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Showing episodes and shows of
Bob Bonnar
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Built for Durango
Episode 18 — Stubbornness, Surrender, and the Heart God Wants
In Episode 17 of Built for Durango, Bob and DJ dig deeper into Stephen’s bold confrontation with the religious leaders in Acts 7 and the challenging theme of spiritual stubbornness. Reflecting on DJ’s recent sermon, the conversation explores the difference between grit and being “stiff-necked,” why surrender is often harder than determination, and how Stephen’s message was ultimately an invitation rather than a condemnation.Drawing from a mission trip to Mexico, personal experiences with bold prayer, and the example of Jesus Himself, Bob and DJ wrestle with a central question: Are we working hard for God, or are we...
2026-06-06
14 min
Built for Durango
June 3 Sermon — Stiff-Necked or Soft-Hearted? Learning to Follow God's Lead
In this message from Acts 7, Pastor DJ explores Stephen’s final sermon before his martyrdom and the challenging accusation that sparked outrage among the religious leaders: “You stiff-necked people.”Drawing from his recent mission trip to Mexico, DJ reflects on the subtle ways pride, self-reliance, and fear can cause us to resist God’s leading, even when we believe we are serving Him. Tracing the theme of stubbornness from Exodus through the prophets and into Stephen’s confrontation with the Sanhedrin, he shows how Scripture repeatedly reveals humanity’s tendency to push back against God’s guidance.But the m...
2026-06-05
37 min
Built for Durango
Episode 17 - From Eden to the Medal Tree: What Does It Mean to Offer Your Life to God? Introduction
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Tommy reflect on Tommy’s recent sermon from Acts 7 and the sweeping biblical story behind Stephen’s defense before the religious leaders.The conversation explores how the themes of Eden, the temple, sacrifice, and God’s presence all point to Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. Tommy explains why blood in the Bible symbolizes life rather than death, how Christ’s sacrifice changes our relationship with God, and what it means to be covered by the life of Jesus.Bob and Tommy also bring the discussion home to...
2026-05-30
12 min
Built for Durango
May 27 Sermon - What God Really Wants: The Heart Behind the Temple
Pastor Tommy continues the journey through Acts with a deep dive into Stephen’s powerful defense in Acts 7, unpacking the real purpose of the temple, sacrifice, and God’s presence. What begins as a response to accusations against Stephen becomes a sweeping tour through the entire biblical story—from Eden to Moses, from the tabernacle to Jesus. Tommy argues that God was never primarily concerned with buildings, appearances, or religious performance. The real focus has always been the human heart.Along the way, Tommy explores the meaning of sacrifice, the symbolism of offerings, and the consist...
2026-05-28
36 min
Built for Durango
May 20 Sermon - From Temple to Transformation: Becoming the Place God Dwells
In this wide-ranging and deeply theological message, Tommy walks through Acts 6 by pulling a single thread—the temple—and tracing it across the entire story of Scripture. What starts as a question about Stephen and early church conflict becomes something much bigger: a reframing of how we understand God’s presence. From Eden to the tabernacle, from Solomon’s temple to Jesus himself, Tommy shows that the consistent message has always been the same—God is moving toward us, inviting us to move toward Him.But the message doesn’t stop at theology. It lands squarely on i...
2026-05-22
35 min
Built for Durango
Episode 16 — Do for One: Finding Your Role Between Comfort and Calling
Bob and DJ wrestle with a tension most people feel but rarely say out loud: how do you live a good, comfortable life in a place like Durango while knowing there’s real suffering in the world? Reflecting on the powerful message from India, this conversation doesn’t land in guilt — it lands in clarity. The takeaway is simple but demanding: you don’t have to fix everything, but you are responsible for something. Whether it’s across the globe or right in front of you, the call is to step out of comfort and say yes when it cou...
2026-05-09
12 min
Built for Durango
May 6 Sermon - Faith, Hope, and Love That Changes Lives
This isn’t a typical sermon—it’s a firsthand look at what happens when faith moves beyond words and into action. Our special guests draw from years of ministry in India to bring a message about the reality of experiencing human brokenness face-to-face and witnessing the power of Jesus to restore, heal, and redeem. Through raw and unforgettable stories—rescued children, impossible situations, and lives rebuilt—the focus stays simple and direct: faith, hope, and love aren’t abstract ideas; they’re the driving force behind real transformation. And the call isn’t to fix everything—it’s to do for one...
2026-05-07
36 min
Built for Durango
Episode 15 — Life or Death: The Real Stakes Behind Acts 5
Bob and Brian don’t sidestep it — this is one of the hardest passages in the New Testament. In this episode, they dig into the story of Ananias and Sapphira and wrestle honestly with the tension it creates: a generous, Spirit-filled church colliding with deception, greed, and sudden death. Rather than offering easy answers, the conversation leans into the deeper question: what is actually happening here — and what does it mean for us today? They explore the contrast between life in the Spirit and the pull of self-interest, the weight of integrity inside a community, and why this mo...
2026-04-30
24 min
Built for Durango
April 29 Sermon - Acts of the Apostles
In this sermon, Brian steps into one of the most difficult and unsettling passages in Acts—Ananias and Sapphira—and refuses to water it down. Instead, he tackles it head-on, asking what this story reveals about the kind of church Jesus is actually building.Set against the backdrop of a radically unified and generous early church, this moment exposes a sharp contrast: a community shaped by the Spirit versus a heart still holding back. Brian walks through how Acts isn’t just history—it’s a picture of Jesus actively leading His church. And that means the s...
2026-04-30
36 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 55 — The Wyoming Divide
Election season in Wyoming is already in full swing, and in this episode, Bob and Alexis dive into the races, rivalries, and real stakes shaping the months ahead. From the Republican State Convention to high-profile matchups like the one pitting Ogden Driskill against Chip Neiman, the conversation breaks down what these contests mean — not just for Weston County, but for the direction of the entire state.We take a hard look at the growing divide within Wyoming politics — particularly between the Freedom Caucus and more moderate Republicans who have dubbed themselves the Wyoming Caucus — and what that split...
2026-04-30
31 min
Built for Durango
Episode 14 — Unity Is a Fight: Finding Common Ground in a Divided World
In this episode, Bob and DJ take the message of Acts straight into one of the most divided environments imaginable — a political conference — and wrestle with a hard, practical question: what does unity actually look like in the real world?Starting from Acts 4, they unpack how the early church built something powerful — not by avoiding differences, but by anchoring themselves in a shared mission and living it out through radical generosity and commitment to one another. The conversation gets honest fast. Unity sounds good in theory, but in practice it requires sacrifice, humility, and a willing...
2026-04-25
20 min
Built for Durango
April 22 Sermon - Acts of the Apostles
This week’s sermon cuts through complexity and lands on something both simple and demanding: real faith is lived out in how we treat each other.Drawing from Acts 4, DJ paints a picture of the early church—not as a rulebook to follow, but as a compelling vision of what’s possible when people actually believe the message of Jesus. They were unified. They were generous. And because of that, their witness carried real weight.At the center of the message is a personal story that makes the point clear: it’s people—not programs, not argume...
2026-04-23
34 min
Built for Durango
Episode 13 — Boldness Isn’t Solo: Why Real Faith Requires Real Community
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and DJ take a hard look at what boldness actually means — and why most of us misunderstand it.Starting with Acts 4, they compare the raw, life-on-the-line courage of the early church with the far more subtle resistance Christians face today in places like Durango. The question on the table is direct: What does it look like to live boldly when the threat isn’t persecution—but discomfort, rejection, or cultural pushback?The conversation quickly moves past surface-level answers. Bob and DJ argue that real boldness is not an ind...
2026-04-17
17 min
Disclosure Investigates
Trailer
Welcome to the new home of investigative stories from the award-winning Disclosure team, including Dead Man Running, Shiny Bob: The Devil's Advocate, Matched with a Predator and Hunting the Whiskey Bandits.Coming soon, in Charmain and the Prophet, Myles Bonnar travels to Ghana and the US in search of answers in the mysterious death of Charmain Spears.
2026-04-16
00 min
Built for Durango
April 15, 2026 Sermon — Boldness in the Face of Resistance
In this April 15 message, DJ turns to Acts 4 and asks a blunt, practical question: How do you stand in the face of rejection? Not in theory, but when resistance is real, when people push back, and when your sense of worth is tempted to rise and fall based on whether others accept you.Set against the backdrop of the church’s new property and growing vision to serve Durango for generations, DJ uses the story of Peter and John — fresh out of jail and fresh off a direct threat from the religious authorities — to show what bold, ground...
2026-04-16
26 min
Built for Durango
Episode 12 — Let Go and Let God: Finding Power in the Name of Jesus
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and DJ dive into Acts chapter 4 and a question that hits close to home: what does it actually mean to live — and speak — in the name of Jesus?Fresh off the church’s first outdoor service at the new location, Bob comes in fired up, reflecting on a season of clarity, joy, and personal transformation. But that momentum leads to a deeper conversation. What’s behind that feeling? And how do you hold onto it without drifting into pride or self-reliance?DJ grounds the discussion in the context...
2026-04-10
21 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 54 — Dissolve or Defend
This week on the Top of Main Podcast, Bob and Alexis sit down with Weston County Hospital District Board Chair Ann Slagle to break down one of the most urgent and complex issues facing our community.At the center of the conversation is the hospital district’s current compliance battle with the Wyoming Department of Audit — a situation driven by years of missing financial documentation, turnover, and evolving state requirements. While progress is being made to get back into compliance, the timeline has created a high-stakes scenario, with county commissioners now indicating they are going to begin the...
2026-03-30
59 min
Built for Durango
Episode 11 - Invitation, Not Imposition: Living the Story of Acts
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and DJ unpack one of the central tensions in following Jesus: is faith something we impose — or something we invite people into?Building off DJ’s recent sermon in Acts, the conversation centers on Peter’s message after the healing of the beggar and what it reveals about God’s heart. Bob frames the sermon as both a challenge to the church and an open invitation to the community, while DJ digs deeper into the theological meaning — highlighting that the kingdom of God is not about control, performance, or religious...
2026-03-28
19 min
Built for Durango
March 25, 2026 Sermon — Restoring All Things
In this sermon from Acts 3, Pastor DJ follows the healing at the Beautiful Gate into the public response that came next. A miracle had just taken place: a man crippled from birth was healed in the name of Jesus, and the crowd came running. What Peter does with that attention is the heart of this message. He refuses to make the moment about personal power, spiritual status, or religious formula, and instead points straight to Jesus and the bigger story of what God is doing in the world.DJ shows that this second sermon in Acts is...
2026-03-26
41 min
Built for Durango
Episode 10 — Small Acts, Real Faith: Living the Way of Jesus
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Pastor Brian bring the story of Acts 3 — the healing of the beggar at the temple gate — down to street level.They begin with a relatable, human moment — parenting through a sick child — before stepping into one of the most powerful scenes in the early church. Peter and John don’t just perform a miracle; they stop, they see, and they respond. That moment becomes the framework for a bigger question: what does it actually look like to live like that today?This conversation doesn’t stay theoretical...
2026-03-20
26 min
Built for Durango
March 18, 2026 Sermon — Follow Jesus
In this sermon from Acts 3, Pastor Brian Firle follows the story of Peter and John meeting a man who had been crippled from birth and laid daily at the temple gate called Beautiful. What unfolds is more than a miracle story. It is a picture of how the risen Jesus continues His work through ordinary people filled with the Holy Spirit.Brian connects this moment to Pentecost and the larger movement in Acts: God’s presence is no longer distant or confined to a temple. By the Spirit, God now dwells in His people, and He chooses to...
2026-03-19
41 min
Built for Durango
Episode 9 - From Cynicism to Community
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Pastor DJ reflect on Acts, the heart of the early church, and what it means for Durango Vineyard as the congregation prepares to hold its first services in the new building on Easter Sunday.The conversation starts with a hard truth: for a lot of people, “church” has become a loaded word—tied to disappointment, narrowness, or cynicism. Bob speaks candidly about his own journey through that disillusionment and why what he found in Durango felt different. Acts paints a picture of a church centered on life on mis...
2026-03-12
18 min
Built for Durango
March 11, 2026 Sermon — Life Together
In this sermon from Acts 2, Pastor DJ paints a vivid picture of what the early church actually felt like when the Spirit of God broke in—not just as a theological idea, but as a living culture. This is not a checklist message. It is a vision of the kingdom of God: heaven’s culture arriving on earth through ordinary people whose lives were changed by Jesus and knit together by the Holy Spirit.DJ frames the heart of the church with three simple but demanding realities: life on mission, life change, and...
2026-03-12
44 min
Built for Durango
Episode 8 — Free Your Hands: God’s Will and Learning to Trust
In Episode 8 of Built for Durango, Bob Bonnar is joined by Pastor Brian Firle to keep unpacking Acts 2—moving from the spectacle of Pentecost to the deeper framework underneath it: who Jesus is, what the Holy Spirit does, and how God’s “deliberate plan” intersects with real human choice.Building off Brian’s sermon, the conversation digs into one of the hardest tensions in Christian theology: predestination and free will. Bob admits what most people feel — there’s a strong urge to pick one side and dismiss the other. Brian argues Acts 2 refuses that shortcut. Peter preaches...
2026-03-05
18 min
Built for Durango
March 4, 2026 Sermon - Whose Story Am I Living
In this message from Pastor Brian Firle, we stay in Acts 2—but instead of focusing on the fireworks of Pentecost, Brian zeroes in on what happens next: Peter’s Spirit-empowered sermon, and the moment thousands of people are “cut to the heart.”Brian explains Acts as the story of what God is doing through ordinary people once the Holy Spirit is poured out. He walks through Peter’s argument step-by-step: Jesus’ life and miracles, the cross, the resurrection, and the stunning claim that what looks like chaos is actually God’s long-range plan unfolding in real time....
2026-03-05
38 min
Built for Durango
Episode 7 - Pentecost Today: Getting Close to the Holy Spirit’s Power
In Episode 7 of Built for Durango, Bob and Pastor DJ stay in Acts 2 and dig into the Pentecost moment—the rushing wind, tongues of fire, and the public confusion so intense that some onlookers assumed the disciples were drunk at 9 a.m.But this episode isn’t a history lesson. It’s a challenge: if Acts is really “Acts of the Spirit,” what does a Spirit-empowered life look like in Durango right now?Bob admits the Holy Spirit has often been a blind spot—he tends to pray to Jesus and the Father, but struggle...
2026-02-27
17 min
Built for Durango
February 25, 2026 Sermon
In this message from Acts 2, Pastor DJ goes back to the foundation of what the Church is actually meant to be—especially as Durango Vineyard hits the 12-year mark and asks the honest question: What are we supposed to be anyway?DJ argues that the foundation of the Church isn’t just a list of beliefs—it’s a kingdom culture: a people who live, act, and love with “the life of heaven” showing up on earth. Using a simple but sharp framework, he lays out the three essentials Acts 2 reveals: Holy Spirit-empowered mission, gospel trans...
2026-02-26
33 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 53 — Big Bucks, No Whammies!
If you’re old enough to remember the game show Press Your Luck, you probably remember contestants chanting, “Big bucks… no whammies!” as they tried to land on prize money without getting wiped out by the cartoon villain on the board.That chant feels uncomfortably familiar in Wyoming politics right now.This week, Bob is flying solo to talk about what some have dubbed “Check-Gate” — the controversy sparked when political donor Rebecca Bextel handed campaign contribution checks to House members on the Capitol floor during the 2026 session. It may have been technically legal, but the optics landed...
2026-02-25
1h 06
Built for Durango
Episode 6: Judas and the Danger of Drifting
In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Daniel unpack Daniel’s sermon on one of the most sobering figures in Scripture: Judas Iscariot.Judas didn’t fall in a single moment. His betrayal was the result of small, incremental choices — compromises that slowly pulled him away from Christ. He had proximity to Jesus, witnessed miracles, heard the teaching firsthand. But he carried a competing vision of what the Messiah should be, and when Jesus didn’t fit his expectations, Judas chose his own path.The conversation centers on a hard but necessary distinction: remorse...
2026-02-19
19 min
Built for Durango
February 18, 2026 Sermon
The sermon explores the concept of “wasted opportunities” through the story of Judas, who, despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles, betrayed him. The focus is on the importance of belief and transformation, not just witnessing God’s work. The sermon also examines the process of choosing Judas’ replacement, Matthias, highlighting the need for self-reflection and awareness of potential pitfalls in one’s faith journey.The sermon explores Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, highlighting his lack of belief as the root cause. It emphasizes the importance of belief in Jesus as the only way to salvation, challenging listeners to examine their own beli...
2026-02-19
36 min
Built for Durango
Episode 5: Acts of the Spirit — Why the Holy Spirit Is the Real Story
In this week’s episode of Built for Durango, Bob is joined by Pastor Brian Firle for his first appearance on the podcast following his second message in our new series on the Book of Acts. But Brian isn’t calling it Acts of the Apostles. He’s calling it Acts of the Spirit—and that shift changes everything.While Acts is often remembered for its miracles, bold preaching, and explosive church growth, Brian challenges listeners to look deeper. The real driver of the early church wasn’t human courage or strategy — it was the Holy Spirit...
2026-02-12
21 min
Built for Durango
Episode 4 — When the Spirit Leads: Faith Beyond Strategy
This week on Built for Durango, we turn the page to the Book of Acts—what Pastor Brian rightly called the Acts of the Spirit. Before there was strategy, structure, or certainty, the early church was defined by its dependence on the Holy Spirit. They didn’t move by instinct or intellect alone; they moved because the Spirit led, empowered, and transformed them.In this episode, Bob and Daniel reflect on Brian’s teaching and wrestle with a tension many believers feel today: the balance between understanding faith intellectually and actually living it relationally. Bob connects with the an...
2026-02-05
20 min
Built for Durango
Episode 3: Reconciled — Living as God’s Ambassadors
In Episode 3 of Built for Durango, DJ and Bob flip the script: DJ takes the interviewer’s seat and asks Bob to tell the story of how reconciliation has reshaped his life. Coming off DJ’s final message in his 2 Corinthians series, the conversation centers on a core gospel reality — God has reconciled us to Himself, and that reconciliation is what makes it possible for us to reconcile with others.DJ frames the episode around Paul’s words: “We are ambassadors for Christ.” Not polished, not perfect—often dysfunctional, like the Corinthians—but still chosen as the way God makes Hi...
2026-01-30
21 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 52 — Governor Gordon Meets the Press
Episode 52 is a little different — instead of our usual sit-down conversation, we’re sharing the full audio from Governor Mark Gordon’s annual Meet the Press Luncheon at the Wyoming Press Association’s winter convention.In this recording, the governor opens with a pointed acknowledgment of the value of local journalism and the talent in Wyoming’s press corps, then pivots into the issues that are about to dominate the session: a serious budget fight, deep proposed cuts, and what he says would be “cutting the guts out” of the University of Wyoming if a $40 million reduction moves forward...
2026-01-29
51 min
Built for Durango
Episode 2: Staying Anchored — Avoiding Mission Drift in Life and Faith
In Episode 2 of Built for Durango, Bob Bonnar and Pastor DJ Jergensen confront a quiet but persistent threat to both faith and leadership: mission drift. Whether in churches, organizations, or personal lives, they explore how it is possible to slowly lose sight of why we exist — often without realizing it.Using a parable about rescue stations that gradually become exclusive clubs, the conversation exposes how comfort, routine, and distraction can replace purpose. Bob and DJ challenge listeners to examine whether their faith remains outward-focused or has become inward and self-protective.The discussion turns to the im...
2026-01-23
17 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 51 — Give us Gordo v. Gray
This week on the podcast, Bob and Alexis dig into one of the most serious accountability stories to come out of Weston County in years — Governor Mark Gordon’s decision to formally ask the Wyoming Attorney General to begin the process of removing Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock from office.Governor Gordon initially declined to pursue Hadlock’s removal following his first investigation in May, but reversed course after receiving a new formal complaint from Weston County voters citing the false audit and her refusal to comply with a legislative subpoena. Secretary of State Chuck Gray also filed...
2026-01-14
42 min
Built for Durango
Episode 1 — Why Built for Durango - and who it is for.
In this opening episode of Built for Durango, DJ Jergensen and Bob Bonnar lay the groundwork for what this podcast is—and what it is not. Rather than chasing trends or polishing religious language, their conversation centers on sincerity as a defining theme. Drawing from the deeply flawed yet transformative story of the Corinthian church, DJ points to a hopeful truth: God works through imperfect people who are willing to be honest and grow. Bob reflects on his own experiences with guiding words and discipleship, underscoring that following Jesus demands more than good intentions—it requires genuine actio...
2026-01-13
16 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 50 — Is Weston County Ready for AI
This milestone episode marks a turning point for Top of Main as Bob Bonnar and Alexis Barker reflect on more than two and a half years of conversations, growth, and community engagement—and look ahead to what comes next. The heart of Episode 50 focuses on a topic that will shape rural America for decades to come: artificial intelligence. Drawing on Bob’s recent experience at the Four Corners AI Conference, the discussion explores how AI can be a practical tool for rural communities, small businesses, and local journalism—not a threat to them. Alexis addresses the tension between innovation and pu...
2025-12-22
1h 01
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 49 — Home for the Holiday
Bob and Alexis share stories from their holiday in Newcastle and discuss the value of staying connected to the community as remote workers and how important it is to stay engaged with hometown projects while living elsewhere. They also dive into the nuts and bolts of local journalism and governance and how conversations with readers shape reporting priorities, including a new emphasis on covering crime and the challenges of doing so in a small town.They also confront the realities of modern media: fragmented audiences, low engagement, and the need to meet people where they already are...
2025-12-12
49 min
Top of Main Podcast
Episode 48 — Reviving Newcastle: Challenges and Chances
In this episode, we take a candid look at the economic and civic headwinds facing Newcastle, Wyoming, as Bob and Alexis go off the page with former Chamber of Commerce director Susan Love to evaluate the local business climate heading into the holiday shopping season and to confront the broader forces shaping the town’s future.The discussion cuts straight to the core issues: declining civic participation, shrinking population, gaps in civics education, and a Main Street struggling to keep pace with changing expectations. We examine how social apprehension, limited housing, and a weakened retail sector create a...
2025-11-24
59 min