Signs & Wonders Blog

While teaching on evangelism at a church a few weeks ago, one woman asked if I witness to children. I explained that it would depend on the situation. Given the increasing fears of child abduction and human trafficking , one must use wisdom when approaching little kids. Whenever possible, I try to obtain their parents’ permission first. During outreaches, I often seek out high school students to talk to. Teens are mature enough to make their own decisions about Christ. They have reached what some refer to as  “ the age of accountability .” There have been exceptions. One day, while living in a house in Minnesota, the doorbell kept ringing. I didn’t answer the door immediately because I was on the phone with my mother . A couple of minutes later, I went outside and found five young children playing by the side of the house. They wanted candy, but I correctly discerned I wasn’t supposed to give them any. Since they were on my property, I offered them something more important: eterna...

Some people can get hung up on semantics especially religious folk. One of my Facebook friends recently posted this on his page: “I want it to be VERY known. I’m NOT a Christian. I repented of that in 2009. I became a disciple. There is a difference.”  I posted this comment in response: “I’m not ashamed to call myself a Christian. What’s your definition of one?”  My friend replied, "An Antioch baby. An infant unwilling to grow up. Happy to be in diapers being bottle fed, and catered to.” This man went on to write a diatribe about so-called Christians enslaving his ancestors.  Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives several definitions of the word Christian. One of them is: “A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the christian religion, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by real piety.” Of course, not every professing Christian is officially one. While evangelizing, I occasionall...

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 comi...

Last Wednesday, I received an email via Messenger from a young man currently living in the city where I was born. I hadn't met this man before and initially wondered why he contacted me. A glance at his Facebook page revealed he is a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His profile photo shows him wearing an elder badge. I figured he wanted to have a conversation in an attempt to convert me to his religion. At first, I didn’t respond to his greeting of “How’s a going.” Then last night while organizing computer files, I came across a video produced ten years ago in response to the “I’m a Mormon” campaign happening then. So I sent the YouTube link to this man. Here’s the transcript of the video… I was born in Fargo, North Dakota where my parents took my sister and me to a traditional Lutheran church. There I attended Sunday school and went through confirmation but didn’t like it very much. Deep down in my heart I wanted to believe in God but he wasn’t re...

Mention the Great Commission and most Christians only think of “preaching the gospel to every creature.” Yet Jesus gave other commandments in the sixteenth chapter of Mark. One of which in verse 17 is to cast out devils. That commandment must be important. It is listed before speaking in tongues and laying hands on the sick. Many churches in Western nations don’t do deliverance ministry at all. Some ministers believe Christians cannot have a demon. I can testify that this is not true. Over the years. I’ve witnessed numerous devils cast out of God’s people. I’ve done my share of exorcisms. During the mid-1990s, I became close friends with “Stacy” (not her real name), a middle-aged woman often placed on my team during our church’s evangelism outreaches. Despite her faithfulness in sharing the gospel, Stacy was often oppressed. One particular afternoon while I prayed for Stacy, these words came out of her mouth: “You can’t have her! You can’t have her!” I recognized this as Sat...

Jon is the former mayor of Fargo, ND  and an outspoken critic of religion. Dear Jon, I’m a Christian missionary who has read many of your articles published in The Forum and in your blog. My motive for writing this letter is not to stir up a debate but inspire you to think about a few things since you call yourself a “freethinker.” First, let me point out that I once thought of myself as an atheist but was really more of an agnostic. While growing up in the Fargo-Moorhead area, my parents made me attend a traditional Lutheran church that gave me wrong perceptions of Christianity. For years, I questioned God’s existence until hearing a motivational speaker point out how the order of our universe is evidence of a Creator. Not long afterward, I prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life hasn’t been the same since. I read that you once considered yourself a believer but had walked away from the faith. Throughout my 24 years of doing street minis...

Recently while walking through Ashland, Virginia, I saw this sign posted in front of somebody’s yard. It reminded me of another sign (with the same phrases but stylized differently) seen days before outside the entrance of a Universalist church near Washington, DC. Many churches have a statement of faith. Unfortunately, some of them promote beliefs contrary to Scripture. To anyone reading this who believes in the tenets of “Here We Believe”, I offer this response to each one… “Love is Love” - What does that prove? That’s like saying “blue is blue” or “4=4.” Often what people call love is really lust. What would you say if a 40-year-old wants to “love” your underage child? “No Human is Illegal” - Every human is precious in God’s sight. However, individuals get in trouble with the law if they choose to do illegal things such as sneaking into a country without going through customs or overstaying their visas. “Black Lives Matter” - I agree…but so do the lives of whites,...

How big is your god? From your heart, can you sing the Rich Mullins song “Awesome God” or Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God?” Do you believe God is big enough to do incredible things in your life? Before you answer that question, let’s examine how big God really is.  First, you need to have it settled in your heart that He created the entire universe…  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” - Psalm 19:1 “All things were made through Him [Jesus Christ], and without Him nothing was made that was made.” - John 1:3 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” - Colossians 1:16 “ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are se...

One day I went to a mall to receive computer training at the Apple Store. While walking around on a break, I noticed another store called True Religion Brand Jeans. I suspected this store didn’t honor the true living God. That was confirmed when I went inside and saw a guitar–toting Buddha on the wall. Out of curiosity, I asked an employee about the origin of the store’s name. She told me the founder stated, “This is only one true religion. Everyone must wear jeans.” The New Oxford American Dictionary lists the following definitions of the word religion … • the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods • a particular system of faith and worship • a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance In addition to Christianity, the secular press often categorizes Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism among “the world's great religions.” In recent years, new religions have emerged ranging from Eckankar...