Uncategorized – Page 16 – Michelle Lesley

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Christmas craziness is upon us, but the good news is that means a few precious days of rest are right around the corner for most of us. Consequently, my blogging schedule is going to be a little different for the next few weeks, and I have a few other “light housekeeping” items to address as well…

Next week’s (19th-23rd) content will be mostly favorite Christmas-themed articles from years gone by. For those of you who are participating in The Ten, no guarantees, but I’m going to do my absolute best to get a new lesson up on Wednesday (21st). After next week, I’ll be taking at least two weeks (possibly three) off, though a few pre-scheduled articles may pop up here and there during that time.

For the most part, I have not been able to get to e-mails and social media private messages since around Thanksgiving. I sincerely apologize that many of you have been waiting so long for a response. I haven’t forgotten about you and, while there have been two or three messages I’ve deleted because they didn’t fit my comment parameters, if your message was in compliance with those parameters, I still have it and will get to it just as soon as I can.

We have a lot of folks down here in south Louisiana who are still suffering from the devastating 1000 year flood we had back in August. Many will not be back in their own homes for Christmas. A few flood victims are still living in tents on their property with no electricity, running water, or sewage because they don’t have the money to repair their homes. Many churches are also in the process of rebuilding. I know it’s last minute, but if you or your church would like to send a Christmas offering to help, or would like to put a team of folks together to come down and work, please let me know. I personally know some trustworthy, godly people who are coordinating relief efforts that I could put you in touch with.

Finally, if this blog has been a blessing to you and you’d like to bless my family back, click on the “Financial Support” tab at the top of this page. As always, please make sure you’re meeting your own family’s needs, and giving to your own church, first.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Advertising Redux

November 15, 2016November 14, 2016 Michelle Lesley

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Hi Y’all-

As you may or may not have noticed, I recently qualified for an advertising program called WordAds, which is offered through the host site of my blog, WordPress. I allow WordAds to run ads on my site (at the end of the first article on the home page, and at the end of every subsequent page you click on) and they pay me a modest sum (depending on how many people see the ads) in return. I haven’t received any income from WordAds yet, so this is a trial run over the next few months to see how it works and whether or not it’s worth it.

In the past (without alerting me or giving me any remuneration), WordPress has run ads on my more heavily trafficked articles. In the last seven years (since 2011, when I joined WordPress) I’ve received only three or four reports of an ad being biblically inappropriate. Last week I received one more report. So, I thought I would rerun the article that follows (originally published July 26, 2015, and updated to include information about WordAds) to provide a little more insight as to how this all works. Should you need to review this information in the future, there is a link to the original article under the “Welcome- Start Here” tab at the top of this page.

Thanks so much to those of you who have alerted me that inappropriate ads (containing material that conflicts with biblical values) occasionally appear on my site.

My family is a one income family, so I allow WordPress to run ads on my site as a way to bring in a little extra money. Normally, the ads that run are family friendly, but a few times, readers have reported seeing ads that are inappropriate. I want to assure you that I do not select these ads, nor am I given an opportunity to approve or reject them.

I have contacted WordPress about the ads. This is the response they sent me:

“We endeavor to make sure that no inappropriate ads are shown, but occasionally some do make it through. If you or any of your visitors see inappropriate ads, we ask that you (or they) take a screenshot of the ad and forward it to us at wordads@wordpress.com.”

Since I don’t always see the same ads on my end that you see on yours, I would be most grateful if you would alert WordPress in this way should you ever see an ad that’s inappropriate (you can also click on the “About These Ads” link above the ad itself). Sending polite feedback to WordPress – which, to their credit, they have requested – is the best way to get them to keep their advertising appropriate for all of their sites, not just mine.

Additionally, one of my Facebook friends offered this advice:

“Often if people are using Facebook apps or 3rd party apps, such as are used for games, those kinds of ads show up. Different ads for different users. Google is able to customize the ads based on Internet activity. When I blocked 3rd party cookies and all apps, the questionable ads on my feed and Internet activity disappeared.”

Also, if you are bothered by ads on the sites you visit (not just mine), your browser may offer a free ad blocker that will reduce or eliminate them. I use Google Chrome as my browser, and installed Ublock a while back. It has been very helpful.

I apologize for any inappropriate ads you have seen in the past or may see in the future. It is my desire that my blog glorify God and be a place where biblical values are upheld.

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A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Blog Posts

August 23, 2016August 22, 2016 Michelle Lesley

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Not long ago, I read an article about overused stock photos. You know, like the one up there ↑ that we bloggers use to add visual interest to our articles. It made me laugh, because if anyone overuses certain stock photos, it’s Christian bloggers. I read articles all the time that use the same photos I’ve used for my own articles, and I’m sure other bloggers recognize a lot of the photos I use as ones they’ve used. Hmm…maybe we’re all using the same image site.

Here are seven stock photos that have made the rounds of Christian blogs (including mine). Do you recognize any of them?

1. This Little Light of Mine

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I think this one might finally be in semi-retirement. For a while there you practically couldn’t read a Christian blog article without seeing this one. Articles on evangelism, marriage, baptism, cutting your toenails in church…it was used on all of them and not really related to any of them.

2. Shebrews

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This one’s usually used on articles about Bible study, so at least that fits. I kind of like it, but then I’m a big fan of both the Bible and coffee. I started to make a comment about how much this Bible is highlighted, but then I realized I have Bibles that look like they were printed on neon yellow paper.

3. Dark Shadows

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There’s a whole genre of these: silhouette lady reaching for the sky. I’m just curious as to how many women have ever actually gone out to the beach or a meadow or the mountains at dawn and thrown their arms up in the air. I haven’t. Maybe I’m missing something and should give it a try. (But I think the something I’d be missing is my nice warm bed.)

4. Miss Lonely Hearts

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I’ve used this one myself and have seen it on countless other blogs, usually in articles about women’s ministry. Guess what the title of the picture is? “Depression.” It does look pretty depressing, but doesn’t it look more like she’s fighting off morning sickness? I spent upwards of a year and a half of my life hunched over like that willing myself not to hurl, so I consider myself something of an expert.

5. Last Man Standing…er…Sitting

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This is what happens when you fall asleep in church (although I can’t imagine anybody falling asleep on those uncomfortable looking pews)- the service ends and everybody gets up and leaves your sorry self. And no, we don’t believe you’re that deep in prayer or meditation. It’s a great picture, though, a perfect fit for articles on church-related topics.

6. Cup O’ the Mornin’ to Ya!

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Mmmmm…more coffee. Look at its steamy goodness filling that bright, airy room with an awesome Arabica aroma. This hypnotic focal point almost prevents you from seeing the bed that somebody forgot to make up. What do coffee and untucked sheets have to do with anything in the Bible? I’m not sure, but I confess, I’ve used this photo before.

7. Bible Study, Baby!

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Could this photo be any more adorable? Probably only if we could see this little cutie’s face. I’ll be honest, I love this picture and I don’t care how many bloggers use it. It might not work for an article on circumcision or eternal conscious torment, but, hey, give it a try anyway. It’s too precious to pass up.

Those are the seven most used stock photos I’ve seen floating around the Christian interwebs. What about you? What are some photos you’ve seen over and over on Christian blogs and web sites? Post a link or the photo in the comments below!

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Thanks for your patience…

August 22, 2016 Michelle Lesley

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Hi Everybody-

Just wanted to take a moment thank you for your patience if you’ve submitted a question or comment and haven’t received a response from me. I have been helping with flood relief, plus taking care of my own family, and today is the first day of school (I home school), so, except for a few questions that required only very brief responses, I haven’t had time to answer the pile of (approved) blog comments, e-mails, and social media messages I’ve received. I promise I will get to them just as soon as I can.

Again, thanks so much for your patience and understanding.

Michelle

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Announcement

August 14, 2016 Michelle Lesley

high-water-123201_1280 For those that don’t know, I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You’ve probably seen some dramatic video of flooding in my area on the news. It’s a pretty serious situation, and we covet your prayers.

My family and I are fine for now. I live in a fairly large, spread out neighborhood. The main thoroughfares that form the perimeter of my neighborhood all have varying degrees of standing water and passability. Blessedly, our house is far enough “inland” from those streets that we do not have any water on our own street at all, much less in the house. We don’t have cell service, but we do still have power and satellite/internet as of the time I’m posting this. Unfortunately, we are expecting more rain this week.

I’ve received some questions about whether the flooding is worse than Katrina was. That’s a little tricky to answer. Katrina didn’t hit Baton Rouge anywhere near as hard as it hit New Orleans. So, yes, this flooding is much worse in Baton Rouge than Katrina was in Baton Rouge, but I’m not sure it’s quite as bad as Katrina was in New Orleans, if that makes sense.

All of this is mainly to let you know a) to keep us in prayer, and b) if you don’t see normally scheduled posts on the blog or on social media, or if I don’t answer e-mails, messages, or post blog comments for a while, it’s probably because our power or internet went out, or because we had to evacuate.

Thanks so much to all who have expressed concern and prayed for us :0)