I've decided to blog full-time in January and knew that I had my work cut out for me. I've only been blogging since August 08; before that I only used the computer to create document or play the Sims. Needless to say I have a lot to learn. I know that blogging is not a get rich quick venture, far from it, but it has become a passion that I believe is the best fit for all the things that I want to accomplish in my life so I am willing to be patient and work hard. Still I feel torn, I hate visiting sites that seem to have more ads than content; I think that it looks ugly, is very distracting and seems to represent a little greed. I'm sure that's harsh judgment but that's what I think. Then there is a part of me that's desperate to make money and prove to my friends and family that I can and will become a successful blogger. So I want to fill the blog with many revenue generating links and services so that I can make money now.

I blame that desperation for leading me to make a bad decision. I was reading up on ad link programs on the day before Easter. With some time on my hands I decided to try out it on one blog to see if it was for me. I picked Spiritual Sunday because blog would be the next to have a new post. I did hesitate a little on experimenting with that blog in particular but I thought that I could always cancel it if I did not like it. So I went for it with the intention of setting it up on 6 other blogs if it went well.

It took a couple of hour before the service was turned on but as soon as it was I again felt torn. A part of me felt excited that I figured how to do something new on my own, even though it was really simple. I was also happy about bringing in new revenue, but mostly I was upset. I thought that the links looks bad and I was scared that LL&L would lose some of its integrity. Now people would look at my blog like I've look at others blogs and think its ugly, distracting and seems to represent greed. After all Jesus Christ was a keyword for the car insurance ads. I tried to sooth my concern by telling myself that the readers would understand, what I did not acknowledge was how much I dislike it.

Silver and Gold

I could use your help to decide my next move please let e know what you think about Spiritual Sunday containing contextual link ads and what do think about link ads in general? I am leaning towards removing the link ads from this blog but putting them on my Monday-Friday blogs. Do you think that would be a good solution?

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produces perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

LL&L 2cents:

If you celebrate Easter don't forget to take some time to reflect on the meaning:

1. Through your faith you are absolved of sin and you are free from guilt.
   
2. Know that you are at peace with God.
   
3. When struggling with hardships reflect on the Jesus' suffering and on all the good that came from it
   
4. Always hold on to hope, it will never disappoint.
   
5. God's abundant love is always with you.
   
6. God will go through great lengths to demonstrate His love.
   
7. Remember that God shows His love to you even if you turn away from Him.
   
8. You are saved and free from condemnation; take comfort in that.
   
9. Cherish your relationship with God; never forget how much he loves you.
   
10. Thank the Lord for his sacrifice and all of your blessings.

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise

because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

You put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!