MMM - Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture

So today's MMM post is really simple. My hope is that you will just feel like God is with you this week. The song Your Love Never Fails speaks to our deepest need and desire to feel loved at all times. The bridge is the best part though to really dwell on..."You make all things work together for my good." I hope this week you can just remember that no matter what happens, when we trust God everything will work out good in the end...even when we don't understand.

Miss Summer...Get A Pair Of These

These sandals will help you feel like you are walking in the park no matter where you are. Need to de-stress at work? Go for a stroll in these sandals and forget about all your cares. Find out more about them by visiting the product site.

For The Person Who Hates Google

I know there are some of you out there. The person who hates Google and wants nothing to do with it. Either because it is too big or you just don't like it. Problem is what do you use when you aren't using Google? What is best next to Google (or maybe even better than). Check out lifehacker's list of alternatives to Google. Email, search, maps, find out what they say are the best ones to use if you don't wanna use Google's.

Sometimes A 404 Page Is A Fun Thing

Know what a 404 page is? Its the page you get when you try to go to a page that doesn't exist on a particular site. Usually they are just text and maybe a picture. Every so often you come across one that is clever either with the text or the pic. Here is one thought that just blows every other 404 page away. To see other clever 404 pages check out the Gizmodo gallery of best 404 pages.

Sleep Better...Feel More Rested

Do you ever wake up feeling more tired than when you went to bed? Its probably because you did not sleep very well. Even if you were to sleep for 10 hours but it wasn't very good sleep, you wouldn't feel rested when you woke up. Most of us don't do very much to help us sleep better either.

To help you get the most out of your sleep, Lifehacker has put together a list of 10 tricks for getting the most out of your sleep. There are somethings you can do right before bed and others that you can other times during the day. Each idea contains an article/links that will give you more info about how to implement each idea.

Check the article out here and may your sleep be restful.

I Don't Know About This...

I don't know if I could ever get used to this... 

What about you? Check out a video of the unit in action here.

Getting Ready Like Never Before

Lets face it, most people are not morning people and don't like getting ready in the morning. This often causes us to be rushed or even late for things that are going on in the morning (whether its work or class or errands, we've all been late before). Sometimes we just move to slow and that causes us problems. Other times, we are in such a rush that we forget to do something.

Well here is a creative way to help get yourself ready in the morning and get you pumped for the day. Create a playlist that will help you keep track of time in the morning. You'll know that when a particular song is playing you should be doing something or by the end of a song you should be ready to move on to something else. Haven't tried this myself but if you have trouble in the morning this method might be for you. 

SYM - Even Groceries Should Be Bought At A Particular Time

We have had a post about the best time to buy anything and the best day of the week to buy anything. Now this post is about the best month to buy groceries. We all know that certain foods are in season during a specific time of year but there is more to this article than just that. Holidays are just one of many other things that can affect the prices of items. Check out this article to find out when you should expect to pay the least for certain groceries.

SYM - Is Saving Money Costing You More Money?

Have you ever put off getting something done only to find out that because you put it off its gonna cost more money? Skipping going to the dentist only to find out you could have gotten a filling but now a tooth has to be pulled? Not getting the sound your car is making only to be stranded on the side of the road?

Often we try to avoid things that will cost us money. We skip checkups, tuneups, or even buy cheap things. Sometimes this does save us money, but other times it ends up costing us more. Lifehacker (the ever useful info blog) has put together a list of 10 things that may (and probably will) help save you money if you follow them. Personally I could probably save quite a bit of money by following number 7 and 10.

Odds and Ends - Music, Pollution, And A Sledding Bird

In our media soaked world we spend a lot of time listening to music. Did you know that it could be more dangerous than you thought? I'm not talking about your ears but rather your life. Listening to music in headphones while walking along the street increases your chance of getting hit.  Check out the info here.

Ever wonder what the chinese industry has done to china? How bout pollute the air (see pic to right). Read about more about it here.








Not much to say about this third item although if you pay attention you'll see that the bird isn't actually sledding but just trying eat. Check out the hilarious video. It really does look like that bird is sledding down a roof.

MMM - Your Favorite Music, Movies, and Videos

Alright so I know its not Monday but yesterday was a holiday and I decided to take the day off from pretty much everything. I was also quite tired from a retreat I was at this past weekend (I learned to ski but that's a different story.)

So today's MMM post is a little different then most. In fact this may be the only post like this in this series but I have no actual video or song or book picked out. In fact, there isn't even a particular form of media I have in mind. See recently there have been several videos about what a true Christian is, numerous discussions about what is right, and countless thoughts about media choices and it has gotten me thinking about the Christian walk. Do we really walk as Jesus would with our media choices or do we watch what we feel like? I've heard the excuses (used them myself even):

"I need to be able to understand what a non christian is talking about" 

"As long as it doesn't influence my behavior then its ok" 

"I mix in Christian media so no worries" 

"Its just a song...I like the music and don't really listen to the lyrics"

 "I close my eyes during the bad parts..."

"Christian media choices just aren't as good (or are really cheesy)"

Do any of us really believe that it makes it right? We are called to be different than this world but when it comes to media choices how different are you? Have you ever spoken out against a particular movie or song  because of the content? Did you stand your ground? I've been there and know I haven't before... After you see the movie, hear the music, or read the story do you feel ok or is there that twinge of guilt? Do you do something about it or just sweep it aside with and excuse? 

Now you're probably thinking..."Ok Jeremy so should we only listen to Christian music and watch movies about Jesus?" That isn't what I want or think. I just think that we should be more careful about what media we take in. So where is the line? I really don't know. I wish I could give a firm answer but there isn't one and honestly I think its somewhat different for every person. Here are some ideas to use as guidelines for your choices.

1. Determine if there is anything out right sinful about your media choices - Most of us do fairly well with this one but none the less it is important to think about. 

2. Figure out what message or messages the media is trying to get across - Media often has hidden messages in it. For example a song such as Katy Perry's Last Friday Night would seem to be all about partying but one line lets you know it has a message of not caring about consequences. She says "pictures of last night ended up online oh well" Watch for those hidden messages.

3. Am I sure that I won't be influenced or am being influenced by my media choices - Often we think that we can't be swayed and that we stand our ground quite well but usually it isn't near that simple. Over the course of time we can easily be swayed and not even realize it. So check yourself occasionally.

4. Set boundaries the fit with what you know about yourself and what the Bible says - Each of us has certain temptations. So are drawn to drugs, others to giving into peer pressure, others to sex...the list could go on. Set boundaries that keep you away from the things that cause you problems and STICK TO THEM. Don't give in to the need to find excuses.

5. Don't use excuses to make things right - Eliminate excuses from your thoughts when it comes to media and you should have no problem determining if the media is ok or you just want it to be ok. We find so much hard to determine but often its cause we are trying to convince ourselves of its rightness or that it will be ok.

God Bless and may your week be filled with Godly media choices

SYM - Buy What Fits You Best

Its a new year and most of have probably said or at least thought that we would be more fiscally responsible this year. So here is another SYM post to help you out.


Check out a site called sortable. The site is designed to help you get exactly what you want at the best price possible. It allows you to pick a price for an electrnoic and then search for the right one by selecting the features that you want that item to have. I tried it out and it seemed to work great. So if you have a large electronic purchase in mind be sure to check this site out.

If you are looking for something a little less feature based or something outside the electronics field check out a site called Find The Best. Similar to sortable this site allows you to search based off of many different criteria and in many different categories. The site claims to be "unbiased" and that actually seems to be true.

I hope you find that you can use these sites to help you get the most for your money.

Battery Life...The On Going Battle Of Power

So my computer is almost six years old and has the original six cell battery in it. You know what is kinda awesome though...that battery still holds a 10 or so minute charge. Yep you read it right my six year old laptop battery still holds a small charge. Its inevitable though eventually it won't hold a charge at all.

Every night we plug our phones in and in the morning take them off the charger hoping they'll make it through the day. We haul that laptop to meetings and classes hoping that we won't be stuck without it (either because it is our only source of release from boredom or because we actually use it for work). Kids hope that their mp3 players' batteries don't die, otherwise they will have to actually listen to the teachers. We spend every day worrying about the battery life of our electronics, especially those we recharge. We try all sorts of things to make that life last longer and everyone waits for the next great battery that we won't have to recharge for a week or even a month. Well until that time, check out some tips from lifehacker on getting the most out of your rechargeable battery.

With great electronics, comes great battery worry!

Odds and Ends - TVs, Traffic, Nicotine, and Breaking Out

Some odds and ends articles to occupy your time and thoughts....

The first article is all about us. Its all about how many TVs we have in our homes. I think when you see the actual numbers you will be shocked or maybe not...but is it any wonder that kids now a days have more screen time then ever before.

Ever wanted to just do something nice for someone. Even if it means you many not get thanked or even noticed. Well, article number two will offer you some helpful tips on how you can drive in a way that makes driving easier on other people. I've long said that 90% of traffic jams are because everyone drives horribly. This article kinda proves my point. (There are some tips that help you out as well.)

The third article is just kind of a read and think thing. Studies are showing "Nicotine patches significantly improved attention and memory in older people suffering from mild cognitive impairment." Really? well I'll be....

The last article is kind of a fun one and might be some pratical (and illegal) use. Lifehacker has put together the top ten ways to break out of or into anything. They include safes, your garage, the trunk of a car, even a car underwater. So if you ever think you might be kidnapped (they also include a lesson on how to get unbound) or maybe you think you might want to start a life of crime (I don't recommend that) or you just wanna annoy that friend of yours who always has things set a certain way. Check this article out.

Body Myths Busted

Check these out...looks like we might have all been lied to as kids.

More Than A Religion

Alright so you may have already seen this as it has been quite popular on facebook but there was no way I would risk the chance that you hadn't. This guy wrote the poem in the video. Its an amazing work of art. Watch the video before you continue reading.

He spoke more truth than many of us would like to admit. Often we lock ourselves into a specific way of living and call it a Christian lifestyle but really all it is only a religion that holds on to us with rules and stipulations. Things have to be done a certain way (he uses the example voting republic). Its because the family has always been (blank). I have always done (blank) with (blank) because of (blank) and it makes me a Christian. Sorry folks there is only one thing that makes you a Christian and that is following the example of Christ. That's where the name came from. Acts tells us that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch. Catch that they were called the followers of Jesus.

No matter what we call ourselves my prayer is that you'll stop and think about your decisions. Are you doing this because you feel you need to or because its what Jesus would do?

God Bless and may you find something more than a religion

MMM - Life Is Good by Stellar Kart

For today's MMM we are gonna go back a few years to a song released by Stellar Kart in 2005. With a catchy tune and repetitive lyrics the song was an instant hit and also appeared on the best of Stellar Kart album in 2009. Even today more than 6 years after its release you can still find it being played on Christian radio.

Have you ever found your self thinking that you have it good here? That life has treated you well and things just seem to be going you way? For some of you I know the answer is yes but for others I know that the answer would be a loud and resounding NO. Either way this song speaks a truth that we often forget. No matter how good our life in this world may be or how bad it might get, eternal life is better and it is out there. Check out these lyrics from the song...

"All around me your creation

Brings me to my knees in adoration

Beauty here cannot compare to

What I see when I first see you"

Did you catch that last line? They are basically saying that nothing compares to God. So doesn't it make sense that eternal life with a God like that is going to be better than anything here. The best part is that we don't have to earn eternal life. John 3:36 tells us "And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” Its that simple believe and we can get something better than this life. 

My prayer for you this week is that we remember that no matter how good (or how bad) life might be...eternal life is better and that you will chose to live your life in such a way that shows that off. 

God Bless

SYM - Best Day To Buy Almost Anything

As a followup to the Best Time To Buy Anything, lifehacker has put out an article describing the best time of the week to buy most items. It is a good article that lets you know about numerous items. Like their other article, this one lets you know the reasons they suspect the prices will be lowest. Check out the article here.

Odds and Ends: Mouse In Your Pop and Steve Job Action Figure

Here's a couple odds and ends type thing for you to check out

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Did you hear about the guy who claims to have found a mouse in his soda? Apparently the guy claims that his soda tasted funny so he cut the top of the can off and found a mouse in it. Ok so not a big deal probably a hoax and even if it wasn't I mean how often could a mouse wind up in a soda can. Well, Pepsi has an answer to the accusation (which is in court). They claim that you would never know if there was a mouse in your pop cause it would dissolve before you ever opened the can. Three things come to mind when I read this... 1. How the heck do they know that...do mice wind up in soda regularly? 2. What the heck is in pop that would dissolve a mouse...and we drink that stuff? 3. Man am I glad I don't drink pop...oh man I wonder if stuff dissolves in milk....
Story from Gizmodo

Yeah you read that second part right...there is now a Steve Jobs action figure.It comes with Levi jeans, New Balance shoes, and several different hand styles. It so lifelike its actually kinda creepy. Check it out here.

Keep That Bible Reading Resolution This Year

So every year people make resolutions. The top resolution for Christians is probably reading the Bible. Well I came across an article by Lifehacker that listed steps for building better reading habits and comprehension. They are designed for reading in general but as I read them I realized they would work well for people who struggle with getting into bible reading. Check out some of these tips to help you out.

Photo from urweb.com

Step 1: Reconsider What Reading Really Means to You - Make sure this really is what you wanna do cause you want to do it not just cause you think you have to do it. Now that doesn't mean that you need to overwhelmingly feel like you want to do it, but if there is no part of you that wants to then one should reexamine the idea of reading (and probably ones faith).

Step 2: Stop, Refocus, and Build a Healthy Relationship with Reading - Set a schedule you can keep to. Do it where you can focus. Make sure you won't be interrupted or tempted to switch to something else. (If that means turning off your cell phone, then do it. It might also mean reading somewhere different such as the kitchen table.) Think about the best ways for you to read and understand.

Step 3: Choose the Things You Spend Your Time Reading Wisely, and Include Multiple Voices - Don't read a Bible that you don't understand, find a translation that is easy to understand (I recommend the NLT). Also find yourself some resources that will help you understand what you are reading. A good one is the New Bible Dictionary. A set of commentaries that you can read along side of the Bible is a good idea as well.

Step 4: Read Conscientiously, and Take Time to Absorb and Reflect on What You Read - Don't set a verse limit you are going to read or chapter by chapter. Set a time and then just read. When you come to something you have a hard time understanding, stop and think about it. Go back and reread it if that helps.  When we read just for the sake of reading it doesn't help us at all. It may take longer but I promise your reading will actually be worth it.

Step 5: Build a Flow Around Thoughtful Reading -. Think about a book before adding it to your reading alongside the Bible. Make sure its going to help you and not just hinder you. Make it easy on yourself to do your reading and you will find it easier to think about the things you read.

Extra Credit: Share Your Thoughts, Add Your Own Ideas - This is self explanatory as to what it means but it is helpful because often we thing about our ideas different when we verbalize or write them down. Also challenges from others can change the way we look at and idea or strengthen the idea we have.

Hopefully these steps will help you in your readings. I encourage you to read what they had to say about the steps as well. For the full article go here. (Remember I re-tasked these steps for Bible reading in particular). Also don't be afraid to look around and ask questions about books and bibles. There are a lot of resources out there. Learn to use them to help you.

Have Some Blessed and Happy Reading!

Winter Weather Driving

Well, winter is here and for all of us in Cincinnati, we know what that means...Everyone seems to forget how to drive! Lifehacker has put together a nice list of things to do before and during snow driving. The article is geared towards places where they get a lot of snow (it does happen here occasionally) but I find this article to be helpful to anyone who needs help driving in the winter weather. Check it out. A lot of the ideas a fairly common sense such as make sure your car is ready for winter and don't follow so close. However some of the ideas are a little deeper. Drive safe this winter!

Photo by Valery Bareta (Shutterstock).

SYM - Buy Things When They Are Cheapest

This may sound like an obvious thing, but its more than that. Lifehacker has put together, with the help of its readers a guide to buying things when stores have then discounted because they are trying to get rid of stock. They had this to say about this year's chart: "This year, with more research and help from our readers, our list is bigger and more comprehensive than ever." So if you are looking to purchase something (especially a bigger item) check out the list. They also explain the reasoning behind why something is on sale then so that you can determine if it fits your area. You can also use these explanations to determine when something not on the list might be on sale. Check the article out here.

MMM - Passion Conference Live

Sorry this one is a little late but I was having trouble coming up with something this week. However, I have come up with one and it may be the biggest media source yet.

We live in a day and age where everything is digital. In the old days you either were there or you missed it. Then slowly over the years you could hear it over the radio and then you could watch it on TV. The problem with these methods was only the biggest and most important (or at least what the majority found important) were on radio and TV. In recent times though we can now get access to all kinds of things with a few keystrokes. Seems like everything can be found on the Internet. This includes conferences and seminars even.


Today (Monday) was the start of a conference called Passion. Held in Atlanta, the Passion conference (led by Louie Giglio) "exists to glorify God-uniting students in worship and prayer for spiritual awakening in this generation." "Passion has been around since 1997 with a desire to see spiritual awakening come to the college campuses of the nation and the world." Check out more at their website.


That said, I have good news for everyone that isn't at the conference (which is probably anyone reading this blog). It is being streamed live and not only that but the previous sessions are recorded so you can watch them. Now it isn't the same as being there live but you can be a part of a conference meant to glorify God in worship.
Check out the main sessions live right here and be uplifted this week and hopefully in the new year.

The previous recorded ones won't be available long. The first session is only available through tomorrow (Tuesday). So be sure to check it out soon.

Maybe 2012 Will Be The End....

Check this out. Found this article from Gizmodo. Maybe the world really will end in 2012. Hard to say but I think its worth mentioning (as the article does) that there is also a super volcano under Yellowstone national park.