Category Archives: freedom

From Independence Day to Dependence Day

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people around the world know that the 4th of July is American Independence Day — when we relish the thought of being free from reliance on others.  However, perhaps we need to get beyond July 4th and acknowledge July … Continue reading →

Posted in American patriotism, American values, Americans, Christian values, Christianity, freedom, history, holidays, humility, kingdom of God, kingdom values, religious innovation, religious tradition, spiritual, spiritual healing, spiritual life, spirituality, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is Patriotism Ever Inappropriate?

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

When does patriotism become inappropriate?  If they thought about it, most people would agree that blind patriotism, unconditional allegiance to a nation, is not wise.  For example, most people would agree that enthusiastically supporting a country led by an evil … Continue reading →

Posted in civil disobedience, freedom, hatred, human life, human rights, loyality, moral decision, moral foundations, moral laws, moral principles, morality, nation state, nations, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, right to life, righteousness, rights, spying, torture, what you can do for your country, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Rap ‘Bout Rights (Who Has Rights?)

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Who has “rights”?  People like to talk and rap about rights but what are rights? What is the foundation of the concept of human rights? It’s God. If humans are nothing but randomly produced, living machines; then Darwin was correct … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, America, American history, blacks, Charles Darwin, dog eat dog, freedom, God-given, might makes right, moral, moral failure, moral foundations, moral restraints, Native Americans, pre-natal, rap, religion, right and wrong, right living, right to choose, right to life, rights, survival of the fittest, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are Background Checks Judgmental? (A Definition)

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

A definition: Background checks — a way of judging who is too irresponsible, too immoral, or too insane to legally buy a gun.

Posted in America, American, American Constitution, American history, conscience, definition, freedom, gun violence, immorality, insanity, mass shootings, moral laws, moral principles, morality, morals, right to bear arms, Second Admendment, United States, USA, violence, violence in society | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wanted: Freedom Fighters

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

Wanted: Freedom Fighters A culture caught up in cravings, compulsions, and whims needs individuals who will fight to free themselves from the domination of their desires; defeat their self-destructive tendencies and tormenting thoughts; and live a life of inner liberty … Continue reading →

Posted in bondage, captivity, Christianity, compulsion, cravings, desires, freedom, liberty, renewing your mind, repentance, self-destruction, sins, slavery, spiritual battle, spiritual bondage, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, whims | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Good Friday’s Not For Good People

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

Good people don’t need a Good Friday Savior. They’re okay on their own. Bad people need a Good Friday Savior. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.” If nothing is morally wrong, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christianity, cross, crucifixion, deliverance, die to self, forgiveness, freedom, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus prayer, Jesus rose, living, mercy, moral, moral failure, moral failures, moral foundations, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, repent, repentance, salvation, Savior, sin, sinner, sins | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spirit-Led Church — Makes You Want To Say: “Oh, My God!”

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is not about what I want or what you want.  Church is about what God wants!   His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Church is not a place to sit and be told what … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 2:43, alternative church, alternative lifestyle, anointed, anointing, awe, Bible, Bible type revival, church meetings, church structure, everyone was filled with awe, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, first century, First Century Church, freedom, Heaven, impact of church, jump up and shout, preaching, religion, religious innovation, revelation, Spirit's flow, spiritual flow, waves of the Spirit, what God wants, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Inside Addition — The Key To A Beautiful Life

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

Inside addition (not Inside Edition) is the key to a beautiful life.  However, it’s not automatic.  It all depends on which mathematical formula you follow: Self + pride = hypocrisy Self + fear or worry = torment Self + anger … Continue reading →

Posted in alienated, alienation, anger, angst, belief, belief system, bitterness, Christ, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, crucify yourself, cynicism, depression, false security, fear, freedom, guilt, hypocrisy, if any man is in Christ, misery, negativity, new creature, peace, pride, self-denial, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-focus, self-forgiveness, self-will, selfish desires, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, torment, tormenting thoughts, transformation, truth, vulgarity, worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

A Steve Jobs Of Religion? — Come On Church, Innovate!

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

An Eric Weiner quotation from the Op-Ed page of The New York Times, December, 2011: “We need a Steve Jobs of religion. Someone (or ones) who can invent not a new religion but, rather, a new way of being religious. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Apple Computer, being religious, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Catherine Booth, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, church, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, creativity, East Nashville, environment, freedom, Holy Spirit, humility, improv, improvisation, insight, interactive, intuitive, Mr. Job's, Music City, non-church, open church, operating system, organic church, participatory church, questions, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religious innovation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, speak the truth in love, spiritual innovation, straight forward, support group, unencumbered, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments