Category Archives: Bible

When People Say “God” Which God Do They Mean?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

For most of American history, when people used the word “God” it was assumed that they meant the God of the Old and New Testaments.  However, nowadays, in our post-Christian society the name “God” doesn’t mean the same thing to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 11:4, American, American church, American history, another gospel, another Jesus, Apostle Paul, belief, Bible, Biblical concept, characteristics of God, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, controversy, conversion, cosmology, creation, creationism, Creator, DC, faith, faith-based, George Washington, God, monotheism, Mormon faith, Mormonism, Mormons, nature of God, political correctness, political issue, politics, politics and religion, polytheism, Scriptures, spirit, spiritual, theology, US president, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 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

All The World’s A Stage Showering Us With Seductive Sounds & Scenes

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

William Shakespeare wrote:  “All the world’s a stage,” yet in his day the stage was very limited.  The only way to see theatrical entertainment or to hear music was to be in person at a live performance.  Nowadays, all the … Continue reading →

Posted in All the world is a stage, anger, attitude, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Bible, brain, brainwashed, casual sex, cesorship, compassion, complacency, compliance, compromise, conscience, contemporary, corrupt culture, cravings, criticism, cultural taboos, current events, destructive actions, disapproval, disdain, dishonesty, disrespect, Do not conform, electronic media, fear, hate speech, injury, lifestyles, live performance, married sex, mature language, meaninglessness, media circus, message, mind, modern myths, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, myths, political attack ads, Quotations, quote, Quotes, rage, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self-focus, self-will, spiritual warfare, television, the stage, theater, theatrical entertainment, TV, TV network, unkindness, values, video, viewer discretion advised, violence, vulgarity, warning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Prayer That’s Not For Wimps

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are two prayers that take great courage.  Most people, when things get desperate in their life, will pray to God for immediate help, however, only the bravest people will pray these two powerful prayers. The first one is a … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, answer to God, anxious thoughts, Bible, Biblical concept, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, commands, conscience, conviction of sin, courage, deeds, denial, God, God calling, God's authority, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, hard-hearted, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hdden sin, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart care, humility, inner peace, Israel, King David, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, offensive, prayer without ceasing, Psalm 139:23, Psalm 141:4, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, Renaissance, repent, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, self-destruction, self-will, sin, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, thoughts, values, voice of God, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Respecting The Human Right To Disagree And/Or Disapprove

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

A human mind will sometimes disagree with the thoughts of other people.  A human conscience will at times disapprove of the behavior of others.  This is a basic fact and a fundamental human right that is accepted and understood by … Continue reading →

Posted in adultery, alcohol, alternative lifestyle, and/or, answer to God, attitude, belief, belief system, Bible, Biblical concept, booze it up, boundaries, Chic-Fil-A, choice, compliance, contemporary, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, darkness, deeds, discipline, drinking, drunk, drunkenness, habit, hate, heavy drinking, lifestyles, love, modern myths, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, myths, phobic, political correctness, popular culture, post-Christianity, reason, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, Scriptures, sin, sobriety, thinking, thoughts, tolerance, Uncategorized, values, we have turned everyone to his own way | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

There’s No Right To Choose In Christianity

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

Followers have no choice — they are committed to do what their leader says. Soldiers don’t get to choose — they have to obey orders. The subjects of a Lord have no choice — they are under their Lord’s authority. … Continue reading →

Posted in army, authority, belief system, Bible, choice, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Colossians, compliance, crucified with Christ, crucifixion, deciision making, deny yourself, devotion, disciples, discipline, followers, followers of Christ, God calling, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Lord, obedience, obeying orders, pro choice, prochoice, Romans 8:14, soldiers, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, surrender, Uncategorized, World English Bible | Tagged , , , , , | 4 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

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