Category Archives: Bible

My 21st Century Psalm (King David Style)

I recently attended a prayer and fasting retreat sponsored by the Kentucky and Tennessee Division of The Salvation Army and was challenged to write a psalm.  So I did.  Here it is: Psalm of Steve #1 Nothing comes from nothing, … Continue reading

Posted in belief system, Bible, burning heart, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, confession of sin, conviction of sin, creation, creationism, Creator, creeds, deliverance, devotion, faith-based, fire of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, gratitude, insight, inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, lifestyles, live to please God, makes change, mysticism, new birth, praise and worship, prayer, revelation, Scriptures, spirit, Spirit-filled, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, surrender to God, testimony, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Imagine If Church Had More And Less

What if would happen if church had . . . More of the Spiritual Guide speaking inside of everybody present and less of the one man sage on the stage?  (1 John 2:27) More prayer, less pride?  (2 Chronicles 7:14) … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 John 1:9, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, brokenness, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, Christian values, Chronicles, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, confession of sin, East Nashville, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's authority, God's government, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, inward change, Isaiah, John, keeping it together, lifestyle Christianity, Matthew, moral failures, Music City, non-church, non-traditional church, participatory church, prayer, pride, religion, religious ceremonies, repentance, sage on the stage, self-focus, simple church, societal, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, Tennessee, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

3 Ways To Increase The Power Of Your Prayers

Do you ever feel like your prayers “don’t get past the ceiling?”  Well, they don’t have to. God’s not “past the ceiling;” He’s right here with me and right there with you.  Jesus said that “the Kingdom of God is … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Bible reading, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christian values, Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom, kingdom of God, New Testament, prayer without ceasing, prayers don't get past the ceiling, spirit, Spirit-filled, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do We Need A More Effective Way Of Having Church?

In the West the church is not changing contemporary culture. Instead, church members are being swayed and swept along by society’s hedonism and the church appears to be powerless to prevent it.  We are a post Christian society. Perhaps we … Continue reading

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Christian, church, church meetings, church roles, church structure, contemporary society, controversy, corrupt culture, denominations, house church | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Make A Courageous Act Of Spiritual Warfare

The Salvation Army Flag is known as the Blood & Fire.  It’s not decor for a corps (a Salvation Army church); it’s for feet to walk a beat on the street praying and testifying to the glory of God. It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christianity, church, church history, corps, courage, evangelism, faith, faith-based, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, flag pole, followers of Christ, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, humility, invasion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lake Junaluska, ministry, moon, national flags, nonviolence, North Carolina, Olympic athletes, Olympic challenge, Olympic glory, Olympic heroes, Olympic medals, Olympics, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, repentance, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sin, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, support group, surrender to God, The Salvation Flag, US Flag | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

From Hinduism to Jesus Christ

I recently helped Tapan Saha write his testimony about finding Christ.  Tap is a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville.  Here’s his story: I was born to a Hindu family in East Pakistan.  I … Continue reading

Posted in Albany, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, bell ringer, Bengali, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian values, church, comfort, compassion, disciple making, East Pakistan, evangelism, faith-based, Greek Orthodox Church, Hindu, Hinduism, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, makes change, ministry, move of God, Muslims, new birth, New York, salvation, Salvation Army Corps, selling books, share cropping, spiritual, spiritual formation, surrender to God, testimony, The Gideons International, The Southwestern Company, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Spiritual Warfare & The Christian Battle Flag

The Salvation Army Flag is not a decoration to collect dust inside a chapel or church building.  It’s not a religious relic.  It is a battle flag that belongs on the streets of the world. The first “Blood & Fire” … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Corinthians 10:4, alternative lifestyle, Bible, Biblical concept, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Catherine Booth, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church history, country, Coventry, empire, England, fight the good fight of faith, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, holiness, Holy Spirit, invasion, kingdom, New Testament, nonviolence, purity, religious relic, salvation, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, soldiers, spiritual, spiritual walk, The Salvation Flag, violence | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Should We Settle For Sunday Morning Mediocrity?

For generations people in the Western world have settled for church as usual — Sunday morning mediocrity (SMM).  However, this has not always been the case. For the First Century believers, church was anything but mediocre.  Gathering with other followers … Continue reading

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, community, conviction of sin, East Nashville, ekklesia, evangelistic meetings, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, followers of Christ, gifts of the Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, interactive, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Nashville, non-church, normal Christianity, order of worship, participatory church, post-Christianity, religious ceremonies, service, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Watching Your “Old Man” Die

Three quotes from Paul of Tarsus:  “You have put off the old man with his deeds.”  Colossians 3:9  And, “I die daily.”  1 Corinthians 15:31  And, “I am crucified with Christ.”  Galatians 2:20 Believers are called to die to self … Continue reading

Posted in afflict the comfortable, Apostle Paul, Bible, biblical, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian values, Colossians, crucify yourself, denial, die to self, Galatians, hearing God, hearing Jesus, I am crucified with Christ, life, lifestyle Christianity, live to please God, normal Christianity, Paul of Tarsus, put off the old man, religion, repent, repentance, self-denial, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, surrender, surrender to God, true Christian life, trust | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Way (Besides Politics) To Change Your Neighborhood, City, & Country

God told Joshua:  “I will give you every place where you set your foot.”  We can change our neighborhoods, our cities, and even our country (without using politics).  But how?  One way is to prayer walk with The Salvation Army … Continue reading

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Bible, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Catherine Booth, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church history, commands, corps, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, holiness, Holy Spirit, I will give you every place where you set your foot, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joshua, kingdom of God, lifestyles, politics, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, Quotations, quote, Quotes, revival, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment