Signs & Wonders Blog

I’ve never been a fan of golf. I think it’s one of the most boring sports to watch on TV. However, I have gone miniature-golfing a few times. Recently, my friend Lorvin celebrated his birthday by inviting me and a few others to play a round at the Mall of America . During our game, many of us came close to getting a hole-in-one. Lorvin’s roommate Ken finally got one near the end of the course. He also had the best golf score and proudly wrote the results of our game on the kitchen chalkboard. Over the years, I’ve heard a few jokes about Jesus golfing. In one of them, the Lord was on a golf course with Moses and an old man. Jesus went first and drove the ball into a water trap. So He walked on the water, chipped the ball onto the green, and put it for par. Moses went next. He drove the ball into the same water trap. Moses parted the water, chipped the ball onto the green, and put it for par. Then the old man teed off. Likewise, his ball headed toward the water trap. However, a fis...

A practice done in many churches is the altar call. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines that as, “an appeal by an evangelist to worshippers to come forward to signify their decision to commit their lives to Christ.” Years ago, multitudes walked down “the sawdust trail” in tent meetings. Billy Graham encouraged sinners to get out of their seats during his crusades held in stadiums. One church I attended regularly changed their altar calls. They used to invite people to come forward for salvation before the close of every service. Now they usually have altar workers talk with individuals after the congregation has been formally dismissed. I didn’t agree with this change, but what the pastor does is between him and the Lord. I believe it’s important to have altar calls during services where sinners are likely present. In her personal testimony, Joyce Meyer talked about going to a church with relatives when she was nine years old. The pastor normally had altar calls but not that part...

In 1973, the Ad Council started releasing a series of public service announcements urging Americans to “Don’t Be Fuelish.” In one of them , actor James Garner complained of numerous cars on the highway with only one person in them because of a purported gas shortage. Fran Tarkenton made similar remarks in another TV ad. Although the Minnesota Vikings quarterback was my favorite player then, I disagree with this propaganda. We still have plenty of fuel fifty years later. Unfortunately, we have an occupant in the White House hindering American oil production in the name of “climate change.”  Those old PSAs came to my remembrance after an incident that happened two weeks ago. While walking home one night, a man parked at a gas pump asked if I needed a ride. Thinking this might be a blessing from the Lord, I answered, “Yes.” He then asked how far I live from there. I said, “About a mile.” He then requested a couple of bucks for gas. As I pondered what to do, this man suddenly asked ...

This Saturday is Veterans Day (federal buildings will observe it by closing on Friday). Many Americans take their freedoms for granted. That includes celebrities making empty threats of leaving the country if Donald Trump becomes President again. Over the years, countless U. S. soldiers shed their blood so we can enjoy this prosperous nation God blessed us with. It’s tragic to see veterans begging on street corners. I go out of my way to minister to them as well as others wearing caps indicating they fought in specific wars. First, I approach these men by thanking them for their service. Then I mention my having spent time in the Army National Guard . If they’re hungry, I offer these veterans a snack and then a gospel tract explaining I’m now a soldier in the army of the Lord. One memorable encounter happened during a Living Word City Blitz in Brainerd, Minnesota. My team went shopping for souls at a Walmart in the nearby town of Baxter. One man I prayed with was a 99-year-old sur...

Now that the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 health emergency over, Jehovah’s Witnesses are again standing around with their portable displays of literature. During my recent train travels , I saw two JWs near Chicago's Union Station. When I approached them, one of them asked, “How are you doing?”   I gave my usual answer, “Saved and on my way to heaven. How about you?” One of the Jehovah’s Witnesses eventually asked, “What will you do in heaven?” That initially stumped me, but I soon replied we would be serving the Lord. She later answered her question by mentioning the Bible says we are  “kings and priests”  (Revelation 1:6). Both JWs tried telling me good works were necessary for salvation. I shared with them a couple of Biblical truths that contradict Watchtower doctrines. Nevertheless, the conversation had me thinking about what we will do in heaven. Some believe we will fly around wearing wings for eons. That erroneous idea came from what Je...

This past week I stayed with a friend in Topeka, Kansas. Robert reminded me of a well-known church based in this city. Westboro Baptist Church has attracted international attention but for the wrong reasons. This small congregation regularly protests at a variety of venues such as government buildings, sporting events, rock concerts, and funerals for fallen soldiers. They hold up signs claiming God hates the USA, the military, and other things. Most members are relatives of founder Fred Phelps who died in 2014.  Westboro Baptist Church primarily preaches against homosexuality. Instead of using a domain like westborobaptist.com, their website is “godhatesfags.com.” Yes, the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination. However, there are other things God considers abominable. Look at Proverbs 6: 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that ar...

To  avoid spam and robocalls, I’m selective with who receives my cell number. Instead, I use Google Voice as my primary phone number. I’ll list that when needing to give out a phone number on paper and online forms. Nevertheless, telemarketers and fraudsters occasionally call me. I refuse to answer if I don’t recognize the incoming phone number. If it’s someone I need to talk to, they can leave a message for me to call them back. I also state in my outgoing voicemail for both numbers that they are registered with the National Do Not Call Registry. Yesterday while online with my laptop, I noticed someone mistakenly sent a text intended for another person to my Google Voice number. At first, I replied by telling the sender they had the wrong number. Then I realized this was a witnessing opportunity. Here’s how the exchange of messages went (my comments are in bold): Maria, how was your trip to Virginia? You have the wrong number. I'm not Maria. I'm lsabella, don't you ...

One thing that annoys me is Christians criticizing the so-called “ prosperity gospel " as if it’s a sin to be wealthy. I like what my former pastor Mac Hammond says, “The more money believers have, the less the devil has.” Nevertheless, a man I know recently shared this meme that claims “...the prosperity gospel offers you everything Satan offered Christ." Let’s examine what the devil offered the Lord in Matthew 4… 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,  6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw...

Some Christians are reluctant to share the gospel because they think it involves going door to door (as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are well known for). Unless the Lord directs me to somebody’s house, I avoid this type of evangelism. Usually, I find more receptive people in public places. Nevertheless, I have gone out with a few  door-knocking  ministries. Twenty years ago, I attended a church in Northern Virginia that went to townhouse complexes on Saturday mornings and knocked on one door at a time. They were okay with me talking to people walking around or standing outside. I always had more salvations than everyone else who knocked on doors.   Another time in Tennessee, I went with a church doing door-to-door ministry at a newer apartment complex. Because it was a weekday afternoon, most residents were probably away at work. I was also in a group of five people (evangelism works better in pairs or three people max). A man in my group named Lee encouraged me to ...

Since becoming an evangelist, I’ve had dreams of witnessing to others. Lately, they've been more frequent. This past Wednesday morning I dreamed of talking with a boy who asked, “Why would anyone want to go to heaven?” I replied, “Why would anyone want to go to hell?” Since this boy had a nonchalant attitude about eternity, I asked if he ever burned his hand. Then I said, “Now imagine your whole body burning…forever!” The dream reminded me of a sermon I heard years ago by my former pastor Mac Hammond . The sermon was inspired by this poem titled “The Hellbound Train” (a/k/a “Tom Gray’s Dream”) often attributed to Retta M. Brown… Tom Gray lay down on the barroom floor.   He drank so much he could drink no more.  So he fell asleep with a troubled brain and he dreamed that he had rode on a hell-bound train.  The engine with blood was red and damp and brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp.  An imp, for fuel was shoveling bones while the furnace rang with a tho...