Life Over Coffee With Rick Thomas

We have no choice about personal suffering (Genesis 2:16-17). It is part of the human condition, Christian or non-Christian. Suffering does not discriminate. Not even Christ could escape personal pain and disappointment, including a mob murdering Him on the cross. To be human is to suffer. There are times we do it to ourselves. In other instances, people hurt us. It’s also random, making no sense about where it came from or when it will leave. Knowing these truths about suffering is soul-disturbing news. But let’s not leave it there: good news exists. We can choose the conditions for our suffering. We can experience these challenges with or without God, making the all-important question, which option would you choose? How do you want to suffer? Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/how-do-you-want-to-suffer-with-or-without-god/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring do

Confrontation is one of those sticky things many people shy away from because they prefer the path of least resistance. Why get in a dust-up with someone where feelings are hurt and the relationship may change forever? Of course, the obvious answer is that our allegiance must be to God, and honoring His Word is essential to fortifying that allegiance. The question then becomes, what are a few biblical tips when you find yourself in the undesirable place of a potential confrontation? Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-398-ten-things-to-consider-when-you-confront-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How do you feel when inconsiderate people say unkind things about you? If you’re like me, it stings a bit. It’s exceptional for a person to shrug off uncharitable comments completely. In these unsavory moments sometimes a person will throw up Matthew 7:1—Judge not, that you be not judged—like an impulsive shield to the unkindness. Did you know that text is not your best defense against unfair judgments? There is another way, a gospel-orientated mindset that becomes your soul’s most potent anchor against those who are unkind toward you, which begs the question: If someone’s unkind words manage my emotions, what am I missing that gives them that kind of power over me? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-unkind-and-unfair-judgments-about-you-control-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What are your thoughts about "his money and her money" in a marriage? Is it wise or unwise? Somewhere in between? As you ponder my questions, please include your thoughts on what a one-flesh marriage means. Perhaps you have heard the cliche about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Is that a good idea when it comes to marriage money? Is it wise for couples to have a worldview and practice where they don't know what the other one is doing with their money? Lots of questions. Let's explore. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/his-money-and-her-money-is-not-biblical-common-cents/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God promised that life would be challenging because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-19), and all those who came from the first couple would struggle similarly (Romans 5:12). From the fall of humanity to the end of each as we know it, the promise of pain, suffering, difficulty, and personal problems is what it means to live in a fallen world as fallen creatures. It sounds gloomy because it is, but this dose of reality must be our worldview and baseline understanding if we want to live well in God’s world while avoiding the temptation to anger when things do not go our way. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-problem-with-cursing-the-sun/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Anger is a relationship fracturing phenomenon that happens too often between individuals. The angry heart desires something from someone who does not provide it or is not responding quickly enough. Because their desire is not finding satiation, the craving soul begins to manipulate the other person with anger. I'm speaking of sinful anger, of course. It is as though they are saying, "I will only be content if you meet this need." In nearly all these cases, the short-tempered person has too many needs. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/angry-people-have-way-too-many-needs/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – I belong to a local church and love biblical counseling. How do I propose a counseling ministry for our church, which does not have one? What are a few things I need to consider as I prepare a presentation to my leaders? This webinar is not an exhaustive treatment on this subject, but a few essential things to begin building a biblical counseling ministry in a local church. It's for pastors who want to know how to identify the correct point person, the leader, so they have reasonable expectations and the church as they gear up to embrace a discipleship/counseling worldview. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-397-webinar-how-to-propose-a-counseling-ministry-to-a-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A recurring question inquirers ask about our Mastermind training program is if they take our course, will it go toward certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). This podcast provides the direct answer and a few other thoughts about certification. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-396-why-acbc-does-not-accept-our-training/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

All Christians bring parts of their past lives into their new salvation experience with God. If we do not see how we carry over these things from our pasts, we will continue to accommodate our old habits, practices, and delusions (Ephesians 4:22). The consequences can be awful. The aim is to identify and break those old patterns that have always been with us so we can live a life for God and others. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/anger-alleviation-a-quest-to-be-god-a-case-study/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – God is complete. He cannot be more or less than what He is at every moment. He is self-existing and not dependent upon or manipulated by anyone. The confusion comes when people misunderstand how the Bible uses human language to communicate what God is like, to help us understand Him. Some believers believe God is like them, i.e., capable of experiencing oscillating manipulated emotions. We don't want a God so easily moved by fallenness, or one we can command to bring justice to our sorrows. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-395-god-does-not-become-sad-when-you-hurt-hes-better-than-that/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Angry people are like puppets on strings, always controlled by their cravings—something they cannot get from others. James said it this way, “You desire and cannot have, so you murder.” The mad puppet can’t get what he wants, so he reacts with manipulative anger. The cure for angry puppets comes when they see how these desires control them rather than God, and attempting to manipulate others to give them their cravings is futile and relationally suffocating. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/to-be-angry-is-to-be-a-puppet-on-a-string/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – The "Y Chart” is an old, albeit helpful biblical counseling tool that some disciple-makers use to help folks see the differences between good and destructive behaviors. A few of these soul-care providers have tended to focus more on the behaviors than the source of our behaviors, which come from the heart. This webinar is “The Gospel Y Chart,” which comprehends the entire change process from who we are in Christ to how we should believe and practice as Christ-followers. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-394-webinar-the-gospel-y-chart/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sinful anger is a universal problem. Everybody does it. For many people, it’s the most recurring sin pattern in their lives. It’s easier to be harsh than kind, to uncharitably judge than think the best, to shut people down than build them up. For the individual who does not want to stay stuck in sinful anger, the number one key to overcoming this habit is seeing yourself correctly. Like all our sinful patterns, if we don’t place the log carefully into our eyes, we’ll never successfully work through any anger problems we may have. Having a correct biblical vision is the perfect starting point. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-get-angry-do-you-see-yourself-correctly/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Expressing anger through silence is an all-too-common communication conflict in too many relationships. The silent partner pretends the other person does not exist by ignoring them. Silent treatment sounds horrible enough, but if you place it within James’s framework for anger, what we’re talking about is murder. Though consequentially not as bad as physical murder, it’s a heinous sin nonetheless. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/weekend-shorts-silent-treatment-is-the-sanitized-version-of-murder/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – This podcast interview brings insight from a young adult who has engaged her friendships and culture. She sees essential things you want to avoid and a few essentials to build well with a future spouse. Whether you are interested in someone or dating with the intent of getting married, here are a few red flags to help illuminate where you and your significant other stands on the most vital issues for a future relationship. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-393-make-sure-your-future-relationship-doesnt-look-like-this/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are times when it’s hard to tell if a person’s anger is righteous or not. Of course, there is the added issue of thinking the best of ourselves when it comes to our anger. Thus, the temptation to reclassify our angry moments is alluring. Righteous anger is the term we use to describe someone who is not sinning when angry; it is possible to be angry and sin not, but the question is, how do you know if your anger is righteous or unrighteous? What does righteous anger do that sinful anger cannot? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-righteous-anger/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The number one question folks ask us is, "What do you do?" Or, "What is your ministry about?" These are valid queries, and in this episode, I explain to you the what, why, and how of our ministry. Succinctly put, we exist to help people by providing life-changing resources so they can go and help others. You're welcome to listen to the podcast or watch the thirty-minute keynote presentation that breaks down what we do and why and how we do it. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-392-the-complete-update-about-how-and-why-we-do-what-we-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Christianity is not a spectator sport; God has called us to participate in the good things He is working into our lives. Not participating in our sanctification by appropriating His grace is a sign of death, not life. In this webinar, I explain through mind mapping what it means to be doers of the Word, a process that leads to Christian maturity. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-391-webinar-mind-mapping-christian-maturity/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sinful anger is regularly minimized, even among Christians, especially among Christians. We often reclassify anger to lesser-sounding offenses—to better-sounding sin categories. Typically, when I talk to people about being angry, the response is usually along the lines of, “Oh no, I’m not an angry person. I think if I were angry, I would respond differently than this. I’m just frustrated.” Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/damaging-effects-of-our-anger-when-we-dont-own-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Show Main Idea: Today’s sexually confused society is not difficult to understand if you interpret the problem through the correct filter. It used to be that everyone identified as a male or female, based on objective anatomical evidence at a child’s birth. In the past few decades, what has always been evident to the naked eye is now fluid; it is “to be determined,” based on other criteria that you can’t know until the child becomes an adult. In this talk, I seek to make sense of sexual confusion while offering help and hope for those caught in the tension of two worldviews. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-390-webinar-making-sense-of-our-sexually-confused-culture/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/