Oct 1, 2005

blowing smoke, blowing whistles

Kim HornI recently heard this story about this woman who showed up in Mason (a city in the fine state of Michigan I live in), saying she was a Hurricane Katrina victim. Claiming she had lost all of her belongings, many people in the community came together and provided a free house that was completely furnished with all sorts of donated items. Included in the mix was a TV and DVD player, as well as a bicycle for her 6-year-old daughter.

Here's the catch, though... when an article about the donations ran in the local newspaper, people who knew the lady blew the whistle. Citing that she had arrived in town well before the hurricane hit, the police arrested and charged her with felony larceny under false pretenses. As a result, she now faces up to five years in prison.

ElmoHmmm... that makes Elmo wonder...

Is there anything sinful in my past that could catch up to me?

When I was interviewing with a church a few weeks ago, a question like this came up in my final Q&A with an elder. She asked, "Is there anything from your past or present that if it were to come out would reflect badly on you or the church?" Wow... what a great question.

While I've gotten into the practice of asking myself that question on a regular basis, it made me wonder about the things that I may have missed, though. Sometimes we may not consciously make such a choice, but even unconscious actions can create ripples we're not aware of until it's too late. I suppose (and hope) this is where the grace of God comes in.

So how about it? Anything potential "whistle blowing" in your future?

    Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:11-14)

9 comments:

. said...

One thing I've been asking myself is, "What, if anything, in my child-rearing practices would I not want my future son/daughter-in-law to hear from my child?"

Things that make you go, "Hmmmm...."

tonymyles said...

No doubt! Kids are the best video recorders around... unfortunately, they don't yet know how to edit.

Bar L. said...

Wow...killer question. Yes, there are things that would harm my potential for working at a church. To be very vulnerable I will admit that there are things my current employer could fire me for if they knew. I think I better get to my blog quick and type the rest of this story. Thanks alot for brining this up (she says half sarcasitcially - half sincerely)

Bar L. said...

FYI (like you really care) I spend an hour on the above mentioned post and it messed up my blog so I deleted...guess God didn't want mt to be so open after all, but thanks for getting me thinking today.

tonymyles said...

No problem... as long as the thought is just lost from your computer and not from your soul, it's not a lost cause.

Zeke said...

My wife and daughter think I should become a pastor, and then I read about stuff like this. No thanks. I'll leave it to those who are close enough to perfect to be comfortable for the Churchians. Trust me, I have plenty of stuff in my closet that would disqualify me for a post at a proper evangelical church. There's all the pot I smoked, the beer I still drink, those erotic stories I wrote that I keep expecting to show up, those f-bombs I dropped last week, the taxes I can't afford to pay...

Zeke said...

Sometimes we may not consciously make such a choice, but even unconscious actions can create ripples we're not aware of until it's too late. I suppose (and hope) this is where the grace of God comes in.

And where does grace come in where you really need it, for the stuff you meant to do?

Good lord, I worry enough about junk coming up about me now, and I just serve on the board of my church.

Thank God for grace. I think sometimes nobody needs it more than the people at church.

tonymyles said...

Everyday... we need it everyday.

Thankfully it's there.


By the way... per the question, I think it was asked in the context of anything I'd choose to hide. The church is/was very transparent about its own flaws and people, including a guy on day shift janitorial who has Teretz syndrome (curse words and all).

So grace is a common thing... just depends on the church I suppose.

Curious Servant said...

I know I have things in my past that are better left there.

Nice post.