Rickthomas.net

If everything in your life cannot be the most important thing in your life, then what is the most important thing to you? If you were to choose your topmost priority, aim, or goal in life, what would you choose? Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/your-wife-your-children-and-other-secondary-considerations/ 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/a-reason-the-word-of-god-does-not-connect-with-our-culture/ My question about this is not about the power of truth, especially God’s Truth, to capture and lead the person to salvation. It is whether reasoned (intellectual, rational) appeals to truth and goodness are, by themselves, most fitting in the contemporary cultural scene, which is marked by a lack of confidence in rational truth as an absolute category.

Few things in our culture today are sadder than the deterioration of the family. It does not matter any longer if you’re a Christian; being Christian does not insulate you from the encroachments of sin. Abuse has many aspects. This article addresses only one of the many questions about abuse: can a Christian spouse divorce her husband because of abuse? Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/can-a-christian-divorce-another-christian-for-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 rickthomas.net/donations/

The number reason you need someone is not to meet your deepest longings, but to image the Trinity in a relationship community. To fully grasp this, you must pretend--at least for a moment. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/the-number-one-reason-you-need-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 rickthomas.net/donations/

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/the-problem-when-black-churches-treat-the-pastors-wife-as-co-pastor/ This is the second 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/episode-31-abuse-suffering-and-other-painful-disappointments/ This podcast is a letter written to a friend on our Member's forum, who has gone through abuse. It was written to affirm the direction she is taking, while providing some safeguards about potential future issues.

Celebrating a birthday is fun. Each family has their birthday tradition. The past few years we have been celebrating our family birthdays this way. We call them birthday adventures. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/a-cool-idea-to-do-on-your-birthday 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/

Girls are unique individuals that every dad, husband, and boyfriend need to understand. Regardless of her age, there are common truths that apply to all girls. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/what-every-guy-needs-to-know-about-every-girl-regardless-of-her-age/ 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/

Careful assessment and outside input is one of the best things that could happen to any girl who wants to be married. Her future marriage is too important. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/open-letter-to-any-girl-who-wants-to-be-married/ 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/

In the last chapter, I talked about the differences between boys and girls, and their unique sexual temptations. Now I’m going to talk about the long-term consequences of premarital sex by looking at a couple who had premarital sex and the long-term effects of their cover-up. Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/sex-before-marriage-is-the-beginning-of-a-trail-of-tears/ 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/10-things-the-black-church-should-stop-doing/ This is the first in a series of commentaries I’ll be writing on traditions and customs which, in my humble opinion, are doing damage to the missional purpose of what is commonly referred to as the “Black Church”.

You can find the show notes here : http://rickthomas.net/episode-30-when-you-are-hurt-by-your-local-church/ We all say there are no perfect churches. It sounds good, and it is a true statement. But what if we explored more in-depth about how you relate to your imperfect church? I suspect that every person reading this piece has been hurt in some way or another by something that has happened in a local church. And while I would not want to trivialize what has happened to you, I would like to cast a vision and make an appeal that extends beyond what has happened to you.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/Your-life-is-shaping-your-childs-life I was having a conversation with my son the other day and mentioned to him that he was going to be my replacement. It was a sobering thought. My son will grow up one day and become some version of what I have modeled for him. The good and the bad of my life will bring shape to his future life.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/A-biblical-reason-to-love-our-bodies The almost daily news reports about men and women strapping explosive devices to their bodies, becoming human bombs, and exploding in public places in order to cause terror have become, sadly, all too common and frequent. What has happened to our relationship to the human body that it can now so easily be used as a bomb to destroy other bodies?

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/why-you-need-to-know-that-you-cant-fix-people/ For those involved in biblical counseling and discipleship, the sting of not “seeing” results can be even sharper as we are ministers of God’s Word offered into the lives of people, and we expect change and a demonstration of the effective Word of God.

You can find the show notes here: http://rickthomas.net/episode-28-essential-teaching-about-how-people-change/ The key idea for this session is, “The change process must begin at a place that is deeper than our behaviors. To change well is to begin in the heart while working out to the behaviors.”

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/is-planned-parenthood-harvesting-and-selling-human-lives/ The Center for Medical Progress recently released an undercover video of Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s Senior Director for Medical Services, explaining Planned Parenthood’s participation in harvesting and selling intact body parts of aborted babies for medical research.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/you-will-know-you-love-gay-people-when/ In a culture increasingly committed to calling right wrong and wrong right (Isaiah 5:20), we need to keep our hearts laid open before God, asking Him to search us, test us, and lead us (Psalm 139:23-24), lest we fall into fear from speaking God’s truth or anger while speaking God’s truth.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/Two-rules-every-parent-must-teach-their-children As our children become older we hope they will be governed less by our rules and more by the freedom they understand, experience, and enjoy in Christ. Gospel-centered and Gospel-motivated parenting slowly and incrementally releases our kids from our rules, our expectations, and our authority, while placing them under the greatest and most powerful governing dynamic known to man.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/gays-need-more-than-our-rebuke-they-need-our-gospel/ Last week’s Supreme Court’s decision that legalized same-sex marriage has been a sobering wake-up call for many Christians. Lines were clearly drawn by the highest court in our country. You are either for or against gay marriages. My concern is whether these lines will turn into barriers that could have a stifling impact on the Gospel.