CARL TANZLER’S OBSESSION: The Grave Consequences of Inauthentic Love #COTU
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Learn more at mycomputercareer.edu slash CWP. SkillBridge and other VA benefits are available to those who qualify. I want to tell you about something that happened in Key West, Florida back in 1931. It's a story that will make your skin crawl, but it carries a lesson that is important. You'll recognize the name if you've listened to Weird Darkness for any length of time. Carl Tangler worked at a hospital as a radiology technician.

One day, a beautiful young woman named Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos came in as a patient. She was only 22 years old, and she was dying of tuberculosis. The moment Carl saw Maria, he immediately fell in love with her. But something dark awakened inside of him as well. He became obsessed with her.

Carl showered Maria with gifts and told her that he loved her. He claimed he could cure her disease, even though he had no power to do so. When Maria died in October of that same year, Carl's obsession didn't end. It grew stronger. Carl paid for an expensive tomb for Maria's body, but he kept the only key. Every single night for two years, he visited her corpse in that dark mausoleum.

Then, in 1933, Carl did something unthinkable. He stole Maria's decaying body from her grave and took it to his home. And that's how I begin this sermon. Hello, Weirdos! I'm Pastor Darren. Welcome to The Church of the Undead.

Here in the Church of the Undead, I step away from being the host of weird darkness and step into the robes of a reverend. But that doesn't mean I'm not sharing things that are dark, strange, or macabre, as you can already tell. You'd be surprised how many of the stories you hear from true crime and paranormal creators actually have a spiritual message as well.

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 Ephesians 2 states, even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ. If you want to join this Weirdo congregation, just click that "subscribe" or "follow" button. And visit us online at WeirdDarkness.com/Church.

Full disclosure, I might use the term "pastor" because I've branded this feature as a church and I got a ministry license online, but I do not have a theology degree, nor did I ever go to Bible college. I'm just a guy who gave his life to Christ at the age of 21 and has tried to walk the walk ever since. And has stumbled a 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 Undead. For seven long years, Carl lived with Maria's corpse.

He stuffed her rotting flesh with rags and wire hangers. He covered her bones with plaster. When her hair fell out, he replaced it. When her face crumbled, he rebuilt it with wax. He drenched her in perfume to hide the smell of death. Carl danced with this corpse. He talked to it. He believed he could bring Maria back to life.

A neighbor boy finally saw Carl dancing with what looked like a giant doll and the horrible truth finally came out. When authorities found Maria's body in 1940, Carl was arrested for grave robbery. But the law had waited too long. The time limit had run out and Carl walked free. The statute of limitations had already passed. You might be wondering why I'm telling you this disturbing story in my Church of the Undead episode.

It's because Carl Tanzler's twisted actions show us what happens when love turns into something God never intended. Carl thought he was showing love. But what he displayed was the opposite of biblical love. True love, as God defines it, seeks the good of another person.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 tells us that love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. Carl's obsession was entirely self-seeking. He didn't care about Maria's dignity or her family's grief. He cared only about possessing her, even in death. This wasn't love. It was idolatry.

When we place anything or anyone above God in our hearts, we create an idol. And idols always demand more than we can give. They consume us from the inside out, just like Carl's obsession consumed him. You might think you would never do what Carl did, but ask yourself, is there anything in your life that you love more than God? Is there someone you cannot live without?

Is there something you would do anything to keep, even if it meant breaking the law, betraying a friend, disobeying God's word? Carl believed he could bring Maria back to life, but only God has power over life and death. Job 14 verse 14 asks, If someone dies, will they live again? The answer is yes, but not the way Carl imagined.

God has already provided the way for the dead to live again. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave three days later. He conquered death once and for all. John 11, verses 25 and 26 records Jesus saying, "...I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die. And whoever lives by believing in Me will never die."

Carl spent seven years trying to preserve a dead body, but he was fighting a battle that had already been lost. Death entered the world through sin thousands of years earlier, and no amount of plaster or perfume can undo what sin has done. Only Jesus can give us victory over death. So how do we love others without falling into Carl's trap? We must learn to love as God loves us. God's love is sacrificial.

Romans 5 verse 8 says, "...God demonstrates His own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God didn't demand that we love Him first. He loved us when we were still His enemies. God's love is also respectful. He doesn't force us to love Him back. He gives us the choice."

Even though God wants all people to be saved, He doesn't override our free will. He won't force salvation on us. He won't force us to love Him. God's love seeks our own good. Everything God does for us is designed to help us become the people He created us to be.

When you love your spouse, your children, your friends, or anyone else, remember these principles. Love them enough to let them make their own choices. Love them enough to want what's best for them, even if it's not what you want. Love them enough to point them toward Jesus who can give them eternal life. Carl's story warns us about the danger of trying to control what only God can control.

Carl couldn't control Maria's illness, he couldn't control her death, and he couldn't bring her back to life. But instead of accepting these limitations, he chose to live in a fantasy world of his own making. A dark fantasy world at that. We face the same temptation every day. When we lose someone we love, we want to hold on to them forever. When someone doesn't love us back, we want to force their affection.

When life doesn't go according to our plans, we want to take control. But God calls us to trust Him instead. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Trusting God means accepting that His ways are higher than our ways. It means believing that He knows what's best for us, even when we don't understand.

It means letting go of our need to control everything and everyone around us. Karl Tanzler lived in darkness for seven years. He hid from the truth, from Maria's family, and from the community around him. He convinced himself that what he was doing was genuine love and affection, but it was really a form of spiritual death. God calls us to live in the light.

1 John 1 verse 7 says, "...if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin." Walking in the light means being honest about our struggles and temptations. It means confessing our sins to God and to trusted believers who can help us. It means refusing to hide in shame or fear. If you recognize any of Carl's patterns in your own life,

If you've become obsessed with someone or something. If you've tried to control what you cannot control. If you've placed anything above God in your heart. If you've recently dug up a corpse. Kidding. There is hope for you tonight. God's grace is bigger than your biggest failure. His love is stronger than your strongest obsession. His power can break any chain that binds you.

Here's what you need to do if you want to be free from the kind of destructive patterns we see in Carl's life. First, confess your sin to God. Tell Him about your obsessions, your attempts to control others, your misplaced love. He already knows, of course, but He wants to hear it from you. Second, ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior if you haven't already.

Romans 10:9 promises, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Third, surrender control of your life to God. Stop trying to be the master of your own destiny. Let God be God in your life.

That doesn't mean you can't have goals and aspirations, but it does mean letting God lead you in those paths to make wise decisions or even to not take those paths at all for your own good. Fourth, find a community of believers who can support you and hold you accountable. Don't try to walk this path alone. Fifth, fill your mind with God's Word instead of your own fantasies.

The Bible will show you what real love looks like and how to live in a way that honors God. Karl Tanzler's story is a tragedy. But it doesn't have to be your story. While Karl was obsessing over a dead body, God was offering eternal life to anyone who would receive it. Right now, you have the opportunity to choose life over death, light over darkness, God's love over your own obsessions.

You can choose to trust the One who conquered death rather than trying to control what you cannot control. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos died in 1931, and no amount of human effort could bring her back. But if she had trusted in Jesus Christ before her death, and she may have, we don't know, she is more alive in heaven than she ever was on earth. The same hope is available to you.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly." That abundant life starts the moment you put your faith in Him and it continues forever in His presence. Carl spent seven years trying to preserve death. God invites you to spend eternity celebrating life. Carl lived in darkness and deception. God calls you to walk in light and truth.

Carl's obsession brought him isolation and shame. God's love brings fellowship and freedom. The choice is yours. Will you follow Carl's path of obsession and control, or will you follow Jesus' path of surrender and trust? Will you try to create your own version of love, or will you receive the perfect love that God offers through His Son?

I urge you to choose life. Choose light. Choose the love that never fails and never ends. Choose Jesus Christ who alone has power over life and death, and who alone can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. If you've not made that decision yet in your life, and you'd like to do so right now, just agree with me in this prayer. Dear God,

I know that I am a sinner and that I have fallen short of your perfect standard. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, and that you love me so much that you allowed Him to die on the cross for my sins, and that you raised Him from the dead on the third day, defeating death and offering me the same.

I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I ask Him to come into my heart and be my Savior and to show me what true love is, love from an everlasting Father, and also how I can love others with true genuineness. Please forgive me all my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. Help me to turn away from my old life of sin and to follow You from this day forward.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to live and love in a way that brings honor to Your name. Thank You for Your love, Your grace and Your mercy. Thank You for the promise that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. 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 will want to join this weirdo congregation too.

To listen to previous messages, visit WeirdDarkness.com slash church. That's WeirdDarkness.com slash church. I'm Darren Marlar. Thanks for joining me, Weirdos, and until next time, Jesus loves you, and so do I. God bless.

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