I pray that all of our readers had a wonderful Easter weekend! It’s hard to
believe that another school year is almost over. After the following school year, my
youngest daughter will be off to college and I will be an official “empty nester!”
My how the years have flown by.

I recently heard on the news that Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell of Houston’s Windsor Village
Church has been charged with money laundering, fraud, and a host of other charges related to
some Chinese bonds that he sold to investors. Whether or not he is guilty of these charges, time
will only tell. However, I caution you all to wait until all of the facts are out before you get caught
up in all of the hype and make a judgement on the case.

Several years back, there was a scandal circulating about another local pastor, Joel Osteen.
The story went something like this: the pastor of the Lakewood Church in Texas was leaving
the Christian faith, and had bashed the Bible for being a “fallible, flawed, highly inconsistent
history book.” I made a hasted judgment based on the rumors I heard, without actually doing
my research. I even verbally criticized Pastor Osteen to a woman I was dating at the time.
The problem was, the story was a hoax. A fake website designed to look like the official
website of Lakewood Church generated these announcements, and I fell for it like countless
others. God really convicted me that day in my heart, and rightfully so. He made me remember
Gamaliel’s Advice in Acts chapter 5:35-39.

He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. Not
long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him.
He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the
Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. That man also perished, and all
his partisans were scattered. And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone.
For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; But if it is of God, you will not be able
to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.”