Category Archives: freedom

Insider Report — Tattoos

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

This is an insider report, not about tattoos on the skin, but about tattoos within — looking beyond body art to a transformed heart. According to a 2006 survey by the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, 1 in 4 Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Christian, Christianity, compassion, dermatalogical, forgiveness, free spirit, freedom, heart-felt love, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, mysticism, pain, popular culture, religion, self-control, self-image, spiritual formation, surgery, tattoo, tattoo artist, thoughts, words | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Does Hierarchy Hinder God? — How To “Prepare The Way For The Lord”

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

John the Baptist came to “prepare the way for the Lord” in his generation.  I, too, would like to prepare the way for the Lord.  I want to prepare the way for God to work powerfully in my life.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church history, church roles, church structure, clergy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, equality, free will, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, God, God's government, heirarchy, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, laity, organic church, participatory church, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, quote, Quotes, race, relational church, simple church, unprogrammed church, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Shocked And Saddened To Tears By Stories Of Iraq War Veterans

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was on YouTube and came across “Iraq Veterans Against The War.” I was shocked and saddened to tears by what I heard as young Americans shared stories of atrocities they had committed against innocent civilians in Iraq.  … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Americans, anti-war, eyewitness, freedom, hate, human life, human rights, injustice, Iraq, lifestyles, morality, morals, right and wrong, torture, Uncategorized, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Key To Spiritual Awakening . . .

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

A key to a Christian spiritual awakening (revival)  in the 21st Century: No lording over others. Christian leaders are servants, not bosses. Their job is to help release the living Word of God in and through other believers, and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, bosses, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, community, disciple making, East Nashville, equality, freedom, kingdom of God, leaders, lifestyles, Lord, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, relational church, religion, revival, servants, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Did I See A Miracle Last Night? You Decide.

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was in a home group of 9 adults (who I don’t know very well) who met to share, sing, support one another, and pray as led by the Spirit.  As someone was praying an image came into … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, community, confession, congregational, disciple making, ekklesia, forgiveness, freedom, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, life, miracles, movement, non-church movement, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, relational church, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, show and tell, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, support group, surrender to God, the cross, the way we do church, vision, voice of God, wages of sin, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Cravings Can Capture & Control Your Life

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Unrestrained desire can dominate and defeat you.  Cravings can capture and control your life. Yet our society teaches us to surrender to desires, cravings, compulsions, and whims:  “If you feel like doing something, go for it, and don’t listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, casual sex, challenges, Christian, Christianity, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, complacency, conscience, conviction of sin, country music, cravings, feelings, free will, freedom, guidance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, inward change, John Piper, John Ruskin, lifestyles, morality, morals, peacetime, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, reformation, repent, repentance, self-will, shame, sin, sobriety, society, spiritual formation, thoughts, tolerance, true Christian life, violent streak, war, White Eagle, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

In This Busy World, Perhaps We Need To SLO Down . . .

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

In this busy world, perhaps we need to SLO down. S — Stop. L — Listen to God. O — Obey what He says.

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, contemplation, devotion, evidence for God, faith, faithfulness, freedom, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, godly sorrow, gratitude, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, humility, joy, kingdom of God, lifestyles, mystery, mysticism, peace, prayer, priesthood of the believer, proof of God, religion, repent, repentance, salvation, simple church, spiritual disciplines, The Voice, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices, wake-up call, Who dat talkin? | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Way Or The Most High’s Way?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Two highways, different directions:  Should I choose my way which is based on my wants, my feelings, my viewpoints, and/or my cravings?  Or should I choose the Most High’s way that requires me to live above the fog of self-focus, … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Bible, choice, Christian history, Christianity, conscience, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, deliverance, dishonesty, ethics, faithfulness, feelings, free will, freedom, godly sorrow, guidance, habit, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, human life, insight, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyles, making decisions, modern myths, morality, morals, normal Christianity, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, pro choice, questions, recovery, religion, right and wrong, self-denial, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, thinking, thoughts, tradition, Uncategorized, values, voice of God, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Case Study — A White Homosexual, A Black Woman, An African Muslim, & A White Mistress

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

I was asked to write a diversity case study for a course I am taking.  Here it is: Sue, a black female, owns a company with 30 employees and hires Betty, a white female who has been the 2 year … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, community, conscience, courage, criticism, fear, feelings, free will, freedom, genetic tendencies, genetic tendency, good question, habit, harmful habit, hate speech, heart-felt love, ideal, idealism, inward change, judgments, justice, kindness, language, life, lifestyles, marriage, meaning, modern myths, moral principles, morality, morals, nonviolence, parable, patience, political correctness, political issue, politics, prejudice, questions, right and wrong, right conduct, self-denial, self-help, sin, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, values, wages of sin, wake-up call, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Is Depression Rampant In America

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why is depression rampant in America, a country known for freedom and prosperity? Perhaps the answer is in this quotation . . . “Many people look out into a meaningless world in which there is no afterlife, where all their … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, brainwashed, center of the universe, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, clear conscience, depression, eternal life, faithfulness, freedom, gratitude, guidance, ideal, idealism, invisible, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, meaning, Morton T. Kelsey, motivation, non-material reality, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, prosperity, purpose, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Savior, self-esteem, self-image, soul, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments