Category Archives: books

Did Stephen Hawking’s Inspirational Lifestyle Contradict His Belief System?

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to me and many millions of people. I’m sad to hear of his passing. I wrote this about him after seeing the movie of his life, The Theory Of Everything. Did Stephen Hawking think about the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Hawking's beliefs about, hope, Ice Bucket Challenge, Jane Wilde Hawking, Lou Gehrig's disease, movies, Quotations, Scientific American, Stephen Hawking bio, Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What Does Church Train People To Be?

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

Two ways a church service can train people: 1) Church could train people to be passionate, prophetic, Spirit-prompted participators. 2) Instead church tends to train people to be silent, sedentary, subservient spectators. What is the church you attend training you to … Continue reading →

Posted in Apostle Paul, Beneath Two Flags, books, Charles Finney, evangelism, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Maud Booth, Nashville, organic chruch | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Beaching It (In My Mind)

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Steve Simms

Inspired by Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s book, Gift From The Sea, I try my hand at writing about the sea: The ocean is such a reminder of the grandeur of God. Its wonder stirs our spirit and allows us to breathe in the … Continue reading →

Posted in beaching it, books, ocean thoughts, patience, Quotes, resting on the beach, thoughts from the beach | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Salvation Army, Bill Hybles, Evangelism, & Berry Street

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

You can see the action of the wind in the leaves of the trees.  You can see the action of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ, when believers gather in His name and ordinary people show and tell what He has … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, books, Colorado Springs, Glen Eyrie, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Navigators, NSE, organic church, outreach, outreach ministry, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, Salvation Army, Say Something, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, Tell Them. Win Them. Establish Them., Walk Across The Room | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Fly The Flag! Rally ‘Round The Flag! (Like In Les Misérables)

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

In Les Misérables (the new movie, the Broadway play, and the book) people boldly and courageously wave and carry a revolutionary flag.  Perhaps it’s time to boldly carry and wave an even more revolutionary flag — a Christian flag. Why are … Continue reading →

Posted in armor, books, Broadway play, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, Christianity, church, church buildings, flag, flag pole, homes, Jesus, Jesus Christ, knights, Minnesota Historical Society, movie, New Testament, prayer walking, revolutionary flag, soldiers, special flags, spiritual battle, spiritual combat, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, the colors, The Salvation Flag, universal Christian flag | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Trying To Understand Hell

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

Popular writer, Rob Bell, wrote a book called Love Wins where he gives his views about Hell.  I’ve not read Rob’s book, but here are my views of Hell uninfluenced by Mr. Bell. I believe that Hell is a spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in Americans, answer to God, Baghdad, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, books, choice, Christian, Christian values, conscience, deterrent, eternal life, evil entities, evil spirits, fear, fire, fire insurance, God, God calling, God's authority, God's government, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hate, Heaven, hell on wheels, hellfire, How Evil Works, judge, judgment, judgments, justice, Katrina, looting, missional, moral failures, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morality-phobic, morals, mystery, New Orleans, omnipresent, Quantum physics, self-destruction, self-focus, self-inflicted, selfish desires, sin, soul, spiritual, suffering, unhappiness, views, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

I Saw Lincoln (You Should Too!)

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

I saw Abraham Lincoln, not in person, of course, but in the new movie, Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg and staring Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln.  I was expecting a drama about the life of Lincoln, but this was not that. … Continue reading →

Posted in abolitionism, abolitionists, African Americans, American, American media, Americans, antii-slavery, black is beautiful, Black Like Me, blacks, books, clear conscience, combat, congress, corrupt culture, courage, Democrat, disapproval, equal rights, government, House of Representatives, human nature, human rights, inspiration, institution, integrity, judgment, judgments, justice, liberty and justice for all, lifestyles, majority, Mary Todd Lincoln, missional, moral failures, moral principles, morality, morals, movie, natural laws, negro spirituals, race, racism, racists, Republicans, sacrifice, Senate, Senator Charles Sumner, social justice, society, soldiers, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, subhuman, Thaddeus Stevens, Uncategorized, US president, USA, values, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 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

How To Avoid Being A Spiritual Wimp (Top 10 Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord)

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

In today’s tremendously tempting environment, it is important not to be a spiritual wimp.  Maintaining a consistent walk with the Lord requires great spiritual strength. Here are my Top Ten Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord.  However, because this … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, books, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, compassion, conscience, disciple making, East Nashville, forgiveness, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God, guidance, guilt, guts and glory, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, morality, morals, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, New York Jets, non-material reality, non-traditional church, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, popular culture, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, self-help, simple church, sin, sobriety, speaking in tongues, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, tebow, tebowing, temptation, The Jesus Prayer, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Tim Tebow, Top Ten, Uncategorized, values, Viral Jesus, voice of God, Why be a Christian?, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Joy Of Judgment

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

Judgment has gotten a such bad rap.  It is almost universally portrayed as a bad thing.  Even Jesus’ words; “Judge not, lest you be judged,” are falsely used in an attempt to silence all judgment and to say that every … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, books, boundaries, challenges, disciple making, fear, feelings, God, godly sorrow, guidance, guilt, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John F. Kennedy, joy, juddgment, judgments, King David, life, lifestyles, morality, morals, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, peace, popular culture, prayer, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, sobriety, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, thoughts, trust, Uncategorized, values, voice of God, wake-up call, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments