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Hello St. John’s Family,
Here we go again... that was my first thought as I read a text message earlier this week. That message included a screen shot of an email, supposedly sent by me, requesting an immediate response. The message had a thumbnail picture of me that matches my picture on our St. John’s website, was from an account for “Rev Brad Leight,” and came from a gmail address that was very close to my real one. While the wording of the message wasn’t very similar to my normal writing, it would be very easy for someone to overlook that and respond. Please know that I or anyone from St. John’s will never contact you by email, text, or phone soliciting money or urgently pressuring you for a response. If you have questions on the authenticity of a message, contact the St. John’s Office or reach out to me directly.
Scam attempts seem to be more frequent and more sophisticated. Email and texts, though, are not the only avenue that scammers are pursuing. The increasing availability and advances in AI technology has now made it quite easy to mimic voices. This technology, coupled with apps that mask the number a call originates from to make it appear to be from a known and trusted number, is being used to craft phone scams that are very difficult to recognize. On a recent episode of 60 Minutes, a technology expert devised one of these scams in about 5 minutes, tricking a young, tech-savvy staffer into divulging the reporter’s passport number.[1] The take-home message of the segment: anyone can be scammed.
These kinds of reports are troubling. They shake us, and further deteriorate the little trust we have in others and in our society today. They can cause us to question if there is anyone we can truly trust. Yet, when we pause and reflect, the dilemma of determining who can be trusted has been with us for a long, long time.
In John’s gospel, chapter 10 speaks of Christ’s ability to call to us such that we know his voice. Using the image of the relationship between a shepherd and the sheep in their care, Christ reveals an intimacy and trust that cannot be faked or mimicked. Christ names a reality that’s true to this day: how so many in this world are only out to steal and destroy. He also assures us that relationship with him is the polar opposite – one that leads to abundant life.
I recognize that scripture passage may not be able to screen out every AI-generated, fake phone call from the most technologically adept scammers. Yet I deeply believe it points to a truth that will help us navigate a difficult world where trust is in short supply, as it reminds us how we place our trust in the voices we know the best. Pausing to breathe deeply, center ourselves in prayer, reflect on scripture, and worship God devotionally in our homes and corporately in Sunday worship forms us. It turns us from the chaotic and troubling events of the world and focuses us on the goodness and love of God. Engaging in that regularly deepens our relationship with God, providing clarity and perspective that can be lost in the hecticness of life. In short, it attunes us to God’s voice in our lives.
I hope you’ll prioritize time to join us in worship this Sunday. We’ll recognize recent graduates, share in Communion, and reflect on Acts 3:1-4:21. After reading the account of a miraculous healing in Acts 3:1-10, we’ll see how the aftermath of the miracle shows the continued transformation of Christ’s followers as they trusted God and saw God’s Spirit work through their lives… the very same Spirit that works in our lives. I hope to see you Sunday-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-digital-theft-targets-people-from-millennials-to-seniors-60-minutes-2023-05-21/
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