Author Archives: Steve Simms

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About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!

American Oxymoron, ISIS Videos, Prenatal Dismemberment

1 observation, 2 questions, and a Mother Teresa quotation: An American oxymoron:  Our society advocates both prenatal care and prenatal killing. If ISIS made and posted a video of a pro-choice, prenatal dismemberment, would that shock people enough to cause them to … Continue reading →

Posted in American, injustice, insight, Iraq, ISIS video, justice, observation, peace, questioning, questions, quotation, Quotations, quote, right to choose, right to life, rights, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christaholics Out Of The Closet, Shouting It From The Housetops

What if salvation isn’t an emotional experience with God at an altar?  What if it isn’t choosing to respond to an altar call and/or repeating a prayer that someone else feeds you the words? What if , instead, salvation is an ongoing, … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, Catherine Booth, Christaholic, COC, early Christians, early church, founding of the church, Galilee, Jerusalem, out of the closet, prayer, Quotations, quote, Quotes, renewal, revival, salvation, Salvation Army, Salvationism, Salvationists, shout it from the housetops, Son of Man, thrust the truth, what does it mean to be saved | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Did Catherine Booth encourage Quaker-style meetings?

For almost 7 years, we at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, TN have (instead of a 1-man sermon) been having participatory, Quaker-style, Sunday morning worship meetings where everyday people show and tell what God has done. … Continue reading →

Posted in aggressive Christianity, Friends meeting, Friends' worship, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville streets, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, Quaker light, Quaker worship, Quotations, quote, street talk | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The world’s most exciting sport!

What is the most challenging and exciting sport in the world? –Playing follow the leader with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ! However, it’s not the world’s most popular sport.  Most people haven’t even heard about it. People have heard about … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 9:24, 21st Century, Apostle Paul, Bible, challenging, Christianity, everyone who competes in the games, follow the leader, Paul of Tarsus, red letter, spiritual exercises, sport, world's most exciting sport | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Miracle Sign On A Coke Can

I saw a miracle sign on a Coke can! Last week I got a phone call saying that my mother, who is in a nursing home, needs to be on hospice care. When I hung up I was strongly feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in comfort, comfort for grief, death and dying, Diet Coke, God, God is able, God talks, God with us, God's presence, God's voice, grief, hearing God, losing a loved one, Mom, sickness, sign from God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

1 Man Can’t Reflect The Body Of Christ — It Takes A Village

1 man can’t reflect the body of Christ.  That takes a village. Christ-followers are puzzle pieces, each picturing a particular part of Christ. When a group gathers and each person present is allowed to openly participate and share his/her part, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Head of the church, participatory church, Protestant, Protestant Reformation, Team Church, telling their stories, testifying, the pope, the Western church, think outside the bun, types of church, unprogrammed church, unscripted church, ways of doing church, Western Christianity, Western religion, Western society, What is the true church?, why go to church, worship, worship service, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The ebola outbreak and the ISIS crisis are shouting out: “Now is the time to GET RIGHT WITH GOD!”

Posted in current events, ebola outbreak, ebola virus, health, health care, radical Islam, terrorism, West Africa | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Band Of The Unplanned — Can You Hear It Calling?

God is looking for the band of the unplanned — agendaless bands of spiritual brothers and sisters who gather together to let Him lead and prompt them. The band of the unplanned: 1) Banishes boredom by breaking our mold. 2) Steps beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, breaking the mold, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, Nashville news, Nashville streets, Nashville think tank, Nashville times, Nashville tourist attractions, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvationism, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, unplanned church, unprogrammed church, unrehearsed | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Got the guts to read the world’s most banned book?

Banned Books Week Challenge Celebrate Banned Books Week by having the guts to read the most banned and burned book in history — the Bible. It’s still on fire in the 21st Century burning with the power of God and … Continue reading →

Posted in banned books, Bible reading, Bible reading plan, Bible study, censored books, courage, hot reads, New Testament, open mind, religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Got God Gushing In Your Gut?

God’s not dead in me! He’s dancing in my soul. God’s a soul train–surging through my heart! I’m infused and enthused with God. God’s an inner engine empowering my passion to pursue Him. God’s a heart spark igniting love, joy and … Continue reading →

Posted in dancing, dancing with God, enthusiasm, glory of God, God definition, God seeker, God's glory, God's grace, grace, grace of God, inner peace, inner prompting, inner rivers, inner teacher, inner witness, spiritual movement, spiritual power | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment