Smiling at the Future

As a pastor and biblical counselor, Lance Quinn provides encouragement on how Christians can demonstrate the love of Christ through bearing one another’s burdens by answering the following questions: What does the Bible say about bearing one another’s burdens? What are types of burdens we should help bear, and for how long should we bear them? How should you ask for help when you feel burdened beyond your ability? If you become aware of a need for someone, how do you know if you should be the one to meet that need? With technology, we are aware of more burdens than ever before. How do we understand our responsibility in that realm? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Heidi Kinzel joins the discussion today to give practical guidance on how to prepare in singleness to love your husband in the future by answering the following questions: Why is this the first priority in the Titus 2 principles? We have the Scripture and the Holy Spirit, but why did God design that we also needed to be taught this by older women? What are attitudes that women need to "put off" that would make it more difficult to love their husband in the future? What are attitudes to "put on" that would make it easier? How have you and your husband maintained such a strong marriage after so many years? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lynne Brown helps us regain a Biblical perspective on the timing of events in our lives by answering the following questions: How does God relate to time in a way that's different from us? Why is it important to understand God's unchangeableness? What are some examples of God's perfect timing in the Bible? How can we train our minds and hearts to respond rightly when we're confused about the God's timing or are struggling with impatience?

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Pastor Jerry Wragg brings a balance of comfort and conviction to the following discouragements that singles face: What truth can you offer women who are experiencing loneliness? How would you encourage the woman who sees a lack of marriage-minded men in her context? How would you direct the single woman who is unsure where and how to invest her life outside of the defined roles of wife and mom? What hope can you offer the woman who is losing heart in the waiting? How would you recommend women to be praying during this season of singleness? What exhortation would you give to the men listening? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lara McVicker and Heather Wiebe jump into the discussion to share their wisdom on how to support a bride as a bridesmaid during the wedding planning process by answering the following questions: How should we think about the role of being a bridesmaid? How can we honor God when we face the disappointment of expecting to be asked to be a bridesmaid and are not? How can you interact with the bride if you have certain convictions on modesty? How should we think about spending and how can we have those conversations with the bride if finances are tight? How can we point our friend to Christ throughout the logistics of the wedding planning process? How can we encourage the bride even when geographically far away? How can we practice rejoicing with those who rejoice when we ourselves long for marriage?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Returning guest Chris Hamilton unpacks this topic by answering the following questions: How far into the dating process should you get others involved in vetting a man's character, and is this an ongoing process? If a lady doesn't have believing family members she can turn to for help in discerning a man's character, how should she go about seeking this out? Would "vetting" look different in a long-distance relationship? How can you extend grace, understanding that no one is perfect, while still being discerning? Are there questions the lady can ask that may give insight into the man's heart? Do you have any advice for how the woman can stay sensible / sound-minded in a relationship? How do we stay humble ourselves in the vetting process, not assuming in our hearts that we deserve the perfect man, and not viewing ourselves more highly than we ought?

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lynne Brown and Teri White bring clarity to this topic on matchmaking and set-ups by answering the following questions: Do you think there is a need for this in the church, and should people really engage with setting people up? How much involvement should the "matchmaker" have in the set-up process? How can "matchmakers" help to make the set-up situation as low pressure as possible? Why should a woman be open to being set-up as a way to meet a spouse? What attitude and mindset should the lady have when walking into a set-up / blind date? And what encouragement would you give the lady who doesn't get a second date after being set-up? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lisa has counseled hundreds of college students through the process of education, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in answering the following questions: What are wise and unwise motivations for pursing education? What factors need to be considered in this pursuit? What are the pros & cons of pursuing higher education for women who desire to be married someday? If pursing degrees would limit the ability to do ministry in the church, is it still worth it? How do you deal with the fears that your level of education would scare away the men in your life? For women who have chosen not to pursue education, how do you avoid comparing yourself with others? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com  

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

In her 80 years of life Betty Price has learned how to cultivate a thankful heart. She shares these insights by answering the following questions: What is the connection between being thankful, and being sound minded? Why is thankfulness such an integral part of our worship? How do we pray "with thanksgiving"? How can we give thanks in everything? And what steps can we take to grow in thankfulness?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637

Recommended Resources

"Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

"The Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent

"Growing in Gratitude" by Mary Mohler

Biblical counselor Janet Aucoin shares practical wisdom on communication by answering the following questions: Why does our speech matter so much to God? How do we know the line between complaining, and sharing the real struggles about our lives with others? Do you have helpful ways you steer the conversation if it is verging towards gossip? What are areas of communication that are helpful to fine-tune in preparation for marriage? Do you have any tips for how to graciously accept a compliment? What are questions that you can ask a trusted mentor to help you understand where your communication is lacking and needs improvement?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637

Janet's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joyful-journey/id1544666986

Recommended Resources:

"Words that Hurt Words that Heal" by Carole Mayhall

"When Words Matter Most" by Caroline Newheiser and Cheryl Marshall

"In the Arena of the Mind" by John Vandegriff

"Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent 

Darrell Harrison joins this episode to shed light on the following questions: Do you think someone who is frustrated with the downsides of social media should give up on it altogether? What steps do you think through before you post something on social media? How do you recommend that people limit their time on these platforms? Do you have guiding principles for how you choose what entertainment to view? What place should entertainment have in a Christian’s life? How would you encourage a Christian to show grace to another brother / sister in Christ with a different perspective on entertainment? What questions about entertainment should a lady ask the man she is dating? And do you think this is an area they need to have the same convictions on? smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 Darrell's website: justthinking.me Darrell's Recommended Resources: With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will Toward Christ – A. Craig Troxel The Enemy Within: Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin – Kris Lundgaard Disciplines of a Godly Man – R. Kent Hughes The Fulfilled Family – John MacArthur The Gospel & Pornography – Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life: Practical Wisdom from Richard Baxter – Michael S. Lundy, MD Communion with God – John Owen Keeping the Heart – John Flavel God’s Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation – David W. Saxton The Duty of Self-Denial – Thomas Watson

Hiding God's word in her heart has been a faithful pursuit for Susan, and she shares her wisdom with us on the following questions: Why should we put the effort into memorizing Scripture when we can "google" a verse? Why do you advocate for memorizing an entire chapter or book over individual verses? Which Bible translation is best to memorize from? Do you have any tips for making Bible memory easier? How do you review what you have already memorized? If someone doesn't know where to start, what chapter or book would you direct them to?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Support $5 per month: patreon.com/user?u=62433637

Susan Recommended the Following chapters and books to memorize:

Psalm 42 - If you're struggling with Depression

Psalm 51 - If you're struggling with life-dominating sins

Psalm 145 - If you want to focus on God - 16 attributes of God

Colossians 3 - "Put off, put on" chapter

Philippians 4 - Keys to contentment, and ways to pray when we are anxious

Books of the Bible to memorize: Colossians, James, Philippians, 1 John.

In this episode Chris Hamilton unpacks the biblical mandate of honoring our parents as adult children, and also answers the following questions: How does our relationship with our parents change over the span of our lifetime from cradle to grave? Parents may have certain expectations for their children in regards to their education, career, who they should marry, and where they should live.  How can a daughter communicate differences in these areas to her parents in a way that is still respectful? For those with unbelieving parents, or those who have a challenging relationship with their parents, how would you encourage them and how can they still build up those relationships? If you don't agree with a decision your parents make, or they are doing something sinful, how should you exhort them? Looking to the future, what counsel would you give a woman for how she can cultivate her relationships with her in-laws?

Smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

For parents: Chris Hamilton on "Parenting Adult Children": https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/12345

A lifetime of faithful service to the Lord as a single woman, 79 year old Betty Price answers the following questions: Looking back on your single life, what are the greatest blessings you have experienced? How did you stay committed to ministering to people instead of becoming the stereotypical "cat" lady?  How would you encourage a single woman who finds herself struggling with the aging process? Did you ever reach a point where you realized that God did not have marriage for you, and what did coming to terms with that look like? During the course of your single years, in what ways have you been able to serve the church?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Returning guests Hohn and Heather Cho tackle this nuanced topic by answering the following questions: What are the potential issues and dynamics in a relationship when there is a significant age gap? How do couples maneuver the issue of having children when there is an age gap? How do you handle others' biases / concerns when there is an age difference? What if parents or family members do not support the relationship because of race? And what tips do you have for raising kids in a culturally blended family?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Christi's brother's, Nate and David, join the discussion on sibling friendships and answer questions such as: How can siblings transition well from childhood into adulthood in how the interact and treat each other? How should you evangelize unsaved siblings? How can a sister exhort her brother when she sees sin in his life? How can you be an encouragement to siblings with children? And how can siblings share the care load for aging family members?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Informative for women (as well as and helpful guidance for men!), Chris candidly shares what he advises men to be looking for in a woman as they seek marriage. He answers questions such as: What do you tell men about the process of "looking for a wife"? What should every man be looking for? What are areas where every man may NOT be looking for the same thing? And are looks, intelligence, education, career or shared interests important?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Just a quick announcement about the podcast! 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

We make decisions every day, but sometimes this can be a difficult process. Chris Hamilton joins the podcast again to bring clarity to this topic by answering the following questions: How do we discern the will of God when making a decision? How can you tell if asking for help in making a decision is actually a crutch for not thinking an issue through yourself? How do you pray when seeking the Lord's help in a decision? How do you avoid "paralysis by analysis"? What Scriptures have you leaned on when in a decision-making process? What are telltale signs of a bad decision?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

No matter the season of life we find yourselves in, contentment is a quality that we often need to rekindle.  In this episode, Lynne shares powerful, biblical truths on how to cultivate contentment in your heart.  

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Lynne Brown's podcast: https://anchor.fm/s/44148a40/podcast/rss

Book Recommended: "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs 

Foundational and mysterious; returning guests John and Jane answer the following questions about marriage: What are wise or unwise reasons to get married or remain single? Should a person who desires to be married, expect to be married? What is the difference between a contract and a covenant? What involvement does the government or church have in regulating marriage? What is the difference between egalitarianism and complementarianism? And what does being a "help-mate" look like? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Happy New Year, and why this podcast was named "Smiling at the Future." 

Join us January 11th for another full-length episode :) 

Smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Father to three grown daughters, and chairman of the elder board at Grace Community Church, Chris Hamilton answers the following questions in a clear and biblical way: What should I look for as marks of maturity in his spiritual walk? How do I know if he is ready to be a provider? Does the kind of job he has matter? How will I know if he is a wise steward of his finances? What should I look for in how he interacts and treats others? What sins do I need to mortify before I can get married? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Janie Street brings her wealth of biblical counseling experience and study of the Bible to this discussion as she answers questions such as: What are misconceptions that Christians believe about forgiveness? What language should you use when asking for forgiveness? What role do our emotions play in the forgiveness process? Should you offer your trust after a repeated offense? Where do you see that couples struggle most in the forgiveness process? And how do you handle the guilt that comes from remembering a past offense? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Single motherhood is a journey that both Sarah and Erika have walked. In this episode, they share wisdom for both single mothers and for those who can come alongside and help; listen to them answer these questions: What do you wish others knew about what it is like to be a single mother? Where should a single mother get plugged in at church? How does one become two parents? And how should a single mother address the fear of "why would a man want to take me on with kids?" 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Recommended Resources: 

The Elizabeth Elliot Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-elisabeth-elliot-podcast/id1537596556

"Women Counseling Women" by Elyse Fitzpatrick 

"What Does the Bible Say About Parenting?" By John MacArthur 

"Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with your Children" by John Younts 

"Christian Living in the Home" By Jay Adams

"The Path of Loneliness" by Elizabeth Elliot 

ACBC Counseling: https://biblicalcounseling.com/

"Help! I'm a Single Mom" Carol Trahan

Christi's brother, Nate, joins the podcast today to share simple strategies for online safety that you might not be aware of: choosing secure passwords, limiting information that apps collect, and knowing what information you should not post on social media.  

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Recommended Resources: 

Credit Karma: https://www.creditkarma.com/auth/logon

Last Pass: https://www.lastpass.com/

Josh and Liz share their story of how God brought them together, and answer questions such as: What are the differing views on divorce and re-marriage among Christians? What questions should you ask someone to discern if their divorce was biblical? What questions should you ask their church leadership to vet their character? What kinds of reactions can you anticipate from other believers when they find out you are dating someone who has been divorced, and how can you be gracious in your responses? And what were the unexpected blessings that you experienced?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

Recommended Resources

"The Divorce Dilemma" by John MacArthur

"Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage" by Jim Newheiser

George has a unique perspective on finances from his years as a counselor, and offers wisdom on the following questions: What are common struggles married couples have with money, and what can single women do now to prevent those future conflicts? How can someone get their spending habits under control? How can we become "cheerful givers"? And what are hazards that women should watch out for when getting involved in social-networking jobs?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

In this requested episode, Janet Aucoin answers many relevant questions surrounding anxiety such as: Is it wrong for Christians to take medication for anxiety? How do we navigate hormonal ups and downs as it relates to anxiety? Is it better to counsel or listen when someone is struggling with anxiety? When should someone reach out for help, and who should they go to?

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Book Recommended: "Anxious for Nothing" by John MacArthur 

Joyful Journey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joyful-journey/id1544666986

Janie brings her wealth of biblical counseling experience and study of the Bible to this discussion as she answers questions such as: How does the principle that "love covers a multitude of sins" apply to conflict resolution? Does the existence of conflict always mean there is sin involved? When should you walk away from a conflict? And when should you seek mediation in a conflict? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 

Books Recommended: 

"Resolving Conflict" By Lou Priolo 

Married 28 years, parents to 11 children, and Chad and Jenise still have the spark! They bring excitement and wisdom to this discussion on relationships through questions such as: Why is it important to "win" the family and friends of the one you love? How can you keep your relationship vibrant? How can women encourage godly masculinity in the men around them? When should you ask about purity and pornography?And why is it important to take a risk in pursing a relationship? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com

https://howtowinaheart.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCztQCPP0fVADcB1j4LRXDkA

https://theachademy.com/

https://farmhousecandleshop.com/

Starting with the Biblical grounds for self-defense, John and Charissa move through questions such as: what precautions should I take if I hike or jog alone? What should I look for in a self-defense class? What self-defense tools should I use? And what can I do to make my home more protected? 

smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com