Monthly Archives: September 2024

The Skill of Seeing Goodness as a Thrill

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Steve Simms

Badness has a thrill that goodness often seems to lack. When tempted between the choice of right or wrong, wrong frequently appears to be the most exciting choice; right, the dull and boring one. It takes skill to see beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in ethics, goodness, moral choices, moral crisis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Try to Pay More Attention to These Words

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Steve Simms

Only the risen Jesus can give you “clean hands and a pure heart.” Christ is known through conversation and heart-to-heart relationship with Him, not just by learning information about Him. Start talking to Jesus and listening to Him day and … Continue reading →

Posted in listening to God, spirituality, Talking to Jesus, The Jesus Prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top Priority

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Steve Simms

My top priority makes me part of a minority. I want to see life differently than the majority of people do. I want to lay down any feelings I have of superiority so I can walk in humility and equality … Continue reading →

Posted in goal setting, priorities, purpose driven life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

War Doesn’t Kill People

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Steve Simms

War doesn’t kill people. People kill people. War is people feeling entitled to proudly and self-righteously kill people. Nations don’t kill people. Their citizens who belong to their armed forces kill people. Bombing is barbaric. It’s a method for killing … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-war, killing, peacemaking, War is hell | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Hard Work, But Being Heard, Fulfills Me

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Steve Simms

I am extremely fortunate to have someone who hears me and understands me. That’s intensely fulfilling. I’m so grateful to have a wife who does that. However, I’m talking about someone much greater than any mere human being. I’m talking … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, heart-felt worship, spirituality, true Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Openhearted Hope-Filled Pondering

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Steve Simms

I love to ponder, to keep my heart open to hope and other uplifting influences. I’m continually hungry to learn about and acquire the 9 traits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control) that are called “the fruit … Continue reading →

Posted in meditating, meditation, pondering | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Jobs I Do Without Pay

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Steve Simms

I’m a writer, an exhorter, and an encourager, yet I am paid little (Amazon pays me enough each month to buy a meal) or no money for those jobs. But that’s okay. I love saying what I have to say, … Continue reading →

Posted in online giving, pay it forward, pro bono, volunteerism, volunteers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Countercultural Heritage of Open Heartedness

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Steve Simms

I have a heritage of open heartedness, but it’s not genetic or cultural. It’s countercultural. Somehow as a small child I began to learn to go against my western cultural heritage of privacy and hardness of heart. I began to … Continue reading →

Posted in countercultural, cultural taboos, intercultural communication, Western culture | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Associate with Non-Religious Spirituality

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Steve Simms

Religion is often a vaccine that keeps people from catching a clear, captivating vision of the risen Jesus. Routine religion can easily become a distraction that traps people in spiritual inaction and self-righteous satisfaction. It often hinders people from being … Continue reading →

Posted in religious education, religious innovation, religious tradition, religious words | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More Humility / More Surrender

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Steve Simms

I could humble myself more day by day. I could lay down my pride and surrender my will more fully to the Good Shepherd. My Shepherd Jesus the risen LordIs my pastor (shepherd).I lack nothing.He leads me.He refreshes me.He guides … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirit of Truth, spirituality, truth and error, truth will set you free | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments