You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/?p=263250

Mailbag Question: I would love to know more about how the biblical counseling movement understands and responds to Adlerian psychology, particularly its impact on modern “positive parent​ing” principles.

In my reading, there are aspects I really enjoy about it, and others that drive me bonkers.

Do you know of any good readings or teachings out there that gives a very thoughtful response to the good, the bad, and the ugly of modern uses of Adler’s ideas for parents?

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/a-biblical-response-to-halloween/

Halloween, from a degree of difficulty perspective, is the most challenging of all our holidays. A few days out of each October we are asked to give mental energy to this tradition.

The good news is how this makes Halloween no different from any other thing in our lives. It is just another discipleship opportunity–a privilege the LORD gives us to bring a right response to this annual interruption.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/if-you-have-limited-time-and-friends-with-unlimited-needs/#

I suspect if you’re a caring person then there is a nagging disparity between your daily time allotments and the amount of people who want to get on our calendar.

If you are like this, then one of the most important things you can do today is spend some time re-evaluating how you spend your time, specifically as it relates to those who want a piece of you.

I interviewed my friend, Pastor Mike Hawkins about his life, pastoring, counseling, and how our ministry intersects with his on a day-to-day basis. I have known Mike for a few years, and we have been in the trenches with many counseling situations.

Read Here: http://rickthomas.net/interview-pastor-thoughts-caring-others/

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You can find the show notes here: http://rickthomas.net/interview-pastor-thoughts-caring-others/

I sat down with my pastor and friend, Mike Hawkins, and asked him some questions about his life, pastoring, counseling, and how our ministry intersects with his on a day-to-day basis. I have known Mike for many years, and we have been in the trenches with many counseling situations.

You can find the article here?

This is the third in a series of commentaries I’ll be writing on traditions and customs that, in my humble opinion, are doing damage to the missional purpose of what is commonly referred to as the “Black Church”.

The objective of this series is not to denigrate any particular denomination, church, or individual, but to humbly address what I personally view as orthopraxy (orthodox practice) that is harmful to the Black Church as an institution and detrimental to the advancement of the Gospel in general. – Darrell Harrison

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/the-cure-for-the-distracted-heart/

What captured my attention first were the words Above all else. My imagination journeyed into a consideration about the seemingly absolute quality of those words.

Those words wanted to make a broad and full sweep across the details of my daily life. The list of people, activities, personal engagements, responsibilities, and all the other items that fill my weekly calendar are somehow made more simple, while being greatly challenged by these three words:

Above all else.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/How-to-build-and-enjoy-dynamic-community-life

The most important thing in our lives is our relationship with God. Nothing transcends Him, which makes loving Him with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength the number one aim in your life (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7, 6:4-5, Matthew 22:36-40). Everything else falls short of experiencing and pursuing God (Matthew 6:33).

This means that all of our situations and relationships are opportunities to deepen our experience with the LORD (1 Corinthians 10:31). If there is something in our lives that hinders our relationship with the LORD, then we are to cut it off (Matthew 5:30) or set it aside (Hebrews 12:1).

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/leading-your-wife-in-intimate-conversations-part-two/

Most Christian women want to be loved and led well (1 Peter 3:7). They want to be vulnerable (Ephesians 5:29). I have described it to many couples like a person walking up to you with their heart in their hands, reaching it out to give to you.

A wife will never do that with her husband if he has a proven track record of not being trusted with the high honor of stewarding her heart. That is what finally dawned on me; that is what I began to own.

You can find the article here: http://rickthomas.net/the-most-perfect-relationship-you-can-have-with-another-person/

We are relational beings because we were created in the image of a relational being (Genesis 1:26). God, who has always belonged to a community–a Trinitarian community–made us in such a way that we would also want to belong in a community (Genesis 2:18).