Creepy Phone Messages

Very often since entering pastoral ministry, I have experienced the strange side of people.

Some people seem to have this impression that as a pastor, I have unlimited church funds at my disposal. On an extremely regular basis, I get requests for all kinds of financial assistance. People request money for food, gas, rent, turkey, medicine, Christmas presents, etc. Most of the time, they're lying. What they really want is money for cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.

Sometimes, they can be very persistent. Take "Cliff" for example. Over the course of last week, Cliff called me over and over again, requesting money for gas. He claimed that he was living out of his car and didn't have money for food or gas. He "desperately wanted to get home," but did not have enough funds to get there.

Cliff pretty much stalked me for a few days. He left message after message on my cell phone. He insulted my ability to pastor a church because I wouldn't give him money or return his phone calls. He called me ignorant. He claimed that if he was a pastor, he would be thrilled that people called him looking for regular financial assistance. (His implication was that I should be overjoyed that he was calling me).

I took the liberty to save his messages to my phone. I thought you might enjoy hearing one of them. I think you'll agree that Cliff makes it very clear that I'm just a big, mean, jerk. Sorry to disappoint those of you who were under the mistaken impression that I was compassionate and just a little bit nice.

Click here to hear Cliff