Life Over Coffee With Rick Thomas

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/

Have you ever wondered what is going on in the mind of the angry person? It’s not what you might think. Anger is our most common and problematic enemy that can set up camp in our hearts. If practiced often, it can become a habit that destroys our minds and relationships. Yes, our minds; it’s more than a behavior. It’s a heart condition, first of all. To get rid of it, we must understand its exact cause. We will begin to take down the behavior as we address the source practically. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/diagramming-the-heart-of-the-angry-person/ 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/

Let’s free associate: what goes through your mind when you think about rest? What does rest mean to you, and how do you obtain it? Perhaps it would be good to ask yourself if you are a restful soul. Knowing how to rest and being at rest are essentials in our fearful and frenetic world. Though Christians should be the most restful of all humanity, it’s not a given, which is why practically thinking about rest is worth our time. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-you-a-restful-soul-how-to-enter-gods-rest/ 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 – Helping the victims of abuse cannot be like looking down a tube, excluding comprehensive, peripheral data-gathering. You must believe the victim so much that you want to investigate every possible option to find the whole truth about the abuse so that you can serve the offended and offender in the best possible ways. In this episode, Rick talks about two ways to investigate abuse situations—the inverted and comprehensive belief models and why the latter is the wisest way to help victims. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-389-comprehensive-data-gathering-is-crucial-to-help-victims/ 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 we can deceive ourselves into believing we are doing good when we’re not. The deceptions of sin are subtle. Having someone speak into the things we cannot see is vital, which is what I did with Biff and Mable. This mindmap (below) unravels their tangled marriage by showing how and why he did not love his wife well while choosing to love others more. He had twisted ruling motives of the heart. No surprise; I have them, too. But it was worse. He used the Bible to support his actions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-husband-does-not-protect-me-a-mind-map-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/

There are times when you have to do hard things for those whom you love. You do the difficult things because—in some situations—it’s the best way to honor someone. Some caring friends have a hard time applying this truth to those they love. Usually, they are afraid not to acquiesce to the demands because of the gaslighting and manipulations. They must come to terms with this complicated truth: honoring others does not mean letting them run all over you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/honoring-someone-does-not-mean-to-give-them-everything-they-want/ 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 to be when you grow up? It’s not just a question for the high school graduate. I did not figure out what I wanted to be after growing up until I was thirty-eight years old. Some of us are a bit slower than the average bear. If you’re uncertain about your niche in life, I have some valuable advice for you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up-heres-some-advice/ 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 – Guilt and conviction are two of many kindnesses from the Lord. We would not know there was something wrong with us if the Spirit did not let us know. But because we live in a post-Genesis three world, there is confusion about guilt and conviction. This webinar addresses the confusion while bringing practical insight into how to respond to true conviction, the effects of feelings not from God, and how to live in the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-388-webinar-victory-over-true-guilt-defeating-a-false-sense-of-guilt/ 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: Everyone is different because of our unique and diverse shaping influences. Understanding what motivates an individual is essential to do competent soul care. This webinar is an in-depth exploration of our human motivations and shaping influences with practical applications that will help you understand those you care about the most. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-387-webinar-human-motivations-and-shaping-influences/ 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/