Signs & Wonders Blog

As we approach the 238th birthday of the United States of America, it’s important for Americans to remind themselves why our Founding Fathers came to this land. One reason was to avoid persecution from the Church of England. Although originally settling in Holland, the Pilgrims desired an English-speaking nation where they could worship God without man-made laws imposed upon them. Just before making landfall in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims drafted a document called the Mayflower Compact. One of its provisions was to protect the rights of religious conscience. Nowadays God-fearing Americans are fighting for religious freedom again. Ever since prayer was removed from public schools over 50 years ago, our learning institutions have become more atheistic. One of the resulting by-products is business owners fighting for their right to make decisions based on Judeo-Christian principles. Earlier today, Hobby Lobby won a Supreme Court decision challenging an Obamacare mandate regarding bir...

Last Tuesday night while evangelizing in a park, I approached two men and a woman who all claimed to be Christians. But when I asked them to say “Jesus is my Lord”, none of them would do that. The woman replied, “My relationship with God is personal.” I then pointed out Jesus said He won’t confess us before the Father if we won’t confess Him before men (Matthew 10:32-33). After ministering to the three for a few more minutes, they all prayed to get born again. There are examples in the Bible of people being afraid of professing faith in Jesus. His brothers didn’t speak openly of Him “...for fear of the Jews” (John 7:13) as well as the parents of a blind man healed by Jesus. These parents insisted their son speak for himself “..,for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:22) Following the crucifixion, a secret disciple named Joseph of Arimathea who also feared the Jews asked for Pilate’s permission...

At the time of this writing, a well-known radio personality who had a big influence on my life is in poor health and may pass away soon. 82-year-old Casey Kasem is best known for hosting “A merican Top 40” plus voicing various cartoon characters. In recent years, Kasem has suffered from a form of dementia similar to Parkinson's Disease that has left him barely able to talk. Casey’s radio show was one of the things that inspired me to become a DJ. It also got me through difficult times during my childhood. Growing up in Moorhead, Minnesota, I first listened to “American Top 40” with my family on our way home from spending weekends at the lake. In January 1978, I started writing down the Top 40 every Sunday plus recording snippets of Casey’s show with my Panasonic tape recorder. My mother got annoyed because I listened to Casey’s commentaries more than the actual songs. Eventually, I made weekly trips to music stores that subscribed to Billboard magazine whose record charts AT...

A Canadian pastor named Oswald Smith was famous for saying, “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” Certainly, I agree everyone should have the opportunity to get saved. God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Still, there are multitudes that need to hear the Good News numerous times before they will respond favorably to the call for salvation. Four years ago while ministering at a church in Illinois, I took a survey during the morning and evening services. I asked the congregation how many times they heard the gospel before they got born again. Most people didn’t raise their hands until I counted up to five or six times. I’m also a living testimony of this truth. While attending Sunday school and going through confirmation at a Lutheran church, I was never taught I must be born again. It wasn’t until I was sixteen when I first truly heard the gospel. In ...

For years I’ve enjoyed watching NFL games on TV especially when the Minnesota Vikings are playing well. This fall I will be watching fewer (if any) games if a particular player makes it through training camp and continues receiving massive publicity. Last weekend, a University of Missouri defensive end named Michael Sam was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams. A homosexual who “came out” this past February, Michael reacted to the news of being drafted by kissing his boyfriend. That incident was broadcast all over national TV and the Internet.  Not everyone in the NFL was pleased with Michael Sam’s kiss. Miami Dolphins strong safety Don Jones tweeted “OMG” and “horrible” but later deleted those politically incorrect words and offered an apology. Nevertheless, the Dolphins fined and suspended Jones who is now required to attend “sensitivity training.” This kind of training actually desensitizes people of sinful behavior. It’s ridiculous for Michael Sam’s entry ...

Someone once asked if I believe in deathbed salvations. I most certainly do. The thief on the cross is an excellent example. He had just enough time to call on the Lord before dying with Him at Calvary. Jesus told the thief, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)  I’ve heard numerous testimonies of people coming to know the Lord moments before dying. One evangelist I know saw this happen with a family member. A few years ago, Nick Kinn received a call from his sister nudging him to meet with their 86-year-old uncle about getting right with God. John Kinn had attended a Lutheran church but didn’t know if he was going to heaven. Nick prayed with his uncle to get born again. Five days later, Nick’s sister called again informing him Uncle John had died. On the other hand, I’ve witnessed to individuals who think they can continue “living it up” but then get saved at the last minute. That’s a dangerous idea to entertain. Every day people ...

Every Bible-believing Christian would agree one must know Jesus to be saved. However, some disagree over how that specifically happens. Not too long ago I had an online discussion with a Facebook friend who disputed salvations becoming instantaneous. This woman believed being regenerated is a process. One dictionary defines regenerate as “give a new and higher spiritual nature to.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Verse 2 from the following chapter states, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Scripture doesn’t say the new birth is a gradual manifestation. Our spirit man is brand new the moment we are born again. However, we all have minds that need to be renewed (Romans 12:2). Nobody becomes a mature Christian overnight. I’ve met people who sat in church pews for years but still acted like spiritual babies. Philippian...