The Real Danger of Using a Fortune Teller Isn’t Just The Fortune You Pay

Two psychics drained their victims of over $600,000 by claiming to remove deadly curses, but the real danger wasn't supernatural at all.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
My hand over another envelope inside three thousand dollars in cash.
This time, Naomi takes it without counting. Her ring's catching
the light as she tucks it into her desk drawer
with all the others. She's already explained why she needs
the money. The curse blocking my marriage is stronger than
she initially thought, more powerful, more ancient. It requires rare materials,

(00:29):
specific rituals, items that hold spiritual significance. I've given her jewelry,
concert tickets I had intended to give my spouse for
our anniversary gift cards, that expensive Christmas gift I'd planned
to give our son for Christmas, my grandmother's wedding ring.
She promised everything would be returned once the curse lifted.

(00:50):
That was eight months ago. My marriage still feels fragile,
My business still struggles. The happiness I'm desperate for still
hovers just out of reach. But Naomi assures me we're
making progress. These things take time. Spiritual warfare isn't one overnight.
The darkness fighting against my future won't surrender easily. I

(01:12):
just need to be patient, have faith, trust the process.
She has seen cases like mine before, She says they
always work out. I just need to keep going, keep believing,
keep investing in my spiritual freedom. The frustration naws at
me somedays, though, shouldn't I see results by now? But
then I remember what Naomi said. Doubt is exactly what

(01:35):
the curse wants. Skepticism feeds it. If I lose faith, now,
everything I've invested will be wasted. So I pushed the
questions away. I write another check, I gather more items
she requests. I wait. I believe a trust that my
answer will eventually come. I just need to be patient

(01:56):
and have faith. The story I've just told you is
not my story, but it is a story that happened
not to a man, but to a woman. Desperate, fragile,
and easy pickings for a skilled con artist. But more
than the money that she spent, there is something a
lot more valuable that this woman has been spending on

(02:20):
the psychic yellow weirdos. I'm Pastor Daron, Welcome to the
Church of the Undead. Here in the Church of the Undead,
I step away from being a host of weird darkness
and step into the clothes of a reverend. I still
share things that are dark, strange, or macabre, diving into

(02:42):
the paranormal, true crime, monsters, and more. But I try
to find a biblical take on the subject matter. I
have to say it's a fun challenge. If you're a
Weirdo family member from my Weird Darkness podcast or a
Weirdo in Christ from this one, welcome to the Church
of the Undead. And I use the word undead because
as when six' eleven says in the same, way count

(03:02):
yourselves dead to, sin but alive To god In, Christ
jesus and As ephesians two, states even when we were
dead in our, Trespasses god made us alive together With.
Christ if you are dead and are now, alive that
makes you. Undead if you want to join This weirdo,
congregation just click that subscribe or follow button and visit
us online At weirddarkness dot com slash. Church in this,

(03:26):
message we live in a world where people are, searching,
desperate sometimes looking for answers about, tomorrow about, love about
whether things will turn out, okay and there are always
people ready to take advantage of that. Desperation today we're
going to talk about two of, them what happens to
the people who trusted, them and later What god's word

(03:47):
has to say about the whole mess full disclosure BEFORE
i get into the, MESSAGE i might use the term
pastor Because i've branded this feature as a church AND
i got a minister's license. Online BUT i do not
have a theology, degree nor DO i ever go To Bible.
College i'm just a guy who gave his life To
christ at the age of twenty one and has tried
to walk the walk ever, since and has stumbled a

(04:08):
lot along the, way because like everybody, ELSE i am an,
imperfect heavily flawed human. Being so please don't take WHAT
i say as. Gospel dig Into God's word yourself for, confirmation,
inspiration and. Revelation that being, Said welcome to The church
of The Young. Dead now for the true story THAT

(04:36):
i based my introduction. Upon september twenty twenty, two In,
pennsylvania a woman picks up the phone and dials a
number For Jenkintown's Psychic. Visions she wants a. Reading nothing.
Unusual the business operates out of four seventy Five Old York,
road charging seventy five dollars for a phone. Consultation seems
reasonable if you're into purchasing that kind of thing on

(04:58):
a regular. Basis the woman on the other end calls Herself.
Naomi her actual name Is Gina Marie. Marx marx reads
tarot cards during these, sessions but she's also using something
called cold. Reading this isn't magic or supernatural. Power it's,
psychology plain and. Simple cold, reading if you're not familiar

(05:19):
with it works by watching how somebody responds to vague.
Statements the reader notices body, language listens to speech, patterns
picks up on what makes a person React when something,
Resonates they dig. Deeper when they, miss they move past
it quickly enough that the client forgets done, skillfully And
Gina Marie marx is indeed. Skilled it creates the illusion

(05:41):
of reading someone's, soul when really the reader is just observing.
Reactions over several, Sessions Gina marx learns everything she needs
to know about her. Client the woman is in, love
she desperately wants her marriage to. Work she has, fears,
hopes anxieties that she can can't quite. Articulate gina finds

(06:02):
the pressure. Point Gina marx has an appropriate surname Because
marx just found another mark after those initial. Readings Gina,
marx WHOM i will just refer to As gina from
now on delivers her. VERDICT a powerful curse is blocking
the woman's path to. Happiness love keeps slipping away because
of this. Curse, worse if nothing gets, done the curse

(06:25):
will destroy her, marriage wreck her, business tear apart her.
Family the woman believes her for the next eleven. Months
gina demands payment after, payment money, obviously but also, jewelry,
clothing concert, tickets gift. Cards gina explains that these items
hold power and serve as conduits for removing the. Evil

(06:47):
she needs personal belongings to complete the. Rituals don't, worry she,
says everything will be. Returned nothing ever gets. Returned Part
way through this, Nightmare gina tells her client that the
case is too common plex to. Handle a, Loan she
brings in her, partner a man she Calls. Stephan his
actual name Is Steve, nicholas and he lives at the

(07:07):
Same Old York road address where the business. Operates some
of the money and luxury items go directly to. Him
this continues From september twenty, third twenty twenty, two To
august thirty, first twenty twenty, three nearly a year of curse,
cleansings and spiritual interventions and protective. Rituals total amount taken
from this one woman five hundred ninety five, thousand nine

(07:31):
hundred and fifty nine. Dollars Montgomery county detectives eventually pull
financial records from Cash app And Nicholas's Navy Federal Credit.
Union they discovered deposits flowing in from the, victims then
flowing right back out in predictable. Directions thousands of dollars
went to Fan, duel the sports betting site atm withdrawals

(07:52):
At park's casino totaled seventeen thousand. Dollars the curse removal
business apparently funded gambling habits and personal spending. Spree these
two are claiming they can see the, future predict, outcomes
tap into supernatural knowledge about what's, coming and they're spending
the money on sports betting and the. Lottery if you
can actually see the, future you don't need Fan. Duel

(08:14):
you just need a bookie and a really good. Lawyer
and if you could predict the lottery, numbers what are
you doing charging seventy five dollars for a phone reading
out of a strip mall. Office you'd be on a yacht,
somewhere not running a curse removal business In, Jenkintown. Pennsylvania
the fact that they're gambling tells you everything you need
to know about their psychic. Abilities, meanwhile somewhere In, pennsylvania

(08:37):
a woman who gave away nearly six hundred thousand dollars
still believes she paid to save her. Marriage The Montgomery
County Detective bureau gets wind of this On Christmas, eve
twenty twenty, four detectives opening case files while the rest
of us are opening. Presents that's dedication right. There as
they dig into the, case the police find another. Victim

(08:57):
this woman first Contacts Jenkintown's Psychic visions On june, tenth
twenty twenty. Three that's While gina is still working the first. Victim,
apparently when you are running a curse removal, business you can.
Multitask gina tells her new client to send photographs and personal.
Details the sessions run From june twenty twenty three Through
february twenty twenty. Four the photo requests get increasingly. Personal

(09:21):
marx makes what investigators call unorthodox requests for. Rituals when
law enforcement has to use the word unorthodox to describe
your spiritual, practices especially if it involves, photos you've probably
crossed the line. Somewhere then comes the demands for cash
and A chanel, purse because apparently curses are very fashion

(09:43):
conscious and won't respond to just any. Accessories the demons
have Standard. Gino when the woman, Hesitates gina threatens, her
your reputation will be. Ruined gina, says they'll be untold
personal and tragic, consequences very, ominous but very, unspecific which
is odd if they can see the. Future this victim

(10:03):
loses eighteen thousand. Dollars before we get too high and
mighty about how these naive women got, scammed we need
to understand. Something this works because we are all vulnerable
in certain. Ways every single one of us is naive
in some area of our. Lives The barnum effect describes
how people accept vague personality descriptions as uniquely applicable to,

(10:26):
themselves even when those same descriptions could fit almost. Anyone
gina can, say at times you feel, confident but other
times you doubt. Yourself who can't relate to. That it's
the emotional equivalent of saying you're a human being who
experiences the full range of human. Emotions groundbreaking insight, There.
Gina next time someone says they got an incredibly accurate horoscope,

(10:51):
reading ask to see, it then read it while pretending
it's your horoscope instead of. THEIRS i guarantee it'll feel
just as accurate for. You that's because it is written
like a fortune, cookie vague enough to apply to, everyone
specific enough to feel. PERSONAL a skilled cold reader starts

(11:11):
with broad statements and watches for micro, reactions a flicker
of recognition in the, eyes a shift in, posture a
change in. Breathing they elaborate on what lands and glide
past what. Doesn't the client or mark remembers the hits
and forgets the misses over. Time this creates a powerful
illusion of, genuine supernatural. Insight IF i make ten predictions

(11:35):
and two of them are, right you'll remember those two
and tell all your friends about HOW i knew THINGS
i couldn't possibly. Know you'll likely forget the eight TIMES
i was completely. Wrong that's not psychic. Ability that's selective
memory combined with confirmation, bias and we all do. It
the industry itself is. Massive the psychic services industry in

(11:56):
The United states generates approximately two point three billion dollars
in annual. Revenue that's billion with A b for. Context
that's more than the entire global revenue of fortune, cookies
which is ironic considering they basically do the same. Thing
according to A Pew Research center, survey over twenty percent
Of americans consult a psychic or fortune, teller and forty

(12:18):
one percent Of americans believe in. Psychics we're talking about your,
neighbors your, coworkers maybe your family, members possibly the person
sitting next to you right, now maybe, you THOUGH i
can't be, sure because despite what some people, think pastors
don't actually have psychic. Abilities they just pretend they can
read minds during counseling, sessions And i'm not a real.

(12:41):
Pastor most psychic businesses offer harmless entertainment or, guidance but
the same psychological techniques that make a reading feel authentic
can be. Weaponized John, livingood a former police chief who
investigated dozens of fortune teller fraud, cases TOLD nbc ten that,
historically most psychic fronsters who were arrested or charged got

(13:03):
minimal consequences slap on the, wrist maybe. Probation actual jail
time was rare unless the dollar amounts got high enough
to make. Headlines many simply moved to a new city
and started, over which is impressively bold when you think about. It,
sorry got caught scamming people In. Cleveland time to set
up shop In pittsburgh under a slightly different fake. Name

(13:24):
i'm sure nobody will, notice and apparently nobody. Did fortune
telling fraud follows a consistent. Structure the classic version goes like.
This the fortune teller tells the mark that the curse
lives in their. Money bring cash in a, bag we'll
cast a spell over. It the mark leaves with a
bag of worthless. Paper of, course that only works if

(13:44):
you're not planning a long con and have bus tickets
to leave immediately after your client's hour is. Up gina
And steven are much more. SOPHISTICATED i don't know If
gina And stephen actually used this, method but sometimes the
con artist proves a curse exists on the client it
through sleight of, hand often involving an egg that gets
cracked open to reveal rot or disturbing. Symbols ancient mystical

(14:07):
rituals apparently involve rotten. Eggs very, spiritual very, powerful also
available at any grocery store where they don't rotate their stock.
PROPERLY a nineteen ninety six court decision From hawaii called
this a centuries old confidence game that victimized the elderly
or those with emotional. Problems the wording of that judicial
opinion centuries old confidence game reveals just how long courts

(14:31):
have been dealing with these. Cases people have been running
this scam since Before america was a. Country it's been
around so long it probably qualifies as a tradition at this.
Point give it enough time and we'll probably have A
National Psychic. Day oh, wait it does. Exist oh, yeah
the First sunday In august each. Year, well We americans
will celebrate, anything won't. We is there A national con

(14:53):
Artist day? Too never, MIND i don't want to. Know.
Hey on the plus, side, though Every may eighth is
Scam Survivor's, day so. Anyway in two thousand and, Two
california psychics faced federal mail fraud charges after convincing people
to pay for bad karma. Removal i'm pretty sure that's
a great way to get bad. Karma in two thousand and,
six two women In connecticut told another woman That god

(15:15):
would kill her unless she paid them to perform, rituals
including chicken. SACRIFICES A texas woman got two and a
half years in federal prison for running a psychic hotline
that collected counseling fees while also convincing clients to send
money in property for spiritual. CLEANSING i hear she's getting
out on the First sunday of Next. August the targets
are always, vulnerable grieving, people lonely, people people facing financial

(15:39):
stress or relationship. Problems the con artists exploit the exact
circumstances that drove victims to seek help in the first.
Place they build trust through the illusion of special, knowledge
then leverage that trust to extract escalating. Payments there's a
psychological trap, involved. Too once someone has invested emotion only and,

(16:00):
financially it becomes harder to walk. Away they've already put
in so. Much surely it'll work if they just give
a little. More this is the sunk cost, fallacy and
scammers exploit it. Ruthlessly same reason we keep watching a
terrible movie just because we've already invested forty five minutes in.
It maybe it gets better in the third. Act now it.

(16:22):
Doesn't it's, terrible always, Is But we've come this, far
so we might as well see how it. Ends except
with psychic, scams the ending costs you six hundred thousand
dollars and your grandmother's wedding. Ring Gina marks And Steve
nicholas were arrested In New jersey in Late september twenty twenty.
Five they got extradited To pennsylvania earlier this, Month october.

(16:44):
Seventh the next, Day Montgomery County District Attorney KEVIN. R
steele And Jenkintown Police Chief THOMAS. M scott held a
press conference announcing the. Charges the list was substantial corrupt
organizations dealing in the proceeds of online, activities theft by unlawful,
taking theft by, deception receiving stolen, property conspiracy to commit,

(17:07):
theft and fortune. Telling fortune Telling that last one's. Interesting
fortune telling remains a criminal offense In. Pennsylvania most jurisdictions
treat fortune telling itself as protected speech under The First.
Amendment you can tell people whatever nonsense you want about their,
future as long as you're not actively defrauding. Them the

(17:27):
line into criminality happens when practitioners make specific false claims
about their abilities threaten victims or engaging clear fraud for financial.
Gain so, basically you can tell people they're going to
meet a tall dark stranger and find true. Love that's,
legal but you can't tell them they need to pay
you fifty thousand dollars or the tall dark stranger will

(17:49):
actually be the grim reaper that crosses the. Line both
defendants were arraigned On october seventh Before Magisterial District Judge JODY. L.
Griffiths gina's mail got set at ten percent of fifty thousand.
Dollars steve's vail was ten percent of twenty five thousand.
Dollars they both posted bail and walked out they had
the money after. All LAUREN. A, Whimmer steve's, attorney released

(18:12):
a statement, saying Mister nicholas denies any involvement in this
alleged scheme and maintains his complete. Innocence we intend to
challenge the accusations vigorously in, court where the, facts not
assumptions or, headlines will speak for. THEMSELVES i guess there's
no honor among, thieves after. All District Attorney steele put it,
plainly these, defendants through their con, scheme preyed on people

(18:33):
who were looking for, help, guidance and, hope exploiting them
for financial. Gain they are now going to be held
accountable for their. Actions Detective Jonathan kelsey's affidavit laid out
the emotional manipulation in stark, terms, saying worst of, All
Gina marx allegedly used the victim's love for another and
desperate desire to remain married to emotionally abuse, her to

(18:53):
mentally weaken, her and to expertly steal her. Money defense
Attorney Robert gottlieb once the psychic accused of fraud in
a different. Case during AN npr, interview he asks something
that makes people. Uncomfortable what's the difference between what a
psychic is doing for people who voluntarily pay good money
for peace of mind and what a televangelist? Provides, eh

(19:17):
that one. Stings it's a fair, question, though even if
nobody wants to answer, it and as a fake preacher,
Myself i'll tell you there's a massive, difference but only
if the person claiming to speak For god is actually
Teaching god's word. Correctly if someone is Using god's name
to manipulate, people take their money and give them false,
hope that person is doing exactly what the psychic is,

(19:40):
doing just with A christian, rapper And god will hold
them accountable even more severely because they're not just scamming,
people they're Blaspheming god's name while doing it and putting
people's souls in. Jeopardy if you've ever watched one of
those prosperity gospel preachers ON tv promising that if you
just send them, Money god will make your, rich that's
the same scam in a different. Costume so you'll see

(20:03):
faith gift of one thousand dollars and Watch god pour out. Blessings,
no that's not the. Gospel that's a fortune teller with
better production values and the tax. Exemption but when someone
teaches The bible faithfully points people To jesus encourages them
to Seek god directly rather than depending on any human,
intermediary that's the complete opposite of what a psychic. DOES

(20:26):
a faithful teacher, says don't put your trust in, me
put your trust In. God that's WHY i start these
weekly messages by, saying don't take WHAT i say as.
Gospel dig Into god's word yourself for, confirmation, inspiration and.
Revelation psychic says you need me to access spiritual, truth
which brings me to the whole point of telling you

(20:46):
this long drawn out. Story jesus never took money to
tell people's. Fortunes he gave his life to save people
from their. Sins that's the. Difference i'm a fake pastor
of an online culu the weirdos In christ AND i
don't know next week's lottery. NUMBERS i can't tell you
who you're going to marry or when you're going to
get that. PROMOTION i don't have a hot line to

(21:08):
heaven WHERE i can call up to ceased relatives for a.
Chat IF i, DID i had to have some questions
for That john guy about a few confusing passages in
The book Of. Revelation but that's not how any of this.
Works the legal system generally protects fortune telling as free.
Speech proving criminal intent is. Challenging victims have to be
willing to come forward and, testify which many won't. Do

(21:30):
embarrassment is part of, that but also some victims just
never stop. Believing AND i apologize for That journey song
now being stuck in your. Head the victim was convinced
the practitioner had real abilities that the rituals were, genuine
that they just ran out of money before the cure
could take. Effect Montgomery county authorities think there might be
more victims in this particular. Case they've asked anybody who's

(21:53):
dealt With gina Or, steve or as their clients would know,
Them naomi And stefan to come forward and the tragedy.
Here somewhere out, there someone is still trapped in that,
lie still believing they need what Only god can, provide
still handing over, money still waiting for a breakthrough that
will never come from that. Source let's talk about what really,

(22:16):
matters because Whether gina And steve had any real supernatural
abilities or whether they were pure. Frauds god's word is
crystal clear on this subject either, way and it might
surprise some people to know that The bible actually assumes
some of these practitioners might have real. Power the question
isn't always whether it's, real, Though the question is where

(22:38):
that power comes. From deuterontomy, eighteen verses ten through twelve
says there shall not be found among you anyone who
makes his son or his daughter pass through the, fire
one who uses, divination one who practices, witchcraft or one
who interprets, omens or a, sorcerer or one who casts a,
spell or a, medium or a, spiritist or one who

(22:59):
calls up the. Dead for whoever does these things is
detestable to The. Lord notice the. Language god doesn't say
don't do this because it's. Fake he, says don't do
this because it's detestable to. Him there's a. Difference and
if you're a practitioner listening to me right now and
you're angry with, me just know this is not me

(23:20):
in my, opinion It's. God i'm just quoting. Him your
issue is not with, me it's with your. Creator my
opinion matters Not, likewise if you're listening and not a
practitioner but angry with me right now BECAUSE i shared,
that just know that this is not me and my.
Opinion That's. God i'm just quoting. Him your issue is
not with, me it's with your. Creator AND i say

(23:42):
this not to shut you, down but BECAUSE i care
enough to tell you the, truth which is what the
rest of this message is. About In acts sixteen, Sixteen
luke records encountering a slave girl who had a spirit
of divination and brought her owners much gain by. Fortune
telling this girl had real, Abilities her ability to penetrate

(24:03):
mysteries was due to a demon that controlled. Her paul
eventually cast out that, demon freeing the girl from spiritual.
Bondage some psychics are absolutely con, artists plain and. Simple
they're using psychological, tricks cold, reading vague, statements and. Manipulation
they have no more supernatural power than your average, Telemarketer and,
honestly those folks might be in better shape spiritually than

(24:26):
the ones with the real, abilities because at least they're
not actually trafficking with, demons although that is borderline if
they are a. Telemarketer if you're pretending to have powers
you don't, have you're just a regular, liar not, great but.
Manageable but if you actually have supernatural abilities that come
from demonic, sources that's like being upset that your counterfeit

(24:49):
money got rejected and then being, told actually that money is,
real but you stole it from the. Mob, congratulations your
situation just got exponentially. Work but some practitioners might have
real supernatural. Abilities they might genuinely see, things know, things predict,
things and that's actually more, dangerous not. Less because divination

(25:16):
in any form is. Sin it's not harmless entertainment or
an alternate source of. Wisdom if you're getting, genuine supernatural
information from a source that Isn't, god you're getting it
from somewhere. Else and there are only two teams in
this spiritual. Realm There's god's team and there's the. Opposition
there's no Neutral switzerland in spiritual. Warfare you're either getting

(25:39):
your information From heaven or From. Hell and if it's
not coming From, god well that narrows down your options.
Considerably scripture explicitly, forbids, divination, sorcery and other recult practices
because these acts demonstrate a lack of trust In god's
sovereignty and. Provision if you're Following, jesus this gets even

(25:59):
More we're. Serious we're not just supposed to avoid this
stuff because it's. Dangerous we're supposed to avoid it because
we have something infinitely. Better god desires as people to
Seek him for wisdom and, guidance rather than turn into
fortune tellers or other ungodly. Practices trust in The lord
with all your. Heart do not depend on your own.

(26:20):
Understanding Seek his will and all you, do and he
will show you which path to. Take proverbs, three verses
five through. Six consider what we're saying when we consult a,
psychic use ajia, board check our, horoscope or get a tarot.
Reading we're saying To, GOD i don't trust you enough
to guide my, life So i'm going to ask this
other spiritual source, instead and that Breaks god's heart because

(26:44):
he loves us and wants to lead. Us james one five,
states if you need, wisdom ask our Generous god and
he will give it to. You he will not rebuke
you for. Asking we have direct access to the creator
of the. Universe why would we settle for knocking on
the devil's. Door we've got The Holy spirit living inside

(27:05):
us if we're. Believers we've got The, bible which Is
god's actual word to. Us we've got prayer where we
can talk directly To god, anytime, Anywhere and yet we're
attempted to pay seventy five bucks to have somebody read
tarot cards over the. Phone we have a smartphone with unlimited,
data but we're choosing to use a payphone that only
connects to a. Telemarketer we have a direct line to THE,

(27:27):
ceo but we're getting our information from the sketchy guy
in a parking lot who claims he knows the CEO's.
Cousin we own A Michelin star. Restaurant but we're eating
out of a dumpster behind a gas, station all. Right,
actually that last one might be too. Generous at least
dumpster food is. Free this costs you money and spiritual.
HEALTH i know what some of you might be, Thinking

(27:48):
but it's just for, Fun, DARREN i don't really believe in.
It if you went to a church that taught false,
doctrine would you go just for? Fun if someone invited
you to a True satanic, ritual would you just to
see what it's? Like? OH i don't actually Worship, satan
you might, SAY i just enjoy the. Ambiance the candles are,
nice the chanting is, catchy basically like a really intense karaoke. Night,

(28:12):
no absolutely, not none of us would do. That christians
should avoid any practice related to, divination including fortune, telling, astrology,
witchcraft tarot, cards, necromancy and spell. Casting The bible is
specific about, this not, vague not, ambiguous Specific ephesians five to.
Eight for once you were full of, darkness but now

(28:35):
you have light from The. Lord so live as people of.
Light if you're listening to this and you've consulted, psychics
used tarot, cards messed WITH wisa, boards followed, astrology or
gotten involved in any occult. PRACTICES i want you to
hear this, Clearly god offers complete forgiveness and freedom from

(28:56):
all of. It In acts, nineteen The New Living translation
state many who became believers confessed their sinful. PRACTICES a
number of, them who had been practicing, sorcery brought their
incantation books and burned them at a public. Bonfire the
value of the books was several million. Dollars these Early
christians had been deep into the, occult and when they

(29:17):
came To, jesus they didn't hide their. Past they confessed,
it renounced, it and publicly destroyed the tools they'd. Used
the value of those books was several million dollars in today's.
Money that's how serious they were about breaking. Free these
people took books worth millions of dollars and set them on.
Fire they didn't try to sell them on. eBay they

(29:39):
didn't donate them to a. Museum they didn't keep them
just in case or as a conversation. Piece they burned.
Them that's. Commitment someone today taking their fifty thousand dollars
sports car and pushing it into a lake because they
realized they'd been using it for drag, racing and it
represents their old. Life us can barely throw away expired,

(30:01):
coupons and these people are having million dollars. Bonfires and
what happened, Next, Well One corinthians six eleven, says some
of you were once like, that but you were, cleansed
you were made, Holy you were made right With god
by calling on the name of The Lord Jesus christ
and by the spirit of Our. God that's the power
of The. Gospel it doesn't matter how deep you've gone into.

(30:24):
Darkness jesus light is. Brighter his blood covers every. Sin
his grace is sufficient for every. MISTAKE i don't care
if you've been to every psychic in your. STATE i
don't care if you've got a room full of tarot,
decks crystal, balls And wisa. BOARDS i don't care if
you've been practicing witchcraft for thirty. Years jesus can save

(30:46):
you right, now this moment and wash all of that. Away,
grace by the, way is. Free it's not. Cheap it
Costs jesus, everything and when we receive, it we are
called to turn away from the old life and walk
inaness of. Life james four verses seven and eight say,
so humble yourselves Before. God resist the devil and he

(31:07):
will flee from. You come close To, god And god
will come close to. You if you're serious about Following,
jesus you can't keep one foot in the occult just in.
Case you can't Have jesus On sunday and your horoscope
app On. Monday you can't pray To god but also
light candles to other. Spirits it's all or. Nothing pick a.

(31:27):
Team if you're listening to me and you work as
a psychic, media, astrologer tarot, reader or any other form of,
DIVINATION i know you're probably angry right. Now you might be,
Thinking i'm not like those. SCAMMERS i genuinely help. PEOPLE
i have, INTEGRITY i charge fair, Prices i'm, sincere and
you're a judgmental. Idiot, well, first it's not me that's,

(31:49):
judging It's. God and, second, Yes i'm an, idiot but
that has nothing to do with this. MESSAGE i believe
you probably are. Sincere most of you are not. Connard
you're Not Gena marx Or Steve nicholas deliberately destroying people's
lives for casino. Money you genuinely believe you're helping people find, peace,
comfort and. Guidance your motives are. PURE i understand. That

(32:13):
but sincerity doesn't make something. Right as the cliche, goes
you can sincerely believe in something and you can be sincerely.
Wrong here's WHAT i would ask you to. Consider where
is your power actually coming? From not where you think
it's coming from or what you've been, told but where
is it really. Sourced if you have genuine supernatural, abilities

(32:37):
and some of you, might they're not coming from a neutral,
universe or from the light or from departed spirits trying to.
Help there are only two sources of supernatural, Power god or.
Demons And god has explicitly forbidden these, practices which, means
if the power is, real it's not from. Him that's

(32:58):
a hard. Truth but can it or? This have your
abilities brought you? Peace deep lasting? Peace or do you
struggle with anxiety depression spiritual? Oppression do you ever feel, drained,
exhausted or disturbed by what you see or sense that's
not what comes From. God what comes From god renews,

(33:20):
You it refreshes. You here's my, advice Ask god to
show you the. Truth, really ask, Him, god if What
i'm doing is, wrong show me if this power comes
from darkness instead of, Light reveal it to, me and
then be willing to accept the, answer even if it
costs you your. Livelihood because here's WHAT i can promise.

(33:42):
You jesus can set you free from whatever spiritual bondage you're.
In he can give you a new, purpose a new,
calling a new way to help people that doesn't require
trafficking with. Darkness the Early christians In acts nineteen burned
millions of dollars worth of occult materials because they discovered
something infinitely more, valuable freedom In. Christ you don't have

(34:04):
to keep doing. This there's a way, out and it
leads to someone who actually loves you and wants what's
best for, you not what's best for the kingdom of.
Darkness you ever wonder why we're tempted to use this
stuff in the first, Place let's be honest about. It
we want to know the, future we want, guarantees we

(34:24):
want control over our, circumstances and when life feels, uncertain
the promise of supernatural insight feels. Comforting my bride AND
i often joke that we'd really like to get an
email or a text From god to let us know
what we're supposed to. Do that'd be, cool but that
wouldn't be. Faith getting instant answers on a whim isn't
how the plan typically. Works but what we're really looking

(34:48):
for is, peace, security. Hope the tragic irony is that
we're seeking those things from sources that can't possibly deliver.
Them going to a gas station for a five of course.
Meal sure they've got. Food they've got those hot dogs
that have been rotating on the warmer since The carter.
Administration they've got, chips they've got energy drinks that probably

(35:11):
glow in the. Dark but if you're genuinely hungry and
looking for true, nourishment you're in the wrong. Place psychics
can't give you peace because they can't control the future
they claim to. Predict they can't give you security because
their whole business model depends on keeping you insecure and
coming back for. More they can't give you hope because

(35:31):
hope built on lies collapses the moment reality shows Up
isaiah forty six to. Ten ONLY i can tell you
the future before it even. Happens EVERYTHING i plan will
come to. Pass FOR i do WHATEVER i, wish says The.
Lord god alone knows the future because he alone controls,
it and he's already told us everything we need to.

(35:53):
Know jeremiah twenty nine to eleven, Says FOR i know
the PLANS i have for, you says The. Lord they
are planned for good and not for, disaster to give
you a future and a hope that's better than any
fortune teller could ever. Offer Because god's not just predicting your.
Future he's actively working to bring about good in your.

(36:14):
Life he's not a passive observer with a crystal. Ball
he's not reading tea leaves to figure out what might.
Happen he's a loving father orchestrating every detail for your ultimate.
Benefit and when we try to peek behind the curtain
through a cult means we're basically Telling god your promises
aren't good. ENOUGH i need more information than you're willing

(36:34):
to give. Me that's not, faith that's the opposite of.
Faith so don't worry about, tomorrow for tomorrow will bring
its own. Worries today's trouble is enough for. Today jesus
said that In matthew six thirty, four and he didn't
say it because he doesn't care about our. Tomorrow's he
said it because he's already got tomorrow handled and he
wants us to trust him with. It if you're on an,

(36:57):
airplane you don't need to know how to fly the.
Plane you don't need to understand aerodynamics or navigation or weather.
Patterns you just need to trust that the pilot knows
what he's. Doing and if you spent the whole flight
demanding that the pilot explain every, decision show you the flight,
plan and prove that he can land, safely you'd drive
yourself crazy and annoy everyone around, you and maybe cause

(37:19):
the pilot to want to crash into a mountain just
to get you to shut. Up god's our. Pilot we are.
Passengers our job is to, trust not to hijack the
controls or demand constant updates on things we wouldn't understand.
ANYWAY i want to make something. Clear the real danger
of the occult isn't that it doesn't, work because often it.

(37:41):
Does the real danger is when it. Does look at
what happened To King. Saul he'd spent years Consulting god
and following his, commands but then he got, impatient disobedient,
afraid and in a moment of, desperation he did something
he knew was. Wrong First samuel twenty eight the Story
saul went to a medium At endoor and asked her

(38:03):
to call up the spirit of the dead Prophet, samuel
and something actually. Happened scholars debate whether this was Really
samuel or a demonic impersonation that. Appeared i've been asked that,
myself AND i really don't have the answer. Either but
what's not Debatable saul died for his trespass against The
lord because he asked counsel of a medium making inquiry of,

(38:25):
it and did not inquire of The. Lord it doesn't
matter if it was Truly samuel or a. Demon it
was the act of asking for spiritual help from a,
medium from the witch Of. Endoor when this, Happened god
Took saul's kingdom and gave it To, david specifically Because
saul violated this. Command that's how Seriously god takes. This

(38:47):
saul was the king Of, israel he had direct access
To god's, Profits he'd seen, miracles he'd Experienced god's power,
firsthand and, still in a moment of, fear, doubt and,
impatience he threw through all of that away to consult
a fortune. Teller it's like HAVING gps with real time
satellite data showing you exactly how to get, home but

(39:08):
instead stopping to ask directions from somebody who's been lost
in the same area for three. Days they don't have
the answer as you, seek not the real. Ones if
they point you in the right, direction it's purely. Coincidental,
meanwhile the REAL, Gps god's positioning, system knows the right way,
anytime every, time, anywhere. Everywhere and it's not Because god

(39:30):
is some cosmic killjoy who doesn't want us to have.
Fun it's because he knows what we're dealing. With these
practices reflect a lack of trust In god and his,
plan and they open doors to spiritual deception and. Bondage
satan is, Real demons are, Real spiritual warfare is, real

(39:51):
and when we start playing around with the, occult we're
opening doors we don't know how to. Close we're inviting
influences into our lives that we don't have the power to.
Remove we're stepping onto a battlefield without, armor, weapons or.
Training it's as if you've convinced yourself you can diffuse
a bomb because you watched the police PROCEDURAL tv show
that did it. Once you think you know what you're,

(40:12):
doing you think you can handle, it you think you'll be,
fine and then you're staring at wires you can't, identify
the timer is counting, down and nobody is coming to
help because you ignored every expert who said leave this
to the. Professionals Saying i'm not a real bomb, technician
BUT i did stay at a holiday in express last
night doesn't work in real. Life that woman In pennsylvania
who lost six hundred thousand, dollars she thought she was

(40:35):
removing a, curse but the real curse was believing she
needed someone other Than god to fix her, problems and
two con artists exploited that belief until they drained her.
Dry that woman believed she needed patience and, faith and
she was right about needing those, things but she directed
them at the wrong. Source one of the cruelest aspects

(40:58):
of these scams is how they weaponize spiritual concepts that
are actually. True patience is a, virtue faith moves, Mountains
persistence in seeking answers. Matters scanners take these legitimate spiritual
principles and twist them into chains just keep. Believing they,
say just keep, praying just have a little more, Faith

(41:20):
your breakthrough is. Coming sound. Familiar it's almost the same
language we use in, churches and that's not an. Accident
the difference Is god never asks us to prove our
faith by emptying our bank. Accounts he doesn't say just keep.
Paying he, says just keep. Praying he's never going to
tell you that just one more monetary transaction is going

(41:43):
to give you the answer you're looking. For he never
holds our answered prayers hostage until we give him enough.
Stuff god's timing is. Perfect, yes we do need patience
while we wait on. Him wait on The lord be
of good, courage and he shall strengthen your. Heart. WAIT i,
Say i'm The lord That psalm twenty seven. Fourteen waiting

(42:04):
On god is. Biblical waiting While god works behind the
scenes on our behalf is part of the faith. Journey
but here's how you know the difference between waiting On
god and being. Scammed god doesn't require escalating payments while you.
Wait he doesn't demand your grandmother's. Jewelry he doesn't threaten
you with worse outcomes if you stop. Giving he doesn't

(42:27):
exploit your. Desperation In matthew eleven twenty, Eight god, says
come to me all who are weary and, burdened AND
i will give you. Rest he doesn't, say come to
me with increasingly expensive, offerings and maybe Eventually i'll consider helping.
You the Patience god asks for looks. Different it's the
patience Of, abraham who waited decades for the promised birth

(42:50):
of a. Son it's the patience Of job who lost
everything but never stopped Trusting god's. Character it's the patience Of,
david who was anointed king as a teen but didn't
take the throne until he was. Thirty biblical patience Trusts
god's character while waiting for his. Timing scam patience pays

(43:10):
money while hoping for results that never. Come and what
really breaks my heart about this woman's. Story she had,
faith she had, patience she had, Persistence she had everything
spiritually correct except the most important. Thing she placed all
of it in the wrong. Hands imagine if she'd invested

(43:32):
that same faith In. God imagine if she had prayed
with that same. Desperation imagine if she had waited on
The lord with that same, patience trusting him to work
in her. Marriage her, business her. Life she might still
have had to. Wait god's timing doesn't always match, hours
but she wouldn't have lost six hundred thousand, Dollars she

(43:55):
wouldn't have been exploited and, manipulated and she would have
had the peace that comes from trusting someone who actually loves,
her rather than the anxiety that comes from trying to
satisfy someone who's bleeding or. Dry those who wait on
The lord shall renew their. Strength they shall mount up
with wings like. Eagles they shall run and not be.
Weary they shall walk and not Faint isaiah, forty verse thirty.

(44:19):
One real, Patients biblical patients doesn't drain. You it renews.
You it doesn't weaken. You it strengthens. You it doesn't
leave you anxious and. Desperate it gives you. Wings it's
spiritual red. Bull so where does this leave? Us how
do we live in a world where millions of people
consult psychics or horoscopes show up in every newspaper or

(44:42):
are available on a mobile app or daily, email or
tarot cards are sold as party. Games, first we recognize
that we live in a spiritually confused. CULTURE a pure
research study found that forty two percent Of americans believe
spiritual powers rest in physical objects like, mountains, reeds in.
CRYSTALS a third believe in, reincarnation while twenty nine percent

(45:05):
believe in. Astrology these aren't fringe beliefs their. Mainstream your
coworker might have crystals on her desk that she thinks
are absorbing negative. Energy your neighbor might be checking mercury's
retrograde before making major. Decisions your cousin is definitely reading
his horoscope before going on. Dates we're living in a
world where people will spend two hundred dollars on a

(45:26):
chunk of rose courts because someone told them it attracts,
love but they won't spend twenty dollars on a book
about having healthy. Relationships we're living in a world where
people believe the position Of jupiter affects their job, prospects
but the idea that their work ethic affects their job
prospects is apparently too simple and what's really. Wild many

(45:48):
who hold These New age beliefs also identify As. Christians
the study found that eleven percent Of americans are diversely,
devout meaning they identify with traditional religion but also believe in.
Psychics incarnation and the spiritual power of. Crystals who've got
people showing up to church On sunday with their lucky,
crystals checking their horoscope before reading Their bible and seeing

(46:09):
no contradiction. Whatsoever it's ordering a big mac at McDonald's
and being genuinely confused about why you're not losing. Weight
slight rabbit trail. Here reincarnation And christianity are fundamentally. Incompatible
if you just keep coming back for do overs until
you get it, right Then jesus died for. Nothing he was,
tortured bled and suffered a horrible death to pay for

(46:32):
sins you didn't actually need forgiveness. For that makes the cross.
Pointless The bible is clear it is appointed for men
to die, once but after this the Judgment hebrews nine twenty.
Seven one, life one, death one chance to accept or Reject,
jesus no coming back as someone else to try. AGAIN

(46:55):
i know some of your, thinking But i've heard stories
of people remembering past lives with deep tales they couldn't possibly.
Know those experiences are unfortunately, real but the interpretation is.
Wrong when people open themselves to spiritual experiences outside Of god's,
authority they're opening themselves to demonic. Deception demons have existed

(47:17):
since before humanity. Began they've observed countless lives and can
feed convincing false memories to anybody who invites them. In
that's a topic for Another. SUNDAY i Think i'll just
reiterate from. Earlier you can be sincere in your, belief
but you can be sincerely. Wrong so we can't assume
that just because someone goes to church they understand what

(47:37):
The bible teaches about this. Stuff we need to be, clear,
biblical and loving in how we address. It the, second
we point people To, jesus not away from their. Questions
when someone wants to know about their, future we don't mock.
Them we'd all love to know the. Future we understand
that desire and redirect it to the one who actually

(48:00):
holds the. Future when someone feels lost and needs, guidance
introduce them to The Holy spirit who will guide them
to the. Truth we don't say you're stupid for wanting
to know what's going to. Happen we, SAY i get.
IT i want to know, too but let me tell
you about someone who actually does. Know, third we take

(48:21):
spiritual warfare. Seriously john eight verse twelve Says jesus spoke
to the people once more and, SAID i am the
light of the. World if you follow, me you won't
have to walk in, darkness because you will have the
light that leads to. Life Following jesus isn't just a
good life. Philosophy it's stepping out of spiritual darkness into.

(48:41):
Light it's switching sides in a cosmic. War and when
we do, that we put on the armor Of. God
that means we, pray we study, scripture we stay connected
to other. Believers we don't mess around with Things god
has clearly, forbidden no matter how harmless they. Seem Memory
marx And Steve nicholas allegedly stole over six hundred thousand

(49:04):
dollars from vulnerable people by claiming to remove curses that never.
Existed they're facing criminal, charges as they. Should they exploited
desperate people for financial, gain and that's. Evil but whether
they had any real supernatural abilities or not is almost
beside the, point because even if they could do genuine supernatural,

(49:26):
things they were doing them through demonic, power Not god's,
power and that makes it, worse not. Better the psychic
industry generates billions of dollars a year by offering people
something they desperately. Want control over the, future insight into the,
unknown connection with lost loved, ones answers to life's biggest.

(49:47):
Questions they answer to, life the, universe and everything which
is not forty two despite what you've. Heard But god
offers all of that and more freely Through Jesus. Christ
we don't need to pay to tell us our future
When god has already promised to work all things together
for our. Good we don't need tarot cards when we
have The. Bible we don't need mediums when we have

(50:10):
The Holy spirit living inside. Us and, yes that requires.
Faith yes that means Trusting god even when we can't
see what's. Ahead yes that means something living with uncertainty about.
Tomorrow but isn't that what you're doing with a. Psychic
you're putting your faith in, them trusting them when you

(50:32):
can't see what's, ahead living with uncertainty about, tomorrow hoping
they have the. Answer why would you put all of
that faith and trust into a human, being no matter
how gifted they claim to, be when you can put
that faith and trust into the one who created that
human being in the first. Place the one who created the.
Universe but that's what faith. Is proverbs, three verse. Five

(50:56):
trust in The lord with all your, heart and lean
not on your own. Understanding not trust in The lord
when it's, convenient or trust in The lord except for
the really important. Stuff trust him with all your. Heart
don't depend on your own understanding or anyone else's supposed supernatural,
insight because fortune tellers can't actually change your. Fortune they

(51:19):
could only take your money and leave you worse off than.
Before But, God god can change. Everything he can take
the broken pieces of our lives and create something. Beautiful
he can turn our sorrow into. Dancing he can work
miracles that no psychic could ever predict or. Produce the
question is who will we? Trust where will we seek?

(51:42):
Guidance to whom will we turn when life gets scary and.
Uncertain Montgomery county authorities think there might be more victims
in The marx And nicholas, case people too embarrassed to come,
forward people who still believe the rituals were, genuine that
they just ran out of money before the cure or
it could take. Effect and that's, heartbreaking because somewhere out,

(52:04):
there somebody is still trapped in that lie still believing
they need what Only god can. Provide if that's, you hear,
this you don't need curse, removal you Need. Jesus you
don't need a psychic to tell you about. Tomorrow you
need the one who holds tomorrow in his. Hands you
don't need to fear what might. Happen you need to

(52:26):
trust the one who's already overcome every power of. DARKNESS
i am The alpha and The, omega the beginning and the,
end says The Lord. GOD i am the one who,
is who always, was and who is still to come
The almighty One revelation, one verse, eight one of those
verses From REVELATION i don't need to ask That john

(52:46):
guy About it's pretty clear what it. Means god was
there at the, beginning he'll be there at the, end
and he's with you right now in this, moment offering
you freedom from, fear freedom from, deception freedom from the
need to control. Everything all you have to do is trust.

(53:07):
Him if you like what you, heard share this episode
with others whom you think might also like. It maybe
the person you share it With i'll want to join
this weirdo congregation. Too to listen to previous. Messages Visit
weirddarkness dot com slash. Church That's Weird darkness dot com slash.

(53:30):
Church I'm Darren. Marler thanks for joining me weirdos and
until next, Time jesus loves you and so DO. I
god bless