The Bridge Austin

When you look back at your life, what would you say is the most valuable thing to you? Would you say it’s your money, status, or fame? Would you say it’s your family or the legacy you’re leaving in this world? Or is it something greater than all of that combined? You see, your relationship with Jesus should be the most important thing in your life. But when push comes to shove, how far are you willing to go for Him? Today, Pastor Chris asks you: Are you willing to lose it all for Jesus Christ?

Are you fully relying on God with confidence that He is your stronghold? In this episode, Rabbi explains how we can cling to the Lord even in the toughest of situations.

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Today, Pastor Jack teaches us that as we grow in Christ, we’ll find that He is always involved in our lives. He will never leave us but will provide what’s needed to carry out His will.

Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss the importance of preparing your children for adulthood before they reach their late teens. Parents should gradually give their children responsibility — encouraging jobs, decision-making and independence — so they don’t become dependent adults living at home without purpose. Mark warns that too much provision can quickly turn into enabling if parents continue to do everything for their kids, which keeps them from developing life skills. Instead, parents must set expectations, create boundaries and guide their teens toward maturity so they are ready to thrive on their own.

Join Mark in Texas for a weekend at his Families in Crisis Conference, designed to help parents who are struggling with their teens. Visit familycrisisretreat.com to learn more and register!

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. 

Gold has been surging this year—but what’s behind the rise, and what should investors keep in mind before buying in?

Precious metals, such as gold and silver, have long fascinated investors, particularly in times of economic uncertainty. But are they wise investments for today? If so, how should we approach them? Mark Biller joins us today to talk about investing in precious metals.

Mark Biller is Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing, an underwriter of Faith & Finance. 

Gold’s remarkable rise has captured headlines again, now up over $4,000 an ounce—up from about $2,600 at the start of 2025. That’s a 50% gain this year on top of last year’s 26% surge. Silver has jumped even higher, up roughly 60%, while gold mining stocks have more than doubled.

What’s behind this stunning rally? Several key forces are at play. Global central banks have been buying gold aggressively, a trend that accelerated after the U.S. froze Russia’s dollar reserves in 2022. This event shook confidence in the U.S. dollar as a neutral reserve currency. Add in fears of currency debasement stemming from massive government spending since the COVID pandemic, and gold suddenly looks like a safer store of value.

As investors around the world look for stability, gold—the “4,000-year-old alternative currency”—is once again shining.

To understand today’s prices, it helps to look at history. Adjusted for inflation, gold recently surpassed its all-time high from January 1980. Silver, meanwhile, is nearing $50 an ounce—the peak it hit in both 1980 and 2011—but still lags behind those highs when adjusted for inflation.

These cycles remind investors that precious metals often move in waves—soaring during manias, then enduring long pullbacks. After its 1980 peak, silver prices dropped nearly 90%; after 2011, they fell by about 70%. Understanding those cycles helps set realistic expectations and temper “gold rush” enthusiasm.

Unlike stocks or bonds, gold doesn’t produce income or dividends. That makes it tricky to value—but also unique. It’s not a productive asset; it’s a preservative one.

For centuries, an ounce of gold could buy a fine men’s suit. The same holds true today, illustrating its enduring purchasing power. Gold’s real role isn’t to generate profit—it’s to store value when currencies lose theirs.

Viewed this way, gold functions as an alternative currency to the world’s paper money systems. As inflation rises and confidence in traditional currencies wavers, gold’s relative stability stands out.

Gold’s appeal intensifies during uncertainty. Whether it’s inflation, war, or financial instability, investors turn to gold as a hedge. While Americans rarely consider regime changes, history is filled with nations where financial systems collapsed, and gold helped preserve wealth across transitions.

Even in less dramatic times, when governments respond to crises by printing more money, gold tends to perform well. As fear increases, so does the appetite for precious metals.

Each part of the precious metals market serves a different role:

• Gold is the foundation—a global monetary metal and store of value. It’s what central banks buy, and it tends to be more stable.
• Silver is both a monetary and an industrial metal. Its demand fluctuates more with the economy, primarily due to uses in electronics and solar panels. That makes it more volatile—but also more accessible to smaller inves

Satan has been deceiving humanity since the very beginning of time. And this master deceiver has developed certain lies that are so effective, he continues to use them against every generation. Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the specific falsehoods that Satan uses to steal your joy, destroy your peace, and damage your relationships.

To support Pathway to Victory, go to ptv.org/donate.

Karen DeArmond Gardner experienced a 30-year abusive marriage — living with a man who charmed everyone but soon became a nightmare to live with. She described different tactics abusers use: insults, threats, control, manipulation, and other forms of emotional intimidation. Eventually, Karen recognized her traumatic situation and escaped. Today she counsels other women who’ve experienced abuse.

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