Change is inevitable.

I did heard that phrase a lot of times. So what? Starting this August, this website’s focus will change from just sharing my life experiences about anything to reflections about God, Bible, life and other stuff.

So what will be different?

Instead of posting random, disorganized, nonsense posts, I will be writing about my personal (hopefully daily) Bible reflections, ministry reflections, leadership reflections, life reflections and even reflections about technology. It differs because I won’t just be posting “anything just so I have a post” but will post something that had a real impact in my life.

Am I going religious?

If that’s how you say it, then that’s it. But let me explain a bit. I am a “Born Again” Christian. I studied in a seminary. I am currently the head of our Church’s Christian Education Department. I lead a small group every Saturday evening. I preach, teach, share the Word of God. Isn’t it logical to put this website on the same track I am walking? I want to be a “practicing” Christian (a Christian who actively practices his faith). And no, I will never be ashamed of the Gospel that God has given me!

What about the readers?

History tells us that not everybody accepted Jesus Christ. History tells us that the world had been hostile to people who actively voice out and practice their faith. If you still want to read this blog, I’d be glad that you did. If you decided not to anymore, I would understand your side. But I do really hope that you’d give a chance to read and “reflect” on your own the things that you will read here (at least the posts that will come after this).

Goodbye Google Ads?

Nope, they’ll stay there.

Preparations

In line with this change. I’ve already changed my tagline. I am also changing the category of this blog on some blogging network from Personal Blog to Religious Blog. I might change the template (currently looking at some). I am also compiling articles, devotions, preaching, etc.. I’ve done before.

Disclaimers

Just to note, I am not an expert theological, expert preacher, expert Church leader, etc… I’m just a simple Christian longing to serve an extraordinary God.

Thanks for dropping by Marvin’s Place. This change is part of my growth as a Christian and a servant of Christ.

God bless you.

See you (hopefully) on my next post.

Image: porbital / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bumping up the memory to 2gb and adding the GT240 video card made a great improvement on my computer. I can run more applications simultaneously, my wife can play CityVille flawlessly, I was able to run Left 4 Dead (first installment, have to grab Left 4 Dead 2), faster user experience. See the windows experience index.

Old Windows Experience Index (subscore: 2.3)

[singlepic id=387 w=320 h=240 mode=web20 float=center]

New Windows Experience Index (subscore: 5.5)

[singlepic id=389 w=320 h=240 mode=web20 float=center]

Here is the info for the graphics card

[singlepic id=388 w=320 h=240 mode=web20 float=center]

Want this video card? You can buy this from Amazon, just click on the image below.

Another Upgrade – my PageRank is back to 2!

I recently posted here about how my Pagerank went down to 1 when Google applied their update on their system. Then, I was told by netguides through the comments that my PR was back to 2! I am not expecting it to be back to 2 that fast. Did google just made a mistake giving me a lower grade or I just got that “lukcy” that I deserve to have a PR2? In any case, I’m glad with the PR2! I’m almost finished with my home chores (wow, it’s to hard to move house) and can have more time now on my blogging schedule.

Soli Deo Gloria!

So as part of my goals for 2011, I’ll try to build up my PR (again). There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.

Also, I’ve been getting a good traffic this January so I think I have a good start for this year.

Congratulations for those who had their PR up, let’s work for those who had ours down.

Regular Post/Articles Updates

This blog has been running for 3+ years now. If you look at my previous posts, you’ll find most of the stuff very non-interesting. Well, this year, I am creating a blogging schedule (which is part of my whole daily schedule for everything I do) that I (am hoping to) will follow diligently. Am planning to have at least 3 regular articles per week.

Study SEO

Since I will be unemployed at the end of this month (will make a separate post on that, just waiting for my contract to finish), I need a new source of income. I was thinking on focusing on online business since I have a few friends who are already getting rich (well, just enough money) through SEO and other web related stuff.

Spend quality time with family

Which I am finding hard (very) to do. But I am determined to do it.

(Try to) Earn from this blog

As you can see, there are ads. I need money to support my family, so I have to do it, and hope I would earn (at least a few) from it.

I am still finalizing my schedule, but I am hoping I could start with it within this week (or probably next).

God bless and (a bit late greeting of) Happy New Year!

But then, lo, I read in my email regarding this plugin that can really be of great help for me (or for you if you would like it)! Max Banner Ads is a WordPress plugin that can help a blogger place ads on their website faster, easier, – with more option.

You have the options to add your banner on the top (as what you can see on the top of my blog), within the post, on the sidebar, or at the bottom. All of this won’t require the blogger to fiddle with any code (except of course for the link to the banner). You can even place Google Adsense, Amazon, Chikita, etc.. codes!

You can also rotate different banner (or ads). All you have to do is enter the links (or codes) on the Max Banner Ads settings page and every time the page is refreshed, a different banner/ads will be shown. This is great if you offer advertising on your site… which leads me to the next feature…

You can monitor how many times the “specific” banner/ad is clicked, how many impressions (number of times the banner/ad is shown), CTR. You can disable specific banner/ad or edit the banner/ad with just a few clicks.

So if you want to put ads on your blog or looking for the best way to place ads on your blog, then why not check out Max Banner Ads? There is a free version (with the “powered by” credits) or you can get the Pro version (without the “powered by” credits). Head on now to MaxBlogPress and get your Max Banner Ads wordpress plugin.

So why silent?

I’ve been busy (or pretending to be busy) due to work.

Or

I really have nothing to post (lot of things coming to my mind but don’t have the enthusiasm to write it)

You can choose which one you’d like to believe..

Good news

• This website is now hosted on a free-paid hosting. Yup, free-paid. It’s a paid hosting but given to me by gratis by one of my online friends (but will pay him later of course).
• marvincruz.com is 3 years old (last September). And I’ve renew my domain till next year (2011) hoping to renew it again when next year’s expiration comes.
• In connection to the 3 year celebration (celebration? ) of this site, I’m preparing a post for our Church project this coming Christmas, so stay tuned for that.
• New goal: regular posts (hopefully with the help of my wife).

Just a short update to keep this blog rolling.

God bless. Till my next post.

Some good points I see in Windows Live Writer

• WYSIWYG – I’ve heard and read a lot of complain about this when using WordPress as a platform for a blog or website. And it is true and frustrating most of the time (like what I’ve said earlier). With WLW, you are (or feels like) you are writing directly in to your website’s front end. It captures your theme so while you are writing, the fonts, font size, colors, spacing and even the area of the article area (from the first letter to the last letter of the line) are exactly the same as what will appear when you publish your article (now, that is WYSIWYG). Disclaimer – it is not 100% but it’s as close as it is.
• Faster preview – there are three tabs, the edit tab where you type in your article and everything. Then there is source tab where you can see the source (or enter any codes that can only be entered via the source) and there is the Preview tab where you can actually see “your whole website” as if you are viewing it from a web browser. Well, as I’ve said also, it is not 100% so it may vary (depending also on the browser and operating system you are using.
• Lot’s more to discover…

Windows Live Writer is free for Windows 7 (and yes, I am using Windows 7 and not Linux). This is my first post using this software so there are still a lot of things I need to discover. But as of now, everything is good for me.

NOTE: This is an article and at the same time a trial post using WLW, so if anything isn’t rendering as it should be, please forgive me and I’ll take it as a lesson.

So, for those who are saying that wordpress doesn’t have a “WYSIWYG”, then better check this out.

Disclaimer: I use Windows 7 and Windows Live Writer and this is NOT a paid post nor is a comprehensive review.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Currently hosted at byethost.com, I am planning to keep this blog alive, possibly start writing on something interesting. Currently, there are no ads from byethost and hopefully there will be none (I am the one who placed the ads you are seeing on the right, hopefully will earn a little on through that).

Unfortunately, I lost some of the pictures that were used in some of my posts so they won’t have the photos there. Hopefully, I’d be able to retrieve them from my former host.

Got to start writing.. Cheers!