Hockinson Heights SDA Church

06/17/2022

A belated yet excited 🎉WELCOME💐 to our new Pastor Alex Portillo and his family, who joined our congregation just a few weeks ago. We are so happy and blessed that you have come to join our Hockinson Heights family!

Join us this Sabbath, June 18th, in person in our Sanctuary at 11:00 am, or via livestream link (approximately 11:15 am, following Congregational Prayer):

"The Difficult Words of Jesus - Hate Father and Mother "

12/17/2021

Join with us in person this Saturday, December 18th at 11:00am (or via Livestream starting at about 11:15) as Pastor Jose Agosto shares, "Needed: A Few Good Neighbors."

Scripture: Luke 10:36-37

https://youtu.be/kXloyE3CXfU

11/20/2021

Join us via livestream after 11:00 this morning as Jaime Clark shares, "Living Faith over Fear During the Final Crisis."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7 -
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Living Faith Over Fear During the Final Crisis

04/17/2021

Visit us (masked and distanced) this Saturday April 17th at 10am for Sabbath School & 11am for Church service as Pastor José shares, "Worthy is the Lamb!"

If you would prefer, you can also join us via Livestream at 11am here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K_JgMj1228

11/13/2020

Heavenly Tidbits
By Teresa Valentine

Landmarks in Time

This week was an Interesting week on my calendar. Monday was the anniversary of the 1989 opening of the Berlin Wall in East Germany. This date always reminds me of the freedoms I sometimes take for granted that others around the world have not had and many still don’t. I really am so thankful for my rights to the constitutional freedoms afforded to us in our country.

This Wednesday marked a significant anniversary to those who cherish their religious freedoms here in the US. 400 years ago, on Nov 11th, 1620 the Mayflower dropped anchor near Cape Cod after a gruelling 66 day-crossing of the Atlantic. As Thanksgiving draws closer I want to encourage everyone to start a new holiday tradition of reading Chapter 16 of The Great Controversy, entitled, “The Pilgrim Fathers.” (And other books about the Pilgrims, as well.) Read them aloud to the people you love who will listen. We should never forget about the Pilgrims who came across on the Mayflower, many paying the ultimate sacrifice on a quest for a refuge where they could teach their children to love and revere God.

Scott Ritsema writes the following:
You cannot read Chapter 16, “The Pilgrim Fathers,” and come away with any impression other than that this nation is indeed a gift from God through those who sacrificed so much in founding this country.

Revelation 12:16 actually prophesies these very historic movements that began in 1620 – movements of persecuted Christians fleeing Europe to find freedom and opportunity in America:

“And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.”

The clarity of our prophetic message depends upon a clear understanding of this event but also because the academic upheaval of our American heritage presents a clear and present danger to freedom, peace, and order.

In Revelation 13 you see America as the only nation ever prophesied to have lamb-like (Christian) qualities for a period of time – two lamb horns, representing civil and religious liberty.

Think about the significance of that. Prior to the rise of this nation, 100% of the nations prophesied were portrayed with beastly characteristics. And each one of them did turn out to be monarchical and oppressive conquerors.

There is just one solitary and shining example (a ‘city on a hill’ if you ask the Pilgrims) that was reserved by God to protect freedom in order to facilitate the gospel work in the last days; a nation with ideals so exceptional and superior in the history of human governments that it shows up as lamb-like in Bible prophecy!

This “City on a hill” has in her a constitution which holds back the winds of strife while we finish the work. We must work rapidly because prophecy foretells she will repudiate every principle of her constitution and end our freedoms we so cherish.

Today, November 13th marks the anniversary of the prophetic cosmic event when the stars fell in 1833. Ellen G. White later said that the starry spectacle was “the last of the signs … which were promised by the Savior as tokens of His second advent” (The Great Controversy, p. 333). For more on this event please read the following. https://www.adventistreview.org/night-the-stars-fell

Dear friends we are living in a spectacular time in this earth’s final history. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone of us. Let nothing stand between you and Christ our Lord; the only doorway to eternity.

Hockinson Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email: Elder Teresa Valentine at [email protected]

News commentary: A look back at the last sign promised by Jesus as a token of His return.

11/06/2020

Heavenly Tidbits
By Teresa Valentine

A Bit Uncomfortable Lately?

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” John 14:16 KJV

This Comforter God provides doesn’t lull us into a lukewarmness in our sins (Revelation 3:14-16). Righteous comfort is a comfort in knowing that when the enemy surrounds us for being loyal to God we can know that through Christ we have an eternal future with Him no matter how bleak our surroundings and circumstances may be. We can be assured that our loving Father will not allow us to go through anything in which He cannot remedy. This comfort that the Holy Spirit gives us doesn’t necessarily take us out of our trials, but it will help us through our trials. His guidance assures us that we are going in the right direction even though all odds may seem against us. (Romans 5:1-5)
With the power and discernment of the Holy Spirit you can know that you are in the right when the majority stands against you. (Luke 13:23-24, 1 Peter 3:20, Genesis 19:1-38)
The Holy Spirit gives us the power and discernment to stand up and call sin by its right name when everyone else is calling “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
John the Baptist was a type of those who will live near the end of time during the loud cry of the three angel’s messages (Revelations 14). John didn’t have a comfortable life by worldly standards. And he didn’t die a comfortable death by any standard. Please keep in mind that John the Baptist was not beheaded because he was preaching the first advent of Christ. He was beheaded because he stood up and called sin by its right name. His message to Herod was not a smooth comfortable touchy-feely one (Mark 6:14-29). In the same way prophecy foretells us that God’s people will be given up to persecution. Not because we are preaching the second coming of Christ; but because we will stand up and “call sin by its right name”. Persecution in no way is “comfortable”!
Ellen G White: “The greatest want of the world is the want of men - men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”
The comforts of this world are not criteria for righteousness. Jesus preached a message which seemed to many an uncomfortable message, but to the humble hearted it was a message of comfort and hope.
The righteous Holy Spirit reminds us of all the comforts of the eternal paradise that await us. We can find comfort knowing that all of our trials are temporary and, compared to eternity, the time in which we will suffer will be but a pin drop in time compared to our eternal bliss.
Remind each other constantly of these things.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

Hockinson Heights
Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email:
Elder Teresa Valentine at [email protected]

10/28/2020

Heavenly Tidbits
By Teresa Valentine

Witches and Warlocks

It’s that time of year again. It may look a little different this year because of COVID-19, but that isn’t stopping the commercialism of Halloween. Many households are gearing up to decorate their precious little ones as imitation demons, witches, warlocks or whatever fictional “super-powered” hero is most idolized this year.
It is very tempting to turn this article into a flat out Bible study on this subject because the Bible is chocked full of warnings. But the bottom line is: self-empowerment and self-enlightenment have been a temptation from the beginning when Eve sought to be like God, “knowing good from evil” on her own terms. All too many have willingly given up eternal salvation just to be “empowered” for a moment. Many have given up righteousness and a chance to walk with God just so they can supposedly know and control their temporary future here on earth. (Read 1 Samuel 28)
Seeking out any supernatural power that is not derived and gifted from God Himself is the act of putting another God before the Creator God. It is putting your trust and future into the hands of the adversary of God.
God has promised us His enlightenment and power through His Holy Spirit. Our duty is to derive this power through His means and His timing only through faithful and patient obedience to His law. There are no human or demonly derived shortcuts to true power and enlightenment.
Don’t be fooled into thinking the devil has your welfare in mind. He seeks only to destroy and he will lie, steal, and cheat to do it. He would sooner throw you under the bus than deviate from his campaign against Christ, his arch nemesis.
On the contrary, Jesus Christ seeks only to prosper you and give you an abundant life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
There is no life outside of Jesus Christ. The devil has power derived only from the patient Creator Himself for a limited time in order to show what power can do in the hands of evil. But his power will be destroyed in the end. He will not be able to save you nor does he care to save you. Absolute power in the hands of evil absolutely corrupts!
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:31
“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to pr******te themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.” Leviticus 20:6
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelations 21:8
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 adds, “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you ... one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord.”
Do you think that God enjoys our playful imitations of His great enemy or his agents? There is nothing to celebrate about death. There is no righteous artistic value in imitating it. Death isn’t a part of life, death negates life. Does righteousness celebrate evil? Does love celebrate hate? Is there any goodness in abominations?
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

Hockinson Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email:
Elder Teresa Valentine
at [email protected]

10/21/2020

Heavenly Tidbits

by Teresa Valentine

Time to Vote!

It’s the final months in an election cycle and it’s time to vote. Emotions are high and there is desperation behind the final drive to influence the voter’s choice. In this current US election we now have only two candidates to choose from. They seem so far apart in ideology and character, yet both are still fallen human beings who are just as much in need of a Savior as everyone else is. Who will get the majority electoral vote? Only a few more days will tell (maybe). 🤪
I can’t help but see a parallel to another election in which we all find ourselves near the end of. There has been an ongoing controversial campaign between good and evil for 6000 years. The Holy Scriptures make it very clear that we are in the final moments of this crisis which requires all to vote. There are no other options; A “no” vote is a vote. Christ has made it perfectly clear that if you are not for Him you are for His adversary (Matt 12:30). This election isn’t between two flawed beings. It’s literally between pure Holiness and pure evil.
Many political predictors today are relying on the polling taking place regularly across the country to get an idea of the outcome ahead of time; but unlike the uncertain predictions based on flawed human polling, we have the sure word of prophecy that foretells the outcome of the greatest election of all ages. Christ will overcome and all those who “endured in faith” until the end will receive eternal life in paradise with Him.
EG White,
“In comparison with the millions of the world, God’s people will be, as they have ever been, a little flock; but if they stand for the truth as revealed in His word, God will be their refuge. They stand under the broad shield of Omnipotence. God is always a majority. When the sound of the last trump shall pe*****te the prison house of the dead, and the righteous shall come forth with triumph, exclaiming, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)—standing then with God, with Christ, with the angels, and with the loyal and true of all ages, the children of God will be far in the majority.” AA 590.1
You see, the current polling currently done from the human perspective seems to put God’s people in the minority, but as the above statement mentions, “God is always a majority”. We can see how it works then; God tips the scale. His vote counts way more than a mortal’s vote. His vote is really all that matters. But we must cast our vote daily for Him in order to be “in the majority”. The majority of the world can’t save us in the end, only a majority in heaven can. I’m completely dependent on the outcome. I’ve voted today for Jesus Christ. Have you voted yet?

Hockinson Heights
Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email:
Elder Teresa Valentine at [email protected]

10/17/2020

Heavenly Tidbits
by Teresa Valentine

Don’t Be a Victim, Be a Victor

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

This world of sin had been on a self-destructive path for approximately 6000 years before we even arrived. Let’s face it, we’ve all been victimized by sin. It’s tough all over! It’s true! I’m not making light of your circumstances. It is truly rougher for some than for others, but to take on the lifestyle of a victim can lead us to look at others as a cause of our poor choices. It deactivates the free moral individuality that God created each and every one of us with. Your circumstances may not be your fault, but blaming others for your poor choices keeps you from learning from your own mistakes. It creates a perpetual cycle of self-destruction and/or an external destruction that affects others.
It doesn’t matter your circumstances, you have choices left no matter how small they may appear to you. We all have different choices to make every day. Our choices usually don’t look like someone else’s choices. A paralytic may have only to decide daily to lean on God for a positive attitude rather than to sink into a despair and sentimentalism that crushes out their desire to live. Your choices are completely unique to you. But as we daily choose to pray for and take on the character of Christ, He will develop strength in us to overcome every inherited tendency and the cultivated character flaws that cause destruction in our lives and the lives of others. In other words, God gives us strength to overcome our genetically inherited tendencies and traits as well as habits we have formed over our lives from observing others or by our own consistent bad choices.
God knows we’ve been victimized. But He came to save us “from” our sins not “in” our sins. He came to not only save us from others, but from ourselves as well.
The scriptures are flooded with calls to live up to individual accountability. Blaming others for our poor choices only arrest our development.

Alcoholics Anonymous teaches that the first step in healing is admitting you have a problem. It’s the same with all sin. We must admit that we are to blame and stop blaming others. Adam blamed God, Eve blamed the serpent, but Jesus took all the blame upon Himself even though He was completely innocent. He now calls all of us to own our own sin (confess our own responsibility for our choices) before we can give it to Him.
If Jesus gave everything He had for the world when we were all sinners then I have no excuses to give all of me in return. I must stop claiming victimhood and take accountability. I praise God that I can look forward to daily healing and growing to be all that He intended me to be in the first place. I cling to His promise that through Him I will survive and when we are finally resting in the Heavenly kingdom, literally next to Him, there will forevermore be a total absence of destructiveness and only an eternal, constructive victory.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Hockinson Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email: Elder Teresa Valentine at [email protected]

10/09/2020

Heavenly Tidbits by Teresa Valentine
Difficult Text
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15
If you find a difficult or hard to understand biblical text, know that this is a part of our growing process. God wants us to build faith in Him and trust in His word. Even though sometimes we may not have all the answers on the spot, with patient perseverance He will bring us into all the understanding we need for today.
When you find a text that is difficult to harmonize with your understanding how should you respond?
First of all, don’t let it discourage you. Keep in mind it isn’t a measurement of spiritual integrity to not understand something; a humble pursuit of truth comes with rewards. Over time God gives us experiences and circumstances in order to bring us to a perspective which along with a humble seeking heart we can find His truths.
God appreciates honesty and integrity in His children, so we must be honest. We must be willing to admit to ourselves that we don’t completely understand it. The last thing we want to do is ignore our lack of understanding. Denial will arrest all development. All of us want to believe we have it all together, because the opposite of that implies weakness and vulnerability. From man’s perspective it is “survival of the fittest” here on planet earth. It seems that if we aren’t as spiritually fit as the next guy that must mean that we are on the underside of the food chain from that next guy, right? Here in lies the beauty of the character of God compared to man. It isn’t about the “survival of the fittest”. It is all about the “fittest” lending their strength and resources to gently, lovingly and patiently lift and guide all men onto an equally high plateau; one of a higher level of wisdom and of character.
The irony is that the more you study, the more you realize that you don’t know everything. The more study one humbly does in the Spirit, the more one realizes their utter dependence on God’s daily intervention and leading and their own weakness. God is the only truly fit leader, but He is willing for all to be saved. He isn’t going to hide anything from our understanding that would keep us from His eternal salvation.
Patiently persevere my friend. It is often said that Rome wasn’t built in a day. I better like the analogy to a parent’s patience with their child. They don’t expect that child to grow up in one day or even one year. It takes a lifetime to grow up in the flesh; it will take an eternity for us to grow up in the Spirit. But grow we must!
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9-10 KJV

Last but not least, don’t discount the importance of any scripture; this includes both the Old and the New Testament. They are both important “witnesses” to God’s unchanging character and plan of salvation.
For “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Read God’s word and meditate on it day and night. Pray for His Holy Spirit to guide you into all understanding. He will withhold nothing good from you.
Hockinson Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church
21109 NE 150th St.
Brush Prairie, WA 98660
For information or help email: Elder Teresa Valentine at [email protected]