O-D-M-s and E-G-O-s--Frank Turk Googles Himself.

Something happened today that actually made me start a new blog post category. For a long time I've had STUPID THINGS EVANGELICALS SAY. Today I offer you, my three readers, the first post in the new category, STUPID THINGS EVANGELICALS DO.

Most of us can remember someone, usually a girl, from our childhood who was constantly showing off her shoes or new outfit or bicycle. Or she actually ASKED if you thought she was pretty. Remember her?

I know you don't want to, but try.

Even at a very young age, most thought such behavior was childish and narcissistic. Of course, few of us could pronounce "narcissistic", let alone know what it means, so we just said she was "conceited" or some such thing as that.

So it's natural to expect that, in the humble and godly world of Evangelical bloggers and church leaders, no one (and I mean NO ONE) would ever, ever do such a thing. So, here's my question:

WHY DO SO MANY OF THEM GOOGLE THEMSELVES TO SEE WHAT THE REST OF US ARE THINKING ABOUT THEM?


Grown men, who expect you to think they're godly, pretending to be godly, often using pretend names like kids playing fort, pretending to do all they do for the glory of God, actually look the internet over to find what folks are saying about them. Not looking out for God's reputation, but looking out for THEIR reputation.

This is how I know they're doing this: If a name is mentioned in a post or in a comment thread, the person named will often just show up at a blog they don't ever follow. Or, at times, a representative for them or for their organization does so. They're either monitoring or they are paying someone on staff to monitor what you say to see if you like them. Yes, some of the big guys actually take money from honest Christians who give it for the glory of God and use it for their glory.

Here are some recent examples I've come across in the last few weeks: Tim Challies showed up at Surphside here to once again assure everyone that he didn't say what he said. Yes, all our screens were lying. (Perhaps it's a virus.) Rick Warren apologist, Richard Abanes, showed up here to defend RW and so did Ken Silva to add what he had to say. And then there was another who had a shill show up at another site, but I'll refrain from naming him. Finally, Frank Turk turned up on the comment thread of yesterday's post here at Al Tosap.

I was wondering if Challies would show, but I'm not surprised that he didn't because when he showed up at Surphside, I asked if he googled himself. He didn't answer.

I don't blame him.

When one is writing, it's really like self-employment. One has to consider just how to spend the hours. And if one is blogging a Christian blog, one would think most hours would go into writing articles that help others to better understand Scripture and live a godly life.

So this demands an answer: FRANK TURK, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING TIME GOOGLING YOURSELF?

And do you still call yourself "Centurion"? What about your keyboard? Do you call your key board "Stallion" or "Charger" or "Silver" or "Steed"? Is your router "Lassie" or "Rin Tin Tin"?

Just asking,
Phil Perkins. PS--I know this isn't the post I promised. A pregnancy in the family took most of my day, twice to the clinic, three trips for prescriptions. So Part II of THE SECRET SINS OF THE ODMs will come tomorrow, God willing.