Free pentecostal literature, baptism of the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues), the new birth experience, ....

"Web Letters - Page 12"
Today's Date is:

February 10, 2006

Dear Pastor John,

I am amazed at what you are writing to us! These last few days I have been thinking about the elect, and have been asking myself the question "who are the elect?" And I have been also thinking about the mind of Christ, and that with the mind of Christ, we are one. We are all thinking the same thoughts. When I asked the question "who are the elect?", I received the feeling that we are to do a job. And it wasn't glamorous or anything. We get to do something that will not be at all popular with the world. It was like washing dishes. We would get to be less than we think. We got to do the things that nobody wanted to do, and if they knew they would have to do them, they would walk away in disgust. "I would never do that" most would say. There was no pride allowed there. It can't even get in. And John, I wanted to go and wash the dishes, and sweep the floor! And I wanted to do it all my life.

Your email was so good to read. It told me what I was hearing. What we think are our thoughts, are really from Jesus so many times. I am learning that again here. I don't ever want to lose sight of where we are going together. And Jesus holds it all together. I love having a job to do. He has worked it all out so that there is no room for smugness there. Amen. And I am so glad that I know I am not saved yet. That is a big open door for Jesus to work, and I feel as though I am finding more value in that all the time. What an incredible life we have here with one another.

With Love in Jesus,

Adam

Dear Brother Adam:

Years ago, the Lord told me, "Neither expect nor desire any big thing, but make your work perfect." It took me several years to realize that I can make nothing any more perfect than I am, and so I was excited then to think that in commanding me to make my work perfect, He was making me a promise that He would perfect me so that I could do it! That process may not be glamorus, as you said, but isn't it so very precious and good!

Thanks for the letter.

jdc

February 10, 2006

Hey,

Wow, this really stood out to me....

"Are you a believer? Do not become proud. You are not saved yet. Besides, "the demons also believe, and tremble" (Jas. 2:19). Do you believe so much that you tremble? If not, then demons have more faith than you do."

That is something to think about.

Amy

Hey Amy:

May God help us not only to think about that vital truth but to escape the pride that comes with knowledge so that what we know does not destroy us.

jdc

From Gary S. in response:

Those sure ARE good thoughts. I liked Donna's and Amy's (and your) comments on this. I was thinking that to be saved we need 1) "more than believing", and 2) "more than trembling."

1) Those who really believe, "out of their bellies will flow living water". It's more than receiving the holy Ghost.

2) Those who tremble have the dread and fear of God. That is what is being stolen from the children of God right now through the "getting saved" thing. And yet, even if we overcome that, and have the fear of God, there is more to it.

What is it? I thought of, "enduring to the end." That is the one thing the demons did not do.

And then I thought of Paul's admonition to "endure sound doctrine". To the end. Can we take EVERYTHING that God sends us - to the end? Who knows what He may say next. That means being prepared to receive it.

Gary

Hi Gary:

You mentioned preparing for the next things God will say to us. Every time God speaks to us, it is a miniature judgment day. When He speaks, it is too late to "get ready" to hear. And when Jesus comes, it will be too late to "get ready" for his coming.

jdc

February 10, 2006

RE: TFM 2-03

You wrote: "One of the best bits of knowledge that a minister of Christ can feed to the flock of God is that 'You are not saved yet.' That is a truth that applies to every saint living on earth, all the time they live here. And it is a truth that the wise in Christ embrace."

John:

It is interesting to note that most important “bit of knowledge” professed by most Christians is the opposite of this truth.

Mark H.

Good point, Mark.

jdc

February 2, 2006

Amen! Amen!

I love these thoughts from God (TFM 1-23)! That is just what I have been feeling and thinking about this morning. I have been thinking about people who end up bitter. We must humble ourselves under the hand of God! He is right. He is holy. And He is good! If we do not humble ourselves and confess our need of him, and that He is right, we will end up bitter, resentful, and hard. He really does know what is best for us, even if we do not understand it at the time. God is right.

I have also been thinking about 'the losers' in this life. John, what a blessing it is to have any kind of circumstances in this life (sickness, weakness, struggle, hurt.. even sin) if through it we come to know our need of God. What a blessing from God! It has made me think about people (myself included) differently from how I used to think. I am thankful for every thing God has brought me through! EVERY THING. Thank you for teaching us.

Donna N.

February 1, 2006

Hi John.

I have been reading in Matthew - there are so many wonderful things Jesus taught.

One of the most important things I think a person has the opportunity to learn, especially early on, is, who is our family. God wants us to LOVE our heavenly family, above all. So much so that we see and feel the reward coming because of it. If we have lost the approval of our earthly family simply because we refuse to sin, or because of this truth that we love, we will qualify as an "every one" as I read last night:

Mat 19:27-29 "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

I have left behind some people. A father. A mother. A sister. A daughter. Didn't want to. Just had to. I'm ready to love them, but I'm in love with Jesus, and he won't let me get stuck with "hooks" of sin that often come with loving them "their way" (that is, contrary to God and his righteousness).

I was praying for brother Oliver (name changed to protect privacy) today, as he deals with the family funeral things that are coming up. I know how that feels - I did it with my father. It leaves us feeling "empty" because we wanted things to be different for them. And in this time of soberness and funerals, emotions among family members can run high. When I was asked to go along with (participate in) certain "religious" things I knew were wrong, and could not do it, my family thought I was strange. I did not oppose them; I just could not do the Catholic things they wanted me to do.

Those experiences taught me that Jesus' name is my real family name. It's for his name's sake that I live! And I have found that God has given me a hundred fold - it's really true! I've got a hundred more family members in Christ than I do those that pertain to this flesh. And they sure love me!

Whew - blessed I am!

Gary

January 26, 2005

Dear Amy,

Hey how you doin? I am sorry about last night (yesterday morning for you). I really did want to talk to you. I hope I didn't sound "short" - sorry if I did. Oh well next time.

Hey I've received the DVD "Stay in my world". Wow, I've never seen the holy Spirit move at all before, so this has been VERY interesting. I can clearly see how people thought the believers were drunk in Acts!!! But as Pastor John says - it's on a new kind of wine. Wow, it was a bit unsettling at first, but now I am still watching as I write this and I feel good. I just can't stop smiling! I love the song "Stay in my world". It's nice and (once I get there) I want to stay in His world. It is really wonderful to be able to watch and see with my own eye's what happens in the meetings. I can't wait to be there at Thanksgiving. O well, I'd better go. I hope you are well and that all goes well for you right now.

I am so fortunate that Jesus showed me the way out (of Xty) and into the true light. I am blessed!

Jenny

January 16, 2006

Hey Pastor John,

Just been listening to the OT CD’s again – disc 3 and right now you are talking about evolution. Ha! What nonsense! I detest it. How terrible. Anyway I love what you say about it, especially that God held himself back not to create the whole world in a half a second. What a pure and wonderful way to think of it! It’s the truth.

I have something to add if that is okay. So correct me if I am wrong. Now it’s not that I feel the need to prove evolution is not true, but I’ve got another point. (Actually you’ve probably thought of it).

Evolution cannot be gelled with creation. One way, if not the main way for evolution to occur dictates that things die out – natural selection – survival of the fittest and all that. But the creation story of the Bible states that death occurred after The Fall. Indeed death was a curse of The Fall. So quite simply, if you believe God created the world you cannot believe that he used evolution to do it because you would have to admit that death occurred before the Fall, and we know that is not true.

Now this further point is also a question about the doctrine of restoration. I’m not sure it is true, which is that we are to be fully restored to everything we were made for originally, in Eden (I think and hope it is true). My point then is that if death did occur before the fall then we have got no hope at all. If it is true that we are to be restored to God in fullness and if God used death to create the world then you would be restored to death! That’s terrible. I don’t want to be restored to death!

Anyway, the whole idea of evolution is ridiculous anyway!

Jenny

Thank you, Jenny, for your thoughts. I hadn't considered the ramifications of there being death before the Fall, and your reasoning seems sound. You are also right about evolution and creation being absolutely incompatible. As Paul would say it, "What fellowship has light with darkness?"

As far as "the Restoration" is concerned, I think that instead of being restored to the condition of innocent ignorance which Adam and Eve knew before the Fall, the saints will be living with Christ in the far better condition of holiness and perfect knowledge of God. I would not want to be returned to the lowly condition of Adam and Eve. That seems beneath our place in Christ. The Bible never speaks of such a promise as "The Resortation", as such, and so, I would be cautious in regards to any doctrine that depends upon that term.

Pastor John

Hi Pastor John,

Thank you for your comments. About restoration, yeah I guess it's not mentioned in the Bible is it! And about the position we will be in - holiness and perfect knowledge of God - yeah, that is far better. Or maybe not. Hmmm... may I be contentious for a moment?... Everything was perfect in the Garden of Eden. They were in innocent ignorence. Initially that might not sound too good, but if everything is perfect and we are obedient and there are perfect relationships etc then there was no need for humans to be any different. We didn't need to know anything. And isn't that the best way to be even now - like a little child? Maybe it was only after we sinned and our knowledge of our relationship with God increased that this meant that the only suitable condition for mankind now is to have perfect knowledge of God and to live in holiness. So innocent ignorance is plan A, and perfect knowledge of God is plan B.

Hmmm... but I can't help thinking that perfect knowledge of God IS better.

This really makes me wonder about why God does what he does. Why didn't he just make us that way to begin with? I don't need to know I guess. But I think God has a habit of doing things this way i.e. he has plan A, it goes all wrong and then he goes to plan B which was really better all along. So maybe plan B was his plan all along. If so he doesn't seem to be very straightforward! It will be good to know why he does what he does one day.

Jenny

Hi Jenny:

Paul said that he wanted us to be children in malice, but not understanding. And it must be far better to know God in Christ than to be in ignorance, even if we are in a state of innocence.

God's ways, as Paul said, "are past finding out." The reasons He does what He does are His own, and He takes no advice. We are supremely blessed if we find ourselves as the objects of His favor, and we will do well to take advantage of that precious opportunity to do and to be good in His sight.

Question - Was everything in the Garden of Eden perfect even if it had creeping around within it a creature who envied God's glory and who lied? The new earth promised to the saints will be a place "wherein dwelleth righteousness". Sounds like a far better place than Eden, doesn't it?

Pastor John

January 14, 2006

Good morning,

Wow. When I read the email on "Chosen to Love and Bless", and it sadden me because it shows the condition of God's people. They could not take it. But, on the other hand, I felt blessed. Blessed to be among the ones who can hear the truth and understand and love whom God has sent. I am so thankful. It is no small thing.

The other day I was reading in Matthew chapter 9 and I read this where Jesus said in verse 35,

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
[36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

Jesus was there with them, teaching them and performing miracles, but yet they did not know him. Many never did and they killed him. And it is that way now; many do not recognize whom God has placed here among us to help His people, and with some of the awful attitudes we have seen in response to the truth, you can see where they would kill if they had the power. God help!!

Thanks for the thoughts.

Amy P.

January 13, 2006

John,

I'm grateful to God that He helped have a willingness to consider the things I'd been taught in Christianity were wrong when I started hearing the truth. I'm thankful Tim did not push me to believe what he was hearing, but wanted me to hear it for myself. And I'm grateful He used you to help me.

A few weeks before I even met you I had started listening to the question and answer tapes that you & Bro. Gary had done. One night after finishing a tape, I was standing in the dark of my bedroom. Everything was still and quiet. With fear, I told Jesus that I was willing to open up my heart one more time and put all of my eggs in that basket and be willing to believe what I was hearing was true.

When I came to the 1st & 2nd meetings, I was so afraid I'd find out I'd been deceived again. After the 2nd prayer meeting was over, I was talking to Barbara & Ellen, and I started crying because I needed to know if I could trust what I was hearing to be THE TRUTH (I had been told everywhere we had gone in Xty that what they were telling us was the truth). You saw me & came over and put your arm around my shoulder and started praying for me. You asked Jesus to let me know if this was really from him. Up to that point in my life, I had never felt the love from Jesus the way I did that night...the feeling I had was that Jesus was not going to let me be deceived any longer by what men were saying. I felt safe for the first time in my life. You could have prayed for me to believe you, but you prayed that Jesus would show me if what I was hearing was really from him. I knew you were not asking Jesus to let me believe you, but to have Jesus touch my heart so that I could believe HIS doctrine. And he did! :)

I knew you were different from any other "pastor" I had ever met because of the way you had prayed for me. You were sincere, and that helped me be believe what I was feeling as you were praying for me. After that prayer, I was not the same...I knew deep down I could trust you because you were trusting Jesus to help me.

All these feelings were stirred up in me as I read the recent email sent to Brother Gary from a man to whom God had shown the truth but who could not take the pressure and asked Brother Gary never to speak to him again. I know what he's feeling... that fear of being able to really believe that THIS is truly from God. He got scared and wasn't able to continue to trust what he was feeling from Jesus. Whew. I thank God He let me trust again. That's when the healing of the heart comes.

Love,

Bess

January 11, 2006

Good afternoon.

Boy, I am having a blessed day today!

This afternoon I went to the coffee shop with my Greek new testament book and started to read 2 Cor. Donna said you all got blessed at verse 10, in chapter 12. But I never got there! I was overcome by reading verse 9!

I don't know anything really about the Greek language, but I can match up the words a little bit here and there - and here are some possibilities of what I read in verse 9:

"The power is perfected in weakness"
"My power is perfected in weakness"
"The power in weakness is perfected"
"My power in weakness is perfected"
"The power in weakness is made perfect"
"My power in weakness is made perfect"
"In weakness my power is perfected"
"In weakness the power (of God) is perfected" .... and so on.

I just could not get off of those words... re-reading and rearranging them. And then I started to get all flushed, and feeling it. The feeling was, "I've been going about it all wrong all this time!"

The goal, we often times hear, is to "be strong in the Lord". That's not what I was feeling. I was feeling that the goal is really, to be "weak". How weak can we be? How much humbling can we take? I was nearly afraid to think and say the next thought - but I did pray it anyway before fear could stop me: "Jesus, send me opportunities to be "weak". In insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses. For this truth, God, give me the strength I do not have without you.

All of the people that God touched were made weak. Abraham (went out), Moses (fled), Joseph (imprisoned), David (sinned), your father (failures and disappointments, persecutions).... who's willing to go there?

God help us. I pray that God's children will answer such a call.

Gary

Email #2:

Hi John.

I have NEVER before made the connection between weakness (infirmity), and power (strength). It was exciting to see how many times it is in there. That's good.

2Co 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Heb 11:34 (Those of faith) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

1Co 2:3-5 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 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

1Co 15:42-43 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1Co 1:24-25 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Oh, that is good! Thanks. Paul speaks of taking pleasure in his weaknesses several times late in 2Corinthians, "so that the power of Christ may cover over me". Amen!

jdc

January 11, 2006

John,

There have been many times over the years when my own testimonies have kept me going. Sometimes, when I have gone through tests and felt like I didn't do as well as I should have, I would get a little discouraged. But then I would start thinking about my own testimonies through the years and find myself encouraging my own self by what I had testified to in the past. So I was in a position to damage a good testimony or pull myself up and get going.

One of my main concerns has been to not let the young people down, for they will be here long after I'm gone. I want them to have good thoughts of me, just as I have of the older saints I knew when I first started in the truth. Good memories of those old saints are still pulling at my heart to do right so I can see them again one day. I want my life and my testimony to match up and be a strong pull on some young person's heart to encourage them in the Lord. It can be done, God has always made a way!

Sheila P.

January 11, 2006

Hey again.

Wow, this is too good. WoW. I love this. What safety is in this! Just recently I listened to a cd on Safety in Openness and how important it is to be open, and the safety that is in it. I believe this cd was about a man who had not been open with the saints of God and hid things from them, and the end result was him not being able to continue walking in the truth God had shown him. Giving a testimony is being open to the saints, letting people in on your life with God, opening a door, opening your heart. We get to share in what God is doing for you, and in return, you get some help from others by their testimony too. When you give your testimony, you are putting out there what God has given to you to help you in your walk with God. I didn't realize that if you did not give it, that you were not willing to live up to the testimony that God has given you. There is a lack of thankfulness and willingness to grow, in that case.

A testimony is a wonderful thing from all perspectives!

That is why we have always said to keep your testimony alive. Don't forget what God has done for you. If you "hide it under a bushel", no one will ever see it and you will be in the same place or worse as you were when you were first touched by God.

What a relief your email about Why Some Do Not Testify was to me. Thanks for the understanding.

This is great! 8-)

Amy P

January 11, 2006

Hi John,

Early in the morning, I was praying and asking God for some help for the young adults that are in my life now. God gave me a phrase, "God is holy''. I spent a long time thinking about this. Then I realized this is the answer to every question & problem! God has a standard of holiness, as we have found out by understanding Elihu. God's standards don't change day to day; they don't age; and there are no shadows in his statutes. God gave commandments that are now written in our hearts! Jesus died only once. He also told me our answer is to seek God and His rightousness; then all of these things will be added to us. This does not change from person to person, or from generation to generation. Christianity will change with ages to fit the situation. Sprinkled, dunked, submerged, etc. The different brands that evolve from other brands... Baptist, Methodist, Catholics, etc. God will not! We must change to be fit for God.

Later in the day, I told a friend, ''God is holy, and we must take life day by day seeking for his standard, not ours." A homeless older lady came up to me after a while, and of all the people there she asked me for $3.15 to get her something to eat. As I looked at her clothes and missing teeth, I without hesitation told her yes. I got up and gave her 4.00 dollars and watched her go to the food counter. As she was going, she told me, "God has blessed you''. I told her, "Amen! He sure has."

I told my friend that we can be like this homeless lady (spiritually speaking) begging for food, (spirtually speaking) or we can be like some who obey God and let God take care of them. This homeless person has made choices to be like that. Or... maybe she sits back and doesn't make choices at all. It takes some effort on our part to seek God's holiness and His standards and to end up happy and blessed. I know some people who have done that and are blessed by God in their old age, and I know it can be done!

This is the answer to living! Seek God's holiness daily, His rightousness, and His standards. It has made me happy (not that I wasn't) since God has shown me this. I have been waking up refreshed knowing that God does not change, and his standards do not change, and knowing to seek His holiness for the answers that come into my life from day-to-day. This has been a good experience.

Billy M.

Thanks, Billy.

This is indisputable truth, the sort of thing that Paul might call "sound doctrine which man cannot gainsay." The young adults in your life now will benefit by your counsel if they put it into operation.

Pastor John

January 11, 2006

Thank you Bro Billy.

My working life now involves a huge range of people aged from 16 to 64. There seems to every possible attitude among them, many kinds of problems and the results of decisions and non-decisions everywhere. There are those struggling with feelings of humiliation, those who are drifting along, the proud that don't want help and the arrogant who are using this "Job Network System" (as it is termed) as much as possible for their benefit while all the time criticising it.

I have wondered what to do, how do I make a difference and this is the way, the only way. The only real thing I have to offer is a godly attitude, a desire to do things right. What these people really need is Jesus and I may be as close as they get to be to someone who knows Jesus at all.

Pastor John, I am happy that Jesus gave me a heart to be able to believe you. I hope that He will raise up others and that we will know how to love them.

Damien

January 11, 2006

Ha...it's me again!

I just wanted to tell how good the Lord is! It's something he's done twice now, and it's just a little something but it's still good! A while back, Steven and I were listening to the cd about the New Creation, and it was so good, and we were both having really good feelings, and Jesus didn't want that to be interrupted. So...he let us finish the cd and then not even 5 seconds after the cd stopped, the neighbors turned on a cd in the garage real loud (and the dad started singing at the top of his lungs...let's just say, he isn't Pavaroti), and then the phone rang! And then just now, I was listening to another cd, and the same neighbors tried to start up the motor on their motorbikes (the cd had only a couple mins left), and they wouldn't start, so they waited a couple mins and tried again, and it wouldn't start. And every time I heard the bikes, I just thought, "oh no, not right now!" Then...the cd turned off...the bikes started, and they went (noisily) riding off! Ha, is that good or what?!? Aww, I feel so taken care of!

Well that's it...for now ; ). Have a good sleep, and I'll see you in the morning! Aww, wouldn't that be nice!

Leah

Sleep? Life's too good to spend sleeping. But even when we do sleep, the Lord is still perfecting our hearts, so it's OK when it has to happen.

Thanks for the testimony! Jesus had done things like that for me, too. He is our hero!

Pastor John

January 10, 2006

Pastor John

I thought you would like to read this. It just makes me happy to be a small part of things. We don't normally IM over here mind you!

Damien

lcweber23: hey...sorry i forgot you don't know my new name
damienkc61: ok
lcweber23: well... i have some questions for you if you don't mind
lcweber23: just a couple
damienkc61: ok
damienkc61: 8-)
lcweber23: i'm reading through the New Testament and finding baptism scriptures and all that and i have come across a couple of things that sparked me...ok....
lcweber23: umm first one....
lcweber23: in Acts 2:38...
lcweber23: Peter told them to repent and be baptized and then they would receive the gift of the holy Ghost....
lcweber23: well there have been a couple time where Peter has been with someone and told them to be water baptized, or just water baptized them and is that just because that's all he knew?
lcweber23: because the other apostles/disciples were preaching the baptism of the holy Ghost and we baptizing people like that, except when you get to Peter...he did that quite a few times
lcweber23: and i was just wondering if it was just because that's all he knew and all he was supposed to do
damienkc61: Water baptism was required for the Jews at least at that time but it was also a case of that is all Peter knew. It was what Jesus had told them to do. At that stage they had no idea of what was going to happen to the Gentiles.
lcweber23: oh ok, so even though Cornelius and the others in his house were baptized with the holy Ghost, they were still required to get water baptized?
lcweber23: that sounds funny
damienkc61: They were not Jews. I don't believe it was necessary. Peter simply did not know or understand what God had done by giving them the Spirit as he did. They had no doctrinal understanding of what God had done and didn't have until after Paul came along.
lcweber23: ok that's what i thought, i just wanted to make sure
damienkc61: But nor did they argue with God!
lcweber23: i was thinking that peter just didn't know
lcweber23: right
lcweber23: ok next quick question...
lcweber23: in Romans 5:15-18
damienkc61: take your time
lcweber23: is the word "gift" there referring to the holy Ghost?
lcweber23: i'm assuming it is
lcweber23: but i just wanted to make sure
damienkc61: Yes
lcweber23: ok good....next one..ha....
lcweber23: in 1 Cor 1:18 and 21...
lcweber23: when Paul says "saved" in those two verses...what is he really saying?
lcweber23: or did he know what he was saying?
lcweber23: i'm assuming he had the knowledge that they weren't "saved" yet in the Christian term of it...so what is he saying?
damienkc61: v18 saved is in the present tense. You are saved by the power of God from sin each day. Stay that way, and you will be saved from the wrath of God in the end.
lcweber23: yeah, ok i was thinking that also but i was just making sure that it wasn't just something put in there by the translaters
damienkc61: v21 the same perhaps as verse 18 but also could well be referring to God's overall saving of those that continue to believe to the end. The verb here is not a simple present tense.
lcweber23: yeah
damienkc61: Paul did not believe in anything like Christian teaching on "saved"
lcweber23: yeah i knew that....and obviously the people he was talking to didn't believe anything like that either...so i can see how they would simply believe what he meant...being saved in the end
damienkc61: That's right. They didn't have that Christian teaching echoing around the place, at least early on.
lcweber23: right...well praise God for that
lcweber23: haha
lcweber23: ok good...last question...
lcweber23: i'll ask it and then steven wants me to tell you what he told me first to see if it's right....
damienkc61: ok
lcweber23: i was wondering what about the jews? what's going to happen to them later and in the end?....
lcweber23: Steven said that sometime in the future the door will be closed to the Gentiles and opened once again to the Jews
lcweber23: is that correct?
lcweber23: i mean,....
lcweber23: for them to get the holy Ghost and get right with God and all that.... damienkc61: Steven is right. The door will be closed to the Gentiles at the time Rev 10:7 comes to pass.
damienkc61: The door will then open to the Jews. When Jesus is returned only a small remant of the Jews will be left in Jerusalem and scattered here and there I believe. Jesus will save them from the beast's armies and then the events of Zechariah 12 & 13 will occur.
lcweber23: oh ok, so then the door will be opened to the Jews again?
lcweber23: hmm
damienkc61: The Spirit being available to the Jews is mentioned in Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
damienkc61: And also Zechariah 13:1 "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness."
lcweber23: oh ok
lcweber23: wow, i did not know that
lcweber23: how gracious!
lcweber23: what a second chance they get!
damienkc61: There is also this in Zechariah13:6 "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."
lcweber23: mmm...wouldn't want to be them at that moment!
damienkc61: It is not so different for us. He died for all.
lcweber23: ok....so in the end, at Judgment day, they will be there too...the ones that have gotten right with God and all that
lcweber23: right
damienkc61: Yes, some Jews will be saved along with David, the prophets, the apostles and possibly the many that believed in the time of the Book of Acts
lcweber23: well i was just saying that because the Jews were the ones that wanted that done to him and when they find out he was really the Son of God, how they would feel!
damienkc61: Yes, it would have to be one of those really heart-rending moments in the Bible. When they see Jesus descending from heaven they will not know if he is for them or against them. Their relief when he destroys their enemies is hard to imagine. And we can be there to see it!!!!
lcweber23: oh wow!
lcweber23: what a good Jesus!
lcweber23: ha
lcweber23: well...i guess that's all the questions for tonight
damienkc61: thank you for asking them. Just one more scripture... Zechariah 12:8-9 "In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them." And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."
damienkc61: Read Zechariah 12-14. It's really good stuff!
lcweber23: oh wow, i guess i will
lcweber23: that does sound good
lcweber23: i love reading about all this, i'm really getting into it and i love it, it's so sweet to find out things about Jesus and his apostles/disciples that i didn't know before
lcweber23: i just went thru the New Testament and picked out the baptism and "born again"/ "holy Ghost" scriptures and i think this sunday, steven and i are going to read thru them and talk about them and make sure we know it all
lcweber23: it'll be good
damienkc61: Yes, praise God
lcweber23: we just finished reading about the life of Jesus in the gospels and then we watched that movie "passion"....and now we'll get into the baptism scriptures and all them
lcweber23: and we're still trying to go thru the Old Testament, we started in Exodus last night so we'll read all that during the week night and then we'll knock out the bapt. scriptures on sunday
lcweber23: i have been just really feeling lately to be prepared
lcweber23: so..that's what i'm trying to do
lcweber23: and it's feeling really good
damienkc61: Sounds like you are really going for it!
lcweber23: yeah!
damienkc61: OK, I enjoyed this as well. I love questions. It gives you the chance to go over the wonderful truths of God.
damienkc61: OK better go now
lcweber23: alright then, guess we'll see you then
lcweber23: thanks for the help
lcweber23: i enjoyed it
lcweber23: well...we enjoyed it
lcweber23: steven is here too
lcweber23: sitting next to me
damienkc61: thank you Jesus that we can ask real questions and know some of the answers!
lcweber23: right...that's how i feel when talking to Jenny as well
lcweber23: i just seem to pop out answers like that
lcweber23: and it feels good and it makes her feel good
lcweber23: she always tell me that
lcweber23: haha
lcweber23: so i'm glad Jesus gives me that opportunity to help someone like that
lcweber23: and have answers for people
damienkc61: Yes, with Jenny I always had the feeling that Jesus had already visited her and I was just confirming and bringing out what was already there.
lcweber23: that's why i wanted to do all these studies, to be prepared for anything and make sure i really know what i'm talking about
damienkc61: be prepared to be misunderstood as well
damienkc61: we can give answers but not understanding
lcweber23: right
lcweber23: yeah, that helps
damienkc61: As Pastor John would say, throw out a corn cob before you use the good bait.
lcweber23: ha, ok
lcweber23: yeah i see how that works
lcweber23: good to know
lcweber23: thanks
damienkc61: It can save a lot of hurt but still it is always sad when someone just does not get it, like Ben, or attacks savagely like Victor.
lcweber23: yes, it is sad and i know i will see more of that in the future
lcweber23: maybe that's something to prepare for as well
damienkc61: Yes, and a good understanding of what Jesus has taught us is good preparation. I think God likes to see us appreciate what he has given us. It is no light thing to see what we are able to see in the world today.
lcweber23: no, and i thank God for that. i am so thankful that i have understanding and that i am willling to understand
lcweber23: it is a blessing to understand
lcweber23: i look at my friend jamie and realize that there really is a world out there that doesn't know Jesus
lcweber23: and part of it really doesn't want to
lcweber23: so that makes me want to...like aunt donna said in an email recently...take up their part if the Lord will allow it
damienkc61: mmm that is a good thought
damienkc61: ok i'm going now
lcweber23: alright, thanks again and i'll see you thursday then
lcweber23: bye!
damienkc61: bye

Damien!

How wonderful to see your love for Leah and Steven and your ability to guide them rightly -- and to see their desire to know the truth and be made free by knowledge of God! I know you felt honored by that precious opportunity to help increase the understanding and fellowship of such precious young people as they.

God bless you all as you continue to walk in the light together.

Pastor John

January 9, 2006

"The early form of Christianity" caught my attention from the last TFE, Not the Beginning. You wrote, "Don't be fooled into thinking that what you are seeing when you read the New Testament books is the early form of Christianity."

Some see that Christianity is different from what is in the scriptures, but with the dulling effect of the religion of Evolution in our minds, alarms don't go off when we see that.

Like the song "Old Time Religion" points out, God's religion doesn't evolve. What it was in the scriptures is what it is today.

-(-E-)

Very well put, Elijah. Very perceptive.

Dad

January 8, 2006

John,

I was working today, typing out names of meeting CD's from the last year and a half. It is incredible. (I looked up "incredible" in the dictionary to make sure I was really using the right word. It means "so extraordinary as to seem impossible; hard to believe" That is PERFECT!) I still have 6 months worth to finish from last year, and I finally had to stop. God has blessed us so much! He has given us so much good, wonderful food. Food to keep us healthy, food to make and keep us strong, to help us grow in the Spirit. You know, nobody can make another person grow. Nobody else can make another person want to be healthy. Nobody else can even make another want to eat the good things of the spirit. Nobody can put that in a heart...but Jesus. Nobody else put that desire in my heart, day by day to long to hear his voice, feel his touch, to learn to obey him. What precious things he has done for us! How he has fed us, cared for us, clothed and tended us when we would have (and did) hurt ourselves.

I'm telling you, just reading over the names of meetings we have had in your home since mid-January of last year, it has blessed me. It made me pray for God to help us get this food out to his children. It is just too good for just us, it is so much!

Donna

Hi Donna:

Amen! Uncle Joe used to say, "This is just too good for us few people!" But if somebody does not want the food that God offers His people, then I'll eat his share if Jesus will let me.

jdc

January 5, 2006

Dear John,

As I was reading this over the weekend, the Lord began flooding me with thoughts about fasting and feasting. Here they are: Let us fast from the cares of this world, but take responsibility. Let us fast from uncontrolled temptations of the flesh, from the want-to-be's, from anxieties and feelings of unworthiness, from what people think of us, from foolishness and disobedience, from uncleaness. Let us fast from fear of failure, from rudeness and hypocrisy and pride and greed.

But let us feast on God's love and goodness and on the Nature around us. Feast on His mercy and blessings. On gifts of song On His redeeming power and the hope of His return and our ultimate salvation. Let us feast on His healing power and His Commandments. On His knowledge and counsel and His will for us. Let us feast on the fruits of our efforts. On rejoicing and giving Him praise. On the peace and joy and righteousness in the holy Ghost and on the power of the holy Ghost. Let us feast on life and holiness, on humility and quietness and prayer. On His safety and divine order in everything around us. Let us feast on the fellowship with Him and our brothers and sisters. And lastly, after last Saturday, let us feast on the spirit of laughter.

These are only partial lists so maybe someone would like to add to them. I thank God for the wonderful thoughts he gives us. For me, many times, it just requires getting still. I believe He is anxious to give us more. Thanks John for going over Isaiah 58 last night. It became so much more clear to me.

See you soon,

Bro Jim K

January 5, 2006

Pastor John

Regarding the "time" of the book of Job which Bro Billy touched on here, "I asked you how long ago this happened to Job, and you said the events in Job probably happened in the early part of Genesis."

As I came through the gate yesterday it struck me that Elihu refers to rain and snow. I did a search and there are other references as well. As we seem to understand that it did not rain prior to the Flood this would indicate a post-flood timing but not too long perhaps, as Job lived a long life.

Job 5:10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
Job 20:23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job 36:27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
Job 37:6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
Job 38:26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
Job 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Damien

Hi Damien:

You are correct. I should have pointed out that I meant the early part of Genesis that was post-flood. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that Job was a contemporary of Abraham, or even of Noah, who lived long after the Flood. Ararat, where Noah's ark landed, is in nothern Mesopotamia, and Balaam served the true God while living near there, and Abraham did too (after he moved from Ur), as well as Job. So, it may be that God had a number of people in that region who knew and served Him and that Abraham brought that faith in the one Creator God into Canaan. Abraham's kin, we know, served idols (Josh. 24:2), but there may have been others in that area who served God.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Pastor John

January 4, 2006

Hey:

I just wanted to confess to somebody that I am glad to be out of the church!! Yay! :) :) It has been feeling good to think this lately...I just wanted to say it!

Lyn

Dear Sister Lynn:

Bless you, my child! As the saying goes, "Honest confession is good for the soul." I hope that your heart is relieved of its burden, now that you have made your confession.

With Love,

Father ...uh... Pastor John

January 4, 2006

Bro. John:

When I read some of the emails that are sent to you, I see what an over-religious and prideful spirit can do to a heart. And it makes me so thankful for the government and safety in the truth. One of the things I loved that you said in your office on Saturday morning was about Satan coming to Jesus and trying to get Jesus to prove who He was. I think you said, "Jesus didn't have to prove anything - - - He knew He was the Son of God." That was so good.

Something Jesus has been teaching me about a wrong spirit is that it can surely rob you if it can keep you in what "used to be." The quicker you can "let go of what used to be", the better. I remember hearing Uncle Joe say, "Don't park beside your successes or your failures!" Thank you for directing me back to God every time I have come to you for guidance! Truly this is a simple normal life in the truth. We don't even have to reach very far to find God, He's always right there if we come low and with a humble heart. We don't even have to go back to yesterday if He wakes us up and touches us the next morning! That is what He did for me this morning. He woke me up singing these words, "Let go of what used to be, Jesus has set you free."

As you said, God is wanting all of us to get closer to Him and be led by His Spirit. I don't want to lag behind in anything that God has planned for His children. There are peaks and valleys in this life, but the wonderful part about it is that God is in both places, and we can learn from both if we stay humble. Just look for God. And how good it is when we find Him! He turns all the "used to be's" around and makes us "to be used" for His Glory! He is a good and kind God who looks beyond and always knows our needs. As Taylor, my 4 year-old granddaughter says, "He is smart. He keeps us from our other ways. And when we listen, we get treats!" Amen!

Thanks.

Sandy

December 29, 2005

Hi John,

I just finished reading the TFE on "What Hardens the Heart". It can happen so slowly that we don't even know what's happening. It is by God's mercy that any of us pull out of it. I listened to Tony's song, "Stay in My World", and I sure do want to learn how to do that when dealing with the cares of life and the disappointments that are part of this natural life. You have said before that if we can get the gold out of a situation, we have gotten God's point. Sometimes I have to dig deep to get the gold, and it may take me longer, but I eventually find it. Determination used rightly is a wonderful asset but if not used rightly, determination is self-destruction.

Thanks for all your help.

Sheila

December 23, 2005

Dear John,

As I went out to the car this morning, I paused and took a deep breath. The frigid air was crisp in my nostrils. I looked up and the sky was crystalline clear and the moon was bright and half full as it teetered over the tops of the pine trees. The sun was just waking up, peeking between the trunks of the trees behind me. And I thought, God has everything in order again today. And as Peter said, "according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; ....that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...."

I am so thankful that we have a God that we can come to know and will allow us to be a part of his plan. Just sitting back this week listening to testimonies and reading the emails has been wonderful. And learning more about the power of God in the book of Job has been a delight. Hopefully, it will make us all a little more humble. I am thankful we have God that has the power to deck himself with majesty and excellency; and array himself with glory and beauty as he did this morning.

As I drove to work, I was so thankful to realize that His will and divine order are constantly working through me. That the holy Ghost provides harmony and order in my soul just as it does throughout the universe. Isn't God wonderful?

Thank you John, for your teachings and keeping the Spirit stirred up in us. I am grateful.

Bro Jim K

Beautifully put, Brother Jim. Amen to that!

jdc

December 22, 2005

Pastor John

Remembering your thoughts about the odd creatures mentioned in Revelation I thought you may be a little interested in this short excerpt. Link to article at top.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.html

Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy

Maryann Mott
National Geographic News

January 25, 2005

"Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.

Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells."

Damien:

Thanks. I read it. What hit me as hard as anything is the bizarre comment by the scientist below:

Is that not astonishing? His opposition to combining human and animals is that animals have the right not to be blended with other species!

jdc

December 21, 2005

Hey pastor John,

After the meeting this past Saturday night, I felt like I was sitting in front of a warm fire with my blanket and a cup of my favorite drink. My soul felt so content and warm inside. Then Sunday came, and it seems as though another log was put on the fire when you were teaching us about Elihu. I went to sleep with a tight grin on my face and a contentment deep inside, feeling how much God loves us. I was so thankful I was able to hear those words about Job.

We were still talking about those things Sunday evening in your living room with Bro. Earl, and God was still blessing us about this knowledge. I felt like another log was added to the coals. I asked you how long ago this happened to Job, and you said the events in Job probably happened in the early part of Genesis. I was amazed. ..... all these centuries, this story was sitting there, and God had chose to reveal it to you when you asked Him for some food to feed us. Whew....praise God!

I'm home now, and I still fell that cozy warm feeling deep inside and that tight grin is still on my face. (it's stating to hurt my cheeks, ha ha). I love it when God adds the logs to the fire and not men. His fire is eternal. I enjoyed myself to the fullest this weekend.

Billy M.

Hi Billy:

As I told someone else recently, I can enjoy a meeting such as we had on Saturday night once in a while, but afterwards, I just feel a need to get sober and snuggle underneath God's wing for a while. Even though there is real education in the Spirit that takes place in a meeting such as Saturday's was, I can only take but so much lightness when it comes to the things of God. I can enjoy it as much as anyone can (obviously); at the same time, afterwards, it makes me hungry for some solid, sobering food that brings with it real feelings in the holy Ghost. That is why I felt so earnest early Sunday morning when I was praying for overwhelming feelings and real food from Jesus. I was, by the way, praying for both, for me and for everyone.

I am thankful, as you are, both for the sweet meeting Saturday night and for the wonderful light that came on Sunday. I think we may need both kinds of meetings to stay healthy and balanced in the Spirit. If I had my choice, however, I would choose Sunday's kind of meeting over Saturday night. I think we all would. And I am so thankful that Jesus gave it to us and that you were here to be blessed with us when it came.

Pastor John

December 21, 2005

Hey John,

I love these emails about Elihu. God really did open our eyes Sunday as to who he (Elihu) was and who Job was and who God IS. Even if Elihu hadn't been speaking for God (but it was) and it was just his opinion, it should still have made Job (and his friends) want to check themselves. Like we have said before these people that God uses to do his business just spring in, do the job, and flee. The rest is up to us. There are great lessons in all of these stories and God is unfolding them one by one to us. I love the feelings that comes with learning.

Lou

December 21, 2005

Hi John.

When you were talking about Elihu on Sunday, and God showed us through your message what a great young man Elihu was, I just kept thinking that Elihu was a lot like the holy Ghost.

Here was Job, surrounded by "miserable comforters" who all had answers for him ("let go", "hold on", "do this", "admit that"). Men's words left him with no answer. And Elihu (like the holy Ghost) was so polite and so patient for all of that to finish. Then when Elihu started talking, his way was of God - so good, and so pure - it just led Job to the right way he was really after in his heart.

When Elihu was done speaking, God took over and "God spoke out of the whirlwind", and brought Job his answer, his healing, and his restoration... just like the holy Ghost does. It brings us to God, and to the end of ourselves, and then has Jesus finish the work with Spirit baptism (an answer from heaven). We can't get our deliverance without it, and our own righteousness, though it is surely loved by God, is not enough to receive eternal life.

Job's righteous life was used (by God) to bring Job to the point of being able to find out something that very few ever do - that one needs God - and to get God, one needs something "more than perfection" (we need the holy Ghost!) What a blessing that Job found that out... I'm sure he was glad that Elihu was there that day.

I looked up Elihu's name - it means "God of him". That sounds like it has power!

Gary

Hi Gary:

Your email touches on a point that I think needs to be emphasized. Life in the Spirit is life beyond perfection. The God that was revealed to Job is the God revealed in the NT books. Just as David was touched by New Testament grace before its time, I think that Job was touched by a New Testament knowledge of God before it was revealed by the holy Ghost. I feel sure that Job was never the same, just as David was never the same after his "close encounter of the holy kind".

jdc

And that brings up another wonderful point to my thoughts John. It appears that every person who had a "beyond themself encounter" (one that brought them into a different place) with God in the old (and new) testament books, had events happen to them that were very, VERY painful (and/or difficult, which required special faith and perseverance). When we look at the lives of men like David, Job, Joseph, Jeremiah, and others - the things they had to experience to get what they got from God...well, they were certainly "take it ABOVE the limit" kinds of events.

What will God do for us? It makes you look at saints who endure very difficult trials in this life in a whole different light - because you can see that God is giving them a very special opportunity. And should the opportunity arise for us - we have a special chance to trust God, as they did, and also come out shining. Whew - that's something to consider.

Gary

Exactly. We were discussing this after the meeting Sunday. When we have reached the top of the ladder God has given us, as Job did, it seems as if the only way to go beyond ourselves and live beyond perfection with Jesus is through some sort of great test.

jdc

December 21, 2005

Pastor John,

I've wanted to write all week long, but all of my thoughts have not been collected. First of all, Sunday was so good! For the last two years, Job has been sort of a problem for me. When I was listening to the "All Things" series last year, I told God that I didn't like what He did to Job (I've heard that being sincere is the best way with God....so one day I was getting out of the tub and just told Him, "Now God, I don't like that. I don't understand why you did that to him. He was doing what he was supposed to do, and it seems like you just started picking on him." A couple of days later, I was turning the car onto the interstate and I heard the Lord say, "Well, if you don't like what I did to Job, then you certainly don't like what I did to Jesus." Well, that made me stop and consider why God did what He did to Jesus. It was for our good, so I figured that good had to come from what Job went through. All I could figure out was that it must have been for a better resurrection. I saw where God restored his family and doubled his goods, but that just didn't seem to be it.

When you said that we were going to read in Job, I was so ready. I guess I had gotten past the silly idea of being mad at God, and just resolved myself to know that He was right, whether I knew why He did it or not. When you got to Elihu, I started thinking, "I didn't know this guy was right! That would have helped me out a long time ago!" It wasn't until the meeting was ending that I realized this was new for all of you, too. God really doesn't wrongfully afflict any of us. Who are we anyway? That was how I felt after the meeting. It put everything into perspective, like a BIG adjustment. God is so far above us and our thoughts, and He really does condescend to let us know even that! It IS like the fish discovering the water, finally, that life-sustaining thing that he needed and couldn't even see.

When we got home, I couldn't wait to start reading in Job again. I've read it through entirely at least twice in the last two years, and in part more than that. How I missed seeing all of those beautiful things about God is amazing to me. We really do need His help, His anointing. I'm so thankful for it! Thank you for asking for some food, and then sharing it with us.

Cris

December 21, 2005

Hey Pastor John!

I just want to say something about the Sunday message...how wonderful! I barely know anything about what was talked about, or said, or anything, but I do know that it made me feel wonderful just reading the emails from everyone else. I can't wait to get the cd so I can catch up on all the wonderful feelings that everyone has had...it's hard when you have to get these things second-hand! I feel thankful to be a part of a family that God is blessing so much and that He loves! What a wonderful bunch of people we have, and what a good God we have. Hmm, well "good" is not even the right word; I don't think there is a word or that there could ever be a word to describe how "good" God is! There is only one kind of language that can even come close, and it would be kind of hard to type that one out. ; )

I am so thankful that the Lord is blessing everyone like he is and that there is such unity in the Spirit. Anyone who doesn't feel good after God is finished with them (in whatever case) is missing out. I feel blessed to be learning some things that I am learning here [in Australia], and it has made me cry to feel the tender love of Jesus through things that I am dealing with. I know I am being taken care of way over here, and after talking with Jesus and Sister Bess, I feel encouraged about things that were sort of getting me down. I want to stay up, always up...but I know that if for some reason I do get down, Jesus is right there to hold me up for a while until I get strong enough again to stand alone, though I can feel that he is standing beside me, just in case. It is such a sweet feeling! I am so overwhelmed right now with the love that I feel that it's hard to see the screen. I feel like Jesus has wrapped a comfort blanket around me to keep me safe. Safe from wrong ideas, and wrong feelings, safe from things of this world influencing me, safe from hurting anyone with words or actions, safe from making foolish mistakes, and safe from putting myself higher than what I really am.

Thank you and everyone else for loving and obeying Jesus so I can learn by your example, your testimonies, and your love. It means a whole lot! Steven and I love and miss y'all!

Getting lower,

Leah

Hi Leah.

I am glad you could feel the "vibes" coming from here. It shows that you are connected. You and the other folk "down under" will be getting the CDs in the mail so that you can find out what everyone is talking about. Until then, just stay connected. Sometimes what we feel means more than what we know anyway.

Pastor John

December 20, 2005

Hey John,

I am still enjoying the feelings of Sunday's meeting. While you were reading Job Sunday and telling of Elihu, I thought to myself, "Where is this going about Elihu?" We were not certain the last time we read Job of just where this man's heart was. But, boy, not only did we find out where his heart was, but where Job's heart was, and where God's heart was. I don't know how to put this, but Job thoughout his life was righteous, and to what he knew righteousness was, but God wanted him to know that it's not what he thinks that counts, but what God thinks. And the humbleness in Job while God was talking to him -- that was so good.

Sunday has left me with such goood feelings of God and myself. We really are not losers as we have felt at times during our lives. Each of us has God working out such details for us and we can't see it until later. My, it's incredible. God is a detailed person and everyone of us gets to see in our lives how wonderful His thoughts are, far above our thoughts.

Thanks for that wonderful, wonderful message. I think this one goes right up to the top of the list.

Sis Betty

Hey Sister Betty:

Several people have told me that during the meeting Sunday, they expected me at some point near the end to suddenly change my message about Elihu being wise and "trick" them. So, they held back a little bit from really enjoying what was being said. Remembering our detailed study of Job from some years back, they couldn't believe that there was now an answer about what kind of man Elihu really was. But my, what a wonderful thing God has shown us!

Sister Sandy came up to me after the meeting and asked me, "Do you remember me asking you a few weeks ago about Elihu?" I had to tell her no; I had no memory at all of her asking me that. So, I asked Sandy, "What did I say when you asked me that?" Then she told me, "You said that after Elihu stopped talking, he was never mentioned again by anybody, so God either hated him so much He wouldn't even speak his name or He loved Elihu so much that He took up his cause."

That was really all I could say at that time. But I love the light Jesus has given to us about that very great young man.

jdc

December 20, 2005

Ok, I have to say it, but please feel free to throw this in the trash can if you want to...

In an email today you said, "But I love the light Jesus has given to us about that very great young man."

Didn't the whole point of Elihu's message revolve around the greatness of God, and the "ungreatness" of everything else, including perfect men like Job (and Elihu presumably, who himself said he was merely a man)? I know what you meant when you said it, it just stuck out to me to hear someone other than God in this story being called great. I'm probably just being too picky, so please excuse me...

Taylor

Hey Taylor!

Maybe not quite as picky as you may think. The book of Job is a book about God; so, I can understand perfectly how you feel, and I am glad you are feeling it.

Getting to know God is the only way to get to know ourselves, or anyone else, rightly. When I wrote the line about Elihu that you quoted above, I was concentrating on what a wonderful feeling it was to finally have the answer to a question that I and others had carried around for years; namely, "Was Elihu speaking words of God or just giving another opinion?" As I answered Sandy a few weeks ago when she asked about Elihu, "God either loved him a lot or despised him, and I don't know which." So, it was a very great blessing to me to learn that Elihu had an understanding of God that transcended even Job's perfection. When I called Elihu "great", I meant it only on an earthly plane. Sometimes, the Bible also uses the word "great" in reference to certain men, but only in comparison to each other, as you would no doubt, and rightly, point out to me. There is no comparison with God's greatness.

You already know that the reason we can understand Elihu now is because we better understand God's greatness. I am sorry I distracted you with my other comment about Elihu. Elihu was just a man. No matter how "great" he may have been in comparison to other men, he was still "made of clay" and, therefore, was as nothing in comparison to the greatness of God.

I am excited for you, that you got so much out of the meeting yesterday.

jdc

December 20, 2005

Hey there,

I just wanted to say how thankful I am for everything! Sunday's message was wonderful to me. Firstly, feeling so loved by God. These feelings are so real it's hard to believe that I believe what I believe. It is so real. Have you ever felt so good that it hurt inside? Last night I was staring in the mirror listening to one of Brother Darren's songs with tears coming down my face and watching them as they rolled down my cheeks, amazed at the feelings I feel inside and the love I was feeling and having toward God's people. It hurt. God filled me with love so much it made that tear run down my cheeks and feelings come out. Everything seems new and alive, especially since the message of the New Creation. I am seeing everything in a different light.

Secondly, hearing the message of Elihu and Job. Whew. I thought about the correction and love that was in that for him. As you were reading to us, I was thinking, have we ever heard this like this before? I was amazed at just the fact that Jesus was letting us understand this more than ever. And then seeing that even though Job was perfect, God had something better for him. So, there really are no limits to where God can take us. Perfection is not even the limit! It's really something what God has been doing for us lately. Opening our eyes to new truths and understanding of Him. I pray God keep it coming and keep us understanding.

When I was prayed for Sunday, I was down on the floor and I heard these wonderful words: "Stay in my world". I said okay God, just help me. I want to stay with Him forever. This and all the things to come are a part of this new creation we are in. Boy, it sure is good. Thanks for the message and thanks for praying the prayer that God put in your heart to feed us. I sure was a good meal.

Amy P.

December 20, 2005

Hi John:

When God blessed us so in your office that day during the "Way of Grace", I remember being on the floor praying and the Lord spoke to me: "If you're not afraid to go, I will take you places you have never been."

He sure is doing that. To know that there is somewhere beyond perfection is almost unimaginable, but the lesson from Job in Sunday's meeting helped me to really understand, as you have said, "God is not a great big one of us". Your message truly opened up some new territory into who God is and who we are. And to what a wonderful, good loving God we have. He doesn't just raise the standard and say, "There! Do it!" He loves us and feeds us and shows us the way.

Sunday was a message of hope and encouragement and deep love of God. Afterwards, I felt like part of Bro. Jerry's beautiful testimony said, "I just looked up at the stars, and I knew it was going to be alright." Sunday's message made me take another look at God's creation around me. Last night, the moon shined so brightly through my bedroom window onto my bed. As I lay there looking up at its brightness in the dark sky, I felt the power of God's questions to Job concerning what God had done and what Job could do. And I thought of what He said in 2001:

"I am the Creator"
"You are the creation"
"Who are you?!"
"You are still a proud people"
"Humble down. Humble down"
"I love you"

I just want to humble down, stay thankful, and go with God wherever He will take us.

I listened to the testimonies from L'ville and they were so good. They were like turning the page from Sunday's meeting and finding more beautiful things that God has done. And to think, every day is 24 hours of God doing something in somebody's life! Whew! As Sister Lou says, "That's BIG ya'll."

Thank you for seeking God and loving and feeding us.

Love,

Sandy

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

December 20, 2005

Good morning John.

I did not want to let the day go by without taking the time to tell how appreciative I was to be in the meeting this past Sunday. God knows where to have us when we really need something.

Job is one book of the bible I have never really understood. I could hunt and peck things out of it, but I have never really read it through with any real understanding. I was at times confused as to who was speaking for God and who was not. Some of the things people said in the book of Job were right, and some of the things not - well, I just did not know. It was not long ago I saw the Job cassette series in our closet, and inside I muttered within myself something like, "I wish I could understand that book."

But Sunday, when you were talking about Elihu and Job...I don't know... something "heavenly" clicked for me about God (and me). Since receiving the holy Ghost I have had a desire to "perfect" - with God. That bubble was burst in a wonderful way on Sunday. There is something more perfect in God than perfection iteself, and it's attainable! God is above perfection ... I'll forever need Him. He is still so much higher than I. And until He "speaks", I really do not know anything that's going on around me or even what I need. Not a thing. Until Elihu speaks... and he is so patient and polite. He will let everything and everyone around us do their thing, until it's time. Then understanding will come.

At the end of the meeting you prayed for me the words you have prayed many times before: "Lord, let him live." I just went into a world of need. I said, "God I don't know.... what does that MEAN?? Please show me God, what does that MEAN? I want to live" ... something to that effect. I was lost in that thought, feeling a great love, with a great hunger and peace, in admitting to God that I did not know how to get there... but inside feeling a faith in knowing that He could and will show me.

When my eyes opened Taylor was lying on the floor in front of me, obviously being deeply moved by the Spirit of God. It was a beautiful sight to me seeing him on the floor there with the Spirit moving all over him. What I saw, I wanted. The Spirit then came all over ME, my face started twitching, I began crying and speaking, what, I don't exactly remember. I just know that the world that I was in for that moment was far above me. I love that place because it takes God and the holy Ghost to get there where I can feel that kind of need and love for God. I just love where the word of God takes me, John. I always have.

I'm sure there will be testimonies and TFE's and the like to fine tune all that was said Sunday for me, and I'm anxious to read and hear them. But I am grateful to be able to feel the Spirit, and to be among the teachers and the saints who want the next serving of heavenly food God sends to us to make us more perfect [and maybe even more than perfect -jdc]. I suppose that if there is "perfection above perfection" - we will find out next - that there is perfection, above the perfection that is above perfection! - because it keeps getting bigger and better! I sure want it. And thank you God for letting me be there to hear and feel Sunday's message in person.

Gary

December 20, 2005

Hi John.

I was talking with Debbie Gregory this afternoon about how wonderful the Sunday meeting was, and still is, and we had a thought about what we had learned. Lately, we’ve come across several websites and people that/who, at first glance, appeared to have some understanding of Truth, but then we learned that even though they may have gotten a bit closer to God, they still hadn’t been as blessed as we know we are (some are evidently farther from God than they think they are). I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but all the recent encounters make me feel even more isolated from the world and closer to God than just about anyone else on the planet. Anyway, the point being, [by seeing the awful spiritual condition of others] we could get a bit puffed up with our greater understanding of Truth, but what a wonderful lesson we learned Sunday, one that should keep our pride in check. Maybe that is why the understanding of Job came about at this particular time. Just thought I’d share that with you.

Mark

Dear Mark:

That is an excellent observation. Thanks. Seeing how the book of Job ends certainly leaves us no room for boasting.

jdc

December 20, 2005

I loved the message from Sunday about Elihu, Job, and God. One of the things that really impressed me Sunday as you were talking, is how much God loved Job. I knew God loved him before, but hearing this message it made me take in more just how much God really did love him! The love of God is so BIG! God is good.

I loved the feelings I felt Sunday when I came up for prayer, also. Everything in me wanted what you were talking about. When you prayed for me, and I went down to the floor, and I just lay there loving the feeling of the power of God going through me over and over. I was so thankful, just feeling God. As I lay on the floor, I had one scene go through my mind. It was a scene from a little movie I have watched since I was a kid. In the scene, one man asked the little child with him, "You know what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wished for?" The little child shakes his head, no. The man answered, "He lived happily ever after."

I feel like God is giving us more than we ever dreamed of. I don't even know how to take it all in. What a good God he is. It is wonderful!

Donna

December 20, 2005

Hi John,

I just finished reading the TFE on Beyond Perfection. I've been trying about 35 minutes to put into words my feelings about this and I just can't find the words I'm looking for. I'm still thinking about God loving us enough to humble himself to ask the question, "Are you going to be satisfied with [mere] perfection?" Then to realize that God is beyond everything, He's just beyond................ He's even "greater than the commandments He has given." He Just Is !!!!

Sheila P.

December 20, 2005

Bro. John:

I have just finished reading the TFE "Beyond Perfection". I had to choke back the tears at the mere power and beauty of what my heart felt as I read it. I will take it in as precious manna tonight when I get home. It takes more than one hearing or one reading of such messages to even take in a portion of what is being given to us by God. It just makes me want to get down so low on my face and cry out to God to help us take it all in and to take us to where He is.

When the Lord woke me the other morning with "Mary had a baby". "God sent a King", I read in Samuel how God was rejected by Israel and wanted a king, and then how He was rejected by them again when they did not accept His Son. God helped me to see in those rejections the kind of love He has for us. It really goes "beyond" as you said, beyond love and beyond rejection. It was so tender that I could barely understand it. But this is how He showed it to me: He takes our rejection time and time again, still loving us, still holding us, still patiently reaching out to us with His love. And every time we reject Him, He is looking at us with the immovable love of a steadfast father saying: "You can reject me as many times as you want, but I still love you, and I am your only Hope." That kind of love goes beyond anything I am able to comprehend right now. How many times are WE able to be rejected and keep loving that way? It goes beyond love as we know it.

There is one thing you said in this TFE, among many others, that is so full of God's anointing that God alone will have to help my heart absorb it. That "God is greater than the commandments He has given" is just an overwhelming thought to me. Greater than His own commandments! That statement causes the heart to marvel at who God is!

Well, one last thing. I hope you are considering this TFE to be a new tract, "Beyond Perfection". It is much too powerful not to be.

Thank you so much for the work you do. Thank you, thank you. I just hope you know how much I appreciate you as my brother and pastor.

Sister Sandy

December 20, 2005

Hi Pastor John,

Wow! I don’t know where to start. I feel like my whole life has changed in just one weekend. It started for me the weekend before, in Louisville, as I started telling what God did for my life and how he changed it and made everything end up for my good so I could be right here at this time.

Then you sent out the TFE on "a loser for God" about you and Uncle Joe, and what God did for you and Brother Joe to save his soul and ours, to be at this point in our lives. Man! We have the best God ever (just one), and I am so thankful that we are here and have a part in the truth.

Then this Saturday when you went over the birth of Jesus, and all the wrong stories and ideas that Christianity has spread about Jesus, and how we just take them in without even knowing it and realizing how wrong they are. I feel like God was tilling up my heart, getting me ready for Sunday and preparing us for what he was about to reveal to us through you.

I felt like my heart was melting inside my chest when you started preaching about Job and his "miserable comforters", and what God was doing with them all. Wow! How can I describe that? I feel like a new creation all over again, it made me a different person. It gives a whole other light on the scripture in 1 Peter 4: 18 “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?”

I saw this weekend, through you teaching from the book of Job, that a righteous man will be scarcely saved by God. Wow! No matter how righteous anyone is, that is nothing compared to God. Thank you for that wonderful message from God. It has changed my life, and I can’t tell you how, but it has, and I feel it deep inside my heart.

Stuart

December 20, 2005

Pastor John,

I just wanted to say thank you for the TFE from 12-13: One Result of Purity: Knowing Whom To Marry. I know I've heard you tell that story about Sister Dell before, but it was different this time for me, it was like I heard it for the first time. After reading this TFE I wanted to give it to several people I knew. Reading it brought back to mind two conversations I heard in the past few months about people choosing to "live together." In both cases, the two women talking said, "I used to be against people living together before they got married, but now it just seems to make sense because [if you do,] you know what you are getting into when you do get married." I was in shock after hearing that. I guess it just shows what kind of world we are living in. Again, thank you for the TFE, it was really good.

Jamie G

Dear Jamie,

I am glad that you believe the truth and are keeping yourself. Life is too short to live it the wrong way.

Pastor John

December 19, 2005

John,

I wrote down the feelings I was having after yesterday's wonderful meeting (below). I can't completely put it into words, but I wanted to try. I saw the new creation in it. I saw God's economy in it. I saw the serpent and the dove in it. I saw government and authority in it. I saw a story of God. Thank you for desiring something from God for us Sunday.

Love,

Bess

The Book of Job

Sunday.

I felt a deep cleanness in my heart...a feeling of hope that I CAN be saved in end. When I've been corrected in the past, I thank God that I've learned to admit it was me who was wrong. I have learned that God doesn't make mistakes. To see it written in Job 33:27-30 that if I confess to God that I am wrong (and that God will not let go of me but save me) put faith in my heart to believe that God really is doing everything to convince me that He will never leave me nor forsake me. It was written down right there, and again in Job 34:23, 31-33 -- the lessons He's been teaching me over the past few years.

I really saw how much God loves a broken heart, and how He binds up that man's heart and tenderly takes care of him until he's strong & able to live again. I felt God's confidence towards me. If God would help Job, He will help me. I'm thankful for the fear of God I feel when I learn I have displeased Him. I never felt that in Xty. Never. It went in deeper in my heart that if I stumble, He is greater than my heart and He can fix me. It hurts when I feel like I have disappointed God. I have had a fear at times of not being able to fully please Him. But He has given me all I need to be able to please Him. He did not leave me without hope. I believe Sunday's message has put something deep down in my heart to believe that He really can be pleased with me because He knows what He has put inside me to help me overcome the flesh and the spirits of this world. And I know Pastor John was put here to help me get to really know the heart of God.

I asked God last year how he felt about us (all) and the reply from the Spirit was that we are A students but He's fine-tuning us. We are living & pleasing Jesus in many ways, but we're not saved yet. There's more room to grow up in Christ. He's teaching us a more perfect way daily because He's still talking to us & we are still hearing & loving what He's saying to us. I felt so encouraged Sunday because I loved what I was being fed. I was overwhelmed because I knew Jesus was pouringout the very words from God that He wanted us to hear; they were coming out from Pastor John's mouth & being absorbed into my heart. I think it was the most wonderful, clean feeling I have ever had in my life. I feel new.

Bess

December 19, 2005

John,

Yesterday's message was the best thing I think I've ever heard. It reminded me so much of the feelings I had when I first heard the truth. It was like the Lord, both then and now, had just opened up a whole new universe right in front of my eyes. It was overwhelming. I thank him so much for having mercy on me.

Taylor

Hi Taylor:

I feel the same way, Taylor. Before the meeting started, I did not fully appreciated what the Lord had already showed me about Elihu early yesterday morning before the meeting, but by the time the meeting was over, I certainly saw it. Maybe someone who had not studied the book of Job and labored to understand that difficult book would not feel the releief we did. I don't know about that. But it was wonderful to me.

jdc

December 19, 2005

Hey, Pastor John

I just wanted to say how good the meetings were this past weekend. Each one gave us all new insight into God. Saturday the birth of Jesus, and today the book of Job. It just felt good to get something new, something to chew over and over again as the day went on. And it has opened something inside me to look closer at the things I think I see and understand in a good way, not looking between the cracks it just feels NEW! GOOD!

Pray for Chris and I that we clean every corner of our hearts to allow more NEWNESS of GOD IN!!! So we too can see Uncle Joe, Preacher Clark and others who have gone on. Someone was talking today about being thankful for their life that now is normal but was thought to be impossible in the past. Well as I drove home last night my mind went back to my 1st visit to NC with Natalie, Jr, and Jimmy (it was Nat's and Jr's 1st trip as well), and Chris was back at home with no desire to serve God or to be with his people, and now here we are (Chris & I) living in NC! It was mind boggling looking back at all those 25 plus years and seeing GOD WORK. Each event, disaster, or breakthrough was being designed by him for us to be here. We do not have a clue. Thank you God for everything!!!!!

Love Ya!

Karen

P.S. The kittens are enjoying one another's company. Thanks for the suggestion for a visit!!!!

December 17, 2005

Hi there.

I just recieved this from someone out in cyber space. I can't believe it. Xty has reduced the gifts of God to a marketable science.

jdc

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December 15, 2005

Dear Bro. John:

Here lately, when the Lord has awakened me with something, to my amazement, I have opened up the emails for the day and found the very same topic! Such was today's email regarding the Q&A on "royalty" and the "lineage of Jesus". An excerpt from your reply today to JH on "royalty": So, . . . well, come to think of it, the day of "kings" (plural) may indeed pass away, but the day of our "King" will not! Amen! This morning, the Spirit awoke me with two back-to-back statements: "Mary had a baby." "God sent a King." Both seemed pretty simple at first. The two were related, but I could feel the power and meaning in the second statement. As I pondered the significance of what the Lord was saying to me, I turned to Matthew chapter 1 and began to read of Jesus' birth. What wonderful feelings came! As I read each verse and let it slowly absorb into my heart, it dawned on me that those who were just seeing the birth of Jesus as an ordinary event were missing the big picture - - that "God sent a King". Those who did not realize that prophecy was being fulfilled only saw that "Mary had a baby." But, oh, what God did on that day! As I continued reading, God reminded me of another time of "kings", and I read in 1st Samuel how the elders of Israel asked Samuel to give them a king to rule over them like other nations and God replied: "And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

Then, it hit my heart. Israel rejected God not only once, but twice. When they rejected Jesus, they also rejected God again and the King that he sent to them to be their Savior. And once again the voice of the people was heard. But this time they did not want the King that God sent them. They failed to see that prophecy was being fulfilled and that God truly had sent them their King. But still today, He has not stopped loving them with a deep love! My heart sank with the feelings that I felt at that moment. What kind of love, though rejected time and again, keeps reaching out as does the love of God to His people. It made me weak and desiring to see as God sees and feel as God feels.

I had never really noticed the way Matthew begins. But today it reached deep into my heart. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ . . . . . "

That's us - - the generation of Jesus Christ! I believe I got a taste of the "new creation." As I read all the "begats", I thought of how Jesus came from a heavenly lineage (Son of God) to an earthly lineage (son of David and Abraham) - - and by his willingness to do that, we have been taken from an earthly lineage to a heavenly one. "God sent a King" and we now are of the generation of Jesus Christ! What love! What deep love!

As you have said of the "new creation" in which we now exist, we no longer know the earthly Jesus, but the One that God sent to be King forever. "Mary had a baby", but the bigger picture is that "God sent a King" on that day to be the Savior of His people, and the day of our King will not pass away! Praise God!

Sandy :)

Sandy:

God actually sent His king into the world when Mary's son went down to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. If the world understood the truth, they would celebrate the day Jesus was born again more than the day Jesus was born the first time in a barn. Mary did have a son, but God had a Son with him in glory long before Mary was even born, and that is the king whom God sent.

Thanks for passing that along.

Pastor John

December 9, 2005

Testimony - by Kay.

On the afternoon of the 8th December around 2pm, after working all day in a bedroom building a built-in wardrobe, I decided to have a break and a coffee. I had been oblivious to weather conditions except that it was sunny and hot. I was now looking south out our kitchen window with horror at a very, very, heavy dark-purple, looked to be, very violent storm that was not that far away - the likes of which I have not seen before - it was most terrifying , and was headed toward us at a fast pace!. "Oh God! please don't let that come here, spare us, please " was what I began to pray over and over again..... It kept on coming! We have had many reports of the destruction that God has unloosed via this method in very recent months. The phone rang twice, I reached to answer it - it went dead. At that moment, I felt so isolated - just me - with God about to come crashing down!!! I could feel God's awesome power of destruction in the storm. In a very short period of time two very large spots of green cloud appeared in the storm's purple clouds. This was hail. I felt so insignificant and helpless. Didn't God know I was here? Right where He's sending this mass of destruction!

I fell down on my face praying "God please protect us", telling Sarah to do the same, asking Him to be "merciful to us and our farm"; then another thought, "and the people - protect the people, please Lord." At this point, I peeked up at the storm bearing down, the trail of heavy rain now blocked out the view of the mountains and close-in hills. It was about to be upon us. I was so very scared. Face down, I cried out again, pleading for Jesus to keep us safe. I knew some of what Jesus could do with such elements..

I tearfully peeked up . . . the storm had stopped advancing toward us and was swerving to the east! I looked open mouthed as it changed course! Then a white cloud came out of the purple mass straight toward me as if to say "don't stop...keep praying!". I did. The storm completely passed by us and around us - not but a few spots of rain fell on us! no bad wind that usually accompanies such - nothing. I got up off the floor tearfully and joyfully thanking Jesus for the safety and protection he gave us and telling Sarah what Jesus had just done that she should thank Jesus too .. she did .. she went to her private place to do so.

Then Jesus filled me with sweet peace and joy and appreciation! Ohh such sweet peace! I felt like I was floating on peace and joy! I went to the window to look out at the passing storm clouds to the north - I felt sooo close to Jesus! I looked at the still turbulent clouds but now feeling totally peaceful, the sound of thunder now seemed to coo at me and soothe me and as the thunderous vibrations shook the house it was like a big rocking hug from Jesus. I remember feeling the urge, now that the storm had mostly passed, I'd better get back to my work; the day's still young, then the stronger desire, no, I want to stay here and keep feeling the wonderful feelings of peace and joy that had now filled me, and praying much appreciative thanks and praise to Jesus.

I felt physically close to Jesus as well as spiritually, knowing He was focusing His attention on this area just now. Jesus was right there (I was staring at the clouds still swirling around us) doing all this! I felt Jesus was looking down from those clouds cocooning us, keeping this little spot where we were safe, while the wild weather raged. Then I heard a voice right at my right side softly whisper "I'm not in the clouds." I began to feel all soft and weightless, and oh so much in love, and nothing else existed nor mattered.......

Jesus put his arm around my shoulders and I leaned my head on his shoulder, like two lovers, and we stood there for what seemed a long time just watching what He was doing with His storm.......it was now gently raining. Soft, gentle music in the background began to penetrate my thoughts, Donna was singing, "My love is in the trees....My love is in this song....", then Darren with another song...... Jesus was telling me how much He loved me and He'll never change, then Gary and another song, and Jesus was saying to ........"get down on my knees right now." I fell to the ground where I felt that His feet were! Thanking Him, praising Him, with all the peace and joy and love that He had given me, such joy...joy unspeakable!!! I felt so touched and oh so much in love!!!!

I had a smile the rest of the afternoon that wouldn't quit, and I felt like I was floating on joy juice! ...and a giddy girlish giggle that kept on bubbling up inside! Damien arrived home after work wondering how we faired through the storm and if we had much rain? He had seen how bad the brewing storm was on the weather report via the internet at work and had tried to ring me................

I spoke with my dad this morning who lives 4 hours drive to our east. He told me of a strange storm that went over yesterday. He'd not seen one like this before. He said it looked really, really bad, it had wind and lightning but nothing happened! It just passed right over them.

Oh, Glory to His name, Praise God!!!!

Thankyou Jesus!!!

I Love You.

Kay.

Thanks, Sister Kay, for that. It made me want to be there with you!

Pastor John

December 9, 2005

Hi:

I was thinking this afternoon while driving in the car about the wonderful thoughts and feelings from Wednesday night. Thank you for reading and going over those Scriptures, the ones you listed in the Thought for the Evening "Prophecies About You". It made me so happy to feel what you were reading, but it also made me want to cry. My! What a life! I have been thinking about the verse in Luke 10 where Jesus tells his disciples to rejoice because their name were written in heaven. What a wonderful, precious life he has given to us. Just to think on these Scriptures, the "Prophecies About You", it is almost too much to take in.

Later today, I kept thinking of the phrase Jesus used to Nicodemus, "You must be born again." He REALLY meant exactly what he said. When we are born . . . again...we have a new Father, we have a new past, we have a new family, we have a new country, we are in a new word, we have new thoughts, we have brand new feelings, we have a new language, we have a new love. EVERYTHING IS NEW! :) I know I have heard these things before, but they sure do seem, well, brand new!

This is good!

Donna

December 8, 2005

Hey Pastor John,

I just read the TFE 12-06, "Prophecies About You." One of the scripture references you listed was as follows;

Ps. 22:30-31: "A seed shall serve him; it shall be counted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this."

Usually, when this scripture is read the first sentence gets most of the attention, at least from me. But this time it was the second sentence that really stood out. The "they" it is referring to is us, the called-out people. And we shall declare God's righteousness to a people that shall be born, which is us again. We shall tell each other that He hath done this. Done what? He has given us life and hope and righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. He has delivered us from all sorts of ailments, brought us through all sorts of trials, and in general, has blessed us more than we can even say or think! When we give our testimonies, we declare the righteousness of God, saying, "This is what God has done." That prophecy has come to pass a lot lately and it is so wonderful, it's beyond words. I just look forward to my next opportunity to be blessed in such ways again.

Billy H.

December 7, 2005

Hi John.

I got a call from a fellow from the internet this morning. He was asking about gospel tracts, etc. As we talked he asked me, "you are United Pentecostal?" (expecting a yes answer I'm sure.)

I started to tell him that we are NOT christian, and that while most of us had been in that religion, that we believe that God is calling holy Ghost baptized people out of it. That of course went on to the new birth, and he asked about water baptism, etc., etc., etc.... touched on many things just trying to get a spark from him. But he got hung up on baptizing with water "in Jesus name", and who knows what else.

Finally, as it was evident to him that I was not what he was in any way (Christian, United Pentecostal, etc.), he just politely said, "well it was nice talking with you". Goodbye. Nothing I told him made sense. How could it? God had not made the young man dissatisfied with Christianity's traditions and creeds. He was looking for fellowship in the "name" that he called himself, and I called myself. He was not looking to identify with what Jesus is saying about things. He did not want what I want (nor did I want what he wants.) Yet we both have the holy Ghost - how sad. This conversation reminded me that I'm NOT looking for fellowship in someone who calls themself a "non-christian". That's not it. I'm glad that has been cleared up for us. Fellowship is in the Spirit, and in truth, not in what we call ourselves.

When I hung up I just started giggling inside. I thought (about myself), "man, you must sound like a NUT!" It is a miracle when any of what we are saying gets through to anyone! I am really growing to appreciate our family in God. How did God ever get through to ME?? Or any one of us? I don't understand the miracle of it all, but it is a miracle that's for sure and one to be greatly appreciated.

To most, we are truly "nuts"... or, "foolishness" unto this world. That's just the way it is. But I saw today there is no fellowship in ANY name, such as "non christian", "christian" - or any other title. I'm...I'm.... I'm - whatever Jesus is --- that's what I am!!

Gary

Hi Gary:

Whatever the Spirit makes us is what we want to be, and only that, even though often when it begins its work in our heart, we resist it because it is not what we have been told is right. You know, when you think about it, some of us were non-Christian before we even repented and came to Christ. So, it doesn't make perfect sense to claim that status again.

On a regular basis, we see people reject what is of God because they have been indoctrinated with wrong ideas about Him. But that should not discourage us, for we know that "if any man is willing to do God's will, he shall know of [recognize] the doctrine". So, if anyone rejects the light that shines through us, it is not because the truth is evil but because they are at heart unwilling to do the will of God. What is astonishing is that we have been shown the grace to recognize the doctrine of Christ. May God give us the grace to see how precious a thing that is and to love what He has given to us!

jdc

December 7, 2005

Concerning your TFE 12-05 "No Greater Proof"

When the Lord healed my knee a few weeks ago, it was at, or soon after, the Wednesday night meeting when I felt like God had poured out a lot of mercy on me while we were praying. I can’t remember praying for anything in particular, but I remember the feeling of God’s love and tenderness, a sweet mercy that increased my faith. I needed a spiritual healing and received it, with an extra portion of physical healing. My knee still feels better than it did before I injured it. I can run up and down the stairs without any pain. My knees used to “crunch” while going up the stairs, but are now silent and feel stronger. God is so good!

Mark

Amen, Mark! We need to hear of such blessings. It helps all of us to believe.

jdc

December 4, 2005

G'day!

I just want to tell you about something I thought of the other day. Steven and I were listening to one of the meeting cd's when you read through Isaiah 12 and something in there sparked a thought. When you've said that if people don't praise God, He'll get the rocks to...it seems to me that's what the earth does when a natural disaster hits. When there is an earthquake, volcanic eruption, a hurricane, a flood or tsunami, that is the earth, the mountains, the winds, and the waters praising God. Since there aren't enough people on this earth to honor Him with praises, He gets the earth to do it. It's like, the earth and the waters and the winds get all happy and shakin' and like it says in the song the Lord gave my daddy, "I can make you move"!

And when we are full of the holy Ghost, that gets rid of all wrong thoughts, and feelings, and ideas that should never be there. That's what happens when a natural disaster strikes, wrong people, and cities are destroyed because the earth gets happy and wants all those bad things off of it because God does. Ha!

I don't know if this is really making much sense but when I was thinking about it, it did. I just thought it was neat, but sad at the same time to think that people in this world can't see why it happens, but also happy at the same time b/c God is right and just! Praise God for God! Well...just some interesting thoughts, talk to you later.

Leah

Thanks for this.

Jesus said that if people, specifically God's people, refused to praise him, the very rocks would cry out. I have never thought about the fact that if the rocks cry out, it might be through an earthquake, causing a tsunami, or that the "stormy wind fulfilling His will" might be a tornado doing what people refused to do, "fulfilling His will".

That is a powerful thought. Thanks.

Pastor John

December 4, 2005

Pastor John,

Hi- You have a good point about that we should be careful about what church we join. Because it says in the Bible that Satan deceives the WHOLE WORLD Rev. 12:9. I used to attend a Seventh-day Adventist church in the city where I live because it was the only one that had services on Saturday. Now I realize that it is dangerous to attend this congregation. I'm glad I have stopped attending now. I have a friend who says something similar, that we shouldn't join any church. I am not going to any church right now.

I started reading the Bible on my own 3 1/2 years ago and after I realized that my parents' church wasn't following the truth but instead preaching a different gospel, I left and have just been studying on my own and researching into other churches on the Internet. I firmly believe in keeping the Sabbath every week on Saturday. It is a blessing. It is one of the Ten Commandments.

I was wondering: have you heard of Herbert W. Armstrong? I'm quite sure you probably have. If so, what is your opinion of him? The Christian Churches of God is an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God.

I am going to keep studying and praying. I am very glad to hear from you.

Ben

Hi Ben,

Thanks for replying. These are my thoughts.

You should never join a Christian church of any kind, just as your friend has told you. The entire religion of Christianity is a fraud and God is calling His chosen people out of it. Don't go into it!

Concerning the Sabbath, you may be interested in my article, "The True Sabbath" at this address: http://www.pastorjohnshouse.com/tracts/sabbath.htm

Herbert Armstrong's doctrine will not save you; instead, it will destroy you. It excludes the necessity of the holy Ghost baptism. Seek Jesus, Ben. Leave the guys with the good ideas behind.

Pastor John

December 7, 2005

Pastor John,

I know very well where Ben finds himself right now. That religious spirit that was so strong in HW Armstrong exerts a strong pull on those who fall under its sway. It can seem so biblical. Kay and I were talking of our experience in that church the other day and how we left it and how God later made us right with Him. God got us out of attending that place by letting us express openly the sin that had always been in our hearts.

As we thought upon these things it struck me how hard it might be for someone who knew us then to believe our testimony of being forgiven by God and of having been taught the truth we have. Previously, I have had the thought that what a stumbling block my history would be to the ones I once knew, but this time I saw that the stumbling block was really whether or not they would believe God would forgive someone and thus get past their memories of the old us. Jesus is the real stumbling block! As you have said you need to fall on Him and let Him raise you up in newness of life.

It really makes me feel so small to think on these things and what an extraordinary thing God's grace is. It defies human thought and imagination. I wonder if Ben would be able to take in whatever I could say to him. I can remember what time and patience it took for me to help Kay understand the Sabbath. She was very much like Ben at the time and as I had been years before. It was God's grace and his preparations in my heart that allowed me to see and feel the rightness of what you were saying about the reality of the rest in the Spirit that we can have now.

I don't know if you have ever watched the film "Lawrence of Arabia". At the end of the movie as the disillusioned Lawrence is about to leave Damascus, Prince Faisel (?) (later King of Saudi Arabia) says (or very close to it) as Lawrence walks away, " What I owe you is beyond evaluation". That expression of gratitude rightly only belongs to Jesus. Let us walk humbly and be what God will make us.

Damien

Damien,

You write the most perceptive emails! I love them.

jdc

December 1, 2005

Dear Pastor John,

It was an honor to be with you and all of the family this last week. The wonderful love of God in the presence of the saints was His gift to us! I'm glad we were able to visit. This was such a special time that I will never forget. And coming back to Washington I feel different inside. I am not the same because of it. Thank you Jesus for your help to us.

The healing in the body was there in the testimonies. Something wonderful happened while listening and getting to know what God has done in my brothers and sisters. I felt like it was what I needed but didn't really know what it was. But Jesus knew. And now I know. We were meeting Him! There was such love waiting and wanting to come out and be expressed. And afterwards there was such a tender love towards one another. It was brand new and amazing to me!

Thank you for giving us a place to be with each other, wherever we are. Thank you for lending us an ear and a giving us instruction. Thank you for encouraging us to be free, the way we need to be. Thank you for leading the way and being a covering for us, speaking to us His words that lead to a life of joy and peace. I'm glad I'm here in this place that He prepared!

With Love,

Adam

December 1, 2005

Hey Pastor John,

I enjoyed the TFE 11-29 U-Turn Religion. I don't think I've ever thought of it in quite that way before. But, I can certainly see the truth in it. Afterwards, I had this thought. I've always heard that "what goes up must come down". I suppose that's because of gravity. It's just like people to get it backwards. I can see now that in order to please God "what comes down must go back up"! Thank you for new thoughts about God.

Billy H.

December 1, 2005

Hey John,

The meeting tonight was just right. It reminded me of a dream I had while living in Eden, NC. During that time, I had begun to hear the truth for the first time. I remember having said that it felt as if I were traveling down a highway with no speed limits. As God would correct wrong thinking in me, I would say, “Thank you, God! What’s next”? Looking back I can see that it’s a good idea to slow down and enjoy the truth He gives us. It will keep us from getting too proud of what we’re learning.

The dream I had reminded me of a school setting. It was like a first day of school when all the students were checking into the class. In the dream I noticed that one of the kids was carrying a Bible with him. He was going up to some of the students preaching about getting saved and more or less forcing them to hear what he had to say. I remember saying to myself that if that kid comes over to me preaching that “christian doctrine” I would set him straight with the truth. It was not long before he came preaching to me. This was my opportunity to teach him the truth. As I began to correct him, it was like I was suddenly removed from the dream to up above my body to hover over us. Every time I would correct him with the truth it was as if he began to grow younger, and with every truth I spoke to him, it was like I was slapping him in the face. As I watched this, I grew angry at myself. What I began to feel was God’s anger when the truth is presented at the wrong time with a wrong attitude.

As I started to awake, I remember just crying out to God, “Lord! Help me to know when to speak and when to keep quiet”. Then my next question was, “Lord how do you know when to speak”? My clock/radio came on real loud with my answer. The Beatles were singing these very words to their song “All you need is love”. As I lay there in my bed thinking on this answer, all I could do was cry and laugh at the same time. Jesus is not bound. He has our answers. He’s above all the christians and all the non-christians. When He comes, He comes to take over.

Thank you for reminding me to stay real. Real low!

Tim

December 1, 2005

Dear Bro. John:

I cried tonight when I read the TFE Loving Through Love (11-28). How many people in our lives would we be sharing this love with if only they had the receptor for the love being offered!

The reason it touched me so was what the Lord told me this morning. I was getting ready for work and just talking to the Lord about how it hurts not to be able to love the way we want to, simply as you said, because some have no receptor for the love. I was thinking of all the people and situations in my life where all I ever wanted to do was to give love and receive love back from them but did not. I was telling the Lord how much it hurts. He said to me:

"You've always wanted a deeper love than man can give. I am the only One who can give that to you."

Before the truth, we were all searching for that deeper love that only Jesus can give to us. That is how we all came to be in this wonderful family! This deeper love is not to be found anywhere on earth except in hearts that are bound with Jesus and his Father. Hearts that obey his Spirit and love his truth. It is truly a love of the new creation!

Last week, when the Spirit fell on me to hug my boss after a "discussion" in her office, it was not a feeling of choice. It covered me like a warm blanket and compelled me to go towards her in love. I have never felt anything quite like it before, but it was an anointing of love for another that only Jesus can give. It was more than a feeling, it was a commandment. It was that deeper love that transcends everyone and everything around you, even yourself, and puts peace where once there was none. I found out that it really is not a hard thing. It is just obeying my Father, no matter the situation, whenever he asks me to do his will.

Thanks for the TFE. It sure blessed my heart. I pray that Jesus will make us all easy to love and that the Spirit of the Dove will live in us everyday.

Love,

Sandy

November 29, 2005

Hey John,

Whew, this TFE (11-24: "A New Creation") and the cd on the Creation is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard. I have listened to the cd over and over and it is so good. Man, I do belong here in this wonderful beautiful world, it was created for ME. God is really putting a slant on all of this for us. He made it for US!!!!!!!(ME) (MINE) Everything is new if WE are new. All this time we have being trying to come out of this world when we really do belong here, it's ours. It was created from the beginning for Gods wonderful people. How precious is that when you really see it that way. I love what God is doing and what he is really showing us. We are getting it line upon line and precept upon precept. This is truly a wonderful beautiful life.

Lou

Amen, Lou.

November 28, 2005

Hi Pastor John,

I had a great time this past thanksgiving, I think it was the best thanksgiving I have ever had, thank you and Barbara for keeping us. I feel like I learned a lot in just a few days, I am going to try and tell about one thing I learned. When you were talking about what the Lord showed you about how that we are not Christians and we are not non-christians, "wow", it became more clear to me that we really are not a part of this world; we do not fit anywhere in this world. Also if we claim to be anything in this world, we become a part of some kind of division in this world, because that is what this world is filled with "division".

John, I can't claim anything that has been done to me because God did it; I did not do it. I can't claim that I cleaned myself from sin; I can't claim to have joined the body; I can't claim that I taught myself the truth. All of those thing are from God, and only he can do that. John I feel like I can't claim anything. I did not do it; God did. I don't want to have any labels attached to what God has done for me and us. I don't want to be a part of anything that causes a division with God's people, and I know that we are leaning how not to do that and that is wonderful. Thanks for tell us the words that God gives you.

Also when I would read in Exodus where Moses asks God, "Who should I say sent me?" and God replied, "I am that I am", I used to think what does that mean, "I am that I am"? There was nothing you could put that reply with. It was not of this world. There was no way to label God; there was no way to make what God said fit this world. It was perfect. It was not of this world, and he did not want anyone to claim to be anything. We can't claim to be a child of God. He makes us one. "WoW"

Thanks

Bro. Stuart

December 7, 2005

Hi pastor John,

I just wanted to share with you another thing that God did for me Thanksgiving weekend. I always understood what you were saying about the anointing of God being on your life for God's children, and I have felt it and seen it in action through you over and over again by the hand of God. What God did for me this past Thanksgiving was to let that go deeper in my heart, and what I mean by that is that whatever God chose is right, and whoever he anoints is anointed. The whole thing is to recognize what God has done. That is the point. We are just vessels for his use, and if we recognize his anointing, we grow in the knowledge of God more and more every day, for he is always talking to his people and looking out for their good and guiding us on through this word to get us closer to him -- including the word of God he gave you over this past Thanksgiving week about how “we are not Christians" and "we are not non-Christians". We need every word that he gives his children. It is creating something in us every time we hear a new word or way from God for our good. It brings relief and takes away division from among us. Thank God for his anointing. We need all of it.

Oh, I wish all of God’s children could discern the Lord's body! We could all be healed if that would happen. I am so grateful and thankful that God has allowed us to see his ways, and it makes me to want to be more humble then I have ever been before.

“Thank you Jesus”

Brother Stuart

November 28, 2005

Hey Pastor John,

Oh my!!! This Thanksgiving was the best! I think Tony and I talked just about the whole 8 hours home. Just about the wonderful highlights, and the goodness of God. I loved seeing what Jesus was doing to people's hearts. I am so very Thankful that Jesus has allowed Tony and I to be apart of it all. Being there this year was such a blessing to me. Just being there since Tuesday, and going to see Bro Ray and sweet Sis Cora Belle. The trip to see them was beyond words. Sweet!!! I feel like we learned so much about people there in NC and about ourselves. I don't even feel like the same person I was when I came there on Tuesday. :)

Jesus has gave me some wonderful testimonies and experiences, and I want to be able to cherish them, and share them. It is just to good! I did not want to leave on Sunday! I am just sitting here at my desk feeling like a melted piece of chocolate or something!!! hehe:) Everybody testimonies were sweet, and seeing Stephen dancing!!! He looked like a happy little child. Another one of those priceless moments. Oh, and sister Gloria during Glory Bound Train!!! :) :) Well, those are my thoughts and feelings this morning. They are beyond words thought. Just to be able to feel is such a wonderful thing. Awwww. Have a great day! Hope this email makes sense. See ya.

Love,

Margo

Yes, it makes sense. Or should I say, "beyond sense"?

jdc

November 28, 2005

You wrote in an email to Damien,

Another thing. The Lord let me know this week that there is something beyond being "non-Christian". Those walking in the Spirit are neither Christian nor non-Christian, neither Jew nor Gentiles, neither male nor female, etc. I used to think that I wanted the reputation of being non-Christian, but since I have met some non-Christians and seen their attitudes and heard their doctrines, , I have decided that being non-Christian isn't such as big deal after all. I am taking "non-Christian" off of everything we produce from now on.

Some months back, I have been thinking of what makes God's children miss or mess up His assignment/mission for them. So many God gave a simple task and they start out well but before you know it, they fall for the trap of the christian spirit without knowing what has befallen them. I was thinking about this in order that I will not fall back to the christian spirit that He has being delivering me from. I was having this feeling in me that soon, in months or years to come, He is going to give me an assigment (a big one) and I was asking Him what I need not do when He gives me that.

Jesus taught me that whatever He committs onto our hands/care, that we will fail on it once we name it. Once we tag/name that is where failure starts. It is so because once it is named, one starts to work to conforming to the name rather than what He has been sent to do. Look at the christians, once they name their churches, they are now required to have a board, register their church with regulatory body(ies) etc which is a diversion from what He wants of them. In as much as naming/tagging a thing is good while we are on the earth, it is not good to do that to a spiritual thing.

I hope this makes sense?

JOE,

Lagos, Nigeria

Yes, JOE, that make sense. What you say about feeling obligated to name a work is true, I think, from what I have seen men do. By calling myself a "non-Christian", I don't think I was trying to name my work, however. I thought I was describing where we were spiritually in such a way that God's people who heard of us would learn that it is possible to serve Christ outside the religion that calls itself after the name of Christ (Xty). I had never heard of such a thing as non-Christian service to Jesus before the Lord reveal that option to me, and I felt that if we used that description of our work, it would make the children of God who hear it wake up to a new and better understanding of God and themselves. Now I find that a number of people consider themselves non-Christian servants of Jesus, too, but tha

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