Signs & Wonders Blog

Matt Post at the Capitol Last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people has not only triggered more calls for gun control but students leaving classes in protest. As part of the nationwide walkouts this past Wednesday, students gave speeches outside the U.S. Capitol alongside Democratic lawmakers. A video of the speech made by Matthew Post (no relation to me) has gone viral. This high school senior from Maryland declared, “We have a moral problem in this country…The adults have failed us. This is in our hands now. And if any elected official gets in our way, we will vote them out.” I can sympathize with Matt’s anger and frustration but don’t agree with how he and others like him are reacting. Matt threatened to “shame our national policy leaders into protecting us.” No politician is perfect but we are supposed to honor and pray for those in authority . Many young people nowadays don’t respect their elders. Voting out certain elected officials is a...

Like many people, I was surprised to hear of Robin Williams committing suicide last Monday. Minus the profanity, I enjoyed Robin’s comic talents especially in the movie “Good Morning, Vietnam” and the parody of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in his first album “Reality...What a Concept.” It’s sad this actor/comedian who made millions laugh gave up his battle with depression by taking his own life. This past Thursday I read a WorldNetDaily article about Robin Williams accepting Jesus Christ while in rehab . One man responded to the article with this comment: “God chooses who is to be saved and then opens their hearts to receive the message.” I attempted to correct this man of his belief in predestination, a doctrine popularized by 16th century theologian John Calvin. One dictionary defines predestination as “the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity.”  A passage often cited by Calvinists can be found in Romans 8:29-30: " For whom He foreknew, He also predesti...

Occasionally when I ask people if they think they are going to heaven, they respond with something like, “That’s for Him to decide.” What they don’t realize is that man has been given the freedom to choose his destiny.  Adam and Eve could have chosen to follow God’s instructions not to eat the forbidden fruit but did so anyway. Cain could have chosen not to become bitter about his rejected offering but later murdered his brother Abel. We can choose not to sin instead of using that old Flip Wilson alibi, “The devil made me do it.” Hebrews 11:24-25 says that Moses “ …refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” Some choices may seem insignificant such as what clothes to wear or where to eat dinner. Then again, our choices can greatly affect the lives of others. Just last night, a pastor I was riding with drove us to Papa John’s where he planned to buy us pizza. Five...