The problem with rendering it "subtle and unobtrusive" is that visitors will be more likely to overlook it, which would defeat your purposes, Darren.

But yes, the top of the page is a bit too jarring and "in-your-face". How about putting it in the right sidebar column?

On the whole I don't really like the idea of an ad, partly because you won't be able to control the contents of the ad and also because IMHO it makes the blog look a bit "commercial". But that's just me :)

I think you have totally sold out Darren. You have no control over the ads on your site, you will end up promoting porn probably.

If you want to raise money you should be praying about it and God will provide it.

Lately your posts have been about money a lot . If you only had more faith you would find that money is not an issue. God wants you to prosper, the bible is clear about it. I believe that if you're lacking money then you are probably lacking in faith.

Go for it Darren. Having put them on myself a month ago I haven't seen a drop in patronage. Mind you many of my readers may be of the heathen kind :-)

BTW, Esther lighten up a bit. With a little bit of research I have discovered that even churches need money to survive and, shock-horror, actually ask their congregation for it. This emerging on-line church type thing is no different.

I am sure Darren was thrilled to have previously received your unsolicited donation but others may prefer to support him by occassionally clicking on one of the ads. I know I will.

"Catechism of the Catholic" now that really sounds like a porn site. I think I'll try that one first.

wow super harsh esther... smacks of prosperity gospel nonesense to me. google ads target ads to the content on the site so unless darren starts blogging about porn he shouldn't have a problem with that.

Go for it, Darren. I have a friend who's used this program and has found that the ads are appropriate and the pay's not bad.

Good blog. You continue to challenge us and I appreciate your honesty.

I was gonna start by ranting about how you'd sold out to mammon, but I thought you'd tune out before you realised I was kidding!

If that's what it takes to keep the site going, get a damn pop-up for all I care.

Esther, LIGHTEN UP!

Response to Esther:

Aaargh! No!!!! Prosperity Gospel! RUNNN!

Reminds me of a sermon in a church we visited once (emphasis on once). Pastor made the comment that, when he sees some little tiny run-down country church with peeling paint and a dilapidated steeple, he thinks "man, what kind of a God do you serve, if he doesn't give you a better place than THAT??"

Yeah, we never went back there...

Agreed, Jon and company. Pay the bills, Darren. After all, it's gotta be done.

I assumed Esther was kidding. I mean, people don't seriously believe that do they?

Sounds more like Star Trek...live long and prosper.

"I think you have totally sold out Darren"

As opposed to what?

"You have no control over the ads on your site"

Typically uniformed christian answer.

"If you want to raise money you should be praying about it"

Because we ALL know that you don't pray about anything Darren.

"If you only had more faith you would find that money is not an issue"

That's right! Cause God NEVER tests or puts us in positions that cause us to grow. NOOOOoooo...

"I believe that if you're lacking money then you are probably lacking in faith"

Well... please enlighten us Esther. Tell us that there is nothing lacking in your life. That you never experience the human condition because you're so high up in the clouds and full of faith that you float in and out of 'church' each week.

Maybe we should look at 1 Corinthians 13:13. And now these things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Since you have the 'faith' thing down, I sincerely 'hope' that you can find some 'love' rather than make bold statements without any foundation.

Gee guys, while I disagree with Esther, I am left feeling a little uneasy by the attacks she is receiving.

Thanks for the comments everyone I appreciate the feedback.

I'd rather this not turn into a big controversy - its been a while since we had one and I'm kind of pleased at that.

Anyway - in relation to comments left..

I agree with Irene in that having the ads where they are is too obtrusive. I've been having trouble placing in in my right hand column...my programming skills are very much lacking...I'll keep trying though. I don't want to hide them though because as you say it will defeat the purpose somewhat.

As far as ad content - as others have said - it is mainly determined by what I blog about. If you click on individual archives you'll see the ads usually pick up on key words from the post...(usually)...and I can block ads that I disagree with or find offensive.

To be honest so far I've not had a problem with any ads, but am open to being made aware of anything that is in poor taste...I've actually found a couple of sites through the ads that I'm genuinely interested in.

I'm not going to get into the prosperity doctrine stuff here except to say that I am not a big fan of it. My reading of the call of Jesus is that he talks more about giving up money than he talks about accumulating or getting it. But we can debate this til the cows come in...I respect your opinion Esther, but don't agree with it. Maybe we will talk about this topic in a post one day...

sorry this is so long...happy to have further comments on it, but lets keep it conversation that is in the realm of encouragement....

I don't see the ads today, Darren? Did you take them off completely?

In relation to money, I'd say that's always a hard question; we have all heard of missionaries like Hudson Taylor who "lived by faith" and simply trusted God to provide, but the majority of us work for a living (which the Bible heartily approves of) -- and it doesn't mean we have less faith. Although I believe that God will enable us to carry out His work by providing monetarily I also believe that He may call us to do something in order to obtain that provision. I guess it really depends on what God is saying to each individual and what His purposes are for that person. It can be hard not to worry about money and to trust that the money will simply come. But it can also be presumptious to expect the money to simply come if God wants us to go out and earn it.

Now, don't we all wish life could be more black-and-white? Imagine how much simpler these kinds of decisions would be ;)

Isn't this what you were talking about the other day? Tentmaking?

still working on them irene...they are up on individual archives and next i need to get them up on the main page in a slightly more subtle place....should be up and running fine soon.