Life Over Coffee With Rick Thomas

Shows Main Idea – When secondary goals—no matter how wonderful they are—become our primary aim for others, we will damage our relationships. In this webinar, Rick talks about the dangers of elevating expectations for others to change while presenting a better way to think about how to respond to those you love the most. Show Notes: 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 built-in dangers when we prefer risk-free superficial relationships over the risks of long-term friends fraught with disappointment. For example, I will hear a person talk about how they met a stranger, and within minutes they had an in-depth personal conversation with them. They glow about how easy and natural it was to talk to their new friend. Then they say, “And she was a perfect stranger!” This interaction is called the “stranger on the train” phenomenon. It’s similar to the lack of complexity in dating versus the rigors of marriage. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/why-are-superficial-friends-more-enjoyable-than-long-term-ones/ 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/

Some stories are so bizarre that you can only respond with shock and unbelief. It breaks our categories and reinvents how we are supposed to think about God. It happens when we hear about a horrific event that is happening to someone. Then God interrupts our lives with something unsuspected and unwanted. Our minds race as we try to understand. It is so cruel, that it appears comically cruel. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-terrifying-call-of-god-on-our-lives-seems-comically-cruel/ 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 most authentic and best possible communication that you can have with someone is when you're sharing your most precious treasure with them, and they are reciprocating. Only Christians can have this depth of communication because you must be alive—not dead—in Christ to walk in this type of light, power, and gifts. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-320-how-to-enjoy-the-best-possible-communication-with-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 https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A husband cannot lead well without understanding his wife. How would he know how to lead her if he did not know her, or take the time to understand her? Who would want to follow someone that did not care what you thought about them or where you were leading them? Leaders are always looking in two directions: where they are going while considering those who are following. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-319-a-key-to-a-husbands-leadership-is-awareness-of-those-following/ 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 best relationships are the messiest ones. At first glance, it sounds odd, right? How can good friendships be dirty? Because we’re fallen, broken people, and to live well with others requires getting into the muckiness of each others’ lives. If you’re interested in going beyond the superficial with others, read on. I have seventeen helpful tips that can transform your relationships. Let’s start here: “It is so hard to make friends at our church.” Rick has built a powerful, sharable webinar for you and your friends. You may listen to the audio version only or watch the full webinar! Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-318-watch-ricks-webinar-on-seventeen-relationship-building-tips/ 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/

Trials and disappointment are two unexpected ways the Lord blesses our lives. It’s a challenging way to think, but you know it’s true to the Bible’s narrative. The tension is that in those times in our lives where circumstances mount to such a degree, we begin to doubt God’s active goodness on our behalf. These are typically situational or relational challenges where our confidence in God begins to wane. We lose our spiritual grip. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-rattled-confidence-during-disappointments-is-a-sign-it-is-from-god/ 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 – It’s time for the biblical counseling movement to rethink our assurances about how we train and continue to educate biblical counselors. The old, standard strategy is to provide training, have the student complete 50 hours of counseling reviewed remotely—typically—by a busy Fellow, and then grant the finisher of the training certification. This process is inadequate. Will we talk about our problem? Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-317-the-false-assurance-of-knowing-something 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 many peculiarities of our over-psychologized age is our culture’s affinity for their various attempt to figure out personalities. The peculiarity is not so much with our culture’s fascination with the personality and human condition, as it is how the church has jumped in bed with our culture’s worldview by embracing their definitions, interpretations, and applications. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/take-the-worlds-greatest-personality-test-to-see-what-type-you-are/ 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 – Conflict is unavoidable when two or more people gather for ongoing interaction. Agreeing on everything is not possible nor demanded. Know how to work through relational conflict is vital. This mindmap presents a visual walk through how to handle conflict in the local church. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-316-a-visual-mindmap-walking-through-church-conflict/ 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 – Standing strong for conservative principles did not have a heavy price tag not so long ago. That day has passed. The Christian community is wrestling through the challenges of holding to our convictions, as we recognize that every decision has a financial, reputational, vocational, and educational impact. We're regressing to a former day in church history where decisions could cost your life. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-315-the-dangerous-challenge-for-standing-on-your-convictions-2/ 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 been in a situation with a person who needed your help but could not receive your help because your baggage was so significant that it interfered with what you could have done for the person in need? I’m talking about your hangups getting in the way of helping a struggling soul. That’s what happened to me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/irritated-over-what-a-person-does-will-keep-you-from-helping-them/ 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 – Understanding someone is more in-depth than understanding what is happening to a person. Too often, hurt people only want someone to understand them, so they feel affirmation and validation. This critical need is one of six things that make up biblical understanding. Rick talks about the courage and competence needed to understand a person the right way. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-314-it-takes-courage-to-understand-a-person-the-right-way/ 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 is a heightened awareness of the gospel—the person and work of Jesus Christ—during Easter. Christians worldwide are celebrating what many consider to be the centerpiece of His work on earth. It is great news; He’s out of the grave! Now what? Christ risen indeed is simpler to celebrate than practically apply to our lives. What does gospel transformation practically mean to you? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/he-is-risen-indeed-now-what/ 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 more effectively you appropriate the death of Christ into your life, the more effectively you’ll be able to enjoy “a resurrection kind of Sunday” every day of the year. The key is knowing that your resurrection will only come after your death, which is a daily process. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/to-live-the-resurrected-life-you-must-die-to-yourself/ 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 resurrected Christian is a different kind of person—someone the world has never seen outside our community. The Christian is as diverse as darkness and light, death and life. For some Christians, their new birth’s authentic reality is challenging to practicalize in their day-to-day lives. The cross of Christ settled our eternal sin problem with a holy God, while the resurrection of Christ opened a new and better way for us to live with Him forever. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-you-a-tomb-dweller-or-a-resurrected-christian/ 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/

How many reasons can you think of as to why this is a mind-blowing Easter? Easter Sunday is the best day of the year for all Christians around the world. It would be a great exercise to list why you think it’s so. Will you tell the Lord, share them with a friend, and be amazed all over again. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ten-reasons-this-is-a-mind-blowing-easter/ 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 – At the request of one of our supporters, I have been producing a few podcasts on the cancel culture. She’s not the only one. Every caring Christian has concerns for what is happening in our society, specifically, the cancel culture. In response to those who want to know how to respond, here are ten helpful ideas when speaking against the progressive left. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-313-10-helpful-ideas-when-speaking-against-the-cancel-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/

Shows Main Idea – The cancel culture is a leaderless mob of like-minded activists who use manipulative tactics to browbeat everyone else into conforming to their dictates. Because there is no leader, it makes it hard to push against them. It’s an idea, worldview, presupposition, or concept that anyone may use to attack those who are not like them. Understanding this culture is imperative, and knowing how to combat it is essential. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-312-a-cancel-culture-manipulates-everyone-to-see-things-as-they-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/

Shows Main Idea – Every evil event perpetrated by a white person on a non-white person is racism. Do you believe that statement? If you do, there is something wrong with how you think about wicked acts. If you stamp evil from white people on non-white people, you're doing worse than just misinterpreting and miscommunication wickedness. The Atlanta murder story is a case in point. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-311-racism-is-not-the-most-plausible-way-to-think-about-the-atlanta-murders/ 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/