Category Archives: American

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

Thoughts On The Big Bang Theory

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

The Big Bang Theory of the origin of the universe has become widely accepted both among scientists and in society.  There is even a popular American TV sitcom on CBS called The Big Bang Theory.  However, the theory is not … Continue reading →

Posted in American, astrophysicist, belief, belief system, CBS, contemporary, cosmic accident, cosmology, creationism, Creator, deny God, evidence for God, faith, faith-based, George F.R. Ellis, God, intellect, irrational, miracles, natural laws, nature, philosophical, philosophy, prejudice, Quotations, quote, Quotes, science, scientific model, scientific theory, singularity, spiritual, supernatural, television, theology, trust, TV, TV network, world-famous | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Top Ten Greatest Books

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

What are the world’s 10 greatest books?  Here are the top 10 books that have had the most impact on my life: 1)  The Bible:  I’ve read it almost daily for 42 years.  There have been times that I have … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American history, American Literature, Bible, Black Like Me, books, British Literature, C.S. Lewis, China, Chinese, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, fire walk, Harriet Beecher Stowe, hate, hate speech, hot coals, Jim Crow, John Howard Griffin, literature, London, Mere Christianity, monks, New Testament, Orthodox, Philokalia, positive thinking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, racism, Russian literature, Samuel Smiles, slavery, The Jesus Prayer, The Normal Christian Life, The Spiritual Man, the way of the pilgrim, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Unlimited Power, Watchman Nee, William Lloyd Garrison, world's greatest | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What Kind Of A Society Produces Frequent, Random Acts Of Mass Murder?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

What’s going on in America?  Why are individuals frequently engaging in random acts of horrible evil as they commit the mass murder of innocent people?  Our nation uses violence against terrorism abroad, but produces individuals who commit acts of terror … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American history, anger, angst, conscience, conviction of sin, current events, darkness, demons, disdain, evil entities, evil spirits, hate, hate speech, history, human nature, meaning, meaninglessness, misery, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, myths, natural laws, random, repentance, self-destruction, self-will, sin, sinner, tears, thoughts, Uncategorized, victims, violence | 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

Does LP Field Have A Message For Nashville? Perhaps. (New Name = Nissan Stadium)

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

Besides Tennessee Titans’ NFL games, does LP Field have a message for Nashville?  Perhaps. Since I wrote this blog post, the name LP Field has been changed to Nissan Stadium. Nisan is a Hebrew word. It is the name of the first … Continue reading →

Posted in 07/07/07, American, American church, American history, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christian organizations, church history, conviction of sin, country music, East Nashville, freedom, Grand Ole Opry House, His story, history, intercession, Jewish New Year, Jim Crow, LP Field, move of God, movement, Music City, Nisan, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, revival, Ryman Auditorium, slavery, spiritual, spiritual awakening, Tennessee Titans, The Call Nashville, The Salvation Army, Titans' stadium, Union Gospel Tabernacle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Sermon-Free Church Spread Across America In 1857-1858

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Spirit-led, sermon-free church meetings spread across America in 1857-1858.  Jeremiah Lanphier started a prayer meeting on September 23, 1857 in New York City.  Six men showed up.  In the next few months 10,000 people began meeting daily for prayer in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, American, American church, American history, Americans, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, business men, Charles Finney, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church structure, conversion, East Nashville, ekklesia, England, good sermon, Great Britain, history, humility, interdenominational, Jeremial Lanphier, lifestyles, missional, move of God, movement, Music City, mysticism, new birth, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, participatory church, prayer, preaching, quote, Quotes, repentance, revelation, revival, salvation, sets the captives free, simple church, spiritual, spiritual awakening, supernatural, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

New Poll Shows More Millennials Doubt God

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

A new poll by the Pew Research Center has found that doubts about the existence of God have increased by 15 points during the past 5 years among Millennials, Americans 30 and under.  Here’s a link to the survey: http://www.pewforum.org/Age/Religion-Among-the-Millennials.aspx … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, American, American church, American media, announcements, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, doubts, faith, faith-based, gifts of the Spirit, Music City, mysticism, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, Pew Research, poll, popular culture, rejecting Christ, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why Be Prejudice Against Prayer (Or Against Praying People)?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Even if you don’t believe in (and/or don’t like) prayer, there is no reason to be prejudice against prayer or against people who pray.  Why?  Because . . . 1)  The vast majority of people who tell you they are … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, adoration, alternative lifestyle, American, Americans, anthropologist, belief, Brandeis University, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, faith-based, feelings, interview, joy, lifestyles, love, mystery, non-material reality, Of Two Minds, popular culture, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, presence of Christ, presence of God, psychology, religion, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, surrender to God, T.M. Luhrmann, tension, The Jesus Prayer, The Voice, tolerance | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments