Signs & Wonders Blog

Just over a week ago, I joined a ministry called GodTown that regularly reaches out to homeless people in St. Paul, Minnesota. While we put together bags of food at an outreach center, two Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped in. The couple handed us brochures to promote an Easter event they were having. That’s rather odd since the Watchtower discourages celebrating holidays.  I asked one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses questions about eternity, plus shared Scripture pointing out that salvation is a gift one must receive. The Watchtower promotes a false gospel based on works. One woman who was part of GodTown later approached me with tears in her eyes. She thought I needed to “love them more.” With all due respect to her concerns, we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). True love warns sinners of wrong beliefs that can lead to eternal separation from God. Galatians 1:8 says,  “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to ...

Today is Easter (or “Resurrection Sunday” as some Christians prefer calling it). According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, Easter is “the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held between March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox.” Some Christians avoid using the term Easter because it’s believed to have originated from the name of a goddess associated with spring. However, Easter is mentioned in the King James Bible. Acts 12:4 (KJV) says, “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Other translations use “Passover” instead of Easter. Just like with Christmas, Easter has pagan practices associated with it. Probably the most famous of which is children receiving candy from a character kn...

An objection some people bring up regarding the gospel is comparing Jesus to other religious figures such as Buddha and Mohammed. My usual response is quoting what Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  I also like to point out what happens when Christians obey the Great Commission. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” I’ve yet to see someone healed in the name of Allah or Buddah. Another commandment Jesus gave His disciples was to “raise the dead.” (Matthew 10:8) While I personally haven’t seen a dead body come back to life, I know of other ministers God used to restore life to individuals who briefly died. Romans 4:17 says that God “…gi...

Some Christians prefer to call Easter “Resurrection Sunday.” One reason is the word Easter supposedly derived from the name of a goddess associated with spring. Because of this, a few Christians consider Easter a pagan holiday and distance themselves from it. Nevertheless, modern dictionaries define Easter as a Christian festival. It’s also worth noting the word Easter is found in the King James Bible; “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) I believe one can get too religious about certain holidays. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Easter is an excellent time to tell sinners about what the Savior did for them so they have the opportunity to receive eternal life.   One time in Charleston, South Carolina, I took part in an Easter Party Outreach he...