Category Archives: Christianity

Is America Violent & Alienated From God Like Jean Valjean In Les Misérables?

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Les Misérables, the new movie musical staring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried, beautifully brings Victor Hugo’s 1862 French novel to life.  However, it made me wonder:  Is America violent and alienated from God like the main … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century, 21st Century, alternative lifestyle, Augustine, brainwashed, brainwashing, C.S. Lewis, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian values, Christianity, conscience, conversion, convert, conviction, conviction of sin, cruel, devotion, discouragement, evangelism, faith, faith-based, faithfulness, fear, feelings, freedom, French novels, God, harmful thinking, hearing God, history, human nature, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, message, misery, moral failure, moral principles, morality, morals, movie, movie review, movies, musicals, mysticism, new birth, obedience, persecution, popular culture, prayer, relevation, religion, repentance, salvation, search for significance, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual themes, spiritual transformation, values, Victor Hugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The World’s Most Unusual Christmas Greeting

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

For me, Merry Christmas won’t do.  The day celebrating the world’s most unusual event needs a very special greeting.  So here’s my attempt at the world’s most unusual Christmas greeting: May you have a joyous celebration of Jesus’ birthday and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christianity, Christmas, culture, current events, happiness, Happy Holidays, holiday, holiday hype, holidays | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Christmas Eve Eve — The Night Before The Day Before The Fiscal Cliff

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

“‘Twas the night before Christmas . . .”  — those are famous words, but what about the night before the day before Christmas?  Christmas Eve eve is seldom mentioned or thought about.  It’s just another holiday shopping day. However, on … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Twas the night before Christmas, Christ, Christ in you, Christian history, Christianity, Christmas Eve, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping season, Christmas traditions, Christmas travel, church history, contemplation, God with us, holiday, holidays, little town of Bethlehem, Nazareth, new birth, Paul of Tarsus, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, self-denial, self-destruction, shopping, spiritual formation, submission, surrender, surrender to God, tradition, travel, virgin birth, virgin Mary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Christmas Drug — The High Hopes Of Holiday Hype

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

Year after year humans have high hopes for the Christmas holidays, but their humongous hopes are often hijacked and held hostage by holiday hype.  The Christmas drug of hyped up holidays just doesn’t seem to be able to live up … Continue reading →

Posted in 24/7/365, Christ, Christianity, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping season, Christmas traditions, contentment, culture, customs, Emmanuel, family gathering, family togetherness, glory days, God, God on the loose, God with us, high hopes, His story, holiday hype, holidays, hope, human psyche, humility, hype, peace, peace of mind, reason, Reason For The Season, seasonal, tradition | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

iChurch or GChurch?

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Steve Simms

iChurch or GChurch? iChurch is self-focused. Does it meet my needs? Does it make me happy? iChurch is controlled by human leaders, programs and agendas. GChurch is focused on God. Is the attention on God? Is God, Himself, in charge? … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, iChurch, innovation, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“¿Mas O Menos?” (More or Less?) And Christmas

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

¿Mas o menos? is Spanish for:  More or less? So Christmas means Christmore. And Christmenos means Christless. Which for you this holiday season?  Christmas or Christmenos?

Posted in Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, Christmas carols, Christmas Eve, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping season, Christmenos, Happy Holidays, holiday, holidays, menos, more or less, Reason For The Season | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Religion Is Ritual — Faith Is Fire (How John Wesley Caught On Fire For God))

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Religion is routine ritual, faith is flaming fire.  “I set myself on fire, and people come to see me burn.”  –John Wesley The fire that burned in John Wesley sparked the Holiness Movement that changed nations and led to many … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, change, Christ, Christianity, conversion, convert, conviction, denominations, doubts, England, English, evil, faith, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, fuel, God, godliness, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holy, I set myself on fire, inner peace, inner rivers, intimacy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, Methodists, Nazarene, pentecostals, recovery, red hot, relevation, religious ceremonies, religious tradition, repentance, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, saved, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

“I’ll Fight” — How To Be A Spiritual Soldier

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

A famous quotation by William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, boldly repeats the words “I’ll fight!”  His wife, Catherine Booth, preached Aggressive Christianity. They challenged their followers to be spiritual soldiers, not passive spectators.  But how do you fight … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, army, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Bible type revival, blog, blog readers, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, choice, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, church, combat, courage, creativity, darkness, demons, denial, devils, ekklesia, faith-based, fight the good fight of faith, flag, guidance, guide, Holy Spirit, I'll fight!, inner coach, inner peace, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, meaning, media, media circus, military, moral failures, moral restraints, morality, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, obedience, organic church, out of the closet, soldiers, spectators, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, temptation, testimonies, testimony, the offensive, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, thoughts, tradition, training, training camp, trials, truth, values, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

What Do You Call The Sunday After Thanksgiving?

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

What do you call the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day? After Black Friday . . . After Small Business Saturday . . . But before Cyber Monday . . . It’s Reason For The Season Sunday! Jesus Christ is the reason … Continue reading →

Posted in business, celebration, Christ, Christ-centered, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas carols, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping season, Christmas traditions, discounts, holiday, holy, Holy Holy Holy, inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, Jesus Movement, Jesus' mother Mary, joy, marketing, meaning, motivation, movement, on sale, online shopping, program, real world, retail, sales, search for significance, searching for significance, seasons, self-focus, Sunday, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Simple Christmas Quiz

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

A very simple and very short Christmas quiz: Christmas is about Jesus coming to save people from their . . . A) winter boredom. B) needing a reason to shop. C) sins. D) needing a cute story to entertain their … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient prayer, answer, Christ, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, Christmas carols, Christmas gifts, Christmas traditions, conviction of sin, cute story, faith, faith-based, gifts, holiday, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lord, Matthew, Matthew 1:21, mercy, questions, religion, salvation, sin, sinner, Son of God, The Jesus Prayer, the new normal, virgin birth, virgin Mary, vision | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment