Signs & Wonders Blog

When Christian movies hit the silver screen nationwide, I make it a priority to go see them as soon as possible (but usually opt for matinees when ticket prices are lower). “Light of the World” premiered in theaters on September 5th. At the time, I was staying with a pastor and his family in the Buffalo area. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t showing at the nearest theater there. Earlier this week, I took a train to Northern Virginia to spend a few days with my friend Jim . Since he’s a movie buff, we both went to see “Light of the World” this past Thursday. This animated story of Jesus is told through the apostle John. At the beginning of the movie, John, a young boy, is eager to assist his family’s fishing business. However, his father, Zebedee, faces the threat of being enslaved due to unpaid taxes. In his quest to bring the fish to market and raise the required funds, John inadvertently encounters the Messiah, whom his mother had spoken of. Eventually, John and his brother James dec...

One reason I’m thankful for being an American is religious liberty. The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees our freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble. In recent years, there have been increasing threats to those freedoms. Some individuals resort to violence against those they disagree with. This past Wednesday, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a public debate on the Utah Valley University campus. I hadn’t closely followed Charlie, but I now have a greater appreciation for his Turning Point USA organization. Their founder has become a martyr like Stephen in the book of Acts. The word martyr comes from the Greek word mártys, meaning “witness.” Since the resurrection of Jesus, many other believers died for their faith in Him. All the original twelve apostles were martyred except for John. The book of Revelation mentions Antipas in chapter 2, a group of martyrs in chapter 6, and the two witnesses in chapter 11. Protestants who were tortured and ...

This past Thursday night, I watched the first few minutes of the NFL regular season opener between the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Just before the first play from scrimmage, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter spat upon Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. That resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Eagles and Carter’s ejection from the game. Most people consider spitting on someone offensive and disrespectful. It can transmit disease, cause personal harm, and disgust to the victim. It’s a form of assault and battery, which can lead to criminal charges, fines, jail time, probation, and a permanent criminal record. Spitting on public servants is treated as a felony. On the other hand, guests will pretend to spit on couples getting married in Greece as a form of good luck (I learned that from watching the 2002 movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”).  While walking to McDonald’s one morning, I stopped to minister to ...