Though the setting is Dorothy’s dream, a dream in the midst of a tornado striking her Kansas farm, it contains very real insights. Somehow, she and her little dog, Toto, were transported to “Munchkin Land” by the twister; Dorothy must face a wide array of challenges as she attempts to find her way home.

Look around – could you be in Munchkin Land? Look closely – and you may spot the “Evil Witch” and the “Flying Monkeys.” Look in any direction – and you will see “The Wizard of OZ” trying to play God. Want to leave Munchkin Land and find your way back home? Read on my friends.

DOROTHY WAS HONEST ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS FEELING

Dorothy had to be honest with herself about what she was “FEELING” and what she was sensing. She utters the famous line, “TOTO, I HAVE A FEELING WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.” She felt uneasy, uncomfortable, and confused. But to her credit, she did not wax over the fact that she was FEELING things had changed.

At some point during these last few years, I believe virtually everyone has experienced a FEELING, causing them to sense that “WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE” Sadly, far too many have suppressed all such FEELINGS, even when their souls have been deeply troubled. Sadly, far too many Christians have suppressed the warnings and movement of The Holy Spirit. Such people desire to be numb, to be oblivious to the obvious changes. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19, “Do not quench the Spirit.”

What we are FEELING, what we are sensing through The Holy Spirit, may very well make us feel uncomfortable. But we cannot move forward without acknowledging what we sense stirring within us. ROMANS 8:14, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

DOROTHY WENT FROM FEELINGS TO FACTS

For Dorothy, the FEELING became an “I KNOW” revelation. What she sensed progressed to KNOWLEDGE & AWARENESS. She had to state the obvious; “I KNOW.” What she was FEELING became a FACT.

As events made it impossible to ignore, she says, “TOTO, NOW I KNOW WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS!” It had become vividly clear; her surroundings and circumstances had unquestionably changed. Her reality, her existence, her world – was simply not the same. She did not attempt to sugarcoat things; she stated clearly what she saw as her new reality.

It is impossible to have arrived in 2024, without having noted the mountain of changes in our nation, in our world, and in our own reality. That is, unless we welcomed being blind to facts, by doing everything possible to numb what we were FEELING. Tyranny, injustice, unrighteousness, corruption, pure evil – these have all advanced from FEELING to FACT. Our current reality is unlike anything most Americans have ever experienced – or at the very least, things are at a level that is far greater than most have known in their lifetime.

Citing all the FACTS is not my intention. After all, anyone not hiding from reality has to KNOW there is a full-scale attack on Christianity, Christian values, traditional family values, and on patriotism. When 3-letter entities acknowledge tracking BIBLE purchases – you have to “KNOW!”

But if some genuinely did not KNOW, watching the “2024 OLYMPICS – OPENING CEREMONIES” should have shouted, “WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS!” The FEELINGS have given way to FACTS. PROVERBS 20:12, “Ears that hear and eyes that see – The Lord has made them both.”

DOROTHY WAS NOW READY TO MOVE FORWARD – BUT SHE DID NOT TRAVEL ALONE

Dorothy began to search for a new way home. A reliable source told her to go see “THE WIZARD OF OZ” by following “THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD!” But she recognized that she was not meant to travel alone.

She built relationships with 3 characters – the “SCARECROW,” the “TIN WOODMAN” and the “COWARDLY LION”; each one had their own pursuits, their own needs, and their own challenges. Along the way, we discover that 4 imperfect individuals, empowered and completed each other! They tapped into each other’s strengths and knowledge, while collectively shouldering a heavy load – a load made light by four sets of shoulders. When joined together, they formed “The Road Home Dream Team!”

Furthermore, they made an amazing discovery. In journeying together, in being together, and in taking action together – they realized that each of them already had within them, that after which they most sought! Being together, pursuing a unified purpose, and demonstrating selfless love for one another – unleashed their true capabilities and full potential. Together, they accomplished what they could have never accomplished alone.

In many ways, this is the most important lesson to be learned. When a new nation was being birthed, the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, made it clear that this undertaking was a journey together; “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union …” When our world was being created, God made it clear the He had designed humanity to live in community, not in isolation. And unquestionably, God stressed that Christians were to live in community with other believers. ACTS 2:44, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” We are to pursue the journey, the road home, together. When Christians exist in the community of faith, with Jesus in the center, we become so much more complete; we become so much more effective and greatly empowered. When we travel together, in the company of Jesus, led by The Holy Spirit – the impossible becomes possible! Traveling together is how we get back home. ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Satan and those who serve him, know this – which is why there are constant attempts made to divide us. TITUS 3:10, “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” The goal is to get each of us to adopt a “label” – anything that can separate us. The goal is to get us warring against each other, blaming each other, hating each other. The opposition trembles at the thought that we would all put aside our labels, and simply love each other – with the kind of love shown by Christ.

The goal is to fan the flames of fear and convince us to live in isolation, or to feel alone even in the midst of a crowd. Masks made us feel distant and void of emotion; removed the ability to see a smile, to see a troubled expression, to see the suffering made known by a frown – and the psychological damage was done. Mandate a bizarre “6 Feet of Distance Rule” – remove the hugs, the touch of a human hand – and we are robbed of the human intimacy we crave. Separate us from our loved-ones, leaving elderly family members to feel utterly abandoned, and create emotional distress that is immeasurable. Close churches by deeming them “nonessential,” and not only is the mission of the Church harmed, but we lose the ability to encourage one another during times when such encouragement is most needed. ROMANS 1:12, “That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” We become unable to be together in ways that strengthen us. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” All the while, declaring “Strip Clubs” and “Liquor Stores” as “essential.”

Is it possible that such actions were intentionally orchestrated? Was all of this done in an attempt to make us feel isolated, to make us fearful of human touch, to greatly disrupt the community of believers, and to force us to travel alone? PROVERBS 14:15, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps.”

WE MUST NEVER AGAIN ALLOW THIS! WE NEED EACH OTHER – WE NEED “WE THE PEOPLE” – WE NEED THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS – WE NEED THE GATHERING OF FAMILIES – WE NEED THE FELLOWSHIP OF OUR FRIENDS – WE NEED THE INTERACTION THAT ALLOWS US TO HEAR LAUGHTER & SHARE IN SUFFERING! Whatever road we travel – we must NEVER AGAIN be forced, coerced, deceived and/or manipulated – into traveling alone!

DOROTHY MADE IT BACK TO HER KANSAS HOME & DISCOVERED A POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION

The tornado could have led to her destruction, instead, it led to a positive transformation. She awoke back in her “KANSAS HOME” with a new sense of appreciation and a new understanding of that which had true value. Upon returning home, Dorothy was ecstatic. Looking up at those who love her, she speaks another often-quoted line: “AUNTIE EM, I’M NEVER LEAVING HERE AGAIN! THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!”

But without being honest about what she had been “FEELING” – allowing her to come to an “I KNOW” revelation – moving her from “FEELING” to FACTS – compelling her to seek a path home – making her aware of the importance of not traveling alone – the tornado could have led to a totally different outcome. She could have ended up living in an OZ-subsidized apartment, in the center of “EMERALD CITY” (the first “15-Minute City” in the area of Munchkin Land). Even worse, she could have been killed by the Evil Witch!

It took a tornado to shake Dorothy to the point where she was awakened to what she had taken for granted. The tornado awakened her to “Home” being so much more than a place on the map. Home was her state of existence – it was all that she had previously not fully appreciated. The tornado awakened her to home being – the blessing of living free, surrounded by precious relationships. It was rediscovering that which she had temporarily lost – but awakening to see its full worth like never before.

None of us has wanted to be caught up in a tornado, but it came! And the truth is, though this is extremely difficult to hear, there were areas in which our world needed to be shaken. This is true both in terms of our daily lives in America – and our spiritual lives – but it is especially true of our spiritual lives. Tornadoes have a way of reminding us that the only solid road is the one leading to Christ. JOHN 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” At times, though God is not the author of the storms taking place, He uses them to achieve “His purpose” in our lives. And His greatest purpose is to draw us to Salvation – and that we would seek to become more like Jesus. ROMANS 8:28-29, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” In the midst of the storm, the most natural thing in the world is to call out for Jesus. MATTHEW 14:29-30, “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

I for one, had lost the sense of gratitude, that I should have never taken for granted. I for one, was allowing far too many things to distract me from what has the greatest value. I for one, was feeling too comfortable and at home, in a world that is not my eternal home. These last few years have given me an enlightened understanding of so many things, a renewed sense of appreciation, and a burning passion to serve Christ – to be transformed by Him. ROMANS 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

My prayer, and God’s desire, is that we awaken – that we pursue transformation in our lives, in our nation, and in our world. Such a transformation, and the deliverance of God, will always require the same thing. 2 CHRONICLES 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” And once we have found our way back home to Kansas, I look forward to celebrating with Dorothy:

“AUNTIE EM, I’M NEVER LEAVING HERE AGAIN! THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!”