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Hi to my Forum Friends,

One afternoon last week, after visiting the optometrist office in my local Galleria Mall -- I walked around inside the mall.  Several weeks before I did the same and had noticed a mannequin in the window of one store that sells shoes, clothing, and other items which appeals to the younger crowd.  On the mannequin's hand was a tattoo which really got my attention.  On the four fingers of the left hand, there was a painted tattoo which reads H A T E.

Yes, this got my attention right away -- a store which is advocating "H A T E"?  A store which is selling "H A T E" to our young people?

Seeing this mannequin still in the store window several weeks later, I had to find out more about it.  So, I walked into the store.  A  well groomed, very polite young clerk asked if he could help me.   The young man, in his early twenties, appeared to be a college student.   I mentioned the tattoo on the hand of the mannequin and asked him about it.

He told me that a co-worker had taken the arms of the mannequin home and came back with tattoos on the hands.  He, and a young lady (not sure if she was another clerk), explained that this was the trend -- to put "L O V E" on one hand and "H A T E"   on the other.   Yet, as I pointed out to them, the hand which supposedly has "L O V E" on it was turned away -- so that the only hand visible to people walking by the store and looking into the window -- was the "H A T E" hand.

Then came the million dollar question.  I asked the young man if he knew where this "H A T E" hand tattoo idea originated.   He had no idea.  I explained that this is a tattoo which is commonly associated with White Supremacist groups.  Yes, he had a surprised look on his face; somewhat more of a shocked look.  After all, the young store clerk was black -- and blacks and Jews are the most hated targets of White Supremacist groups.

I went on to share with him the story of the young man I met about ten years ago when I went to the Riverside Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.  As I was waiting in line to sign in, I noticed a young man standing in line behind me.  He was the perfect stereotype of the White Supremacists we all see in the movies and on television -- shaved head, tattoos all over, muscle shirt, etc.

After seeing the doctor, he and I were alone in the same room waiting for our medication.  While waiting, I began to read my Bible.  I  noticed him getting a book and when he began to read -- I was surprised.  It was a Bible.  But, his hand had "H A T E" tattooed on the four fingers.   I asked him, "The book you are reading says 'L O V E' -- yet, your hand says 'H A T E.'  What's the story?"

He explained that he, and his whole family, had been devout White Supremacists -- all the way.  Even down to the only music they listened to -- which, he told me, was what they called Black Music.  By this he explained, he meant Satanic music -- nothing to do with the black race.

Then he told me how a Christian believer had approached him on the street and began to witness to him.  This got my attention -- for how many Christians will approach a person who is so obviously part of a White Supremacist hate group -- and witness to him?

But, praise God, someone had -- and the young man received Jesus Christ that day on the street in Riverside, California.  He went from being a devout White Supremacist to being an on fire Christian believer.  And, like me, he loved to write about it.

That afternoon he and I sat in the waiting room of the Riverside Regional Medical Center sharing our tracts with one another.  In my heart, I praised God for that Christian believer who saw past his tattoos, shaved head, and muscle shirt -- and saw Jesus Christ waiting at the door of his heart.  That brave believer, witnessing to the White Supremacist, showed this young man how to open his heart and invite Jesus Christ in to be his best Friend (Revelation 3:20).

To that Christian believer, wherever you are -- thank you for bringing this young man into the family of God.  Today, I wonder how many others this ex-White Supremacist has brought into the family of God.  And, keep in mind, if that one Christian had not had the brave Christian heart of the apostle Paul -- that young man might still be spreading "H A T E" instead of the Gospel.  Let that be YOUR strength the next time God gives you an opportunity to witness to a stranger.

And, for all my local Southern California Friends, the next time you visit the Tyler Galleria Mall walk by The Scream Shop, upper level, north of JC Penney's -- and ask them why they are "Selling 'H A T E' To Our Youth."

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

1 - God-Is-Love-reduced

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THE LOVE OF A TATOO IS LIKE THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR A BOYFRIEND,ONE WEEK YOU  LOVE HIM AND THE NEXT WEEK YOU HATE HIM,BUT A TATOO IS THERE FOR EVER UNLIKE A  BOYFRIEND.

.....even though that's quite cute, it's not correct. The love/hate tattoo on  your knuckles comes from the 1955 film The Night of the Hunter. Love/Hate  symbolizes the struggle between Good and Evil, most memorably in the scene where  Powell tells the story behind his tattooed knuckles. It has been often been  mentioned, imitated, and referenced in popculture.  The lead singer of the band HURT, J. Loren Wince, has the love/hate tattoo on  his knuckles. He has one upside down and one right side up so you can read them  correctly as he plays guitar. If you want more infor check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...he_Hunter_%28film%29

to check out HURT

visit http://www.hurtband.com

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What...tattoo#ixzz1cJB0JNC2

 

In popular culture

Powell's "LOVE/HATE" tattoo has been referenced multiple times in pop culture; such examples include The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mallrats, an episode of Strangers with Candy, The Silence of the Lambs, and Do the Right Thing.

 

So call the store at the mall and tell them the fundie has no idea what he's talking about.

Too bad the only "impact" your messages are having is to make you look even more foolish. I don't believe that any young person, black, white, hispanic, chinese, you name it, doesn't know about the white supremacy groups and other gangs, ESPECIALLY in california. A young person that works in a mall at a place called "The Scream Shop" is certainly "up" on trends. You have no business claiming they are "selling hate" to young people, that is NOT what the love/hate tattoos mean to them.  I bet that guy was looking around for your "keepers". I have seen men in their 70s with those on their hands and they don't have now, and have never had any connection with any hate groups. And in your ignorance you want to start a campaign against a store that has done nothing wrong.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

And, for all my local Southern California Friends, the next time you visit the Tyler Galleria Mall walk by The Scream Shop, upper level, north of JC Penney's -- and ask them why they are "Selling 'H A T E' To Our Youth."

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

He told me that a co-worker had taken the arms of the mannequin home and came back with tattoos on the hands. 
But, his hand had "H A T E" tattooed on the four fingers. 


the young man received Jesus Christ that day on the street  He went from being a devout White Supremacist to being an on fire Christian believer. 
To that Christian believer, wherever you are -- thank you for bringing this young man into the family of God.  Today,
And, for all my local Southern California Friends, the next time you visit the Tyler Galleria Mall walk by The Scream Shop, upper level, north of JC Penney's -- and ask them why they are "Selling 'H A T E' To Our Youth."
Bill

____________________________

Well, gosh, Bill. You need to get on the phone to the CEO of that store first thing tomorrow & have that employee fired that did that!!

 

Did you bother to tell your "on fire" young man that tattoo’s are removable & that you would pay for it?? The Devil is probably telling you not to but you really need to

find that young man & tell him right away. The Boogie Man will get you if you don’t.  

Uh, hey!!  I have a question!! Just exactly how did you come by the knowledge that he’s “an on fire Christian believer”???  Exactly how many days did you spend with this young man?


 Yep, I bet that person is reading this forum right now. I wonder if he knows how lucky he is that he got a Thank you from the almighty Bill Gray? Wow!!!

 

You mean those Southern California Friends of yours reads this forum & sees all the hate you spread around??!? Double Wow!!

BTW, you need to get those friends of yours to get on the horn to Penney’s & have that employee fired. He needs firing worse than that waitress you had fired. Just imagine, the nerve of someone having the word hate written where it can be seen. Makes me so mad I could spit!!!

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi all,

I love it when my two favorite female FANS joined together to encourage me and to cheer me on.   Yes, life is fantastic when I know my messages are having an impact.

Bill

___________________________

Billy, you need to learn to count. When you made the above post there was only ONE female that responded to your post. I'll even give your favorite Christian response back at cha.............Duh!

Hey, if you get your jollies believing you have two female fans to try & heighten that low self esteem problem, you go right ahead. It's so sad that you have to do that, but if that's what it takes to help that low self esteem problem you got, you couldn't have chosen two prettier, sexy females. You really should try to get out more.

Pitiful old man! 

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi to my Forum Friends,

One afternoon last week, after visiting the optometrist office in my local Galleria Mall -- I walked around inside the mall.  Several weeks before I did the same and had noticed a mannequin in the window of one store that sells shoes, clothing, and other items which appeals to the younger crowd.  On the mannequin's hand was a tattoo which really got my attention.  On the four fingers of the left hand, there was a painted tattoo which reads H A T E.

Yes, this got my attention right away -- a store which is advocating "H A T E"?  A store which is selling "H A T E" to our young people?

Seeing this mannequin still in the store window several weeks later, I had to find out more about it.  So, I walked into the store.  A  well groomed, very polite young clerk asked if he could help me.   The young man, in his early twenties, appeared to be a college student.   I mentioned the tattoo on the hand of the mannequin and asked him about it.

He told me that a co-worker had taken the arms of the mannequin home and came back with tattoos on the hands.  He, and a young lady (not sure if she was another clerk), explained that this was the trend -- to put "L O V E" on one hand and "H A T E"   on the other.   Yet, as I pointed out to them, the hand which supposedly has "L O V E" on it was turned away -- so that the only hand visible to people walking by the store and looking into the window -- was the "H A T E" hand.

Then came the million dollar question.  I asked the young man if he knew where this "H A T E" hand tattoo idea originated.   He had no idea.  I explained that this is a tattoo which is commonly associated with White Supremacist groups.  Yes, he had a surprised look on his face; somewhat more of a shocked look.  After all, the young store clerk was black -- and blacks and Jews are the most hated targets of White Supremacist groups.

I went on to share with him the story of the young man I met about ten years ago when I went to the Riverside Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.  As I was waiting in line to sign in, I noticed a young man standing in line behind me.  He was the perfect stereotype of the White Supremacists we all see in the movies and on television -- shaved head, tattoos all over, muscle shirt, etc.

After seeing the doctor, he and I were alone in the same room waiting for our medication.  While waiting, I began to read my Bible.  I  noticed him getting a book and when he began to read -- I was surprised.  It was a Bible.  But, his hand had "H A T E" tattooed on the four fingers.   I asked him, "The book you are reading says 'L O V E' -- yet, your hand says 'H A T E.'  What's the story?"

He explained that he, and his whole family, had been devout White Supremacists -- all the way.  Even down to the only music they listened to -- which, he told me, was what they called Black Music.  By this he explained, he meant Satanic music -- nothing to do with the black race.

Then he told me how a Christian believer had approached him on the street and began to witness to him.  This got my attention -- for how many Christians will approach a person who is so obviously part of a White Supremacist hate group -- and witness to him?

But, praise God, someone had -- and the young man received Jesus Christ that day on the street in Riverside, California.  He went from being a devout White Supremacist to being an on fire Christian believer.  And, like me, he loved to write about it.

That afternoon he and I sat in the waiting room of the Riverside Regional Medical Center sharing our tracts with one another.  In my heart, I praised God for that Christian believer who saw past his tattoos, shaved head, and muscle shirt -- and saw Jesus Christ waiting at the door of his heart.  That brave believer, witnessing to the White Supremacist, showed this young man how to open his heart and invite Jesus Christ in to be his best Friend (Revelation 3:20).

To that Christian believer, wherever you are -- thank you for bringing this young man into the family of God.  Today, I wonder how many others this ex-White Supremacist has brought into the family of God.  And, keep in mind, if that one Christian had not had the brave Christian heart of the apostle Paul -- that young man might still be spreading "H A T E" instead of the Gospel.  Let that be YOUR strength the next time God gives you an opportunity to witness to a stranger.

And, for all my local Southern California Friends, the next time you visit the Tyler Galleria Mall walk by The Scream Shop, upper level, north of JC Penney's -- and ask them why they are "Selling 'H A T E' To Our Youth."

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

1 - God-Is-Love-reduced

I sure hope that you don't believe the hogwash you are spreading. Does this mean that when I see a young man with numbers refering to a bible quotation shaved in his haircut, should be stopped and witnessed? Get real.  When you were a child you spoke as a child, its time to grow up.

What any rational person that didn't know about the "love/hate" tattoos-that have been around forever- would have done, would have been to ask the salesman what it meant. Mannequins aren't cheap and I doubt any employee would take it upon themselves to take it home and paint on it. Why take it home anyway? And as for a christian "converting" a white supremist on the street-hmmmmmmmmmm I doubt that. It sounds like that young clerk had better manners than you. You owe that store an apology bill, for trying to stir up trouble for them over something you know nothing about.

Hi all,

JUST AN UPDATE!   The following week after I talked with the young clerk in this store, as I walked by the store window I noticed that the L O V E hand had been turned forward.  But, because of the design of the mannequin arms -- it could not be read from from outside the store window.  Folks walking past the store could still only saw the H A T E hand.  The young man had attempted to do  what was right -- but, it still did not work.

This week, when I walked past -- I rejoiced.  Since the mannequin arm design did not allow both hands to be displayed -- showing the supposedly trendy L O V E and H A T E hands -- the store has turned both hands down so that neither can be viewed.

I will admit that I did wonder what caused them to do this.  Was it because it was the right way to defuse the situation?  Or, since many Friends who receive my Friends Ministry eNewsletter live in my community -- I wondered if others had gone into the store and mentioned this to the clerks.

Either way, even though the mannequin is still full of tattoos -- at least the H A T E tattoo is effectively gone.  Praise God!

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

quote:  Originally Posted by Jennifer Bestworking:

I think I'll call them and ask why they really changed it.


Hi Jennifer,

 

GREAT IDEA!   Please do -- and then report back to us.   But, keep in mind -- I am local so I can verify your report.  Just a thought!   So, no Obama "Here's my birth certificate!  No, there is my birth certificate!  Oh, heck, where is my birth certificate?" tricks, okay?

 

Not that YOU would do such a thing.  But, better to err on the side of honesty.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Friends_Piggy

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quote:   Originally Posted by Jennifer Bestworking:

GREAT IDEA!  Please do -- and then report back to us.   But, keep in mind -- I am local so I can verify your report.

 

I don't "report" to you bill.  Did you forget that?  You can go back to the store and ask them if some lady called.


Hi Jennifer,

 

That would not work.  I prefer to know if YOU called.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Gimme A Hug

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Originally Posted by Bestworking:

I don't "report" to you bill.  Did you forget that?  You can go back to the store and ask them if some lady called.

_______________________________

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi Jennifer,

That would not work.  I prefer to know if YOU called.

 Bill

________________________

Bill, just exactly how many women are you expecting to call & ask why they changed it?

I believe they changed it because you were somehow causing problems for the store.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Atheists have a wonderful sense of humor, if something is funny. I don't let you talk down to me bill. I'm more of a lady than anything you've ever been around. At least I don't skulk around trying to get people into trouble.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Nope. Sorry. LADIES don't use the kind of language that you have used on this forum.

 

 

Originally Posted by O No!:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Atheists have a wonderful sense of humor, if something is funny. I don't let you talk down to me bill. I'm more of a lady than anything you've ever been around. At least I don't skulk around trying to get people into trouble.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Nope. Sorry. LADIES don't use the kind of language that you have used on this forum.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

You'd be the LAST one to try and tell someone how a lady should act.

 

 

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