical, yet sentimental… and as often as not you don’t know quite what it is. These companies are so happy to help! I for one find it amazing that they know the intimate details of my friendships and family relationships, that they would know just what I should get them! (cue a sarcastic tone here, if it wasn’t already obvious).

And I thought, Wow: nearly the entire society is preoccupied with getting something just right, and doing so quickly and conveniently – ideally, delivered right to your door. Minimum effort, maximum impact. Isn’t that the height of efficiency – something very desired in our society? Should it be applied to gift-giving?

But this elusive concept of the perfect gift seems to continue vexing us year after year. I believe the reason why the perfect gift is so elusive is because it doesn’t truly exist! Sure, many gifts are kind, thoughtful, do fill a real need in someone’s lives, but… perfect?

You may be able to sense where I am going with this: I find it ironic that we scurrying ants on this ball of a planet stress ourselves out trying to seek perfection in gift-giving, while lovingly overseeing it all is God, knowing that we cannot acquire the perfect gift for ourselves.

I see God saying “Don’t stress: I know just what you need! Let me provide you The Perfect Gift which will bring everything else into alignment & harmony.”

I hope that we as Christians don’t forget that we give in the understanding of having been given the greatest Gift of all: Jesus Christ, come to humanity, to love, serve & save. We are but imitating God’s generosity & love as we give to others during this season.

When society seeks to give without first pausing to be thankful to God for His greatest Gift, then the whole equation changes, and I believe stress is so much more easily attached to it, when it’s just “I need to give”, rather than “I’ve been given so much, how can I appreciate that, reflect that, pay it forward a bit?”

Obviously, all expressions of love, all generosity is good, but it’s only as we do it in the shadow of God’s much bigger Gift, that the whole Christmas holiday, and all its trappings, fall into place as a harmonious whole. That is what I pray for your and your families during this gift-buying season.

In these next few weeks, let’s focus first on having received so much more than we could ever give, and giving lovingly in the consequence of that. The love is far more important that the actual ‘things’ we exchange anyway. 🙂

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

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim Seventh-day Adventist Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

December 1st, 2021

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:15

I hope you and your families had a blessed Thanksgiving. I apologize for not getting last week’s mid-week update out – I caught a stomach-bug mid-week and was on my back for a couple of days! Even missed Thanksgiving day with my extended family. 😦 But, I was feeling somewhat stronger by the weekend, and am back to 100 percent now. 🙂

With Thanksgiving now in the rear-view mirror, it means we’re officially into the Christmas season. I tell you: I feel ready for it this year! I know it’s easy for people to be cynical, grumbling along the lines of “Christmas isn’t the right time of year, much less the precise date that Jesus was born!”, or “It’s too commercialized and secularized: it’s lost all valid meaning”, or even “roots of so many of Christmas’ trappings are pagan – the holiday is corrupted and should be jettisoned.” While all of these arguments have some truth to them, let me make an argument for the other side of the debate here.

Something moving happened to me earlier this week. Often, when I’m driving, I listen to news as I go around doing my errands – and when commercials come on, I flip through a few music stations to see if they’re playing anything I like. Well this Monday, I turned away from my usual news to a local FM station out of L.A., and heard they were playing Christmas music. But it wasn’t just generic “Jingle-bell-y” Christmas music, it was sacred Christmas music. I believe it was “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, and that it was the part that says “Mild He lays His glory by – Born that man no more may die – Born to raise the sons of Earth – Born to give them second birth – Hark! The Herald angels sing – Glory to the New-born King!” And I was just so thankful that the Gospel message was getting a hearing on a popular radio station that, at no other time of the year would come within 10 meters of broadcasting anything Christian. And I thought “How many generally secular people are going to hear lyrics like these and ponder them, and give Jesus a chance in their hearts this Christmas season? Perhaps they’ll go to their Bibles and read the birth story, and then onward into the ‘heart’ of the Gospels.”

And then, later that same day, I saw a headline on the OC Register website, that said that Sterling K. Brown (the adopted brother from the “This Is Us” show on NBC), is going to be doing the Nativity Story readings in Disneyland’s Christmas Candlelight procession program. And I thought again: praise the Lord that, again, a secular news source is reporting that an A-list actor (assumedly a Christian who isn’t ashamed to be open about it) will be reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth, at a top-notch, secular, premium entertainment environment.

I obviously want our local church to be a beacon of light to our community (Matthew 5:14-16), but there is no way any local church (no matter how big) could buy ‘publicity’ like this. I for one am so glad that, even occasionally, the Good News of God loving us and choosing to send / come draw close to us, gets notice in our society. Despite all of the Christmas season’s faults, there is a kernel at the center that is beautiful and pure. That’s not too different to how God looked at the world when considering to send Jesus: full of corruption, but at humanity’s heart, there was still a core that was loveable & redeemable.

So I hope you can find some joy hearing Christian messages (often put to lovely music) in department stores, in public venues, on TV & radio, etc. I pray we would all feel that Christ is ours, not because of our worthiness, but because of His great love & willingness to condescend.

Love to you & your families throughout the remainder of this week & beyond.

Sincerely,

Pastor Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

November 17th, 2021

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is more valuable than rubies” Proverbs 31:10

The above-quoted text is from the relatively well-known and beautiful “epilogue” of the book of Proverbs: the description of the woman (wife) of noble character*. Throughout the next several verses, one gets an image of a woman who is loving & caring, yet capable and self-confident in public. You’re invited to read the full passage (Prov. 31:10-31), but we’ll just summarize it here: She is trusted by her spouse, she blesses & provides for her household, she is productive, she is a shrewd trader, she is generous, she brings honor to her family, she is strong & dignified, she is well-spoken, and well-spoken of. Truly the whole community is blessed by a person of such character in their midst.

In considering this a little while ago, I thought of the New Testament concept, in connection with this, of the church being the “bride of Christ” (see Ephesians 5:25-32). That would therefore mean that we, as Christ metaphorically being our husband, and we metaphorically his wife (perhaps ‘fiancé’ would be more appropriate given where we are at this point in time in this illustration), that we should be fulfilling similar roles within the household (church), and out in society (our broader community).

Notice that the wife isn’t described as a shrew, a nag, or an idle loiterer or a gossip. She doesn’t expect to primarily be served, but is content and fulfilled in serving others. She blesses and benefits people within her own household, and those outside as well. She is a crucial part of the community’s vibrant life.

The question that is naturally begged, then, the implication that comes to us is: how are we doing in fulfilling such characteristics? What do people think of when they drive by our church? An insular, conspiracy-theory – filled clique, who are more quick to condemn than to engage & benefit?

Often I’m concerned about how the church (and therefore, Christ) is perceived in society. It’s true that we often get a ‘bad rap’ that is undeserved (Jesus prophesied that we would be hated without cause, as He was, in John 15:18), but let’s do everything in our power, in our personal interactions, to refute that false stereotype!

I pray that people who either come to our property for some reason (whether overtly religious or for some other community benefit), or encounter us in the marketplace or our workplaces, would come away re-thinking their preconceived notions of us. Over time this can contribute to our image being changed from an insular, closed-minded group to a knowledgeable and helpful contributor to society.

I pray our neighbors & broader community would see us much as the “Woman of Noble Character” of Proverbs 31. Let’s be self-examinatory (both individually and corporately) to examine what and how we might do to bring that about.

Blessings to you & your families the remainder of this week & beyond.

Sincerely,

Pastor Mark Tatum

(* the word “Ishah” in Hebrew, is the same for either ‘woman’ or ‘wife’, since it is assumed that a grown woman would be married. In a society in which spouses were more selected for the young men/women than self-chosen, there would be no reason to assume a woman wouldn’t be married)

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

November 10th, 2021

“Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” Isaiah 58:14

What a promise this is! It invokes imaginings in me of riding a mighty horse full-speed over hilltops on a cool but clear, blue-sky day. The valleys below glisten with richness and abundance. And the second part, a feast: who doesn’t love the image of a luxurious banquet table (often the stereotypical image of Thanksgiving, which is up-coming, coincidentally).

God promises to “cause” this to happen. Note: it’s not primarily through our efforts, achievements, or rewards: God does it, and I believe he delights to do so (see Psalm 35:27, for example). And what does He ask in order to enable His doing this? Simply cooperating with His precepts: his wise and eternal counsels, laws, and principles.

There are brief moments in scripture when this was permitted to happen. The reign of Solomon in Israel was a unique time in which the country experienced abundance and peace from all enemies. There were also bright moments of hope in the reigns of kings Joash, Hezekiah, & Josiah further down in Israel’s history.

Sadly, however, the testimony of most of scripture (and, indeed, most of history since then) is more one of compromised dedication to God, and therefore, compromised blessings. Many generations of Israel’s & Judah’s kings said “I’m going to go forward in the way that seems best to me.” They essentially said “I’ll incorporate God’s ways where they don’t conflict with mine, but my will effectively comes first, God’s counsel second.”

It’s not only Biblical times too: the centuries of European “Christian” History, and recent centuries/decades of our own country tell the same story. I encourage you to read the book “The Great Controversy” if you haven’t done so recently: It gives a birds-eye view of (mostly) European history much like the books of Kings & Chronicles do for Israel’s history.

But I only need look around to see my own generation repeating this outlook on the personal level. Among my parents’ generation, my own schoolmates, and even now the students I have taught, I see a large percentage going their own way, and still hoping/claiming God will bless them, despite not putting His precepts first. This hurts my heart!

There’s one case in particular that’s saddened me so recently: at my previous church community, there was a teen girl who was really one foot in the world, one in the church. I hoped she would see the wisdom of God’s ways over the world’s. Then she colporteured for a summer with the conference “Youth Rush” ministry, and got super-zealous for the Lord! She would give her testimony in churches, and go to our schools to encourage the other kids to sign-up for summer colporteuring as well: she married a fellow strong Christian colporteur, and my heart rejoiced for her example. I thought “If only more youth could see how vibrant and full Christian life is!” I hoped more would catch her fire.

Then, some years ago, she got a job in the office of a politican in another state. I think she studied political science in college. Knowing that everybody needs to get a job somewhere, I hoped she would shine her light of Christianity there and be an inspiration for others. I feared, though, that that environment would instead diminish her zeal and commitment. (Side-note, the politician was Democrat, though I view that as incidental to this story).

But in the past year I’ve seen her online social media posts change. Far more about politics, and far less about God. I tried to still give her the benefit of the doubt, but worried. And in the last couple months she’s come out announcing several things: that she’s getting divorced, has a new definition of her sexuality, has a new partner, yet “still has a strong connection with God” despite not going to church any more due to the judgmentalism there.

I’ve been distressed about her, as I’m sure God has too. I’ve thought of commenting on her posts, but figure there’s no positive way to move the needle of her/her friends’ opinion when her comments section is full of messages like “You go, girl!” and “You rock!”. So, I just pray for her. Pray that she will find her way back to life as God intends it.

It’s just so easy to look back at the Biblical accounts and shake our heads, because it’s so objective what they need to do, and the solution seems so obvious. And then we see people in our own time and place, perhaps once zealous and committed, wandering too, and claiming connection with God, as those OT kings did.

And then I look and I see Jesus, arms outstretched, offering His “abundant life” (John 10:10). But He doesn’t offer it on our terms, He offers it on His. And His are the better/best ones anyway! And I just think: How many generations’ testimonies do we need, showing that God’s way is the way to happiness, to full and vibrant life, and that humans’ attempts to forge our own way (while perhaps claiming to still hold God’s hand) lead to muckiness and halfway happy lives.

That Isaiah 58 promise, quoted above, comes at the end of a chapter in which God outlines his expectations for Israel. Chiefly, that they would help the poor & honor His Sabbaths. Don’t even get me started on how I feel the poor in the world are regarded, nor how widely the Sabbath is ignored. I’m dedicated, in my personal life, to do my part, through efforts & influence to encourage both of these highly.

I just see God shaking his head from His throne, dropping His head in His hands, saying “I have so much for you! Why will you not take the wiser path?” But we say “Nope: we’re going to forge our own way. We’re going to make our own way here, and it’s gonna be great”. And God reluctantly says “Okay”, and lets us, for centuries at a time, build up the best society we can. And interpersonal relationships as often as not fall apart as they stay together.

I don’t know about you, but I long, daily, for God’s coming Kingdom. A city in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13), a place in which there is no more crying nor pain nor suffering nor suffering nor death, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). I long for an end to this mucky cycle of generations knowing better, but in large part disregarding God’s counsel. I long to “ride on the heights of the land” and “feast on the inheritance of Jacob” as envisioned at the end of Isaiah 58.

“Come quickly, Lord Jesus” is the yearning cry in the last verse of the Bible. And to that I say “Amen, come quickly.” Praise the Lord, His promise is sure: He is coming for all who seek Him, long for Him, yearn for Him.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:6. May we ‘hang tight’ in our faith, despite our difficulties, until that promise comes to full reality.

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

Sincerely,

Pastor Mark Tatum