Author Archives: Steve Simms

Unknown's avatar

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!

When People Say “God” Which God Do They Mean?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

For most of American history, when people used the word “God” it was assumed that they meant the God of the Old and New Testaments.  However, nowadays, in our post-Christian society the name “God” doesn’t mean the same thing to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 11:4, American, American church, American history, another gospel, another Jesus, Apostle Paul, belief, Bible, Biblical concept, characteristics of God, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, controversy, conversion, cosmology, creation, creationism, Creator, DC, faith, faith-based, George Washington, God, monotheism, Mormon faith, Mormonism, Mormons, nature of God, political correctness, political issue, politics, politics and religion, polytheism, Scriptures, spirit, spiritual, theology, US president, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Should People Who Have Left Church Come Back? Or Try Something Different?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

American churches are in decline, losing members.  In an attempt to slow or stop this decline a group called, National Back to Church Sunday,  has set a day for church members to invite their friends to come back to church.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2012, alternative lifestyle, American, American church, American history, Americans, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christianity, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, followers of Christ, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, post-Christianity, salvation, Salvationists, Savior, show and tell, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

The “Forgive Yourself” Myth

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Love yourself–accept yourself–forgive yourself–and be good to yourself.”  –a quote from popular American speaker and writer, Leo Buscaglia.  However, Jesus said:  “Deny yourself.”  Here’s why the popular idea of “forgiving yourself” is a myth: *  You are not the judge.  … Continue reading →

Posted in accept yourself, Against You only have I sinned, American, belief, Bible, boundaries, brokenhearted, brokenness, change, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, comfort, compassion, condemnation, confession, conscience, conversion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, courtroom, deception, denial, deny yourself, devotion, disciple making, evil, false assurance, gift of God, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hearing God, hearing Jesus, How do you plead?, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judge, judgment, justice, Les Brown, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, love yourself, moral principles, morality, morals, motivational speaker, myths, natural laws, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-esteem, self-focus, self-forgiveness, self-image, self-will, shame, sin, spiritual formation, surrender, surrender to God, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Are Your Selfish Desires Evil?

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Peter (who once was Jesus’ most impulsive disciple, but overcame it to become one of the most solid apostles) wrote that believers have “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Have you? Or have you bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, apostles, brain, brainwashed, brainwashing, challenges, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, compulsion, conscience, conversion, corrupt culture, deliverance, depravity, disciple making, disciples, escaped the corruption in the world, faith, free will, freedom, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, the Word, thoughts, values, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

All The World’s A Stage Showering Us With Seductive Sounds & Scenes

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

William Shakespeare wrote:  “All the world’s a stage,” yet in his day the stage was very limited.  The only way to see theatrical entertainment or to hear music was to be in person at a live performance.  Nowadays, all the … Continue reading →

Posted in All the world is a stage, anger, attitude, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Bible, brain, brainwashed, casual sex, cesorship, compassion, complacency, compliance, compromise, conscience, contemporary, corrupt culture, cravings, criticism, cultural taboos, current events, destructive actions, disapproval, disdain, dishonesty, disrespect, Do not conform, electronic media, fear, hate speech, injury, lifestyles, live performance, married sex, mature language, meaninglessness, media circus, message, mind, modern myths, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, myths, political attack ads, Quotations, quote, Quotes, rage, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self-focus, self-will, spiritual warfare, television, the stage, theater, theatrical entertainment, TV, TV network, unkindness, values, video, viewer discretion advised, violence, vulgarity, warning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

ABC News Glosses Over Mormon Beliefs

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Tonight ABC World News With Diane Sawyer had a very shallow report on Mormonism which they called “What Do Mormons Believe?”  However, they glossed over Mormon believes by telling us almost nothing about them. ABC didn’t tell us that the … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, belief system, celestial wives, Christ, Christianity, cosmology, faith, Heaven, heirarchy, human body, Jesus, Jesus Christ, monotheism, Mormon faith, Mormons, polytheism, testimony, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Experiences Prayer Walking Around Dickerson Road In East Nashville

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

My wife and I have been regularly prayer walking with The Salvation Army Flag in the McFerrin Park Neighborhood of East Nashville and along Dickerson Road for 6 years.  We’ve had some amazing and exciting experiences.  Today she couldn’t come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christian flag, Christian values, church, church programs, comfort, compassion, contemplation, East Nashville, evangelism, faith-based, God calling, Gospel, hope, intercession, interview, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, message, missional, Music City, Oprah Show, organic church, participatory church, prayer, prayer without ceasing, salvation, sermons, simple church, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Obama can’t fix it, no, no. Romney can’t either. So who can fix it? Jesus will fix it, if we will follow and obey Him with all our heart!

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in alternative lifestyle, belief, belief system, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple making, disciples, faith, faith-based, faithfulness, followers of Christ, hearing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, miracles, mysticism, Obama, prayer, race, race for President, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Footprints Of Mystery (Fill The Natural World)

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

Footprints of mystery, spread across nature, baffle the best brains of mankind.  There is so much about our world and our universe that we humans (even those of us with the best scientific minds) cannot understand or explain by natural … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, awe, belief, big bang, burning heart, Catholic mystics, conscience, consciousness, contemplation, Creator, devotion, evil, evolution, faith, faith-based, footprints of God, free will, freedom, God, How Evil Works, human body, human life, human nature, human rights, inspiration, intellect, intelligence, justice, majesty, mind, miracles, moral principles, morality, morals, mystery, mysticism, natural laws, nature, non-material reality, proof of God, real world, relevation, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, supernatural, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life’s Biggest Problem? Self!

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Steve Simms

Life’s biggest difficulty isn’t overcoming negative circumstances.  It is getting free from bondage to self.  Self-interest, self-promotion, self-fulfillment, self-esteem, self-protection — these things get in our way and hold us in bondage to the torment of our own thoughts, feelings, … Continue reading →

Posted in anxious thoughts, brain chemistry, brokenness, Christian values, Christianity, comfort, crucified with Christ, denial, feelings, followers of Christ, harmful habit, harmful thinking, immaturity, ineffectiveness, inner peace, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, making decisions, morality, obedience, obeying orders, personal pleasure, philosophy, right conduct, right living, self, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, self-produced, self-will, Spirit-led, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, surrender, surrender to God, thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments