Monthly Archives: June 2015

A White Guy’s Thoughts After The Charleston Church Shooting

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

I’m a white guy who was a black preacher for about 3 years. (I was a pastor in the African-American denomination–the Church of God in Christ, but I never went as far as Rachel Dolezal and literally claimed to be black.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian magic show, Church of God in Christ, Emanuel AME, essay, facebook, Founding Fathers, healing racism, human trafficking, illusionists, Marcus Stanley, racial healing, slavery, white view of race | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Marcus Stanley’s Christ-Like Response To The Charleston Church Murders

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

Here was my first response to the Charleston church murders: What kind of society produces continual, motiveless mass shootings? And now a man who would murder 9 people who were praying in church? Something is dreadfully wrong with our culture! –Lord, … Continue reading →

Posted in black lives matter, Dylann Roof, Emanuel AME, facebook, faith-based, Quotes, racism | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“No More Boasting About Human Leaders”

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Steve Simms

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders!” –1 Corinthians 3:21 What would God do . . . 1) If we presented the living Christ without promoting preachers and teachers? 2) If people ministered to others without naming “ministries” with … Continue reading →

Posted in Bell Buckle, Berry Street, Bible, blog, church leadership, Dr., Ed Stetzer, facebook, Jr., Martin Luther King, New Testament, organic church, Quotations, Tennessee, Webb School, William Webb | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CMA, Bonnaroo, & You!

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

–The CMA Festival made a huge racket for Country Music. Bonnaroo made a huge racket for Rock/Pop. Perhaps it is time to make a huge rackeT for Christ! (I spell it with a capital T to represent the cross of … Continue reading →

Posted in book of Acts, events, House of Prayer, Manchester, Music City, music festival, Nashville show, Nashville stuff, rock and roll, RooHOP, Salvation Army, Tennessee, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s Be Boundless!

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

Boundless worship gatherings are not bound by human control, leaders’ agendas, religious programs, or church traditions. They are unbounded and free to follow the direct leadership of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and to flow wherever He may take them. … Continue reading →

Posted in congress, Evangeline Booth, having a form of godliness but denying the power, holiness meetings, London, lyrics, Pentecost, Pentecostal, Salvationism, Send the fire, the world for God, William Booth, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Write To Free Speech / Write To Life

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Steve Simms

I love to exercise the right to write. For me, the process of writing is freeing and life producing. I write to set words and thoughts (my speech) free from self and to allow them to soar in the Spirit. Far too … Continue reading →

Posted in anthologies, clasics, essays, freedom of speech, great books, How to be creative, How to blog, How to write better, Philokalia, releasing creativity, right to life, stream of consciousness, writing advice | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Kind Of God Do We Need?

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

We desperately need a living, active, present God! –A God who isn’t bound to a program run by a man. –A God who can speak through anybody He chooses, not just through those with religious position, power, or authority. –A … Continue reading →

Posted in all powerful, analogies for God, answer to God, apologetics, characteristics of God, church, monotheism, omnipotent, omnipresent, Pentecost, understanding God, views of God, what is God like, where is God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Can Ignite Human Hearts?

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers are like A bed of red-hot coals. Separate the coals And their fire gradually goes out. Pull them close together And they burst into flame. Isolation, independence, and formality, Make Christians cold. Sharing honesty, humility, and intimacy, In Spirit-led … Continue reading →

Posted in God-gatherings, honesty, Hot or cold, one another, passion for God, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Soaking Prayer / Soaking Music / Spirit-Led God-Gatherings

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Steve Simms

Soaking prayer is a way of seeking God. The term soaking is a fresh way of talking about the traditional Christian practice of contemplative prayer which has been taught and used though out the history of the church. Soaking prayer involves quietly listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in charismatic movement, church history, church movements, contemporary Christian music, Craig von Buseck, hanging out, hearing God's voice, It's Supernatural, King David, King Saul, listening prayer, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Pentecostal movement, Salvation Army, Sid Roth, soak in prayer, Speak Lord for your servant is listening, tarry in Jerusalem, tarrying, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are pastors & popes the proper pinnacle for churches?

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Believers love to gather around, listen to, celebrate, and honor preachers and Christian singers; and to make pastors and/or popes the pinnacle of their churches. –However, perhaps it would be much more powerful and life-changing if we gathered around, listened … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Samuel 8, Bible, celebritease, Christianity, figureheads, first king of Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, organic church, pastors, poem, popes, who is the head of the church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment