Hope Cast

Bonnie and Ricky dive into the current trend of "no contact" or the practice of people cutting off their families because of hurt or disagreement. They talk about the damage this can do, but also discuss how God-fearing parents can respond to their children cutting them off, particularly in the case of an adult child identifying as LGBTQ+ and cutting off their parents because they know their parents will not agree with their lifestyle.

Ricky and Bonnie address the difficulty of the recurring holiday season for people who might be experiencing familial brokenness. They discuss the "no-contact" trend and challenging call in Scripture to honor our mothers and fathers, and how that can be carried out still today as we enter the holiday season.

In this episode, Bonnie and Ricky talk about the lies that circulate in our culture that can be easy for those who struggle with same-sex attraction to believe, and how to combat those with the truth of the gospel.

Ricky and Bonnie talk about some of the most significant things they have learned through journeying with people seeking sexual and relational healing and wholeness throughout the years they have served at Living Hope Ministries.

Ricky and Bonnie talk about how to develop healthy friendships and how to discern the types of relationships you build with other people. Ricky compares friendship development to the process of making good sourdough - it is a long, slow process and the richness of the friendship grows with time.

Ricky and Bonnie talk about how to discern between a sexual attraction and a desire for human connection with someone. They explain how attraction can often be bodily responses linking to past trauma or experiences, rather than actual desire.

Bonnie & Ricky talk with Kristen Miele, the founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed about the importance of starting conversations about sex with kids early and naturally. They discuss how these topics should be part of normal, regular, and organic dialogue within the home. Kristen Miele has created curriculum and additional resources for parents to share with children at different age levels throughout their life and you can find all of that at SexEdReclaimed.com

Ricky and Bonnie talk about what temptations are and what our response to temptation should be.

Ricky and Bonnie dive into the topic of self-control and how it affects so much of our lives. The ever-diminishing practice of self-discipline is so needed in our world, but particular for those desiring to walk with and imitate Christ!

Ricky and Bonnie discuss tips for teaching kids how to respond well to emotional reactions from early stages so that they are equipped to regulate their emotions in healthy ways in adulthood. Parents need to acknowledge their kids' emotions, and teach (and model!) healthy practices for regulation, both spiritual and physical.