By Stan Friedman

CHICAGO, IL (October 10, 2014) — Many Covenanters routinely share links to social media articles and videos with one another that Covenant News Service believes may be of interest to others. Each Friday we post five of them. Following is a sample of those submissions—their inclusion does not represent an endorsement by the Covenant of any views expressed.

Why Women Still Can’t Have It All

I’m certainly in no position to comment on this author’s perspective, but the piece remains the second most popular story on the site of The Atlantic magazine more than two years after it was first published.

Her honesty horrified some of her peers, but, she writes, “Some women of my generation have clung to the feminist credo we were raised with, even as our ranks have been steadily thinned by unresolvable tensions between family and career, because we are determined not to drop the flag for the next generation. But when many members of the younger generation have stopped listening, on the grounds that glibly repeating ‘you can have it all’ is simply airbrushing reality, it is time to talk.” This is well worth the read—for any working parent.

Bible for African-American Youth to Be Released

St. Mary’s Press will publish The African-American Youth Bible in January. It will include commentary, footnotes, and illustrations.

From the article: “You have to show that the Bible is the word of God, but it is the word of God according to human context,” says Fr. James Okoye. “You have Colossians and Ephesians, where Paul apparently says, ‘Slaves, be obedient to your masters.’ How do you handle it with a delicate balance to show the word of God in it, and show how it was misused, and begin to show how it is used today?”

Study: Music Education Could Help Close the Achievement Gap Between Poor and Affluent Students

Yet more evidence that learning to play an instrument can make a big difference in overall academic performance. So if school officials and politicians were serious about improving education, they would stop cutting music programs, and perhaps buy more trumpets, violins, and drums than iPads or Chromebooks.

The Eight Best Things You Can Say to Someone Who Is Grieving

Who hasn’t been uncomfortable at some point trying to figure out what to say or do for someone who is grieving? Part of the problem is we make it so much harder than it has to be. In addition to suggesting what you can say, the article links to a previous blog post on what not to say to someone who is grieving.

What Will the End of the Offering Plate Mean for Christian Worship?

The author raises an interesting question and one that is increasingly being asked at churches where people are able to contribute online. He suggests that getting rid of the offering plate may be a good thing. What’s not so good, in my opinion, is his reasoning as to why.