The Bridge Austin

Jesus ministered in the popular city of Jerusalem, but He also ministered to the Jewish people in many other towns, especially the Galilee area. Find out why this matters and learn how to know where God is calling you to share His love.

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Today, Pastor Jack teaches us that we need to examine our own motives for growth. Is it to impress, or is it to serve, build, and glorify the Lord, Jesus Christ? Church growth begins from within. Before there is outward expansion, inward development is essential. 

Imagine being the man who owned the upper room, the space where Jesus and His disciples shared the Last Supper. We don’t even know his name, but his willingness to open his home became part of one of the most sacred moments in history. He simply made what he had available for Jesus to use. Today, Pastor Chris will ask, “What if you lived like that?” Your home, your car, your time, your talents, all surrendered for His purpose. What if you placed your possessions in Jesus’ hands to be used?

Humorist Ken Davis will encourage you to find joy by embracing a lighthearted attitude, even when your life isn’t perfect. He explains how God helped him overcome his own physical disabilities and find self-acceptance by understanding that he only had to be the best version of himself – just the way God made him to be.

Get free access to almost four hours of family-friendly comedy from Ken Davis, Ted Cunningham, Kenn Kington, Jeremy Nunes, John Branyan, and Chonda Pierce.

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Adopted kids often enter adolescence with deep questions about identity, belonging and why they were given up — even if they cannot consciously remember the trauma. As they shift from concrete to abstract thinking in their teen years, feelings of loss, abandonment and being “different” can surface more strongly. Parents can help by listening without judgment, talking openly about feelings, staying connected and offering long-term patience — knowing these issues often take years to resolve. Adoption is a beautiful gift, but parents must understand that their child sees the world through a unique lens, and that compassion and presence are critical.

If you’re walking through a hard season with your teen, you don’t have to face it alone. Join Mark for a Families in Crisis Conference in Texas. Learn more and register at familycrisisretreat.com 

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.

Throughout the history of the church, Christians have had some wildly differing views about the mother of Jesus. So what’s the proper way to regard this remarkable young woman named Mary? Dr. Robert Jeffress turns to the defining passage on the mother of Jesus and her prominent role in the Christmas story.

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Markets rise and fall—but not all cycles tell the same story. What do those ups and downs really mean for your investments?

Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Just as God designed natural cycles—the sun, the tides, the seasons—financial markets also move through cycles. While less predictable, these patterns help us understand where we are in the investing journey and how to prepare wisely for what’s ahead.

According to Mark Biller, Executive Editor at Sound Mind Investing (SMI), the two most common market cycles are known as bull markets (when prices rise) and bear markets (when prices fall). But within those categories lie two distinct types of trends: cyclical and secular.

“The terms might sound fancy,” says Biller, “but they really describe short-term versus long-term cycles.”

• Cyclical markets are the short-term ups and downs—periods that might last a few months to a few years.
• Secular markets are the broader, long-term trends that can span decades—often between 10 and 40 years.

Think of it like waves on the ocean. Cyclical markets are the smaller waves that move in and out, while secular markets are the larger tides that shape the shoreline over time.

From 1968 to 1982, the S&P 500 was essentially flat—a 15-year stretch where inflation eroded nearly 60% of investors’ purchasing power. That’s what economists call a secular bear market—a long-term period of little to no progress.

Yet within that broader season, there were multiple shorter-term bull and bear cycles. Investors who recognized those patterns could navigate the market with more perspective and less panic.

The same was true from 2000 to 2009, another decade of overall stagnation in U.S. stocks. “But even then,” Biller notes, “we saw two cyclical bear markets with a five-year bull market sandwiched between them.”

The takeaway? Even in long-term downturns, some shorter-term opportunities and recoveries keep markets moving forward over time.

Understanding these cycles isn’t just an academic exercise. “It’s actually more helpful when it comes to bonds than stocks,” Biller explains.

That’s because bond markets move in much longer secular cycles. From 1982 to 2021, the U.S. enjoyed a 40-year secular bull market in bonds as interest rates steadily declined from 15% to near zero. But since 2020, that trend has reversed. “Interest rates have been rising again,” Biller says, “and that’s led to negative returns for many bond investors over the last five years.”

This shift could signal the beginning of a secular bear market for bonds—a long period in which rising interest rates make it harder for bonds to perform well.

For decades, the “60/40” portfolio—60% stocks and 40% bonds—was the gold standard for balanced investing. But in today’s environment, that mix may need to evolve.

“At Sound Mind Investing (SMI), we’ve reduced our bond allocation to around 30%,” Biller explains. “We haven’t abandoned bonds altogether, but we’re diversifying beyond them.”

The “singles vacuum” at church, plus pastors discuss the church’s attitude toward single adults, and what to do about difficult bosses and coworkers.

Featured musical artist: Jeremy Rosado

Roundtable: The Singles Gap

Kids, youth, college-age, young marrieds and seniors: Most churches seem to have unique ministries for these demographics. But what about young professional single adults? Our guests discuss the seeming vacuum in churches when it comes to creating space for singles, and what we can do to foster belonging and impact among this too-often “lost” segment of the church.      

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Culture: Does the Church Value Marrieds More Than Singles?

Does your church seem to place a higher value on marriage than on singleness? Is there any truth to this claim, or is it just the skewed perspective of the unmarried and embittered? Two pastors, one married and one single, discuss both sides of the argument. They suggest how the church can better teach singleness as a unique gift while showing sensitivity and honor to the singles in their pews. 

 Single-Minded: Finding Purpose & Strength in Your Season of Singleness

Inbox: Dealing With Difficult Coworkers

How do you properly address problems with a boss or coworker? At what point do you confront bad behavior in the workplace? HR expert Marshonda Dixon weighs in.   

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