30 Jul, 2009
Waking Gets Serious Using Cellphones
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - There must be better ways to be awakened than by construction workers at the crack of dawn, your kids bouncing up and down on your chest -- or a very, very loud buzz.
From traditional electronics devices to Apple Inc's iPhone, many products are looking for that "better way" -- and increasingly cellphones are taking on that task, including phones that listen to you snore.
Consumer electronics manufacturers have tried to corner a segment of this attractive market, because as any member of the weekly rat race can attest, a good night's rest, and waking up well tempered, is serious business.
Broadly, these smart products can be divided into two categories: those that simply awaken you from slumber, and those that help you arise in a pleasant way -- and potentially protect your loved ones from a foul morning mood.
Philips Electronics, Europe's biggest gadget maker, has the Wake-Up Light, which gradually fills your bedroom with light. It makes getting up more natural, "the way you do on a bright summer morning," according to a commercial for the product. (http://tinyurl.com/6yfzua)
For "snooze" hitters, there is Bim Bam Banana's $99 Puzzle Alarm Clock, which forces you to put little puzzle pieces on the clock before the snooze mode is actually activated. Of course, by the time you have solved the puzzle, your brain is awake and so is the rest of you.
Hard-core snoozers can turn to Nando Home's Clocky, a $50 clock on wheels, which runs off from your bedside table the moment it starts yelling -- and won't stop until you have caught it. And the Shape Up Alarm Clock -- designed in the form of a lift-weight -- only stops after you have done a few repetitions.
Story and photo taken from: reuters.com
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
I am not a morning person. My friends often rag on me for hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock sometimes up to 5 times! I am such a sound sleeper that I often dream of the alarm going off but can't seem to turn it off. Maybe I could benefit from this new technology in the cell phone. Not only that, but once I'm awake I need a sturdy few cups of coffee to perk me up and get me going. I bet there are more than a few of you that can relate to my situation.
Regardless of whether it is easy or difficult for us to awake it is what happens after we awake that is the topic of our discussion today. The Master of the Universe often awoke very early (while it was dark!) in the morning to pray to His Father in heaven to start the day.
If Jesus, who was God did it, should we not do the same?
We are often frustrated in our Christian lives because of our lack of intimacy with God but we must be honest with ourselves and evaluate how much priority we give to Him. This could be a key area for many of us: starting the day with God.
Instead of turning on the tv or whipping out the ipod, we could meditate on a passage of Scripture and stop to give praise and thanks to our God. Doing this one simple thing could do wonders to help us "abide in Christ."
- After waking up start by reading a short Psalm or passage of Scripture.
- Give praise to God for who He is and what he means to you. Be specific.
- Thank God for the many blessings He has given you (Even when times are tough there is something to thank God for. Ask Him to reveal those to you if you can't think of anything).
- Pray for others in your life. That Christ would shine on them and meet them where they are. Also pray for any specific needs that you are aware of for them.
- Ask God to use you in any capacity to meet their needs today.
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