Signs & Wonders Blog

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...

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...

The latest Internet craze to go viral is the Ice Bucket Challenge. By dumping a bucket of cold water on their heads, people from all walks of life have raised awareness and funds to fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ALS (also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) is a progressive degeneration of the central nervous system, leading to the weakening of muscles and paralysis.  My friends have expressed mixed reactions to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Some have participated believing it’s for a worthy cause. Others oppose it because many ALS organizations conduct embryonic stem cell research, which results in the killing of pre-born human life. A few God-fearing participants of the challenge have specified their donations go to pro-life organizations like the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa, which uses adult stem cells. As for myself, I’ve chosen not to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge. I’d rather give my time and money to organizations that minister divine hea...

Whenever I need a spiritual kick-start, one thing I like to do is play the song “Undignified” on my laptop computer and dance around the room.   This Matt Redman song has been recorded by a variety of Christian artists.   My favorite version (and the first one I ever heard) is from the 1997 album “Catch the Fire 4” released by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship.   Here’s a portion of the song’s lyrics… I will dance I will sing To be mad for my King Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul And I'll become even more undignified than this Some may say it’s foolishness but I'll become even more undignified than this The song’s lyrics are based on passages from 2 Samuel 6… 14 Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 20 Then David returned to bless his household.   And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, unc...

One of my favorite preachers is Jesse Duplantis. Pastor John Hagee once introduced this evangelist from Louisiana as “the Apostle of Joy.” A few weeks ago I purchased a download of “A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like a Medicine, Volume 3”, a video that contains 16 of Jesse’s funniest stories. I bought this video specifically to hear Jesse imitating a monkey while poking fun at evolutionary theory, something I’ve seen him do live a couple of times before. Last night I started watching the video again in my bedroom but then decided to share it with the men I’m staying with. As the four of us watched the “Ragin' Cajun” while relaxing in the living room, I noticed I laughed a lot more than when I watched it the first time by myself. As I pondered why this happened, two Scriptures came to my mind. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” It also says in Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of ...