Signs & Wonders Blog

The like-titled 80s hit by the English band Madness has been going through my mind since receiving some disturbing news last Tuesday night. A former schoolmate visiting her parents emailed a message informing me my old childhood home was on fire! After my father and mother both died almost a year ago, the house had been unoccupied and was slated for demolition. Still, the fire department put out the flames and later determined it was caused by an arsonist. I have many memories growing up at 722 5th Street South in Moorhead, Minnesota. Originally built in 1902, this two-story house was bought by my parents in 1970 after renting various places during the early years of their marriage. One exciting thing for me as a six-year-old was having my own room. My little sister and I no longer had to share one. My second-floor bedroom was connected to a sun porch where I often played with my toys. Sometimes I’d open up a glass door and put on puppet shows while neighborhood kids watch...

Often I receive Facebook friend requests from ministers (mostly from Africa and Asia) who eventually ask for money. This is despite a notice on my wall stating I do not send donations in response to unsolicited emails . 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (KJV) tells us “…to know them which labour among you.” While some of the appeals I receive may be for legitimate purposes, many others are fraudulent. I prefer giving to preachers whose teachings have impacted my life. As Galatians 6:6 says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” However, we must watch out for scammers setting up Facebook pages pretending to be well-known ministers. A fellow evangelist told me about a time he exchanged messages with someone claiming to be Joyce Meyer . He knew it wasn’t real when “Joyce” started asking for money. One article I found online listed these excellent suggestions for giving: 1) Let the world take care of worldly charities. 2) Support your local c...

Those of you who know me are probably aware I frequently go to McDonald’s to drink coffee and work online with my laptop. You may be surprised to learn I once had a long standing grudge against the restaurant.  Back in 1976 as a twelve-year-old, I went inside McDonald’s one day to pick up dinner for my family. Initially, there were many other customers waiting to order. Over the next 45 minutes, everybody had been waited on except me! For some reason, employees asked people in line behind me for their orders. I didn’t speak up because I thought I was doing the right thing by being patient. By the time someone finally asked for my order, I was extremely upset. Back home I ate my McDonald’s food but then vowed never to eat there again. You might ask yourself, “So what’s the big deal? If you receive terrible service, don’t go back there.” I took my resentment towards McDonald’s to the extreme. Whenever my parents bought me food from there, I refused to eat it even if that ...

A recent poll in my hometown newspaper determined 58% of their readers “almost never” go to the movies. One woman wrote a letter exhorting us to go to more of them. She recommended seeing one in particular called “Eighth Grade.” I wrote a letter in response pointing out that movie is rated R due to its sexual themes and use of four-letter words. Ironically, that prevents actual eighth graders from seeing it unless an adult accompanies them. I was saddened to learn “Eighth Grade” was released internationally by Walt Disney Studios. Disney used to be synonymous with family-friendly entertainment. While I was growing up, Mom and Dad took my sister and me to many Disney movies.  I also remember wanting to see “Saturday Night Fever” as an eighth grader in 1978. My parents wouldn’t take me after seeing it for themselves and heard lots of foul language (we later watched an edited version on TV). Now as a God-fearing adult, I refuse to spend my money on movies filled with swea...

A few days ago I walked by a woman who said “hello” to me. I greeted her in return and then gave her a gospel tract seeing this as an evangelism opportunity. She wasn’t certain of going to heaven but believed the gospel. After offering to pray with her, this woman claimed God heard her prayers every night. She got defensive after I told her one must know Jesus to get into heaven. During our conversation, I kept thinking of what John 9:31 says, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.”   The Amplified Bible clarifies the meaning of this better… “ We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him.” There is a difference between hearing and listening. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines hearing as “the faculty of perceiving sounds.” That same dictionary defines listen as “give one’s attention to a sound.” ...