Friday Morning Live

Rev. Dr. Melvin L. Johnson was raised in a small southern Texas town during the volatile sixties and seventies. He witnessed and experienced much of the cultural changes that were powered by the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam War. He and his two siblings grew up in a home with traditional Judeo-Christian values surrounded by a community where “taking a village to raise a child” was normal as well as acceptable. One unique character trait within him was to see himself as an equal to people of other races who may have considered him inferior and identified racial hatred as being the most important issue of the time in need of solving. With an unquenchable desire to identify and solve the most pressing social problems of our time, Dr. Johnson was licensed to preach the gospel in April of 1988 at Hall Chapel Baptist Church and has been the senior pastor of the Heart of Christ Community Church where he and Sheena, wife of 42 years, have served for 27 years. He has earned a BA degree in Religious Education, MA degree in Christian Counseling and a DM in Theology from Covington School of Theology. He has authored several books such as Junk Food in the Body of Christ, Overcoming Racism Through the Gospel and From Heaven to You.  

Dr. Johnson’s most recent book is Understanding Socialism and the Dangers It Brings. He communicates that the socialist movement in the United States has exerted influences throughout practically every aspect of American life, affecting all from the basic family unit to the Oval Office of the President of the United States of America. For this reason, he has written this book for the purpose of helping individuals to understand how dangerous socialism—the forerunner to communism—actually is! He has worked to present eight observations reflective of socialism’s nature and the effects it has had on cultures and nations past and present. He subtitles this book “A Basic Primer” not to demean or speak to the reader in a tone of condescension, but to ensure that the reader gets the message without being pulled within the proverbial tall grass. 

We began this week’s Threatt Report with a word of honor and respect for the late President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was seen as a true believer in Jesus Christ, a humanitarian, a true American Patriot. 

(The Epoch Times, January 8, 2025): " More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders as wildfires affect heavily populated communities in Los Angeles County. " Click here to read more.

(The Epoch Times, January 6, 2025): "Vice President Kamala Harris followed up the congressional certification of Donald Trump’s presidential win by delivering brief remarks on her role on Jan. 6.

Speaking with reporters at the Capitol after the ceremony on Jan. 6, Harris said she performed her constitutional duty “to ensure that the people of America, the voters of America, will have their votes counted, that those votes matter, and that they will determine the outcome of an election.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has expressed triumph upon the certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral victory.

“In two weeks, President Trump will take the oath of office, cementing the greatest political comeback in American history,” he said in a Jan. 6 statement.

“His landslide election and corresponding mandate from the American people dictate that Congress waste no time in delivering on the America First agenda, and we are prepared to hit the ground running,” he continued." Click here to read more.

Remarks: This was encouraging to see just how professional Mrs. Harris carried herself. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

President-elect Donald Trump has filed an emergency request for an appeals court in New York to halt proceedings in his business records case, which is headed toward sentencing on Jan. 10.

(The Epoch Times, January 7, 2025): "“To go forward with a sentencing, with its inevitable threat of stigma, opprobrium, and potential criminal penalties, would pose risks to America’s vital interests that are intolerable and unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause and the doctrine of Presidential immunity,” Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche said in a filing on Jan. 7.

The filing was made after New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s attempt to delay sentencing." Click here to read more.

Remarks: The Appeal courts denied his request.  As of today, there is a request by the Trump legal team to the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in this matter. We will know before the end of the day if any intervention has been granted. Most Americans believe that this legal assault against President Trump is politically motivated and should be halted by the Supreme Court. (Dr. Leon Threatt) 

(The Washington Stand, January 6, 2025): "On Monday, President Joe Biden banned all new oil and gas drilling in all federal waters — approximately 625 million acres. Due to the terms of the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President-elect Donald Trump may not be able to administratively reverse the decision, without congressional action. Alongside Biden’s last-minute drilling bans on federal lands in Alaska and Nevada, this move is designed to severely restrict Trump’s ability to kickstart the American economy with an invigorating shot of cheap, domestically produced energy.

The Biden administration’s offshore oil ban is part of a larger strategy to “Trump-proof” the federal government before Trump assumes office in two weeks. The strategy involves erecting as many administrative and personnel barriers as possible to Trump’s declared objectives, from economic tourniquets in the name of environmentalism to filling agency employment before Trump attempts to clean house."  Click here to read more.

• Canada becomes a part of the USA?
• The purchase of Greenland?
• Reclaiming the Panama Canal?
• Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America?

What do these all have in common? What may be happening and we have not been given the full story? This may be more about national security than we see. Canada has been moving towards socialism and communism more and more for the last few decades. The resignation of Canada’s Prime Minister Trudou is telling to the challenges related to Canada. I suspect that Mr. Trump sees this national threat and may be attempting to ensure a greater security to the north. Greenland can be an important location for America because it is nearest to Russia and China. It can provide an important defensive or offensive location against any threat posed by Russia or China. The Panama Canal is a significant security asset to America. The American Naval fleet must be able to get back and forth through the Canal without hinderance. I suspect China has been using it under the disguise of international trade. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

(The Red Alert News): "Days ahead of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning, declaring, “all hell will break out” if hostages held in Gaza are not released by January 20, the day he will be sworn into office. With tensions escalating, Trump’s designated envoy Steve Witkoff is critical to resolving the crisis through high-stakes negotiations in Qatar. This could signal a significant shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy as Trump prepares to reclaim leadership with a firm hand. President-elect Trump has emphatically declared that the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is paramount. He warned that without significant resolution by January 20—his inauguration date—intense diplomatic and potentially military reactions could follow." Click here to read more.

Remarks: This warning is certainly needed, but I am not sure what actions taken by the U.S. could be considered “all hell will break out.” The Israeli army has done a masterful job engaging and dismantling Hamas. This real culprit is Iran and that’s where the pressure must be applied. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

(The Epoch Times, January 8, 2025): "A grand jury in Florida that was convened to investigate COVID-19 vaccines has concluded its work by issuing no indictment, despite uncovering what it described as “many acute and systemic problems.” …The grand jury looked at various Florida laws but determined that none of the conduct it examined warranted charges.

“There are a few reasons for this conclusion,” the grand jury stated. “First, our investigation did not uncover any activities by sponsors or other associated organizations with respect to COVID-19 vaccines that were not approved by federal regulators, either directly or indirectly." Click here to read more.

Remarks: This story was particularly interesting to me because the Threatt Report was launched in part because of the misinformation related to COVID-19. From this grand jury report, we can conclude that the crimes and grand failures fall on the head of federal agencies like the CDC, FDA, NIH, and WHO. A colossal failure by all of them. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

(The Epoch Times, January 7, 2025): "CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta will be working with President-elect Donald Trump. Meta is ending its fact-checking program in the United States and replacing it with community notes, similar to the system used by Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, the company announced on Jan. 7. After President-elect Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Meta started a fact-checking program. Third parties would tackle some topics, leading to posts being removed or flagged. “It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression on Facebook and Instagram,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video." Click here to read more.

Remarks: Facebook and many of the social media platforms have made it their practice to sensor and cancel content they did not like. It’s encouraging to see progress made in this direction. Free speech must be preserved, even if you don’t agree with it or find it offensive. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

(January 7, 2025): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced yesterday he would resign from office, paving the way for his Liberal Party to choose a replacement ahead of general elections expected to take place by October. The move may help avoid a no-confidence vote by the legislature, which appeared likely after the New Democratic Party withdrew its support from Trudeau’s coalition government.

Assuming power in 2015, Trudeau entered office with significant popular support while championing a progressive agenda. His approval ratings have since sunk from around 65% to close to 20%, driven in part by inflation, a housing crunch, and concerns over high levels of immigration. He was also criticized by members of his administration—including Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who resigned last month—over how to respond to tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump.

(The Washington Stand, January 8, 2025): "The calendar may have changed, but 2025 is picking up right where last year left off in the battle against corporate wokeness. In the biggest shocker since Walmart, fast-food icon McDonald’s announced that after years of force-feeding DEI to shareholders and customers, political neutrality is back on the menu. For activists, the news is even more astonishing since the Golden Arches had a perfect 100% score on LGBT activism from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) just last year. But, like so many boardrooms before it, McDonald’s decided to surrender before Robby Starbuck even declared war. In a letter made public Monday, the hamburger chain announced to their owner/operators, employees, and suppliers that this new year meant turning a new leaf on diversity. Although they declare their steadfast commitment to “inclusion,” Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski, along with McDonald’s top leaders, spent the final half of the letter explaining that they’ve identified practices that they intend to “modify,” including:

• The retirement of “aspirational representation goals” (i.e. diversity quotas in hiring)
• The “pausing” of “external surveys” like HRC’s radical Corporate Equality Index
• The end of its “Supply Chain’s Mutual Commitment to DEI pledge.”

 Click here to read more.

Remarks: This is another step in the right direction. More and more corporations are waking up and returning to common sense. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

While there is an awakening to common sense in America, may we who are devoted to a Biblical Worldview take this opportunity to communicate truth with renewed passion. My commitment remains to share the good news of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 NKJV) and to “…make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV).

The lasting changes needed in America can only come by a genuine change of the human heart. (Dr. Leon Threatt)

I honor all those great men and women who have served. It’s reported that 22 veterans commit suicide a day. I attended the Matthews’ Rotary Club Veteran’s luncheon on Monday. I got a photo of two WWII vets—Charles C. Richardson, 101-years-old Air Force and Martin Waters, 98-years-old Navy. I was so honored to stand in their midst. I have sworn and affirmed my allegiance to the Constitution as a Marine, Police Officer, and a Commissioner and I have never withdrawn my commitment and devotion to my beloved nation. (Dr. Leon Threatt) 

Take Aways for Me

 God is so very merciful!

• America has consistently moved further away from the Biblical values and principles that made it great. Yet, we are given a window of mercy and grace. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Psalm 33:12). 

Election 2024, now what? Presidency, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Attorney General. 

• The cost and price of the vote? Veteran’s & Memorial Days are some of the cost. 
• This election, Federal and State was clearly about life or death of the child in the womb. 
• America is an exceptional nation. According to Congressman Bob McEwen, 5% of the world population has come up with 75% of the world’s inventions.
• I seldom share matters related to color. There was a time when Black citizens had limited or no access to the ballot box. We owe it to all those who paid a great price.
• My friend and mentor, Bishop EW Jackson, says to have been born in America is to have won the proverbial lottery.

Click here to read more.

Garland R. Hunt is a proven strategic leader with a dynamic ministry background and extensive experience in criminal justice, religious liberty and race relations. He recently authored "Crisis in America: A Christian Response" (2021). 

His executive leadership spans some 30 years, with the Fellowship of International Churches, Wellington Boone Ministries and New Generation Campus Ministries, which prepared him for an appointment as President of Prison Fellowship in July of 2011 until September of 2013, an organization that partners with some 7,700 churches and 14,000 volunteers.

He has extensive work as an advocate for religious liberty and criminal justice reform. He is co-Founder of the OneRace Racial Healing Movement. He also serves as a consultant with Alliance Defending Freedom and co-founder of the coalition of religious liberty in Georgia. 

Hunt serves on the Board of Directors and as the Vice Chairman of Crossroads Prison Ministries and has served as Vice President of the Association of Paroling Authorities International.

In 2004, he was appointed to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, by Governor Sonny Perdue as a member of an executive board authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, commutations and the restoration of civil and political rights for Georgia’s inmates. Hunt eventually became chairman of the board in 2006.

In 2010, he was commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, overseeing a staff of 4,500 employees, and managed the care of 52,000 youth who were under the supervision and detention of the juvenile justice department. 

In early 2021, Hunt was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp (GA) to the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission.

In 1993, he founded the Raleigh International Church; an influential ministry with the mission of racial reconciliation. In March 2015, he was installed as Senior Pastor of the Father’s House in Norcross Georgia. Each week, Bishop Hunt demonstrates his pastors heart through his passionate preaching and vibrant leadership.

After completing a B.A. from Howard University in 1980 and JD from Howard University School of Law in 1983, he served as a judicial law clerk and staff attorney with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Garland and his lovely wife Eileen have been married for 39 years. They have three grown children, Garland Jr., Christa, Jeremy, daughter in laws Melissa and Ky, son in law Brian and six grandchildren.

Today's America is faced with multiple challenges that are impossible for anyone to escape. I can't breathe. Black Lives Matter. Not my president. George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. COVID-19. Breonna Taylor. Pandemic. Impeachment. Democrat. Republican. Socialism. These names and phrases spark controversy and a range of emotions including rage, hurt, sadness, and sometimes even hopelessness. How can 21st century followers of Christ react the same as nonbelievers? How can they recognize the areas in which God could be calling them into our country's combative culture war? How should they respond to national crises the way Jesus would? What is the Church's role in initiating and facilitating racial healing and reconciliation in the cities and towns across our great land?Crisis in America: A Christian Response answers these questions and challenges Christians and nonbelievers alike to go against the natural tendency to be influenced by the culture and the headlines and develop a God-inspired view to the turmoil of today. 

Garland R. Hunt is a proven strategic leader with a dynamic ministry background and extensive experience in criminal justice, religious liberty and race relations. He recently authored "Crisis in America: A Christian Response" (2021). 

His executive leadership spans some 30 years, with the Fellowship of International Churches, Wellington Boone Ministries and New Generation Campus Ministries, which prepared him for an appointment as President of Prison Fellowship in July of 2011 until September of 2013, an organization that partners with some 7,700 churches and 14,000 volunteers.

He has extensive work as an advocate for religious liberty and criminal justice reform. He is co-Founder of the OneRace Racial Healing Movement. He also serves as a consultant with Alliance Defending Freedom and co-founder of the coalition of religious liberty in Georgia. 

Hunt serves on the Board of Directors and as the Vice Chairman of Crossroads Prison Ministries and has served as Vice President of the Association of Paroling Authorities International.

In 2004, he was appointed to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, by Governor Sonny Perdue as a member of an executive board authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, commutations and the restoration of civil and political rights for Georgia’s inmates. Hunt eventually became chairman of the board in 2006.

In 2010, he was commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, overseeing a staff of 4,500 employees, and managed the care of 52,000 youth who were under the supervision and detention of the juvenile justice department. 

In early 2021, Hunt was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp (GA) to the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission.

In 1993, he founded the Raleigh International Church; an influential ministry with the mission of racial reconciliation. In March 2015, he was installed as Senior Pastor of the Father’s House in Norcross Georgia. Each week, Bishop Hunt demonstrates his pastors heart through his passionate preaching and vibrant leadership.

After completing a B.A. from Howard University in 1980 and JD from Howard University School of Law in 1983, he served as a judicial law clerk and staff attorney with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Garland and his lovely wife Eileen have been married for 39 years. They have three grown children, Garland Jr., Christa, Jeremy, daughter in laws Melissa and Ky, son in law Brian and six grandchildren.

Today's America is faced with multiple challenges that are impossible for anyone to escape. I can't breathe. Black Lives Matter. Not my president. George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. COVID-19. Breonna Taylor. Pandemic. Impeachment. Democrat. Republican. Socialism. These names and phrases spark controversy and a range of emotions including rage, hurt, sadness, and sometimes even hopelessness. How can 21st century followers of Christ react the same as nonbelievers? How can they recognize the areas in which God could be calling them into our country's combative culture war? How should they respond to national crises the way Jesus would? What is the Church's role in initiating and facilitating racial healing and reconciliation in the cities and towns across our great land?Crisis in America: A Christian Response answers these questions and challenges Christians and nonbelievers alike to go against the natural tendency to be influenced by the culture and the headlines and develop a God-inspired view to the turmoil of today. 

I honor all those great men and women who have served. It’s reported that 22 veterans commit suicide a day. I attended the Matthews’ Rotary Club Veteran’s luncheon on Monday. I got a photo of two WWII vets—Charles C. Richardson, 101-years-old Air Force and Martin Waters, 98-years-old Navy. I was so honored to stand in their midst. I have sworn and affirmed my allegiance to the Constitution as a Marine, Police Officer, and a Commissioner and I have never withdrawn my commitment and devotion to my beloved nation. (Dr. Leon Threatt) 

Take Aways for Me

 God is so very merciful!

• America has consistently moved further away from the Biblical values and principles that made it great. Yet, we are given a window of mercy and grace. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Psalm 33:12). 

Election 2024, now what? Presidency, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Attorney General. 

• The cost and price of the vote? Veteran’s & Memorial Days are some of the cost. 
• This election, Federal and State was clearly about life or death of the child in the womb. 
• America is an exceptional nation. According to Congressman Bob McEwen, 5% of the world population has come up with 75% of the world’s inventions.
• I seldom share matters related to color. There was a time when Black citizens had limited or no access to the ballot box. We owe it to all those who paid a great price.
• My friend and mentor, Bishop EW Jackson, says to have been born in America is to have won the proverbial lottery.

Click here to read more.