Life Over Coffee

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://lifeove...

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 t...

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...

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://lifeoverc...

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 y...

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 truste...

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...

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 supportin...

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 co...

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...

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 he...

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 coun...

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...

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?...

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 e...

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...

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 previ...

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 e...

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 thei...

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 b...

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 e...

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, List...

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 suppo...

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 e...

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 o...