I was truly saddened to read about the story concerning Deputy Kyle Kreun on the front page of last week’s Star Herald. According to the story his wife had e-mailed the Star Herald earlier saying, “My husband is a good person, a great father, he was a good deputy and he made a mistake. I don’t know anyone that hasn’t made a mistake in their life or done things they are ashamed of.”
Now it’s evident from the editorials that this crime creates all kinds of emotional responses. And rightly so, in fact, regardless of how good of a man Mr. Kreun is, he made a huge mistake. And let me go even a step further in saying he committed a grievous sin against the young woman and against God. My heart grieves deeply for both families and for everyone who is affected.
The story brings to mind a similar story that we are all familiar with—the story of David and Bathsheba found in II Samuel 11. Like Kyle, King David also failed to recognize and deal with the deceitful temptation that confronted him. And like for the Kreun family, the victim and her family, the Sheriff’s Department and our community, the nation of Israel also suffered the disgrace of a careless leader.
In no way do I want to minimize the sin in this situation, but I also agree with Chelsie Kreun in that we all have made mistakes and have done things we are ashamed of. I praise God for second chances. I praise God for his grace and mercy as we can join with David in reciting Psalm 51. I praise God that he notices “heart-shattered lives ready for love”. Feeling the guilt and shame of your sin?
Let me encourage you to read on… “1-3Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. 4-6 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise. 16-17 Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. 18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls. Then you’ll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, Including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!” (Psalm 51 The Message)
May you and I always master the sin that is crouching at our doors, however when we fail, may we humbly call on God for his redeeming grace and mercy.
Grace and peace, Mike
For some reason I just read this. I hope you also know that this wasn’t the first time this “innocent” girl went for a married man. Plus this former officer has struggled every day of his life. He who is without sin cast the first stone