Signs & Wonders Blog

Five years ago today, a tragedy happened in Minneapolis that impacted the world. A black man named George Floyd died while being in police custody. He was arrested for passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. A video from a bystander’s cellphone that went viral showed officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes while he complained, “I can’t breathe.” Like most people, I first assumed Chauvin caused Floyd’s death. Later, I realized this was an example of circumstantial evidence .  The 2023 documentary “ The Fall of Minneapolis ” revealed details largely withheld from the general public. George Floyd had multiple drugs in his system. Police body camera videos showed him resisting arrest and refusing to be placed in the back of a squad car while handcuffed. That’s why Floyd needed to be restrained. He uttered “I can’t breathe” even before Chauvin’s knee was on his neck. I believe drugs plus preexisting health conditions killed Floyd. The four arres...

Another highly publicized trial in Minnesota involving the death of a black man by police has ended. Kim Potter was a 26-year veteran for the Brooklyn Center Police Department. This past Thursday, she was found guilty of both first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11th shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Potter’s sentencing is on February 18th. She could face up to 15 years in prison. Officer Potter made a tragic mistake by confusing her handgun with a taser during a traffic stop. However, I found it disturbing to hear Black Lives Matter activists cry “justice for Daunte.” The 20-year-old had an outstanding warrant  plus a criminal record . He got shot by Potter while resisting arrest and then committed another crime: fleeing the police in a motor vehicle. That alone is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of $5,000. I was also disturbed by Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu praising the jurors as “heroes” for their verdi...

In less than a month, the National Football League will begin a new regular season. I used to enjoy watching their games on TV. This year I plan to shy away from that even more.   Many fans like myself are opposed to the NFL permitting players to disrespect “The Star-Spangled Banner. ” Last year, the league started pairing that with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has been called a “black national anthem.” Despite widespread criticism, Commissioner Roger Goodell declared, “We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter…Without black players, there would be no National Football League.”  That’s not entirely true. The league existed before segregation in professional sports ended. I’m not against “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a song. It originated from a Christian hymnal. However, playing a “black national anthem” before games is divisive instead of unifying. As stated before, I do not support the Black Lives Matter movement . The league has also succumbed...

Almost a year ago, the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked riots there and in other cities. Then last Sunday, the police shooting of Daunte Wright in the adjoining suburb of Brooklyn Center resulted in more unrest. These and other incidents have spurred greater attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Their mission “is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”  Certainly, I’m against racism. However, there are reasons why I will not support BLM: Black Lives Matter dishonors authority. I’ve seen protesters make ugly remarks and gestures toward the police. Those crying “justice for Daunte Wright” need to be reminded he was being arrested for an outstanding warrant. While it’s tragic Daunte was accidentally shot and killed, that wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t committed another crime: fleeing the police. Romans 13:4 says, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if ...

Once again, we are in the midst of an election that is becoming more contentious than  in 2016 . As previously stated in this blog, I vote for Republican candidates because that party’s platform is more in line with Judeo-Christian values. Nevertheless, I have a few friends and relatives who vote for Democrats. I won’t belittle their convictions but question how professing believers can support policies that go against God’s word. There’s a meme circulating online by progressive Christians titled “My Faith Compels Me to Vote Blue.” Here’s my response to all their listed reasons: “Refugees and immigrants should be fully welcomed.” I’m okay with foreigners moving to America if they do so legally and assimilate as law-abiding citizens. I don’t agree with letting just anyone cross our borders. Would you welcome a stranger into your home without knowing his intentions? What if that stranger wanted to rob you or cause harm to your family? “All people deserve access to affo...

In the state where I’ve lived most of my life, you sometimes hear the phrase “Minnesota nice.” Wikipedia defines it as “…the stereotypical behavior of people born and raised in Minnesota to be courteous, reserved, and mild-mannered.” That certainly wasn’t the case last weekend in the capital city of St. Paul. A protest on Interstate 94 turned violent resulting in 102 people being arrested and 21 police officers injured. What triggered the protest was a police shooting the previous Wednesday in a St. Paul suburb. A black man named Philando Castile got pulled over for a busted taillight. Accordingly to fiancée Diamond Reynolds (who rode in the passenger seat), Philando was reaching for his wallet when a Latino officer fired four shots at him. Diamond then used her cell phone to live-stream the aftermath on Facebook. A ten minute video of Philando bleeding to death and Diamond’s subsequent arrest quickly went viral. Claims of police targeting African-Americans resulted in the f...