Category Archives: contemporary

Moving Beyond Accusations of “Hate” to Genuinely Getting Along . . .

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

If a friend, a relative, or even a stranger, in spite of anatomy, proclaimed his arms to be wings and boldly declared that he is a bird; I’d still be nice to him.  I wouldn’t be mean to him, and … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, anatomy, belief, conservative vs liberal, contemporary, contemporary society, culture, culture wars, hate, hatred, love, Love one another, love your enemies, politics, sexual orientation, sexual preference, the right vs the left, true love, values | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” –The Wizard of Oz

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

Watching The Wizard of Oz in IMAX 3D in 2013, the wizard’s words to the Scarecrow seemed prophetic from this 1939 movie:  “You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” Our contemporary culture “is a victim of disorganized thinking.”  “Intellectual freedom” has … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical, biblical morality, conscience, contemporary, contemporary society, entertainment, ethics, evil, feelings, film, God, hedonism, historic moral standards, moral decision, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral restraints, morality, movie, movies, Paul of Tarsus, Philippians 4:8, positive thinking, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, think on these things, victim of disorganized thinking, whatsoeverthings are true | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Historical Jesus Can Be The Present-Day Jesus

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

Study and religion tend to keep Jesus tucked away in the past, as a historical figure.  However, we desperately need Him to be living and working in the present, not stuck in the past. The world needs Jesus’ presence, His … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, contemporary, contemporary church, contemporary society, glory, glory of God, God calling, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, how to hear God's voice, Western society, Western world | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Unrehearsed Words — Let Them Be Spoken Live In Church!

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Unrehearsed words from God are eloquent. Jesus speaks about unrehearsed words when He tells His disciples; “. . . what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” (Matthew 10:19 Unplanned, unpracticed words are a normal … Continue reading →

Posted in Beverly Kaye, church meetings, church program, church programs, contemporary, contemporary church, contemporary society, Julie Winkle Giulioni, live and unrehearsed, Matthew 10:19, ministry, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, order of worship, organic church, quote, Quotes, simple church, The Salvation Army, the way of the pilgrim, unrehearsed, what you are to say will be given you | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Church? Prevading Presence or Prearranged Program?

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is the powerful and permeating Presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ; not just the mere presentation of a prearranged religious program. Church is a group of people actively engaging God; not a group passively listening to a talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christian community, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, church structure, conformed, contemporary, contemporary society, corrupt culture, countercultural, do church, Do not conform, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, kingdom values, lecture, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, non-church, non-church movement, non-traditional church, power, religious innovation, resurrection, sermon, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual innovation, spiritual interaction, spiritual power, the way we do church, values | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Are You A Sold-Out Copycat?

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

Copycating contemporary culture — shouldn’t we take a higher view than monkey see, monkey do?  Rather than taking rides on society’s hot and trendy tides, shouldn’t Christ’s followers be on His side and go against the tide? According to Jesus, … Continue reading →

Posted in against the tide, American, American church, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, compromised, conscience, contemporary, contemporary society, controversial, controversy, countercultural, courage, cultural taboos, culture, current condition, current events, darkness, dishonesty, disrespect, Do not be conformed to this world, Do not conform, feelings, followers, followers of Christ, godly sorrow, hypocrisy, monkey see monkey do, personal pleasure, persuasion of media, philosophy, politics and religion, post-Christianity, pride, profanity, promiscuity, Quotations, quote, real world, renewing your mind, right and wrong, right living, righteousness, self-destruction, self-focus, selfish desires, society, sold out, spiritual transformation, television, temptation, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Church is a furnace — a gathering for igniting and spreading the contagion of spiritual fire; not an ice maker — a synchronized “service” dropping cool ideas on to cold hearts conformed to contemporary culture.

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

Daring deeds, not comfortable creeds!

Posted in church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, contagion, contemporary, corrupt culture, creeds, deeds, fire of the Holy Spirit, fire place, fire walk, furnace, ice maker, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual drunkenness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have we been emotionally screwed by living in a culture that constantly promotes the rude, the crude, and the lewd?

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Have we been emotionally screwed By living in a culture That constantly promotes The rude, the crude, and the lewd? “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, contemporary, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, criticism, cultural taboos, current condition, current events, deception, denial, disapproval, exploitation, guilt, indecency, language, lifestyles, marketing, mature language, moral failures, moral principles, morality, myths, protest, reason, rebellion, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self-destruction, self-focus, self-will, selfish desires, sin, social media, societal, society, temptation, vulgarity | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Sex without commitment is a cheap copy of soul mates passionately entwined heart-to-heart, for better or for worse.

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

Sex without commitment is a cheap copy of soul mates passionately entwined heart-to-heart, for better or for worse.

Posted in adult language, alternative lifestyle, contemporary, controversial, cravings, deception, deciision making, depths, destructive actions, discipline, dream, exploitation, getting laid, getting some, guilt, human nature, inner peace, joy, life, lifestyles, love, motivation, principle, problems, psychology, reason, reasoning, safe sex, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-image, self-will, sex, sex in marriage, sex objects, sexual addiction, sexual fulfillment, sexual purity, sexually confused, the best sex, world's greatest | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Society That Flaunts Casual Sex Creates Continuous Problems

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

A society that flaunts casual sex creates continuous problems: An epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases. Increase in health care costs to treat those diseases. Increase in sexual addiction. Fatherless children. Deadbeat dads. Increase in adultery. Widespread and popular promiscuity. Broken … Continue reading →

Posted in abortion, addictions, adultery, brainwashing, broken homes, broken marriages, casual sex, choice, contemporary, contemporary society, controversy, cultural taboos, current events, deadbeat dads, depravity, destruction of the family, destructive actions, disease, epidemic, epidemics, fatherless children, guilt, habit, health, health care costs, life, marriage, meaninglessness, media, media circus, misery, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, philosophy, political correctness, popular culture, pornography, pre-natal, pro choice, pro life, problems, prochoice, promiscuity, prostitutes, prostitution, reaping what you sow, resentment, seduction, self, self-control, self-respect, selfish desires, sexual addiction, sexual fulfillment, sexual problems, sexually transmitted diseases, single moms, tolerance, values, vulgarity, welfare, Western world | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments