Signs & Wonders Blog

In response to evangelism testimonies I’ve posted on Facebook, a few individuals (mostly from other countries) asked me to mail them gospel tracts. My Facebook page clearly says I don't give donations in response to unsolicited emails. I also point out to foreigners it is expensive to ship stuff overseas. One ministry called the Fellowship Tract League sends out free tracts “as the Lord provides.” However, I’ve recommended googling “free gospel tracts”, find the one they like best, and then making printouts from their home, church, or at a print shop. One can immediately use the tracts instead of waiting weeks for a shipment. Another option is to write your own gospel tract. Although I still use Nick Kinn’s “ Have You Heard the Good News ”, I’ve written a few of my own. The first was used outside a Marilyn Manson concert in Minneapolis. I wrote a brief version of my testimony, which included my background in the music business. Since then, I’ve written other tracts. Most were mo

As a missionary, I usually avoid traveling anywhere unless hospitality is extended to me. However, the Lord led me to take a train ride to California this past week using an Amtrak rail pass. Not having any connections in the Bay Area, I logged onto  Hotels.com to search for a motel room close to the train station. Despite them being overpriced, I reserved a room for two nights at the Bay Bridge Inn. Then the day before leaving Omaha (where I taught evangelism at a house church), I went on Booking.com. Previously, I used that website to get a motel room in San Antonio. This time I found the above listing for a hotel in Alameda offering rooms for only $20 per night. Thinking this was divine favor, I booked that room and canceled my other reservation. While telling a few friends about this deal, I perceived something wasn’t right. My train arrived late at the Emeryville Amtrak station. So I tried calling the Lieber Hotel to postpone my prearranged check-in time. There was no answer.

This past week I stayed with a friend in Topeka, Kansas. Robert reminded me of a well-known church based in this city. Westboro Baptist Church has attracted international attention but for the wrong reasons. This small congregation regularly protests at a variety of venues such as government buildings, sporting events, rock concerts, and funerals for fallen soldiers. They hold up signs claiming God hates the USA, the military, and other things. Most members are relatives of founder Fred Phelps who died in 2014.  Westboro Baptist Church primarily preaches against homosexuality. Instead of using a domain like westborobaptist.com, their website is “godhatesfags.com.” Yes, the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination. However, there are other things God considers abominable. Look at Proverbs 6: 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are sw

Many people let their goals go dormant as they get older. Sometimes it’s due to disappointments in life. Philippians 3:13 tells us to forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. Others become consumed with present-day concerns such as family responsibilities and paying the bills. Those things shouldn’t be neglected. However, we weren’t created to live a mundane existence. Daniel 11:32 says,  “…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” God wants us to be dreamers. Look at Psalm 126… 1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.   2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. God has given us talents that sometimes go beyond our natural abilities. That’s so He gets the glory. During the late 1980s, I worke

Last month while riding a train through Baltimore, I saw a billboard like this one advertising “Moshiach is Here.” Moshiach is the Hebrew word for “Messiah.” The man seen on these billboards in various cities is an Orthodox rabbi named Menachem Mendel Schneerson (a/k/a Lubavitcher Rebbe), who passed away in 1994. Followers of him believe he is the Messiah despite being dead for almost thirty years. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:4-5, “Take heed that no one deceives you.   For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Occasionally, I meet individuals claiming to be God or Jesus. I expose these imposters by pointing out they don’t have nail prints in their hands. I also ask false Christs how many hairs are on my head since God has them numbered (Matthew 10:30). Some religious groups claim the Second Coming has already happened. Jehovah’s Witnesses preach that Jesus returned invisibly in 1914. Revelation 1:7 says otherwise,  “Behold, He is coming with c