Signs & Wonders Blog

One time while I was hanging out in a park, a group of believers showed up for a picnic wearing T-shirts stating, “These are my church clothes.” I’ve noticed other Christian apparel with clever sayings such as “My boss is a Jewish carpenter.” Over the years, people have given me shirts with various Christian sayings. One of them had a drawing of an open Bible with the words, “When all else fails...read the instructions.” Another one I used to own showed a red cross and the words “This shirt is illegal in 52 countries.” It’s a reminder that many nations forbid open declaration of Christianity. Last year, a friend gave me a hoodie with lyrics from the worship song “Way Maker.” I liked the artwork, but eventually passed that hoodie on to another friend. I was in the midst of downsizing and already owned a hoodie. The one I kept has two side pockets instead of one in the middle. There are reasons why I usually shy away from wearing Christian clothing. It’s not because I’m ashamed of the...

While I grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota, homosexuality was something my classmates in school joked about. Back then, I couldn’t believe anyone would seriously want a sexual relationship with a person of the same gender. Since becoming an evangelist, I’ve been mindful to  speak the truth in love  when  encountering individuals who identify as LGBT. This past Tuesday while sightseeing in Tucson, Arizona, I noticed a young couple goofing around at the streetcar station where I waited for a ride. The boy kept singing the old Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive.” I told him that was a favorite of mine, and I was around his age when that song was a hit. (This young man happened to be 14 years old - I was 14 when “Stayin’ Alive” was the #1 song in the nation). Toby and Lily eventually prayed with me to receive salvation. After giving them gospels of John, I played on my iPhone an ApologetiX parody of “Stayin’ Alive” called “ Stay in the Light .” Just before the streetcar arrived, Tob...

Many Christians struggle with knowing God’s will for their lives even though Jesus said His sheep know His voice (John 10:4). One way to increase spiritual sensitivity is to be a soul winner. Sharing your faith on a regular basis will help you recognize the leading of the Lord. He’ll show you who to talk to, who not to talk to, and what to say to the people you do talk to. Still, there are believers who seek divine direction through natural means. Recently, I talked with one who sought confirmation regarding a purchase he made by “putting out a fleece.” That concept originates from a passage in Judges 6: 36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung...

In the old Looney Tunes cartoons , a statement occasionally made by Bugs Bunny was: “Did you ever have the feeling you was being watched?” The truth is God is always aware of what we’re doing. Jesus said in Matthew 10:26, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”   I once heard Dennis Burke say, “God keeps the books.” Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Fortunately, our mistakes can be washed away by the blood of Jesus if we ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Still, Christians need to remember that nonbelievers watch professing believers like a hawk. A major slip-up can damage one’s testimony. Recently, I read a story online that illustrates this truth:  A man was being tailgated by a woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light in front of him turned yellow. He stopped at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through ...

Every October I see many social media posts advising Christians not to have anything to do with Halloween. Certainly, I don’t celebrate the holiday, but I look at trick-or-treaters as a mission field . Two years ago, I took part in a Halloween outreach at a church in Buffalo, New York. A few of us spent time praying in the sanctuary before the doors opened. Trick-or-treaters and their parents walked in to receive free candy, hot dogs, popcorn, and apple cider. More importantly, they were offered prayer and the gift of eternal life. I got to lead 29 people to receive salvation that night. Another time while living in the Washington, DC area, I dressed up as Jesus and gave out bags of candy with mini-Bibles my then-girlfriend put together. I also witnessed to kids who stayed at my girlfriend’s door long enough to listen. Three of them prayed to get saved. Other years on Halloween night, I simply walked the streets handing out gospel tracts. Still, some Christians prefer hiding in t...

One reason I’m thankful for being an American is religious liberty. The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees our freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble. In recent years, there have been increasing threats to those freedoms. Some individuals resort to violence against those they disagree with. This past Wednesday, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a public debate on the Utah Valley University campus. I hadn’t closely followed Charlie, but I now have a greater appreciation for his Turning Point USA organization. Their founder has become a martyr like Stephen in the book of Acts. The word  martyr  comes from the Greek word mártys, meaning “witness.” Since the resurrection of Jesus, many other believers died for their faith in Him. All the original twelve apostles were martyred except for John. The book of Revelation mentions Antipas in chapter 2, a group of martyrs in chapter 6, and the two witnesses in chapter 11. Protestants who were tor...

As an evangelist, my primary objective is to save souls. Therefore, I minimize small talk during my witnessing encounters. Some individuals are inclined to engage in trivial discussions that have no relevance to their eternal destiny. Others who are already saved want to debate doctrine, which will take away time from those that need salvation. 2 Timothy 2:23 says, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” Last Tuesday night, I participated in an outreach called Jesus Burgers, which aimed to primarily attract University of Minnesota students. Free hamburgers, chips, drinks, and freeze pops were available. The event was held on a corner in the Dinkytown area. I had lived there almost forty years ago during my time as a U of M student. So I spied out the land a bit while handing out invitation cards without asking people questions about eternity. The outreach leaders wanted us to spend a few minutes getting to know “pre-believers” (their term for sinn...

In his book “The Coming Revival”, Rodney Howard-Browne wrote, “If you're on fire for God and you’re full of the Holy Spirit, you can take the power of God wherever you go. But too many Christians are allowing the influence of the world to stop them or pull them down.” I’ve seen believers focus on negative things as a result of watching the news for hours or looking for the latest heresies spreading within the church. Recently a Facebook friend posted this on her page: “A worldwide revival is not prophesied in scripture. This is a NAR/WOF false teaching. The Bible teaches there will be apostasy—a great falling away. Believe the Bible!” NAR refers to the New Apostolic Reformation, a term used by the late Peter Wagner to describe a movement some have called “dominion theology.” That is a belief Christians will gradually take over all aspects of society. Although Jesus said in Luke 19:13 (KJV), “ Occupy till I come ” , the Bible also mentions the antichrist ruling the world during ...