Category Archives: mystery

E.A.S.T.E.R.

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

E. — Encounter the dead Jesus who now lives A. — And reveals Himself to humble hears. S. — Stand in awe of His glorious Presence T. — Taking the time to E. — Experience His R. — Reality! Come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, Easter, glory, God, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cross Ways — The Passion Of The Christ

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

Crucifixion is one of the cruelest forms of execution ever invented.  Its purpose was not just to put a man to death.  It was to bring extreme public shame and to cause the greatest possible amount of physical suffering. Crucifixion … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, Constantine, conviction of sin, crucifixion, Good Friday, history, mystery, persecution, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, revolution, Roman, Son-shine, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, the cross, torture, Uncategorized, wages of sin, wake-up call, Why be a Christian?, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“He Rose” By The Puny “Easter” Name Is Not The Same

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why do we hide the shocking concept of Jesus of Nazareth coming back to life never to die again, behind the weak words, “Happy Easter,” and then weaken it even more by throwing in eggs, a bunny, baskets, shopping, decorative … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, cyberworld, dead man walking, death-defeating, East Nashville, gift of God, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, rejecting Christ, religion, repentance, resurrection, smartphones, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, stuff, supernatural, The Salvation Army, up from the grave He arose, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

What Do People Hunt During Easter Week?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

It’s Easter week!  What should we be hunting for? 1) Eggs? or 2) The risen Jesus Christ? Well, if the resurrection is merely a myth, then I guess the only things we have to hunt for are eggs, or fancy … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, Easter, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, myths, non-material reality, religion, resurrection, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sports reporters are asking lots of Final Four questions. Here’s mine: If a few college guys randomly throwing around a basketball won’t produce a trip to the Final Four; how in the world could a random Big Bang and a whole bunch of time have produced the incredible complexity and details of nature’s living organisms?

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

Perhaps the denial of God is the real anti-intellectualism — the real delusion. Has science discovered the spiritual world?  Read about “spooky action.”

Posted in apologists, basketball, big bang, Christian, college, college basketball, college students, creationism, Creator, evolution, life, mystery, popular culture, Richard Dawkins, spiritual growth, spooky action, The God Delusion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Top Ten Boldest Quotations From The Book Of Acts

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Would you like to read some really bold statements?  The Book of Acts is full of them.  After reading through Acts 6 times in 3 months, I have picked out my The Top Ten Boldest Quotations From The Book Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, bold statements, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, church history, conscience, courage, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, guilt, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyles, making decisions, miracles, morality, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, normal Christianity, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, Peter, Peter and John, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, salvation, Sanhedrin, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, Top Ten, Uncategorized, wages of sin, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Power Of Hearing Your Name

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

Sometimes I tell God; “Lord, I love you,” and then I hear these words in my spirit; “I love you, Steve Simms.”  Am I crazy?  Not according to the Bible. Four different people, in chapters 9 & 10 of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, Ananias, ancient history, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, church history, conversion, Cornelius, courage, Damascus, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, Gentile, gift of God, glory, God, God's government, guidance, hate, hate speech, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jewish, kingdom of God, lifestyles, Mary Magdalene, miracles, movement, mystery, mysticism, normal Christianity, Oh my God, Paul of Tarsus, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, revelation, Roman, salvation, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, Syria, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, vision, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

I Deal In Idealism (Asking “Why Not” Instead Of “Why”?)

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

I deal in idealism.  I guess this George Bernard Shaw quote (often mistakenly attributed to Robert Kennedy) says it best: “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, compassion, conscience, consciousness, crying, deciision making, download, dream, feelings, George Bernard Shaw, guidance, hearing God, hope, human rights, ideal, idealism, meaning, moral principles, morality, morals, motivation, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, nonviolence, peace, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, revelation, Robert Kennedy, self-help, sobriety, stuff, supernatural, thoughts, trust, values, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Meeting God’s Gathering (Ekklesia) Instead Of Religion’s Church

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

One night I wandered into a group gathered in a college dorm and heard regular people sincerely telling how Jesus had changed their lives.  Later the group joined hands in a large circle, pulled me in, and began to talk … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, conversion, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, ekklesia, evidence for God, freedom, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, Greek, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, hope, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improvisation, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, meaning, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, nones, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, peace, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, religion, revelation, right conduct, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, stumble upon, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Time magazine, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Drenched With God / Soaked With HIs Presence

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . .”  As I read those words yesterday morning, the picture of a man drenched with water popped into my mind.  I’ve always thought about the Holy Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, acts of God, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church history, early church, evidence for God, General Linda Bond, gifts of the Spirit, glory, God, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, movement, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, normal Christianity, Oh my God, organic church, powerhouse, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, religion, revelation, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, tradition, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments