FAITH TO BEAR LAUNCHES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Ronald Bear is a man of strong faith and a hard-working husband, father, and
grandfather.  In the two decades I have known him, as a colleague and a man on a journey through mountains and valleys, of faith and hope.

Early in 2025, he mentioned that he felt called to write these beautiful Children's Books. After reading through his work, with its stunning graphics and content, which bring back childhood memories to any parent, from any age - from boomer to Gen Z.  I highly recommend these books.

Ronald has since expanded into a ministry called Faith to Bear (FTB). Click here for this website.

To fully comprehend what led to all these stunningly lively graphics and now praise music and videos, which can be viewed on the FTB YouTube channel, I asked him a few questions to get a feel of the man, his ministry, and why he felt led to launch a full multimedia, almost blitz, as he did.

To get to the point, I asked four questions. Ron Bear responds as follows (see below). For the record, I recommend the Children's Books (Giggles, Gratitude and Growth in God) for your children and especially the Electronic Version. They will benefit tremendously from the links to FTB's Praise and Worship music, videos etc.

1-Why did you write the book?

In a world of judgment and condemnation, I found myself seeking truth and following paths that led to personal destruction. I cried out to GOD, declaring, "There is no Joy in my life! How do I experience Joy?"

GOD began guiding me to teachings that revealed Joy is not absent from my life, it has been buried by distorted emotions created by trauma -Physical and verbal assaults that caused me to feel unloved and even unlovable. I felt unworthy of Joy, Happiness and Love.

GOD asked, "What is your heart's desire?" I responded, 'I desire to be Happy, joyous, and Free.' I desire the abundant life Jesus spoke of. I want to be free from debt. I want my family restored, and I want to leave a legacy for my children and their children.

I want to create and share with others a message of Joy that will prevent young hearts from experiencing the traumatic experiences from addiction to escape and to guide veterans of psychic wars back from the pain of escape to a place of refuge in Joy.

2-To whom is the book written?

This book is written for young hearts to nurture Love in innocence and promote  Joyful Hearts.

Also, this book is to provide a channel for the spirit of Joy to heal the already challenged hearts, as they share with their children, siblings, and friends.

3-Describe the content.

This book contains several coloring pages, activity pages, Scripture references, and blessings for each simple song inspired by "The Holy Bible," enhanced by vibrant graphics to spark artistic appreciation. It also includes links to energetic music and videos to invite dancing and create an immersive, Joyful experience.

4-What is your Goal/Mission 

The mission of Faith to Bear Ministries is to encourage refuge in Joyful experiences and heal the emotional wounds from seeking escape. 

We encourage people of all beliefs and levels of understanding to  "Keep the Light KIND".....and to shine our light in a manner that attracts people to desire to be like you.

In this way we will experience restoration to a state of being One with GOD.

FAITH TO BEAR RESOURCES:

BOOKS ON AMAZON

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

WEBSITE

READ FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

DISCIPLINE #8 OF 12 - FASTING

 

THE BMIC BLAST AUGUST 2025

DISCIPLINE #7 OF 12 - COUNSEL

 THE BMIC BLAST - JUNE 2025

WELLNESS CHECK

 HOW ARE YOU DOING? - THE BMIC BLAST, MAY 2025

THINK SERIES, PART 15: "ON BEING PRUDENT AND SHREWD"

What does this really mean – ‘The simple believes everything but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps” (Proverbs 14:15).

That is a powerful statement that addresses the gullibility and the discernment of two types of people. We do not really have to look very far to observe this fact. Because most of modern humankind is bereft of Critical Thinking,

Many of us may remember the “Beanie Baby” craze of the 1990s. That five-inch-high stuffed toy created a market that rose up, made countless millions for those who knew how to market the allegedly exclusive ones and get them off their basement shelves to gullible buyers. Twenty years later, you and I can find boxes of them at garage or yard sales for 50 cents a pop. What does this have to do with thinking, by normally conservative and even discerning folks? Well, some of them THOUGHT they could make the big jackpot by selling the “Princess Diana” purple beanie in the plexiglass case.

This is just one simple, fun and harmless example, unless someone spent their entire social security check on $ 100s of dollars of Beanies, thinking they would pull in the bucks, within weeks and months, only to find out that another million people had the same idea. However, the goal of this series is not to go Dr. Phil on folks and pick on them with “what were you thinking”… about any decision where we follow the crowd. The goal is to develop and train, first in ourselves and then our children, grandchildren, and those whom we mentor, the value of prudent (as opposed to positive) thinking, Biblical thinking, and how to think critically.

The original biblical Hebrew word for “prudent” is “Arum”. It is a word which ranges in definition from being “shrewd, subtle, and prudent” to the almost opposite, as in cunning. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:6, as He warned His disciples to be “as shrewd as serpents but as innocent as a dove”.  Two things about this quote from the Greatest Life Coach Who ever lived:

Jesus is NOT saying that we are to be as deceptive as that snake, Satan. This is the sinless Son of God.  What Jesus means is to be extremely discerning. That is, to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, as an old song goes.

Every intention of the word “prudent” in Proverbs 14:15 requires we are supposed to have, not just proper thought, but discernment, grounded in truth – objective truth. Objective truth is black and white. Either you believe or you do not.  The Bible gives a powerful statement regarding atheists, where the good Book says, “the fool says in his heart, there is no God”. It takes more “faith” to NOT believe your eyes, your conscience, and the law of God written in the hearts of every single human ever born, than the faith it takes to be a believer in Jesus, as Lord. That is literally Objective truth.

There are also terms of Logic. When an atheist or an agnostic (i.e., an atheist who is a coward) makes a statement that there is no such thing as Absolute Truth, when we say that we believe in God, that non-believer has violated the terms of Logic by making an absolute statement. Therefore, under the terms of logic, we can, by all rights, dismiss their argument. Period.

To get to this point of Critical Thinking, one must have a strongly and exponentially growing measure of Biblical Wisdom. The first three Chapters of the Book of Proverbs will be a good place to start and read, over and over, until it sinks into your consciousness. I spent two weeks in Proverbs chapter 2  a while back, as I felt the tug of the Lord pulling me back more and more to those pages to embed those words in my soul. What emerged from that period, where I camped on Chapter 2, was a series called - "A Proverbs 2 Man". (CLICK HERE FOR VIDEOS).

We must be led by the Spirit to discern the wiles of this corrupt world, so that we can function, with an unction, in the Righteousness of God - in thought, in word and in deed. The Holy Spirit will guide us into the pathway of ALL Truth.

To be as shrewd as a serpent and innocent as doves, we must know the ways, teachings, and commands of God so that we will never sin.  There is a line in the Lord’s Prayer where Jesus teaches us to pray, in the original language – “do not allow us to fall into temptation”. We have to be buffeted and surrounded by the strength that comes from God and His Word,  so that we can spot a trap a mile off. We have to be in our right mind. We have to think. We have to think critically.

Sadly, too many Christians fall for the wiles of a seductive financial deal, woman (or man) or something that is too good to be true. When we have the ability, capacity, and the FREEDOM to RUN in the opposite direction. The Bible gives us clear direction to think critically so we do not ruin what is most precious to us and Him, our witness, testimony, reputation, and families.  He has given us these beautiful and powerful words to embed in our consciousness that we can live in peace, joy, and contentment, all the days of our lives.

Proverbs 3:5-7 “: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil". Amen

INVITATION TO NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN THE ILLINOIS CAPITOL CITY - SPRINGFIELD

 
                    CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO VIDEO INVITATION TO PRAYER DAY

THINK SERIES #14: THINK CRITICALLY - THE INTRO

Critical thinking is not what your critics (if you have any, of course, lol) think of us.   It requires the capacity to do the following:

1. Look at an issue with the end in mind.

2. Identify what we need to do about it

3. Consider all the sides of what needs to be done to address said issue.

4. Consider the consequences of each action.

5. Consider who is going to be affected by any course of action

6. Take all that information and go to the Lord with it

7. Make the decision

 

We are born with the ability to think. The Cambridge dictionary definition is actually the simplest and most effective short definition of Critical Thinking.  Cambridge defines it as “the process of thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings”.

 

As we already know, it is not something that is taught in the US education system, where feelings and other agendas trump the basics of reading, writing, and ‘arithmetic – the Three R’s (so to speak). It was something we hired a missionary almost two decades ago to teach our three kids as part of their education ,and it was a great lesson for me as well.  This kind, gentle man, let’s call him John Smith Jones, was the epitome of kindness, patience, and grace.

How he taught Critical Thinking was a great example to me of how we should approach anything. Whether it is how we teach our kids the Bible or the tenets of our Christian Faith, there has to be a method that cries out for effectiveness. For many years, the fact that many Christian families lose their children to practical atheism by High School or College has bothered me until we figured out why – many young people do not connect the Bible stories they hear in Sunday School to real life, themselves, and the real Person of Jesus.  When you add some parents living double lives or no life of righteousness at all, young people will walk from that kind of hypocrisy.

 

There is a relationship between Critical Thinking and the education of our kids in the Ways of our Lord. The Bible says in Psalm 139:17-18 the following: “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I am awake, I am still with You”.

 

These are our Heavenly Father’s and Creator’s thoughts:

* They are Precious

* They are so many and far-reaching they cannot EVER be counted (think about the stars in the sky – can you count them?)

* They are permanent

* They are embedded in the beings, just like the Law of God or our consciences

* They are ever present, whether we access the most valuable treasures found in the Mind of Our God.

 

Please note also, in Verse 17, the amount of original exclamation marks! King David, who we know from Psalm 51 was indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God to write the Psalms, was excited that the very thoughts and Mind of Christ were with him!

 

Now, look at the thoughts we have. Check Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me o God and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts, and there if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way”.

What kinds of thoughts do we have?  Well, anxious ones with the capacity and potential to cause hurt to others and us”!

 

The human condition is right there in the Bible.

We are full of anxiety, worry, and stress from both real and imaginary enemies, and our way to blood pressure medication or worse.

We are prime candidates for depression, depression meds, and being super discouraged to the point of even doubting God.

 

All of this happens because we do not think Biblically, as we spelled out in the past 13 posts on the “THINK SERIES”, nor do we practice “Critical Thinking” in most of our daily lives.

 

Biblical Thinking was addressed first in this series since we must possess the foundation on which to operate successfully as a man or woman of God. Critical Thinking will take a look at each of the seven (7) critical steps listed above and the benefits therein.

We will use the following as our theme verse, for this exercise, from Proverbs 14:15, where the Bible says, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps.”

RESURRECTION - RAISED TO NEW LIFE, YOU AND I!

 CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE 90 SECOND SHORT YOU TUBE VIDEO ON WHAT THE RESURRECTION, ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING MEANS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TODAY!

TEXT: MATTHEW 27:52-53

Screenshot from YouTube 

LESSONS FROM THE MAN ON THE OTHER CROSS

 CLICK HERE FOR THE LESS THAN 2-MINUTE YOU TUBE VIDEO ON WHAT THE THIEF ON THE OTHER CROSS  AT THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST 

AND WHAT IT MEANS TODAY

TEXT: LUKE23:42-43

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE SHORT