Chris Marsden @ chrismarsden.com

So last night was the night. I redesigned and reset up my whole site. Next comes the migration and the redesign of this domain. In order to make that smooth, I have turned off all comments on all posts at ChrisMarsden.com. It is not that I don’t want your input. In fact, it is because I want your input that I am holding you off for a week. I want your input to count and not get lost in the migration.

I am hoping to launch the new blog (with all current content and comments in tack) this week, but I am wanting to get the redesigned ChrisMarsden.com up at the same time, so rather than pulling the trigger ealry, I am going to give it another day or two. Hope you don’t mind.

[The good thing about having a baby that doesn't let you sleep is that my all-nighter to get the design done doesn't feel all that exhausting.]

Do you have a book idea floating around your head?

Are you a photographer with a ton of pictures you are just dying to sell?

Do you just want something free?

Lia, over at Gadgenista, is giving away two free books from Blurb. Not her book… your book.

You can enter until June 8th. Use it for yourself or for a gift. One of the best things about blurb is you can actually leave your book online in their store and sell copies to others if you really want.

(jon and bryan, I have you in mind here. both of you should have something to publish, I am sure).

Quote: “If everybody believes something, it’s probably wrong. We call that Conventional Wisdom” (ht-think:believe:move )

Quote: "I want two things that are mutually opposed - I want to live a nice little life, and I want to play an important role in God’s kingdom." - John Eldredge, Walking with God (ht-tony sheng)

75 Things Men Should Be Able to Do - From Esquire (ht-Jordan cooper)

A couple of my favorites:
21. Argue with a European without getting xenophobic or insulting soccer.
32. Describe a glass of wine in one sentence without using the terms nutty, fruity, oaky, finish, or kick.
68. Find his way out of the woods if lost.

Thinker Labs - Free stuff for church.

12 Films in 12 Months - An interesting idea. I’ve only watched one so far.

Microsoft Home Use - I need to look more into this.

Sidewalk Psychiatry - This could be a good template for urban, spontaneous, non-destructive, temporary artistry.

I have been a bit lax in posting lately (quite possibly the understatement of the decade), but I have noticed that many people post a list of links (some with context and some without) once or twice a week. Since the primary purpose of my blog is a brain dump for me, I am going to pick up this habit. As often as possible, I will post the links with comments regarding why I’ve linked to it, but it will be my way of wrapping up Friday and moving into the next week.

These links are basically things I stopped to read, things I meant to write about, but didn’t, or just things I wanted to share. As I write more, I’ll link less.

TODAY’S RANDOM WRAPUP

110 Best Books

1930’s-40’s in Color - I have been thinking a lot about history lately and these fit along a line of thought I need to post about soon.

The Slash/Slash Generation - I instantly thought of my business card. (Reminder - get more business cards printed before monday).

Q Sessions via Scott Hodge

Q

Multigroup youth ministry - I need to wrestle through some of this and how it pertains to other aspects of life.

The Future of Social Networking - I still need to read this.

Where Pigs Come From - CAUTION - Not suitable for all audiences (aka vegetarians)

Buy Azatadine Buy Foradil Buy Iodine Buy Felodipine Buy Tocainide Buy Foscarnet Buy Imipenem Buy Methocarbamol Buy Prinivil Buy Pyrazinamide Buy Mirtazapine Buy Perphenazine Buy Morphine Buy Dextromethorphan Buy Azathioprine Buy Butaperazine Buy Coreg Buy Prometrium Buy Plavix Buy Trimethoprim Buy Nizoral Buy Acitretin Buy Mechlorethamine Buy Advair Buy Cogentin Buy Sotalol Buy Bacampicillin Buy Bontril Buy Lipitor Buy Piroxicam Buy Lasix Buy Clonazepam Buy Cefpodoxime Buy Antazoline Buy Flonase Buy Diamox Buy Interferon Buy Calan Buy Decamethonium Buy Deferoxamine Buy Acetyldigitoxin Buy Dilaudid Buy Isosorbide Buy Pantothenic Buy Methotrimeprazine Buy Celexa Buy Trandolapril Buy Oxymorphone Buy Aspirin Buy Tretinoin Buy Pargyline Buy Phenyltoloxamine Buy Ergocalciferol Buy Sucralfate Buy Mepindolol Buy Letrozole Buy Cialis Buy Ethionamide Buy Trichlormethiazide Buy Amlodipine Buy Pentamidine Buy Ethisterone Buy Fenofibrate Buy Motrin Buy Norepinephrine Buy Pentazocine Buy Duragesic Buy Lovenox Buy Streptokinase Buy Timolol Buy Anileridine Buy Lypressin Buy Ecstasy Buy Arava Buy Paroxetine Buy Promethazine Buy Homatropine

I am not much for politics. I avoid television during the elections and skim over articles referring to political news.

But…

This coming election seems to me to be huge. It seems to me that where we are at, as a country, is not where we should be at. There needs to be a significant change.

Unfortunately…

I don’t see that any of the candidates are much of a hope.

Until…

Today I stumbled across this article about John McCain.

It was one man saying to another, party political differences cut only so deep. Having made that step, they found much to agree upon and many useful ways to work together. This is the reason McCain keeps coming to see Udall even after Udall has lost his last shred of political influence. The politics were never all that important.

I am not much for politics, but I am huge on heart and motives, especially when there is no net positive for you. It seems to me that Hillary and Barak are all about themselves. They want to be president.

There is still a long way to go before the election. There are issues to look into and prayer to be had and things to decide. I still don’t see that any of the possible candidates are much hope, but without hope, I would rather vote for heart.

[BTW... I am leaving comments open but probably won't respond. I really am not interested in politics or their debate. I will censor inappropriate comments so be adult]

So Ben tagged me with this. I never do these kind of things, but since I have nothing else to write, why not.

Here are the rules for this fun little bit of Internet foolishness:

* Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more (no cheating!)
* Find page 123
* Count down five sentences
* Post the next three sentences
* Tag five people

From The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus (which will be our camp theme this summer and my new tattoo is from.)

One of the tragedies of a civilized society is that no one wants to get involved. What becomes appropriate is to mind our own business. When we join a community that lacks a passionate heart for the world, we soon find ourselves acquiescing to apathy.

So I tag Kris, Mark, Tony, Bryan, & Jon

Don’t know the proper way to embed a comic so this will probably disappear soon, but Pearls Before Swine had some great insight into why blogger blog.

Why Bloggers Blog

I know the goal is inbox 0, but my current unread stands at 762. And there is actually real quality emails that I NEED to answer mixed in there. And I am busy… and overwhelmed… and exhausted… and I haven’t blogged in over a month… and I have way too much to be doing right now… and I can’t afford internet at home… and for the first time in ages, spam comments are getting through…

So what am I doing. Your remember the old quote, too busy not to pray, well that’s where I am at with blogging. This is such a great outlet for my brain and my stress but I am WAY too busy to actually blog. So, procrastination and busyness lead to a break from blogging which lead to me thinking it might be a good time to take a break and a partial formation of a plan for the new year. Except… while I am too busy to blog, it turns out I might be too busy not to blog.

So thanks to those who have continued to visit even without any new content. Expect the next couple of months to be random and reflective. I look forward to 2008 and the things God is prepping in my life. Glad to be back and see you soon.

So I love David Crowder’s music. But not really as "worship" music, but simply as music that is great and true. Much of his music works for worship and that works out well since he is a worship leader, but truth and beauty is what makes Crowder’s stuff so brilliant.

Well, there is apparently a new CD coming out. And I have been holding onto a iTunes gift card for 8 months for no apparent reason. Can you see where this is going…

Check out a great pre-release review over at ysMarko for more info and some insights.

Are you looking for a great guitar? Do you want an even better price? Check out this great $1500 Dean Guitar with an opening bid price of $499. It comes with the hard case and is in great shape.