Friday, February 24, 2023

Letter to our Friends - February 22, 2023


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
P.O. Box 6458
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606



Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor and Founder

Dear Friends in Christ:

Greetings from Spring Hill, Florida.

Our Social Media Statistics

Having had our Soundcloud Radio channel up and running since March 5, 2019, with no marketing and no purchasing of followers, we currently have 32 followers!

Soundcloud Radio channel, search https://soundcloud.com/leonard-johnson-199529372.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023─

Followers: 32
Tracks: 92
Total Plays: 413
Likes: 55
Reposts: 43
Top Seven Countries: USA, Kenya, Ireland, UK, Mexico, Germany, Australia.

Analytics for this streaming server lists a great many more listening countries, including the Russian Federation, Venezuela, Lithuania, South Africa, and the State of Kuwait.

Top Three Tracks:

“Fall Holy Days – 2014 Part X” by Michael C. Garrett – 66 plays.
“4-22-22 – SEVENTH Day of Unleavened Bread” by Leonard V. Johnson – 16 plays.
“One God, One Mediator” by Leonard V. Johnson – 14 plays.

For our COJCOM YouTube channel, search https://www.youtube.com/@cojcom.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023─

Lifetime – June 28, 2015 – Feb. 21, 2023, the channel has received 5,252 views.

Total Subscribed listeners: 24
Total watch time: 416.3 hrs.
Top Four Countries: USA, Egypt, India, South Africa.
Subtitles and CC: Indonesian.
Top Three “Cards”: TI CCOG, Enoch Walked with God, and COJCOM.
Non-subscribers' views: 4,747. 288.0 watch time (hrs), w/an average view duration of 3.38 hrs.

Top Three Sermons within this period:

“One God, One Mediator” by Leonard V. Johnson – 232 views.
“Be Not Defeated” by Leonard V. Johnson – 111 views.
“Is There A ‘Secret Rapture’?” by Leonard V. Johnson – 80 views.

The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries website:

For our COJCOM website, search https://www.owensborocojc.com.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023; analytics from the website─

All time since January 10, 2019 – the website has received 143,387 views.

Top Seven Countries: France, USA, Indonesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Canada.

Analytics for our website lists a great many more countries, including Russia, Nepal, Egypt, Japan, Belgium, the UK, China, and the Netherlands.

Top Five Keyword search: civil unrest in america, enoch walked with god sermon, feast of unleavened bread 2020, was gods promises to abraham hard to believe, america collapse 2025.

Top Five Posts of All Time:


China and Russia Alliance?

Yesterday I was asked: does God’s living word mention, prophetically, a China-Russia alliance in these latter times!? And the answer is, NOWHERE, directly! We must remember that God’s living word ─ the Holy Bible ─ is concerned only with ISRAEL and JUDAH – and with the Gentile nations only as they come into contact with Israel. Russia and China are both Gentile powers. An alliance between them in these latter times is a great possibility. Keep in mind: there have been Sino-Russian alliances several times throughout history. Recall: In 1949, with Soviet support, the communists won the Chinese Civil War and established the People’s Republic of China, which made an alliance with the Soviets. An alliance between them would not be mentioned directly in Bible prophecy. In prayer this morning to Father God and our Lord Jesus, I was reminded of what our Lord Jesus has told us─ “’ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet’” – Matthew 24:6. There have been literally thousands of alliances and wars between Gentile powers that are nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy.

On the other hand, we have the very real prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 38. In the sermon “Ezekiel 38 – Gog and Magog” we teach── a great many falsely teach that the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 speaks of a soon-coming invasion of North America from Russia. But this is not correct. This prophecy comes to its fulfillment at the end of Christ’s Millennial Reign.

Some 1,928 years ago, the apostle John in a mighty and powerful vision─ which certainly must have lasted weeks or months─ saw powerful armies totaling 200 million strong – called the ‘king of the South’ in the Book of Daniel. We do believe this will be a confederation of Islamic nations –the Islamic Middle East, including great parts of North Africa.

Minister Michael C. Garrett─
“I’ve been saying this for several years – as we hear about various attacks – that around the family dinner tables, behind closed doors, around the office water cooler – the people of Europe are probably beginning to say to one another, “We have a problem!” “We tried to extend mercy and graciousness to these foreigners and yet the only thing they seem to want to do is to kill us!” And sooner or later the ire of the European people will turn very heated, very hot, very angry – against these foreigners! And when that happens – hold on, fasten your seat belt, tighten it down as good as you can get it – because this world is going to quickly spin out of control! And, I have said for years – and I’m going to say it again for all of you – Islamic terrorism is going to plunge the world into WORLD WAR III! I say that with absolute confidence because that’s what the Bible says! And that’s what this chapter is about. European people in prophecy, the British and American people in prophecy – they go down different roads, but the other part of it is the Islamic people.

The Book of Daniel talks about the “king of the North,” being EUROPE, and the “king of the South,” the Islamic Middle East, including North Africa. And there will be a World War III – and it will plunge the world into a day that the Bible calls ‘great tribulation.’ GREAT TROUBLES! The worst period of time in the history of mankind!”

(Garrett, M.C., God’s Promises To Abraham, Chapter 6 – A Coming Last Crusade! 2019, by Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ, pg. 88).
Certainly, a great many people have speculated in the past decades that these powerful armies totaling 200 million strong will somehow be an accumulation of China, Japan, and maybe Korea, maybe Mongolia – which is the heart of the Russian Federation! And, this certainly is a possibility! I will remind you of what Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15, he said, ‘We see through a glass darkly.’ And so, sometimes trying to understand prophecies before they happen becomes a little confusing. A little sort of blurry! But then, when the events actually take place and then following the events it becomes very clear what the prophecies always meant.

It is true that a lasting political and military alliance between China and Russia will have a profound and far-reaching effect on the entire world. Their relationships will certainly play a huge part in molding and partly solidifying (iron mixed with clay) a prophesied United States of Europe, rising to a global superpower. With China’s support for Russia – rooted in Xi Jinping’s close relationship with Vladimir Putin – along with the weakness of the United States of America, this has surely altered and hastened Europe’s calculations. The sense of urgency to protect Europe from authoritarian threats is now stronger than ever before! Surely, both China and Russia must be strong and free to deal with a soon-rising European force of political, military, and religious strength unmatched─ “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him’?”

This is certainly something in which we should be reminded of what our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, brethren: “’ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.’”

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

• TWO songs of praise. (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, is suggested, there is some Instrumental Accompaniment to the Bible Hymnal available on our website).
• Opening prayer.
• Announcements – from the deacon or pastor.
• Sermon – from the pastor or guest speaker. The one suggested for this week is “Faith Required for Salvation” Available on our YouTube channel Friday @ 6:15 pm est.
• Closing song.
• Closing prayer.

In case you do not receive a ‘Letter to our Friends’ for any week, remember that there are many sermon messages on the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries’ BitChute channel, as well as our Soundcloud Radio channel. Also, we post all ‘Letter to our Friends’ on our website - https://www.owensborocojc.com/search/label/Church%20letters.

Some World News In Relation To Biblical Prophecy

We are continuing to see and hear – and hear ever louder – calls for Europe to increase its military strength! (See: ‘DW - MSC 2023 closes with call for more German defense spending’).

Notice –
Germany’s ability to defend itself is at risk unless it reintroduces compulsory military service, Patrick Sensburg, the leader of the Bundeswehr Reservist Association, told local outlet Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung on Thursday.

The task of national defense “requires different material and a lot more staff” than the Bundeswehr currently commands, Sensburg said, arguing that even the most well-intentioned government efforts to fill in the gaps “will not work without conscription.”

He suggested that an active force of 350,000 soldiers and 1.2 million reservists would be required to adequately protect Germany. The country currently commands just over 183,000 soldiers, down from 317,000 two decades ago, and 100,000 reservists – 30,000 of whom train regularly.

“Germany needs a strong military that is well-trained but also has many reservists from all walks of life,” Sensburg told Deutsche Welle earlier this month. “We can only ensure that if we have compulsory military service.” …

Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Ruediger Lucassen agreed with the reservist leader, telling German outlet Junge Freiheit on Thursday that the Bundeswehr was “not capable of national defense because of its lack of personnel.” Those comments came after the AfD parliamentary group proposed a motion to discuss reintroducing conscription in the Bundestag next month.

Now, as far as the AfD party goes, it is increasing its political pressure in Germany. Notice the mood in Germany from the source Politico─
It’s the end of the world as we know it — and Munich feels nervous. 

If even the Germans are worried about the world’s perils, this could well be the moment to really start worrying.

MUNICH — Cut through the haze of hoary proclamations emanating from the main stage of the Munich Security Conference about Western solidarity and common purpose this weekend, and one can’t help but notice more than a hint of foreboding just beneath the surface. …

Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat like Scholz, called for even more, saying that “it will not be possible to fulfill the tasks that lie ahead of us with barely two percent.” … if even the Germans have woken up to the perils of the world’s current geopolitical state, this could well be the moment to really start worrying.

As I had stated earlier, what is occurring globally is altering and hastening Europe’s calculations. The sense of urgency to protect Europe from authoritarian threats is now stronger than ever before!

God’s living word teaches that there is soon coming a United States of Europe (or whatever name they will call themselves) ─ the prophesied “king of the North” with a mighty “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and with “many ships” (Daniel 11:40). German and other European shouts to increase their military strength is consistent with helping set the stage for those biblical prophecies to come to fruition.

Once this final European ‘beast’ power uses its full force to fulfill these prophecies ─ God’s living word tells us “all the world marveled and followed the beast”! – Revelation 13:1-4.

The German-European plan is for a united Europe to be a strong military power independent of NATO- led by the United States of America. A political, military, and religious force that is prophesied to ultimately defeat the USA – cf. Daniel 11:39.

Also in the news within Europe ─ the “Holy Roman Empire” is on the lips of some! (See: ‘maurizioblondet - Veneziani: per salvarci dall’UE c’è solo il Sacro Romano Impero’) I have translated this Italian article using Google Translate:
Venetians: to save us from the EU there is only the Holy Roman Empire.

What if, in order to save ourselves from the European Union, from globalization, from Chinese and American power, we had to rethink the Holy Roman Empire? I have not gone mad, I am reporting with some complicity, a thesis of the most famous living Italian philosopher. …

The philosopher in question is Giorgio Agamben, who many have known for his critical positions at the time of the pandemic and vaccinocracy. I will not resume his thoughts on the liberticidal use of the pandemic but on something that is in heaven and not on earth. So the philosopher, once placed on the radical left, proposed the establishment of a "Latin empire" promoted by the three great Latin nations (France, Spain, and Italy), in agreement with the Catholic Church and open to the countries of the Mediterranean. His dream, he writes explicitly on the Quodlibet website, is even the creation of a European Empire similar to the Austro-Hungarian one or the Imperium dreamed of by Dante in De monarchia. Agamben was inspired by the philosopher Alexandre Kojève, but his idea of empire united him with other living thinkers such as Remi Brague, Massimo Cacciari, and even Alain de Benoist.

Agamben argues that in the extreme situation in which we find ourselves, such an ancient political model can find an unexpected topicality. The necessary premise for this rediscovery, explains the philosopher, is that the citizens of the European nation states find a link with their places and their cultural traditions and project themselves into the idea of a European citizenship, embodied not in a parliament or in obscure commissions, but in a symbolic power similar to the Holy Roman Empire. The question of whether or not such a European Empire is possible, says Agamben, does not interest us or correspond to our ideals: nevertheless it takes on a particular significance if we become aware that the current European community today has no real political consistency and has indeed been transformed, like all the states that are part of it, into a sick organism that runs more or less consciously towards its own self-destruction. So spoke Agamben on February 6.

Curious that this vision does not come from a Pope, a Father of the Church, a Prophet, a Thinker of Tradition but from a philosopher who writes on the manifesto. From Karl Marx to Charlemagne.
Also, notice the following call for a reorganization of Europe. (See: ‘Foreign Policy - Europe Doesn’t Need the United States Anymore’).

Europe is certainly in the process of changing.

In the United States of America, is domestic TERRORism rising!? ─ was the tragic derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials through East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent “controlled” burn EXPLOSION, initially, an act of domestic terrorism!? Well, our beloved FactCheck.org tells us that it is an emphatic ─ there’s no basis for any of those claims. Well, just like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know. Of course, the Left-leaning Washington Post claims - in a sense - that there is ‘nothing to see here, folks. Move along!’ But this we do know ─ back in 2020 two women with ties to an anarchist group was charged with a terrorist attack on train tracks north of Seattle, Washington. (See: ‘Fox News - Women linked with anarchist group charged with terrorist attack on train tracks north of Seattle’).


So, what about one of the largest egg factories in the United States EXPLODING! Was this an act of domestic terrorism!? Well, again our beloved FactCheck.org says ─ it’s not part of a conspiracy to trigger U.S. food shortages. Clever Journeys asks the question: Why Are America’s Food Processing Plants Suddenly Exploding?

Here is what I do know ─ egg prices in my area at Walmart are $5.24 a dozen!

On top of all that – the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ is presumably impacting poultry and eggs alike, and certainly their prices in the market. (See: ‘JusttheNews - World's poultry supply threatened as bird flu spreads, report’).

Whether one wants to believe that all of these troubles are acts of domestic terrorism or not ─ all we really can say is like Fox News’ slogan “We Report, You Decide.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us ─ 

“… ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” – a direct reference to the final holy war between the end-time ‘king of the South’ and the ‘king of the North’ (cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16). And the apostle Mark adds, “’ And there will be earthquakes in various places; and there will be famines and TROUBLES.’”

And even all this is but ‘the beginning of sorrows.’ EVEN MORE, IS TO COME!

All of these terrible happenings appear to be consistent with His living words.

Concluding Comments

Our Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned us─

“’ Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be [judged]’” – Mark 16:15-16.

Brethren, your loving support helps us in this commission of what our Lord wants.

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,


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Friday, February 10, 2023

Letter to our Friends - February 9, 2023


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
P.O. Box 6458
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606



Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor and Founder


Greetings Friends this early morning from my desk here in Spring Hill, Florida:

We hope and pray that you have had spiritually uplifting weeks since our last letter.

I’ve been busy working on online booklets translated into Kiswahili, for our brethren and friends located in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique, Africa. We have a few translated: Imani yako ni ya kibiblia? …na unaweza kuthibitisha hilo?, also Je, Mungu Ni UTATU? Along with about three more, along with a few articles. However, remember that on our website www.owensborocojc.com, at the sidebar to the right, every article can be translated into 133 different languages using Google translate.

Also, I’ve been busy writing up "A Morning Bible Study." We currently have about 13. You can access these Bible studies at the top of our website by clicking the button at the top─ Bible Study.

Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day 2023

I plan on joining our brethren in Owensboro, Kentucky this year for the LORD God’s holy feast. You are more than welcome to join us this year! Services for the feast are to begin the evening of September 29th and run (which includes the Last Great Day) until sunset on October 7th.

We will more than likely meet together at the Logsdon Community Center, 2400 Friendship Dr. Owensboro, KY. 42303. If this changes, we will be sure to let you know. For more information, you can contact Minister Michael C. Garrett at garrett158@roadrunner.com.

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for Minister Michael C. Garrett. He has had a foot ulcer for the past six months. It is getting better, however, by the day. Please continue your prayers for him. Also, please pray for Minister Guy Lamar’s sister Deborah. She's been having some issues with her blood pressure and heart rate.

St. Valentine’s Day Not Biblical


February 14th. Multiple millions of our peoples will be observing what is known as St. Valentine’s Day on February the 14th.

Throughout the years, the improperly named Christianity Today─ an evangelical “Christian” media magazine founded by Billy Graham─ has often tried to justify its opinion on this worldly holiday by talking about love. As an example, in their February 1st, 2000, issue, they wrote: “Four centuries before Christ, Romans had a day called Lupercalia. Without going too much into it, I'll sum it up as a sexual lottery. Pull names out of a box at random and couple with a young member of the opposite sex. After a year, you get to pick another name. But apparently, Christians didn't think the practice was all bad.”

What!? All that bad!? Isn’t it nice how this article watered down the sexual perversions which the ancient Romans were engaged in, by saying, “a sexual lottery,” and “without going too much into it”!?

What I have to say to them is what our dearly beloved apostle Paul says─ under the inspiration of God’s Spirit─

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19) whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame─ …” – Philippians 3:18, 19.

They do not even follow our LORD God’s holy words─

“Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2) Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles [or rather heathens]; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3) FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLES ARE FUTILE” – Jeremiah 10:2, 3.

Apparently, the followers of Billy Graham have selective hearing!?

They will also often use 1 John 4:7 to back up their opinion concerning Valentine’s Day─

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God.”

The implication is that the apostle John was supporting Valentine’s Day. The misuse by them using this passage here is blasphemous!

But, in truth, the love of God is this─

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 3) For this is the love of God, that WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. And His commandments are not burdensome” – 1 John 5:2-3.

In all reality Valentine’s Day has more to do with lust than love. This worldly holiday is not from the Father but from this world. God’s living word tells us─

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16) For all that is in the world─ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life─ is not of the Father but is of the world. 17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does THE WILL OF GOD abides forever” – 1 John 2:15-17.

The apostle John by no means is telling true Christians to adopt pagan traditions. Yet this Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, along with its incorrectly named Christianity Today magazine appears to have a direct connection with Catholicism. It is a known fact that when Emperor Constantine the Great in AD 313 made Christianity an official religion of the Roman Empire, the Roman citizens wouldn’t hear of ending this sexual holiday. “Later, the church [meaning, the Catholic Church] attempted to give a Christian meaning to this pagan celebration. As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15th to Saint Valentine's day on February 14th.” 1

Our Lord Jesus Christ has WARNED us─

“’ Take heed that no one deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many’” – Matthew 24:4-5.

WARNING that many will correctly say that He is the Christ – yet will deceive many!

And just because millions of our peoples use the name of Christ Jesus and are claiming to be Christian, does not mean that they have the Spirit of God dwelling within them─

“’ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom [from] heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” - Matthew 7:21-23.

They practice lawlessness because they do not keep the commandments of God!

Unlike that CT article, let’s go into some detail concerning this pagan worldly holiday known as Valentine’s Day─ which is nothing more than a holdover of a spring fertility/fornication Roman holiday:

Notice this from History.com: “ ... the Christian church [in other words, the Catholic Church] may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or Lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat's hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman.”

It is a known fact that centuries before the birth of our Savior - Jesus Christ - the Romans celebrated February 15th and the evening of the 14th as an idolatrous and sexual festival in honor of the one they called Lupercus - the “hunter of wolves.” The custom of the young Roman women placing their names in a big urn for the bachelors of the city certainly sounds familiar with what children all over the United States will be participating in on February 14th of this year - does it not? - the exchanging of Valentine's Day cards!? Indeed, the custom of exchanging Valentine's cards from this “name drawing” is from this Lupercalia celebration.

All of that above is part of why these pagan customs, in honor of a false god, became “Christian.”

Also this pagan being named Cupid (a son of Venus) was also involved. According to a book I have in my library - Bulfinch's Mythology The Complete Texts - it states: “Cupid. The god of love in Roman mythology (Lat. cupido, desire, passion), identified with the Greek Eros; son of Mercury and Venus. He is represented as a winged boy, carrying a bow and arrows. One legend says that he wets with blood the grindstone on which he sharpens his arrows.” 2

It should be noted that one Roman Catholic Church source has stated─

“Although the mid-February holiday celebrating love and lovers remains wildly popular, the confusion over its origins led the Catholic Church, in 1969, to drop St. Valentine’s Day from the Roman calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts. (Those highly sought-after days are reserved for saints with more clear historical record. After all, the saints are real individuals for us to imitate.) Some parishes, however, observe the feast of St. Valentine.” 3

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3) But fornication [Greek: porneia, meaning sexual immoralities] and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints” – Ephesians 5:1-2.

This worldly holiday has both Roman pagan and Roman Catholic roots. 

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

• TWO songs of praise. (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, is suggested, there are some Instrumental Accompaniment to the Bible Hymnal available on our website).
• Opening prayer.
• Announcements – from the deacon or pastor.
• Sermon – from the pastor or guest speaker. The one suggested for this week is “The Test Commandment.” Available on our YouTube channel Friday @ 6:15 pm est.
• Closing song.
• Closing prayer.

In case you do not receive a ‘Letter to our Friends’ for any week, remember that there are many sermon messages on the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries’ BitChute channel, as well as our Soundcloud Radio channel.

Some World News In Relation To Biblical Prophecy

As nearly everyone is aware of: A Chinese spy balloon─ the size of three full-size school buses─ was allowed to fly over the whole of the continental United States unimpeded. Surely this was no accident. (See: ‘Forbes - Why Chinese Spy Balloon’s Flight Path Was Not An Accident – And What It May Have Been Doing’).

The Gateway Pundit put together a graph to show just how many US military bases were in the path of the Chinese spy balloon.

Here is a list of the US Military bases in the path of the China Spy Balloon.

• Malmstrom Air Force Base – Montana – home of 341st Military Wing.
• Ellsworth Air Force Base – South Dakota – home of 28th bomb wing.
• Joe Foss Field ANG – South Dakota – home of 114th fighter wing.
• Sioux City ANG – Iowa – national guard base.
• Offutt Air Force Base -Nebraska – headquarters US strategic command.
• Camp Ashland – Nebraska.
• Lincoln ANG – Nebraska.
• Whiteman Air Force Base – Missouri – home of B52 bombers.
• Fort Leonard Wood – Missouri – Army training installation.
• St. Louis Army Human Resources – St. Louis, MO.
• Scott Air Force Base – Illinois – home of the Air Mobility Command.
• Fort Campbell – Tennessee – home of Screaming eagles, the 101st Airborne.
• Nashville ANG – Tennessee.
• Smyrna ANG – Tennessee.
• Houston Barracks – Tennessee.
• McGhee Tyson ANG – Tennessee.
• Pope Air Force Base – North Carolina – Air mobility command.
• Fort Bragg – North Carolina – one of the largest military installations in the world.
• MCAS New River – North Carolina.
• Camp Lejeune – North Carolina – military training facility.
• US Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. 4

As their article states, this was “an unprecedented national security threat” at the highest of levels!

Some prominent leaders in the United States of America are continuing to point to China as a major military threat in two years! (See: ‘ZeroHedge - Air Force General Tells His Officers 'War With China' Only 2 Years Away’). There certainly could be military skirmishes between the USA and China. However, God’s living prophecies reveal that it will be a United States of Europe (a final European ‘beast’ power) that will lead to the loss of the USA’s sovereignty. Now, it is possible─ and even probable─ that China will be in support of this final European ‘beast’ power.

In an October 27th, 2022, article by Voice of America, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asserted that “the U.S. Government and our Allies and partners around the world, is well positioned to meet the challenges of this decisive decade.” 5

However, I can’t help but think of a prophetic dream I had in 2016. In my dream – a most vivid dream – I was looking into the clearest night sky I had ever seen, crystal clear bright shining stars. And then suddenly I heard a booming voice – what appeared to be a tail-end of a conversation. And the voice said, “They only have 10 years left.” Since it has not been revealed to me just who are they. The question is─ who are “they”!?

Now, to note: Yesterday I watched the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Chinese threat to U.S. National Defense with retired Admiral Harry Harris and Dr. Melanie Sisson, a fellow in the Foreign Policy program's Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology. I got halfway through it─ it's 3 hrs and 30 minutes LONG!─ and I thought we would hear something new and profound. But all I heard was, blah, blah, blah!

Also, as I’m sure you are aware, certain Protestants have been teaching that a massive nuclear war between Russia and the USA is coming. Notice this Italian source – ‘ANSA en - WWIII would come if Russian tanks get to Kyiv says Crosetto’). Also, notice this from Michael Snyder of The Economic Collapse ─
The Nuclear War That We Have Been Relentlessly Warned About Is Now Right On Our Doorstep

On Thursday, Russia responded to news that the U.S. and Germany would be giving highly advanced tanks to the Ukrainians by firing “a barrage of missiles and drones across the country”. The Russians are now so invested in this war that there is no way that they could ever back down. Of course the same thing is true for the Biden administration. Joe Biden has staked his presidency on winning this war, and Congress has already approved approximately 100 billion dollars in total aid for the Ukrainians. We are on a collision course with destiny, and the cataclysmic war with Russia that I have been warning about for many years is now right on our doorstep. …

We must end this war before the nukes start flying.

And actually Joe Biden once warned that we would be facing “World War 3” if we ever sent tanks into Ukraine.

But now the Biden administration is trying to assure us that sending tanks into Ukraine is perfectly fine.

Donald Trump is warning that a worst-case scenario is coming too.

… more escalations are inevitably coming.

It is time for the American people to face the truth. We are at war, and there is no way out.

Now while we have quoted Michael Snyder before, and he is often an interesting writer, his long-term insistence that a “cataclysmic war with Russia that I have been warning about for many years is now right on our doorstep” is wrong.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us – “ …’ you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet’” – Matthew 24:6. Which is consistent with what we have been witnessing between Russia and Ukraine.

Also in the news, the USA and Israel conducted their largest ever joint military exercise, supposedly to send a warning to Iran. (See: ‘Centcom - PRESS RELEASE | Jan. 26, 2023, Completion of Juniper Oak 23.2 Exercise’).

This exercise, combined with statements from the Resident Joe Biden last November in which he sees no hope in making any new nuclear deals with Iran, cannot be going over well with Ali Khamenei! While Iran─ the top state sponsor of terrorism─ was certainly aware of that exercise, it will certainly not stop Iran from one day attempting to do major damage to Israel’s capital – Jerusalem. Let’s turn in our Bible to the Book of Isaiah chapter 22 –

Verse 6 – “Elam [modern Iran] bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir [modern Syria] uncovered the shield. 7) It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.”

Continuing with verses 8 & 9 – “He [Almighty God] removed the protection of JUDAH. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9) You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; …”

Grave death and destruction is coming to the modern nation of Israel. Removing sanctions could be interpreted by Iran or Israel to attack militarily against one another.

A regional war in the Middle East is on the horizon.

Concluding Comments

Here are some Scriptures of praise, joy, and thanksgiving to Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ:

“When I remember these things, I pour out my soul [my life] within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With the multitude that kept a pilgrim feast” – Psalm 42:14.

“For the LORD will comfort Zion [New Jerusalem], He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody” – Isaiah 51:3.

“The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:

‘Praise the LORD of hosts, 
For the LORD is good, 
For His mercy endures forever’

And of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the LORD” – Jeremiah 33:11.

“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10) night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?” – 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10.

“Rejoice always, 17) pray without ceasing, 18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13) although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” – 1 Timothy 1:12-13.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” – Colossians 3:17.

Let us, friends, be thankful for our calling! We all should be!

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,



Bibliography

1) Lavinia Dobler, Customs and Holidays Around the World, p. 172.
2) Bulfinch's Mythology, Bulfinch, T., Cupid - Dictionary and Index, Crown Publishers, Inc., © 1979, pg. 897.
3) Hines-Brigger, S., The Catholic Roots of St. Valentine’s Day, Franciscan media, 14 May 2020. Retrieved 9 Feb. 2023.

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Monday, February 6, 2023

Personal From... Greed for our time


Leonard V. Johnson    About


The other night I watched on television again a great movie “Darkest Hour,” the 2017 war drama featuring the legendary Sir Winston Churchill─ one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century─ and his unwavering belief that Adolf Hitler was indeed an evil, vile, despicable genocidal psychopath! And the fact that no peace could be achieved for our time! Even though Mr. Churchill may not have been aware of it, the LORD God was using him to lead the island of Great Britain to conquer tyranny with its tyrannical leaders!

While watching this film I asked again the question─ where are the great leaders of this world!? Why are they gone!? It’s sad to me to know that this generation is calling Mr. Churchill a warmonger! This world is certainly not like it was in my youth─ from the age of 12 to 20 the United States of America had a great blessing from our LORD God to be led by a great leader, President Ronald Reagan─ who had a profound sharp eye for the dangers that we were facing at that time. Personally, to me, the next to the last great leader since President Donald Trump!

Before I was born we had many great leaders in the USA! And to name but a few ─ John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt along with his cousin Theodore Roosevelt, and of course, Abraham Lincoln. Yet sadly, those great leaders have come and gone.

As I’ve stated before─ the calm before the storm is over! We are now facing the brunt of the storm! Where is our great civic leader to help lead us through this tremendous storm we are facing!?

As I sit here early morning writing at my desk here in Florida, our news headlines are all pointing to one terrible outcome! The utter collapse and destruction of life as we have come to know it!

● “Why prosecutors might get Trump─ and not Biden─ for classified documents!” ● “Russia Threatens To Nuke United Kingdom, Launch ‘Unstoppable’ Torpedo To Create 500–Meter Radioactive Tsunami”

● “North Korea issues chilling warning to US about escalating tensions” ● “U.S. General’s Prediction of War With China ‘in 2025’ Risks Turning Worst Fears Into Reality” ● “Doomsday clock advances to 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to apocalypse it's ever been” And the list goes on and on.

Is all but saber-rattling!?

News headlines in other nations read similarly –

● “Chinese video shows fighter jets tracking foreign warplanes over disputed waters” ● “Australia domestic violence: Over 600 charged in four-day police operation” ● “Australia targets Myanmar, Iran with economic sanctions” ● “Taliban beat up, detain professor who spoke out on women's school ban on live TV”

Again I ask ─ Why can’t we all just get along, as Rodney King stated after his beating by four police officers after initially evading being pulled over for driving while intoxicated. No matter what an individual does – no one deserves to be beaten to an inch of their life ─ or murdered, by a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner! NO PERSON!

Let us take a REAL CLOSE LOOK at the STATE OF THIS WORLD, TODAY!

Is it, as my wife is famous for saying, that there is no more violence in the world than there always has been!? That there are only more news sources and greater technology to cover it!? Strangely enough, this appears to be the sentiment of others. I found a 2017 article entitled “Why human society isn't more—or less—violent than in the past.” According to their controversial new study: People who lived in small bands in the past had no more proclivity toward violence than we do today.

I think we can all agree, however, that a great many of our cities in this world have become a cauldron of evil with buckets of blood flowing through our streets the likes of which we have never seen! Yes!?

Just WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN!?

Sadly, so many of our peoples around the world are like Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burned. At least that is what my generation was taught in our history books.

According to Global Conflict Tracker ─ there is great civil unrest around the world! Massive criminal gang violence in Mexico, Instability in Venezuela, Mali, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, conflicts in Nigeria, in Somalia, civil war in South Sudan, and war in Ethiopia and Yemen. A grave territorial dispute raging in the South China Sea, and a North Korea crisis! Just to name a few. And one which I didn’t see on their list ─ a US border crisis getting worse by the day!

Sadly, this WORLD IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AS A WHOLE! As that article speaks about, this world takes this violence globally as a matter of course. “The past had no more proclivity toward violence than we do today”! They suppose it to be just a natural state of affairs.

IT IS NOT!

In 1923, an American Western drama, Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton utters, “Greed will be the thing that kills us all!”

In this Personal, let’s discuss greed.

At the very beginning of this great downfall, Lucifer himself ─ filled with greed ─ said to himself, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; … I will be like the Most High” – Isaiah 14:13, 14. Greed and pride was at the forefront of his thinking.

Our 40th President of the United States of America made a dire PREDICTION! Here is what he warned –
I can't believe that this world can go on beyond our generation and on down to succeeding generations with this kind of weapon on both sides poised at each other without someday some fool or some maniac or some accident triggering the kind of war that is the end of the line for all of us.
He made this comment on May 16th, 1983, to the National Association of Home Builders, but it was certainly a comment made for more than just to them!

STILL TODAY – nuclear proliferation!

Eight sovereign states have publicly announced successful detonation of nuclear weapons. And according to World Population Review, it includes the five major countries that occupy the five permanent slots on the United Nations Security Council. In reality─ including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moving the ‘Doomsday Clock’ but 90 seconds to midnight─ this world’s final world war fuse shortens!

Why is greed one of the main reason for war!? Greed causes an unfair taking away or destruction of another’s property. This can occur at all levels, from an individual to an entire nation. Why in the nearly 6,000 years of mankind’s history, that mankind has NEVER been able to stop warring!? To have “lasting peace”!?

Why war in the first place!?

There are certainly a number of reasons why kingdoms war against one another, and why war exists.

WAR IS A BUSINESS. There are some in a few circles that are saying that the U.S. could use a war to get the economy back up and running. Mike Moffatt, writing for ThoughtCo. says, no. He says─ This faulty belief stems from a misunderstanding of the economic way of thinking. 1 Irregardless, the manufacturing, producing, and selling of military hardware brings BIG MONEY! There are entire industries that flourish for this very reason! Thousands of jobs hinge on WEAPONS─ like the U.S.’s newest fighter jet, the F-15 EX!

Compared to the Great War (1914-1918), in which, according to some estimates 8,500,000 soldiers were killed and an unknown number of civilian casualties! ─ Today, with our modern, sophisticated, technologically superior military weapons, such as the F-15 EX, which is advertised as “Enhanced Survivability” ─ lethal and reliable, with a price tag of $87.7 million each─ our modern militaries have the ability to annihilate every man, woman, and child from the face of the earth!

Thoughts & Attitudes

It’s all in attitude of mind. Let us notice what our Lord Jesus Christ says –

“’ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23) All these evil things come from within and defile a man’” – Mark 7:21-23.

These evil thoughts from within the heart of man, uncontrolled, are what produces civil unrest, instabilities, territorial disputes, crises, and war! For when these evil things from within the heart of man has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death! - cf. James 1:14-15.

Nearly every nation and kingdom claim they want peace, but they want peace through their means ─ not the LORD God’s!

The LORD God’s Way of peace is based upon the love for others – cf. John 13:34. Yet love ─ true love ─ has been left out of human teaching throughout the ages. True unadulterated love is not even a part of the thinking of such groups as Antifa, the Black Lives Matter group, or the Bilderberg Group!

Greed, lust, and utter foolishness have been prevailing worldwide! Taking, instead of giving. Hating, instead of loving. And war is the final result. Civil unrest, among families, neighbors, kingdoms, and nations.

God’s living word lays it out before us!

A brother to our Lord Jesus, the apostle James writes –

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2) You lust [you covet] and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” – James 4:1-3.

In other words, individuals, kingdoms, and nations fight and kill ─ and in many cases, murder. Desiring to have. Is it any wonder why we do not have “lasting peace”!? And if God is sought─ surely the very God many know of as “THE UNKNOWN GOD,” the One in whom they claim to worship, though they know Him not (Acts 17:23), or even, sadly, a great many pray to or through Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus, or even to angels; which is forbidden ─ they ask for their own selfish interests.

Where does this attitude of selfishness and greed actually come from!?

Let us acknowledge a vital TRUTH! Satan the Devil is real! And he is a great military tactician! He influences human behavior for the worst! And this cunning evil “serpent of old” deceives all peoples, kingdoms, and nations.

“ … that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; …” – Revelation 12:9.

Again, it is his spiritual influence that causes civil unrest, instabilities, territorial disputes, crises, and war! Just how this “anointed cherub” became Satan the Adversary is explained in our sermon “Lucifer - Became Satan The Adversary.”

Mankind’s first parents, under the very influence of Satan the Devil, outright rejected the LORD God (the great family of God; at this time consisting of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) and Their Way. And mankind has reaped the consequence. Filled with hate, greed, and jealousy, Adam’s firstborn son, Cain, MURDERED his brother Abel!

“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; [under the guise of brotherly familiarity, he concealed his PREMEDITATED PURPOSE] and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and [MURDERED; 1 John 3:12] him” – Genesis 4:8.

And sadly, mankind has been killing and murdering ever since!

‘Repent, and believe in the gospel’!

The time is at hand─ national and individual repentance unto our great God Most High and our Sovereign Lord, along with the acknowledgment of Their ultimate power will protect all those who trust in the LORD God!

I watched again last night on television “We Were Soldiers,” starring Mel Gibson, in which he played the real Lieutenant General (Ret.) Hal Moore, which dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14th, 1965. And while watching I couldn’t help but mourn for the loss of life on both sides─ 234 US soldiers dead with 242 wounded, and over 1,500 North Vietnamese soldiers having been killed!

Our beloved apostle Paul – under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit says –

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20) Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ 21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” – Romans 12:19-21.

Our great and awesome LORD God has all power. Even if one nation were to turn to the Lord God─ the very One who made the world and everything in it─ He would protect that nation against its enemies.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” – Proverbs 16:7.

What nation or individual is willing to heed the Lord God’s message, TODAY!?

But even if our nations are not willing to heed His voice, His mercy comes─ “lasting peace” will be imposed upon a rebellious mankind for their own good.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ overcame our archenemy Satan the Devil! He qualified to become this earth’s RULER! He has PROMISED to return to earth –

“Now I saw heaven [the atmosphere] opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13) He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD [see John 1:1-14]. 14) And the armies in heaven [the atmosphere], clothed in fine linen, white and clean [representing righteousness], followed Him on white horses. 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp [two-edged] sword, that with it [His very living word; see Hebrews 4:12] He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” – Revelation 19:11-16.

When our Sovereign Lord returns He will put down any opposition against the kingdom of God! But WOE to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, [the atmosphere] ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God [God the Father], and the power of His Christ [our Lord Jesus Christ] have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down” – Revelation 12:10.

Notice chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation as well –

“And the stars of heaven [the atmosphere] fell to earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” - speaking of Satan the Devil and his minions.

Eventually, Satan the Devil along with his minions will be bound for a thousand years so that he cannot continue to deceive the whole world –

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven [again, the atmosphere], having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2) He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3) and cast him into the bottomless pit [the abyss; prison], and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. …” – Revelation 20:1-3.

Major violence and hate will subside. Military weaponry will be a thing of the past. Military weapons will be converted into peaceful and productive implements –

“He [the Lord our God] shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore” – Isaiah 2:4.

Instead, the LORD God’s Way of “lasting peace” will be taught from childhood. Knowledge about the LORD God and Their Way of life will prevail─

“Now it shall come to pass IN THE LATTER DAYS That the mountain of the LORD’s house [the headquarters of the kingdom of God; New Jerusalem] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [human ran kingdoms or governments], And shall be exalted above the hills [smaller nations]; and all nations shall flow to it” – Isaiah 2:2.

This is part of the glorious message from Father God that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ brought almost 2,000 years ago. Yet, this present evil world as a whole has rejected this message.

We and our affiliated churches ANNOUNCE THIS MESSAGE! □

1) Moffatt, M., Are Wars Good for the Economy? ThoughtCo. 7, 9, 2018; Retrieved 4 Feb. 2023.


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Thursday, February 2, 2023

January Stats

GREETINGS FRIENDS AND WARM HEARTS! Welcome! It's a BRAND NEW MONTH - February 2023! Here is the Stats for last month that you helped make possible!! Thank you so very much!

We thank YOU all, in the righteous and holy name, our Lord Jesus Christ,


Locations




Top Five Articles of Last Month


COJCOM's YOUTUBE CHANNEL had a total of 46 views. 39% less than Dec. 1-31, 2022. Also, the channel had 4.2 (hours) of watch time. 22% less than Dec. 1-31, 2022. Please pray that this percentage will greatly increase so that our Lord Jesus Christ's Message will reach as many of our peoples around the world that our heavenly Father will call out of this present evil world and out of darkness and into the glorious light of Christ!

We thank you for your continued love and support,

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