Counseling abuse situations is challenging. The temptations to succumb to bad strategies are numerous. One of those is teaching the abused to fake strength to prove to their abuser that gaslighting and manipulation have no power. It’s an attractive facade of a defense that further… Continue Reading …
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… Continue Reading …
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… Continue Reading …
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, the original meaning is… Continue Reading …
Can you give some clear examples of signs of how a pastor or church leader is crossing the line from being a shepherd to a spiritual abuser? It would be helpful to know when to support a pastor when he is genuinely trying to defend… Continue Reading …
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.… Continue Reading …
Show’s Main Idea – Rick is playing catch-up in this podcast as he answers questions from our community, responds to accusations about him being an idolater, and gives practical advice on how to initially respond to someone asking for help because they are in an… Continue Reading …
I will never forget the first time that I confronted a verbally abusive husband during a counseling session. As with many authoritarian husbands, this particular man declared his harsh treatment of his wife to be his biblical duty—a perceived badge of honor. As with far… Continue Reading …
Shows Main Idea – Rick responds to questions that some people sent him. They are on abuse, parenting, divorce, bad churches, bad word choices, forgiveness, and personal conviction. If you would like to discuss any of these with him or if you have other questions,… Continue Reading …
Shows Main Idea – The question that I’m posing in the title of this podcast has several layers, and it’s vital that you move slowly and think deeply about my response to this common struggle. If you understand this problem biblically, it will serve you… Continue Reading …