Wow, Talk About Misinterpreting

Well, I was just going to let this go and not worry about it, but there have been so many negative comments, that I feel like I ought to say something so that complete strangers on the internet don't think I'm a total douche.

It would seem that sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek comments don't translate well on twitter/facebook. Let me tell the story and set the record straight.

Earlier this morning I posted a video of Shaun Groves speaking about the Kingdom. I really like this video, and I think that Shaun and I more or less share the same perspective that he was presenting. I wanted to expose my blog readers (both of them) to this video and hopefully get them talking about the ideas expressed here. So my friend Lew sent me this twitter reply after watching the video:

Wanting to explain who Shaun is and make a comment about the sorry state of the CCM industry, I replied thusly:

Notice that this is a reply to someone who knows me, and would have picked up on my sarcasm.

Apparently Shaun found this reply and linked to it with only the phrase "Ouch." attached. The comments on his facebook status were very supportive of him, and some not so nice about me, like this one:

She obviously didn't understand my sarcastic tone, and I wouldn't expect her to. She doesn't know me.

All that leads me to this need to explain myself, so here goes:

I am a BIG Shaun Groves fan. I have all his albums, and could probably sing them word for word straight through. I have seen him in concert several times (both paid and free), and have had the opportunity to meet and talk with him a couple of times as well. I think that the direction he has taken his music and ministry is WONDERFUL. He is an example to us all of how to be Kingdom focused in all that we do.

However, the fact remains that Shaun is not as "popular" as he once was. I am of course using that word in the sense of Radio Play and Sold Out Arenas. But, I don't think that not being "popular" is a bad thing. I'm very glad that Shaun is willing to sacrifice that "popularity" in order bring God's Kingdom to those in need.

I think it's awful that the Christian music industry (as a whole) doesn't have a place for people like Shaun and his music. It's really a shame, and that's the point I was trying to get across in my short (limited to 140 characters) reply to a friend who doesn't know who Shaun Groves is.

If you have any further questions, just ask me. I like making new friends =)