The Bridge Austin

Listen in as Mark Gregston shares a personal story and scripture to illustrate the importance of perspective. While he complained about having the worst seats in the house at a concert, his granddaughter reminded him they were actually the best because you could see everything. He connects this lesson to parenting, emphasizing that many teens today lack perspective and rely more on peers than parents. Mark encourages parents to engage relationally, understand their teen’s world and offer wisdom that gives the “big picture” rather than just criticism — helping kids navigate life with clarity and hope.

Would you like to ask Mark your parenting questions? You can submit questions at markgregston.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.

Licensed counselor Debra Fileta offers practical, biblical advice for assessing your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Helping you walk toward healing and wholeness for the entire family! 

Receive the Nourish Your Families Mental Health bundle plus a free audio download of “How to Nourish Mental Health in Your Family” for your donation of any amount!

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If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Military leaders understand that victory depends on knowing your enemy and understanding their tactics—and the same principle applies to the spiritual battles. Dr. Robert Jeffress shows you where the primary battlefield is located and how you can protect yourself from Satan’s targeted attacks.  

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

Could a reverse mortgage be a widow’s best friend?

Since women typically outlive men, many will one day carry the financial load alone. Today, Harlan Accola joins us to explain how reverse mortgages have changed and why they can offer widows stability, dignity, and confidence for the years ahead.

Harlan Accola is the National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage, an underwriter of Faith and Finance. He is also the author of Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages: The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement.

Many people still carry outdated assumptions about reverse mortgages. Some believe they’re risky or predatory—especially for widows. However, over the years, these products have undergone significant evolution, incorporating new safeguards that make them a secure and compassionate option for many older adults, particularly surviving spouses.

Women tend to outlive their husbands, often by several years. That creates what financial professionals call longevity risk—the challenge of stretching resources over a longer life. Couples frequently plan their finances assuming they’ll live out retirement together, but the reality is that many widows face 2–10 years of life on their own, often with reduced income.

For many, a reverse mortgage can bridge that gap. By allowing homeowners age 62 and older to access the equity in their homes without monthly payments, it provides a steady income—especially for those who want to remain in their homes.

The reputation of reverse mortgages has improved dramatically since the early days. When the FHA introduced the program in 1988, some borrowers made unwise choices—like removing their spouse from the home title—which left surviving spouses vulnerable.

Thankfully, that changed in 2013. Federal law now requires that both spouses be listed on the loan and protected by it. This safeguard ensures that a widow can remain in her home for as long as she wishes, without fear of foreclosure or forced sale.

When a husband passes, household income often drops by around 40%. If a traditional mortgage payment remains, that financial burden can force a widow to sell her home. A reverse mortgage eliminates that risk by converting home equity into income—allowing her to stay in the place she loves, surrounded by memories, with dignity and financial stability.

For widows, that security is invaluable. It turns a house into a lasting home, ensuring that the twilight years can be lived not in fear, but in peace.

To learn more about whether a reverse mortgage could benefit your situation, visit Movement.com/Faith.

• I’m trying to find information about a Christian savings and loan, but I haven’t been able to get the contact details. Can you point me in the right direction?
• I don’t feel like I have enough savings to handle a real emergency. I’m working both full-time and part-time jobs just to keep up with bills, plus I’m trying to pay off student loans and credit cards. I feel stretched thin and don’t know what to do next.
• I called before about my advisor and wanted to give you an update. Now I have a question: I have a 401(k), a traditional IRA, and a Roth IRA—each with about $100,000. When I retire, do I need to withdraw from one before the others, or is there a better strategy for taking distributions?
• I recently changed jobs and left my 401(k) with my former employer, which is now closing its doors. Should I roll

In this message, Chip explains how you can improve the communication in your marriage. Communication is the highway on which love travels. Chip shares how you can start building your own relational super highway.

Understanding the communication process:

Definition: The meeting of MEANINGS.

• “Communication is the privilege of exchanging vulnerabilities.” -Norman Wright
• “Communication is the process of sharing yourself verbally and nonverbally in such a way that the other person can both accept and understand what you are saying.” -Norman Wright

The complete message

• Words alone = 7% of meaning
• Tone of voice = 38% of meaning
• Facial expression, gestures, posture, total non-verbal = 55% of meaning

5 Principles that will transform communication in your home:

1. BE HONEST - Speak the truth in love. -Ephesians 4:15, 25
2. BE ANGRY- Deal with anger appropriately. -Ephesians 4:26-27
3. BE DILIGENT - Work hard on your relationship. -Ephesians 4:28
4. BE POSITIVE - Don’t wound with your words. -Ephesians 4:29-31
5. BE FORGIVING - Be the first to say, “I’m sorry.” -Ephesians 4:32

Practical skills and suggestions to enhance communication in your home:

• The conference - A tool for listening. Ask Three Questions:

1. What are you concerned about?
2. What do you desire?
3. What are you willing to do?

• Word pictures - A tool for understanding
• “Care” lists - A tool for building: List seven simple, loving, “caring behaviors” that are non-conflict producing and not expensive that make you feel loved by your spouse.

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• Message Notes

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• "Uninvited Guests" Resources

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Hope in the Night - Abuse

Taking the wrong path wastes irreplaceable time. But God's laws are clear and unchangeable, guiding us to life. In this message from 1 Thessalonians 4, Pastor Lutzer explains how to please God in our day-to-day walk with Him. He shares a letter of a man’s deliverance from pornography addiction.

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Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

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