Category Archives: Alcoholics Anonymous

If people would rely on Jesus as much as they do on alcohol . . .

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Steve Simms

Need hope?Too much drinkingWill give you a hangover,But full surrenderTo the ever-living JesusWill give you a gloriousInner makeover! The best wayOut of a funkIsn’t to get drunk.It’s better to chunkThe alcoholAnd let Jesus plunkYour painDown the drain. If you thinkYou … Continue reading →

Posted in alcohol rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, drunk in the spirit, drunkenness, recovery, recovery quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lord’s Prayer in bite size bits

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Steve Simms

“Our Father,” Jesus invites us to be sons & daughters of God. “In Heaven,” a holy & pure dimension of existence beyond the physical realm. “Hallowed be Your Name,” may His name release holy astonishment in all who hear it. … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, AA meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous, Amen, daily bread, eternity, Father in Heaven, forgive us our trespasses, glory of God, God's power, kingdom come, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, kingdom values, NA, NA meetings, Narcotics Anonymous, support groups, Thy will be done, Uncategorized, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond “services” to meetings . . .

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Steve Simms

It’s time to let God go & let Him take control both of your life & of His gathered people. Churches have services; but ekklesia & AA & NA & Al-Anon have meetings. Practicing the presence of God by yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, Al-Anon, alcohol rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, Berry Street, body of Christ, celebrate recovery, Christ-centered recovery, Christian meetings, Christian recovery, Christian support group, church meetings, class meetings, effective meetings, NA meetings, organic chruch, recovery groups, recovery quotes, religious meetings, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The support group that sets you free!

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Steve Simms

A support group is an informal, interactive, participatory gathering of everyday people who openly and spontaneously share their concerns, issues, insights and experiences with one another so that they may encourage, comfort, and help each other to overcome problems, discouragements, frustrations, … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step group, 12 step meeting, 12 steps, AA, AA meeting, Adult Rehabilitation Center, alcohol rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, drug addiction, drug rehab, facebook, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, overcoming addiction, recovery groups, rehab, Salvation Army ARC, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, self-help group, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blessed are the “pour” in spirit . . .

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Blessed are the “pour” in spirit, Who share from their heart For they will be healed. You can listen to lectures Full of points and principles Yet your pain will persist. But when you’re allowed To openly pour out your … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 12 step group, AA, AA meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous, bear one another's burdens, bearing with one another in love, Bible quotes, celebrate recovery, Christ-centered recovery, Christian recovery, confess your sins, healing, healing life's hurts, house church, I will pour out my Spirit, Love one another, making church more participatory, Maya Angelou, Narcotics Anonymous, one another, one anothers, organic chruch, participatory church, participatory culture, quote, recovery groups, self-help group, sharing, sharing in church, simple church, spiritual healing, Uncategorized, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

An Idea Whose Time Has Come: It’s Time For The Church To Step Up!

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Open sharing and participation in church services is an idea whose time has come.  It’s time for the church to step up! *  We are living in an age when communication, entertainment,  and education is becoming more and more participatory … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, time to step up, tolerance, Western religion, Western society | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Optimize Your Faith With Participatory Church

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Faith can be enhanced or it can be diminished.  It is the responsibility of each individual to cultivate, nourish, and grow her/his faith or to allow it to wither away and possibly die.  Jesus illustrated this principle in the Parable … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, corps, encouragement, faith, faith-based, followers of Christ, freedom, honesty, Houston, improv, improvisation, insight, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual training, spiritual warfare, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Awesome Power Of Spiritual Interaction

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

*  One of the most powerful tools for personal transformation is spiritual interaction, openly sharing your faith, spiritual experiences, struggles, and concerns with others in a loving and compassionate environment.  (I have personally seen spiritual interaction produce life-changing results both … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, early church, His story, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inspiration, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, missional, move of God, movement, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, Nashville, Neil Cole, non-church movement, open church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, pentecostals, Quakers, religious ceremonies, Revelation 12:11, revival, sermon, sermons, simple church, sobriety, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, support group, the 12 Steps, The Salvation Army, the Walk to Emmaus, tradition, Tres Dias, unprogrammed church, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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

Cravings Can Capture & Control Your Life

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Unrestrained desire can dominate and defeat you.  Cravings can capture and control your life. Yet our society teaches us to surrender to desires, cravings, compulsions, and whims:  “If you feel like doing something, go for it, and don’t listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, casual sex, challenges, Christian, Christianity, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, complacency, conscience, conviction of sin, country music, cravings, feelings, free will, freedom, guidance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, inward change, John Piper, John Ruskin, lifestyles, morality, morals, peacetime, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, reformation, repent, repentance, self-will, shame, sin, sobriety, society, spiritual formation, thoughts, tolerance, true Christian life, violent streak, war, White Eagle, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments