Rick Thomas | Your Daily Drive

Evil has never been as infringing on our families as it is today. If you wanted to find ubiquitous sin twenty years ago, you had to go somewhere to find it. Today you can get there in five seconds. Not only is wickedness easily accessible for inquiring minds, but the non-blushing culture makes it their business to impose their perverted passions upon us in manifold ways. How do you react when it’s...

Every individual is part of the same human family, made by one Being, and connected to one another because of His creative work. The linkage that binds us together came from God’s mind and flowed this His creative hands—anthropomorphically speaking—in Genesis 1:27. Each person—regardless of their relationship to their Creator, has to decide how to interact with other fallen people, our family memb...

Our pastor said, and I paraphrase, “Toxic people are magnets who draw shards of truth and untruth into their orbit to build an image of their making to accomplish their purposes. Their hearts are fictional factories. If you permit them to do so, they will draw you into their universe and shape you into a version of their fiction.” (Sermon preached 10.04.20) Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-prac...

Christians are aliens who live in a foreign land. This home is not theirs, but while they are here, they must live on a practical mission that penetrates the culture, hoping that others will follow them to their eternal home. Sadly, some alien Christians lose their way, forgetting that their citizenship is in heaven. You may recognize them by their worry over losing some of what this land offers....

What is the goal for your child? It’s a good and fair question. What do you hope for him or her to be when they grow up? Most Christian parents would rightly say they hope their children love God with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. I hope that happens with your children, but what does it mean to help them become this practically speaking? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is...

Daniel Berger and I talked about the word victim and how many biblical counselors are abusing the term, which has led to insufficient care within the biblical counseling movement ranks. Daniel told me the word victim comes from the Latin root vicarious, which means taking someone’s place. In the world of victimology, the tragic consequence of being a victim means you’re taking on another’s sin—the...

Have you ever looked at something you disliked in the culture, and then realized that you may be seeing a partial reflection of yourself? I hope so. If you can see yourself, at least some of your tendencies, weaknesses, and untoward desires in the things you dislike, you’re maturing as a Christian. Recently, I saw myself in Bruce Jenner, the man who became Caitlyn Jenner, the woman. https://rickth...

A counseling office is a place for trust, truth, and honesty, but sometimes getting to this place is not straightforward. For example, a counselee may withhold the truth about themselves because they are not confident the counselor is trustworthy. They are vetting the counselor. Every counselee who does not reveal all the facts is not lying. Are you a trustworthy disciple-maker? Read Here: https:/...

When you’re right about something, you know you’re right, the Bible affirms you’re right, and your friends do too, how do you steward your knowledge? Have you ever been right in the past, but now you believe differently? You were not right, but you thought you were. There is a danger in being dogmatic without grace. Omniscient people can become accidental Pharisees. Read Here: https://rickthomas.n...

A struggling teen is every parent's concern. We all know that there is something dynamic happening to our teenagers, and the decisions they make during this season of their lives will set the course for the rest of their lives. If they are not doing well, we worry. Sometimes a parent believes counseling is the right option. Perhaps they are correct. But before you do that, will you consider these...

Being a victim of anything is one of the most challenging circumstances for a hurting soul to negotiate. The journey out of the effects of victimization is long. Some contours will challenge the victim to the broadest expanse of their soul. Their ultimate goal is to become a victor in Christ, not a victim of sin. It’s not easy, but the good news is that there is a path forward. Read Here: https://...

When abuse forms the lens through how you view what is happening in your life or among friends, it may discolor how you interpret and react to those experiences. I’m not suggesting that bad things are not happening to you or your friends, but I am saying that the lens through which you view those things will give you an interpretation, which might not be the most accurate assessment of the problem...

In each election cycle, finding the best candidate can be a daunting and challenging task. To vote or not to vote is rarely the question, but who to vote for can be a problem. This year is no exception. The adage is true: What you see is not always what you get. I’m here to help you to choose the best candidate. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/not-sure-who-to-vote-for-this-year-heres-the-perfect...

Whenever we bring words, language, and constructs from the culture and wedge them into a biblical paradigm, things become awkward, and emotions tend to erupt. This problem is what has happened with the word abuse. We grabbed it from the world, with all its accompanying baggage, and have created an integrated way of thinking about a real problem. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/abuse-is-not-the-b...

One of today’s most popular and accepted lifestyles is LGBTQ+. The plus (+) symbol at the end means it’s a living label; you can keep adding to it. How does this new and accepted way to think about gender and gender roles make you feel? How are you engaging and instructing your children and the rest of your friends? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-should-you-talk-to-your-children-about-lgbtq...

The word abuse has become a catchall phrase with too many Christians. It’s a construct that is full of all sorts of things, and it’s now in danger of losing its worth. When you dilute a subject to include virtually anything you do not like, the original meaning is lost, and your problems do not find solutions. This outcome is what’s happening with the word abuse. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/...

Cornelius Van Til said there are no neutral facts. Meaning, two people can look at the same thing and come away with differing perspectives, and both of them are right. For example, a married couple can talk about the same event in different ways, and both be accurate. Not understanding this aspect of conflict resolution could exacerbate the tension. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-p...

If a family member or friend does not meet your expectations, what is your primary way of motivating them to change? Do you encourage them toward a better way of living, or do you use other methods like criticism, nagging, and condemnation that tempts them to fear? I will address this problem in the ongoing life and times of Biff and Mable. The answer is more complex than you might think. Read Her...

Are you an attractive person? I’m not speaking of cultural attractiveness. The peak of attractiveness has a biblical look to it. Jesus was a holy and righteous man, and non-religious people were comfortable hanging with Him. That’s the picture of attractiveness that I’m going for here. Do difficult, fallen, imperfect, and challenging people find you attractive? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ar...

Every family in America has experienced the adverse impact of sexual-related issues. The Internet, sexual abuse, fornication, adultery, and our bent toward immodest clothes, makeup, and presenting ourselves a certain way are part of the word cloud that describes this sexual pandemic. What may surprise you is how easily you can identify with and imitate the porn addict, as you choose other soul-shr...

People are not equal. It’s a rational idea, but not everyone believes it. Some folks think there can be no disparities between individuals. Everyone gets a trophy. They teach that all outcomes must be the same, even if we have to twist the truth and pretend. We call these folks far-left liberals. Did you know that many Christians act like the far-left liberal? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-s...

Proverbs 26:4-5 says that I’m supposed to respond to a fool, and then it says that I’m not to respond to a fool. What is the difference? How am I to know when I should respond to a foolish person or move on with my life? There’s a lot of foolishness out there these days, and sometimes I’m not sure how to react to some folks. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-am-i-to-know-when-or-when-not-to-re...

If you don’t look out for number one, you will fall by the wayside. Don’t expect anyone else to do it for you. Thus, the question is, If you don’t do it, who will? Who is going to take care of you? Probably nobody, which is why your best course of action is to look out for yourself. Make you the number one priority in your life. It’s wise and biblically smart. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why...

Abuse is a broad category. In today’s culture, it may include micro-aggressions, which can be anything from subtle to intentional slights toward another person. On the other end of the abuse spectrum are some of the most heinous events that can happen to a human being. For those who have gone through the darker and weightier aspects of abuse, I have four vital things that will help you. Read Here:...

What do you expect from life? If you’re like me, you have many expectations, and some of them have not come to pass. To have expectations is to be Christlike. To have your expectations managing you is not like Christ. Your attitude about God, self, others, and life will reveal how you think about your expectations. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-are-your-expectations-and-how-do-they-manage...