SCL

Even if you are 'as gangsta as a pocket watch', we'll still side-hug you, Jon. Seriously, I see where that would be weirding. Just keep rereading the old stuff (SCL posts and Bible alike), stay grounded in who and what God made you to be, and God'll take care of the hatemailers. Razzle Dazzle!

Thanks! I'm trying to look at hate as a great chance to return love. I have this sneaking suspicion that love is heard loudest when it's given in response to hate. My hope is that I'll be able to return whatever hate I get with kindness but to be honest, when I get hate mail, being kind usually takes a few conversations with my wife first. My first gut reaction is usually more "revenge flavored" but I'm having a really hard time finding any good Jesus revenge verses to back that up. Red Dawn provides material all day, but Jesus doesn't seem to get down with revenge.

You could always break out the "Jesus leg drops the moneychangers in the temple" verse to make your point.

I actually watched that video the other day and spent a while trying to figure out who made it.
And I spent even longer wondering how so very many people think that the "side hug" stuff going around is serious. Do they really think we Christians are that crazy?! apparently so.

Caitlin, years ago in our church we were SPECIFICALLY taught about side-hugging. Especially if we served on a church ministry team. I hate to break it to you but Christians "are that crazy." hahha!!

It is part of the "Sexual Harassment/Child Protection" training our insurance company requires of pastors in my denomination, and its more intimate cousin "the A-Frame"- face to face, but leaning in to eliminate any "pressy-body" chest contact.

not sure if I should laugh "Jesus never hugged nobody like that"

cry because if it isn't sarcasm dripping from the song then it's legalism – does the Holy Spirit really need a certain amount of space…and doesn't that work the opposite way since the Holy Spirit already lives inside Christians there's actually no space needed at all!

or

agree – as a youth pastor, there's a hug and then there's slow dancing with no music…all too often it's the slow dancing version followed by the look/statement "it's just a hug"

I think the side-hug topic has been raked over the coals enough. But just look at all the free publicity your book is getting!

Well, I'm sure glad that you did that interview because I found you and your amazing blog through that! I haven't had a chance to check out the video that whoever did, but I found you! :-]

Let me know when you make the new button.

"Gangsta as Pocket Watch." I want one!

Was there something else in that email that was obviously hateful? 'Cause pocket watches are definitely gangsta.

Think about it, who wears pocket watches? Train Station Agents. But guys in nice suits also wear pocket watches. Who wears nice suits? Gangsters. Compliment paid.

I think whoever (whomever? who-so-ever?) wrote that was trying to give you the second nicest compliment of our day… the first, obviously, being, "You make unicorns cry." Which, IMHO, you do.

I was really excited to see you in the Trib, and I sent them a letter saying so.

Did that particular hate mail make you mad or just make you giggle? Love the phrase. Great interview! Love how God is using stuff you could never have orchestrated (timing of rap release) to move your ministry forward! He really wants to use you! Thanks for the sacrifice of all those early mornings to get up and write.

I don't know about you…but since I read the pocketwatch thing, all I can think about is that they WOULD be pretty gangsta. Don't be surprised to see 50cent rolling one on the red carpet soon. I mean think about it…a pocketwatch, blinged out…with a rapper's initials on the back, his face as the clock face and his hands showing his rings being the clock hands. Every hour, he has a little chime that blasts out in 7.0 surround sound, "You be trippin', it's only….___o'clock!!"