Life Over Coffee with Rick Thomas

Every couple experiences conflict, but arguments are rarely about the issue on the surface. Conflict reveals what we love, what we fear, and what we believe will make us happy. When husbands and wives misunderstand the purpose of conflict, they either avoid it, escalate it, or weaponize it against one another. In this session, we will explore why conflict happens, what it exposes in the heart, and how the gospel provides a pathway for restoration, humility, and deeper intimacy in marriage. Read, Watch, Listen: Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Building a close network of friends inside a local church is one of the most challenging things you'll ever do. Will you consider how you could position yourself for this kind of community? Let's begin with a word cloud. As you scan my list of words, what is the common denominator that connects all of them? There are probably several excellent answers. What would you say is the one thing that ties all of these words together? Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/three-keys-to-make-your-small-group-dynamic/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Is your small group living in-depth, transparent, intentional, reciprocating lives who have strong desires to change personally and as a group? Perhaps it's a men's group or a community group of ladies. It could be a mixed group that meets to go over the sermon or a book. How would you describe those gatherings? One of the most significant pitfalls that can stagnate any community group is shallowness, which implies there is no transformative force in the individual lives and a growing frustration among some of the participants due to the general shallowness of the group. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/the-revolutionary-cure-for-shallow-small-group-frustration/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

When couples say they have a communication problem, they are usually looking for techniques to improve how they talk. But communication struggles begin in the heart. New habits will only produce temporary improvement. In this session, we will explore how the gospel transforms the heart so that couples can move from talk trouble to genuine biblical koinonia—a shared life of honesty, humility, and grace. Watch: https://lifeovercoffee.com/ep-570-from-talk-trouble-to-koinonia/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Would it be better to have a Bible or a mentor? You might think my question is a trick question, though it is not meant to be. The potential dilemma is intended to provoke you to think first, respond second, and discuss thoroughly. The obvious answer to the question is both. The Bible does not say the Bible alone is all you need to change. The Bible does not suggest that all you need is a discipler. At different times and in different ways, the Bible makes a case for both of these options to be part of a person's overall soul care package. Actually, the Bible teaches that there are five ways a person can change. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/which-do-you-need-for-your-maturity-a-bible-or-a-mentor/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Sometimes in life, you have to get into a conflict with someone. This dreaded reality is not a wish, desire, or prayer request but rather a common-sense perspective that comes with living in a sin-cursed world. It is impossible to have two or more humans living close to each other for an extended period and not have relational conflict. Sin does not accommodate our desires for peace or present a path of least resistance. Dealing with reality is a better starting point than pretending that bad things will never happen. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/there-are-times-when-you-have-to-get-into-conflict/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-eleven-marriage-or-mayhem-marriage-defined/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

The title sounds careless and possibly scary, but before you blow a gasket, let me ask, “Have you reached sinless perfection yet?” We can pretend there is a secret in all our lives, but the truth is that it is not a secret at all: we still sin against God and each other. We might love God and others as we love ourselves, but we most certainly sin against God and others, too. This undeniable truth is a call to action to prepare for the inevitable. Like a wise financial steward who knows hard times are coming, he budgets for those difficult days. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/budget-sin-into-your-small-group-experience/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Your friends are deeply distressed about the sudden change in their teenage son's behavior. Once known for his gentle demeanor, he is now withdrawn, frequently angry, and openly disrespectful toward them. Their concern deepens when they discover, after persistent questioning, that their son has been engaging in self-harming behaviors, specifically cutting. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-bug-off-an-angry-teen/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

There is a common rhetorical move in contemporary trauma-informed care conversations that sounds compassionate on the surface but is deeply reductionistic underneath. It frames care in terms of a binary: instead of asking, “What is wrong with you?” we should ask, “What has happened to you?” That contrast is often presented as enlightened and humane. The first question is portrayed as accusatory, shaming, harsh. The second is portrayed as empathetic, validating, and safe. That binary is not only simplistic; it is misleading. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-569-the-false-choice-in-trauma-informed-care/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable and Biff have enjoyed a beautiful relationship during their seven years of marriage. They have two children, ages five and two. However, Mable is facing a challenging situation with her mother, who has been pressuring her to spend more time with her during the week. Mable's father is passive, and her mother has always been the dominant figure in the home. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/how-do-i-honor-my-older-parents/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biff and Mable adopted Biffina when she was a toddler, bringing her into their family with high hopes and good intentions. Now, years later, Mable has begun referring to Biffina as her “practice child,” a term that reflects her frustration and disappointment over Biffina's rebellious behavior. In contrast, Mable describes their biological daughter, Biffette, as easier to parent, further widening the relational gap between the family members. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-practice-parenting-with-adoptive-kids/

Show Notes: Rick Thomas interviews Jonathan Tepper, the author of Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Addiction, a coming-of-age memoir set in Madrid's San Blas neighborhood during Spain's heroin and AIDS crisis. Raised by missionary parents who founded a drug rehabilitation center at the height of the epidemic, Tepper tells a gritty, lyrical story of addiction, recovery, faith, and loss, as seen through the eyes of an American boy growing up in the middle of it. Watch or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-568-jonathan-tepper-shooting-up-a-memoir-of-love-loss-and-addiction/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable laments, “This is not what I signed up for,” reflecting her deep regret over their 11-year marriage. Their relationship has stagnated, feeling more like two individuals cohabiting than a unified partnership. Biff spends his time at work with his friends while Mable escapes into her routines, often turning to cyber friends on social media for connection. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-no-more-fun-with-biff-and-mable/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable feels trapped in a marriage where her husband, Biff, has emotionally and relationally checked out. His indifference has tempted her to find self-worth through a series of surrogate husbands, such as achievements, ministry, and activities, none of which have provided the fulfillment she craves.  Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-confession-of-an-imposters-wife/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – This episode celebrates God's sovereign hand in America's founding by telling the often-overlooked story of Cynthia Scott—a woman whose quiet faith, courage, and conviction shaped history behind the scenes. Rather than political nostalgia or cultural noise, the conversation calls listeners to see America's origins through a biblical lens, recognizing how ordinary believers trusted God, acted faithfully, and left a legacy that still matters today. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-567-cynthia-scott-celebrating-god-americas-founder/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biff has battled drug addiction for the past 23 years, repeatedly promising Mable that he would quit. Each time, remorse follows his failures, but his empty assurances have left Mable growing increasingly impatient and disillusioned. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-the-addict-and-his-wife/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

When asked why she sought counseling, Mable explained that her teenage daughter was in rebellion. However, she was caught off guard when the counselor redirected the conversation to the state of their marriage—wondering why he would begin there. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/trouble-teen/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to talk honestly and practically about how parents can disciple their children in a sexualized and confused culture—without fear, shame, or avoidance. Watch or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-566-elizabeth-urbanowicz-helping-your-kids-know-gods-good-design/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Five years ago, Mable and Biff had a whirlwind dating relationship. They were impure, though they rationalized their behavior by marrying hastily. Friends expressed concerns but chose not to intervene, as the couple kept their distance from caring relationships. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-the-spear-you-sharpen-may-stab-you-in-the-heart/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable has left Biff after 24 years of marriage, citing patterns of ongoing anger, four episodes of physical abuse, mental manipulation, devaluing behavior, and public embarrassment in front of their five children. She also pointed to Biff's unwillingness to seek help as evidence of his lack of desire to change. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-what-about-biff/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Main Idea – In this episode, we're taking an honest look at a subtle but serious drift in how biblical counseling is sometimes applied—specifically, the quiet replacement of parenting with counseling. What starts with good intentions can easily move into territory that undermines the very structure God put in place for child formation: the home. Together, we'll explore the differences between counseling and parenting, the limitations of counseling young children, and how counselors can serve families without displacing parents' authority and responsibility. We'll also touch on the vital role extended family and mentors play in the lives of teens and how faithfulness, not efficiency, is the metric for change. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-565-when-biblical-counseling-replaces-parenting/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

This Thanksgiving is a particularly challenging milestone for Biff—it is his first holiday without his wife and children. Earlier this year, his 17-year marriage to Mable ended after years of mediocrity and unresolved conflict. Mable has custody of their three teenage sons, who blame Biff for the divorce. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-thanks-thanksgiving/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable recently discovered that her husband, Biff, has been living in adultery for over five years. The shocking revelation came after she found a bar receipt in his wallet, which led to confrontation, further investigation, and confirmation of the affair. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-the-sinning-victim/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-five-marriage-or-mayhem-reclassified-desires/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Sylvia has attended a large church in Galveston, TX, for 14 months but feels disconnected despite her efforts and consistent attendance. She has not developed meaningful relationships and struggles to feel part of the community. Her mother, Mrs. Avery, believes that the church's size is the problem and has encouraged Sylvia to consider attending a smaller one. However, Sylvia is uncertain whether her difficulty lies in the size of the church or her hesitancy to engage. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/i-cant-connect-with-my-local-church/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable, a 59-year-old Christian woman, comes to you for counseling after enduring decades of profound suffering. Ten years ago, her second son was murdered by his wife, who shot him five times. Despite the brutality of the crime, the wife received only 300 hours of community service. Adding to the anguish are the lies during the trial, and a life insurance payout to the wife's daughter—from a previous marriage—deepened her sense of injustice and betrayal. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/she-buried-her-son-10-years-ago/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-four-ma…-for-suffering/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Biff, a newlywed and a member of your church, comes to you for counseling. His wife, Mable, comes from a family with deep roots in the local church. She grew up attending Christian schools and is now a teacher at the church school. Their relationship was well-known and celebrated within the church community. After two years of courtship, the congregation rejoiced when Biff and Mable announced their engagement and subsequent marriage. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/past-sex-thoughts-in-current-marriage-2/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable, a 25-year-old solid Christian, comes from a strong Christian family and is active in her gospel-centered church. She has recently entered a relationship with Biff, a 29-year-old Christian who has been divorced for three years. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-mable-marries-the-divorced-guy/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-three-marriage-or-mayhem-meaning-and-significance/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Biff is a popular ministry leader whose love for his work has overshadowed his responsibilities in his marriage and with his children. This dualistic life has led to a fractured family and a dissatisfied wife. For years, Biff has lived a dual life—privately struggling with sin and neglecting his family while publicly portraying himself as a Christlike example to his local church. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-unholy-trinity-man-ministry-marriage/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

As a Christian counselor working in a parachurch organization, we often receive referrals from local churches to counsel their members. These referrals sometimes reveal troubling dynamics between the counselees and their churches. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/counselees-and-the-local-church/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-two-marriage-or-mayhem-purposes-for-marriage/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Biff's friend, Bert, is known for being a practical joker. Bert's sense of humor is a strength that has endeared him to many, but like most strengths, it has become his greatest weakness. Bert rarely allows for serious conversations, leaning heavily on verbal sparring through sarcasm and mocking, which always dominates the conversations. Being with Bert is like a competitive event, often putting others down in front of their peers. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-freddie-the-flesh-cutter/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

The news of Biff and Mable's teenage daughter's pregnancy sent shockwaves through their local church. In response, the pastors recommended marriage counseling, which you agreed to provide. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-present-but-not-accounted-for/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biff is seeking counseling after his wife, Mable, discovered inappropriate searches on their home computer. Initially, Biff denied any wrongdoing, claiming ignorance. However, the browser history revealed hundreds of ungodly links, leaving no room for doubt. Since they are the only ones with access to the computer, the responsibility clearly rests on Biff. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-his-confession-was-not-greater-than-what-others-knew/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable struggles with deep insecurity masked by self-righteousness. Her desire for perfection and a craving for others' approval distort her relationships with both God and those closest to her. Her family is well aware of her tendencies but feels unable to address them because Mable is not humble enough to receive feedback about her faults. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-your-high-standards-tempt-me-to-lie/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – Forgiveness often seems impossible when the offense is deep, the pain is fresh, or reconciliation feels unsafe. But biblical forgiveness isn't about forgetting, excusing, or instantly trusting again. It's about releasing the debt—just as Christ released ours. In this gospel-centered webinar, Rick Thomas reframes forgiveness as an act of worship, not a concession to the offender, helping us see how freedom begins when we entrust justice to God. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-564-webinar-unforgiveness-and-the-gospel/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biffina, in her 30s, represents many lonely people who have faced the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. Biffina, also like so many others, has interpreted her childhood trauma through a lens of self-condemnation. As a result, she now struggles with identity, relationships, and viewing herself biblically. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-the-abused/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable, a nineteen-year-old, grew up in a tumultuous home. Her father's instability, expressed through pouting and anger-laced outbursts, created an environment of fear, insecurity, and unpredictability. She vividly recalls curling up in a fetal position at night, listening to her parents argue. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-mables-search-for-self-esteem/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – Anger is more than a behavior problem—it's a worship issue. In this powerful webinar, The Heart of Anger: What It Costs, What It Reveals, Rick Thomas exposes the hidden motivations behind both explosive outbursts and silent treatments. Learn how to move past surface-level management and address the root of anger at the heart level through a gospel-centered lens. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-563-webinar-the-heart-of-anger-what-it-costs-what-it-reveals/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable described her marriage in deeply painful terms, saying she feels like a prostitute. She went on to admit that she uses intimacy as a tool to manipulate her husband while he reacts to his unmet desires with pouting or anger. Their relationship is caught in a destructive cycle of sinful behaviors, leaving her feeling hopeless and unsure of how to move forward. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/the-case-of-the-christian-prostitute/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Three years ago, Biff and Mable became Christians. Biff, 38, and Mable, 39, joined a church shortly after their conversion and began engaging with their community. A year later, Biff expressed his desire to serve on the church's elder board. The church leaders initiated an assessment phase to evaluate his qualifications for leadership. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/meds-and-more/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it's certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you've ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That's why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I offer more than principles—I offer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-one-marriage-or-mayhem-marriage-asunder/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – In this powerful conversation, Rick Thomas interviews biblical counselor and author Rachel Coyle about her mini-book, Help! She's Struggling with Pornography. Rachel shares why she wrote the book, how pornography uniquely affects women, and why framing the struggle biblically—as slavery to sin and idolatry—offers lasting hope through Christ. If you're looking for compassionate, gospel-centered clarity on this often-ignored topic, this episode is essential. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-562-rachel-coyle-help-shes-struggling-with-porn/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biff, a 42-year-old husband and father, believes the Lord is calling him to pursue a biblical counseling ministry. Seven years into his Christian walk, Biff is zealous about helping others through the transformative power of the gospel. His marriage is stable, and his wife supports his desire to serve. However, both Biff and Mable come from dysfunctional family backgrounds, which continue to influence aspects of their family dynamics. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/case-study-the-aspiring-counselor-wannabe/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.