Signs & Wonders Blog

In a 1967 “Dragnet” episode titled “ The Big High ”, Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Bill Gannon investigate a couple who were regular marijuana users. When the husband suggested the drug would one day become “packaged and taxed and sold right off the shelves”, Gannon replied, “I doubt it.” Back then, the legalization of marijuana seemed unthinkable to many Americans. In recent years, an increasing number of weed dispensaries have opened around the country. At the time of this writing, cannabis is legal in 40 states for medical use. 24 states allow recreational use if purchased from authorized dealers. While in high school, I heard this saying: “Man made booze , God made grass. Who do you trust? God.” Even some Christians try to justify marijuana usage because of what He said in Genesis 1:29,  “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”  Keep in mind that the sta...

During my childhood, I was frequently bullied by classmates. By the time I became a Christian at the age of 27, I had largely forgotten those painful experiences, but I still needed inner healing. Over the next few years, the Holy Spirit worked on my soul as I verbally forgave those who had hurt me. It can be deeply hurtful when we encounter wrongdoing from fellow Christians, particularly preachers. Recently, a renowned pastor named Robert Morris was released from jail after serving six months for old child sex abuse charges. Morris had engaged in multiple sexual encounters with an underage girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s while he was a young traveling evangelist. After Cindy Clemishire told her parents about it, Morris left the ministry for two years and received counseling. He later founded Gateway Church in the Dallas area. I wasn’t familiar with Robert Morris before his past sins made national headlines (I’ve since listened to a sermon of his on evangelism that was really goo...

Since the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this year, more movies are coming out about America’s founding era. A historical drama film called “Young Washington” is scheduled for release on July 3rd. Last Thursday night, a pastor and his wife invited me to go see “A Great Awakening.” I had seen a trailer for this a few months ago, but I wasn’t aware it was released for Easter weekend. “A Great Awakening” delves into the unlikely friendship between American founding father Benjamin Franklin and English preacher George Whitefield (pronounced “whit field”). Franklin resists his father’s wish for him to pursue a career in preaching. Instead, he embarks on a successful venture in establishing a renowned print shop. Years later, Franklin’s grandson stumbles upon old journals belonging to George Whitefield. This discovery triggers a flashback that takes the audience on a journey through the preacher’s life. Whitefield, initially aspiring to be an actor, pursued his dream at ...

This Wednesday, Apple Computer Company celebrates its golden anniversary. It was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Today, Apple’s product range encompasses smartphones, tablets, and various electronic devices, alongside laptops and desktop computers. Some Christians have raised concerns about certain aspects of Apple Inc. Their first computer was priced at $666.66. While I can understand how a believer might feel uneasy purchasing a product with all sixes in the price, it’s not the Mark of the Beast . Buyers didn’t have that stamped on their right hand or forehead. Wozniak himself claims that he was unaware of the connection between the number and the beast mentioned in the book of Revelation. He came up with the price because he liked “repeating digits.” The Apple logo has also been a source of controversy. Some Christians believe the bite was inspired by the forbidden fruit consumed in the Garden of Eden. However, the Bible doesn’t explicitl...

This past Monday night at Union Station in Washington, DC, I noticed a woman wearing a T-shirt that stated “Faith Can Move Mountains”, plus made reference to Matthew 17:20. She later approached me asking about electric outlets available. I pointed to one I was using to charge up my iPhone. She then plugged in her phone in the extra open socket. I went on to compliment the woman’s shirt and asked if she knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She mentioned liking the artwork and then asked what denomination I was.   This woman eventually revealed her Jewish heritage and later attended a Methodist church, but she found it unfulfilling. She now identifies as a gnostic and claims to have gained a deeper understanding of spiritual matters. I referred to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which talks about “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” She made statements about Jesus tha...

This past Tuesday night after a church dinner a friend invited me to, I heard a sermon titled “Church Hurt.” The minister, using pseudonyms, shared real-life examples of individuals who were abused by clergy and congregation members. It reminded me of this quote from Brennan Manning: “The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”  On her website, a Christian therapist named Dr. Alison Cook listed these examples of church hurt: A single mom whose church promised to stand by her, then disappeared after she got a divorce from her abusive husband A kind-hearted woman who was told that she would “burn in hell” if she made friends with the “wrong” kind of people A young couple forced out of their church after they stood up to a narcissistic pastor A man who opened up about his struggles only to be told his...