Category Archives: Salvation Army

Mr. Potato Head all ears? Or the Body of Christ?

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are you familiar with Mr. Potato Head — a Playskool/Hasbro toy that originally came out in the 1950s? Mr. Potato Head was so popular that he was included as a character in the Toy Story movies. He has also been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, alternative church, church programming, church programs, house church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, simple church, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First century therapy groups . . .

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

A First Century Therapy Group . . . –The early Christ-followers formed therapy groups to help them heal from the dysfunction in their culture and in their personal lives. There is a description of how those therapy groups met to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 12 step group, addiction, cell groups, discovery group, encounter group, encouragement, freedom, group interaction, health care, mental health, one anothering, one anothers, overcoming addiction, recovery groups, Salvation Army, Salvation Army ARC, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Nashville, self-help group, small groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church programs or ekklesia fire?

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Question: What would happen if church meetings were built on people stepping out in faith and sharing from their heart — instead of being built on people passively watching a highly programmed presentation? Answer: God’s fire would fall and His … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, body of Christ, church bulletin, church programs, ekklesia, holiness, lyrics, priest, purity, royal priesthood, Salvation Army, song, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized, universal priesthood, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Letting church cruise on Christ-contol

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

Across the USA church is in decline. Perhaps it is time to set church on Christ-control and let Jesus freely cruise trough the meeting. There’s nothing like a Christ-led gathering when we put aside human agendas and control and simply let … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Christ control, church meetings, church services, churching, contemporary church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, house church, House of Prayer, how to do church, open church, open forum, praise and worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, town meeting, Uncategorized, When you come together, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

There’s no room for bullying in democracy (or church)

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

Want to go beyond the bullying and 1-man control that can be common in church? There’s no room for bullying in democracy or in church! –Modern democracy depends on decisions developed by deliberation, diplomacy, and consensus; not on the dictatorship … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, American values, ancient Greeks, back to church, Berry Street, church, community, control, control in church, controlling pastors, dictatorship, ekklesia, English, government, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek New Testament, house church, I will build my church, love, making church more participatory, Nashville, On this rock I will build My church, organic chruch, participatory church, participatory culture, recovery groups, Salvation Army, simple church, support group, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tattoo parlor for the heart . . .

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

God’s tattoo parlor — ekklesia . . . –Ekklesia is the tattoo parlor of the Holy Spirit where the living, resurrected Jesus inks His hope and healing on human hearts. Ekklesia makes the heart grow fonder of God and of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian tattoos, God helps those who, Good things come to those who wait, heart, inked, is next to godliness, makes the heart grow fonder, one anothering, one anothers, piereced and tattooed, quotation, Quotations, quote, Salvation Army, sayings, speaks louder than words, tattoo artist, tattooing, Tennessee, There is no time like, Uncategorized, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Trek Beyond: (Back To The Original Star Trek)

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Steve Simms

We’re Trekkies and Trekkers who are following the inner Star. We’re trekking beyond the bounds — outside the ordinary; over and above assumptions; out of the reach of routine; out of range of religion; past human performance and control. Like the original … Continue reading →

Posted in beam me up, Beyond Church, book, books, Dones, ekklesia, enterprise, highly illogical, live long and prosper, lost, lost episode, organic chruch, resistance is futile, Salvation Army, Star Fleet Mannual, Starfleet, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A surprising (perhaps miraculous) confirmation of nonviolence

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Steve Simms

Yesterday was Memorial Day and though out the day I thought about nonviolence and wondered why we humans glorify and celebrate the use of violence and war, generation after generation. Today I felt pompted to pick up the book, When The … Continue reading →

Posted in book, colony of heaven, combat, done you wrong, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, God's army, Heaven, Heaven's agenda, human rights, I'll fight, kingdom of heaven, Memorial Day, military, narrow way, nonviolent direct action, nonviolent resistance, on earth as it is in heaven, Quench not the Spirit, rights, Salvation Army, Sermon on the Mount, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, spiritual weapons, stop the violence, turn the other cheek, Uncategorized, violence, violence epidemic, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy (a recipe for misery)

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy. Our self-desires are never fully fulfilled. Self always seeks something more. Even when self gets what it wants and the “rights” that it demands, it immediately cries out for more. Self is continually discontented and constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, crucify yourself, deny yourself, desires, flesh, flowing in the Spirit, Follow Me, Galatians, Holy Spirit, human rights, I am crucified with Christ, in the Spirit, rights, Salvation Army, self, self-denial, self-destructive behaviors, self-discipline, self-focus, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-mastery, self-regulation, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-will, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, spiritual formation, spirituality, take up your cross, Train yourself unto godliness., Uncategorized, works of the flesh | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Preaching’s not enough says a $1.00 book . . .

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Steve Simms

We must go beyond preaching! Wow! Such power, conformation, and fireworks from a book I found for $1.00 at at Book Warehouse in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It doesn’t look too impressive, but I’m so glad I bought Discovering Who We Are … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative to preaching, body of Christ, Christian community, Christian leadership, church community, church leadership, communication, community building, Holy Spirit, how the body of Christ functions, how to create community, lay testimonies, leadership training, media, personal testimony, preaching, Salvation Army, salvation testimonies, servant leadership, simple church, spiritual gifts, testimonies, testimony, Uncategorized, word of their testimony | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment