Category Archives: freedom

Guilty Pleasures?

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Steve Simms

Is the phrase “guilty pleasures” an oxymoron? Here are some thoughts about guilt: To do wrong and feel entitled to have no guilt is like burning your hand and feeling entitled to have no pain. Guilt and pain are danger … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, condemnation, conscience, consequences, everyone who sins is a slave, feelings, freedom, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, Lord have mercy, oxymoron, popular culture, Quotes, repentance, sinners | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Je suis un Salutiste! (I am a Salvationist!)

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Steve Simms

Je suis un Salutiste! (I am a Salvationist!) A terrorist wants to fill people with fear, anxiety, and intimidation. A Salvationist wants to set people free from fear, anxiety, and intimidation. (Salvationist — 1) a person who preaches salvation, deliverance … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 17:6, book of Acts, freedom, religion, sin, The Salvation Arm7, What do you call a member of The Salvation Army? | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How 2 B 4given! (Are Your Sins Forgiven?)

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Guilt is an electric quilt that will burn you up.  No one should carry such a burden. Shame will leave you lame and loaded with inner pain.  But how do you shake off your blame? The most commonly tried remedy … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 John 1:9, 12 steps, condemnation, condemning, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, freedom from sin, freedom of conscience, how to be forgiven, how to overcome guilt, judge, judgment, judgments, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Real Christianity, Romans 8:1, shame, sinner, Sinner's Prayer, sinning, sins | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Genuine Seeker-Friendly Church Is Simple (Organic)

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

What is seeker-friendly church?  Here are some ideas: Spiritual seekers are desperate for God. Therefore the seeker-sensitive church surrenders to and demonstrates the actual presence of the living God (rather than providing religious entertainment and a motivational speech). Spiritual seekers … Continue reading →

Posted in attractional, church format, church history, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, churching, freedom, freedom from sin, house church, how to do church, one another, open church, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, seeker model, seeker-church, seeker-driven, seeker-oriented, simple church, simplicity, sin, spirituality, unchurched | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Church is Like Breathing (& Other Free Flowing Ideas)

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church meeting is like breathing: 1) Someone can program and control it; or 2) People can let go and let it flow. What would happen if a group of believers would begin to gather, not merely to sing and … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative lifestyle, American church, American values, church programs, experiencing God, experiential worship, experimental church, faith, faith in God, faith-based, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, freedom, God, God's presence, improv, improvisation, innovation, inspiration, led by the Spirit, non-church, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

6 Reasons Why The Civil Rights Activits Didn’t Call Their Opponents “Haters”

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Steve Simms

1)  To call someone a hater would have violated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s determination for the Movement to follow the spirit of the Biblical principles of love and non-violence. 2)  Blacks were clearly hated in the South so there … Continue reading →

Posted in activitists, African American experience, African Americans, biblical, Biblical principles, bigots, British Empire, British history, calling people haters, equal rights, extremist for love, freedom, hate, hate speech, haters, hatred, Jim Crow, love, Love one another, love your enemies, name calling, prejudice, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, racial reconciliation, racism, racists, The Movement | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Loved 1,400 Men At A Salvation Army ARC

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

When I was hired as the counselor/chaplain of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Nashville in October of 2002, I had no idea that I would be working with about 1,400 men over the next 5 1/2 years … Continue reading →

Posted in cost of addiction, depression, drug abuse, freedom, heart, heart care, love, Love one another, loving men, recreational drugs, self-destruction, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, sex, sexual addiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fire Hydrant Church

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps 2014 is the time for the church to open up like a fire hydrant and let the Holy Spirit flow! When I was a kid, the fire department in our neighborhood would sometimes open up a fire hydrant on … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic mass, church meetings, creativity, fire of the Holy Spirit, fire plug, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ, free spirit, freedom, mysticism, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, organic church, playing in a fire hydrant, Pope, religious innovation, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, spiritual flow, spiritual innovation, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual presence, spiritual worship | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Perhaps church needs to demonstrate the real presence of the Higher Power (Jesus Christ) by letting ordinary people show and tell what God has done; rather than being confined to a 1-man human presentation and a handy program.

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Since Jesus said; “Shout from the housetops,” perhaps we could start by allowing people the freedom to share and testify in church.

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, AA, church in decline, church programs, church services, freedom, Jesus, Jesus Christ, NA, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, participatory sermons, Quotations, Quotes, sermon, sermons, shout it from the housetops, testifying, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From A Muppet Movie

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

One animated Muppet with all the other Muppets immobile and neatly placed in rows, would not make much of a Muppet movie. Instead, all the Muppets need to be animated and participating interactively with one another. No one Muppet dominates … Continue reading →

Posted in animated, animation, Berry Street, Bible, Bible concepts, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, Nashville, Nashville church, open mic, open mike, organic church, participation, participatory church, puppets, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, soul, speaking, speaking out, spiritual formation, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment