To the editor:

Being somewhat cynical, when I read the first sentence of Ms. Cottrell’s Dec. 15 letter to the editor, I thought she was going in a totally different direction. Instead of the Senate investigating the profligate leaders of a few megachurches, I thought that she was going to suggest that the spending habits of the Senate (and the House) should be investigated.

I understand that several spouses of our senators are adding millions to their net worth annually. Upon retirement, members of the House and Senate become millionaires almost overnight. But we are worried about a few pastors misappropriating several tens of thousands of dollars?

Years ago, I was an unsupervised treasurer of our church (not in Lawrence). One day, the associate pastor called me and asked, “Walt, how much money are you stealing from the church today?” I said, “Dwight, I have three guys looking over my shoulder.” He asked, “You have three guys in your office?” I said: “Yes, I do. I have God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus looking over my shoulder and they keep me on a pretty short leash.”

Looking back, that is the best answer I have ever given to any question. God is watching me, you and these pastors, and we all will have to give an account of our lives one of these days.

Ms. Cottrell is correct, in my opinion when she says, “He desires my heart.” However, if you can’t tithe or give to your church, where is your heart?

Walter Kihm,

Lawrence