In Part 1, we looked at the word like and how Facebook, in particular, has influenced our view of it. We discussed that though approval is indeed part of life, we have a problem when we put too much emphasis on what others think of us. Ultimately, our main concern should be making God happy. Petals Scattered in the Wind There’s another problem in this whole business of “likes”—the pressure to approve of things we don’t know well enough to assess. On several occasions, I’ve received Facebook or Twitter requests (maybe you have too) to “like” a certain business or author I’ve never even heard of. Sometimes there’s even an incentive: “Like my author page and be entered in a drawing for a free Alaskan cruise.” Of course, there’s nothing evil about offering an incentive, but each time I’ve found myself thinking, How can I “like” a business that’s three…
If you’re anybody on Facebook, certainly you’ve seen that little word—like—that can say so much. It can boost a businesswoman’s confidence when she sees how many Facebook friends like her photography, or it can provide affirmation to a nervous high school senior who has finally make her college choice. In many ways, though, I wish the folks over at Facebook had found a word other than “like.” Just the feel of the word throws me into a time warp back to sixth grade, when dog-eared notes were passed between classes (and sometimes during class). “Mandy Alexander likes Jerry Turley. XOXOXO. Mandy and Jerry sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g . . .” There’s also something shallow (and a bit narcissistic) about the thrill we feel when we see how many others approve of something we said or the photos we posted or the YouTube video we linked to. This concept of…
Do you ever have to learn things the hard way? Unfortunately, I’ve had to do this a number of times in my fortysomething number of years. You’d think I would have learned by now. But no. I just did it again. Recently, a company that sends me editing projects offered me one on the “Holy Trinity.” I assumed it was a typical theological book describing the three persons of the Trinity, as recognized by Christian theology. I admit it. I’m guilty. I saw the print print. It was smack-dab in front of my face. I should have read it. But I didn’t. The book is about Buddhism. It’s all about absolute reality and dharma and locality and nonlocality and reincarnation. Pretty confusing stuff I know absolutely nothing about. Oh boy. Granted, there is much one can learn by editing a book like this—and yes, one should always be learning. But…
See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, and Part 9. Note: This installment deals with some specific crude words found in the King James Version of the Bible. Secondary Considerations: But Doesn’t God Use Vulgarities in the Bible? Some Christian authors who defend the use of mild cussing and/or vulgar words in Christian novels point to the Bible as their defense. Unbelievable as this may seem, they claim vulgar language appears in the Old Testament. And if God used vulgar language in His Word, they say, they have every right to use it in their novels. Here are just a couple of the Bible verses they cite: 2 Kings 18:27; and Malachi 2:1-3. Here I list the verses in question (quoted in the King James Version [KJV], the translation at the heart of the debate): But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to…
