"Oh, Be Careful Little Mouth, What You Say..."

I take heading for this post from a verse of a Christian children's song. The next line reads, "For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little mouth, what you say."

Unfortunately, it appears that God isn't the only one listening in on our private conversations. It seems that an old friend of President Bush initiated a series of private conversations while "W" was Governor of Texas. What he didn't tell his friend was that he had a tape recorder running while they were talking. As part of publicity for his book release he has allowed at least some of these recordings to be "leaked" to media outlets, in particular the New York Times.

What is revealed in these tapes should be of interest only to what the Bible calls, rumour-mongers, back-biters and gossips, all of whom are roundly condemned by scripture. The irony is that the man (who I will not dignify by printing his name) is, according to Fox News, a former Assembly of God preacher. Ed Morrisey at Captain's Quarters has described the man as a "Judas Preacher" and a "disgusting piece of human slime." I don't know as if I want to join in the name-calling game, but this sort of "betrayal" does remind me of a man who once kissed his friend on the cheek in a garden. I can do without "signs of affection" like these.

As one blogger has commented, the content of the tapes are not necessarily a bad thing for the President. "It seems that what the President says in private tracks with what he says in public for the most part. Bush, unlike (name omitted), is a good trustworthy man."

It is always good to be careful about what we say, both in public and in private. But as for me, it is more than enough to know that God is up above, listening down in love.