Clickstreams

May's edition of "Wired Magazine" has an article about Voyurl, a new service that allows you to voluntarily share your browser history in real time for anyone who wants to follow it. According to the article, Sitesimon and Dscover.me are similar, though most of them are more connected to social media sites and encourage the user to only allow certain sites.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to spend a bunch of time following the browser history of someone. It really does seem, in most cases, like voyeurism at it's creepiest levels.

Then again, I live in a world in which the internet has been a bugaboo for hundreds or thousands of pastors. The prevalence of illicit material that can be accessed cheaply, conveniently and "privately" gives an occasion for the sin natures of many pastors (and Christ-followers, for that matter) to cross boundaries they shouldn't.

I can't imagine why anyone would follow someone's clickstream. I also can't imagine why every pastor alive wouldn't sign up for this kind of thing. As a person who wants to be above reproach in everything they do (2 Timothy 3:2) I can't imagine anyone not wanting to give the people they lead a glimpse into an area that used to be private.

I've used Covenant Eyes for a while - a service that sends my wife and some trusted friends a digest of all the sites I visit in a week. Though I will continue to use it, this opens the door to even more people.

Your congregation shouldn't ever have to fear that they'll see your face attached to a scandal in the newspaper when they wake up in the morning. This is one more way to provide them some assurance. It's also a good way for them to see some of your hobbies and the things that interest you (prepare for a daily digest of Oklahoma State Sports and a whole lotta Facebook...).

If you're interested in being voyeuristic, or seeing what I'm up to, check me out at: http://www.voyurl.com/cfreeland

If I discover there is a reason someone shouldn't allow this kind of information to be out there, I'll be sure to let you know.