Signs & Wonders Blog

This weekend, the 2026 World Series began between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers. I was surprised to find out how much the tickets cost. Most at American Family Field (the Brewers home stadium) were over $2,000 with some as high as $12,000! The Rays’ home games this week at Tropicana Field are slightly less. Most tickets are going for around $700. Those prices don’t include parking, food, and souvenirs. Some Brewers fans are flying to Florida instead of attending games in Wisconsin to “save money.” I also found out players might strike next season unless certain conditions are met including a minimum salary of $1.5 million. It was just four years ago they demanded a minimum half that amoun t. I’m not against athletes making a lot of money. Those who are Christians will use their finances for godly purposes. When I returned to the Twin Cities area for a season in 2013, I met the pastor of a church that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson attended. One of Adrian...

My biggest pet peeve with flying is baggage fees. Years ago, airlines only charged extra money for luggage that was oversized or too heavy. Then in May 2008, fees for a second checked bag were added by most airlines in response to rising fuel prices. Despite costs decreasing later that year, airlines increased their baggage fees when realizing what a cash cow it was. Some now charge for carry-on bags! For years, Southwest Airlines hadn’t succumbed to this greediness. They still allowed passengers to check two bags for free if they were within size and weight limitations. You could also bring a carry-on bag plus a personal item that will fit underneath the seat. As a missionary who lives out of a suitcase, I’ve traveled with four pieces of luggage. My two checked bags mostly contain clothing and gospel literature. My carry-on includes computer accessories I didn’t want to get damaged. My personal item is a backpack containing my MacBook Air, iPad, and other items I may access...

Growing up, I enjoyed watching baseball games on television, memorizing the statistics of various players, and collecting baseball cards. During the 1970s, I endured many mediocre and losing seasons by my favorite team: the Minnesota Twins. After I moved to Minneapolis, the Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. I went to a few Twins games, briefly worked at a concession stand in the Metrodome, and attended a celebration at the stadium after the team won one of their American League pennants. It was an exciting time to be a Twins fan. My interest in baseball has since declined. One reason was a 1994 players’ strike which dragged on into 1995. Around this time, Major League Baseball added wild card teams to the postseason. I’ve never agreed with this. If a team isn’t good enough to win its division, then it shouldn’t have the opportunity to be declared “World Champions.” It cheapens the need to play well enough the whole season. The NFL , NBA, and NHL have approximately half thei...

The U. S. Census Bureau estimates there are now over 7.5 billion people in this world. In recent years, numerous individuals have expressed fear about this planet becoming too crowded. Dr. Eric Tayag of the Philippines’ Department of Health said, “We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education and a decent life for every child. If the answer is ‘no,’ it would be better for people to look at easing this population explosion.” Conversely, Steven Mosher of the Population Research Institute points out that people are “not just consumers, but producers.” He also stated, “Every stomach comes with two hands attached and every mouth is backed by a creative intelligence equipped to leave the world a better place.” Steven knows firsthand the devastating results of population control. In 1979, he was invited to Mainland China by the Chinese government and got to witness women being forced to have abortions under that nation’s “one-...

Ministers experience enough persecution from worldly people who don’t care at all about the things of God. It’s sadder when attacks come from within the body of Christ. Three years ago, Creflo Dollar was heavily criticized for launching an aborted fundraising campaign to acquire a multi-million dollar jet. Now evangelist Jesse Duplantis is receiving similar flak for his intent on obtaining a Falcon 7X for his ministry. Previously in this blog, I addressed the issue of preachers with planes . In this article, I want to share my experiences with Jesse’s ministry. The first time I heard of Jesse Duplantis was in late 1992. A friend encouraged me to watch Jesse as a guest speaker on Kenneth Copeland’s “Believer’s Voice of Victory” program. What I saw was a preacher I could definitely relate to. Like myself, Jesse used to work in the secular music business. I was also drawn to Jesse’s outgoing personality and sense of humor. He didn’t come across as a stuffed shirt but someone who lo...

Yesterday a Facebook friend griped about the Catholic Church “…surrounded by gold and all the riches of the earth and I believe Jesus must be sad with them. I’d rather be poor and get by as I am…Those dreams of a Ferrari and touring the world will never come around for me.” He’s right. My friend’s dreams won’t happen unless he renews his mind to what God’s word says. As Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Certainly, I’m against Catholic doctrine that contradicts Scripture but them having gold is not a sin in itself. When Solomon’s Temple was built, precious metals were used. 2 Chronicles 3:4 says, “He overlaid the inside with pure gold .” Many of the things in the tabernacle in Exodus 25 were also covered in gold. Would I use gold if I built and pastored a church? Probably not but I still want a nice place for my congregation to meet and to see them blessed.  What about heaven with its streets of gold and surrounded by a wall made of ...

Many traditions associated with Christmas have pagan origins. Rather than make a fuss about them, let’s create traditions that glorify the Lord. When I used to get together with my mother’s side of the family on Christmas Eve, one of my aunts insisted on us singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus before we opened up presents. That’s a clever way to remind people of the reason for the season. One holiday tradition I am strongly against is parents giving presents to their kids saying they are from Santa Claus. Many people think this is harmless fun. But when I was little and discovered Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy were all fictional characters, I started questioning God’s existence. Parents who don’t tell their kids the whole truth about St. Nicholas are setting them up for a letdown.   A few years ago, one television news anchor got in hot water for speaking the truth about Santa Claus. In response to comments made by a co-anchor regarding gift expectations, Robi...

One reason I maintain a post office box in Ashland, Virginia is because of frequently visiting a Christian campground there. Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle hosts meetings and conferences throughout the year without charging for food or lodging except during their biannual Women’s Conventions. For over 60 years, CPT’s needs have been met largely through offerings. That is truly a testimony of God’s faithfulness. At other places, I’ve attended conferences where admission fees were charged. A few of those have been at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (now known as Catch the Fire ). The evening meetings were still free to the general public. TACF told the ones who paid the conference fee not to feel obligated to give during evening offerings unless the Lord led them to. TACF also gave people the option to work a few hours at the church if they didn’t have enough money to attend the day sessions. Then there are ministries charging to attend their evening meetings as well and...

Many people have this idea Christians aren’t supposed to be prosperous. This belief is often propagated by misquoted Bible verses such as “money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, “... the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” ). As a result, the secular media and even some believers frown upon ministers who own expensive homes, cars, and especially airplanes.  This past week a well-known pastor experienced a social media backlash after launching a fundraising campaign for a jet. Since 1999, Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church International has owned a Gulfstream III to transport him and his ministry team plus thousands of pounds of food to be a blessing to others. Last November, Creflo's jet became inoperable due to an accident in London when it slid off the runway during an aborted takeoff. Creflo now wants to acquire a Gulfstream G650 valued at over $60 million. A video posted on his website (which has since been removed) suggest...

This past Friday actor Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83. Leonard was best known for playing the original Mr. Spock in the “Star Trek” media franchise. One of Spock’s famous catchphrases was “live long and prosper.” That and the Vulcan salute pictured here originated from an Orthodox Jewish synagogue Leonard attended while growing up in Boston. God wants man to have long prosperous lives. Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Unfortunately that’s not a reality for everyone. Some people die young due to accidents, disease, or were murdered. A few individuals choose to take their own lives without fulfilling their divine purpose. Likewise not everyone on earth experiences prosperity. It amazes me how some religious folk criticize sermons on the topic when Scripture is full of promises of abundant life. I’d rather hear a “prosperity gospel” than a poverty gospel. People who think Jesus was poor must remember He had a treasure...

Much has been in the news lately about Occupy Wall Street. According to Wikipedia, “Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City based in Zuccotti Park in the Wall Street financial district. They are mainly protesting social and economic inequality, corporate greed, corruption and influence over government—particularly from the financial services sector—and lobbyists.” What began two months ago as a protest in New York City has spread to cities throughout the United States and other countries. How should Christians respond to this whole Occupy movement? It’s interesting that Jesus Himself said in Luke 19:13 (KJV), “Occupy till I come.”  But that doesn’t mean the Lord wants us just sitting around until He returns. The New King James Version of Luke 19:13 reads, “Do business till I come.”  Jesus went on to say in verse 23, “Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”  This would co...

Let this be a warning to read the fine print of an airline's baggage policy the next time you fly. Yesterday morning when I checked in at Tampa International Airport for my flight to Charlotte, an AirTran employee weighed my large suitcase and the scale read 54.5 pounds. I found it strange that my suitcase suddenly gained weight on my way to the airport. At the missionary house I stayed at, their scale had my suitcase at 50 pounds. After putting on an extra jacket and my heavier pair of shoes plus moving other items into my carry-on bag, the AirTran employee measured my suitcase and told me it was “too big.” I was shocked that I suddenly had to pay a $49 “oversized bag” fee. That same suitcase had never incurred such charges on previous AirTran flights. I didn’t know a policy change regarding baggage dimensions went into effect last month. When I asked the AirTran employee to waive the fee, she refused and claimed the $49 would otherwise be taken out of her paycheck. ...