A recent headline got me thinking about my past and my current state. It also revealed to me the hearts of folks.

Most folks are aware of my background pre-Christianity. The stores, the spells, the witchcraft. I can tell you my pathway to darkness of that caliber was not an “over night” thing. It began long before that. The culmination was a witch who became friends with my wife at the time and subsequently with me. Seriously, it was all down hill from there for many a year.

I had fully turned my schedule of belief towards witchcraft and all it had. It started with crystal balls and such. One of the “starters” was the Ouija board. For those who do not know a Ouija board or a spirit board, the major purpose it has is to contact the dead (necromancy) or the spirit world to get answers or direction. Some disregard them, others swear by them and yet others are frightened. I have probably been at most of those levels at one point or another.

So, perhaps you will be surprised to see that there is a resurgence of this “game” or this board. The other day I saw the headlines about “Ouija board sales up 300% and could become a Christmas ‘must buy’” while other headlines warn “Ouija Boards Become An Xmas ‘Must Buy’: Church Warns ‘Don’t Let This Darkness Into Your Lives’”. It is showing as one of the top 10 “trends for Christmas”.

Some of my friends do not care at all. I am not willing to take that position. Why? Because I do care. I see the potential for lives being ruined and even death. I see divorces and affairs becoming attached to this. Over my life I know people who have participated who lost their lives. But, I think a lot differently in my “I care” statement.

I am not sure the church can reach out to people about spiritual things without first having relationships with the people you want to reach. Pretty sure newspaper articles and programs will not keep people from these things.

Last night I had a dream and everywhere I went with friends they saw something harmful, something disastrous. I had this dream 3 times. Each time I would investigate what they saw to find out it was not anything. One lady kept telling me about the “coral snakes”. I wanted to say “there are no snakes like that in this country” but out of friendship, I kept searching, finding nothing. That dream caused me to write this. I do not think people are crying wolf. I do think our methodology for dealing with witchcraft (Actually a lot of things.) is frequently fear based and unhealthy. I often do not think it allows for dialog or relationship.

Often times our fear and lack of knowledge while perhaps rooted in love causes more damage than we know.

I look at those headlines and I think “wow! The harvests are white.” These people are seeking the spirituality they have not received, seen or were made aware of by the church of today. We do not have to say “don’t” (The other day I wrote it is better to be for something than it is to be against something all the time.)to Ouija boards. We ought to show them the love of the Father and the demonstrations of power that follow the preaching of the word of God. (Preach = share good news) They are looking, wanting, seeking. The big question is how and will the church reach out. We do not need a gimmick, we have Jesus. There is no need for gimmicks. People are seeking answers and the church has them. People are seeking power and the church has it.

I often hear people say “people are not getting it” when they reference the world and spirituality. I am pretty sure they are getting it. There is a spiritual hunger out there. I have these conversations daily. Unfortunately a lot of their spirituality is not coming from the church in our country. BUT…it could!

Years ago a friend of mine landed in a mission field of powerful witchcraft. He watched with doctors climb robes in the air and levitate to pick fruit. He said, “God, I do not even know what I am doing, let alone this! The Lord spoke to him. “Love them.” He realized very quickly that “they will know we are Christians by our love”. The ministry has impacted the region since a small beginning in 1994. It has touched tens of thousands. They do not do “all the stuff” all the time. But what they try to do most is love people into the kingdom. Having relationships and building friendships.

Let me tell you the conversation NOT to have if you see a friend with a Ouija board. “Oh my gosh! Are you kidding? Do you know how dangerous these things are? Do you want to die? Do you want to go to hell” They will most likely say “for this? What are you talking about?” Or they might say, “I tried to talk to you…”

The world is on tilt. But God has poured out His spirit on all flesh. We are about to see something amazing. That “amazing” might start with you loving the unlovable. Me? I read those headlines and I wanted to prophesy over everyone I knew. Speak destiny, tug on the Father’s robe and give answers, with wisdom and power.

I want headlines that read “Amazon runs out of Bibles to sell!”