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!

Drunk Christians?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Some observers of the early Christians made fun of them and said:  “They have had too much wine.”  (Would you use the word “drunk” to describe a gathering of Christians, nowadays?) Here’s the response to that accusation, given by Jesus’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 2, acts of God, alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, booze it up, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, church, church history, church meetings, drinking, DUI, Ephesus, filled with the Spirit, free spirit, good sermon, guilt, hangover, inner peace, inner rivers, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus' mother Mary, life, lifestyle Christianity, makes change, miracles, missional, morality, morals, move of God, movement, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, new wine, Oh my God, on the web, Paul of Tarsus, peace, persecution, Peter, preaching, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, prophet, prophet Joel, quench the Spirit, quote, Quotes, reformation, salvation, sober up, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual drunkenness, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimony, This is that spoken by the prophet Joel, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

War Of The Wills

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

There are two wills at war in the world — the human will and God’s will.  It is a real war not just an illusion. We humans were created with free will — the ability to make our own choices … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, answer to God, apart from me you can do nothing, belief, belief system, Bible, choice, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, compliance, compulsion, conviction, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, deciision making, devotion, disciple making, discipline, discipling, faithfulness, free will, freedom, God, God's authority, God's government, God-shaped vacuum, hearing God, hearing Jesus, How Evil Works, human nature, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, power of the cross, prophet, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-denial, self-will, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, the cross, trust, we have turned everyone to his own way | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are Demons (Invisible Evil Entities) Real?

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s something to think about on Halloween.  Are evil spirits real? If you observe yourself and/or others you will notice that people tend to think tormenting thoughts, embrace harmful habits, and engage in belligerent behaviors.  We humans seem to be … Continue reading →

Posted in activity, addiction, addictions, authority, belief, belief system, Bible, boundaries, brain, brainwashed, casting out demons, choice, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, compulsion, corrupt culture, cravings, darkness, deliverance, demons, destructive actions, devils, Europe, European, evil entities, evil spirits, habit, harmful habit, harmful thinking, How Evil Works, human life, human nature, inner peace, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lies, mind, New Testament, psychology, recovery, religion, Renaissance, repent, repentance, seduction of self-destruction, self-destruction, soul, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

No Shades Of Gray (Or Grey)

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

Truth is not about fifty shades of gray.  It doesn’t grade on the curve — accepting shades of gray that are closest to white. In the area of ethics and morality, all gray misses the mark of truth.  Gray contains … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, belief system, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, conviction, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, darkness, faith, faith-based, forgiveness, God, God's authority, grace, gray areas, harmful thinking, Heaven, holiness, holy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgment, judgments, justice, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, mystery, Oh my God, Oh Sinner Man, pride, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, salvation, saved, Savior, soul, spiritual awakening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

The Judgment To Come / What Goes Around Comes Around

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a shocking truth:  The full story of faith in Christ involves human accountability (also known as: what goes around comes around, reaping what you sow, payday someday, and the judgment to come). Let’s step back into history and listen … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 24, alternative lifestyle, American, answer to God, Apostle Paul, authority, Bible, Biblical concept, choice, Christ, Christian, Christian history, church history, clear conscience, conscience, conviction, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, criticism, deciision making, deny yourself, discipline, Felix, God's authority, God's government, Gospel, grace, guilt, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hate speech, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart care, history, Holy Spirit, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgment, judgments, justice, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, normal Christianity, Oh Sinner Man, payday someday, phobic, political correctness, pride, reaping what you sow, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, Roman governor, Savior, self-control, sin, soul, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, the Gospel, voice of God, wages of sin, what goes around comes around | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Olympics — Thoughts For Spiritual Athletes

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

Life’s not about achievement.  It’s not about how many medals you (or your country) win.  Life’s about aligning yourself to God and to His will. That’s what matters most in the long haul. “If Christians were putting into their spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Timothy 4:7, alternative lifestyle, ancient Olympics, asceticism, ascetics, athletes, attitude, belief, belief system, burning heart, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, courage, disciple making, discipline, discipling, glory, God, godliness, guilt, guts and glory, I Corinthians 9:25, I Timothy 4:7, idealism, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Lord, monastery, monastics, mystery, mysticism, Olympic athletes, Olympic medals, prayer, presence of Christ, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religious ceremonies, right conduct, sacrifice, saved, Savior, self-discipline, self-help, soul, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, tebow, tebowing, training, Warren Wiersbe, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Am I A Victim Of Discrimination & Hate Speech For Being A Tongue-Talker?

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

I have been a tongue-talker for forty-one years.  (Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables a person to speak in languages he/she doesn’t know.  It is a powerful spiritual experience that fills a person with … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, attitude, belief, belief system, business, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, clear conscience, coffee, compliance, compromise, conscience, contemporary, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, criticism, cruel, cultural taboos, deciision making, deny yourself, disapproval, ethics, faith-based, fast food, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, guidance, hate, hate speech, human rights, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, message, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, natural laws, preference, prejudice, restaurant, right and wrong, right conduct, self-denial, sex, sex in marriage, sin, Starbucks, victims, Western world | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Great Restaurant (But Don’t Even Know Owner’s Views On Marriage)

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

I discovered a great restaurant 5 days ago and I have already eaten there 4 times (even though I don’t even know the owner’s views on marriage).  If you like a meat & 2 or a veggie plate (sometimes known … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, creativity, criticism, dining, East Nashville, food, happiness, happy, improv, judgment, lifestyles, Meridian Cafe, Music City, Nashville, parable, soul food, veggi plate, words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Is Evil? In Bad People Or In Me?

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

When terribly evil acts are committed like a gunman randomly shooting strangers, most everybody is deeply saddened.  We are shocked and awakened to once again realize that there is real evil in the world.  And sometimes we think about it … Continue reading →

Posted in atrocities, Baghdad, boundaries, Christ, Christian, compliance, conscience, corrupt culture, cravings, cruel, cultural taboos, destructive actions, freedom, harmful thinking, hate speech, human nature, idolatry, judgment, Katrina, magnet, meaning, meaninglessness, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, motivation, Paul of Tarsus, persuasion of media, political correctness, popular culture, pride, pull of evil, punishment, Quotations, quote, Quotes, repent, repentance, salvation, saved, Savior, seduction, sets the captives free, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, temptation, thoughts, Uncategorized, values, victims, wrestling | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Inner Peace In A Troubled World?

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

Can you have inner peace in a troubled world?  This video uses 4 hand signs and creative sign language to show you how. The icon in the video is from the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery in Kentucky where … Continue reading →

Posted in Abbey of Gethsemani, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christianity, church, church history, congregational, creativity, cross, deny yourself, hand signs, hearing God, hope, inner peace, inner rivers, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, miracles, monastery, monks, mystery, mysticism, new birth, peace, power of the cross, salvation, saved, Savior, silent retreat, spiritual formation, surrender to God, video, YouTube | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments