Signs & Wonders Blog

It’s often been said, “Think before you speak.” As James 1:19 says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Nowadays with texting and emails, we should think twice before typing and posting something online. In the words of one pastor friend: “Put brain into gear before putting mouth/finger into action.” Too many people quickly share stuff on social media without checking its veracity. As a result, hoaxes have circulated for years such as the “ 22 Christian missionary families that will be executed today in Afghanistan. ” I have a policy not to forward any chain letter or meme and will block (but not unfriend) individuals who persist in sending me these messages. One type of chain letter that can have negative consequences is those involving missing people. I’ve received messages with pleas such as, “If it was your child, you would want all the help you could get.” If it was my child and he/she was found, I wou...

Probably everyone in the world has been affected by the coronavirus scare. Cities, states, and countries have issued varying levels of lockdown. I’m used to hanging out somewhere every day to drink coffee and work online with my laptop. McDonald’s, Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee are still open but currently serve only drive-thru customers. Therefore, I’m mostly having coffee at home. Churches have also been impacted by the coronavirus. This past Wednesday I planned on going to one’s midweek service but found out they were live-streaming only. Fortunately, I heard of another fellowship that stayed open and went there instead. It felt good to worship the Lord in the presence of other believers. A guest minister advised us not to be critical of pastors who temporarily cancel gatherings out of respect to government guidelines and concern for those fearful of the virus. Although I’ve mostly stayed at home working on various projects, there have been opportunities to share the g...

Every year at this time, fans flock to college basketball tournaments often referred to as March Madness. However, a new kind of craziness has affected this and other events. For the last few days, the airwaves have been dominated by reports concerning the coronavirus. Sporting events have been canceled. Schools are closing. Flights to the U. S. from Europe have been halted. Stores are being depleted of toilet paper and other necessities. I can imagine things like this happening after the church is raptured. Some churches have canceled services in response to political leaders discouraging large gatherings of people. However, believers who know their authority in Christ can resist all diseases including the coronavirus. Back in 1910, a plague swept through portions of Africa. An American missionary named John G. Lake went over there to help and the plague never touched him. A doctor asked Lake what he’d been doing to protect himself. Lake replied… “Brother, it is the law of ...

“Welcome Home” Copyright 2011  Danny Hahlbohm Over the centuries, many have speculated what Jesus looks like. Artists have created stained glass depictions of the Lord as well as paintings like Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Artwork like this can minister to people. On the night of my conversion, I saw this painting in the home of my sister and her husband. To this day, it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a reminder of how much the Lord loves us. Recently I turned down a friend request from a young man whose Facebook page promoted religious ideas that go beyond mainstream Christianity. Among them was criticism of Christians having artwork of Jesus. This man considers that idolatry. Let’s examine the Second Commandment…  “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”  - Exodus 20:4-5 (KJV) One could misinterpre...

Whenever visiting the Washington, DC area, I usually stay with a friend who’s a retired government worker. Shortly after meeting Jim at Calvary Campground nearly thirteen years ago, he invited me to live at his home in Northern Virginia for a season. During that time, I got to lead him in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Since then, we’ve gone to various church services and revival meetings together. Jim is still a member of an Anglican Church that’s more traditional than I prefer. Nevertheless, I’ve gone to a few of their bible studies and other gatherings. This past Tuesday, we went to an all-you-can-eat pancake dinner. On our way there, I noticed a sign in front of a Methodist church doing the same thing. Soon I learned this is a tradition with some denominations the day before Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines Lent as “the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abst...