Home / Contented

• I Can Do All Things: Like Be Content

  In Contented, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 24 August 2012 / 0 comments

  

  Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. There are few verses that are as tortured, misused, and selfishly appropriated as this famous treasure. Most often you will hear it in terms of “self-empowerment,” ranging from “God the Genie in the Bottle” nonsense to “pep rally rah-rah” to the gentle, smiling Osteen-type of therapeutic encouragement.  What a shame. In context, the true meaning of this verse is genuinely empowering to a degree we cannot even fathom. Let’s take a look by first getting the context (that is, reading the preceding verses to see what the writer is talking about): Philippians 4:10-12 (emphasis mine) I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You [...]

   

• My Son The Jerk

  In Christian Advice, Contented, Happy, Parenting, Personal Opinion & Commentary / 11 August 2012 / 4 comments

  

  A reader asks: How do I give my twenty-something year old son an ultimatum when I know it isn't totally his fault that he is acting the way he is?  What I want to say to him is this: "Either participate in our family unit or don't expect anymore effort from any of us until you do show some sort of desire to be involved. You have refused to make contact with your family here and you have not acknowledged the gifts you have received and you have not made any effort at all to call anyone." Ever since he began living with his dad when he was much younger, he completely stopped any and all effort to have a meaningful relationship with me and [...]

   

• Do All Things Without

  In Contented, Happy, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 31 July 2012 / 0 comments

  

  Philippians 2:14-16  Do all things without grumbling or questioning,  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Do all things without grumbling or questioning. Other valid paraphrases would be: “do everything without complaining or disputes,” “whatever you do, do it without griping or strife,” or “in all your actions, do not criticize or be contentuous.” How can anyone write about this verse without it feeling like condemnation? It is hardly possible because everyone is guilty of [...]

   

• Christian “Rule” Will Not Solve America’s Problems

  In Contented, Cultural Commentary, Personal Opinion & Commentary / 12 August 2011 / 0 comments

  

  Don’t get me wrong… I think we should work hard and blatantly towards electing leaders that are unabashedly and unashamedly Christian. America was founded and made great by such. But the Christian community is working under a flawed premise: that Christian leaders can change the character and morals of a country whose vast majority have rejected anything remotely serious about holiness and Godliness. This is aggravated by a segment of Christianity who promotes “Dominionism”, teaching that America is God’s country, and will continue to grow into “God’s Army” to usher in the new kingdom. Just a superficial look at the continued decline of all things Godly in America SHOULD forever extinguish that unBiblical nonsense… but it hasn’t. Why? Because of the same reason we have [...]

   

• Tonight… on The Mind of Brent Blog Radio Talk Show

  In Contented, Happy, Personal Opinion & Commentary / 29 April 2010 / 0 comments

  From Brent Life is tough… that’s a fact. On the radio show tonight, find out about some powerful promises that are available to anyone to deal with discouragement, hopelessness, fear, loneliness, betrayal and discontentment. Promises for Happiness, Joy and Courage When Life Gets Tough Listen at 10pm CST at www.themindofbrent.com PS: WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR ME? Ask here. Want to book me for preaching, speaking or business consulting? Go here. If you are blessed by what I write, would you be so kind to share this post with others by clicking the SHARE+ button below?  You never know who might need these exact words in their life today. To give a gift of support, click here.

   

• The Basic Christian Life: That Little Thing That Controls Your Entire Life- Part 8

  In Contented, Faithful, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 13 January 2010 / 3 comments

  (Click here to search for all the posts in this series…) James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV) There are few things that have more influence or cause us more regret than our MOUTH… that little thing between your teeth that does indeed at times seem to be utterly untameable. A few rare souls exist that don’t fight the constant battle of tongue but they are few and far between, or they are liars and self-deceived. There is always room for tongue improvement no matter how mature or self controlled we are. We can always be kinder. We can always be wiser in what we say. We can always hold our tongue just a little more. [...]