Signs & Wonders Blog

Years ago, I looked forward to having drinks. Nowadays, I consider myself a teetotaler. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation alcoholic beverages can bring.  During my twenties, I frequented nightclubs and beer parties. One night, I got arrested for drunk driving. Eventually, I plea-bargained to lesser charges but still had to pay over $400 in towing charges, fines, and court costs. Two other times, I went to the hospital for stitches after being attacked by men who were intoxicated. One of them was my then-roommate. Family and friends have also been negatively affected by drinking. My mother grew up in a home where her father physically abused the family when drunk. One of my uncles died from alcoholic poisoning. Another former roommate of mine got killed when his car collided with a drunk driver going the wrong direction on the freeway. A few months after giving my life to the Lord in 1991, I made the decision to shun alcohol completely. For those of you who think I’m being...

As a young Christian I used to get offended when holy laughter manifested at the full gospel church I attended. Coming from a traditional denominational background, I had a hard time accepting that being of God. Fortunately my religious mindsets were dispelled once I lightened up more and studied the Bible for myself. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “ Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Recently I exchanged emails with a man who claimed “there is no such thing as holy laughter.” I have to disagree. Not only have I seen it manifest in meetings but also on the streets. Occasionally while evangelizing people have giggled uncontrollably as they prayed with me to receive salvation (including three skateboarders this past Friday in Omaha). Often they apologize thinking there’s something wrong with that. I point out God is making Himself real to them. Psalm 16:11 says, ”In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Laughter and joy go hand in hand. Job 8:21 says, “He will yet fil...

Today is Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church 50 days after Easter as recorded in Acts 2... 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. God wants us to experience our own personal Pentecost. Unfortunately many Christians are mistakenly taught that being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit are the same thing. Numerous Scriptures disprove that. Look at Acts 19... 1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples  2 he...

Critical Christians who don’t regularly experience supernatural encounters with the Lord will sometimes nitpick the craziest things.   This past week I watched a YouTube video in which a minister I know was labeled an “apostate” because of certain manifestations occurring at his meetings.   One of which is people falling backward when touched by the Holy Spirit.   The producer of this video claimed, “Only the enemies of God fall backwards.”   Other like-minded critics point to Scriptures where men of God “fell on their faces” during worship. Having grown up in a mainline denominational church, I was somewhat cynical when first seeing people “slain in the Spirit.”   Since then I’ve fallen backward many times when receiving ministry in a prayer line.   After one such incident while lying on the floor doing “carpet time”, I was healed of a nasal defect I had since childhood.   Does that sound demonic to you?   It shouldn’t since Jesus ...

Shortly after giving my life to the Lord twenty-two years ago, I became convinced it’s best to totally abstain from alcoholic beverages .   However, a minister I know recently posted a YouTube video claiming it’s okay for Christians to drink booze in moderation.   Initially,  I was reluctant to watch this video knowing this minister uses fermented wine while serving communion.   Nevertheless, I decided to give the video a fair viewing and became a bit troubled when I heard him quote Deuteronomy 14:26 (KJV)… “And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.” This verse appears to contradict other Scriptures warning against the consumption of intoxicating drink.   While doing more research on the subject, I came across a two-pa...

Last year I read a book given to me in which the author (a well-known Word of Faith pastor) wrote about living by faith instead of foolishness and presumption.   Afterward, I offered the book to a friend thinking it would minister to her.   She refused to read it because she only wanted to study materials about the “finished work of the cross” and mentioned several preachers, a few of whom I know personally. I agree we need to be selective in who we receive impartation from.   There is a lot of spiritual junk food out there.   But it can also be a form of pride if a person insists on receiving from only one stream of ministry.   1 Corinthians 1:10 points out that God doesn’t want divisions within the Body of Christ but that we “…be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Before Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30)   What exactly did the Lord finish?   Earlier in John 4:34, Je...

One of the most controversial occurrences in Christianity is people getting “drunk in the Spirit.” Some well-meaning Christians have preached against this manifestation by referring to Scriptures commanding us to “be sober.” Let’s look at some of them… “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded” - Titus 2:6 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” - 1 Peter 1:13 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8 There are different definitions of the word sober found in the Encarta World English Dictionary… 1. Not und...

Occasionally, I receive critical messages from people who don’t agree with things I show in my videos. A remark I often hear is, “Where’s that in the Bible?” Certainly I agree the Word of God is our standard in which everything we do and say must be judged. But has it occurred to you that some generally accepted Christian traditions aren't specifically mentioned in Scripture? For example, Sunday Schools cannot be found in the Bible yet most churches have them. The same thing could be said about altar calls for salvation. God uses people in different ways because we are all unique. Jesus Himself did unusual things like spitting and putting mud in people's eyes to bring healing. No doubt things like that done today in our congregations would offend many church folk. John 21 says that Jesus did many other things that were not written down. Those "other things" could have been more radical than what was recorded in the Scriptures. Of course, we must reject all id...