The Bear Mills Podcast

Why are some people always hopeful, even during difficult times? What makes it so hard for others to find resilient hope? Let's see what the Bible teaches about becoming a person of durable hope.

One hundred years ago, Laura Ingalls Wilder composed an article so timely, it could have been written last week. It discusses the kind of work which gives meaning to life vs. the work that's drudgery and threatens to steal our joy.

The legenday Rand McNally Road Atlas is celebrating its 100th anniversary. What can it teach us about traveling the road of life?

What do we do when life pulls the rug out from under us? Today we hear Andy Coward's story of God leading him through a very difficult time when he had to say goodbye to his professional dreams.

There are approximately 8,600 distinct Hebrew words in the Old Testament. The New Testament contains about 5,300 distinct Greek words. But, is it possible we've located three words that should be in the Bible, and were left out?

I was recently asked, "Your podcast is all about hope. But are there times when hope can disappoint us? If so, what do we do?" Actually, there are plenty of times when hope can leave us bitterly disappointed. Let's talk about them today.

If we're going to make an investment in praying, we want to make sure our prayers are highly effective. Today we hear from four experts on prayer to learn what effective prayer looks like, as well as the connection between WHERE we're praying and WHAT we're praying about.

When you look at the condition of our world, do you ever want to yell, "Okay, who's in charge here? Who was it that got things so messed up?" Today we examine those questions, along with practical ways to be a person of hope in a world of despair.

Andy Coward and Rick Doyle, two ministers from West Texas, help us understand music's vital role in our spiritual journey. They also use music to accommodate hiding God's truth in our hearts.

Our friend, Elizabeth Matthews, introduces us to a transformative way of evaluating our faith journey through Bob Sjogren's Cat and Dog Theology. It's attention-grabbing and incredibly practical as you reflect on your relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

What are we to do when accusing thoughts steal our sleep or come calling when we need to be focused on work or school? What's the secret to correctly dealing with thoughts that leave us full of guilt and shame?

The power to live a victorious, hope-filled, zestful life starts with three simple words: "Write this down!"

Revival is a term that gets tossed around a lot in Christian circles. But what does it mean to truly be revived? What are the component parts of revival that indicate we're on the right track? Here are five keys to living a revived life.

Listen to the story of how an investment in the spiritual lives of people in South Korea is paying dividends here in the United States 50 years later.

Most people want to live a life blessed by God; a life full of godly hope. But is there something we're missing when it comes to blessings and hope? Are we asking God to bless OUR plans and give us hope, or are we asking that HIS agenda becomes our agenda?

If it was as easy to see our spirit and our soul as it is our bodies, what would meet our gaze when we look in the mirror? Are we the picture of health or of serious spiritual malnutrition? What are the ways to assure our spiritual health is properly addressed?

Willie Watt grew up immersed in a life of gangs, drugs, and death. Sitting in jail, he called out to God, asking for a sign the Lord was real. The answer he got changed everything in Willie's life.

Hopefulness is one of the fundamental qualities necessary for life. People overwhelmed by unrelenting despair will terminate their lives. How can we become more hopeful? What are the keys to possessing contagious hope?

This week's episode comes from Waco, Texas, the birthplace of Big Red Soda. Our friend Tynna Dixon shares a valuable lesson learned from studying Big Red, and hearing from one of the people responsible for manufacturing that sweet Texas soda.

Jesus' invitation was and is, "Come, follow me." Follow Him where? What's that look like? What is He asking me to give up? What's He asking me to take up? What do I do when life gets messy?

Is it possible to live in a world where hope, joy, peace, trust, and godly power are a daily reality? If we want our address to be Romans 15:13, how do we make that happen?

Researcher Glenda Orme Clark shares an often-overlooked reason for the Second Great Awakening, as well as how recapturing this missing element could usher in times of spiritual refreshment and renewal we hardly dreamed possible. If you believe something's missing from your life, your family, or your church, but you're not sure what it is, give careful consideration to Glenda's discoveries.

Throughout scripture, we're told by God to "rejoice and be glad." Why is it, then, that so many people perceive Christians as sour and mad all the time? How can we get back to the scriptural imperative of staying focused on joy, even in the midst of trouble?

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus teaches, "...Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father." Pastor Randy Alonso and Bridges for Peace show us what that looks like.

Are you hungry for an unmistakable move of God in your life? Author Glenda Orme Clark shares the secrets of the Second Great Awakening, as well as how God forever changed her life during the Jesus Revolution.