There's a blog out there called "SBC Voices" run by Tony Kummer (link is below), and he's running this contest which I will describe in a second, called "Blogger Madness".The analogy I want to draw here is the obvious "March Madness" analogy. If Duke is in the Final Four, you root against Duke. Likewise with Georgetown or Syracuse. This is axiomatic; this is self-evident. It's nothing personal or spiteful: it just is. You pray against the schemes of the devil, and you root against Duke. Next.
Now that said, this contest has been a poll-off between nominated SBC blogs (I did not get nominated; Kummer says he didn't know I was SBC, which, you know, whatever), and the winner gets a gift card to the Westminster Bookstore.
Now, the haters are saying, "oh snap -- cent's gonna tell people to vote against iMonk to spoil the man's chances of winning!" But you haters have such small minds. See: I am taking a certain amount of perverse joy in the idea that if my blog cannot win this SBC contest, iMonk probably will. The idea that the most popular SBC blog is somehow iMonk really makes sense to me in an Old Testament justice kind of way.
So no, I am not saying, "vote against iMonk." He could certainly use $300 worth of books from the Westminster Bookstore. Besides, why vote for the 9Marks site? What are they going to do with a gift card?
So here's what I'm thinking: if you share my perverse joy in iMonk being voted up as the most popular SBC blog, go over there and vote for him.
But if you have some objection to that, go over there and vote for Hershael York, who is a professor at SBTS and a pastor.
Here's The Link.
49 comments:
Cent--
Root against the blue Devils? Next, I guess you are going to tell me that I have to root against the Yankees as well. (I grew up in NY and had delusions of going to Duke in the early 90's, now I live in the Gainesville area, I'm a mixed bag, I know)
Why all the hate for Coach K and his team? (b/c it really doesn't matter who is on the team, Coach K is the only reason they are relevant)
CJ Mahaney has convinced my by means of Scripture and prayer that this is God's will for God's people.
Don't really follow baseball.
This is so SBC, we cast votes for everything. And the truly important things are over looked (your blog).
I had the Tar Heels winning it all. But the three other final 4 teams I muffed on. The way NC whooped the Sooners, there ain't no stopping them now.
But I must say this: Even though the Terrapins of Maryland were eliminated by Memphis in the 2nd round, the Terps beat the Tar Heels this season, AND they beat the Spartans of MSU. Pretty impressively cool huh.
It's OK, Cent. My blog wasn't nominated either...
(c:|
~Squirrel
Frank:
There's something very Drunken Masterish (in a good way) about the way you blog. We never know what your next move is going to be.
Michael has publicly stated that he's going to use the money to purchase ESV Study Bibles. (Not that I read his blog from time to time, or anything like that.)
Even though Tony's vote appears to be wide open, it still doesn't seem right to me to participate, as a non-Southern Baptist.
Okay so I was rooting for my alma mater (JAYHAWKS!) and Cent just had to pour salt into that open wound. Thanks alot Frank, Mr. Drunken Master Blogger!
p.s. I voted for Pastor Harold. Why would a protestant call themselves a monk. Pffft!
And, please 'splain the CJ Mahaney "thing" to me. I'm a stay-at-home-mom...I don't get out much.
CJ hates the 'Dukies' and jokingly questions Duke fan's salvation.
No perverse joy here, Frank. I voted for Michael straight up, because his blog is simply the best blog on the Internet today. In my book, there isn't a more thoughtful, provocative guy faithfully distributing his thoughts with this kind of media. Love the Pyros, no doubt, but quite frankly...you're #2, a close #2, but still #2 - and Justin Taylor is coming up fast on you guys.
Though I do hate Duke, Michael's blog is more of a Kansas or Kentucky (when they were good) anyway.
And aren't you from Oklahoma and shouldn't this all be about UNC right now?
By the way, you guys are UCLA my book - great during early the 70s.
Brad
Justin Taylor doesn't blog: he links.
Not to blow this thing completely out of proportion, but JT doesn't blog in a year as much as Dan blogs in any given 10-day period.
It's like the old Truman Capote quip: "that's not writing -- that's typing."
Yeah....whatever man. I was left out of the SBC blogs so I'm gonna pout!
Mark
p.s. :-)
Thanks, Frank.
John Mark, I'm an SB-licensed pastor. So go figure.
"[iMonk] is simply the best blog on the Internet today. In my book, there isn't a more thoughtful, provocative guy faithfully distributing his thoughts with this kind of media." - Atone
Voted the most vapid comment on an SBC blog.
Are we praying the rosary in the SBC now? Note link at iMonk Baptist Rosaries?
Can someone 'splain this to me?
Um, what? Why would I be interested in buying a rosary as a Southern Baptist? And why would you as a Southern Baptist put a link to make such a purchase on your blog? DUMB.
LAY OFF iMONK!
RIGHT NOW!
Either go vote for him, or don't, but THIS IS NOT AN OPEN THREAD ON iMONK.
One Little Word Shall Fell Who?
Dan, okay, I'll get in line.
It's just the cult of blogonality.
Mark
Um, this is a comment totally about basketball...
If one of the players has a hockey stick on the court, something ain't right. (SBC blogger dude has a link to a rosary website. Say what?!)
I'm just sayin'.
He's gonna win anyway. He's internet famous. Whatever that means.
Internet Monk says,
"I’m running strong, but the teampyro audience will be coming to vote against me.
It’s going to be very hard to win. With teampyro in the game, I’ll probably not be able to win."
Not to blow this thing completely out of proportion, but JT doesn't blog in a year as much as Dan blogs in any given 10-day period.
He's efficient. He works smarter, not harder. So don't be jealous, Frank. ;o) He understands that like grace, blogging is about resting, not about having to earn your way to blogging greatness.
Now, I read that, and I read what I actually wrote, and I look at the voting, and then I read that again, ...
Didn't I say "vote for iMonk"?
I said this:
So no, I am not saying, "vote against iMonk." He could certainly use $300 worth of books from the Westminster Bookstore. Besides, why vote for the 9Marks site? What are they going to do with a gift card?
So here's what I'm thinking: if you share my perverse joy in iMonk being voted up as the most popular SBC blog, go over there and vote for him.
Isn't that what I said? Sure: perverse joy, but I said vote for iMonk. That's what I did.
Atone:
If I use the type of rhetoric you have used here to respond to your comment, are you going to have an emotional breakdown -- or will it all be in good, clean fun?
I need to know before I actually respond to you to gage my own appetite for this sort of thing.
If I use the type of rhetoric you have used here to respond to your comment, are you going to have an emotional breakdown -- or will it all be in good, clean fun?
I need to know before I actually respond to you to gage my own appetite for this sort of thing.
Sorry, Frank. I thought I was just going along with the levity and "rhetoric" employed in your post. I didn't mean to offend you.
Brad
The SBC poll gets what it deserves for even including imonk in the list. I expect a [salty] blowout victory for the post-evangelical standard bearer of post-standardism. Following a traditional victory lap around the SBC blogmosphere, many loyal SBC bloggers will feel compelled to emulate the evident succes of po-ev flavored blogging. To differentiate themselves, a rash of post-whatevers will rise(post-sbc, post-baptist, post-mohler, et al) and will encircle the pyro camp with bags of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers to enjoy s'mores while they smear their volcanic rise to "success" in your faces.
I feel icky even writing that, let alone thinking it could actually happen. Hopefully I will be proven a false prophet.
Another sad thing is, my own dear denom (EFCA) recommended imonk as a resource in their quarterly magazine. What business does the EVANGELICAL Free Church have recommending a POST-EVANGELICAL????
I'm going to shut up now before I get all riled up.
Yes, I think it was good you commented before getting riled up.
Do know that feeling you get when some whack-o in your political party goes out and does something real stupid. It's all over the TV how stupid he was and now you are kind of in the same camp as that guy. People at work ask you "did you vote for that guy" or "don't ya'll have the same views".
Well, that very same feeling has been with me (an SBC pastor) quite frequently.
The SBC poll gets what it deserves for even including imonk in the list. I expect a [salty] blowout victory for the post-evangelical standard bearer of post-standardism.
Dave,
At least he doesn't call himself post-Christian, then you could really brand him as a heretic.
Yeah, more tongue-n-cheek...mostly.
Brad
Right. Because calling yourself post-evangelical (evangelical = committed to the authority of Scripture, deity of Christ, Gospel of grace alone through faith alone, etc) is so much better than being "post-Christian."
Dave Sherrill <----- I like you. I think more folks should get riled up more often.
Dave,
I share your aggravation at the EFCA, which is also my fellowship. I can't wait to hear what Don Carson has to say about this.
The insinuation that I reject the authority of scripture and the deity of Christ is about where I thought this post would eventually go.
I affirm enthusiastically all the things Mr. Phillips insinuates that I reject. I reject the evangelical circus, which Phil J and many others here reject.
Yes. It was bad of Mr. Phillips to make Mr. Spencer put a label on himself that might imply those things to anyone who didn't search for and find his explanation, somewhere. Bad Mr. Phillips! Bad!
Right. Because calling yourself post-evangelical (evangelical = committed to the authority of Scripture, deity of Christ, Gospel of grace alone through faith alone, etc) is so much better than being "post-Christian."
Yikes! So you still think we evangelicals have the exclusive corner on salvation? I didn't come to Christ with a perfect crystalization of the Doctrines of Grace. I hold them dear, but I guess I'm more hopeful and am prone to take literally that bit in 1 Cor. 13 about "always hopes..." "always trusts" and "always believes..." That must be my silly evangelicalism coming out of me. Peace.
Brad
SBCvoices exists to echo what SBC bloggers are saying - not to edit out guys who ruffle feathers.
So, a little reality check on which bloggers among the SBC have a real following is a good thing.
iMonk is more SBC than most of the SBC seminary professors.
That must be my silly evangelicalism coming out of me
It may be something silly, Brad, but I'm not sure what, since I can't actually rationally connect what you said with what I said.
Truth,
Dan
The SBC hat gets harder to put on each day. Because of what it has become.
Tony,
I appreciate your comment. It sounds like SBC Profs are a mixed bag with most leaning away from many SBC convictions. As their influence lands solidly on their students, who then become leaders/pastors in the SBC, should we expect an increasing deterioration of the convictions held broadly by SBC membership?
Mr. Phillips,
I totally support your efforts to keep the public informed.
I don't know if you are bad or not, but the insinuation that I reject Christian essentials by calling myself post-evangelical is simply wrong.
Phil J has often said he sees evangelical as a label with real problems, given the state of evangelicals.
I don't care what you think about my nomenclature. I'm concerned that you are implying I'm John Shelby Spong.
MS
Mr. Spencer:
Howyadoon?
Thank you for your support.
The insinuation is inherent in your label. If you feel it was a poor choice, change it. Don't blame the messenger.
Phil is right, of course. That's why he calls himself a "paleo-evangelical."
I don't care what you think about my nomenclature.
Of course not! If you did care, you'd dash over here like a crack of lightning and... say... wait a minute....
I'm concerned that you are implying I'm John Shelby Spong.
That I'm not. You're a much better writer.
BTW - I hope this isn't really necessary, but just to be clear: I'm not implying any relationship between Spencer and Spong, beyond the merely alphabetical.
But I'm serious about him being a better writer.
Anyone notice how Mr. Atone's "compliments" come wrapped in vainglory?
Any predictions on when this meta totally loses it?
You mean it hasn't already?
Solameanie:
Too late. I think Stefan's Drunken Master reference was the thread's sole high point. It's pretty much been all downhill from there.
Let's rein it in a tad, huh, folks? We're not even in contention for the SBC prize, and I don't want to get nominated for someone's "Most Shockingly Lowbrow Watchblog" award.
I'm warning you all, on both sides: don't make me bust out the comic-book covers.
That's it: pulling the plug. Should have done this when I typed my comment with caps in it.
Man: I hate it when fun turns ugly.
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