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Cornelius Van Til said there are no neutral facts. Meaning, two people can look at the same thing and come away with differing perspectives, and both of them are right. For example, a married couple can talk about the same event in different ways, and both be accurate. Not understanding this aspect of conflict resolution could exacerbate the tension. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-people-with-different-opinions-who-are-right/ 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/

If a family member or friend does not meet your expectations, what is your primary way of motivating them to change? Do you encourage them toward a better way of living, or do you use other methods like criticism, nagging, and condemnation that tempts them to fear? I will address this problem in the ongoing life and times of Biff and Mable. The answer is more complex than you might think. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-encourage-disappointing-people-to-change/ 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/

Are you an attractive person? I’m not speaking of cultural attractiveness. The peak of attractiveness has a biblical look to it. Jesus was a holy and righteous man, and non-religious people were comfortable hanging with Him. That’s the picture of attractiveness that I’m going for here. Do difficult, fallen, imperfect, and challenging people find you attractive? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-you-attractive-a-way-to-know-is-if-sinners-hang-with-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/

Every family in America has experienced the adverse impact of sexual-related issues. The Internet, sexual abuse, fornication, adultery, and our bent toward immodest clothes, makeup, and presenting ourselves a certain way are part of the word cloud that describes this sexual pandemic. What may surprise you is how easily you can identify with and imitate the porn addict, as you choose other soul-shrinking solutions to feel better about yourself. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-need-to-know-how-choices-to-feel-better-are-addictive/ 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/

People are not equal. It’s a rational idea, but not everyone believes it. Some folks think there can be no disparities between individuals. Everyone gets a trophy. They teach that all outcomes must be the same, even if we have to twist the truth and pretend. We call these folks far-left liberals. Did you know that many Christians act like the far-left liberal? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-surprising-ways-a-christian-acts-like-the-far-left-liberal/ 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/

Proverbs 26:4-5 says that I’m supposed to respond to a fool, and then it says that I’m not to respond to a fool. What is the difference? How am I to know when I should respond to a foolish person or move on with my life? There’s a lot of foolishness out there these days, and sometimes I’m not sure how to react to some folks. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-am-i-to-know-when-or-when-not-to-respond-to-a-fool/ 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/

If you don’t look out for number one, you will fall by the wayside. Don’t expect anyone else to do it for you. Thus, the question is, If you don’t do it, who will? Who is going to take care of you? Probably nobody, which is why your best course of action is to look out for yourself. Make you the number one priority in your life. It’s wise and biblically smart. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-i-am-number-one-and-look-out-for-myself-most-of-all/ 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/

Abuse is a broad category. In today’s culture, it may include micro-aggressions, which can be anything from subtle to intentional slights toward another person. On the other end of the abuse spectrum are some of the most heinous events that can happen to a human being. For those who have gone through the darker and weightier aspects of abuse, I have four vital things that will help you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-things-to-know-when-working-through-abuse/ 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 do you expect from life? If you’re like me, you have many expectations, and some of them have not come to pass. To have expectations is to be Christlike. To have your expectations managing you is not like Christ. Your attitude about God, self, others, and life will reveal how you think about your expectations. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-are-your-expectations-and-how-do-they-manage-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/

Biff wants to begin a counseling ministry in his local church. The leadership is aware of the church’s sanctification needs; they want help and humbly acknowledge this need. They asked Biff to propose a plan. He asked me how to go about this new endeavor. What are the critical details for starting and sustaining a counseling ministry in a local church? Here is what I told Biff. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-i-begin-a-counseling-ministry-at-my-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/

One of the essential goals of parenting is the practice of releasing your children to the culture where they will eventually live. Part of this process is for them to live less under the governance of the parent’s rules and more under God’s authority. As they leave the parent’s protective care, they come up under the Lord’s. Knowing how to assist them in this transition is vital. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/vital-teaching-for-releasing-your-children-to-the-world/ 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 do you want? What would you like to have? Do these desires come from the heart of contentment? To want something does not have to be wrong. We should always want all kinds of things throughout our lives. To not to want things is not to live. The heart of the matter for any of us is when our wants begin to control our thoughts. When that happens, another “god” begins to rule our lives. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-keep-what-you-want-from-controlling-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/

Is there someone in your life with whom you struggle? Stated differently, who bothers you? Has someone done something that has brought friction into your relationship with them? What if you flipped the question around: have you done something to someone that has caused friction? Did you know that you have no other choice but to resolve this problem? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-have-no-choice-but-to-resolve-conflict-with-others/ 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 many benefits to living in our world, and you should not feel guilty about these good things. However, we can become so accustomed to “our way of life” that when something disrupts our expectations, it can dismantle us. It’s precisely in these moments of difficulties that we need to reevaluate and realign our hearts to our calling as God’s children. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-experience-future-glory-in-present-difficulties/ 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/

As the divide in our country continues to widen, the temptation to be harsh, sinfully angry, or retaliate in ungodly ways toward those who think differently from you is high. There are times when we can think more highly of ourselves and less considerate of others, especially when they do things that frustrate us. It's in these critical moments that the gospel must level our hearts. If not, we may go to some dark places. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/thinking-about-those-people-who-are-not-like-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/

“Tough love” has become one of the mantras in modern Christian culture. Like many popularized sayings, it has taken on an unintended—harsh—meaning that does not bring about the peaceful fruit of righteousness. How do you think about tough love? What comes to your mind? How do those who have experienced your tough love think about it? Is there a more biblical worldview for corrective care? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/your-love-should-not-be-tough-it-should-be-merciful/ 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/

You’re only as strong as your hope, and if your main hope is not in Christ, you are not as strong as you should be. The way to know where you have placed your primary hope is by how you react to the difficulties and challenges that come into your life. If your trouble manages you more than Christ, the most courageous thing you can do is ask the Lord to break you from that bondage. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/youre-only-as-strong-as-that-which-provides-the-most-hope/ 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/

In God’s mind, your life is over. He sees the end from the beginning. The Lord stands outside of time—a macro view, looking inside your timeline, which has a start and end date, and He’s helping you navigate your journey. You’re not sure where you’re going or the pitfalls along the way, but from His vantage point, He does. You must know that your story ends well, which is the antidote for fighting off fear while living in the freedom and power of a secure future. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-you-should-live-in-the-freedom-of-knowing-the-future/ 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/

Many marriages, families, and churches have a common link, a missing one. In a word, it’s fellowship. I’m not speaking of having a social conversation with someone. Biblically speaking, fellowship is when two or more people willingly, humbly, openly, transparently, honestly, and vulnerably share themselves reciprocally, which is easier said than done. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/fellowship-is-the-missing-link-in-most-relationships/ 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/

Describe the aroma of your home. Would you say it’s a place where joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving are regularly wafting through the rooms? As you think about the environment in your home, perhaps you can narrow the focus down to yourself (Matthew 7:3-5). How aggressive are you in expressing gratitude to your family members? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-create-the-aroma-of-gratitude-in-your-home/ 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/