Category Archives: conversion

Poem — Feel The Real Deal Thrill . . .

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

When you know that Jesus is real There’s a never-ending thrill, No matter how you feel. You can’t stand still Or follow the seductive appeal Of popular culture’s deal, Because your heart is full of passion and zeal To hear … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christian, conversion, mystery, mysticism, salvation, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Are Your Selfish Desires Evil?

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Peter (who once was Jesus’ most impulsive disciple, but overcame it to become one of the most solid apostles) wrote that believers have “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Have you? Or have you bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, apostles, brain, brainwashed, brainwashing, challenges, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, compulsion, conscience, conversion, corrupt culture, deliverance, depravity, disciple making, disciples, escaped the corruption in the world, faith, free will, freedom, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, the Word, thoughts, values, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sermon-Free Church Spread Across America In 1857-1858

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Spirit-led, sermon-free church meetings spread across America in 1857-1858.  Jeremiah Lanphier started a prayer meeting on September 23, 1857 in New York City.  Six men showed up.  In the next few months 10,000 people began meeting daily for prayer in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, American, American church, American history, Americans, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, business men, Charles Finney, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church structure, conversion, East Nashville, ekklesia, England, good sermon, Great Britain, history, humility, interdenominational, Jeremial Lanphier, lifestyles, missional, move of God, movement, Music City, mysticism, new birth, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, participatory church, prayer, preaching, quote, Quotes, repentance, revelation, revival, salvation, sets the captives free, simple church, spiritual, spiritual awakening, supernatural, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

I am what I AM says I am. (And so are you.)

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

I am not what others say I am. I am not what I feel like I am. I am not what I believe I am. I am not what I accomplish or fail to accomplish. I am not what I … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, belief, Bible, Biblical concept, Christian, Christianity, conversion, conviction of sin, Egypt, fear, gift of God, glory, God, God's government, godly sorrow, hearing God, holy, Holy Holy Holy, Judaism, kingdom of God, listening, majesty, meaning, morality, mystery, mysticism, new birth, Oh my God, Oh Sinner Man, Old Testament, presence of God, purpose, quote, religion, self-denial, sinner, spiritual, spiritual awakening, support group, surrender to God, The Voice, voice activated, voice of God, voices, wake-up call, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do You Know God?

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Do you know God?  Not religion or church or the Bible or prayer or worship or doctrine or Footprints In The Sand; but is the Creator, Himself, real and alive in your heart? Are you captivated by God’s majesty and … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, beauty, belief, Bible, burning heart, Catholic mystics, Christian, Christianity, church, clear conscience, confession, contemplation, conversion, conviction of sin, Creator, dancing with God, devotion, evidence for God, faith, faith-based, gift of God, God, God-shaped vacuum, good question, good sermon, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, inner rivers, insight, inward change, life, lifestyles, majesty, mystery, mysticism, Oh my God, peace, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, religious ceremonies, repent, revelation, self-denial, sermon, sermons, sin, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, still small voice, The Voice, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Are You Living With Bloodsucking Leeches?

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

A man saw a guy with leeches on his neck and said to him:  “Hey, you’ve got leeches on your neck and need to get them off.” The guy with the bloodsucking leeches snapped back:  “Who are you to criticize … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, attitude, change, change management, Charles Spurgeon, clear conscience, compassion, complacency, compromise, confession, conscience, conversion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, criticism, deliverance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, judgments, lifestyles, love, morality, morals, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, repent, repentance, temptation, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, unhappiness, wages of sin, wake-up call, What would Jesus do? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Opportunity To Make A Real Difference In Nashville

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Would you like to make a real difference in Nashville?  The Salvation Army has a unique ministry in East Nashville that is changing lives and helping to transform the urban neighborhood of McFerrin Park. At The Salvation Army Berry Street … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, concerned about the very poor, conversion, deliverance, disciple making, discipling, East Nashville, ekklesia, freedom, Holy Spirit, lifestyles, manliest city, McFerrin Park, miracles, missional, movement, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments