Facebook blues?

The human habit of overestimating other people's happiness is nothing new, of course. Jordan points to a quote by Montesquieu: "If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are." But social networking may be making this tendency worse. Jordan's research doesn't look at Facebook explicitly, but if his conclusions are correct, it follows that the site would have a special power to make us sadder and lonelier. By showcasing the most witty, joyful, bullet-pointed versions of people's lives, and inviting constant comparisons in which we tend to see ourselves as the losers, Facebook appears to exploit an Achilles' heel of human nature. And women—an especially unhappy bunch of late—may be especially vulnerable to keeping up with what they imagine is the happiness of the Joneses. 

 ~"The Anti-Social Network," by Libby Copeland

Christ in Song: Hymns of Immanuel, Selected from All Ages, with Notes, Volume 1, by Philip Schaff

****

An excellent resource for hymn lovers. Or people who have yet to appreciate hymns but want to learn more. Or people who like poetry. Or history. Or music. Ok, fine, pretty much everyone.

Schaff lays out the text of hundreds of hymns from throughout Christian history, some dating as far back as a few centuries after Christ. The melodies are not included, but anyone with passing familiarity with hymns can readily fit the lines to some well-known melody or other. Or the more musically gifted reader could simply compose music for the words. (To this end, I gave a copy to my incredibly talented brother.)

The section on the passion of Christ was particularly moving and meaty. The hymns to Mary, less so. And it was sometimes surprising to find that some of the hymns dating back centuries upon centuries are still in use today.

I find myself intrigued by the idea that I am worshiping God using the words of a hymn-writer from long ago. If God is outside time, then perhaps to Him, we are singing in unison.

Definitely worth picking up, though many may prefer to use it as a reference, rather than reading it straight through.

Soli Deo Gloria

The “solas” strike at the heart of the differences between Rome and Reformed churches.

Grace Alone
Rome states that salvation is by grace [...] plus man’s effort.  The traditional Roman Catholic formulation is, “God will not deny his grace to those who do what is in their power.”  In more modern terms, “God helps those who help themselves.” [...] By contrast, the Reformed churches state that salvation is by grace alone [...] It is only and entirely by God’s grace that man is saved.

Faith Alone
[...] Rome has explicitly denied that justification is by faith alone and in fact condemns Reformed believers who hold to this position [...]  Moreover, according to Rome, justification is a life-long process by which we are made righteous, rather than a one-time event where we are declared righteous. [...] Finally, faith is also redefined by Rome to include good works and these good works become part of the meritorious basis of justification. [...T]he Reformed churches state that justification is by faith alone (Romans 3-4).  God declares us righteous (a one-time event) [...]

Christ Alone
[Rome states] it is not Christ alone when it comes to justification.  Instead, it is Christ plus [...] "If anyone says that justice once received is neither preserved nor increased in the sight of God by good works, but that the works themselves are no more than the effects and signs of justification obtained, and not also a cause of its increase, let him be anathema" (Trent, session 6, canon 24). The Reformed churches argued that [...] Christ alone is the basis for our justification — he lived a perfect life of obedience for us and in our place.  He died once for all on the cross for us and in our place.  God imputes all his merits to us, and all our sin has been imputed to him and thus we are accounted righteous before God.

Scripture Alone
[F]or Rome, it is Scripture plus tradition. [...] The Reformed churches retorted that only the Bible can be our ultimate authority and we may not add or take away as we please [...] Yes, we ought to give heed to the early church fathers, councils, synods, etc.  In fact, the writings of the Reformers are filled with references to these.  But because these are all made up of men, they can and have erred.  Thus, everything is to be scrutinized with the infallible and inerrant Scripture, which is the norming norm.

The Glory of God Alone
[...] Rome states that God is to be worshiped and glorified.  Yet, Rome also promotes the worship of Mary and the saints, giving glory to human beings.  The “Hail, Mary” and “Hail, Holy Queen” prayers on the rosary would be enough to prove this, and much more could be added. The Reformed have always said, “Soli Deo Gloria,” “To God Alone the Glory.” 

~"Letter to a Friend," by Wes Bredenhof

Complementarity

When the lights came on, I realized that I've been taking my cues on what it means to be a "good" wife, a Christian wife, just about everywhere but from my husband. I've read books, and listened to sermons, lectures, and the advice of fellow Christians. I've taken it all in and, over the years, internalized it, along with all my other cultural idealizations of "the perfect wife".

[...]

If we're truthful we have to admit that the Scripture gives precious little practical advice about being a "perfect wife". All it gives are a few over-arching principles. And suddenly this makes perfect sense to me. I am to be subject to my own husband, and to learn what it means to be his wife from him. After all, every man is different. Every woman is different. Every marriage is different. That's the way God intended it. We are not clones but uniquely gifted individuals.  [...]

There are dozens of things [...] that would delight [my husband] which, until a couple of days ago, I would not do. Why? Because cooking, cleaning, organizing, and maintaining decorum were all the things "good wives" do, and they took up all my time. In this and so many other, deeper ways I would not submit to my husband. I would read articles for Christian wives and feel so wrong. When I would tell Paul how I felt, he'd say, in no uncertain terms, "I don't want that kind of wife! I married you!" Then I would secretly think, well, this person, this Bible teacher is so godly - perhaps Paul is wrong... and I'd go ahead and follow or fret over the advice anyway. That, my friends, is NOT submission. [...]

I'm done taking my cues on what kind of wife I should be from anyone but him. I'm determined to honor the unique man that he is. From here on out I submit myself to my own husband. When it comes to what it means to be a good wife to him, beyond the Scripture, no one but he has a right to inform me.  I will learn from him at home.  

~"Just Whose Wife Am I Anyway?" by Laurie M. (Beauty for Ashes) (see also "Whose Wife Are You?" by Tim Challies and "Be You," by Amy (Amy's Humble Musings))

[NOTE:  Presumably the authors here do not support a vision of complementarity that allows for complete role reversal in marriage.  So a woman should not lead merely because the man is weak as a leader--and he should not encourage her to.  Likewise, a woman should not assume the role of spiritual head of the family merely because she is more mature.  It is even doubtful whether a woman who is a capable provider should shoulder the sole responsibility for supporting the family financially while her husband cares for the children and maintains the home.  Some flexibility in these areas is of course permitted and even beneficial--the complete separation of home and work is actually not the biblical norm, but rather the result of the industrial revolution (for more information, see Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World, by Caroline McCulley.  Still, complete role reversal is unwise and cuts against the gender roles set forth in Scripture.  The examples in these articles, however, are more minor details, like how clean the home should be or how quiet a wife should be or how heavily she should rely on her husband. In such areas, a wife should look to her husband and learn how to serve him best.  Proverbs 31 notwithstanding.]

Shane, by Jack Schaefer

*****

I am not much for westerns, but this book is fantastic. There's a reason the hard-as-nails, dangerous-but-trustworthy hero is so popular in books and movies--when done well, it works. And this books does it very well.

Like Little Britches, the story is told through the eyes of a child, and to great effect. And the author keeps the hero shrouded in mystery throughout the story, which keeps the reader on edge and makes Shane excellent fodder for the narrator's hero-worship. And Shane's inner struggle further heightened the tension of the story.

Also, I may have cried. BUT YOU CAN'T PROVE IT.

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande

****

An excellent resource, both for personal conflict resolution and for larger scale conflicts. Sande keeps the focus on the gospel, which he presents clearly throughout the book. His conflict resolution principles are solidly rooted in the gospel, and, quite frankly, make a lot of sense from a psychological perspective.

All too often, poor conflict resolution skills result in the accidental escalation of conflict. This book should be required reading for all married/engaged couples and all pastors. And it should be highly recommended for everyone else.

Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States, by Dave Barry

*****

Man, I love this book. Dave Barry is consistently hilarious, but this book is especially brilliant. I don't know that much about history, but the more I learn, the funnier this book becomes. I've always appreciated Barry's even-handed political satire--no one is safe. If you behave ridiculously, you will be made to look ridiculous. And when it comes to this particular book, not even the reader is safe from Barry's insightful criticism.

It's an easy read, and a fun one, but there's probably wisdom in pacing yourself. Barry's writing can seem a little manic if read in longer sessions, and you may miss some of the more subtle jokes.