by Teri Ong I just read an article in the “Review” section of the Wall Street Journal (July11-12, 2020, pp. C1-2), entitled “Learning to Conquer Life’s Crises” by Bruce Feiler. Feiler expressed many thoughts, supported by anecdotes and some research, that Steve and I had long identified in the experiences of Bible personages. Chief among those ideas is that life is full of “transitions,” and if we have a mindset of just getting through transitions into “real life,” we may miss out on what “real life” really is. For the Christian, real life is living obediently in the Vine, no […]

By Teri Ong In Part One of this essay, I introduced the “Planned Giving Toolkit,” a new program recently rolled out Regular Baptist Ministries. It is being promoted as a means for revitalizing church ministries by getting people excited (or should I say “energized”?) about tithing on their retirement plans and/or net worth so that God will have enough money in ten years for the spread of the Gospel. Evidently, the prospect of millions of dollars coming in as the troublesome (a.k.a. “change resistant”) oldsters go out, is enough to make any congregation jump for joy as they envision having […]

By Teri Ong Church revitalization ministries are intent on getting churches down to business– the business of getting people in their doors and money in their financial accounts. Some Revitalizers base their theories and their work on the model (or variations of it) propounded in the book To Dream Again. The writer charts the life cycle of the average church through to its ultimate death. In order to put off the inevitable, churches need to have “vitality” and “sustainability.” Those are code words for “people” and “money” by his own admission. Having a lot of people around provides a social […]

By Teri Ong I admit it; I am a fan of several of the series on HGTV. On rare occasions when I have access to cable TV, I sometimes binge on Fixer Uppers and Love It or List It. What always amazes me is that the list of “must haves” from family to family is pretty much the same. Everyone has to have “open concept,” or “clear line of sight,” some kind of stone counter tops, “on trend” paint colors, hardwood flooring, and whatever type of “bling” is being advertised this month in lighting, accessories, hardware, etc. Everyone needs more […]

Insights from G. K. Chesterton by Teri Ong  We once asked a friend what he was doing since his retirement. He had been very active in promoting the Christian worldview in a variety of arenas, had published a number of books, and spoke regularly to numerous church and civic groups. However, when we asked him this question, he replied, “God told me to sit down and shut up.” I am not sure how God convinced him of that directive. That is between him and God.  But one thing I know; too many Christians sit quietly on their hands in some […]

by Teri Ong  A little while ago New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez presented to the American people her manifesto called “The Green New Deal,” which is a proposal for all sorts of social “improvement” programs that in her estimation will make life safer, cleaner, and more fair to all. She is convinced that the world will come to an end in a mere 12 years if we do not institute all of her suggestions– immediately.   The idea that one young woman is the embodiment of all wisdom on how to save society and the planet seems to me to be a living definition of hubris. […]

by Teri Ong  In his April 7 column in the Greeley Tribune,  “Re-thinking Bible and Same-sex Relationships,” Jeff Cook states that his purpose is to get evangelical Christians to “reconsider what we believe about monogamous same sex relationships.” He argues that Bible scholars misunderstand how the New Testament writers taught ethics, but he, as an “ethicist” understands it better than the Bible scholars. I agree with him that Jesus’ teaching of virtue is not “focused on rule-following,” but Cook fails to understand that Jesus’ teaching sets a higher standard than the rules, not a lower standard. For example, turning the other cheek, […]

By Teri Ong Jeff Cook has done it again. A few weeks ago he set up a false tension between so-called social justice and freedom. This time he has set up a false dichotomy between the nasty Bible-thumpers who approve of “flaying terrorists” and sweet-tempered LGBT’s. He writes, with seeming sadness, that people who come up with Scripture verses to condemn same-sex marriage, can’t seem to think of a single verse to condemn torture. [See Greeley Tribune, Sunday, April 7, 2019, “Re-thinking Bible and Same-sex Relationships,” page B8]  I think he has set up some “straw” people to support his view. Most of […]

by Teri Ong  The Greeley Tribune published a “Faith” column by Jeff Cook on February 10, 2019, called “Tribalism is the true enemy.” In his column he asserted that “There are two virtues at the heart of America and both are central to the priorities of God.” Cook chose freedom and justice as the two cardinal virtues.   He explained his view that our American two-party system keeps the two virtues in balance like the wings of an airplane. He wrote that the Republican party extols freedom “in matters of taxation, education, religious beliefs and unrestrained markets.” They exemplify the “freedom” wing of […]

by Teri Ong  Sunday, January 20, 2019 was a momentous day for our family. Our eleventh grandchild was born.  That same day in Washington D.C. a March for Life was being held, as it is every year, to mourn the atrocities committed under Roe v. Wade, and to encourage the rightful pursuit of Life. While pro-life people were marching to uphold innocent life, others were marching to support what they euphemistically call “the woman’s right to choose.”  That phrase fits G. K. Chesterton’s definition of an “evil euphemism.” An evil euphemism is essentially a lie. One of his examples is […]