Rickthomas.net

Her Hollywood years did not weaken her walk with the LORD, but she became a more committed Christian in spite of her career track. In 1998 she met Ben, and they were married two years later. She eventually walked away from Hollywood, though the affinity for the work has always been in her heart. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-26-from-feminist-to-hollywood-to-pastors-wife/ 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/

Sonja Dosti is a pastor’s wife, living in Fresno, CA. Her husband, Ben, pastors Harvest Bible Chapel, a strong evangelical church that is doing good work in central California. Sonja’s life today is a far cry from what she used to be. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, only later to remarry each other and then divorce again before her teenage years. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-26-from-feminist-to-hollywood-to-pastors-wife/ 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/

Sonja Dosti is a pastor’s wife, living in Fresno, CA. Her husband, Ben, pastors Harvest Bible Chapel, a strong evangelical church that is doing good work in central California. Sonja’s life today is a far cry from what she used to be. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, only later to remarry each other and then divorce again before her teenage years. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-26-from-feminist-to-hollywood-to-pastors-wife/ 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/south-carolina-racism-and-that-irritating-flag/ Dylann Roof’s murderous rampage last week has given another opportunity for the anti-racist community, which I am a part of, to go after the problem of racism from a behavioral modification world view. The argument has turned from what he did, to an opportunity to address personal agendas and pet peeves. Last week I talked about how the argument should be less about gun control and psychotropic drugs, and more about the real problem:

This message is on "True Community: How to Develop True, Authentic, and Transparent Relationships With Another Person." You may apply this teaching to any marriage, family, friendship, work relationship, and, of course, within the local church. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-25-how-to-have-authentic-and-transparent-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 rickthomas.net/donations/

You can read the article here: http://rickthomas.net/the-reason-dylann-roof-murdered/ The body of Christ is grieving again. Nine of our brothers and sisters were senselessly slain Wednesday (June 17, 2015) while at a church meeting in Charleston, SC. Each time this happens we collectively grieve for the victims, their families, the community, and even the assailant.

This is our first attempt at doing interviews, checking out our podcast equipment. We did a mock interview to check out systems. We setup a makeshift recording studio in Bozeman, MT, as we are on the road doing a speaking tour out west.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/50-things-i-want-my-son-to-know/ These things are not in any particular order. Just top of mind. I hope they will encourage, motivate, and help you to do these four words well: Love God, love others.

You can find the article and video here: http://rickthomas.net/?p=254257 In my 10 hour 10 lesson Introduction to Biblical Counseling class I took a portion of one of those classes to do a careful presentation of The Gospel “Y” Chart. The Gospel “Y” Chart is a remix of the “Y” Chart that has been popularized among some biblical counselors. It is a helpful infographic that teaches several key elements regarding how a person changes:

You can find the article here: A quick and easy way to disqualify yourself as a parent After spending a few moments with Luke and Clarissa it became apparent that they were angry parents. When I first brought this up to them, they were immediately reluctant to embrace my assessment. Part of their problem was a narrow interpretation of what anger meant, which is why they could not see themselves fitting within my interpretation.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/working-through-the-pain-of-loss/ I know He has not left me, but I’m hurting right now as I work through these new and unexpected changes in my life. Can you speak into this?

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/50-things-i-want-my-daughter-to-know/ You can find the video here: https://vimeo.com/126990996 As I was thinking about you this week, I started writing down a few thoughts that might help you as you think about your future. These things are not in any particular order, but all of them have significance in their own way. Some will come sooner than later, but I hope that all of them will be appropriate and beneficial for you. Here you go...

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-your-spouse-wants-out/ I was in unbelief. I felt like I was hit by a truck. I didn’t even argue with her I was so shocked. She had begged me to go to counseling for some of our problems for months, but now I was ready. And now this?! I didn’t fully understand what was happening until she was already driving away.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/if-i-love-you-i-expect-you-to-love-me-back Is this statement true or false? Love is a commitment accompanied by action with no expectation of anything in return. Loving another person should come with an expectation that your love will be reciprocated. The fullest expression and experience of love is when two people love each other well. To not expect this or to not want this is to misunderstand the greater purposes and benefits of love.

You can find a transcript of the podcast here: http://rickthomas.net/episode-18-why-it-is-important-to-know-who-the-biggest-sinner-in-the-room-is/ Member question – I love Drive by Marriage. (Find DBM here.) Learning to know and remember that I am the biggest sinner in the room is Basic 101 Christianity, but it is not well taught, studied, or learned. Yet, in my opinion, it should be foundational for the Christian walk. I cannot do a Google search and come away with much information about how I am the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). On the other hand, if I Googled some marital sin(s) that my spouse committed against me, there would be a plethora of information.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/calling-all-perfectionist-everywhere-lets-be-imperfect-for-the-glory-of-god/ I’m working with a couple where the husband is focused on doing everything to the utmost excellence as a way to glorify God. How can I help him to see that things don’t need to be “perfect” for God to be glorified or for true discipleship to happen?

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/when-christianity-disappoints-you/ With religion in the rearview mirror, he set sail for other opportunities to fill his insatiable void. And, as you might predict, he never found satisfaction in anything. He slowly began to lose hope. Then on a late Friday night in April, 1997 he got into his last heated argument. This time it was with his wife. That argument ended after she shot him five times with a pistol.

You can find the show notes here: http://rickthomas.net/how-do-I-change-my-churchs-view-on-alcohol Member question – I was recently called to a small Baptist church that adheres to the church covenant written by J. Newton Brown in 1853. Part of that covenant mandates that no member of our church can sell or drink alcohol. I do not believe that drinking alcohol is a sin. What would you advise?

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/a-world-view-for-carrying-the-Gospel-into-all-the-cyber-world The cyber world is a big place. It nearly reaches every person on the planet, which is every person with access to the Internet. We live in a phenomenal age. The gift of the Internet for the Christian has opened an effectual door that was not imagined centuries ago. The development of the web world has provided Christians with even greater opportunities to share the good news of Christ.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/there-may-not-be-a-more-atheistic-act-than-redefining-words When you change the meaning of a word, you change the meaning of the world. - Ravi Zacharias, Cultural Relativism and the Emasculation of Truth