Hi John,

I love us 🙂 God has been so good to us!  It’s like Gary sang: “the holy ghost burst out”. So sweet!  What a joy to have someone like brother Earl in our life, full of the holy ghost and loves it. I loved Token’s testimony and her sweet dream of flying with Jesus 🙂  

Amen!  Having on the whole armor of God is the only way to fly!!  Such a wonderful set of scenes!  Thank you Token.  Wow, that was so good about brother Coy wanting to learn, so real and earnest.  God help us want to learn always!!  If we stop learning, we will end up lost and wondering what happened, and say as many now do, “It use to be.” – lost without him!

I am so thankful that I want to be here and that I love being here.  John, I loved what you said about wanting to be around people who love telling and talking about the God they love.  It is why I am setting at your doorstep most mornings before you get up when I am in town 🙂  – I know – you’re  waiting on me some times 🙂  I can’t wait to hear about what God has done for us, and to be around people who love what God has done for them.  

Wonderful reading tonight in the Gospel of John!  Wow!  So good!  Thank you, John, for feeding us!!  God help us take it in.

Stuart

Thank you for all the good food you serve to us.  I just finished reading the Excerpt of the Day from the Father and Son book, and then the Pearl that just came out.  We have so much good food!   I just wanted to say “thank you!”  and eat it all up, yum, yum, yum!

Donna N

===========

Thank you and Rob for eating it, Donna! I don’t prepare the food, though; the Father does that.  I just serve it (after I eat some!)  The Father must enjoy watching His children eat what He prepares – any chef would! – so, let’s keep making Him happy!

Pastor John

===========

Hi John,

Donna N’s email reminds me of some thoughts I was having a few days ago.  I was reading the first chapter of Mark. After Jesus called his disciples he went to the synagogue to teach. When I read verse 22, “and they were astonished at his teaching”, I stopped and thought about it for a while. I asked myself, why were they astonished?

The men there at the synagogue knew the scriptures. They most likely had expectations of what they would hear from Jesus before he began to teach. They probably thought that they had heard it all before, but many left “astonished at his teaching.”

As we all know, there is something different about the word of God when we hear it. It cuts deep into our souls, many times beyond our understanding at first. 

I have heard you talk about great orators, those who can speak eloquently by crafting their words into persuasive speeches.  While in college, I used to enjoy good lectures. Some could stimulate my brain and emotions. Some may even have persuaded me to change my behavior or perception on a few things.

But, when I heard the word of God spoken, it did something to me that went beyond my understanding and emotion.  It cut deep into my soul and awakened my spirit.  It stirred up an appetite for more.  As an example, when I first heard that water baptism was not needed, I did not understand it. However, I could feel that there was something more to it than what my ears were hearing.  The feelings that came with that simple truth were enough to cause me to put the lack of understanding on the shelf.  I believed that in time Jesus would give me the understanding, and he did!

When I was in Christianity, every Sunday a priest would read from a prayer book, or read scriptures that were selected for that specific date or feast day, followed by a brief sermon. It did nothing for my hungry soul.

One time a young priest stood up, walked away from the pulpit and came down close to the crowd, of maybe a 100 people. He then asked the congregation, “Have you ever wondered why some protestant Christians stand on the street corner and preach about Jesus!  They have a zeal that we need.”  He more or less went on to say that these street preachers have deep convictions and a personal relationship with Jesus.  When he finished, I stood up and clapped.  I could feel his sincerity and hunger for more of God.   He later quit and fell into homosexuality.

I love the word of God.   I appreciate you passing on to us the spiritual food that you receive from Jesus.  I am thankful for the desire and liberty that he has given us to take it in.

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” 1 Cor. 2:4-5

Tom

Morning Pastor John,

I had a quiet moment with Jesus just now.  I was thinking about the neighbor’s cat that we occasionally let in.  How he is getting more comfortable here, trying out different spots in the house.  The cat started out timid and thankful for a little spot on the floor.  He hardly moved from that spot except to eat or drink. As I was fixing my coffee and thinking about that, Jesus said “everything of this world will get more comfortable if it hangs around long enough”.  Bad spirits, bad children, bad behaviors etc.

That is what I am having for breakfast this morning.

Beth

Good morning,

Cris’ chorus that she woke up with reminds me of the past couple of nights.  I’ve been reading the Malachi book, and he chorus reminds me of how it makes me feel to have the truth – I love that we have good, common sense holy doctrine, like in the Malachi book.  It’s just good – in the true sense of the word.  Thank you for teaching it, and for staying faithful to it.

Jenny

========== 

I woke up with this chorus from Saturday night playing in my heart & head. Very thankful!

“Oh Lord we’re thankful. So thankful.
We’re thankful, Lord, for what you’ve done.
Thankful you’ve revealed your Son.
We’re thankful, so thankful.
And we praise you cause we’re thankful, Lord.”

Cris

Hello Pastor John!

Hope you and your family are well. Three nights ago after dinner was eaten and the kids were in bed, I started to read Chapter 1 of “Pioneer of the Faith” from the Pioneer Tract Society website. [http://www.PioneerTract.com].  I couldn’t put it down!  I loved it!  It was 1:30 AM (on a school night) when I was done and should go to bed.  It hadn’t felt like I had been reading for hours.  I had no trouble going to sleep that night Next day, I read chapter 2 and started 3.  I finished it about 3 hours ago.  I have been listening to the interviews you did with your Dad.  And I have been going over the website searching for more.  To no avail.  I have had you on my mind since.  Chapter 3 did not seem like it was the end of the book. I’m not full yet   Reading this book has been so inspiring, intriguing of times gone past, and more importantly, seeing how God is involved, and the methods He used, and of growth – I can’t fully get it all out.  It is a feeling that is just awesome! 

Are there other chapters?  I have looked and am unable to find any.  Am I looking in the right place or on one of the other sites?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Letitia 

=========

Hi Letitia!

It is good to hear from you.  I am thankful that you enjoyed my father’s biography.  It is a fascinating story, isn’t it?  There are five more chapters, as I recall, and if anything, they are more fascinating than the first three.  However, there are people still alive whose names are in those chapters, and so, I would prefer to edit (change) those names before the last five chapters can be posted on line.   Hopefully, that will be done before long.

Pastor John

Pastor John,

I was listening to a CD this morning, and in it, you made it clear that we are to be without divisions….amongst ourselves.  I just wanted to repeat what you have said in the past, that is, “division is of the flesh”.   If we wear everything in this world very loosely, except the holy Ghost, we will be able and EAGER to slip out of any preference or choice, that WE may have before it has a chance to threaten unity and fellowship in the Body.

But the reason that I wrote is this:  After considering division, and the damage that it does, I was reminded of what this work of yours is about.  This work, that we are allowed to be a part of, was founded in your father’s desire for power to unite the broken Body of Christ.  The power and the truth that he received were, and continue to be, for that purpose.

Knowing that takes such a load off of the heart! 

I feel like knowing that means that we can rest from being troubled that the entire world, in the main, rejects the fruit of this work.  It is not for the world; it is for the uniting of the Spirit-filled scattered sheep across the globe.

What a beautiful thing we have been allowed to participate in!  That is something that surely deserves much prayer and sacrifice, on our part.

Jerry

Hi Pastor John!
Hope you’re feeling full of energy!

I have a little testimony.

A few weeks ago, I had a vehicle inspection to perform. The gentleman worked at an insurance company and was returning his leased unit. It is my job to inspect the vehicle for all damages and apply charges for repair. Well, when I arrived, the customer was very nice.  He was happy and smiling.  As I began to inspect the car, I saw a lot of damage.  Most of it was right on the line between chargeable and non-chargeable damages.  I always try to not charge if it is possible.  Well, at the end of the inspection, I noticed hail damage.  It is very hard to see hail damage sometimes. This car had a lot of hail damage.  The damages were going to be $600 – which actually is a great repair price, but is still $600.

I hated to go tell this happy man about the damage, but I did.  The minute I mentioned the word “damage”, he got so angry!  He had me go out to the vehicle and show him every dent.  Well, you have to turn your head and lean at an angle (sometimes) to see the damage.  I tried to show him what angle to look from and how low to bend down.  He just got angrier and angrier.  He said, “If you have to look that hard, then it should not be chargeable!”

I tried to be very sweet while talking to him.  I do understand that it can be upsetting.  I have looked at so much hail damage that I can spot it, but I remember during training thinking, this is hard.  The whole point of my saying all that was that I was still sympathetic to him.  As I wrapped up the inspection, I had to get a signature and give some instructions to the customer.  He treated me very badly.  He held my computer as he made some phone calls, would not look at me or answer me, and was just ugly acting. It reminded me of a temper-tantrum from a badly behaved child.  I finally got my computer back and left.

When I got outside, I was so upset.  I was talking to Jesus about it.  It hurt my feelings.  I said, “Jesus, why did he have to be so awful?” I tried to shake it off, but it really bothered me.  I was driving down the road, and I just started saying, “Jesus, just because he cannot see the hail damage does not mean it is not there.”  I said this over and over, and then the Spirit interrupted me with this thought:  “That is just like the truth.  Just because they can’t see it does not mean it is not there.”  I instantly brightened. I mean, I felt so light and happy and in love with hearing from Jesus! Everything changed in just a moment.

Today, while I was thinking about that event and the feelings I felt from that man, Jesus spoke to me again.  He let me know that man was not trying to see hail damage.  Instead, he was spending all his energy trying to convince me there was none.  He never looked for hail damage.  That is the same thing the world does to Jesus and the truth.

I love hearing from Jesus.

Beth

I woke up with this chorus from Saturday night playing in my heart & head. Very thankful ❤

“Oh Lord we’re thankful. So thankful.
  We’re thankful, Lord, for what you’ve done.
  Thankful you’ve revealed your Son.
  We’re thankful, so thankful.
  And we praise you cause we’re thankful, Lord.”

Cris

=========

Amen!  Great way to start the day, Cris!  I’m thankful, with you!
Pastor John

John,
What a wonderful weekend! I’m thankful for the teaching, the music, the testimonies, and the feelings! Where else can you feel so rich?

When Gary started playing, “Have a Little Drink,” (of the Spirit) it started feeling so good. Jesus was nudging me, like he was saying, “All you need to do is step out there.” He always meets us when we take that first step! I LOVE the feelings and hearing other people being blessed around me. At one point I opened my eyes, there was Donna next to me. I loved seeing Karlee being blessed, and I loved collapsing next to Token. Wonderful!

I started getting so tickled because I knew that I was supposed to pick up the kids at 2:00. All I could think was, “I can’t drink and drive (drink of the Spirit).” Ha! It got funnier and funnier! I told Jesus that he was going to have to help me make good time getting back to Cary. Every single light (there are probably around 12) was green on the way back. I was right on time! That was sweet. I just hummed the song all the way in my car. I’m so thankful for the touch from Jesus. That will carry me through. I am recharged! 🙂

I just wanted to add, I loved the part about what you said about Jesus giving you the desires of your heart. Just be full of the Holy Ghost- that’s the answer! Love that and he will give you your desires.

Thank you so much, John, for all that you do.

Love,

Carrie

Brother John,

I heard this (below) from Jesus back in 2006; it thrills me to read it again this evening.  I love Christ’s victory over sin!  We cannot win that warfare.
I sent this to you then, and it is so good, I wanted to send it again.

Jerry

Date:   Friday, December 1, 2006, 9:20 AM
Hey Bro. John,
This has blessed my soul this morning….

The flesh did not repent when I chose the way of the Lord.  Jesus made me an offer of eternal life, and I chose it over the flesh, but my flesh stayed exactly the same ….The flesh has never > repented…. It has never “gotten well”.  It is just as sick as the day that I last saw it.  So if we are to be well, we must stay far away from it. We can only do that by walking in the Spirit.

Every rotten thing that we were, every sin that did or “does so easily beset us”, is still waiting for us in the flesh,
if we will have it.  It will be there until the day that we shed this flesh for eternity.   So… Here is the wonderful news!

If we are struggling with any sin, if we are trying to walk holy and yet are feeling the heaviness of near defeat, if we are feeling unable and weak, It is of the flesh!  And, that is exactly how your flesh felt on your very best, most victorious day, with Jesus!  So….Get out of the flesh! and live and be happy and free, AND REST!  And Lock the door behind you, so you can’t get back in!

Man this feels good!

Love Jerry

============

Thanks, Jerry.  You’re right. That IS good!
Pastor John