Category Archives: moral restraints

“The Right Side Of History”?

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers should strive to be on the right side of His story, rather than on “the right side of history,” following and obeying the living, resurrected Jesus Christ rather than popular opinion.

Posted in change, changing society, choice, Christ followers, consensus, contemporary society, ethics, His story, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, moral judgment, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, public opinion polls, radical Christianity, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, societal, society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Deciding What To Do With Desires

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people would agree that some human desires should be resisted (the desire to commit suicide, for instance).  However, how do you decide which human desires to obey and which to resist?  Here are some questions to ask: Is the … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, approval, character, compliance, compromise, compulsion, contemporary society, cravings, debate, deceipt, decision-making, discipline, disrespect, family values, harmful habit, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, moral decision, moral failure, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral restraints, morals, New Testament, purity, respect, respect for life, results, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, selfishness, society, suicide, virtues, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lights of the Round Table / Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table reveal a biblical way of holding church meetings. 1)  The knights set at a round table so that no one, not even the king, could be at the head of the table and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camelot, Christ, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Code of Chivalry, equality, Head, Head of the church, hiearchy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Arthur, knighthood, knights, Matthew 20, moral, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, organic church, Round Table, simple church, values | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Enticements or Ethics / Cravings or Conscience / Passions or Principles

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

We live in a society that is big on enticements to follow and obey our desires, but little on ethical living — big on obeying cravings but little on following our conscience — big on surrendering to self-destructive passions, but … Continue reading →

Posted in bondage, confession of sin, conpulsions, cravings, enticements, evil, moral failure, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral reformer, moral restraints, morals, peace, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, self-control, self-discipline, self-help, self-respect, self-restraint, sexual purity, sin | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Life Is Either . . . Or . . .

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

Life is a either a spiritual fight . . . To walk in the light; To overcome the night; To avoid spite; To think and do what’s right; To remove evil’s blight; To seek supernatural insight; To find God’s delight. … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, belief system, Christian, Christianity, Diety, ethics, God, God calling, meaning, meaninglessness, moral laws, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, purpose, purpose driven, purpose of life, pursuit of God, search for significance, searching, searching for significance, spiritual adventure, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, values | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Human Heart & Michelle Obama’s Speech In Nashville (5/18/13)

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

I heard Michelle Obama speak today in Nashville at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet School graduation. She said: “You can only find your passion by looking inside yourself and that’s hard work.” It’s the message of our society … Continue reading →

Posted in $50 billlion in office supplies stolen every year, advice, Americans, Bible, commencement address, conscience, consequences, Creator, evil, fear, God, graduation speech, heart is desperately wicked, law enforcement, laws, Martin Luther King Jr., moral principles, moral restraints, morality, punishment, respect, seduction of self-destruction, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-image, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, slogans | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Judgement, Guilt, Sorrow, Mercy, Forgiveness

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

Where there is no judgment; There is no mercy. Where there is no guilt; There is no grace. If you haven’t been judged guilty, There is no forgiveness. Where there is no threat of punishment, there is no justice. Where … Continue reading →

Posted in discipling, ethics, mercy, moral, moral failure, moral failures, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morality-phobic, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, salvation, self-destruction, self-respect, self-restraint, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, sin, sinner, sinning, sins, sorrow, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Attention America! Media Alert!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Attention America: Images are influential. What you watch will: * Alter your attitude; * Brainwash your beliefs; * Create cravings: * Dictate desires; * Edge out your ethics; * Form your feelings; * Grab your gullibility; * Hold your heart; … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American, American church, American media, Americans, belief, belief system, compromise, compromised, compulsion, cravings, deceipt, deceit, deception, ethics, gullibility, moral foundations, moral laws, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, truth, TV, TV news, United States, values, video games, viewer discretion advised, viewpoint, vulgarity, warning | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Problems Of Unrestrained Pleasure-Seeking

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

Watch the TV news and observe a fact: Without self-restraint human nature produces all sorts of evil: meanness, disrespect, bullying, abuse, violence, rage, arrogance, injustice, deceit, self-destruction, vulgarity, hatred, cruelty, fraud. Unrestrained human nature destabilizes society and eventually leads to … Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, America, American, church, cruelty, deceit, fraud, hate, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, oppression, pleasure-seeking, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, self-control, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-inflicted, self-produced, self-respect, self-restraint, TV, TV network, TV news, violence, violence in society, violent streak | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are We Good People Or Bad People?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people think that there are bad people in the world, but almost nobody thinks that they are a bad person.  However, people who are genuinely close to God, are the exceptions.  They seem to readily admit that they are … Continue reading →

Posted in a wretch like me, Amazing Grace, author, bad person, Baghdad, chief of sinners, Christian, Christianity, ethics, evil, forgiveness, good person, Isaiah, John Newton, Katrina, law enforcement, laws, looting, moral, moral failure, moral failures, moral foundations, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, New Orleans, Old Testament, quote, Quotes, relevation, religion, Russian literature, salvation, sin, unclean lips, wretched man that I am | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments