Rickthomas.net

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/im-weary-reading-books/ One of the most redemptive things a Christian could do is stop reading so many books. Transformation comes through the Christian’s heart being transformed by the Spirit of God, as informed by the Word of God. If your self-help pursuits are not bringing you to that good end, then you may want to reconsider how you’re trying to change. Paul framed change as happening in the spirit of our minds in Ephesians 4:23. He told the Christians in Ephesus that they needed to renew their minds. When he was talking to the Corinthians, he told them that the battle that breaks thought strongholds is not a fleshly endeavor, but a divine one (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

Easter is the most famous Christian celebration but it's not the only day to celebrate the resurrection. He's alive today too. Do you have resurrection joy? Article here: http://rickthomas.net/its-resurrection-sunday-again-still-alive/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

The resurrection of Christ was a huge problem when it happened. It was hard to fathom or accept. Things have not changed. Do you believe in the resurrection? You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/man-alive-the-problem-with-the-resurrection/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/do-better-than-bible-study-spend-time-with-god/ Have you ever thought about the difference between a Bible study versus being with God, while studying His Words? There is a relational difference between the two. I know when a person asks how much time you spend with God that it can send echos of guilt through the soul. My goal is not to probe you for guilt-motivating purposes, so relax a bit. I just want you to think about the difference that can exist between studying the Bible versus entering into a relationship with God while reflecting upon His Words.

It is impossible to fail our program. There is not an A to F grading system because the Christian training worldview is counter-intuitive to secular systems (1 Corinthians 1:25). I supervise the work, but I do not put any student in an A or F category.. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/passing-failing-program/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

If you were to lose the most precious thing in your life, how would you respond? Perhaps you have lost something that was meaningful to you. If so, you’re well aware of the strength of your faith in times of loss. I was thinking about these things as I reflected on Ronda Rousey's loss to Holly Holm in their MMA match on November 15, 2015. Ronda was the reigning and undisputed UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Read Here http://rickthomas.net/rhonda-rousey-need-to-die-a-lesson-for-all-of-us/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

You can find the article on Medium https://medium.com/@RickThomasNet/the-glory-of-no-accountability-among-talking-sport-s-heads-baa934e2e851#.hwoncuqtn Or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/risk-all-reward-life-talking-head-rick-thomas?trk=prof-post

Find all Pertaining to Life podcasts here: http://rickthomas.net/series/pertaining-to-life/ And submit your question here: http://rickthomas.net/contact/ Let me know you are asking a Podcast Question. This podcast presents the interplay between our spiritual and physical lives, which I categorize as character and competency issues. Our job is to discern what a person can repent from v. a God-given ceiling from which the person cannot change. Paul gives us three people groups in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 and how to respond to them. This podcast talks about those people groups: (1) Idle: the behavioral sinner, (2) Fainthearted: the small-souled person, and (3) Weak: a person with physical limitations, and the interplay our our responses to them. “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Most of my marriage counseling is either with couples who have been married five years or less or fifteen years or more. That is not an absolute rule, but a general one. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/from-dating-to-divorce-and-how-we-got-there/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

You can find the show notes here: http://rickthomas.net/interview-counseling-happen-church/ Can using the biblical soul care model in a small group setting address problems and accomplish discipleship in the local church.

One of the more common complaints I hear from spouses is when one of the partners in the marriage talk about being alone in the marriage. These lonely spouses perceive a seemingly invisible barrier between them. It's a level of communication they cannot move past. Read Here http://rickthomas.net/im-living-alone-in-my-marriage/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

If you knew of a person or a group of people were being deceived by someone, would you choose to mock them or their leader as a way to win them to the truth of God? Read here: http://rickthomas.net/its-unwise-and-unhelpful-to-mock-joel-osteen/ 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 can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/something-must-come-between-us-or-were-going-to-kill-each-other/ Perhaps you get angry at your spouse, or your children, or certain acquaintances. Does the cross of Christ affect how you fight? Does it alter or temper your frustration toward others? Can you stand and take in the realities of the cross while easily and un-forgivingly convicting, judging, and condemning those who hurt you?

You can find the show notes here: http://rickthomas.net/white-guy-talks-black-guy-black-things/# I sat down with Darrell Harrison and interviewed him on race related topics that have been current and long-standing issues in our American culture. Darrell is a Christian black man who writes about race and culture.

The messiest place on earth outside our families should be the local church. Each family unit is a context where masks come off as our real selves are exposed to each other. The local church is a macro context of the micro family. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/five-ways-can-love-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 rickthomas.net/donations/

When a wife has been shaped by her past to be insecure marries a husband who is prone to harshness, their marriage will be an endless loop of relational collisions. The main responsibility is for the husband to learn how to build up his wife with his words rather than tear her down. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/the-insecure-wife-who-lives-with-the-harsh-husband/ 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 rickthomas.net/donations/

Mailbag Question: I would love to know more about how the biblical counseling movement understands and responds to Adlerian psychology, particularly its impact on modern “positive parent​ing” principles. In my reading, there are aspects I really enjoy about it, and others that drive me bonkers. Do you know of any good readings or teachings out there that gives a very thoughtful response to the good, the bad, and the ugly of modern uses of Adler’s ideas for parents? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/psychologies-bow-foot-bible/ 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/

I interviewed my friend, Pastor Mike Hawkins about his life, pastoring, counseling, and how our ministry intersects with his on a day-to-day basis. I have known Mike for a few years, and we have been in the trenches with many counseling situations. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/interview-pastor-thoughts-caring-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/

You can find the article here? This is the third in a series of commentaries I’ll be writing on traditions and customs that, in my humble opinion, are doing damage to the missional purpose of what is commonly referred to as the “Black Church”. The objective of this series is not to denigrate any particular denomination, church, or individual, but to humbly address what I personally view as orthopraxy (orthodox practice) that is harmful to the Black Church as an institution and detrimental to the advancement of the Gospel in general. – Darrell Harrison

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/the-cure-for-the-distracted-heart/ What captured my attention first were the words Above all else. My imagination journeyed into a consideration about the seemingly absolute quality of those words. Those words wanted to make a broad and full sweep across the details of my daily life. The list of people, activities, personal engagements, responsibilities, and all the other items that fill my weekly calendar are somehow made more simple, while being greatly challenged by these three words: Above all else.