Marriage, Money, and Ministry

A few days ago, I saw this message posted on Facebook….

“My fiancée wants a wedding and I don't. I want a small ceremony. She wants to use the $16,000 that I have saved up for a home and for emergency funds. I already spent $3,000 on a ring she wanted and that was from my savings. We can’t seem to come to a compromise. I’m willing to spend $5,000 on the wedding and she says that’s not enough. What should I do?”

My initial reply was, “Break off the engagement.” I thought this woman was greedy. It would be better to invest more money in the marriage itself. A wedding ceremony plus a reception will last a few hours at the most. Marriage is for a lifetime.

Then I remembered something Billy Graham wrote in his autobiography “Just As I Am.” While attending Wheaton College, Billy got engaged to another student named Ruth Bell. Soon they got into a disagreement about their plans for the future. Ruth wanted to be a missionary in Tibet. Billy knew his calling was to preach the gospel throughout the world. At one point, Billy suggested Ruth return the ring he gave her. Ruth didn’t want to think about doing that. That settled the disagreement. Billy also told Ruth, “God will lead me, and you will do the following.” They were married for almost 64 years. Two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3).

Are you a woman seeking a godly man for a husband? We’re out there but I’d like to offer some suggestions for when you think you’ve found the right one…

• Until you tie the knot, avoid spending too much time alone with him even in prayer. Soul ties can develop that are hard to break if he ends up not being “the one.”
• Be punctual when you plan to meet somewhere. It’s not cool to be “fashionably late.” If you can show up on time at your job, a doctor’s appointment, or a court hearing, then show that same kind of respect for your potential spouse. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’”
• Clearly communicate with him. Don’t assume he knows what you mean. We cannot read your thoughts.
• Encourage him in his calling. Don’t distract him with suggestions incompatible with God’s plan for his life, especially if he’s already in full-time ministry. Husbands need helpmates to keep them focused on their divine mission. At the same time, he will seek to help fulfill yours.

God wants every believer to have a happy marriage (unless you desire to remain single), plenty of money so we can also help others, and a fruitful ministry. All three are possible when our priorities are in order.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33

Just the Facts

In the classic police drama “Dragnet,” Sergeant Joe Friday (portrayed by the late Jack Webb) implored informants, “All we want are the facts.” Parodies have paraphrased this to where many believe Friday frequently said, “Just the facts, ma’am.” The truth is he never uttered that exact phrase on radio or TV. However, it was used to promote the 1987 movie “Dragnet” and as the title of an authorized biography of Jack Webb.

As stated before in this blog, I refuse to pass on chain letters. They often contain outdated or inaccurate information. A new one that’s appeared in my Facebook news feed is Tim Tebow warning us about the government preparing us for a cashless society. I don't believe Tim wrote this. It resembles a meme falsely attributed to another well-known Christian. 

For years, a prayer request has circulated with Joyce Meyer’s name attached to it. It claims twenty churches got burned down in an Indian province called Olisabang. There are no provinces in India. They have states and districts. None of which is named Olisabang. Joyce Meyer Ministries has confirmed that the message did not come from her.

During the last year, fact-checkers have gotten a negative reputation. Some have tried suppressing information about the 2020 election and the coronavirus. That doesn’t mean we should dismiss non-partisan fact-checkers like truthorfction.com (a website I often refer to). So before sharing a meme or story sent to you, please take a few seconds to verify its legitimacy. There’s too much fake news going around as it is. Would you like it if people claimed you wrote something that wasn’t true?

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” - Exodus 20:16

Moments of Silence

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many Americans recalled what they were doing when four hijacked planes caused the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Some commemorate that and other events with moments of silence. Is this beneficial?

There’s an old saying, “Silence is golden.” Some people talk too much and would be better off practicing moments of silence. One should be cautious of opening their mouths, especially when they are angry. That way, they won’t utter anything hastily. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says there is ”a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

Usually, I spend a few minutes per day “soaking” while soft music is playing in the background. At the very least, it quiets my mind. Often God speaks to me through a vision. However, moments of silence (just like thoughts) don’t take the place of spoken prayers. James 4:2 (KJV) says, “…ye have not, because ye ask not.”

After John Lennon died in 1980, his widow Yoko Ono requested ten minutes of silence on his behalf. That didn’t change John’s eternal destiny. Honoring the dead will not cause them to go from hell to heaven. Their fate has been determined. Psalm 115:17 says, “The dead do not praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence.”

Religious folk will tell you to be quiet in their institutions and in public like what happened with the two blind men who called out to Jesus for healing (Matthew 20:29-34). People won’t get saved and delivered unless they hear the truth. God gave us mouths to speak. Let’s use them to share the Good News, edify the brethren, and cry out against tyranny and deception.

“Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence…” - Isaiah 65:6

The Real Tragedy

This Tuesday will be the 24th anniversary of the car accident in Paris that killed Princess Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed. This tragedy resulted in outpourings of grief from all over the world. At Diana’s funeral, Elton John sang a revised version of his hit “Candle in the Wind” as a tribute. That recording went on to become the second biggest selling single in history (behind Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”).

However, the real tragedy is that Diana might not be in heaven right now. In his book “Good or God”, John Bevere wrote about how he spent much time grieving over Diana’s death until the Spirit of God instructed him to read Revelation 18. Verses 5 through 7 stood out…

“In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her…”

The Lord later told John, “She [Diana] flaunted her defiance to authority and her adultery to the world. She wasn’t submitted to Me.” John then brought up all the good works Diana had done. He eventually heard the Spirit of God say, “There is a good that is not of Me.” As Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

I’m not judging Diana. I’d rather think of her making it through the pearly gates instead of being tormented in hell. Regardless, we must always be ready for eternity and not depend on our good works for salvation.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” - Matthew 7:22-23

Honoring Nick Kinn

The Bible tells us to give honor to whom honor is due. Yesterday was the 70th birthday of the minister most responsible for helping me become a successful soul-winner. Therefore, I’ve written this tribute to him.

Alex Nicholas Kinn Jr. was born on August 21, 1951, and grew up just west of Minneapolis. Like myself, he went through confirmation at a Lutheran church that didn't teach the necessity to be born again. Following high school and a brief college stint, Nick was drafted into the U. S. Army and got stationed in Germany. After his discharge, Nick returned to Minnesota and continued being an alcoholic. One night, he caused a drunk driving accident that almost killed six people.

Meanwhile, a few Christians had reached out to Nick with the gospel. Two of them happened while he was in the military. Another person had slid a tract underneath his door. A turning point occurred 45 years ago today. After Nick had been out celebrating his 25th birthday, he got down on his knees at 2:00 a.m. and said, “Jesus, if you’re real, I’m tired of being a drunk. Come into my heart.” His life hasn’t been the same since.

Nick immediately started witnessing but didn’t lead anyone to the Lord until almost three years later. While hosting an Amway meeting in his house, Nick had an altar call. One woman came forward to give her life to Christ. After attending various churches, Nick started going to Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park. In 1986, he was asked to take charge of their evangelism ministry. Two years later, Nick left his job at the post office to become a full-time pastor. As he often says now, “I used to be a mailman, but now I’m a messenger.”

I first attended Living Word in 1991. Back then, Pastor Nick also led outreaches called “All-Church Evangelism.” Wednesday night services were canceled once a month during the summer. That was to encourage more congregation members to share their faith. I participated in a few of those but didn’t pray with anyone until three years after my conversion. By that time, I committed myself to evangelize with Living Word every Monday night. Soon I became a team leader and started training other people how to win souls. 

My faithfulness to Living Word’s evangelism ministry resulted in various blessings. Since Nick and I are about the same size, he frequently gave me clothes he no longer needed. One night after returning from an outreach, Pastor Nick asked if anyone wanted prayer. I mentioned my starting a sales job with a meat company that day and needed to make money. Nick suddenly took up an offering for me. I received $68 in cash. That sales job wouldn’t work out for me. Eventually, the Lord led me to go into full-time ministry.

For over a decade, I mostly traveled along the east coast as a missionary. During which, I had little contact with Pastor Nick. Then one night in a Minneapolis suburb, I walked into a bus station. Nick happened to be evangelizing there along with another man I knew named Tom. Nick gave me some of his “Have You Heard the Good News” tracts. Tom then handed me $20. That inspired me to resume regular outreaches with Living Word during return visits to the Twin Cities area. I still enjoy listening to Nick’s teachings before we hit the streets.

I appreciate Nick Kinn’s continued commitment to the Great Commission and also his sense of humor. Often we experience bouts of holy laughter while looking at each other. With the help of other laborers involved with Living Word’s evangelism ministry, over 1.6 million salvations have occurred. Pastor Nick has (so far) ministered in 28 countries and 35 states. May the Lord give him many more years to give the devil a black eye.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you” - 1 Thessalonians 5:12

NFL: No Fans Left

In less than a month, the National Football League will begin a new regular season. I used to enjoy watching their games on TV. This year I plan to shy away from that even more. 

Many fans like myself are opposed to the NFL permitting players to disrespect “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Last year, the league started pairing that with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has been called a “black national anthem.” Despite widespread criticism, Commissioner Roger Goodell declared, “We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter…Without black players, there would be no National Football League.” 

That’s not entirely true. The league existed before segregation in professional sports ended. I’m not against “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a song. It originated from a Christian hymnal. However, playing a “black national anthem” before games is divisive instead of unifying. As stated before, I do not support the Black Lives Matter movement.

The league has also succumbed to the homosexual agenda. While channel surfing on a friend's TV a few weeks ago, I briefly stopped on the NFL Network. An ad came up declaring “football is gay” and featured a rainbow-colored NFL logo. I searched for this on their YouTube channel to give it a “dislike.” It had over five times more of those than “likes” plus many written complaints.  

The Minnesota Vikings will always be my favorite team, but I’ve become less enthusiastic about following them. Their Facebook page recently had pride memes posted. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison got removed from his post for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination but then was reinstated as “senior offensive advisor.” Players like starting quarterback Kirk Cousins have been criticized for not getting jabbed. Will they soon require proof of vaccinations for fans to attend their games?

Another thing I don’t like about the NFL is how they are adding extra games. Last year, two more wild card teams were added for the playoffs. Just like other major league sports, the NFL is allowing too many teams in the postseason. It defeats the necessity to play well enough throughout the regular season for the opportunity of becoming “World Champions.” I’d rather see division winners only qualify for the playoffs.

This year all teams will play 17 regular-season games. The odd number means half the teams (including the Vikings) will have one fewer home game than those played on the road. To lengthen the season, the league could have given each team an extra bye week as they did once before in 1993. Another option would be to play an 18 game regular season as the defunct USFL had in the 1980s. That still gives every team an equal number of home games.

I wish the league would play their games without all the greed and politicization. That would stop the increasing exodus of fans. Nevertheless, I hope all the Christian players have successful seasons this year. One I’m rooting for is Tim Tebow. He is attempting a comeback as a tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Tim makes the team, we could see him Tebowing again. I’d rather watch that instead of players kneeling during the national anthem or doing end zone celebrations that have gotten ridiculous.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17

God’s Got Your Back

I believe one reason some people shy away from Christianity is seeing passive believers. The Lord doesn’t want us being idle wimps until He returns. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He said, “Go ye,” not “Sit ye.”

Many Christians need a greater revelation of their authority in Christ. As a young believer, I heard my then-pastor share a powerful truth regarding what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Religious people misinterpret this verse to mean the church is to huddle together while withstanding demonic attacks. However, gates don’t attack anybody. They just stand there. 

It’s the church that is to be on the attack. As Jesus said in Luke 19:13 (KJV), “Occupy till I come.” To take spiritual ground, we must put on equipment described in Ephesians 6…

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Note that there is no armor for the back. There is no need for Christians to retreat. Jesus already defeated the devil. We reinforce his defeat like an occupying army.

Sometimes I face persecution when doing street evangelism. Individuals have threatened me if I don’t leave the area. If I’m on public property, then I have a right to be there just like them. Unless the Lord directs me to walk away and minister someplace else, I stand still and hold my ground.

God’s methods of victory are often unconventional. Joshua led the children of Israel to march around Jericho seven times. David using a small stone to take down Goliath. God has a plan to take out the giants facing you. All you need to do is ask for wisdom and then obey without fearing your rear. God’s got your back!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:57

Love Thy Neighbor?

As a minister of the gospel, one thing that irritates me is when people handle the word of God deceitfully (2 Corinthians 4:2) to get something they want without acknowledging all of its commands. Sometimes I deal with pushy panhandlers who insist the Bible commands me to “feed the poor.” I reply by pointing out the Bible also says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) 

During a recent vaccine mobilization event in Detroit, Vice President Kamala Harris declared we should all get vaccinated because it is “…the very essence of what the Bible tells us when it says, ‘Love thy neighbor.’ Right?” Wrong! Jesus actually said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Yes, we should look out for the welfare of others. That doesn’t mean we have to neglect our own. If vaccinations are so wonderful, why are vaccinated people still getting COVID-19? Others who have gotten jabbed have experienced side effects and even died!

On a related note, I’m so tired of people using the “love your neighbor” mantra to promote mask mandates. While I wore one on a Southwest flight a few months ago, the pilot announced on the intercom he was wearing a mask for me just like I was wearing one for him. Baloney! The pilot was inside the cockpit, where he is not required to put on a mask.

James 2:8-9 repeats the “love your neighbor” command but then goes on to say, “…if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Governments and businesses are now offering rewards and perks to the vaccinated. I see this as bribery and discrimination. 

Love doesn’t pressure people to do questionable things that could harm their health. The best way for Christians to “love your neighbor” is not by getting vaccinated or wearing a mask but by obeying the Great Commission, which includes healing the sick.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” - Mark 16:15, 17-18

True Humility

One of my Facebook friends recently posted a meme with this prayer: “Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled of You.” Technically, this is impossible. We are all unique individuals with talents, hopes, and dreams. God didn’t create us to be robots. A Christian can pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then obey His promptings instead of fulfilling selfish desires. 

A personal example that comes to my mind happened over twenty years ago. While walking around my neighborhood, I saw five boys playing football in a church parking lot. A thought crossed my mind that when their football landed by me, that would be a sign to witness to them. Seconds later, the football bounced my way when one of the boys made a bad punt. However, I wanted to be by myself and went straight home. God kept telling me to go back. So I put my shoes on and hurried to the parking lot where the boys were still playing. After one of them scored a touchdown, I asked the boys to take a time-out. All five got born again.

I’ve heard worship songs with the line “more of You, less of me.” While these may be sincere attempts to be humble, I think they are a bit degrading. Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” God is not glorified when man criticizes himself. There’s a difference between humility and being humiliated, which the New Oxford American Dictionary defines as “make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect, especially publicly.” 

John the Baptist did say in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Jewish prophet was exalting Jesus’ ministry above his. I like The Message Bible’s rendering of this verse: “This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.” Preachers need to be cautious not to exalt themselves and their ministries more than the God they serve.

One friend of mine used to pray for God to make him humble until I pointed out what James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Fasting is one way of doing that (Psalm 35:13), but that won’t do much good for one who isn’t submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Colossians 2 warns of false humility. Verse 18 connects that with “…worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Verse 23 goes on to say, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Another way to humble yourself is by seeking to meet other people’s needs. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Jesus famously demonstrated this by washing His disciples’ feet.

The late Mac Davis sang, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble.” The truth is it’s not that hard. We simply need to exalt Jesus and others more than ourselves. C. S. Lewis wrote, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Another minister pointed out, “Humility is knowing who are you in Christ and who you are without Him.”

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”  - 1 Peter 5:5

Foundations of a Nation

July 4th is a memorable day for me not only because I’m an American. It was also my grandmother’s birthday. Leah Post was born on this day in 1908 (she passed away 92 years later). My family often got together with her on Independence Day before seeing fireworks that evening.

My grandparents were devoted members of a Methodist church (though Grandpa Post wasn’t sure of going to heaven until I prayed with him in 1996). One gift they gave me as a boy was a storybook based on these words by Jesus in Matthew 7…

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 

27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

These verses can apply to individuals, families, and nations. Since 1776, the United States of America was founded upon Judeo-Christian values framed in the Declaration of Independence and reaffirmed eleven years later with the Constitution. 34% of the ideas in the latter document originated from the Bible. While other countries have changed governments numerous times, the U. S. has remained constant despite challenges such as the Civil War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and 9/11.

Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Godless politicians are attempting to infringe upon our Constitutional rights to freedom of speech and to bear arms. If those two amendments are ever removed, the United States as we know it will no longer exist. Just as a building can collapse if the foundation is compromised, so will this country. Fortunately, that won’t happen as long as American Christians continue doing their part by praying and voting for God-fearing leaders.

“For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined.” - Isaiah 60:12

Reach Out and Resist

I will continue using Facebook as a ministry platform despite them force-feeding us propaganda (including added links about COVID-19 that I do not approve of). Earlier this week, a sponsored ad from singer Carole King came up in my News Feed in which she thanked Dolly Parton “for inspiring me to record my own vaccination song.” I had no interest in hearing the song. When I clicked on the ellipsis, nothing happened. I couldn’t hide the ad. The only way to prevent it from coming up again on my News Feed was to block Carole King’s Facebook page.

I’ve also been doing this with Facebook ads “celebrating” pride month. This year several of them have appeared in my News Feed. One by iHeart Radio claimed you “can’t cancel pride.” I did so by blocking their page. James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 both say, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 

To anyone wanting to label me a hater, I need to clarify something. I do not hate homosexuals. By His grace, I love them as God loves them. What I hate is the demonic deception that's blinding their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). In his book “A Queer Thing Happened to America,” Dr. Michael L. Brown encourages Christians to “reach out and resist” when relating to homosexuals: reach out to them with compassion but resist gay activism with courage. 

The late D. James Kennedy stated, “Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. When you have an immoral society that has blatantly, proudly, violated all of the commandments of God, there is one last virtue they insist upon: tolerance for their immorality.” LGBT advocates are wasting their time and money trying to convince me to condone lifestyles the Bible calls an abomination. I pray they repent before it’s too late.

“But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.” - Psalm 63:11

Spiritual Fathers

On Father’s Day, most people honor the men that raised them. While I’m grateful for the good things mine did for me, my spiritual life was stagnant as a boy. The Lutheran church our family attended never taught us we must be born again (John 3:3, 7). It wasn’t until years later when I learned what it really meant to be a Christian.

At the time of my conversion in 1991, I had started attending Living Word Christian Center, a megachurch in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Senior Pastor Mac Hammond became my first spiritual father. Although I never got to know him on a personal level, Mac’s teachings helped me build a solid foundation on God’s word. 

Other men connected with Living Word played a part in my spiritual growth. Associate pastor Kent Otey met with me a few times for counseling sessions. The late Gary Rue was a postal worker who hosted Thursday night Bible studies at his house, which provided additional discipleship and fellowship. When I got serious about sharing my faith more, I had regular interaction with Living Word’s evangelism pastor Nick Kinn. 

Meanwhile, I learned Biblical truths from guest speakers at Living Word. Jerry Savelle was an early favorite of mine because of his sense of humor. For that same reason, I enjoyed the preaching of Jesse Duplantis and later Kenneth Copeland. 

One day, I visited another church and saw Mike Murdock minister for the first time. Soon I listened to many of his teaching tapes. Mike’s series “The Assignment” impacted me the most. Since then, I’ve gleaned from a variety of other preachers through their meetings and recordings. In recent years, I’ve probably listened to Rodney Howard-Browne and Perry Stone the most.

I’ve had a few Facebook friends call me their spiritual father. I’m honored that anyone would look to me as a mentor. However, I question why most of my so-called spiritual sons don’t subscribe to my monthly newsletter or respond to my teachings and praise reports. While I have a policy not to beg for money, it's nice to receive gifts from those who value my ministry. Galatians 6:6 says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” I make it a point to send offerings to ministers who most impacted my life.

All of us should be thankful for the different people God used to help us grow spiritually. But just like natural fathers shouldn’t control their children's lives, spiritual fathers need to allow their sons in the faith to follow their divine destinies. They cannot take the place of God Himself.

“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” - Matthew 23:9-10

An Obscene Book?

Some individuals go to ridiculous measures to try discrediting God’s word. In 1992 while living in suburban Minneapolis, I attended a memorable school board meeting. A local atheist tried to get the Bible banned in public schools because it is full of “obscene and offensive passages.” American Center for Law and Justice spokesman Jay Sekulow showed up (along with numerous Christians) and convinced the school board to reject the atheist’s complaint.

Once I received an email by someone initially protesting my YouTube video defending the Ten Commandments displayed on public property. After sending a response, this person wrote back saying, “Would you say it’s morally wrong to rape a woman? Nowhere is this mentioned in your commandments.” Look at Deuteronomy 22:25…

“But if the man meets the engaged woman out in the country, and he rapes her, then only the man must die.”

Shechem the son of Hamor, a Hivite, raped Dinah (see Genesis 34:2-7), and Amnon raped his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:14). In both instances, their brothers got vengeance for the rape of their sister. The Bible says in many places that fornication (any kind of sex outside of marriage) is sinful. Jesus even went on to say in Matthew 5:27, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This person brought up other issues (probably as more excuses to disbelieve the Bible) by writing, “Abusing children, setting fires, pedophilia, slavery... dozens upon dozens of moral concepts that we currently have laws about that are not mentioned or even worse are openly condoned in biblical accounts.” Just because a certain activity is mentioned in Scripture doesn’t mean God condones it. Specific events are recorded to show what can happen if we obey or disobey God's commandments.

Let us address this person’s concern over abused children. While Scripture does not specifically say, “Thou shalt not commit child abuse,” the Bible does instruct parents to be gentle and loving with their children…

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” - Colossians 3:21

Proverbs 22:6 also commands, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Children have a special place in God’s heart. Jesus had harsh words for anyone who would cause a child to fall into sin, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)

The Bible as a whole gives man a moral standard that if followed will benefit everyone. Even non-believers have enjoyed the freedom and abundant resources available in countries founded upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Christians cannot force atheists to accept the Bible as their source of moral guidance. But we should never let them stop us from preaching the word publicly and fulfilling the Great Commission.

“I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed.” 

- Psalm 119:46 (NLT)

An Open Letter to Paxton Smith

Dear Miss Smith:

This past Thursday, I learned about your valedictory address that went viral. While many people commended you for speaking against the new Texas law banning abortions as early as six weeks after conception, I have a differing viewpoint. Hopefully, you are open-minded enough to read this.

First, let me point out I’m a Christian who once leaned towards a pro-choice stance. Radical pro-life advocates who harassed and killed abortion practitioners repelled me from their cause. Then one day, I saw a picture of a little girl whose arm got cut off from an attempted abortion. The back of this flyer had illustrations of a fetus killed during an abortion procedure. That convinced me abortion is taking the lives of innocent human beings. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend watching the movie “Unplanned.”

Those in favor of abortion talk about “women’s rights.” What about the baby’s rights? It’s not the mother’s body cut to pieces during an abortion procedure. That fetus is a separate person. How would you feel if your mother had aborted you?

God forbid, I don’t want to see any woman raped. But every child has a divine destiny regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Did you know there have been famous people conceived in rape like Jesse Jackson and Ethel Waters? I once met a minister’s wife who was the offspring of a rapist. Jeri and her late husband Steve Hill traveled to numerous countries and impacted many lives.

Contrary to your claim, pregnancies are detectable within six weeks. One obvious sign is missing a period. If you ever have an unplanned pregnancy and not in a position to raise that child, you could choose life by giving him/her up for adoption. Again, think of the child’s life. Think about the couples who want children but cannot conceive on their own. Think of the blessing your unplanned child could be to them. Many adoptive parents would be willing to cover hospitalization and other expenses.

I wish you the best in your future. I pray the Lord Jesus Christ becomes the center of it.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” - Jeremiah 1:5

Saved by Tongues?

Today is Pentecost Sunday, which is acknowledged by many churches and is even a holiday in Germany. Pentecost literally means “50.” Fifty days passed from the Resurrection to when early believers received an impartation of power as described in Acts 2…

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The manifestation of speaking of tongues continues to be a controversial topic amongst the Body of Christ. Many believers don’t believe it exists today. Some claim it’s of the devil. Yet tongues can a powerful weapon against demonic forces. I heard John Bevere share a story about a mother and her daughter whose home was broken into by a burglar. This burglar threatened to kill them until the mother started praying in tongues loudly. The burglar got scared and ran away.

A few Christians think speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation. I remember an incident when witnessing to three people smoking outside a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. One of them named Chelsea wasn’t sure of her eternal destiny. I later learned she was backslidden and went to a church that taught one must be baptized and speak in tongues to be saved. Strangely enough, Chelsea defended that doctrine after praying along with her two friends to get born again.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues is a gift God wants every believer to have. However, salvation is solely based on our faith in the risen Savior. (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9). My sister and her husband weren't Spirit-filled but constantly prayed that I would recognize my need for Jesus. In March 1991, they led me to the Lord. Two months later, I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at the Full Gospel church I attended. It took a while before speaking in tongues became natural for me.

When evangelizing, I rarely discuss speaking in tongues with new converts unless they appear to have a hunger for the deeper things of God. My focus is on getting people saved. As J. Lee Grady stated in his latest column: “You may speak in tongues, but if you don't use the Spirit's power to reach lost souls, you have cheapened the definition of a Pentecostal. We often say that tongues is the initial evidence of the infilling of the Spirit. But if someone isn't bold to witness, they can't be full of the Spirit. Lord, give us souls again!”

“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.” - Mark 16:17-18

How to Fish for Men

While growing up in Minnesota, my family had property on Big Sugar Bush Lake just north of Detroit Lakes. During the summer months, we spent almost every weekend there. Dad often went fishing. That wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed except when I caught a lot of fish. Years later, the Lord called me to be a fisher of men.

As a young Christian, one of the most powerful sermons I heard compared evangelism to fishing. Pastor Mac Hammond mentioned five key points to successful soul-winning. I will list the points below along with my thoughts on each one…

1. Go Where the Fish Are. Many Christians fish out of their bathtub. If you’re always surrounded by other believers and isolate yourself from the lost, you won’t have opportunities to lead sinners to salvation. Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
2. Go Where the Fish Are Hungry. Although everyone needs to hear the gospel, those who are well-off financially usually aren’t as receptive. That’s why when coming into a new city, I often seek out low-income neighborhoods to evangelize. As Jesus said in Luke 4:18, “…He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.”
3. Use the Right Bait. The right kind of gospel tract can make a difference, especially when given to someone who doesn’t have time to converse with you. Normally I use Nick Kinn’s “Have You Heard the Good News?”, but sometimes hand out million-dollar bills. The latter are good conversation starters. Sometimes the Lord leads me to minister healing to people first before asking questions about their eternal destiny.
4. Present the Bait Correctly. We must always show compassion by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). It’s the goodness of God that leads one to repentance (Romans 2:4), not guilt or condemnation.
5. Reel Them In. It’s frustrating when I work with believers who take too much time talking about the gospel when a sinner is ready to get saved. Jesus said in Luke 14:23, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

One Christian cliché I find annoying is “we are to make disciples, not converts.” Making disciples starts by being a fisher of men. When doing the work of the evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5), the focus is getting people saved. It’s often been said, “You catch them, He’ll clean them.”

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

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When Not to Go to Church

As a minister of the gospel, it saddens me when I hear Christians give excuses not to attend church. Previously in this blog, I listed ten reasons why one should want to come into the house of the Lord. Nevertheless, there have been instances when I opted to watch services online as opposed to sitting inside religious institutions.

During the mid-2010s, I was hosted a few times at a house in Shelby, Iowa, a town of just over 600 people. The homeowner lived 40 miles away in Omaha, Nebraska. Because of not having access to a car, I only had three churches to choose from in Shelby: Catholic, Lutheran, or Presbyterian. I looked up info on these churches and perceived it wouldn’t be beneficial to sit through their meetings. As a child, I endured many boring services at the traditional church my parents took me to. The last time I was in Shelby, the homeowner drove us to a house meeting in Omaha when the gifts of the Spirit manifested. I’d be open to going there again.

There’s also a place I occasionally stay at in Casselton, North Dakota. Unless I have a ride into Fargo (which is twenty miles away), my church options are limited there as well. During my last time in Casselton, I visited a church that just opened the year before. I showed up early looking forward to some fellowship plus coffee and snacks. Unfortunately, that was temporarily suspended because of the coronavirus. I sat through the service for only a few minutes. The opening prayers and worship music promoted sin consciousness instead of who we are in Christ. One song repeated the lyric: “Our sins are many.” I quietly slipped out of the sanctuary and later felt edified after watching anointed preaching online. 

There’s another friend I often stay with who lives in Northern Virginia. Although I got to lead him to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he still prefers attending an Anglican church that’s too structured. The last time I stayed with this man, I found out his church had mask mandates. That gave me another reason not to go there.

There may be occasions (such as vacationing in a secluded area) when you might find yourself temporarily without a good church to attend. Unless the Lord leads otherwise, I caution anyone against going to services that are void of power. 

“Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” 

- Matthew 15:6

Nobody’s Perfect

One of the rarest feats in baseball is a perfect game. This is when a pitcher retires all 27 batters he faces during a nine-inning game. Not only does the pitcher have to show exceptional skill but also his teammates. If one of them commits an error, that wipes away the perfect game. In major league history, only 23 perfect games have occurred. Another one would’ve made the record books if it weren’t for a blown call by an umpire.

On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers retired the first 26 Cleveland Indians he faced. The 27th batter, Jason Donald, hit a ground ball to first base. Miguel Cabrera fielded it and threw it to Galarraga, whose foot hit the bag before Donald’s did. But umpire Jim Joyce, a 21-year veteran, ruled that Donald was safe. Replays clearly showed that Donald was out. Jim Joyce later acknowledged he missed the call and said, “I just cost that kid a perfect game.”

Last year, many ministers prophesied Donald Trump would be reelected President of the United States. A handful of them has since said they missed it. One named Jeremiah Johnson even shut down his ministry. However, others are still standing by their prophecies. One prophet who I consider a friend predicted the military would remove Joe Biden from the White House and reinstate Trump by April. That didn’t come to pass. Hopefully, my friend will issue some kind of retraction. I don’t want to see him branded a false prophet.

What happens when you mess up? Are you humble enough to say you made a mistake?

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” - Proverbs 28:13 (Living Bible)

Not Moved By What You See

I didn’t closely follow the Derek Chauvin trial but was a bit surprised with the outcome. The former Minneapolis police officer was convicted on all three counts for the death of George Floyd. I didn’t agree with Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. However, fentanyl could have killed Floyd (similar to what happened to Prince five years ago). He had three times the lethal dosage in his system. The jurors may have rendered the guilty verdict fearing reprisals from protesters. 

Throughout history, innocent people have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. They were sometimes the victims of circumstantial evidence. One online dictionary defines that as “evidence not drawn from direct observation of a fact in issue.” An example could be someone running away from a murder scene with a weapon in hand. Unless witnesses saw him commit the murder, there’s a possibility the suspect wasn’t involved.

Hours before the Derek Chauvin verdict was delivered, I had an incident that reminded me how other situations can be misinterpreted. I went to the Apple Store because the power cord for my MacBook Pro stopped working the day before. Troubleshooting on my part convinced me the USB-C Charge Cable needed replacing. When an Apple Store employee tried a different cord, my laptop didn’t receive power from that. A closer examination revealed residue had accumulated on the Thunderbolt port. Cleaning that resulted in my cable working again.

Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” In this day and hour, we cannot make decisions strictly by what we see in the natural realm where Satan can manipulate things. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit regardless of what our five senses tell us. Even when our prayers appear to go unanswered, standing on the word of God will produce results. As Smith Wigglesworth famously said, “I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe.”

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7