Signs & Wonders Blog

Many of my favorite preachers read from the old King James Version of the Bible. Personally, I have a hard time with its archaic English. That’s why I prefer using the New King James Version. It’s close enough to the KJV to where I can follow along and better understand what God is saying in HIs word. Still, there are King James Only advocates who criticize translations such as the New International Version for missing certain verses and phrases. For example, Colossians 1:14 in the NIV says, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” It doesn’t include the phrase “through His blood” used both in the KJV and NKJV.  Does this mean the New International Version dishonors the blood of Jesus? No! Six verses later it talks about “making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Ephesians 1:7 in the NIV says, “In him we have redemption through his blood…” Revelation 12:11 refers to “the blood of the Lamb.” Many other examples could be cited.  The a...

With the coronavirus lockdown in effect, many of us remained at home this past Easter weekend. The night before Resurrection Sunday, a friend I was staying with recommended seeing a new movie he had downloaded. I watched it the next morning. “I Still Believe” is about Christian rock musician Jeremy Camp. The movie begins with Jeremy leaving his hometown in Indiana to attend college in California. There he meets a woman named Melissa. Not long after the two get engaged, Melissa discovered she has cancer. Jeremy temporarily moved in with her parents to care for his fiancé who he later married. Melissa has successful surgery but the cancer came back. During another hospital stay, it appeared she was supernaturally healed since her pain went away. Sadly while Jeremy went to inform the doctors, Melissa suddenly died. After a time of mourning, Jeremy was inspired by a note written by his late wife to continue making music. He would go on to a successful career. While it’s God’s be...

One pastor who receives a lot of flak is Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Many Christians I know dismiss him as a false teacher for not talking more about sin and repentance. On the other hand, I have friends edified by his motivational messages. Previously, I defended Joel  despite not agreeing with everything he says to the media. In recent years, I’ve heard of him doing things considered questionable. Last year, a New York Daily News article claimed Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria attended a Lady Gaga concert. During a pre-concert reception, the Osteens posed on the carpet for a photograph with SiriusXM, Pandora, and Lady Gaga logos in the background. I was disturbed when first seeing this. So I sent emails to Joel Osteen Ministries requesting more information but didn’t receive a response. I had hoped Joel would release a statement explaining his intentions and what really happened. He might have simply attended the reception since he has a channel on ...

When preachers take a stand against religious tradition or government tyranny, there will be believers and nonbelievers that won’t like it. Such is the case with Rodney Howard-Browne , a South African-born revivalist who also pastors The River Church outside Tampa, Florida. Initially, Rodney became known for holy laughter manifestations at his meetings. While that still occasionally happens, the focus of Rodney’s ministry is seeing souls saved. The first time I saw Rodney Howard-Browne was in Toronto in August 1996. God mightily touched me at those meetings. A few weeks later, Rodney started his church. I never got to visit there until 2002. In the meantime, I attended more Rodney Howard-Browne meetings at my home church in Minnesota and one in Pensacola, Florida. Contrary to popular belief, Rodney wasn’t part of the Brownsville Revival but did pray for Randy Clark, the minister God later used to spark the Toronto Blessing . For almost two decades, I’ve made seasonal moves to T...