Category Archives: spiritual awakening

Do Americans Only Have Two Choices (Romney Or Obama) For A Better Future?

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

It’s the season of presidential politics in the USA.  Political conventions are in process, speeches are being made, hopes are being raised, and excitement is in the air.  On the other hand, accusations are being made and attack ads are … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, alternative lifestyle, America, American, American church, American history, American media, Americans, attack ads, biblical, Biblical concept, challenges, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, conventions, Democrat, faith, First Great Awakening, followers of Christ, God, hearing God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Judeo-Christian, kingdom of God, Layman's Prayer Revival, laymen, lifestyles, meaning, missional, move of God, movement, mysticism, political ads, politics and religion, prayer, presence of God, repentance, Republican, revival, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, true Christian life, USA, voice of God, wake-up call, What would Jesus do?, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Should People Who Have Left Church Come Back? Or Try Something Different?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

American churches are in decline, losing members.  In an attempt to slow or stop this decline a group called, National Back to Church Sunday,  has set a day for church members to invite their friends to come back to church.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2012, alternative lifestyle, American, American church, American history, Americans, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christianity, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, followers of Christ, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, post-Christianity, salvation, Salvationists, Savior, show and tell, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

The Awesome Power Of Spiritual Interaction

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

*  One of the most powerful tools for personal transformation is spiritual interaction, openly sharing your faith, spiritual experiences, struggles, and concerns with others in a loving and compassionate environment.  (I have personally seen spiritual interaction produce life-changing results both … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, early church, His story, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inspiration, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, missional, move of God, movement, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, Nashville, Neil Cole, non-church movement, open church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, pentecostals, Quakers, religious ceremonies, Revelation 12:11, revival, sermon, sermons, simple church, sobriety, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, support group, the 12 Steps, The Salvation Army, the Walk to Emmaus, tradition, Tres Dias, unprogrammed church, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Prayer That’s Not For Wimps

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are two prayers that take great courage.  Most people, when things get desperate in their life, will pray to God for immediate help, however, only the bravest people will pray these two powerful prayers. The first one is a … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, answer to God, anxious thoughts, Bible, Biblical concept, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, commands, conscience, conviction of sin, courage, deeds, denial, God, God calling, God's authority, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, hard-hearted, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hdden sin, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart care, humility, inner peace, Israel, King David, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, offensive, prayer without ceasing, Psalm 139:23, Psalm 141:4, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, Renaissance, repent, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, self-destruction, self-will, sin, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, thoughts, values, voice of God, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Logic Can’t Show You Love

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Intellect can’t inspire you.  Inspiration is a matter of the heart. Logic can’t show you love.  Love comes from the heart.  (It’s even symbolized by a tiny heart, not by a tiny brain.) Mind can’t make mysticism.  Only insight in … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, brain, compassion, conscience, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, heart care, heart-felt love, hearts unfold like flowers, insight, inspiration, intellect, intelligence, justice, mind, miracles, reason, Reason Rally, relevation, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, soul, soul food, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual walk | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Everyday Olympics — The Call To Glory For Regular People

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglas, Michael Phelps — these are a few of the names of the athletes who soaked up Olympic glory at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  But there is also a call to glory for everyday people like … Continue reading →

Posted in ascetics, call to preach, champions, Christian, Christian history, church history, current events, discipline, discipling, glory, God, God calling, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, inner peace, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, monks, mysticism, normal Christianity, Olympic athletes, Olympic challenge, Olympic glory, Olympic heroes, Olympic medals, repent, repentance, right conduct, right living, saints, salvation, self-control, self-denial, self-discipline, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, still small voice, The Voice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Drunk Christians?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Some observers of the early Christians made fun of them and said:  “They have had too much wine.”  (Would you use the word “drunk” to describe a gathering of Christians, nowadays?) Here’s the response to that accusation, given by Jesus’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 2, acts of God, alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, booze it up, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, church, church history, church meetings, drinking, DUI, Ephesus, filled with the Spirit, free spirit, good sermon, guilt, hangover, inner peace, inner rivers, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus' mother Mary, life, lifestyle Christianity, makes change, miracles, missional, morality, morals, move of God, movement, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, new wine, Oh my God, on the web, Paul of Tarsus, peace, persecution, Peter, preaching, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, prophet, prophet Joel, quench the Spirit, quote, Quotes, reformation, salvation, sober up, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual drunkenness, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimony, This is that spoken by the prophet Joel, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

No Shades Of Gray (Or Grey)

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

Truth is not about fifty shades of gray.  It doesn’t grade on the curve — accepting shades of gray that are closest to white. In the area of ethics and morality, all gray misses the mark of truth.  Gray contains … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, belief system, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, conviction, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, darkness, faith, faith-based, forgiveness, God, God's authority, grace, gray areas, harmful thinking, Heaven, holiness, holy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgment, judgments, justice, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, mystery, Oh my God, Oh Sinner Man, pride, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, salvation, saved, Savior, soul, spiritual awakening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Olympics — Thoughts For Spiritual Athletes

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

Life’s not about achievement.  It’s not about how many medals you (or your country) win.  Life’s about aligning yourself to God and to His will. That’s what matters most in the long haul. “If Christians were putting into their spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Timothy 4:7, alternative lifestyle, ancient Olympics, asceticism, ascetics, athletes, attitude, belief, belief system, burning heart, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, courage, disciple making, discipline, discipling, glory, God, godliness, guilt, guts and glory, I Corinthians 9:25, I Timothy 4:7, idealism, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Lord, monastery, monastics, mystery, mysticism, Olympic athletes, Olympic medals, prayer, presence of Christ, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religious ceremonies, right conduct, sacrifice, saved, Savior, self-discipline, self-help, soul, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, tebow, tebowing, training, Warren Wiersbe, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

In a country where you can get shot along with 70 others while going to a movie . . . we desperately need God.

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

A quotation from the ancient prophet, Isaiah: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Posted in Christian values, Christianity, church, comfort, compassion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, faith, God, God-shaped vacuum, His story, injury, injustice, Isaiah, justice, Lord, meaninglessness, morality, morals, political issue, popular culture, revelation, revival, salvation, search for significance, searching for significance, sinner, soul, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, values, violence, violent streak | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments