A few times now, people in our church have received strange emails or text messages supposedly from me. They look kind of legit. They might say something like:
“Hey, I need a favor. Can you send me some money for a church member in need?”
Let me just go ahead and say: that was not me.
Apparently, I’ve got a doppelgänger out there in the wild, and they’re trying to make me look like a scam artist.
Now, I know it’s just someone phishing with a fake email or text message, trying to trick kindhearted people. But I have to admit—it’s unsettling. There’s this little voice that says, “Great. Now people are going to think I’m a fraud.”
Most of us can handle someone disagreeing with us. But feeling misunderstood? Misrepresented? Painted as something we’re not? That hits different. Whether it’s a scammer pretending to be you, a boss who misreads your motives, or a friend who assumes the worst—being falsely labeled is frustrating!
But here’s an encouraging thought: God isn’t fooled by bad actors, mistaken impressions, or warped narratives.
He sees clearly.
Scripture reminds us: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
God doesn’t just know what we’ve done—He knows why. He sees our motives, our confusion, our trying, our praying, our growing. And even when others misunderstand us, He doesn’t.
So if you’ve ever been wrongly judged, accused, or doubted… you’re in good company. Jesus knows exactly what that feels like. And still, He never lost sight of who He was or Whose He was.
And neither should you.
Oh—and just to be crystal clear: I will never email or text you asking for money!
If I do, it’s probably a scammer. Or I got hacked and need a tech-savvy teenager immediately.
Thanks for being a church that knows who I am—and more importantly, belongs to a God who knows us even better.
peace,
Nick
“Hey, I need a favor. Can you send me some money for a church member in need?”
Let me just go ahead and say: that was not me.
Apparently, I’ve got a doppelgänger out there in the wild, and they’re trying to make me look like a scam artist.
Now, I know it’s just someone phishing with a fake email or text message, trying to trick kindhearted people. But I have to admit—it’s unsettling. There’s this little voice that says, “Great. Now people are going to think I’m a fraud.”
Most of us can handle someone disagreeing with us. But feeling misunderstood? Misrepresented? Painted as something we’re not? That hits different. Whether it’s a scammer pretending to be you, a boss who misreads your motives, or a friend who assumes the worst—being falsely labeled is frustrating!
But here’s an encouraging thought: God isn’t fooled by bad actors, mistaken impressions, or warped narratives.
He sees clearly.
Scripture reminds us: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
God doesn’t just know what we’ve done—He knows why. He sees our motives, our confusion, our trying, our praying, our growing. And even when others misunderstand us, He doesn’t.
So if you’ve ever been wrongly judged, accused, or doubted… you’re in good company. Jesus knows exactly what that feels like. And still, He never lost sight of who He was or Whose He was.
And neither should you.
Oh—and just to be crystal clear: I will never email or text you asking for money!
If I do, it’s probably a scammer. Or I got hacked and need a tech-savvy teenager immediately.
Thanks for being a church that knows who I am—and more importantly, belongs to a God who knows us even better.
peace,
Nick