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!

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 →

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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

Advice to Melt the Ice in Your Heart

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Steve Simms

How do you spell “relief”? Too often it is spelled as “h-e-a-r-t–-h-a-r-d-e-n-i-n-g.” When we humans are in the midst of troubles we tend to cry out to God and allow Him to soften our heart. However, when relief comes and … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, hard-hearted, hardening of the heart, heart care | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Tender Heart Gives Me Energy

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Steve Simms

Hard-hearted people create hardship for themselves and others. They wind up shipwrecked within and yet they pretend that all is well. However, I have found that a tender heart gives me great energy! The source of a hard heart is … Continue reading →

Posted in burning heart, hard-hearted, heart care, heart of worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Favorite “Album”

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Steve Simms

One definition of album is “a blank book for holding a collection of items.” I fill up the album of my memory with the things that I have heard the risen Jesus say and the things that I have seen … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12:27, all-time favorite album, art of listening, inner listening, listening prayer, memory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment