Life Over Coffee

After you meet the stranger on the train, and both of you throw inhibition to the wind, you may convince yourself that you’re building a whole relationship with another person. You’re not. At best, what you have is false intimacy; it’s not the real thing. You cannot replicate and enjoy God’s solution to companionship in cyberspace. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him'” (Genesis 2:18).

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Shows Main Idea – Do you have a problematic relative or friend you may need to confront? Many of us do have challenging friends and relatives because our mutual fallenness can rub each other the wrong way. Strangers on the train can engage for a quick second and disembark at the next stop, but when you interact with someone year in and out, there will be problems. Let me share ten thoughts I gave a friend struggling to be at peace with a relative.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-494-help-me-help-my-difficult-relative/

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The concept of sharing freely and without fear is called the disinhibition effect. There is little inhibition about vulnerability with a stranger on the train because he can’t hurt you, so you believe. Of course, the possibility of being vulnerable and lacking perceived risk is part of cyberspace’s bait to lure us into its net. In real-world relationships like our families or the local church, it’s more challenging to “unlike” somebody. When bad things happen and hurts accumulate, we have to deal with them biblically (or not).

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/what-to-do-about-disinhibition-cyber-effects-4-0/

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The teen is not the only struggling soul looking for a community. Sometimes, 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. Then they say, “And he was a perfect stranger!” This interaction is called the “stranger on the train phenomenon.”

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/what-to-do-about-stranger-cyber-effects-3-0/

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Shows Main Idea – Growing old will happen to all of us if we live long enough, and for some of our friends, it can be a dreadful experience, especially if it’s hard to come to terms with one’s physical and spiritual condition. Everyone’s experience of growing old is different, motivating us to consider our stories with compassion and courage. However, due to fallenness, a few typical tripwires can catch us if we’re not careful. I want to share ten of them with you.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-493-practical-advice-on-growing-older-and-finishing-well/

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One of the most potent effects of the second fiddle phenomenon happens in a child's life when he grows into an adult. The young teen is transitioning from kid to adult. He's different in every way. It's a frightful time for many of these children. Their bodies are changing. They're starting to sound differently. Their desires and habits are changing. They look different and are insecure as they begin to wonder who they are. The transitioning child significantly depends on others at this crucial age regarding identity formation.

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There is a discussion about whether cyberspace is real or not. We know what a real, tactile place is, but what is cyberspace? You can't touch or feel it. Is it real? If you were to make a case for cyberspace being real, how would you steel man your position? The arguments are compelling on both sides, but there is a more straightforward way to cut through the debate. The next time someone is on their phone, converse with them. Are they "with you" or somewhere else, regardless of how you define that other place?

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Shows Main Idea – Small groups have been widely implemented in a local church for multiple decades. When rightly understood and implemented, these groups complement the Sunday sermon, assisting church members in applying God’s Word. Maturation in Christ requires knowledge and application. Here are ten vital keys to help leaders gain the most from their small group experience.

Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-492-ten-vital-keys-for-small-group-leaders/

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Technology, social media, and the Internet can be redemptive instruments in the hands of individuals who want to do good and know how to accomplish those positive purposes practically. Of course, the implication in a fallen world is clear: technology in the hands of someone who does not have redemptive values can disrupt and do harm to their souls and those around them. We all have stories of technology’s misuse, which includes our tensions and temptations with social media, making it worth our time to ask the intrusive questions that might help us to consider more practically how to use technology redemptively. What is the cyber effect of technology on your soul? Do you have a practical plan to guard against the potential problems associated with technology, the Internet, and social media?

Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/what-is-the-cyber-effect-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

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The question of this book is, “How can I change?” It’s one of the most honest and necessary questions a Christian can ask, and one of the most mishandled. We often default to half-truths that sound spiritual but short-circuit sanctification: “Let go and let God.” That’s quietism—piety without participation. “Look out for number one.” That’s selfism—self-protection masquerading as wisdom. “Let your conscience be your guide.” That’s sentimentalism—trusting a voice that may be uninformed, offended, or hardened. The gospel offers a better way.

Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/five-things-you-need-to-know-in-order-to-change/

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