Hey, Pastor John,

I just wanted to share some sweet thoughts I’ve been having!  I’ve been loving reading the things you have written over the years!  Last night, I was reading the “Keep Yourself Pure” tract (Going to Jesus.com Tracts – Keep Yourself Pure), and I was just thinking about how good God is that He gives us a kind of life to where we want to be pure and have peace!  It feels so sweet!  I know He is the only One that can do that because just going through daily life in the world you can feel all the junk that is out there, but to feel the difference among God’s people and in the wonderful feelings He gives us in the Spirit!  Wow!  After reading the tract, I starting listening to some of our music on Uncle Vince’s Youtube channel, and it felt so good! 

I love this life Jesus has given me, and I pray that Jesus keeps me in that place!  It is worth everything, and I hope He never let’s me forget that!  Thank you for all you do to nurture us in the truth PJ!

Love you! 

Hope M.

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Hi Hope,

Thank you, Hope.  I am very happy for you, that Jesus has put it into your heart to love him and his people. Hope to see you soon!

Pastor John

Brother John, 

We are praising JESUS in our home this morning, after another day of deeper study re-reading your Revelation book. (Going to Jesus.com – Revelation)

After we finished the morning Bible reading last week, we immediately dug into the Revelation book to attempt to understand it better, and after painstakingly reading aloud every day we finished Chapters 1 & 2! 

Slowing down really helped us to genuinely comprehend  Jesus’ messages to the pastors and the Assemblies in Asia.  

It’s amazing how insightful your analysis is, John!  You point out details and comparisons so clearly; points that any cursory reading would gloss over!  Now we understand it at least 50% better than before!  And it’s wonderful!! 

Your examination of this book has changed my mindset from being discouraged to being elated that it IS understandable!!   

There’s a lot of truth to the benefit of SLOWING DOWN.  Here a little, there a little, line upon line; literally!

Thank you for your work for us (and for the Body of Christ).  

Brad

Pastor John,

     I love how you explained the Gods & Jesuses of Christianity in the book, God Had a Son before Mary Did! (Going to Jesus.com – God Had A Son Before Mary Did)

     I especially like how you started one sentence with (paraphrasing): “Common sense tells us the different doctrines and rituals from one sect cannot be the same God and Jesus of another one.”  and then calling Christianity so plainly “a madhouse of confusion” and comparing it to the ancient world’s polytheism!

     I thought several times that if people make it this far into the book, I hope that God would let these straight words and phrases ping something in their hearts to feel the relief and would lead them to want to seek the real God and the real Jesus!

Amanda

P.S.  And I almost forgot – What really struck me was when you asked, “Which God and Jesus do you believe in?  Which bridegroom are you going out to meet?”

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Hi Amanda!

    You are blessed to understand and love this, Amanda.  Such plain, irrefutable truths provoke some souls to anger instead of seeing and embracing the great love of God in it for everyone.

     Thank you for writing.

Pastor John

Oh, Pastor John, I love how Jesus does things. 

As I sat and listened this morning, I felt like He painted a whole picture for me.  All those people who saw Paul go from killing God’s people to doing everything he could to tell them about Jesus had the clearest, purest doctrine poured out, right in front of them.  A living testimony..  I thought of my children, my loved ones, and the ones I work with — seeing the real doctrine lived out in front of them over and over again.  My brothers and sisters watched Jesus raise the dead (me) and give life more abundantly right in front of them, and I was just the vessel he used to do it.  But they have all witnessed the truth.  The things written in the scriptures played out like a movie before their eyes because it was not from a stranger; it was real and put right in front of them.  Jesus gave them proof he is real! 

We walk through this life like little lamps for anyone Jesus wants to show the truth to.  Nobody but Jesus could build something more beautiful or more merciful than filling this world with the truth walking around for people to see and feel … if they want it.  And what mercy for us, that the truth exposes hearts. We get to rest in the peace seeing a heart does not want it. 

Will anyone be able to say they did not hear the doctrine? 

Look how much light gathers in one place when we are all together, full of truth and praising God.  I wish I could paint the picture I see in my heart.  All of us with little lights shining as we go to work or to the grocery or to Walmart.  Ha! I  guess we are solar lights, getting all our light from soaking up the Son! 

And we do not even  have to do anything but stay close to Jesus so He can use us to shine down here in this old dark world.  Nobody could do it more perfectly than Jesus did.  He gave us all our best chance. Living breathing testimonies of the truth!  Isn’t that beautiful! 

Makes me want to be full and shiny for Jesus.

Mathew 5

14.You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill can’t be hidden.

15.Nor do people light a candle and then place it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and then it gives light to all who are in the house.

16.Let your light shine like that before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Love,

Beth

Good morning Pastor John,

I have been listening to the fireside chats and it makes me smile.  Hearing the sweet testimonies of wanting and seeking and getting the holy ghost are better than anything this world has to offer.  I have had quite a few nights of waking at 2 or 3 a.m. and having quiet talks with Jesus.  One of our most recent late‑night talks was about how completely different he has made me.  I lay in my bed quietly listing off the things that he has changed and how amazed I am that he did that.  I had to wipe the tears away as I told him that he really did make me a new creature. 

So, as I listen to the other hearts Jesus has created tell about His Goodness, all I can do is smile and love every story of God that I hear.  We really are changed.  I look forward to watching and hearing the story God writes for Hannah. 

Beth D.

I

From Lee Ann:
I don’t think I have told you, but your “Jerusalem Council” book is a masterpiece. (Going to Jesus.com – The Jeruslaem Council) I have been reading it for the past week and a half and I just shake my head and have said it out loud, “This is a masterpiece”.  It definitely takes someone who knows Paul and understands what he was up against to write this, but it’s so much more than that. So many layers of truth. It’s so well done.  It’s been hard to whittle it down for the girls because I don’t want to leave anything off.

I’m finishing it up now.  Makes me appreciate the time and tremendous effort you put into writing these books.  But they have been a tremendous blessing, so it evens out!  I believe Paul would enjoy the Jerusalem Council himself!  (Wouldn’t that be neat to get feedback on your dialogue from Paul:). 

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From Amy B:

This is beautiful from LeeAnn. Reminds me of this I read going through my meeting notes last night. It’s from May 2025: John told experience of being in bed (at our house) and the Spirit started speaking to us all (the body of Christ here). John told us his testimony about being in college and reading Socrates and how he got to know him. Point: “I want you to know Paul, from Jesus to you. Do you know Paul? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the man?” Sounds like you got it across  and I agree with Leeann, I think Paul would enjoy reading his testimony, and yours!

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From Zoli:

This reminded me of a conversation Jamie and I had had the other day while reading the Father and Son book, (God Had a Son Before May Did) (https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_books.html?tname=fands)

 more specifically in chapter 6 about the wheat and the tares, the whole topic of who Satan is, what God’s people before the revelation of the Son must have thought about him, God’s “terrifying patience”, etc. During our reading I had to stop and tell Jamie: I don’t think you will find this understanding anywhere in xty or anywhere else! Even though, if you read what the Bible actually says (and what it doesn’t say), it makes perfect sense, and there is nothing wrong with it. 

Often times, I stop and marvel at the grace God has shown me in this obscure place, in the tiny country of Hungary, somewhere in Central-Europe, by allowing me not only to receive the most precious gift ever given (the holy Ghost), but also allowing me to hear the truth, to believe it and to love it. I hope and pray that I really do appreciate what God has done for me and us as much as it it deserves to be appreciated. The only right and acceptable way to show our gratitude for it is by letting go of anything and everything we might still be holding on to, trusting Jesus with our whole lives, and loving the Father with everything we have. Amen.

From Wendell:

I feel that “God Had a Son Before Mary Did” can communicate to anyone with an open mind with its simplicity.  It is one of your best works.

From Hope M:

Aww that is so sweet and true! Aunt Lee Ann and I went for a walk yesterday evening, and she was telling me the same thing! Thank you for all you have done with writing these books. I love getting to read them, and every time I do, I learn many things I never even imagined or could have even dreamed! It makes the whole Bible come to life! Thank you for all your hard work!

From Bess:

Lee Ann is so full of the Spirit. She writes her feelings out so beautifully, and God has blessed her with a special place in this body with her work with the girls and an encourager to us all.  

I am thankful, John, for your labor of love for the work Jesus has laid in your heart and for the heart of love Jesus has put in you for us who are in your care.

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From Billy M:

That would be neat hearing Paul’s feedback. The labor of love from God to you to us in writing these books can simply overtake you.  There is a topic covered for any situation, and they are full of sound doctrine for anyone who has a desire to learn truth.

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From Tom:

Lee Ann’s comments make me want to read “The Jerusalem Council” book again. I feel the same way about the Father and Son book. I just finished reading it for the second time. I wish I could express how much I appreciate that book. It defines who we are and what we have become. 

I consider it a gift from Jesus. 

Thank you for all the work you have put into these books. Jesus has given us through you, “his best!”

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From Jimmy T:

That’s WONDERFUL!  Your books are more helpful than the Bible, the way Jesus has put them together through you for his people!  My second time going through “God Had a Son before Mary Did” had my heart doing flips inside. 

Pastor John,

Tonight’s message that we are to —bring our best—be our best—do our best— unto the Lord was good. It felt like a different way of looking at things and explaining them, too.

There is a “Pearl” that went out a couple of years ago that says something like, “God never said for you to do your best.” That doesn’t contradict tonight’s message at all. That old Pearl means… don’t try to please God by being the best YOU when Jesus paid the price for you to be a HOLY reflection of HIM. 

We can “do” our best at anything that we do, and the effort mean nothing more than that we are too self-willed or too proud to appear less than excellent.  But for us to “be” our best before the Lord, for that, we have to submit to the Lord’s purging and willfully purge ourselves (as Brother Jimmy once said) of whatever isn’t Jesus.  The nature of God that remains after that will only do its best in everything, because everything it does is unto the Lord.  In that condition, we can be a flop, sound terrible, present terribly, whatever, and still be perfect. 

It just felt like a different, right way of looking at things tonight.  

Jerry

I have enjoyed my day today, working and organizing things.  As I was going through some of my files, I found this you wrote to us.  I thought it was worth passing on.  It’s from May, 2007.

Amy B

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What must I do in order to be more acceptable to God?

In order to remain acceptable to God and grow in acceptance with Him, you must protect the feelings He has given you; they are precious.  You protect them by using them, by holding them dear, by not neglecting them, and by not allowing them to become subject to any religious ceremonial form.  In the kingdom of God, life is always a matter of the heart.

Staying alive in spirit is acceptable to God; staying clean in heart is acceptable to God; staying filled with the holy Ghost is acceptable to God.  And we become more acceptable to God by becoming more in tune with what the Spirit is doing in us and on the earth, for walking in the Spirit is the only thing that makes us cleaner and more perfect in Christ.

Just keep living! Don’t die! Don’t let your holy feelings be overshadowed and overwhelmed by any form – including Christian ceremonies, but not just that.  Live!  Live unto God, and refuse to die.  Be aggressive with God’s goodness; go for the gold! If you realize the preciousness of the holy feelings you have from Christ, then let them live!  Nurture them; give them expression.  Bring them out of the closet and let them live in the sun and be seen!  Remember what Jesus said, “You are the light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hid; and people do not light a candle and then place it under a bushel basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  Let your light shine like that before men, so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Give place to the feelings and thoughts of God in your words and in your deeds; let them breathe!  If you do, they will grow within you; and if they will grow within you, you will become more acceptable to God.

Pastor John

5/15/07

Dear Pastor John,

I’m enjoying listening to your Hebrews teaching, (https://www.goingtojesus.com/gtj_translation.html?tname=hebrews) and you just said something in it that we were talking about one morning: Scripture doesn’t change.  The words on the page have been the same for thousands of years, but our knowledge of what those words mean increases IF we, the reader, are growing in Christ.  A whisper came to me saying, “The Scripture doesn’t change; you do.”

~Allison