Signs & Wonders Blog

One of the things the Lord used to prepare me for ministry was Toastmasters, an organization people join to improve their public speaking skills. In every Toastmasters meeting, the person assigned as the grammarian introduces a “word of the day” to encourage speakers to expand their vocabulary. My particular Toastmasters club also used a clicker whenever the person speaking uttered filler words like “um”, “ah”, “er”, and “you know.” I’ve noticed many Christians habitually insert the word “just” whenever they are praying or praising the Lord. Listen closely the next time you’re at a church service or prayer meeting. You will likely hear people say, “I just pray that…” or “I just praise You for…” or “We just thank You…” Perhaps you picked up that habit because you heard other believers doing the same thing. The Bible does say, “The just shall live by faith” and the blood of Jesus justifies us. But I don't see how the overuse of the word “just” adds extra power to prayers an...

There are increasing news reports of homosexuals walking into Christian-owned businesses and threatening legal action if refused service. One pizzeria in Indiana was set up by a local TV station but that ploy backfired. The owners temporarily closed their doors after receiving all kinds of threats for announcing they wouldn’t cater food at a same-sex wedding. Someone launched a GoFundMe page for this pizzeria to help offset lost income resulting from this fiasco. In just a few days, almost 30,000 people donated over $840,000! One of my Facebook friends recently posted a photo suggesting Christian bakers make TWO wedding cakes when approached by gay couples because Jesus told us to “go the extra mile.” I believe this is a misapplication  of God’s word. Christians are not to affirm sexual immorality but flee from it (1 Corinthians 6:18). Years ago I worked as a disc jockey at a variety of places including wedding receptions. If I was still doing that today and someone asked m...

Some Christians prefer to call Easter “Resurrection Sunday.” One reason is the word Easter supposedly derived from the name of a goddess associated with spring. Because of this, a few Christians consider Easter a pagan holiday and distance themselves from it. Nevertheless, modern dictionaries define Easter as a Christian festival. It’s also worth noting the word Easter is found in the King James Bible; “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) I believe one can get too religious about certain holidays. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Easter is an excellent time to tell sinners about what the Savior did for them so they have the opportunity to receive eternal life.   One time in Charleston, South Carolina, I took part in an Easter Party Outreach he...